April 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

Before You Were Anne by Emiko Jean - This will be among my favorites of the year, I'm calling it now. I started it as soon as I got it and it sucked me in like Ellie Black did. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 10/6

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins - Not my typical read as it's romance-y, but I enjoyed. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen - I liked this so much. Who among us has not had a quarter life crisis, there's a song lyric about it for god's sake. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 

The Frenzy: Stories by Joyce Carol Oates - This was a good collection of weird short stories, and as always with short stories I wanted most of them to be longer while admiring the skill it takes to write them as presented. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 6/16

Honey in the Wound by Jiyoung Han - This is a tremendous debut and a masterful weaving of reality and magical realism, but man this is a gut punch and devastating in many ways. Tales that need telling are not always tales easy to digest. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier - I always anticipate a new Jennifer Hillier with glee. This one had a lot going on but I enjoyed it and it came together well, if not a little rushed at the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 8/25

The Shark House by Sara Ackerman - I was surprised by how much I liked this and how much I liked and felt for the sharks in it LOL. Library hardcover

Passed the Time Just Fine

No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams - What a weird little town. I liked Dolores and the storyline, but not necessarily the execution or the pace with which things came together. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

United States of Oligarchy: How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy by Casey Michel - Nonfiction is not my jam but this was timely and frustrating. I wish more people understood what oligarchy is and how it functions and the impact it has on regular people. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 8/4

When I Kill You by B.A. Paris - I made quick work of this in one afternoon - I was meh on it until about halfway through, then it kicked in. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

The Good Vampire's Guide to Blood and Boyfriends by Jamie D'Amato - This read very YA. Unrelated - lots of Taylor Swift references. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

We Fell Apart (We Were Liars #3) by E. Lockhart - About halfway through this, I realized I couldn't remember anything about #2, but I don't think that would have helped. I thought about putting this down but didn't. I could have and been fine with that. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Probability of Murder by J.D. Barker - I was pumped for this since I was a latecomer for the Monkey series or whatever it's called, and I tore through those. This was a little slow and repetitive but it picked up about halfway through. Interesting premise and set local-ish to me which I always like. The math was well over my head but I respect it. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 6/2

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister - It pains me to put you down here in this category, friend. But lord the insane missteps and just fucking lunatic choices in this book. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 65/5

Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor - This is billed as laugh out loud funny and for fans of HBO's Hacks and it is not and it is not. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

 Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez - via Netgalley, publishes 5/12

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What have you been reading?

March 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

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser - This knocked my socks clean off. Fantastic writing, a stunning flip on a well known story, incredible and imaginative retelling. The last line of the book is perfection, 10/10 no notes. Thanks to St. Martins Press for the free advanced copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review    

Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker - This book. It will without a doubt be in my top three this year. I loved The characters, the story, the writing. It had grit and heart. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes May 19

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth - Loved the Kenny Lane crew, and I always love a snarky but soft senior lady as a main character. Quietly devastating in spots. Thanks to the publisher for the invite to read an advanced copy via Netgalley 

Imposter (Alexander Gregory Thrillers 1) by L.J. Ross - A promising series, we know I love a little mystery series. I can't for the life of me recall where I heard about these. Reddit? Or maybe one was available on Netgalley, and I sussed out it was a series and went back to the beginning. Used paperback, own, passed on in Little Free Library

Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave -  Messy and beautiful and a little devastating in some spots. Human, in other words. Erica was hard to like from the beginning. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris - I sunk deep into this one - survival, redemption, piecing yourself back together, identity, found family...all with the backdrop of flowers. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson - I haven’t read many books set during the Prohibition era that were actually about it in some way. I  liked that angle, but the term “prohi” drove me completely insane.

That aside, I liked this! It felt fun even when it was serious (and there are some damn serious things within). Loved the Ozarks setting. Shine was a great character. I  would have liked more of Lidy and Rebecca. 

Thanks to the Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Passed the Time Just Fine

Hysteria (Alexander Gregory Thrillers 2) by L.J. Ross - A decent follow up, and I'd like to zoom through these but unfortunately they're not easily found in America right now. Heading to Europe next week and will likely look there. Used paperback, own, passed on in Little Free Library

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle - A quick read - who doesn’t love a little magical realism and a beach setting? Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - I also saw the author on tour for the book so own a hardcover copy and read that one

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown - Still WTFing this ending a little. I liked The past storyline a lot, feel like it could have ended sooner. The present storyline was a unique perspective/glimpse into that world. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh - Very interesting premise, and I liked the ending. I  struggled with the main character and the intro into her life as it is now and all the things going and with pacing in some spots. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes May 19

All the World Can Holdy by Jung Yun - A little slow but good - brought me right back to the surreal weeks after September 11. This felt more timely than ever. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn - Least favorite Kate Quinn by a mile. This almost went down into not for me. Library hard cover

Talking to the Wolf by Rebecca Chace - I wasn’t sure I’d stick with this at first, but I’m glad I did. Love and loss and music and female friendship through life’s ups and downs over decades. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes May 19

Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel by Arushi Avachat - Definitely YA. Cute! A quick read with likable characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes May 19

Not For Me

Love at First Bite by Katherine Dyson - A quick read despite being a little slow to get into - I liked the concept, but thought there would be more vampire lore given the description. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

 N/a

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What have you been reading?