Yolande Kleinn

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Roll for Love by M. K. England

They’re falling for each other one die roll at a time…
Harper Reid’s life is not going according to plan. Right before senior year, her poppy passes away, so Harper and her mom move cross country to the family farm in Clintville, Virginia (population: tiny). Fortunately, Harper has a plan to help her senior year not suck:

1) Find a Dungeons & Dragons group.
2) Figure out the college situation. (Or just don’t go.)
3) Fix up Poppy’s old woodshop.
4) Maybe find a girlfriend?

But things aren’t all bad. Harper loved visiting Clintville as a kid and her dream of being a professional woodworker feels possible here—if she can find a way to tell her mom she doesn’t want to go to college. And, of course, there’s Ollie Shifflet: neighbor, childhood best friend, and, oh yeah, first crush.

Ollie has her life all planned out. First, graduation. Next, community college, teaching at her mom’s farm school, then opening her own daycare. All completely achievable . . . so long as no one learns that she’s bisexual. Because being out with her friends is one thing, but out in public in a small town where everyone’s known her since birth? That feels impossible. But when beautiful, bold, Harper Reid comes back to town and joins Ollie’s Dungeons & Dragons group, her careful plans—and her heart—are upended.

When sparks fly at the game table between Harper’s brash Barbarian character and Ollie’s proud Paladin, Harper and Ollie brush it off because it’s all just part of the game . . . right? As the school year draws to a close and the final boss looms on the horizon, Harper and Ollie must channel the best of their D&D characters to fight for the lives they want—and for a second chance at love, both in-game and in real life.

Why you should read it: I enjoyed the way this story bounces back and forth between the contemporary romance and the over-the-top fantasy romance the main characters are playing through in-game. It's a quick read with a lot of heart, and I was rooting for Harper and Ollie every step of the way.

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So This Is Ever After by F. T. Lukens

Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong…until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.

Why you should read it: This book is silly and very fun. The stubborn mutual pining is especially torturous, which may not be your jam if you get frustrated with that sort of thing, but is hilariously and brilliantly done if you're into it. All in all an enjoyable low-stakes read, cute and sincere and very charming.

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Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman

Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde…but as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae, she has always known she is different. Seelie’s unpredictable magic makes it hard for her to fit in—and draws her and Isolde into the hunt for a fabled treasure. In a heist gone wrong, the sisters make unexpected allies and find themselves unraveling a mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike.

The secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?

Why you should read it: Part one in a duology, this book took me a while to get into and then knocked my socks off once I was in it. I thought I knew exactly where it was going along the way, and it kept darting out sideways and surprising me in the best ways. Some story beats were predictable, but that's not a bad thing, especially when there were so many elements of the story that snuck in and genuinely surprised me. The writing style was a casual and lovely first person, and the characters are a lot of fun.

 

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Peter Darling by Austin Chant

The Lost Boys say that Peter Pan went back to England because of Wendy Darling, but Wendy is just an old life he left behind. Neverland is his real home. So when Peter returns to it after ten years in the real world, he’s surprised to find a Neverland that no longer seems to need him.

The only person who truly missed Peter is Captain James Hook, who is delighted to have his old rival back. But when a new war ignites between the Lost Boys and Hook’s pirates, the ensuing bloodshed becomes all too real – and Peter’s rivalry with Hook starts to blur into something far more complicated, sensual, and deadly.

Peter Darling is a queer, trans reimagining of Peter Pan.

Why you should read it: I've been meaning to read this book for years, and I'm so glad I finally did. I spent the first portion of the book wondering what I was getting myself into (I'm not a big fan of Peter Pan as a baseline so please don't hold this fact against the book) and the rest thoroughly enjoying the ride. The flashback scenes in Peter's POV were heartbreaking, and the support and care he and Hook ultimately find in each other is so beautifully satisfying. This was a lovely read.

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Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by impolite monster hunters, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.

Badly hurt by the hunters, Shesheshen’s nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human. Homily is kind and would make a great co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young can devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, Shesheshen realizes that eating her girlfriend isn’t an option.

Just as Shesheshen’s about to confess her identity, Homily reveals something else: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere?

Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, so now she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As Shesheshen’s hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, the bigger challenge remains: learning how to build a life with, rather than in, the woman she loves.

Why you should read it: Deeply weird and absolutely incredible. I was so impressed by how sincerely the inhuman character's POV worked throughout this wild ride of a book. At no point did I have any idea what to expect, and the experience was so satisfying and cathartic that I'm still processing it days later. I read this based on a recommendation, so I hadn't even skimmed the dust jacket text before diving in—so at first I thought this was going to be a humor-inclined adventure romp from the POV of a monster. Which, it was genuinely funny too, don't get me wrong. But it's also an achingly earnest exploration of abuse and generational trauma, and the ways people can break free of those patterns. I'll be chewing on this book for a long, long while.

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Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Halla is a housekeeper who has suddenly inherited her great-uncle’s estate… and, unfortunately, his relatives. Sarkis is an immortal swordsman trapped in a prison of enchanted steel. When Halla draws the sword that imprisons him, Sarkis finds himself attempting to defend his new wielder against everything from bandits and roving inquisitors to her own in-laws… and the sword itself may prove to be the greatest threat of all…

Why you should read it: Holy hell, what a ride. This is simultaneously a terrific fantasy novel and a delightful romance. I love a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and this is one of the best I've ever read. Sarkis is just such a GOOD grump. And Halla is an absolute treasure, with all her cheerful inquisitiveness and her enormous heart. Bonus points for a truly phenomenal supporting cast; I would read an entire novel about Zale and Brindle. Absolutely fantastic all around.

 

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A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She’s always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He’s found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.

Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.

Why you should read it: What a lovely book—a compelling blend of myth and contemporary coming-of-age storytelling—with sweet characters that were wonderful to spend time with. Sometimes a book that spends a significant amount of time building up characters in separate storylines is disappointing when those storylines finally converge, but this one really nailed it. The individual character stories were both incredibly engrossing in their own right, and when they finally intersected it was even better. There's so much heart and hope in this book, I adored it.

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Amor Actually (A Multi-Author Anthology) by
Adriana Herrera, Alexis Daria, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Mia Sosa, Priscilla Oliveras, Sabrina Sol, Zoey Castile

It’s Christmas Eve in New York City and anything is possible. For these couples, it’s the season to find true love. From second-chances, big leaps, missed connections, and reconnections, this charming collection celebrates the spirit of the holidays and delivers nine perfect HEAs.

Why you should read it: This is a delightful collection, with some truly fantastic stories in the lineup. As with any anthology, some offerings are stronger than others, but the book as a whole felt incredibly cohesive and fun. I was surprised at just how blatantly the pieces riff on "Love Actually"—but not in a bad way. If you enjoy that movie, you will have a fantastic time with all of the subtle nods and more blatant homages that fill the pages of this book.

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What moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruravia.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

Why you should read it: Well. That was eerie and disconcerting. I enjoyed the hell out of this nightmare-tinged novella. The main character is incredibly compelling, and everyone else was equally fascinating even though I spent most of the book being deeply suspicious of most of them. I love seeing a well crafted story and characters tucked snugly into such a short book. I'll definitely be reading more of this series (and more T. Kingfisher all around.)

 

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When Brooklyn Was Queer by Hugh Ryan

Hugh Ryan’s When Brooklyn Was Queer is a groundbreaking exploration of the LGBT history of Brooklyn, from the early days of Walt Whitman in the 1850s up through the queer women who worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II, and beyond. No other book, movie, or exhibition has ever told this sweeping story. Not only has Brooklyn always lived in the shadow of queer Manhattan neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Harlem, but there has also been a systematic erasure of its queer history―a great forgetting.

Ryan is here to unearth that history for the first time. In intimate, evocative, moving prose he discusses in new light the fundamental questions of what history is, who tells it, and how we can only make sense of ourselves through its retelling; and shows how the formation of the Brooklyn we know today is inextricably linked to the stories of the incredible people who created its diverse neighborhoods and cultures. Through them, When Brooklyn Was Queer brings Brooklyn’s queer past to life, and claims its place as a modern classic.

Why you should read it: This is an incredibly well-researched book of Brooklyn's queer history, and I really appreciated the way it was written. It's incredibly thorough and detailed while still being written in a conversational style that really worked for me. The author is clearly writing and researching a topic he is passionate about, and the result is compellingly personal. There were inevitably portions of this book that made me incredibly sad, or incredibly angry — or both — but the history has its moments of joy too. The last few lines of the book made me cry a little. All-in-all a fantastic read.

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Do I know You by Sadie Dingfelder

Science writer Sadie Dingfelder has always known that she's a little quirky. But while she's made some strange mistakes over the years, it's not until she accosts a stranger in a grocery store (whom she thinks is her husband) that she realizes something is amiss.

With a mixture of curiosity and dread, Dingfelder starts contacting neuroscientists and lands herself in scores of studies. In the course of her nerdy midlife crisis, she discovers that she is emphatically not neurotypical. She has prosopagnosia (face blindness), stereoblindness, aphantasia (an inability to create mental imagery), and a condition called severely deficient autobiographical memory.

As Dingfelder begins to see herself more clearly, she discovers a vast well of hidden neurodiversity in the world at large. There are so many different flavors of human consciousness, and most of us just assume that ours is the norm. Can you visualize? Do you have an inner monologue? Are you always 100 percent sure whether you know someone or not? If you can perform any of these mental feats, you may be surprised to learn that many people—including Dingfelder—can't.

A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind's attempt to understand itself—and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.

Why you should read it: Well this was completely fascinating, holy hell. A memoir written in a wildly amusing style, despite the fact that there is some seriously heavy subject matter to be found within the pages — I really, sincerely enjoyed having reality tilted this way and that while I read this book, as Dingfelder's investigation kept messing with things I assumed about my own perceptions of reality. This is fascinating science, mind-boggling in places, and left me with so many new questions to consider.

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Wild Faith by Talia Lavin

All across America, a storm is gathering: from book bans in school libraries to anti-trans laws in state legislatures; firebombings of abortion clinics and protests against gay rights. The Christian Right, a cunning political force in America for more than half a century, has never been more powerful than it is right now—it propelled Donald Trump to power, and it won’t stop until it’s refashioned America in its own image.

In Wild Faith, critically acclaimed author Talia Lavin goes deep into what motivates the Christian Right, from its segregationist past to a future riddled with apocalyptic ideology.

Using primary sources and firsthand accounts, Lavin introduces you to “deliverance ministers” who carry out exorcisms by the hundreds; modern-day, self-proclaimed prophets and apostles; Christian militias, cults, zealots, and showmen; and the people in power who are aiding them to achieve their goals.

Along the way, she explores anti-abortion terrorists, the Christian Patriarchy movement, with its desire to place all women under absolute male control; the twisted theology that leads to rampant child abuse; and the ways conspiracy theorists and extremist Christians influence each other to mutual political benefit.

From school boards to the Supreme Court, Christian theocracy is ascendant in America—and only through exploring its motivations and impacts can we understand the crisis we face. In Wild Faith, Lavin fearlessly confronts whether our democracy can survive an organized, fervent theocratic movement, one that seeks to impose its religious beliefs on American citizens.

Why you should read it: This one is a difficult read. A truly excellent book about some completely terrifying realities of the current social and political landscape of America. A lot of the over-arcing information is stuff that I already knew on some level, yet seeing it spelled out and framed this way — seeing the extra details and explanations and analysis — and reading the words of people with traumatic first-hand experience... This book is incredibly well researched and painful. I'm glad I read it. I think the information and perspectives revealed by this research are incredible important. But also, WUFFdah. Approach with care.

 

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The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

It is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister’s cavernous London townhouse. Burdened by grief, at the mercy of a legion of impatient doctors, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew.

David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.

Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.

Why you should read it: I absolutely adored this book. It strikes a truly overwhelming balance between grief and joy, with characters who find each other and truly see each, other despite a world arranged to keep them apart. The depth of this story left me winded, and made me cry more than once. No spoilers of course, but there's one line that hit me in the chest so hard that I actually said, "Oh my god." Like. Out loud. While crying (good tears.) And then I had to rewind my audiobook, because I missed the next several paragraphs. This might well be the best book I read this year.


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Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing…until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else.

Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan—charming, cultured, oddly attractive—steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger.

And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again.

But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides—and Kim is the only man who can help.

Why you should read it: Oh this was lovely. I devoured it even faster than I anticipated. It's a marvelous tale of spies and sex and inconvenient feelings, setting up a very fun dynamic to follow, through more books in the series, and I enjoyed it enormously.


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The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a proper young lady—or a bawdy old man. Anything to solve the case. Her latest assignment unveils a top-secret military cipher covering up an enigma that goes back centuries. But when Tommy’s beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she’s secretly smitten with, more than the mission is at stake…

Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn’t believe in love. Her cold heart didn’t pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to rescue her priceless manuscript and decode its clues to defeat a powerful enemy. She hates that she needs a man’s help—and she’s delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. Her cold heart… did it just pitter-patter?

Why you should read it: Charming and lovely and so incredibly satisfying, this book was a wild ride. I loved the chemistry between Tommy and Philippa, and their mischievous-partners-in-crime dynamic was such a delight to behold. I was also impressed by how well the story incorporates such a wide cast of characters without leaving me remotely confused about Tommy's numerous siblings and their distinct personalities. I didn't realize until I started that I was stepping into a series in progress, but I thought the author did a deft job of getting me up to speed without too much info-dumping. A genuinely fantastic read, I absolutely loved it.

 

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Spear by Nicola Griffith

She grows up in the wild wood, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake drift to her on the spring breeze, scented with promise. And when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she decides her future lies at his court. So, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and sets out on her bony gelding for Caer Leon.

With her stolen hunting spear and mended armour, she is an unlikely hero—not a chosen one, but one who chooses. Aflame with determination, she begins a journey of magic and mystery, love, lust and fights to death. On her adventures she will steal the hearts of beautiful women, fight warriors and sorcerers, and make a place to call home.

Why you should read it: A strange and riveting take on Arthurian legends, compelling and gloriously queer. I didn't realize until the author's note at the end that Peretur is an alternate name/spelling for Percival, but this did not at all diminish my enjoyment of the book. The familiar elements of the mythology are beautifully rendered and fit into an incredible story that never once landed where I expected it to go.


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Sword Stone Table by Swapna Krishna & Jenn Northington

From the vast lore surrounding King Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table, comes an anthology of gender-bent, race-bent, LGBTQIA+ inclusive retellings.

Featuring stories by: Alexander Chee • Preeti Chhibber • Roshani Chokshi • Sive Doyle • Maria Dahvana Headley • Ausma Zehanat Khan • Daniel M. Lavery • Ken Liu • Sarah MacLean • Silvia Moreno-Garcia • Jessica Plummer • Anthony Rapp • Waubgeshig Rice • Alex Segura • Nisi Shawl • S. Zainab Williams

Here you’ll find the Lady of the Lake reimagined as an albino Ugandan sorceress and the Lady of Shalott as a wealthy, isolated woman in futuristic Mexico City; you’ll see Excalibur rediscovered as a baseball bat that grants a washed-up minor leaguer a fresh shot at glory and as a lost ceremonial drum that returns to a young First Nations boy the power and the dignity of his people. There are stories set in Gilded Age Chicago, ’80s New York, twenty-first century Singapore, and space; there are lesbian lady knights, Arthur and Merlin reborn in the modern era for a second chance at saving the world and falling in love—even a coffee shop AU.

Brave, bold, and groundbreaking, the stories in Sword Stone Table will bring fresh life to beloved myths and give long-time fans a chance to finally see themselves in their favorite legends.

Why you should read it: This was a fascinating collection with a dizzyingly wide range of stories. Some fantastic Arthuriana retellings that did a fantastic job of hitting the mark while offering up beautiful new perspectives... Some terrific stories that didn't quite understand the assignment but were enjoyable reads nonetheless... Some especially gorgeous gems by writers I will absolutely be seeking out in future. Definitely an anthology worth checking out.


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Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Gwen, the quick-witted Princess of England, and Arthur, future lord and general gadabout, have been betrothed since birth. Unfortunately, the only thing they can agree on is that they hate each other.

When Gwen catches Art kissing a boy and Art discovers where Gwen hides her diary (complete with racy entries about Bridget Leclair, the kingdom's only female knight), they become reluctant allies.

By pretending to fall for each other, their mutual protection will be assured. But how long can they keep up the ruse? With Gwen growing closer to Bridget, and Art becoming unaccountably fond of Gabriel, Gwen's infuriatingly serious, bookish brother, the path to true love is looking far from straight...

Why you should read it: This book was everything I hoped and more. Charming, sweet, sincere, genuinely funny. I love a story that deftly balances a light tone with heavier themes, and this one manages to be an incredibly cheerful read while still doing a beautiful job with the more serious elements in play. The characters are wonderful and complicated, the pacing is excellent, and the ending is wildly satisfying. Even the contemporary tone and dialogue worked perfectly, despite the setting being nebulously medieval, maybe because everything felt so grounded in genuine emotion. I adored this book.

 

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Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, her parents are still in marital bliss. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. So what if she usually cries in her Lyft on the way home. So what if she misses her friends, who are so busy with their own wonderful love lives, they don’t really notice Iris is spiraling. At least she has a brand-new career writing romance novels (yes, she realizes the irony of it). She is now working on her second book but has one problem: she is completely out of ideas after having spent all of her romantic energy on her debut.

Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life (vomit and crying are regretfully involved). To get her mind off everything and overcome her writer's block, Iris tries out for a local play, but comes face-to-face with Stefania—or, Stevie, her real name. When Stevie desperately asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend, Iris is shocked, but goes along with it because maybe this fake relationship will actually get her creative juices flowing and she can get her book written. As the two women play the part of a couple, they turn into a constant state of hot-and-bothered and soon it just comes down to who will make the real first move…

Why you should read it: This is the charming third installment in a series I adore. Iris is such a fun character, and I enjoyed getting to spend time in her POV after seeing her at the periphery of everyone else's stories. And Stevie is just so sweet and lovely (and very believably riddled with anxiety). Plus, I'm a sucker for a good fake-dating-leads-to-real-feelings plot, and it's so well done here. A delightful read all around.

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D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

'Instant I Do' could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.

D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.

All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.

But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.

Why you should read it: This book was so very sweet. I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I picked the book up anyway and I'm SO GLAD I did. The characters were lovely and complicated, the chemistry was incendiary, and the author delivered on an over-the-top premise in all the best ways. I really appreciated the way the story was paced and structured. I love the way it avoids detouring into a breakup to add extra drama, building momentum and tension in other ways. A lovely read all around.

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Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found "the one" and she’s beginning to feel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.

Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married... and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away.

When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and the sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love?

Why you should read it: Very sweet, very lovely, and with a wildly satisfying dramatic flourish right at the end. (Seriously, I don't want to say anything specific that might ruin the moment, but it was delightfully cathartic.) The characters in this book have a complicated history between them, of being best friends who crossed some very specific lines before drifting completely apart for over a decade — and I really loved how that shifted the balance of the story, giving us two people who simultaneously know each other SO WELL and also need to spend significant effort learning how to exist together in their current lives. The stubborn miscommunications are incredibly believable, and I'm such a sucker for characters who are doing their best despite fucking up along the way. I enjoyed the hell out of this book.

 

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Liar City by Allie Therin

It’s the middle of the night when part-time police consultant and full-time empath Reece gets an anonymous call warning him that his detective sister needs his help. At an out-of-the-way Seattle marina, he discovers that three people have been butchered—including the author of the country’s strictest anti-empathy bill, which is just days from being passed into law.

Soon, Reece’s caller arrives: a shadowy government agent known as The Dead Man, who is rumored to deal exclusively in cases involving empathy. He immediately takes over the investigation, locking out both local PD and the FBI, but, strangely, keeps Reece by his side.

As the two track an ever-growing trail of violence and destruction across Seattle, Reece must navigate a scared and angry city, an irritating attraction to his mysterious agent companion, and a rising fear that perhaps empaths like him aren’t all flight and no fight after all…

Why you should read it: Oh, this is a PHENOMENAL book—a contemporary paranormal mystery with truly excellent world building. The premise is so well executed that I would be impressed even if I hadn't found the story itself riveting, but the characters and pacing had me on the edge of my seat too. I'm so excited that this is the first in a series. I hope book two's tentative release date can be trusted, because I'm gonna need the sequel in my eyeballs as soon as humanly possible. What a ride!

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Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly

Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail began with a single snake. And it was angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex was prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he wasn’t prepared for was Ben Caravalho. But somehow—on a 2,500-mile trail—Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again. It might be coincidence. Then again, maybe there’s a reason the trail keeps bringing them together. . .

Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there’s something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can’t just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can’t be this cute and smart. And there are worse things than falling in love during the biggest adventure of your life. But when their plans for the future are turned upside down, Ben and Alexei begin to wonder if it’s possible to hold on to something this wild and wonderful.

Why you should read it: This was such a lovely story, with sweet and earnest characters who fuck up sometimes but are genuinely always doing their best. Lex and Ben spend the book finding themselves just as much as they're finding each other, and seeing them learn to trust each other is a wonderful journey.

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The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight. Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case may lie on the moon of Io—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements during humanity's exodus from Earth.

But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as a scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.

Why you should read it: A second charming installment in a delightful series. I definitely recommend reading the first one—The Mimicking of Known Successes—before diving into this title, so you can really appreciate the depth of the characters and their relationship. But I also feel you could read this one as a standalone just fine, since the mystery is wholly self-contained. It's a quick read, and downright silly in some places, but never in a way that threw me out of the story. Honestly, the sillier references (and I don't want to give any spoilers for them, you'll just have to read and find them for yourself) fit right in with the wry, occasionally cheeky tone of the story. All-in-all a lovely novella with unmistakable Holmes/Watson vibes.

 

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Reclaiming Two-Spirits by Gregory D. Smithers

Reclaiming Two-Spirits decolonizes the history of gender and sexuality in Native North America. It honors the generations of Indigenous people who had the foresight to take essential aspects of their cultural life and spiritual beliefs underground in order to save them.

Before 1492, hundreds of Indigenous communities across North America included people who identified as neither male nor female, but both. They went by aakíí’skassi, miati, okitcitakwe or one of hundreds of other tribally specific identities. After European colonizers invaded Indian Country, centuries of violence and systematic persecution followed, imperiling the existence of people who today call themselves Two-Spirits, an umbrella term denoting feminine and masculine qualities in one person.

Drawing on written sources, archaeological evidence, art, and oral storytelling, Reclaiming Two-Spirits spans the centuries from Spanish invasion to the present, tracing massacres and inquisitions and revealing how the authors of colonialism’s written archives used language to both denigrate and erase Two-Spirit people from history. But as Gregory Smithers shows, the colonizers failed—and Indigenous resistance is core to this story. Reclaiming Two-Spirits amplifies their voices, reconnecting their history to Native nations in the 21st century.

Why you should read it: I knew going in that this would be a heavy read, and I also had a feeling it was going to be a really excellent resource. I was right on both counts. This book contains an incredible amount of not just history but contemporary accounts from indigenous communities, and a lot of in-depth analysis in topics that are way outside my scope of knowledge. The author isn't native, but I think does a good job of centering native voices and experiences throughout the book. There's a good balance between the necessary but painful history presented in the earlier chapters, and the fiercely hopeful contemporary conversations in the second half of the book. So many people—in so many different age groups and communities—working to decolonize and reclaim language, culture, history that stand distinct from other kinds of queerness.

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Moby Dyke by Krista Burton

Lesbian bars have always been treasured safe spaces for their customers, providing not only a good time but a shelter from societal alienation and outright persecution. In 1987, there were 206 of them in America. Today, only a couple dozen remain. How and why did this happen? What has been lost--or possibly gained--by such a decline? What transpires when marginalized communities become more accepted and mainstream?

In Moby Dyke, Krista Burton attempts to answer these questions firsthand, venturing on an epic cross-country pilgrimage to the last few remaining dyke bars. Her pilgrimage includes taking in her first drag show since the onset of the pandemic at The Back Door in Bloomington, Indiana; competing in dildo races at Houston's Pearl Bar; and, despite her deep-seated hatred of karaoke, joining a group serenade at Nashville's Lipstick Lounge and enjoying the dreaded pastime for the first time in her life. While Burton sets out on the excursion to assess the current state of lesbian bars, she also winds up examining her own personal journey, from coming out to her Mormon parents to recently marrying her husband, a trans man whose presence on the trip underscores the important conversation about who precisely is welcome in certain queer spaces--and how they and their occupants continue to evolve.

Why you should read it: Travel memoirs are not usually my cup of tea—they tend not to hold my focus—but this one kept me riveted. I love the premise, I love the bits of queer history that sneak in along the way, I love getting to experience these locations and crowds vicariously. The thought of actually participating in a road trip like this (not literally a road trip, but close enough) sounds exhausting and Not For Me, but it was so cool to read about. The author's got a lovely candid writing style, and I legitimately cried (good tears) in the last chapter. Just, all around a fantastic read.

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Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong

What is intimacy? More than sex, more than romantic love, the pieces in this stunning and illuminating new anthology offer broader and more inclusive definitions of what it can mean to be intimate with another person. Explorations of caregiving, community, access, and friendship offer us alternative ways of thinking about the connections we form with others—a vital reimagining in an era when forced physical distance is at times a necessary norm.

But don’t worry: there’s still sex to consider—and the numerous ways sexual liberation intersects with disability justice. Plunge between these pages and you’ll also find disabled sexual discovery, disabled love stories, and disabled joy. These twenty-five stunning original pieces—plus other modern classics on the subject, all carefully curated by acclaimed activist Alice Wong—include essays, photo essays, poetry, drama, and erotica: a full spectrum of the dreams, fantasies, and deeply personal realities of a wide range of beautiful bodies and minds. Disability Intimacy will free your thinking, invigorate your spirit, and delight your desires.

Why you should read it: I've been seeing this title recommended in a lot of places, so I went in with my expectations high, and the book absolutely delivered. It's a fascinating, thoughtful, illuminating collection of essays and articles—and it was incredibly cohesive while covering a much broader range of topics than I expected. There are a lot of areas I'm not very well informed about when it comes to disability advocacy, despite my ongoing efforts to learn more, and I appreciated every insight this collection brought to me. Not always an easy read, given the world we live in and the honesty in all of these writings, but beautiful and worth it every step of the way.

 

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The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

Tansy Adams’ greatest love is her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. But when it comes to actual romance… Tansy can’t get past the first chapter. Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book. They’ll never actually meet, so what’s the harm in a little fib? Yet when real-life Gemma crosses Tansy’s path, her white lie nearly implodes.

Gemma van Dalen is a wild child, the outcast of her wealthy family, and now the latest heir to Van Dalen Publishing. But the title comes with one tiny condition: she must be married in order to inherit. When Gemma discovers a beautiful stranger has been pretending to date her for months, she decides to take the charade one step further—and announces their engagement.

Gemma needs a wife to meet the terms of her grandfather’s will and Tansy needs money to save her struggling bookstore. A marriage could be mutually beneficial, if they can fool everyone into thinking it’s a love match. Unexpected sparks fly as Tansy and Gemma play the role of affectionate fiancées, and suddenly the line between convenient arrangement and real feelings begins to blur. But the scheming Van Dalen family won’t give up the company without a fight, and Gemma and Tansy’s newfound happiness might get caught in the fallout…

Why you should read it: This book is so incredibly satisfying. The villain characters are over-the-top villainous, but not in a way that's badly done. Just, in a way where I want them to face terrible consequences, almost as much as I want the lovely main characters to be together. The chemistry between Tansy and Gemma is smoldering, and I loved watching them fall into each other and learn to trust. I'm such a sucker for characters with trust issues who do their best anyway, and have each other's backs. I enjoyed the hell out of this story and will need to read more by this author.

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Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval.

However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants?

Why you should read it: This was very charming, very fun despite some of the heavy subject matter, and an incredibly cathartic read. Astrid is a fascinating character—I loved seeing her as the complicated not-quite-antagonist of the first book in this series—and the chance to read a story from her POV was honestly delightful. Jordan was lovely too. You can absolutely read this book as a standalone if you want to, but I'd recommend reading "Delilah Green Doesn't Care" first for the complete experience.

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Tapping Into Love by Monica McCallan

Lucy Parsons wants absolutely nothing to do with the Westmoore family or the maple syrup they produce. When Sierra Westmoore blows back into town after her father’s death and tries to rent a room at Lucy’s family’s bed-and-breakfast, The Maple Inn, Lucy kicks her out on the spot. It doesn’t matter that Sierra hasn’t set foot in Maple Run in fifteen years—the Westmoores are not allowed.

But small towns don’t leave a lot of room to hide, and Sierra and her brother, Drake, have set their sights on improving the town’s opinion of them now that their father is gone.

Lucy doesn’t believe any Westmoore could have good intentions, and although she may have to play nice with Sierra, it doesn’t mean she’s going to like it.

Why you should read it: This one started out a little rough for me, just because one of the main characters behaves so abysmally. But the story makes room for accountability, and for genuine growth, and in the end I found this romance to be incredibly sweet. Definitely worth a read.

(Sorry the buy link for this one is Amazon only -- this title is a kindle unlimited release -- but I got access to it via my library, so hopefully you can request it that way too if you're not an amazon customer.)