"I want to know. I'm a novelist. I'm used to being God. I decide on the ending before I begin."

"By my reckoning, everyone gets a handful of movie-worthy moments in their lives."

A visually-driven book, highlighting women through their travel experiences. Yakoub creates a platform and community for women from around the world to display their perspectives on culture, architecture, nature, and water and fosters representation and autonomy in a world that is only just beginning to give women space to exist fully.

https://onthebl.org/2023/12/05/dame-traveler-by-nastasia-yakoub-exploration-of-t...

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters is an important novel for so many reasons. It's one of the first novels published by an out trans woman by a big five publishing company. For this, her debut novel, Peters won the first ever nomination for a Women's Prize in fiction.

https://onthebl.org/2023/02/02/prevailing-impact-of-cishet-normativity-in-torrey...

In her debut novel, Hagerty creates a moving and captivating piece about the limitations placed on women to stay the course and not make waves. In Polite Company is all the things one could hope for in a book about existing in the claustrophobic and voyeuristic society of the rich and powerful. It's missing the grit.
https://onthebl.org/2022/10/04/claustrophobic-and-voyeuristic-nature-of-high-soc...

"Hate is a waste of time. I'm far too busy to hate anything."

“I hate to say it, but I will. Children, despite their infinite charms, are an absolute assault on a marriage.”

“What they call dementia, she has decided, is nothing but a failure to maintain a comprehensive filing system. And what they call losing your mind is forgetting to use it.”

Since I've been so bad at posting book reviews this past year.... or so. Here's a list of books I would call easy reads to fill up your fall reading list.
https://onthebl.org/2021/10/21/easy-fall-reading-list/

“The choices we have to make in this world are hard and bitter. Sometimes we have no choices at all.”

“”You couldn‘t have been raped. No daughter of mine could have been raped. That is not the way I brought you up.””

“I reasoned that if I strengthened my thigh muscles, it would make it difficult for anyone to force my legs apart like they did in my dreams."

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lọlá Shónẹ́yìn tackles universal themes grace and humor by exploring the interior lives of four Nigerian women through the secrets they keep in a conservative, polygamist family. I really loved this book, though it felt like reading it was akin to watching a trainwreck, but funny.

https://onthebl.org/2021/10/12/the-secret-lives-of-baba-segis-wives-by-lola-shon...

""Women ought to be free — as free as we are."" Newland Archer

""You might call it nerdiness, but people with passion are much more interesting than those without it.""

"True to her character, she hid grandma's gold under her bed and pretended she didn't remember it was there when she prayed."

"These words are so embedded in our language that it takes active practice and conscious effort to break away from using them."

With a sense of humor, Kathy Benjamin prepares her readers for the one completely unavoidable consequence of living: death. Like it or not, death comes for us all. Unfortunately for us, we can't control what happens once we're gone, but with a little bit of preparedness, we can sure try.
https://onthebl.org/2021/09/16/confronting-death-in-its-your-funeral-by-kathy-be...

I named a puppy after May Welland in this book.

Green Banks, West Virginia is the heart of a zone with bans on all devices emitting radio frequencies so astronomers can look past the stars. The quiet zone keeps away WiFi and technology, but creates an atmosphere perfect for less than wholesome individuals.

https://onthebl.org/2021/09/14/stephen-kurczy-finds-the-dark-side-of-the-quiet-z...

These books are a the of of my reading list. I'm excited to get started.

https://onthebl.org/2021/09/13/11-books-im-excited-to-read-this-fall/

I love a good travel guide when I head to new destinations.

Pride may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop challenging and educating ourselves. Pride isn't a month, it's an existence for those of us in the LGBTQ+ community. These are my three favorite books dedicated to the lives and issues of the queer community that I've read thus far this year. These are incredible books committed to the LGBTQ community. https://onthebl.org/2021/07/15/pride-month-may-be-over-but-heres-an-lgbtq-readin...

Pride may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop challenging and educating ourselves. Pride isn't a month, it's an existence for those of us in the LGBTQ+ community. These are my three favorite books dedicated to the lives and issues of the queer community that I've read thus far this year. These are incredible books committed to the LGBTQ community. https://onthebl.org/2021/07/15/pride-month-may-be-over-but-heres-an-lgbtq-readin...

Pride may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop challenging and educating ourselves. Pride isn't a month, it's an existence for those of us in the LGBTQ+ community. These are my three favorite books dedicated to the lives and issues of the queer community that I've read thus far this year. These are incredible books committed to the LGBTQ community. https://onthebl.org/2021/07/15/pride-month-may-be-over-but-heres-an-lgbtq-readin...

“In the meantime, this book is an attempt to answer one of my own [questions]: How do you learn to love yourself and other people like you when every cue in the world tells you it‘s impossible?”

Quinn creates the captivating world of 1940‘s Bletchley Park, England to dive into. On the surface it may seem like a social critique of the past, but the society and standards Osla, Mab, and Beth live in are still far too au courant. Quinn takes a hard look at women's role in and erasure from history all while critiquing modern society through a historical context. https://onthebl.org/2021/05/11/forging-friendships-in-the-rose-code-by-kate-quin...

This is an incredible book. I will always suggest it.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/27/remembering-and-rereading-kate-chopins-the-awaken...

"...comfort never encouraged anyone to spread their wings."

I have loved Priyanka since her Bollywood days, and her memoir was beautiful and moving.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/13/books-to-read-this-spring-2021/

A really sweet novel about human connection.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/13/books-to-read-this-spring-2021/

This was good.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/13/books-to-read-this-spring-2021/

I hated it.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/13/books-to-read-this-spring-2021/

It was real bad.

https://onthebl.org/2021/04/13/books-to-read-this-spring-2021/

I found it completely forgettable even while I was reading it. I find that astonishing because Berman tackles complicated and important issues women face every day with grace and insight. She approaches so many of the themes I search for in female driven narratives. I love it in theory, but in action, it feels like a flawed diamond. https://onthebl.org/2021/03/03/a-flawed-diamond-the-learning-curve-by-mandy-berm...

Laura Lippman is a badass and a woman who loves herself; that is a feminist revolution in and of itself. It's the essence of being a villainess, Lippman has spent her life living and conforming and fighting against the society that tears her and every woman down. She confronts it with razor sharp observation and humor of an intelligent woman and writer. https://onthebl.org/2021/01/19/laura-lippmans-feminist-revolution-in-my-life-as-...

Christmas stories are not diverse. I finally found it in Jasmine Guillory‘s Royal Holiday. Honestly, this is probably one of my favorite rom-commy books I‘ve ever read. It's definitely well crafted and thought out because of its honesty, commitment to real life, and creating believable, interesting characters who I don‘t want to punch.
https://onthebl.org/2020/12/16/finding-christmas-diversity-in-royal-holiday-by-j...

It's hard getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Every year, during the month of December, I read and review Christmas books. After a few years, I have encountered some amazing ones and even more crap Christmas novels. I want to save others the pain of reading and wasting their time on boring and terrible books, so I've made a list of my favorites. https://onthebl.org/2020/12/14/11-of-my-favorite-christmas-books-to-read/

Will Ferrell brought Buddy the Elf to life in one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. I'm not even exaggerating. Everyone knows the movie. But what's better than a movie? A short, feel-good book you can read before bed with or without children! The film has been adapted into a short and sweet illustrated version, keeping the most memorable quotes.
https://onthebl.org/2020/12/10/bed-time-story-of-christmas-cheer-with-buddy-the-...

It is probably the worst book I've read all year. It's terrible. I really think only Christian women with a sex-sensitivity [or intimacy-sensitivity] will enjoy this book. It's a disaster on paper. I'm also incredibly confused by the title and cover art... It does not match the setting of the vast majority of the plot: an Amazon River cruise.
https://onthebl.org/2020/12/05/a-chaste-christmas-novel-debbie-macombers-jingle-...

Two wildly incompatible women are set up on a disaster of a blind date only to find themselves in a fake relationship for the holidays. I don't really like reading romance novels, but I wanted to pick this one up because it focuses on two women falling in love. There's amazing depictions of female friendships, and I love women supporting women. https://onthebl.org/2020/12/02/lgbtq-romance-in-written-in-the-stars-by-alexandr...

I don't have anything bad to say about this book. There are some really beautiful and poignant aspects of the plot and the way the story is created, but honestly, I found it a bit forgettable. It didn't rock my soul while I was reading it, and I can't recall anything past what I wrote down as I was reading it. I know a lot of people loved it, but it just didn't resonate with me.

https://onthebl.org/2020/11/30/dear-edward-by-ann-napolitano/

Beautifully honest dive into the heartbreaking memories that set the actor on a path and life full of talent and pain. He revisits the childhood trauma and violence endured growing up at the hands of his father with the raw honesty any survivor can relate to. It was poignant and stunningly written. He ranged from deep pain to exceptional grace towards his father

https://onthebl.org/2020/11/12/childhood-trauma-in-alan-cummings-not-my-fathers-...

The title is terrible. It implies that Gellhorn's life was ruined after her love affair and marriage with Hemingway; yet she had 54 more incredible, productive, and successful years ahead of her. She was one of the greatest war correspondents, but McLain doesn't honor her entire memory. https://onthebl.org/2020/10/06/ignore-the-title-paula-mclains-love-and-ruin-isnt...

It's a great book for a laugh during these dark times. It‘s real in the way you want memoirs to be; it‘s funny in the way you hope a comic‘s memoir is; and it‘s raw in a way a strong woman who knows her own mind is. With cameos and advice, Poehler is funny and serious. She makes it clear she hates writing books, don't expext another one anytime soon. https://onthebl.org/2020/10/04/id-like-all-advice-to-be-as-friendly-as-amy-poehl...

“...the idea of seeing what you want to see is human nature, and that certainly hasn‘t changed.”

This exceptional collection of essays will break your heart and open your mind. Asia is an expansive and diverse area of the world, but America has one word for an equally diverse people: Asian. This is one of many ways America sweeps over oppression and racism with an optimistic view that does not mirror the reality Asian Americans live with. https://onthebl.org/2020/10/01/racial-consciousness-in-minor-feelings-by-cathy-p...

Most of us can't relate to losing an international cosmetics corporation or a trust fund. But most can relate to feeling like we're facing off against the world. The Wangs are doing all of the above. In Jade Chang's The Wangs vs. The World, after losing everything Charles Wang packs up his entire family in his dead first wife's 1980's Mercedes. https://onthebl.org/2020/09/23/relatable-millionaires-in-jade-changs-the-wangs-v...

It rides on the back of the kindergarten playground advice: “He‘s mean to you because he likes you.” At best it's problematic; at worst, it's toxic. I was sick and tired of hearing how short Lucy is and how tall and masculine Joshua is by page 35. I would have preferred an ending where Lucy goes to therapy because she hates her attraction to douchey – yet tall – coworker. https://onthebl.org/2020/08/11/toxicity-in-sally-thornes-the-hating-game/

Mary L. Trump is Donald Trump's only niece and a doctor of clinical psychology. She humanizes him, giving background to one of the most powerful and dangerous men in the world in her book about the Trump family. If you've ever wondered how Donald became Donald, Dr. Trump gives incredible insight, from statistics, facts, quotes, to anecdotes. https://onthebl.org/2020/09/29/humanization-of-donald-trump-in-mary-l-trumps-too...