What makes a home a home? A review of Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

This book is so different than any book I’ve ever read! Infinite Country an amazing Own Voices book from writer Patricia Engel, who is the daughter of Columbian immigrants. The story centers around a Columbian family torn apart by their mixed immigration status, which gave me a really cool opportunity to learn a new perspective and read a powerful account of what it means to be undocumented in this country.

Quick synopsis: Seeped in Andean mythology, Infinite Country follows a Colombian family between continents, as parents Elena and Mauro fall in love as teens in Colombia, seek a home and expand their family in the U.S., watch their family being torn apart due to their mixed status, and ultimately seek refuge and home together again.

Although this book was less than 200 pages, it still managed to read like a 500+ page epic. While it was a quick read (not something typically associated with an epic), it was so full of detail, both in terms of character development and plot. Engel’s writing was lyrical and evocative, making me feel each emotion that the characters were experiencing and immersing me as a reader in settings both beautiful and brutal. Additionally, Engel’s writing managed to capture all five senses in each word she wrote in a way that didn’t feel overdone or flashy, but rather familial and pure, which fit the book’s themes of family and home so well.

I loved how she showed both the good and ugly sides of each country — as an American reader, it was an important reminder of how my home is far from perfect when it comes to the way it treats its immigrants, documented and undocumented. This story was full of ugly examples of xenophobia, racism, and other acts of violence or hatred toward the focal family. It really broke my heart seeing such terrible acts in a place that was literally founded by immigrants, reminding me of how many have endured and continue to endure this in order to achieve their American Dream.

And while it certainly didn’t shy away from some of the tragic things happening in Colombia (many of which drove Elena and Mauro to start their lives in the U.S. and risk being undocumented immigrants), this story was full of wonderful urban Bogota folklore and Andean myth, showing the truly beautiful sides of a country that I was unfamiliar with. I feel like in America, politicians and media often point to Colombia as an example of a “bad place,” citing examples of drug cartels and violence. But this Own Voices story totally transformed that narrative, showing what the experience of every day life is like for this Colombian family. If anything, it was a powerful reminder that our country has its fair share of meanness and pure ugliness in how it treats those that are different.

This book had the power to break my heart and heal it all up again, with tragedy and hope in a well-maintained balance. If you’re looking for a short, emotional, yet hopeful immigration story that is sure to show you a new perspective, then I definitely recommend this one for your TBR.

Content Warnings: xenophobia, sexual assault, racism, violence.

Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster

Victimhood in the age of modern media: A review of The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

I don’t know about you, but I find thrillers and mysteries to be some of the the hardest reviews for me to write. While I generally try to leave out spoilers for any book, I always get anxious that I’m going to accidentally spoil something! And when it comes to this genre, I feel it is vital not to do so, as it can totally ruin the book. So I’ll try to be somewhat vague with this review of The Night Swim as to not ruin anything, but hopefully give you just enough that you’ll decide to pick up this awesome thriller!

Quick Synopsis: Rachel Krall, a famous true-crime podcaster, is in the small town of Neapolis covering a high-profile rape case between the former sheriff’s granddaughter and a the town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for the Olympics. When Rachel finds a series of mysterious letters addressed to her begging for her help in solving a decades-old case in the same town — that of Jenny Stills, who tragically drowned, yet whose sister Hannah is convinced was murdered. The more Rachel asks questions, the more roadblocks she faces, as she realizes these two cases may be more intertwined than formerly thought.

This book had me hooked right from the start. I think my natural curiosity and career in journalism made me really connect with Rachel, who started as a reporter before becoming a podcaster. However, I admire her for her risk taking and willingness to do anything to find the story, since I don’t think I could be that brave in the face of a potential murder like she can!

I also enjoyed how this story moved back and forth between past and present, but in a somewhat unique and nontraditional way. The “past” sections, told from Hannah’s point of view (she’s the sister of Jenny Stills, who Hannah believes was murdered and didn’t just drown) are written in letter form, as Hannah continues to leave messages for Rachel, slowly but surely piecing together the mystery.

Most importantly, I found this novel to be a really interesting observation of how rape and sexual assault victims are treated in the media. In an age after the Me Too era and the devastating results of the Brock Turner case, this story was both a criticism and an analysis of how victims are treated in the media — while they do garner support, they also face a lot of harsh criticism, scrutiny, and judgment. This book really forced me to think, Why are rape victims the only victims that have to prove they’re not lying? Why do they bear the burden of proof? In the age of modern media, I think it both acts as a blessing and a curse for victims.

While I consider most thrillers to just be good, solid, and fun reads, this one was also incredibly thought-provoking, too. I definitely had my guesses as to who did it and was totally wrong, so that was a plus, as well. I definitely can’t believe that this one didn’t make the top five picks for Book of the Month’s Book of the Year finalists!

Who counts as a person? A review of The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Happy pub day to this thrill ride of a novel! I’ve never read a book by Sarah Gailey, so I was so excited when I got approved for their newest book, The Echo Wife. I started getting into the science fiction genre with the past couple of years, and this one just sounded so intriguing. Overall, this book was an incredible thrill ride from start to finish that I could barely put down — I read it in only two sittings!

Quick synopsis: Evelyn, the book’s narrator and an incredibly gifted and celebrated scientist whose career focuses on designing realistic clones, faces a dilemma when her ex-husband’s lover Martine — and the woman he cheated on Evelyn with — reaches out to her in a panic to come help her. When Evelyn arrives at the house, she finds her ex murdered. The catch — Martine is Evelyn’s clone, illegally designed and created by her ex-husband.

It’s a trippy, twisty set up for what becomes a creative, dark, yet delightful marriage between domestic thriller and classic science fiction. I’ve never read anything quite like it, so I was absolutely hooked from page one.

Evelyn and Martine are both not always likable, but I found them to be highly relatable, navigating the struggles of womanhood in its many forms: as a wife, ex, friend, and, in their case, a clone. This story forced me to think about the morality behind this science and what constitutes personhood. Was Martine as much of a person as Evelyn? Or are clones — designed for a specific purpose, whether it’s to be a realistic stand-in to protect a politician or, like Martine, to be the perfect wife — disposable? And like any good sci-fi, I found it both marvelously fictional yet also realistic enough it gave me chills thinking about this scenario happening in a near or not-so-near future.

I don’t want to give anymore away as to ruin any plot points, but if you enjoy science fiction or domestic thrillers, this is certainly a great book to consider. I also think this story resembles domestic thriller so much that this book would make an awesome introduction to readers new or unfamiliar to the sci-fi genre.

This book is officially out today, February 16th. Thank you to NetGalley and TOR for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

25 books for 25 years!

Today is my birthday! To be honest, between quarantine, working from home, and just the general busyness of life, it’s kind of snuck up on me. But 25 is a big year! A whole quarter of a century. And while year no. 24 wasn’t the easiest, it was filled with so many incredible blessings. I married the love of my life, moved back to my hometown of Cincinnati, continued with a career in journalism that I love, started up both my bookstagram and blog, so much more. So in honor of year no. 25, here are the 25 books (in no particular order) that really shaped who I am as a person, from all walks of life.

• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Out of all the books I was made to read in school growing up, this is the one that spoke to me the most and helped encourage me to both major in English lit and pursue a journalism career. It discusses the importance of stories in telling the truth, both real stories and fictional — what a powerful theme for any book lover!
• The Shack by William Paul Young. This book broke my heart but then helped it heal all over again. It’s a powerful book about God that reminded me of the power of forgiveness.
• The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo. This is probably the first book I read post-college by an Asian writer. I loved reading a book that featured characters who looked like me, and it really sparked my desire to learn more about my Chinese culture (and Asian culture in general) through fiction.
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. This book just spoke to my imagination as a kid — it’s such a deep, thoughtful read that even as an adult, I still find some new lesson to cherish.
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I picked up this book on an amazing trip to New York City at its popular The Strand bookstore. I read it in just a couple of days and it just hit my emotional core. Haig really knows how to speak about mental health in a way that resonated deeply with me. And a bit of a brag moment — my review of this book got me featured on Good Morning America!
• Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. This is one of the funniest, sharpest satires I’ve read, but it also really made me feel heard as an Asian America. Using Hollywood as a backdrop to express the microaggressions and flat out racism that many Asian Americans face, this story has a beautiful message that it’s okay to crave more for yourself than what society may make you feel like you deserve — it’s okay to want and be more.
• City of Thieves by David Benioff. This is just one of those stories that is an all-around joy to read! It’s got a bit of everything — laughter, friendship, just enough violence, humor, romance, and some solid sex jokes — that made it such an enjoyable book. Reading this book is just a lovely reminder of why books are great!
• Recursion by Blake Crouch. This mind-bending story was my first major foray into science fiction. It definitely helped spark a love of the genre that I’m continuing to explore to this day!
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This sparked my love of mysteries as a 6th grader when it was required reading. I remember reading the entire book in one sitting, which may have gotten me in trouble in class when I accidentally let out some spoilers!
• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. I absolutely love poetry — I took many a poetry class in college. But the first poems I really fell in love with were Shel Silverstein’s collection. They were just so sharp and funny and made me enjoy the English language so much for how creative it allowed people to be!
• This Tender Land by William Kent Kreuger. This tale is exactly what the title suggests — absolutely tender. I’ve always been a sucker for coming of age tales, and I found this one to be so touching. It is at once an odyssey of sorts and also a story of four orphans just trying to find what home really means.
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune. This is one of those just perfect, feel-good, lovely stories that touches your soul. I read it as the pandemic/quarantine really picked up, and it just filled my heart with such warmth and TLC — who wouldn’t love reading about a home full of magical children?!
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. How could I not include the story that my sweet pup Addie is named after?! Addie LaRue is an incredible character, so resourceful, brave, and clever, yet so relatable in her desire to be seen, loved, and remembered. I also loved how this story was a historical fiction, romance, and fantasy all at once — it takes a talented writer to create a genre-bending story of this level. You can check out my full review of it here.
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I read this story first during my senior year of high school. It was one of the first modern literary fiction pieces I had read, and I loved the alternating points of view between all of the women in the family and how much it taught me about faith, family, and womanhood.
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Ah, such a classic. My mom encouraged me to pick these up as a kid, and I’m so glad she did! This was certainly my favorite of the entire series. I adored the adventures of the four Pevensie children and the wonderful lessons it taught about love, bravery, family, friendship, and goodness.
• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. This was one of the first truly “adult” fantasies I had picked up. Of course, I had read a lot of ones that were geared more toward children or young adults, but I fell in love with Gaiman’s atmospheric writing, as he created this underworld that mirrored the above-world of London. It was super dark but also had the most classical elements of a good fantasy, including awesome world-building, a surprising hero, and creepy bad guys.
• Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. Of course I couldn’t make it through this entire list without including at least one Shakespeare play! This lesser-known play of his is one of his most thought-provoking, in my opinion, and covers such an array of feminist-related issues. Plus, I focused on it for my senior capstone in Brit Lit, so I definitely am a bit biased toward this one!
• The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. This is just one of those outright wild books that I absolutely adore, but if you asked me why, I couldn’t totally pinpoint it. Hawkins’ apocalypse story is just so original, humorous, and outrageous that I couldn’t put it down! I’ve read it twice and it was even better the second time.
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This powerful YA book is probably the book that resonated with me the most when it came to the Black Lives Matter movement and why it is so important, tackling heavy topics like racism and police brutality in a way that was so real yet with grace, honesty, and truth. I listened to the audio book version, and the narrator Bahni Turpin was fabulous, bringing so much emotion to the characters and story.
• Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour. I just read this book earlier in 2021, but it is one that I am positive will stick with me for a long, long time. I loved how it discussed race and made me feel so heard as a POC — and while it seems like it was directed mostly at BIPOC, the dedication is to anyone who has ever felt less than, which I believe is a universal feeling any reader can relate to. You can read my full review of it here.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. This story brings back such fond memories of my childhood — my mom read Dahl’s classic to me before bed each night. As an adult, I definitely think my love of fantasy comes from stories such as his, and Dahl truly is the king of capturing childhood whimsy.
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I finished this book while sitting lakeside and remember having a full-on cry fest right in front of all of the other vacationers at the campsite we were staying at. This WWII-era story told from the point of view of Death is such a heartbreaking, yet hope-filled novel. While it’s geared toward children, I can say with surety that adults have so much to gain from it — after all, I was 21 when I first read it!
• The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Before I got to the end of the list, I had to include just one more Shakespeare piece. This one is filled with magic, romance, a shipwreck, and adventure — as one of Shakespeare’s final plays, this one just helped bring so much closure to my career as an English major.
• The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle. One of my closest friends — who also happens to be a major reader herself — lent me this book while I was in graduate school at Syracuse University. I can definitely point it out as the story that helped get me back into reading just for fun! It’s such a creative concept centered around the idea of “If you could eat dinner with any five people, dead or alive, who would it be?” that brought me to tears at the end thinking about life, loss, and love.
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. And as my last pick on this list, I had to give one of my favorite writers a feature. The Night Circus is one of the most magical tales I’ve ever read, and I try to pick it up again every few years just to read Morgenstern’s fabulous writing. I’m not sure how to describe it, but her use of imagery is so powerful and when I read her debut, I felt like I was tucked inside the pages of this novel alongside each character!

My top five favorite romances to read this Valentine’s Day

So a necessary disclaimer: I am not a huge romance reader! That is, I do enjoy a good romance on occasion — sometimes I’m just in the mood for a lighthearted rom-com or a steam-fest that’ll help me leave my stress behind. And let’s just face it. I just love love! So in honor of Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, here are my top five favorite romances (in no particular order) that feature swoon-worthy leading characters; great chemistry; and are delightful or downright steamy.

Well Met by Jen Deluca. Hopefully by now it’s no surprise that I am a HUGE Shakespeare nerd — so when I first came across this romance that centered around a small town’s Renaissance festival, I knew I was in for a good one! I loved Emily and Simon’s chemistry (a tad of the enemy-to-lover trope, except not worn and exhausted!) and the small town vibes. Emily especially was such a relatable character, just trying to figure herself out. And, of course, how could I not love the many references to Shakespeare conspiracies?!

Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. When I first picked it up, I thought the idea of an American political family/British royal romance seemed outlandish, but Alex (son of the first female president) and Prince Henry (son of British royals) were absolutely swoon worthy! Both were so relatable and down to earth despite being famous young adults. I enjoyed watching them both fall in love in a classic, yet never weary feigned-friendship-turned-romance, all while trying to figure themselves out. This book was an absolute joy to read and probably my favorite read of January 2020!

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. Calling all Bachelor/Bachelorette fans! This was such a fresh take on the idea of stereotypical television dating shows. Bea, a plus-size, body-positive fashion and beauty blogger, was a stellar leading lady and so relatable, likable, and full of heart. I loved getting to see her take on the men, battle the criticisms that women face about their looks/weight, learn to step out of her comfort zone, and maybe even fall in love. Most importantly, I wouldn’t be doing this story justice if I didn’t mention how well it brought racial and sexual identity to the forefront, without feeling forced — each character was fully realized and so genuine. Now, if only the actual Bachelor franchise would take a note!

Anna K by Jenny Lee. A modern retelling of Leo Tolstoy’s classic Anna Karenina, this story follows the titular Anna K and her relationship with Count Vronsky. Jenny Lee did an incredible job writing an engaging, steamy romance full of nods to the original Tolstoy classic, that read like a television drama akin to Gossip Girl. But the thing I adored most was the Asian representation. As an Asian American myself, I loved finally seeing a leading lady who looked like me but wasn’t delegated to some side character or uninteresting stereotype.

Beach Read by Emily Henry. Last but not least, Beach Read was a romance that totally captured my heart, written by another Cincinnati dweller. This was definitely a bookstagram-made-me-do-it, as I’m not typically a romance reader. But I found this story to be super substantive. Gus and January worked so well together, and I enjoyed their witty banter and the way they challenged each other. While much of the story focused on their budding enemy-turned-lover relationship, I found January’s personal journey of self-discovery and forgiveness most intriguing. Beach Read is a romance, but it’s also much more – its about how people move on, discover themselves, forgive one another, and step out of their comfort zones and possibly falling in love.

What are you favorite romance reads? Tell me in the comments or let me know on Instagram!

The queer, feminist Western I didn’t know I needed: A review of Outlawed by Anna North

So in case it isn’t evident already, I tend to be drawn toward books that are dark, intense, satirically funny, mysterious, or pretty much bound to make me an emotional wreck. But I try to pick a book outside of my norm at least once a month, whether that is through tone or topic. In January/early February, I decided to go with Outlawed, as I have never read a book with a Western setting before! This one was a short, fun trip outside my norm that provided a great escape into the wild West, full of adventure. Overall, this book had awesome feminist vibes and positive LGBTQIA+ representation, and I. Am. Here. For. It!!!

Quick synopsis: In a town where barren women are thought to be witches and blamed for everything that goes wrong, Ada finds herself on the run as an outlaw when she fails to provide her husband with a child. A talented doctor, she joins up with the Hole in the Wall gang, a band of other outcasts led by the Kid, their enigmatic and charismatic leader.

This book was overall such a fun-filled ride. I loved Ada’s fighting spirit and appreciated how she had to really battle her own internal struggles of craving both motherhood and acceptance, but also recognizing and wanting to fight her society’s hatred toward barren women and groups experiencing “otherness,” such POC, queer-identifying people, and more. While this setting — “In the year of our Lord, 1894” (pg. 1) — seems so far from today’s time, it definitely helped me recognize the ways our society has advanced and become more accepting, but also the ways we’re often still stuck in the past when it comes to stigmas surrounding motherhood, sexual freedom, and queer identity especially.

Additionally, I loved the wide range of characters, such as the Kid, Lark, Cassie, Agnes, and many more. For a short book that was largely plot-driven and not as focused on character development, I still greatly enjoyed getting to know these characters, their personalities, their triumphs, and their struggles. I wish the book had perhaps dived a bit deeper into who each character is since I tend to gravitate toward character development over plot, but with Ada, Lark, and the Kid in particular, North did a great job building back stories for them that were both tragic yet uplifting and made me just want to totally cheer for them until the very end! It was also awesome to see such a diverse, inclusive cast in terms of sexual and gender identity and race. When I think “Western,” I typically think White and ultra-masculine, so it was cool to see this genre totally flipped on its head in terms of inclusivity.

While I probably won’t pick this book up again, I’ll definitely recommend it to any readers looking for a flat-out fun, high-stakes adventure filled with friendship and the search for acceptance — of others and of oneself. And I’ll certainly be looking forward to seeing how it translates to the small screen with Amy Adams at the helm.

The burden and blessing of memory: A review of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Last year, I read Transcendent Kingdom, and it instantly became a favorite of 2020 due to its incredible character development and exploration of tough topics such as religion, racism, addiction, and mental health. So of course I went into Homegoing with HIGH expectations. Through powerful storytelling that discusses the collective power of memory and the meaning of home, I fell in love with this book even more than Transcendent Kingdom and think this one needs to be read by everyone ASAP! It was just that incredible, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and so much more.

Quick synopsis: Two half sisters in 18th century Ghana — unknown to each other — find themselves on two very different paths: one, the wife of a wealthy Englishman who lives in the Cape Coast Castle, the other imprisoned in the castle’s basement and destined for slavery in the U.S. The book proceeds to tell the parallel storylines of these two half sisters through multiple generations, across continents.

This book’s format is unlike any other I have read before. The first two chapters tell the stories of half sisters Effia and Esi, while chapter three focuses on Effia’s son Quey, and chapter four discusses Esi’s daughter Ness, chapter five is Quey’s son James, chapter six is Ness’s son Kojo, etc., etc. While each chapter reads like a standalone story, it is clear that they both build off of the previous generation’s experience, while paralleling with that of their generational counterpart over the course of eight total generations. This may be a tad confusing to explain and is a bit complicated to read at first, but Gyasi provides readers with a family tree at the start of the book — I had this page dog-eared and flipped back pretty much every chapter to make sure I had my characters straight! It was a huge help. But this complicated, multigenerational story was so worth every word.

What was most incredible about each chapter was how invested I became in the individual character. Each chapter was perhaps 20 or 25 pages in length, yet by the end of each one, it felt like I had known these characters as deeply as if I had read a full-length novel about them. Each chapter often takes place over a number of years and dives deeply into not only the character’s experiences but also their emotions, livelihoods, and innermost thoughts. Each character was so well-developed in such a short amount of space, that I wished I could have had an entire book on each of them! And over the course of these eight generations, I got to the end of this novel feeling as if I had read an entire epic — yet over the course of only 300 pages. The character development and generational storylines felt as expansive as if had a bird’s eye view of this family tree, yet as intimate as if I knew each family member personally.

Most importantly, I loved how the book addresses the role of shared, generational memory. As each half sister’s family line parallels the other’s, it is clear the role of generational memory. Each character carries the weight of the love, trauma, pain, hope, livelihood, and much more of the generation(s) before them. It is a heavy weight, sometimes a burden, other times a blessing. But it is a powerful idea, nonetheless, and an important one.

Additionally, I loved the exploration of what home means. As each generation either builds upon the parents’ or grandparents’ choices or decides to forge a new path for him or herself, home took on many meanings. It made me ponder — is home a place? An idea? The people we call family? Or something greater or far more intangible?

As we begin this wonderful month of celebrating Black History Month, this book reminded me of the importance of reading own voices stories. I am so thankful for own voices writers like Gyasi who are willing to share stories like this one that can help us as readers continue to learn from and empathize with characters whose experiences are different then our own. Just another of the countless reasons I love fiction!

If you haven’t checked Homegoing out, I highly recommend it, as it is short, sure to get you thinking, and full of incredible character development and writing quality from Gyasi. If you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below or reach out to me via Instagram.

Incredible stories to celebrate Black History Month

Happy Black History Month! While I think we as readers have a real responsibility to read stories by diverse voices all year long, I do think cultural celebratory months such as this are a wonderful opportunity to take a step back, reflect, educate ourselves, amplify diverse voices, and most importantly celebrate! To start off this incredible month of recognizing and celebrating Black history, I wanted to share a stack of some of my favorite books by Black writers that I have read or have on my TBR.

For me, I hope that this month is one where I not only reflect on all I’ve learned and where I have room to grow when it comes to being a voice for racial inequality, but also to use my love of reading to joyfully celebrate and highlight Black voices, especially this month!

Photo by Ellie Turns the Page.

So here are some mini synopses of the books featured here that I have read, ranging from romance to fantasy, and memoir to coming of age.

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin — What if cities really did have a soul? This fantasy explores the individuals who make up New York City in a creative, fantastical ode to NYC.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett — This story follows twin sisters whose lives diverge when one embraces her Blackness and one chooses to pass as White.

The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper — Dr. Harper, an ER doc, discusses brokenness, in her own experiences, in the patients she encounters, and within a medical system that isn’t always fair.

Here For It; Or How to Save Your Soul in America: Essays by R. Eric Thomas — A hilarious, laugh-out-loud collection of essays that explores how to move forward and keep going in modern America. Hint: the answer involves hope.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon — After Samiah and two other girls go viral when it is discovered they have all been cat-fished by the same guy, the three new best friends make a pact to put themselves first. But that promise is put to the test when Samiah meets sexy, thoughtful Daniel Collins at work.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi — A stunning, expansive story that spans several generations beginning with two Ghanian half-sisters unknown to each other, one who marries into the comfortable life of a White man and the other who is sold into slavery.

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans — This collection of short stories explores race and history in the U.S. You can check out my full review of the novella here.

Memorial by Bryan Washington — Benson and Mike’s relationship is at a crossroads when Mike’s mom finds herself staying with Benson while Mike flies to Japan to reconnect with his dying father. This story explores both their relationship with each other and their families.

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith — Tallie comes across Emmett, who is about to jump off a bridge. After convincing him to come back with her, they discover the power of healing and truth over the course of one short weekend.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour — A laugh-out-loud funny satire about ambition, race, and identity in the American workforce. You can read my full review here.

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi — This story opens with Vivek’s death. What follows is an exploration of the events that lead up to its crisis and the people involved.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi — Gyasi’s newest novel explores themes of loss, faith, science, and addiction through the voice of Gifty, a PhD student studying the role of addiction on the brain, whose depressed mother has come to stay with her. Both continue to reel from Gifty’s brother’s death, the result of addiction.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Tatum — Highly researched and informative, this nonfiction book discusses the role psychology plays when it comes to racial, ethnic, and cultural identities.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré — Told from the perspective of 14-year-old Adunni, this story explores Adunni’s journey to finding her voice on the path to her dream of gaining an education, escaping poverty, and one day helping other girls do so as well. You can check out my full review of the book here.

Books on my to be read list include The Mothers (Brit Bennett), Queenie (Candice Carty-Williams), and Stamped from the Beginning (Ibram X. Kendi).

What books by Black authors do you love? Which ones do you want to check out? Comment below or message me on Instagram!

My monthly reading wrap-up — January 2021

Wow, everyone — this month was chock full of amazing reads! I think one of the things this month that I am most proud of is the wide variety of books that I selected, including a personal development, short story collection, satire, thrillers, contemporary fiction, romance, and family drama. I was very fortunate to have a month where nothing I read fell flat. Each read was at least a 3-star read with several good things to say about them. Below are some mini reviews and synopses.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. This book was a Christmas gift from one of my closest friends, which meant so much to me. Serle’s debut, The Dinner List, was one of the books that really got me back into reading while I was in graduate school at Syracuse. Like her first one, In Five Years was filled with warmth and emotion as it follows meticulous and detail-oriented Dannie, whose life is turned upside down when she wakes up fives years in the future to experience one hour of a life very different than the one she originally envisions for herself. Upon returning to the present, she is unable to shake that hour, which transforms the many plans she had made for herself. This was a beautiful story to read coming out of a challenging year, full of transformation, hope, self discovery, and healing in the face of great tragedy for Dannie. It is story that brought me to tears but also provided great hope. A great first read of 2021!

The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories by Danielle Evans. This collection was absolutely stellar — you can read my full review of the titular novella here. Overall, each story was challenging and thought-provoking, taking me back to my undergrad days as an English major. Some were more satirical, while others were dark or optimistic, but each dealt with topics of race, gender, and history in powerful ways. If you enjoy short stories that make you think hard, I definitely recommend this latest collection from author Evans.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. This modern-day retelling of the classic Jane Eyre was such a fresh take on the original. While this story definitely strayed from the original, there were so many wonderful and creative nods to the Bronte classic that I couldn’t help but fall in love with the care and creativity that Hawkins put into her story. Just like the classic, Jane was my favorite character — while she wasn’t always likable in this retelling, she was resourceful, intelligent, and brave. After this story, I’m not sure I’ll ever look at the original story the same way, which is a good thing! If anything, this thriller gave me an even greater appreciation for the original and reminded me why this classic deserves its spot in the literary canon.

Black Buck my Mateo Askaripour. This one was definitely the absolute stand-out novel of January. It was so sharp and fresh, laugh-out-loud funny, yet so indicting in its criticism of race, ambition, and otherness in America’s workforce. You can read my full review here. This book had me entertained from start to finish, while simultaneously had me thinking hard about our society. Without a doubt, I will be recommending this book to anyone who asks my opinion!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is a close second for favorite book of January 2021. Like her past novels, Reid managed to create an ambitious, sexy, and glamourous tale that was simultaneously warm and tender, this time with a family drama that takes place over the course of 24 hours but with several flashbacks. I feel so fortunate to have received an eARC thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. You can read my full review here.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. I used my free Book of the Year add-on credit with Book of the Month to get this incredible debut. I’d read the other four finalists, so of course, I needed to know what all the hype was with this one. And, boy, do I regret not getting this when it first came out in January 2020! This was a powerful testament to the power of education in helping young women find their voices. I was truly touched by Adunni’s resiliency, courage, and intelligence, as she fights to find her voice and follow her dreams. It truly deserved a spot as a top read of 2020, as chosen by Book of the Month subscribers. Check out my full review here.

The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything by Neil Pasricha. I don’t read a whole lot of nonfiction or personal development books, but I’m so fortunate to have been gifted this book in a Secret Santa exchange. It was a great book to start a new year, especially coming out of the unprecedented events of 2020. There were so many pieces of advice that resonated with me, and I enjoyed the collection of real-life quotes and anecdotes from a variety of famous people, from celebrities to athletes to philosophers, on how to achieve happiness. It’s a super fun, readable book for anyone wanting to learn some practical, applicable tips. If you’re like me and don’t read much self-help or nonfiction books, this would be a great one to check out.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin. Disclaimer — as much as I love a good thriller, I sometimes find myself very weary with them. When you’ve read as many as I have, it’s tough to find one that surprises you! But The Night Swim managed to have me guessing until the end. I thought I had the “whodunnit” part figured out, but I managed to be shocked when the ending came. This was one of the best thrillers I’ve picked up in a long time in terms of true suspense. Additionally, it touched on issues of rape and sexual assault and the way female victims are treated in way that felt very validating. I’m shocked this one didn’t make it in Book of the Month’s BOTY finalists! You can read my full review soon.

What books did you read this month, and which one was your favorite? Comment below or reach out via Instagram!