A satirical deterioration of the 50's American nuclear family turned on its ear. A popular Boomer family sitcom, similar to the Cleavers and the Nelsons, is facing cancelation after a decade on the air. As the Newmans are showing cracks in their perfect facade, the changing political climate of the 60's with transforming gender roles, family dynamics, values, desires, and secrets reveal the truth behind the screen.

Inspired by manga/manwha light novels, this Korean based sci-fi is K-pop inspired mixed with Asian anime. In a futuristic Korea, a female robotics expert masquerades as a mecha (big robot) male operator to compete in a reality show competition called Project V. As she deals with chauvinistic males, petty contestants, and arrogant challengers, she uncovers a much larger global threat.

Atmospheric writing mixed with a coming of age story seeps through every emotional roller-coaster of a novel. Two platonic teens trauma bond through their dysfunctional circumstances by extreme mountain climbing in the Mojave Desert. As one friend has the opportunity to make it out of their difficult situation, the other becomes selfishly codependent bringing a crux in the road of their friendship.

Ben Alderson's books are a palate, guilty pleasure read so picking up his latest queer, gothic novel version that mixes Shirley Jackson with The Fall of the House of Usher was right up my alley. Unfortunately, the sporadic storytelling, lack of cohesive storytelling, and much needed editing fell short that had plenty of potential for showcasing repressed desires, identity, and gay drama. In short, it was meh.

The one thing that Rachel Rueckert does best is giving a feminist element to her historical women's fiction. This time, she tackles the swashbuckling saga of female piracy through the real life Thelma and Louise pirate queens, Mary Read and Anne Bonney, famed for their daring adventures but feared by their male counterparts. With a hint of queer coding and compelling writing, this adventure novel is giving the women of The Pirates of Carribean.

This was a hoot of a graphic novel with feminist undertones. After the defeating a demon war, Camelot has fallen on hard times under the rulership of a drunkard King Arthur who tries to marry off his youngest daughter, Princess Ysabelle, to a disgusting, wealthy baron. Refusing her fate, Ysabelle steals the magical sword, Excalibur, and sets off on adventure to free the kingdom with her enemies in pursuit. A satire on challenging the patriarchy!

Interesting premise and was hopeful to see Holly Jackson transition from teen/YA to adult mystery author. The young protagonist is attacked by a mystery assailant leaving her with a terminal aneurism that will kill her in a week, during which time she must uncover who her attacker is. Expect a bunch of secrets in lies in her upper middle class community. Sadly, the writing is still infantile and the revelation leaves you meh. Not a fan.

Still want some moving POC stories like the film Sinners but gory? Then try Blood Slaves! A Ghanian vampire and lone survivor of his clan migrates to an American plantation where the suffrage of the slaves intrigues him. Convincing the oppressed to become his bloodthirsty army, they administer karmic justice to their owners and white masters horror style!

I usually like Scalzi's satirical sci-fi/fantasy novels and this had plenty of the elements that I found humorous and thought provoking. However, after reading this, it left feeling mid that easily could be a joking novella. When the moon suddenly transmogrifies into cheese, it sets off a chain reaction of a crisis of faith, scientific questioning, political turmoil, and conspiracy theories. It was a cool concept until it fell short.

The Wangs vs the World meets Crazy Rich Asians. Asian superstitions, astrology, and fortune telling plague a wealthy Chinese clan as the sole matriarch believes the eldest son should be chosen to produce a male heir to inherit the billion dollar fortune. Enter the CEO running the corporation who happens to be gay and given this task. Family dysfunction and secrets are brought to light in this comedy drama fictional novel.

A feminist retelling of the Greek mythical heroine, Otrera, the founding queen of the legendary Amazons. From an impoverished, battered wife of an abusive husband to slowly becoming an activist for women and later a warrior in her own right, author Hanna Lynn gives a voice to this iconic figure in mythical history. In addition, she would later become the spouse of the Olympian god Ares, birthing his daughters and establishing an all female clan.

A World War 2 exploitation film thought to have been destroyed is found. Cut to the 1980's, a closeted film archivist is tasked with restoring the work for some wealthy producers. As she digs deeper into the lore of the movie, a strange possession is unleashed, leading to the release of suppressed desires, carnality, and a sinister curse in this feminist horror novel.

A satirical homage to those comical "How to..." guides but, in this case, make it horror. Camp ground owner Kate has to deal with supernatural entities and folklore monsters as she has to co-exist with them and protect visitors from being killed. Add to the fact that corporate greed is trying to take her precious business as well as some Big Bad causing a ruckus and you a fun, cozy horror with comical elements!

Banned for its lewd, obscene, and pornographic content, Henry Miller's journals of 1920's-1930's Bohemian Paris certainly can be seen as subversive literature. His work as raw, unapologetic, unfiltered, and certainly un-PC for its time, shocking and repulsing in reference to the numerous morally corrupt characters he encounters. Overall, Miller is a literary, epiphanic writer but sluggish with his frenetic ramblings and glacial storytelling.

What the most haunting reads that gives off a true crime fiction. During the 1900's, a group of Australian schoolgirls from affluent families head off on a coastal field trip to a place called Hanging Rock. Three of the girls go off to explore the caverns and vanish without a trace. What happens next is a deterioration of the community, the staff, and faculty as the mystery is explored. An atmospheric read of speculative fiction

A classic book of philosophical teaching that drew attention from the monarchy and the upper echelon. Machiavelli's political treatise advised rulers on keeping their power including challenging morality and personal ethics to maintain power, fear should be instilled instead of love, and military strength should be enforced. Condemned for its political idealism more than its realism, it's certainly one to review in terms how it relates today.

A fun, little rom-com focusing on the obsessive, fandom community. A copywriter infatuated with a fictional, fantasy hero of her favorite romantasy series discovers that he is the inspiration for a real life person. Deciding on a trip to meet him (stalking much?), she is accompanied by a cynical relationship avoidance buddy of her sibling. How long before the enemies to lovers trope occurs as romantic tension mounts between the pair?

Magical realism and Native folklore combine to create a story of a writer reflecting on his time spend in a juvenile detention alongside a another talented teen Cherokee artist. As the survive their incarceration, their cultural traditions and stories are woven through a series of literary prose and meditative words in this indigenous fictional novel.

A closed, queer closeted Palestinian man opts to come out on his upcoming birthday but dysfunctional family issues, personal baggage, a love triangle, workplace drama, and the Israeli-Palestine conflict get in the way in this tragic-comedy novel.

A look at Afghanistan's changing and turbulent political climate. From the eradication of Westernized ideals during the 70's to a more traditional and extremist takeover, the story of the county's history is viewed through a trio of stories from the women who are asking for freedom and independence to the followers swayed by the Taliban's movement and their cause. Finally, the interference by foreign powers is noted in the conflict.

A memoir of the Filipino American experience as threaded through food and recipes. Having endured the Marcos dictatorship of the 80's, Jill Damatac's family emigrated to the US in the 90's as undocumented immigrants under the pretense as refugees. Trying to reconcile with the modern American lifestyle versus keeping a sense of cultural traditions and values, she would rebel against her family's expectations and migrate to the UK to find herself.

An homage to the horror slasher genre. A tragedy convinces protagonist Hannah to participate in a wellness healing retreat in the desert. As her fellow participants are picked off, she realizes a serial killer of urban legend is stalking them in this psychological horror with plenty of twists and turns.

Argentina's long history of political turmoil is examined as various dictatorships, and Facist regimes plagued the country. As citizens rebelled and staged a coup, many of its people and their offspring were abducted and disappeared. In the late 70's, a group of grandmothers, Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, organized and challenged the government asking for questions on their missing grandchildren. This is their story.

This has been getting mixed reviews but personally I liked this book. Translated from Japanese, this charming novella focuses on a woman who rebuilds her life after her cheating ex dumps her. After accepting a job at her estranged uncle's used bookstore, she learns about life and helps her uncle in the process. The rest of the series is her learning about her patrons and the human experience, in general.

Based on an 80's urban legend of a cursed video game, an aspiring computer programmer accepts an arcade position in her little California seaside town. As the patrons flock to try out the newest arcade sensation, Polybius, it becomes apparent that something is off as the residents begin experiencing subliminal messages, turning them into mindless, violent drones. It's up to a group of unaffected citizens to save everyone in this sci-fi horror.

A reinvented fairytale as a warrior woman partners with a foppish dandy to kill an enchanted beast terrorizing the land. Expect some Terry Prachett humor thrown in as this unlikely pair have a heroic mission to carry out.

In a dystopian future, a bloody war recognizes California as an independent nation away from the U.S. From the wreckage, a group of robots are reactivated and decide to rebuild by starting a successful noodle shop in the Bay Area. As their popularity grows, so do their detractors as negative reviews, xenophobia, politics, and anti-robotic sentiment attempts to tank their restaurant as they continue to persevere in this cozy sci-fi novella.

Mystical cryptids and magical realism seeps through this literary novel of a generational observation for a quartet of women affected by the Australian cove. In the modern world, a medium has visions of her missing sister and journeys to find her. The vanished artist sibling struggles with her own baggage. In the 1800's Irish twins struggle to survive a penal colony. All are connected by family, secrets, and resilence.

A cornucopia of transgression, subversiveness, and avant garde, frantic musings as told through an unreliable, flamboyant narrator through his fictionalized memoir as he struggles to write while jetsetting internationally from Paris to New York. Introducing a colorful cast of supporting players that is a part of the 70s underground, Bohemian gay alternative culture, he comments on love, sex, loss, and violence in this classic queer literature.

The emancipator and freedom fighter is making a comeback! And she's doing it by releasing her first hip hop album debut and child...she ain't playin' as she spills the tea about what it's like being a historical icon! That's the premise of RuPaul's Drag Race alum Bob the Drag Queen's debut fictional satirical novel filled with social and political themes. Imagine Miss Tubman's own words in a modern contemporary setting and pulls no punches!

A sarcastic substitute teacher, a naive Midwestern airhead, a southern sexpot, and a ornery curmudgeon walk into a bar; rather, four 'Golden Girls' room together in a house in Miami and solve crazy crimes. That is the premise in this new fanfic homage to the popular 80's sitcom. During Rose's wedding planning for a relative, Dorothy's date for the event dies leading to a cozy mystery investigation.

Progressive for its time and a commentary on Japanese cultural, traditional norms, this classic 50's manga is a more adult version of Disney where divine intervention created Princess Sapphire, a being with dual hearts of both sexes. Disguised as a boy prince, Sapphire goes on epic adventures that explores gender identities, sexuality, equality, and feminism while presenting all the fairytale tropes.

A surreal and frenetic look at love, sex, and dating as told through its protagonist, ironically named Reality Kahn. As Reality navigates through the social and cultural community of her city, she sets her sights on a hipster bro named Ariel and goes on a quest to become the perfect girlfriend. Certainly, this has some comical moments but it's hard to relate to a millennial read that is really trying to be Renata Adler or Caitlin Moran.

The school I work was doing a Scholastic Book Fair and the trailer was really intriguing to my students. A young, bullied protagonist opts for remote learning to a rural school in Alaska where the attendance is just 13 students. When she gets the opportunity to travel to the state to meet her new friends, she discovers an abandoned school and gravestones listing all 13 of her classmates! What is happening in this paranormal, horror middle reader!

A horror political satire that is going to appeal to a certain demographic. A bizarre media source transforms closed-minded individuals and their audience into possessed violent zombies. Those trying to escape the chaos are pitted against this cult of monsters until society and civilization eventually deteriorate. A good premise, but the repetition of prose could have been tweaked and requires more editing.

This was fun, especially with the trend of romantasy being big now! A reinterpretatoon of the Arthurian legend as a naive, young Kansas girl struggling with her mental health is whisked away to the enchanted kingdom of Avalon. As she is held captive by the tyrannical 'dark prince', Mordred, she must discover her inner mystical gifts to liberate the land while battling her own feelings for her enemy in this first book of the Iron Crystal series.

Enemies to lovers trope as a high school teacher returns to her small town and still hasn't dealt with her feelings for her unrequited, bearded childhood crush. After a faux pas pairs her with her crush's loathsome twin brother, a comical courtship ensues as the pair navigate small town politics and personal ambitions in this steamy rom-com.

Based on the historical haunts and ghosts of Japan, this horror manga of gore and shocking imagery demonstrates the sins of man cursed by vanity, selfishness, greed, corruption, and cruelty. A morality story of karmic retribution taking place around Kyoto as the backdrop.

Thoroughly researched from articles, bios, essays, and her own personal memoir with Andrew Morton, this new take on the late Princess Diana Spencer explores everything, including her aristocratic background, her upper middle class upbringing and her relatability that made her the 'people's princess'. Growing up humble and down to earth, the book looks at her path to navigating a world of rigid expectations and the royal legacy she left behind.

Spokane, WA author, Jess Walters, returns with his latest concerning family ties and politics. A senior recluse living off the grid is forced to take in his grandchildren after his estranged, flaky daughter drops them off on his doorstep. Adding to this complication is his conspiracy zealot son-in-law and his extremist religious allies that are trying to take the children across state lines to Idaho reflecting our tough political climate.

Surrealist gaucho novel translated from Spanish and Portuguese. A dystopian future where extreme climactic changes creates a bleak planet where capitalism and the wealthy exploit the impoverished and suffering mainly in Argentina. From this horrible society, a mutant hybrid mosquito human is born known as Dengue Boy, a non-binary humanoid will rebel and will eat the rich with disease . A satire on politics, class, and environmentalism.

Ali Hazelwood is either hit or miss with me and Deep End is no different. Competitive college aquatic sports athletes end up in a torrid romance. Unfortunately, the female MC is unlikable and the promise of kink exploration never happens. It's all talk but no delivery and it's your basic vanilla flavoring. Also, the revelation at the end just irritated the heck out of me. Just an okay spicy romance read!

This book is bonkers! A mixture of body horror, cosmic chaos, and extreme horror. A junkie houses an evil entity known as The Divine Flesh that wants to bring about chaos. A visceral read of gore and grotesqueness that is metaphor for addiction and mental health that is both surreal and has elements of magical realism. Be aware there are plenty of trigger warnings in this title.

Remember the 80's film Mannequin with Kim Cattall? Yeah, this gives off this same vibes. A divorced, nerdy museum conservator in Chicago breaks a curse and sets free a medieval knight in armor from being a statue. Now, a fish out of water, the warrior must adapt to the modern world while wooing the woman who released him from an evil spell in this light and spicy rom-com.

Jude Deveraux is your classic historical romance author that is synonymous with the genre so the reissue of this time traveling title from the late 80's appealed to me. Sadly, this does not hold up. Instead of a strong female protagonist with a masculine name Dougless, we're treated to a whiny main character and a long winded plot line of a knight and ingenue.. In addition, the ending is terrible and convoluted. Hard pass on this one!

Inspired by serial murderess Giulia Tofana whose poison Aqua Tofana was utilized by 17th century women to rid themselves of abusive and dangerous men in Rome, this is a feminist historical fiction retelling of a women's liberation during the European Renaissance period. From her early teachings by her mother to building a network of accomplices, Tofana was a woman feared by the patriarchy and the corrupt Church.

Prepare for cuteness overload!!! Hakumei and Mikochi are teeny tiny, itty bitty, eensie weensie impish creatures living in an enchanted woodland forest where they live their daily lives from performing in town festivals, farming, preparing for winter, and riding beetles to and from in every adventure. They're so adorable, you want to have plushies made out them! For fans of farming games like Stardew Valley or Farmville in this manga!

Underneath this humorous memoir is a subtext of abuse and dysfunction. The matriarch of 'Dirtbag Queen' is Renay Corren, a non-practicing Jewish, chainsmoking, alcoholic, plus-size single mom raising six kids in impoverished southern community. Between her questionable life choices and her taste in partners, her son Andy always looks at the silver lining as he deals with his burgeoning sexuality and life decisions in this okay, slow paced read.

A new insight into the complicated and sibling -like bond between songwriting icons John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Author Ian Leslie uses their song list to paint a history that reflects their rise as struggling musicians to becoming the band known as The Beatles, detailing with documentation, journals, and interviews to showcase the difficult but loving relationship between the two including the breakup aftermath & impact of John's death.

Since my first introduction to Everett's earlier spy spoof Dr. No, which was just as brilliantly written, I'm so happy I finally got around to reading James. A more in-depth characterization of the supporting player to Huck Finn, James gives a more compelling story of slavery as told through the perspective of the protagonist. Here, Everett gives a better view of the Jim Crow era no shying away from bigotry, racism and violence. A must read!!