January 2026 reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

The White Hot by Quiara Alegria Hudes - I could not put this down. A quick read, excellent writing, hard shit, Philly base. Ticks my boxes. OCNJ library hardcover

Tourist Season (Seasons of Carnage #1) by Brynne Weaver - This was a fun one, as everything I've read by Brynne Weaver has been. A little thriller, a little gore, a little darkness. OCNJ library hardcover

When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery - File under: things you don’t learn in school and should seek out for yourself. I am not a big nonfiction reader, but I  loved this and how the author wove trees and history together. Beautiful and awful, both. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 

A Suit or a Suitcase: Poems by Maggie Smith - Mind, body, and memory - a solid collection of poems. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - publishes 3/24

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Briars by Sarah Crouch - I liked this a lot - the setting, characters, and storyline all hit for me and I tore through it. OCNJ library hardcover

Skylark by Paula McLain - Slow to get into, doubly so for me because I don’t love alternating timelines, but amazing writing as typical of McClain Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, and the publisher for a paperback copy which I am happy to keep on the shelf. 

One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith - I fell right into this, and couldn't put it down despite it being slower paced than I prefer. Family and secrets, a recipe for a good novel in a lot of cases including this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 

Her Beautiful Life by Brianna Labuskes - Not my favorite Labuskes but it still had me in a grip. Who can be trusted? Gotta race to the end to find out. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlitt - 3.75 - the central love and friendship relationship in the context of power did not sit right with me throughout but I enjoyed this read and am still not over the ending. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/17

She Fell Away by Lenore Nash - I think this is about to be a series - I hope it is, because I'll continue with it. I liked Lake Harlowe a lot. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/10

Not For Me

The Last of Earth by Deepa Anappara - Sometimes it just moves way too slowly for me, and that was the case here. Really interesting storyline but quite dry and slow. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen - I usually connect with Anna Quindlen books, and that was not the case here. Still surely readable and a good storyline, but overall not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard via Netgalley 

Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel via Netgalley 

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What have you been reading?