First-Time Caller

First-Time Caller 

By B.K. Borison 

Berkley Romance, 2025. 437 pages. Romance. 

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls into the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job, an incredible family, and a smart, if slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life--or lack thereof--she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing. Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending … even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after, or the man in the headphones next to her. 

This novel was inspired by Nora Efron’s classic movie, Sleepless in Seattle. Aiden and Lucy are almost as charming as Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I was worried at 437 pages that it would be too much of a slow burn romance. Not the case! I found it charming and the pacing was delightful. I was thoroughly invested in Aiden and Lucy’s romance. The conflict wasn’t something silly like a simple miscommunication, my least favorite trope in romance novels. The cast of supporting characters were unique and entertaining. This is a win!

The Ex Talk

By Rachel Lynn Solomon 

Jove, 2021. 338 pages. Romance. 

Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio. When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts. As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers. 

Book Lovers 

By Emily Henry 

Berkley, 2022. 377 pages. Romance. 

Nora Stephens life is books--she's read them all--and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laid back dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters' trip away--with visions of a small town transformation for Nora who she's convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they've met many times and it's never been cute. If Nora knows she's not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he's nobody's hero, but as they are thrown together again and again--in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow--what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they've written about themselves. 

Is She Really Going Out With Him? 

By Sophie Cousens 

G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2024. 354 pages. Romance. 

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she'd rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children. From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

 

JK

The River Has Roots

The River Has Roots
By Amal El-Mohtar
Tor, 2025. 133 pages. Fantasy.

In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, the mysterious Hawthorn family tends the willow trees there. For as long as anyone can remember, the Hawthorns have paid tribute to the willow trees, honouring an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None, though, have taken up this calling more devotedly than the family's latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the trees. But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favour of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only the sisters' bond but also their lives will be at risk.

A short novel with all strengths of an epic fantasy, this book reflected parts of my soul that I had forgotten about.  If you are a literature nerd or just a fan of words and books in general, you will be enchanted by the magic system. The writing is beautifully lyrical and it's almost as if the story becomes one of the things it tells you about. . .which makes little sense but is the best way I can describe it without spoilers.  If you enjoy fairytale retellings, riddles, or word magic, then I think you will find this book delightful. 

If you like The River Has Roots, you might also like: 

Thornhedge

By T. Kingfisher

Tor, 2023. 116 pages. Fantasy.

There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story. Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right? But nothing with fairies is ever simple. Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold.

Faebound

By Saara El-Arifi

Del Rey, 2024. 386 pages. Fantasy.

As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future. When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran's exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven't been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world.

Greenteeth

By Molly O'Neill
Orbit, 2025. 308 pages. Fantasy.

Beneath the still surface of a lake lurks a monster with needle sharp teeth. Hungry and ready to pounce. Jenny Greenteeth has never spoken to a human before, but when a witch is thrown into her lake, something makes Jenny decide she's worth saving. Temperance doesn't know why her village has suddenly turned against her, only that it has something to do with the malevolent new pastor. Though they have nothing in common, these two must band together on a magical quest to defeat the evil that threatens Jenny's lake and Temperance's family, as well as the very soul of Britain.

KJ

Teen Titans: Starfire

Teen Titans: Starfire

By Kami Garcia

DC Comics, 2024. 196 pages. Young Adult Comic.

When Kori Anderson, who has a connective tissue disorder, and her popular older sister, Kira, participate in a pharmaceutical company's clinical trial, she begins to discover strange powers and hopes to discover the truth about these abilities--and her sister's boyfriend.

A Teen Titans origin story, this book is the fifth in the Teen Titans series by Kami Garcia.  I was able to read and enjoy this book even though I haven't read the first four, so if Starfire is your girl and you're meh about the other Teen Titans, you can read just this one! (Although, if you like the story as much as I did, you'll probably want to read the rest of them before Teen Titans: Together releases in November of this year). The relationship between Kori and Kira was explored well, and the rest of the Teen Titans coming in near the end was a great addition the story.  Another inclusive addition to the DC comics universe!  

If you liked Teen Titans: Starfire, you may also like:

I Am Not Starfire

By Mariko Tamaki

DC Comics, 2021. 166 pages. Young Adult Comic.

Seventeen-year-old Mandy, who dyes her hair black and hates almost everyone, is not like her mother, the tall, sparkly alien superhero Starfire, so when someone from Starfire's past arrives, Mandy must make a choice about who she is and what she should risk to save her mom.

The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley

By Melissa Marr

DC Comics, 2024. 171 pages. Young Adult Comic.

Harleen Quinzel is many things, a gymnast, anxious, broke... but the last thing anyone would call her is evil. Harley Quinn on the other hand... When Harleen signs up to participate in a clinical research trial with her girlfriend, Pamela, the most she can hope for is extra cash in her wallet and a chance to get her anxiety under control. But what she gets instead are increasingly larger gaps in her memory and stolen mementos from some guy named Jack she's never met. Soon, Harleen discovers she's sharing her life with Harley - a take-no-prisoners, who-cares-about attendance, maybe-we-oughtta-save-the-bunnies kind of girl. She is the opposite of Harleen in many ways. She is anarchy in a cute dress. And although she's throwing Harleen's life completely off track, maybe she ain't so bad either...

ERB

You, Again

You, Again

By Kate Goldbeck

The Dial Press, 2023. 439 pages. Romance

When Ari and Josh meet the first time, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly. A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and lives by a code that ensures her friends-with-benefits stay firmly in the friendzone. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: he'll take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman. After their disastrous first meeting, Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they're both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you're too sad to hate each other. As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late night Netflix binges, swiping through each other's online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It's better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. 

When I read this was a gender swapped version of When Harry Met Sally, I was immediately sold. What followed was a modern dating story full of Millennial indulgence and heart-breaking and rebuilding authenticity. Ari’s commitment phobia was so frustrating, but also understandable along with Josh’s need to fit everything neatly into a box. Goldbeck really focused on developing these two characters both in their relationship with each other, but also as individuals. It’s rare that a romance is successful on both these fronts. I loved their banter and pop culture references (once again, Millennial indulgence). Similar to When Harry Met Sally, NYC was also a living and breathing character in the story. Overall, if you enjoy an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope with strong character development, you’ll love You, Again. 

If you liked You, Again, you might also like:

Ready or Not

By Cara Bastone

The Dial Press, 2024. 378 pages. Romance

Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy, but close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, religious upbringing where she always felt misunderstood. While her position as an administrative assistant at the Wildlife Federation of America is a dream-adjacent job, she's hoping her passion and hard work will help her land a more glamorous role where she could actually make a difference someday. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one, but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-nightstand. Suddenly, this surprise pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's ride-or-die friendship with Willa is suddenly feeling off. And surprisingly, it's Willa's steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been supportive, but now he's checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her woes, and is suddenly irresistible? Add in a kind but conflicted baby daddy, who also happens to have a girlfriend, and Eve is feeling out of her depth, to say the least. 

A Winter in New York

By Josie Silver

Delacorte Press, 2023. 372 Pages. Fiction

When Iris moves to New York City to restart her life, her friend Bobby drags her to an autumn street fair in Little Italy. Among the food stalls, a family-run gelateria catches her eye. She returns the next day and meets Gio, whose uncle is recuperating from a stroke and cannot remember the family's gelato recipe. Sampling the last remaining batch, Iris realizes the recipe is the same as the one her mother makes. Iris offers her services to help re-create the family's recipe. Will secrets she's hiding threaten the new life-- and love-- she's been building?

BW

Humble Pi : When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World

Humble Pi : When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World 

By Matt Parker 

Riverhead Books, 2020. 314 pages. Nonfiction 

Our whole world is built on math, from the code running a website to the equations enabling the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Most of the time this math works quietly behind the scenes . . . until it doesn’t. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire, and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the bizarre ways math trips us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Getting it wrong has never been more fun! 

You might not think that comedy and mathematics are topics that work well together, but this book pulls it off! Parker has a very dry sense of humor, one that I found delightfully entertaining even when discussing topics like standardized calendaring systems and financial algorithms. In addition to this, while largely an entertaining read, it is very technical at times! This may be a plus for any reader eager to learn obscure specifics about the functions of coding, mathematics, mechanics, and more. There were some segments that I found difficult to follow the logic of, but this book is formatted as a series of short stories and segments, so if one segment is too challenging (or perhaps simply not in the interest of the reader) it is easy to skip to the next without any impact on the reading experience.

If you like Humble Pi, you might also like: 

What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions 

By Randall Munroe 

Boston, 2014. 303 pages. Nonfiction

What if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90 percent the speed of light? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? If there was a robot apocalypse, how long would humanity last? What if everyone only had one soulmate? What would happen if the moon went away? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pours over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations, and consults with nuclear reactor operators in masterpieces of clarity and hilarity complimented by his signature xkcd comics. 

Here's Looking at Euclid: A surprising Excursion Through the Astonishing World of Math 

By Alex Bellos 

New York, 2010. 319 pages. Nonfiction

Too often math gets a bad rap, characterized as dry and difficult. On a crusade to counter this belief, Bellos has travelled around the globe and plunged into history to uncover fascinating stories of mathematical achievement. Taking us into the wilds of the Amazon, he tells the story of a tribe there who can count only to five and reports on the latest findings about the math instinct—including the revelation that ants can actually count how many steps they’ve taken. Exploring the mysteries of randomness, he explains why it is impossible for our iPods to truly randomly select songs. Throughout, the journey is enhanced with a wealth of intriguing illustrations, such as of the clever puzzles known as tangrams and the crochet creation of an American math professor who suddenly realized one day that she could knit a representation of higher dimensional space that no one had been able to visualize. Here’s Looking at Euclid is a rare gem that brings the beauty of math to life.

-MD

Great Big Beautiful Life

Great Big Beautiful Life 

by Emily Henry 

Berkley, 2025. 418 pages. Romance 

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century. When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story. But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad … depending on who’s telling it. 

Emily Henry has penned bestselling romance after bestselling romance the past few years thanks to the strength of her flawed, yet likable characters and the witty banter between them. Great Big Beautiful Life lives up to those expectations, but I was surprised to find myself more pulled in by the Ives family saga than Alice and Hayden’s grumpy-sunshine romance. With this new release, Henry stretches her writing into historical fiction and pulls it off well. This is a good pick for readers who enjoy alternating and overlapping stories with elements of historical fiction, romantic comedy, and more serious contemporary fiction. 

 If you like Great Big Beautiful Life, you might also like: 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 

by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Atria Books, 2017. 391 pages. Fiction 

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn's Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn's life unfolds, revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love, Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn's story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways. 

Yours Truly 

by Abby Jimenez 

Forever, 2023. 398 pages. Romance 

Dr. Briana Ortiz's life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother's running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that's probably going to the new man-doctor who's been frustrating her daily. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter. And it's a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn't actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who's terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her "sob closet," and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable--a kidney for her brother--she wonders just how she can resist him . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can't refuse.

SGR

The Last Murder at the End of the World

The Last Murder at the End of the World
by Stuart Turton
Sourcebooks Landmark, 2024. 354 pages. Science Fiction, Mystery.

Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed many years ago by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island, it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three long-lived scientists (the only ones who remember what life was like before), living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, and to do what they're told, including obeying a strict nightly curfew. One morning, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. To make matters worse, the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island--the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island-and everyone on it. But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer--and they don't even know it. The clock is ticking…

I recently enjoyed Stuart Turton’s mind-bending mystery novel, The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, in which the protagonist is compelled to solve a murder by reliving the days leading up to it, in the bodies of various participants and witnesses. It was a nifty premise, but to my delight it took an even deeper turn, becoming a thoughtful meditation on remorse, forgiveness, and the worth of a soul by the end. I love a book that takes what could just be a clever gimmick and turns it into something more. That’s a long way of saying that when The Last Murder at the End of the World came along, I had some high expectations. Could this author surprise me again?

I’m pleased to report that Turton is an author worth watching. He has taken another high concept idea and done the most interesting things with it. The narrator, Abi, being a nigh-omniscient artificial intelligence is both a delightful surprise and an intriguing complication, as while her entire purpose is to serve and protect the remnant of the human race on the island, her perspective is utterly inhuman. Most of the time, The Last Murder feels like a traditional third-person limited narrative. The residents of the island have to piece the clues together as best they can, based on their understanding of themselves and their relationships, both with the scientists and one another. It is easy to get drawn into the thoughts and struggles of Emory, Thea, and the other islanders, only for Abi to make a comment at just the right moment to bring the reader crashing back to earth with the realization that we're getting all our information from a narrator who can't even tell us if she knows more than she's saying. I can’t say more lest I spoil the big revelations; all I can say is that my sci-fi-loving heart was quite satisfied by the ending which proves, again, to be more than originally promised. Stuart Turton has said that he wants to try something different with every book he writes; I will be waiting to see what he writes next!

 If you like The Last Murder at the End of the World, you might also like:

Ghost Station
by S.A. Barnes
Nightfire, Tor Publishing, 2024. 377 pages. Science fiction, Horror.

Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of Eckhart-Reiser syndrome (ERS), a psychological condition that can affect long-time space travelers--the most famous case of which resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. Ophelia is assigned to a small exploration crew on an abandoned planet who recently suffered the tragic death of a colleague. She wants to help, but as the tight-knit crew works to solve the mystery of what happened to the previous inhabitants of the planet, it becomes clear that they are not eager to open up. In fact, they are definitely hiding something. The gruesome murder of their pilot sparks terror that history is about to repeat itself. Is this simply the terrible effects of another case of ERS, or something more sinister?

 

The Deep
by Nick Cutter
Gallery Books, 2015. 394 pages. Horror, Suspense.

A strange plague called the 'Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes forgetfulness – first in small things like the location of one’s car keys, but getting progressively worse to the point that the human body “forgets” how to function at all – and there is no cure. Far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, deep in the Mariana Trench, a heretofore-unknown substance hailed as a “universal healer” has been discovered, and it may just be the key to eradicating the ‘Gets. A special research lab, the Trieste, has been built eight miles under the sea to study this phenomenon. But when the station goes incommunicado, a brave few descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths...and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine.

-LAH

Black AF History

Black AF History
By Michael Harriot
William Morrow, 2023. 426 pages. Nonfiction

It's important for us, as humans, to remember that what we think of as "history" is usually just one person/group's version of the events. "A searingly smart and bitingly hilarious telling of American history that corrects the record and showcases the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans. It should come as no surprise that the dominant narrative of American history is blighted with errors and oversights; after all, history was written by white men with their perspectives at the forefront. In this book, Michael Harriot combines unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources as well as the pioneering work of Black historians, scholars and journalists," states the publisher. The book begins in the year 1400 with The Age of Discovery of European exploration, and demonstrates clearly how the slave trade was human trafficking, plantations were "forced labor enterprises," Jim Crow was American apartheid, and lynch mobs were serial killers and ethnic cleansers. 

My favorite chapter was on Ida B. Wells, who helped found the NAACP, among other amazing things. The author's conversational tone peppered with occasional sarcasm makes the history come alive. According to the author, Wells was "allergic to white nonsense and patriarchy," which sounds like the kind of woman I'd want to know. This history book makes it very clear that the United States became wealthy from a race-based human trafficking system that enshrined the laws of property and white supremacy, which reduced people to chattel through violence. No matter how difficult it feels to learn about our country's true history, we owe it ourselves to bring the truth to light and deal with it, together, head-on. This book is an incredible resource for that journey and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

If you liked Black AF History, you might also like:

Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man 
By Emmanuel Acho
Flatiron Books, 2020. 244 pages. Nonfiction

This book takes on all the questions, large and small, insensitive and taboo, that many white Americans are afraid to ask; yet, which all Americans need the answers to, now more than ever. With open-hearted generosity, the author explains the vital core of such fraught concepts as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and "reverse racism." In his own words, he provides a space of compassion and understanding in a discussion that can lack both. He asks only for the reader's curiosity -- but along the way, he will galvanize all of us to join the antiracist fight.

The New Jim Crow

By Michelle Alexander

New Press, 2012. 312 pages. Nonfiction

With engaging candor, legal scholar Michelle Alexander argues that "we have not ended racial cast in America; we have merely redesigned it." By targeting Black men through the War on Drugs and decimating communities of color, the U.S. criminal justice system functions as a contemporary system of racial control--relegating millions to a permanent second-class status--even as it formally adheres to the principles of colorblindness. This book is a call to action.

Between the World and Me
By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Spiegal & Grau, 2015. 152 pages. Nonfiction.

This book takes the form of a letter to the author's teenage son and it comes to grips with what it means to be Black in America in the twenty-first century. It attempts to answer questions like: what is it like to inhabit a Black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden? The stories Coates shares, beautifully woven from his personal narrative, "clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward."

LKA

The Backyard Bird Chronicles

The Backyard Bird Chronicles 

by Amy Tan 

Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. 288 pages. Nonfiction 

Mapping the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions and beautiful original sketches, the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club shares her search for solace which turned into an opportunity to connect with nature in a meaningful way and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

As a fan of Amy Tan's writing-- and someone recently obsessed with birding-- I adored this book! Amy Tan's inquisitive account of the antics of birds in her yard is a joy to read. Her observations of the awe-inspiring delights of nature feel sincere and relatable. This is a perfect springtime read, and the gorgeous illustrations are an added bonus. Tan even includes some comic-style sketches that garnered some laughs from me. Though the author appeals to birders and non-birders alike, if you read this, be warned: you may be inclined to pick up a pair of binoculars yourself!

If you like The Backyard Bird Chronicles, you might also like: 

Birdgirl : Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future 

by Mya-Rose Craig 

Celadon Books, 2023. 288 pages. Memoir 

A young environmental activist shares her experiences of traveling the world in search of rare birds and astonishing landscapes and her passion for social justice and dedication to preserving our planet.

Conversations with Birds

by Priyanka Kumar 

Milkweed Editions, 2022. 281 pages. Nonfiction 

The acclaimed filmmaker and novelist presents a collection of essays that focus on her journey through the American west tracking the avian world while rediscovering her own place in the landscape. 

Slow Birding : The Art and Science of Enjoying the Birds in Your Own Backyard 

by Joan E. Strassman 

TarcherPerigee, 2022. 334 pages. Nonfiction 

An evolutionary biologist, in this inspiring guide to the art of slow birding, shows birders how to appreciate the beauty of the birds right in their own backyard as they observe keenly how their behaviors change from day to day and season to season. 

RP

This Book Will Bury Me

The Book Will Bury Me

By Ashley Winstead

Sourcebooks Landmark, 2025. 456 pages. Fiction 

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory. When news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes, Jane and her friends are determined to beat them. But the case turns out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence. When Jane and her sleuths take a step closer, they find that every answer only begs more questions and begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific than any they've faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap. Told one year after the astounding events that concluded the case and left the world reeling, when Jane has finally decided to break her silence about what really happened, she tells the true story of the Delphine Massacres. And what she has to confess will shock even the most seasoned true crime fans. 

Closely inspired by the real-life crimes of the Idaho 4 and the internet investigators of the Delphi Murders, Winstead takes on the complex and controversial topic of citizen sleuths. I want to give a disclaimer that there are some direct references to these crimes and the media coverage that followed in case that is triggering for you. Overall, I found the book to be suspenseful and compulsive with an intricate plot that doesn’t weigh down the suspense. A lot of the book takes place in internet chat groups and forums and the mixed media element of the storytelling made this an immersive, yet fast-paced read. If you listen to true crime podcasts, you’ll find a lot of references that were fun to catch. The ending is explosive albeit a little controversial. Overall, if you enjoy twisty thrillers about serial killers with references to real life crimes, you’ll enjoy This Book Will Bury Me.

If you liked This Book Will Bury Me, you might also like:

The Haunting of Room 904

By Erika Wurth

Flatiron Books, 2025. 306 pages. Fiction

Olivia Becente was never supposed to have the gift. The ability to commune with the dead was the specialty of her sister, Naiche. But when Naiche dies unexpectedly and under strange circumstances, somehow Olivia suddenly can't stop seeing and hearing from spirits. A few years later, she's the most in-demand paranormal investigator in Denver. She's good at her job, but the loss of Naiche haunts her. That's when she hears from the Brown Palace, a landmark Denver hotel. The owner can't explain it, but every few years, a girl is found dead in room 904, no matter what room she checked into the night before. As Olivia tries to understand these disturbing deaths, the past and the present collide as Olivia's investigation forces her to confront a mysterious and possibly dangerous cult, a vindictive journalist, betrayal by her friends, and shocking revelations about her sister's secret life.

The Last One at the Wedding

By Jason Rekulak

Flatiron Books, 2024. 338 pages. Fiction

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He's even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right. He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate-very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she's marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it's difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn't seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

BW

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

A Psalm for the Wild-Built

by Becky Chambers

Tordotcom, 2021. 147 pages. Science Fiction

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They're going to need to ask it a lot.

Leisurely paced and full of atmospheric worldbuilding. Perfect for when you want to take a moment to reflect on yourself, your purpose, and your connection to the greater world.  A beautifully cozy Science Fiction piece.

If you like A Psalm for the Wild-Built, you might also like:

In the Lives of Puppets
by TJ Klune
Tor Publishing Group, 2023. 420 pages. Science Fiction.

When an unwitting act of betrayal leads to the capture of his android Gio, who once hunted humans, Victor Lawson and his assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown
Little, Brown and Company, 2016. 279 pages. Juvenile Fiction.

Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island's hostile inhabitants.

 -RBL

No One Will Come Back for Us

No One Will Come Back for Us
by Premee Mohamed with Soneela Nankani (narrator)
Tantor Media, Inc., 2024. 10 hours. Sci-Fi, Horror, Short Stories.

Here there be gods and monsters—forged from flesh and stone and vengeance—emerging from the icy abyss of deep space, ascending from dark oceans, and prowling strange cities to enter worlds of chaos and wonder, where scientific rigor and human endeavor is tested to the limits. These are cosmic realms and watery domains where old offerings no longer appease the ancient Gods or the new and hungry idols. Deities and beasts. Life and death. Love and hate. Science and magic. And smiling monsters in human skin…

I have to admit that horror is not my favorite genre. Until now, my only real forays into the realm of horror were the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and the Jane Austen parodies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Ben H. Winters. However, I was intrigued by the premise of this short story collection, in which ancient beings come into conflict with our modern world. I quickly found myself drawn in by Mohamed’s straightforward writing and Nankani’s unsettlingly cheerful narration. These tales are standalones; two are definitely connected if you’re paying close attention, but overall the only real common element is the idea that there are…things out there that are far older than we can imagine and are probably beyond our comprehension. At times, they feel like fairy tales--but the older, scarier kind, wherein if the “fair folk” take notice of you for any reason, you’re probably doomed. Whether it’s a beehive possessing the little girls of a village, the “old gods” that bless your farmland in exchange for the proper offerings, an alien something that has welcomed unsuspecting human colonists in the worst way possible, a science experiment gone unbelievably wrong, or even “Death” itself, there are enough creepy eldritch things in this collection to keep you awake for a long time.

 

If you like No One Will Come Back for Us, you might also like:

Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror
by Jordan Peele (editor)
Random House, 2023. 386 pages. Fiction, Horror, Short Stories.

A cop begins seeing huge, blinking eyes where the headlights of cars should be that tell him who to pull over. Two freedom riders take a bus ride that leaves them stranded on a lonely road in Alabama where several unsettling somethings await them. A young girl dives into the depths of the Earth in search of the demon that killed her parents. These are just a few of the worlds of Out There Screaming, Jordan Peele's anthology of all-new horror stories by Black writers.

The Salt Grows Heavy
by Cassandra Khaw
Nightfire, Tor Publishing Group, 2023. 106 pages. Fiction, Horror, Fantasy.

You may think you know how the fairytale goes: a mermaid comes to shore and weds the prince. But what the fables forget is that mermaids have teeth. And now, her daughters have devoured the kingdom and burned it to ashes.

 -LAH