The cozy small business story of Legends & Lattes meets the progressive sci-fi of Becky Chambers, with a flavor entirely its own, in this fresh, heartwarming tale about a motley crew of robots launching a restaurant amid PTSD, prejudice, and review bombing in a future post-war San Francisco. I ATE this UP and already miss the team at Automatic Noodle and the friendship, pride, and love found at the bottom of a bowl of their biang biang noodles!

I‘ve read all of India Holton‘s books, and this is another pleasant, humorous Victorian romantasy that made for light and easy listening! But, although the characters, romances, and magic is different in each one, I also find myself getting progressively bored with them, I‘m sad to say 😕

T. Kingfisher‘s spellbinding dark fairy tales never miss! Hemlock & Silver is a mysterious, surprising, and satisfying twist on the classic fairy tale of Snow White, in an immersive world all its own, starring a mid-30s spinster poison expert, a gruff bodyguard, the scientific method, and the most unsettling magic mirror you‘ll ever face! I loved this one and think it will please fans of Nettle & Bone like me! 🍎🪞🤢

This one is for everyone who grew up reading Tamora Pierce—but especially for the generation after. In Lorel, we have a courageous and tender-hearted transfemme lead disguising herself and going after her dream of joining an order of witches. The characters, world-building, and magic were wonderful—but I expected more depth and complexity from a bildungsroman marketed to adults vs a YA novel. Maybe the sequel will bring more, I‘ll be waiting!

For being such a quick listen, this is a satisfying, spicy trademark Ali Hazelwood romance, perfect for sidestepping a book hangover from LOVING Deep End! I really enjoyed the setting—rival video game developer firms at a forced retreat to test if they can handle a meaningful and compelling installment of a beloved game. Fantastic!

This is the first Ali Hazelwood I didn‘t read the second I could get my mitts on it, and that will never happen again. I was put off by some marketing that this was darker, and I didn‘t love the drama in Not In Love and worried it would be similar, but this is a new all-time fav, exploring a dominance and submission kink in a super hot, emotionally complex, and still giggle-and-kick-your-feet worthy way—trademarks of all my favs by this author!

Suzanne Collins gives us another revelatory, thought-provoking, tragic, and hopeful piece of Hunger Games history in this prequel starring our favorite, inebriated mentor from District 12, in his own lethal Quarter Quell, when he was 16 and in love with a daring Covey girl of his own. The insights and character origins we get are more than worth the read on their own, but young Haymitch‘s powerful examination of propaganda is even more valuable.

Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders casts her most powerful spell here—transforming the raw ingredients of grief, generational trauma, smear campaigns, and transphobia, with queer love, community organizing, and the heart‘s truest desires to craft a deeply relevant, resonant, painful, and healing masterwork, charged through with unwavering realism and unwieldy magic, and an 18th century literary mystery bubbling up from below!

An absolute masterpiece, this book-within-a-book follows a disabled Nigerian-American author as she skyrockets to fame—and the main character of her book, Ankara, a “rusted robot” and android scholar on a post-human Earth. Disability, identity, family, fame, what it means to be the author of your own story, Okorafor offers a rich and razor sharp exploration of it all in Death of the Author, with an ending that made me want to start all over again!

The traditional magic British boarding school like you‘ve never seen it before—through the eyes of the highly competent, over-worked Director of Magic who has to keep a centuries-old campus and its reckless students safe from the demons her own power runs off. I loved seeing one of my all-time favorite tropes turned on its head, with a badass bisexual magician at the helm! Highly recommended for fans of the Scholomance trilogy & Magic for Liars.

Don‘t let the serene cover fool you—nor the accessibility or beauty of Mary Oliver‘s poetry—this celebration of the beloved poet is as multifaceted, wry, sharp, and fearless of the depths as Mary Oliver was herself. The reverent, nature-loving, queer, chain smoking mystic of forest, stream, and shore is vividly remembered in this gift of an audiobook, featuring celebrated poets, Mary Oliver‘s students, stars, activists, and more.

Do you want to know what madness feels like? Or maybe you already do, but seeing your experience reflected in a modern classic might make you feel less alone or give you a new perspective? The Bell Jar is a complex, vivid, and beautifully, painfully wrought masterpiece, at turns scathingly funny, uncomfortably ugly, blazingly honest, and unbearably real. If you‘ve worked hard, followed the rules, only to realize it‘s all phony, this is for you.

A C.M. Nascosta monster romance is always a good time! This one has a slow start, but once our somewhat immature werewolf, back home in Cambric Creek under his esteemed family‘s paw, meets the divorcée who wants his baby…things start shape shifting up! The spice is top shelf as always, and I really appreciated this story line‘s spin on the tropes!

This follow up to one of my favorite fantasies follows the librarian who created The Spellshop‘s sentient spider plant. When Terlu wakes after years in statue form, she finds herself on an island of magical greenhouses, full of powerful plants, singing flowers, and tiny pollinating dragons, but empty of anyone except a reclusive gardener with a baking talent. A little long, but a lovely and heartening story about loss, loneliness, and community.

This second book in the Carls duology dramatically expands the roles of its diverse, flawed, and lovable supporting characters, as well as the plane of action and the stakes—from first contact to corporate espionage and far beyond. I took my time with this one because I‘d rather be in Hank Green‘s dystopic world than this one.

This reader will follow R.F. Kuang anywhere, even to Hell and (hopefully) back, hot on the heels of two rival Cambridge students who must bring their advisor back from the dead to graduate. Katabasis is the ultimate dark academia fantasy about the denial of the flesh, hellish demands, deals with the devil it can take to ascend the ivory tower, to live “the life of the mind”—but above all, a romantic revelation about what really makes life magical.

A wryly funny, complex, and lovable queer cast of characters ground this ambitious and engaging exploration of how humans respond to the unknown and to the crucible of social media celebrity—ultimately resonating deeply as a celebration of curiosity, found family, and online community. Recommended for fans of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow!

8 fairy tales by the woman who coined the term are presented in a fresh translation by foremost fairy scholar Jack Zipes and reinterpreted in full color illustrations that vary from enchanting to grotesque by Natalie Frank. At their best, you can easily see the line from Marie-Catherine d‘Aulnoy to Angela Carter and beyond, but some definitely feel more relevant and provocative than others.

A lady left with only half a soul by the High Fae meets a grumpy sorcerer with a heart of gold in this utterly charming and delightfully unexpected Regency-era fairy tale. Sorcery, social justice, slowburn romance, found family, and an encouraging message about what makes life worth living in an unjust society makes this highly recommended for fans of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, & The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk!

Welcome to the Fairweather, a generation ship whose passengers regenerate new bodies when they die, or let their minds rest, literally, in the library. When a real death occurs, shrewd ship‘s detective Dorothy Gentleman finds herself back in a body—and it might be the murderer‘s. If you love to solve a mystery, this may not be for you, but as more of a sci-fi fan, I didn‘t mind letting Dorothy do all the hard work while I enjoyed the stellar view!

Inspired by the history of 15th century West Africa and the myth of Persephone, this well-plotted and rivetingly-told historical fiction is for fans of women‘s rights—but more importantly women‘s wrongs, troubled mother-daughter relationships, court intrigue, and underdogs who bite back. I do wish we‘d gotten more of Òdòdó‘s backstory so her character development was deeper and richer.

A temp takes her many jobs to mythic proportions—pirate, assassin, purveyor of pamphlets, and more—in this quirky, absurd, moving, and ultimately devastating meditation on the ways humans strive for permanence and stability in a world that‘s ever changing.

Brief yet astonishingly beautiful, this Booker Prize winner follows 6 astronauts from around the world, as they travel not to the moon or Mars or galaxies unknown, but around our own planet. Aboard the International Space Station, they witness 16 sunrises and sunsets over just 24 hours, reflecting on their lives, loved ones, borders, time, and space. Slightly less substantial or radical than I‘d like, but a worthwhile trip all the same!

My father-in-law recently asked me why I cry. I burst out laughing— isn‘t it obvious? Then I picked up The Art of Crying! This illustrated work of graphic nonfiction blends history, science, and memoir to explore why, in a world of over 2 million animals, humans are the only species who shed tears emotionally. It turns out that asking why we cry is a great question—with an extraordinary answer that reveals the beauty, mystery, and power of tears.

A nice light read to recap the record-breaking music career of Taylor Swift and commemorate the Eras Tour-de-force it all led to, by long-time fan and Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield (who sneaks in as many lyrical-references as possible. Nothing mind blowing for a full-on fan, but a fun time and a good primer for beginner Swifties.

This is a soft pick for me. I love T. Kingfisher, but cozy fantasy has to strike me at the right time, otherwise the meandering pace just feels like a slog, and this was just longer than my interest. That said, I haven‘t read her other books set in this world, and I loved the worldbuilding, especially involving the different priesthoods.

If you love sharp-fanged Fairylands, twisted court politics, enemies-to-lovers, and a heroine as hard-nosed, badass, and morally gray as she is secretly loyal and true-hearted, you‘ll love the Folk of the Air series! I particularly relished how this trilogy reflects on and interweaves childhood trauma, romantic relationships, and power dynamics, all while being fun, surprising, and a little feral the whole time.

Do you have a story to tell? For over 25 years, The Moth has been bringing masterful storytellers to stages and radios across the country, and in this book they finally put their process of sourcing, shaping, and performing stories onto the page for all. How to Tell a Story reminded me why I believe in the power of stories to change the world, it made me more confident to tell my own, and it gave me the tools to tell my story and be heard.

I enjoyed this second book in the Folk of the Air series even more than the first! Jude may have finally gotten the upper hand, but can she keep her grip on the crown, the wicked King Carden, and her own family? The court intrigue and romantic tension only get better!

A human child raised in Faerie must forge her own path among the cruel and fantastic court of the Fae in this popular young adult series-starter, with urban fantasy elements that reminded me of Sunshine by Robin McKinley and Fae elements that reminded me of the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett. A slow pace had me antsy at times, but the world-building paid off in an excellent plot twist, and I‘m heading into the second book now!

Did your religious anxiety turn into climate anxiety, and either way, you‘re currently wrestling with apocalyptic anxiety with a side of the end of democracy?! Well, apparently it‘s not just me! A philosophy primer by way of memoir, this short book is by a kindred spirit, social worker, and psychotherapist who‘s found help in Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Arendt, Aristotle, and others. I only wish this book were a little longer and more novice-friendly!

For centuries, we‘ve hailed her as the sole woman literary genius of her era…so why have we been spurning her favorite books by fellow women writers for nearly as long? In this warmly written account of her search for the women writers Jane Austen had on her own shelf, Rebecca Romney invites you on a literary adventure, offering her guidance as a scholar and rare book dealer, and as a reader and collector herself, as she builds a shelf of her own.

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”— direct quote from your new book boyfriend. Northanger Abbey is a clever, comical, and loving send-up of the gothic novel, starring a naive, book-loving heroine who always thinks she‘s about to be thrown into the plot of her current page-turner and a pining know-it-all hero whose defense of popular fiction had me swooning over 200 years later!

I just love Rachel Harrison‘s bitingly comic blend of social commentary and feminist horror. This one‘s special though, because it‘s for the religious trauma girlies like me—and a potent reminder that, as dark and isolating as it can be, it‘s better to be a black sheep than a sacrificial lamb. 🤘

American cemeteries have inspired landscape architecture, poets like Emerson, Whitman, Dickinson, and famous parks like Disneyland. They‘re also potent political tools & symbols, from Arlington to the separate African American Graveyard at Monticello. The strange, surprising story of the American cemetery comes alive in this tour across the country, from Savannah to Sleepy Hollow to Hollywood, with a journalist/veteran/grave digger at the wheel!

Jane Austen acolytes & Bridgerton besties, I must insist you add this darling graphic novel to your dance card. Set in a diverse, inclusive alt-Regency-era, a marriage of convenience between a reputation-ruined lady and a financially-ruined gentleman settles into surprising contentment, but will it survive the chance for more? Sexy and satisfying, moving and romantic, this pitch-perfect read is a quick one, but you‘ll savor it like a spiced tea.

Shapeshifting from gory horror to cozy fantasy and back again as quickly and inventively as its monstrous heroine changes form, this utterly unique story about found family, queer love (with Ace rep!), generational trauma, and modern parenting will make a nest in your heart if you‘re not careful! Recommended with no rationale for fans of T. Kingfisher, Tamsyn Muir, and Andrew Joseph White!

A lake monster, a witch, and a hobgoblin go on a quest to save their home from a malevolent force in a pastor‘s cassock in this darkly cozy fantasy that draws on British, Celtic, and Arthurian folklore. The slow pace had me skimming, and I didn‘t find the central plot the most compelling—I loved the parts that explored the challenges of friendship between the disparate companions, and I wish we‘d gotten more of that, especially from Brackus.

A new spin on “listen and learn”! If you can‘t hear your favorite album again for the first time, you can listen with ears newly informed by a 33 1/3 book, a vast series of pocket-size deep-dives on a single album. Here, the iconic, cloudbusting, and complex Hounds of Love is skillfully and sonically explored by music professor Leah Kardos, from the fine details of its production and reception to the big sky of its lore, lyricism, and beyond.

The author of Tender Is the Flesh returns with a post-apocalyptic cult of unholy terrors. As literary horror, I appreciate the disturbing and grotesque connections drawn between climate change, religious extremism, the oppression of women, the mutilation of the natural world, and the renewing and transformative power of love in action…but, as dystopia…to me, this felt derivative of The Handmaid‘s Tale and Oryx & Crake, without the political depth.

This one-night-stand accidental pregnancy romance between two friends of friends, both with limb differences, is sweet, moving, and satisfying, but I also didn‘t feel a pressing urge to return to the story. Recommended for when you‘re in the mood for a heartwarming, nicely spiced, gently-paced journey to a happy ending!

If you thought grumpy Cambridge scholar Emily Wilde‘s research into faerie-kind and their mysterious realms was enchanting, intense, or quite seriously ill-advised before…just wait until she becomes the queen of one! This series is so clever, delicious, and fantastically conceived—I‘ll walk through any faerie door on the heels of Emily, her dandy of a faerie prince, and their expanding world of colleagues, companions, beasts, friends, and foes!

Gross, shocking, and full of science, this collection of snack-size essays on macabre subjects is a blast to read! From the studies behind pee in pools to pets eating their owners to psychopaths and plenty more, there‘s something for every curious mind and strong stomach here. One of my favorites is about an heiress who used her fortune to create disturbingly accurate doll house murder scenes to train homicide investigators, still used today!

I loved Charlotte Stein‘s When Grumpy Met Sunshine and forthcoming My Big Fat Fake Marriage, even though I‘m more of a fantasy reader, so I really didn‘t want to give up on this one but 30% in, I cannot forgive the love interest for the fatphobic high school prank he pulled on the heroine in the opening chapter and it‘s taking too long to get a reason to forgive him, for me. I think the book‘s tone is a mismatch for how I took the incident.

This cozy, spicy romantasy is inspired by Peruvian culture and folklore and is highly recommended for fans of talking animals, mythical creatures, and lots of small town charm! The romance in here was sweet but didn‘t excite me—I think there was too much insta-attraction for me, but still a fun, gentle read to enjoy!

A sapphic Jewish fantasy featuring academic rivals on a magical dark academia quest amidst political intrigue in a setting inspired by an obscure period of history (the unification of Germany)? Yes, please! I especially loved how the jaded Lorelei related to each character through the folklore they reminded her of. I wish there was more to the story, especially in the end, politically, but there‘s still much to love in this lyrically told tale.

We gave out copies of books our late friend loved at his memorial, and I picked this one. Introduced by Aldous Huxley and written by his wife, this unconventional 1963 self-help book contains a series of “recipes,” embodied psychological practices to aid in living life well. I trust, although the title recipe is a bit dated, these recipes can make a difference, but they‘re so involved and wacky that I would only use them in a crisis, to be honest!

Another Wayward Children adventure? Reader, I couldn‘t wait to take the plunge! This time, a door of pussy willows and pond ripples leads to Belyrekka, a Russian water-lore world full of fearsome frogs and courageous turtles, an underwater home that calls to Nadya, a Drowned Girl with a limb difference you may remember from the quest to The Halls of the Dead in Beneath the Sugar Sky. I loved exploring Belyrekka and can‘t wait for the next quest!

A Hugo and Nebula Award winning series of historically informed hard sci-fi with progressive themes, diverse characters, and women in STEM front and center? Join me in the Lady Astronaut universe already! In this fourth book, Dr. Elma York must pilot her way through a bumpy first year on Mars, amid possible sabotage, a secretive past expedition, physical changes, and more, as she and her fellow inhabitants find their rhythm on the Red Planet.

This witchy retelling of Anne of Green Gables is utterly charming and stars Grace, an orphan who must complete a grimoire full of spells to become the witch of the wood‘s apprentice…or lose her magic. I loved the culturally diverse cast of characters, the magical twists on the classic story, and that more readers will encounter one of my favorite characters in literature! Highly recommended for fans of Netflix‘s Anne with an E, of course!