Honest book reviews, indie publications, book club guides, and vintage-inspired notebooks
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Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is an attempted satirical takedown of tradwife influencer culture that ultimately reflects a shallow understanding of fundamentalist Christianity and collapses under the weight of its third act. This review contains major spoilers and discusses themes of religious fundamentalism, mental illness, and queerness. Summary:My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I […]
A psychological thriller about missing Black girls, fertility stress, and intergenerational trauma’s impact on mental health. Summary:In the wake of her grandmother’s passing, Sydney Singleton finds a hidden photograph of a little girl who looks more like Sydney than her own sister or mother. She soon discovers the mystery girl in the photograph is her […]
A moody, character-driven thriller about survival, intuition, and the blurry line between opportunity and deception. Summary:On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a […]
What does The Chronicles of Narnia look like through the eyes of a queer, progressive Christian rereading the series as an adult? Summary:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – Four children sent to the countryside to escape the bombing of London of WWII open a door in their host’s home and enter Narnia. In […]
A powerful disability memoir about faith, resilience, and healing after a shark attack. Summary:They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing—not even the loss of her arm—could come between her and the waves? That Halloween […]
A beautifully illustrated middle grade biography of Maria Merian—the 17th-century artist-scientist who transformed our understanding of butterflies, nature, and the role of women in science. Summary:Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe […]
An essential, genre-inclusive writing guide packed with practical advice and thoughtful exercises for writers at any stage. Summary:From the celebrated Ursula K. Le Guin, “a writer of enormous intelligence and wit, a master storyteller” ( Boston Globe ), the revised and updated edition of her classic guide to the essentials of a writer’s craft. Completely […]
A psychological thriller about a grieving husband who sees his missing wife’s double on a remote Scottish island. Summary:Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life. Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, educate the public, reduce stigma, and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. As someone who believes in the power of books to change lives, I thought this was the perfect […]
A sweet, closed-door sapphic romance set in Sài Gòn, where two foodie 18-year-olds fall for each other while uncovering family secrets and rekindling a love of food writing. Summary:In Sài Gòn, Lan is always trying to be the perfect daughter, dependable and willing to care for her widowed mother and their bánh mì stall. Her […]
