I am truly blown away by the talent of Carmen Maria Machado. I find myself floored by her metaphors, deeply pulled in by her prose. I feel in awe of hI am truly blown away by the talent of Carmen Maria Machado. I find myself floored by her metaphors, deeply pulled in by her prose. I feel in awe of her, really. If you're looking for a good short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties is really special. It's weird and wild, and some of the stories take some time to sort out. But they are great. One of my favorites is available to read on Granta.com.
And if you read it—and you like it—but you can’t tell why you liked it, this article helped me fully understand how I was feeling....more
I also got to meet Jodi Picoult this past month (on Zoom but it still counts!) and gosh, I love her. Want to dive headfirst into Egyptian tombs? Jodi’I also got to meet Jodi Picoult this past month (on Zoom but it still counts!) and gosh, I love her. Want to dive headfirst into Egyptian tombs? Jodi’s research is unbelievable. She puts you right there, on the front lines of archaeological digs, like you're right next to Indiana Jones. And, no surprise, it’s great. It’s a thoughtful, accessible, brilliant, and thought-provoking look at the meaning of life—and what we do to give our lives meaning....more
I had the honor of moderating an event with V.E. Schwab this past weekend and that gave me all the reason I needed to luxuriate in the world of Addie I had the honor of moderating an event with V.E. Schwab this past weekend and that gave me all the reason I needed to luxuriate in the world of Addie LaRue. Addie is immortal and has been since the early 1700s, thanks to a deal with the devil, so to speak. But she has also been rendered entirely impossible to remember. So she lives her life—throughout 18th-century France, 19th-century Venice and London and New York City today—remembered by no one and yearning for company. Until, of course, she finds it. Come for the beautiful world-building, stay for the assertion that certain geniuses of past centuries made their own deals with the devil....more
J. Courtney Sullivan has a really great ability to detail the complexities of womanhood and family. And here she’s tackling young motherhood in a way J. Courtney Sullivan has a really great ability to detail the complexities of womanhood and family. And here she’s tackling young motherhood in a way that, as a parent of a toddler, felt viscerally real for me. But there’s a lot more going on here, too. If you liked Maine, or any of Sullivan’s novels, you’ll like this one, too....more
If you feel like your life is 100 percent politics all the time and there’s no turning it off, this story about fictional Senator Cleo McDougal facingIf you feel like your life is 100 percent politics all the time and there’s no turning it off, this story about fictional Senator Cleo McDougal facing a scandal can help you escape without losing focus. Allison Winn Scotch’s newest is smart and fun and has some serious bite—which is not surprising because all Scotch’s books do....more
This book is wild in the absolute best way. It’s haunting and creepy but so readable. And what I love most about it is that, as the story unfolds—withThis book is wild in the absolute best way. It’s haunting and creepy but so readable. And what I love most about it is that, as the story unfolds—with more and more bizarre details—you find yourself wondering over and over “what on earth is going on?!?”. And I could not have guessed what was actually going on in a million years....more
The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a page-turning peek inside the glamour and brutality of life as a pop star. Sloan takes us on a wild ride through The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes is a page-turning peek inside the glamour and brutality of life as a pop star. Sloan takes us on a wild ride through the world of music video shoots, expensive hotels, and arena tours — showing us the darkness that threatens just below the surface....more
Beatriz Williams delivers time and time again. This story is about a war correspondent in 1947 named Janey Everett who is in search of information aboBeatriz Williams delivers time and time again. This story is about a war correspondent in 1947 named Janey Everett who is in search of information about a lost war pilot named Sam Mallory. Her search brings her in contact with a female pilot named Irene Foster, who begins to unravel her story. So good....more
This debut is such a great story about mothers and daughters over three generations. Simran, Nandini, and Mimi are all incredibly different women, navThis debut is such a great story about mothers and daughters over three generations. Simran, Nandini, and Mimi are all incredibly different women, navigating the world the best they can—and to see the way they support and challenge one another reminded me of some of the most pitch-perfect moments in another wonderful grandmother-mother-daughter story, Jane the Virgin....more
A sequel to The Royal We! C’mon. It doesn’t get any better. Nick and Bex’s relationship with the monarchy is somehow even messier than before but justA sequel to The Royal We! C’mon. It doesn’t get any better. Nick and Bex’s relationship with the monarchy is somehow even messier than before but just as delightful. Perfect escapism, so much fun. If you liked The Royal We, this is a no-brainer....more
I just finished Royal Holiday, also by Jasmine Guillory, and I absolutely loved it. It is so nice to have an author like Jasmine Guillory out there—shI just finished Royal Holiday, also by Jasmine Guillory, and I absolutely loved it. It is so nice to have an author like Jasmine Guillory out there—she delivers every time and it’s pure delight. Party of Two is also absolutely fantastic. It’s about a woman who starts dating a politician and it gave me some American President vibes....more
This is Talia Hibbert’s follow up after the truly great Get a Life, Chloe Brown. This one is about Chloe’s sister Dani who gets herself into a fake boThis is Talia Hibbert’s follow up after the truly great Get a Life, Chloe Brown. This one is about Chloe’s sister Dani who gets herself into a fake boyfriend situation (one of the best situations!). Talia has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. But you should read this book for the first line alone. It slayed me....more
This is Sam Lanksy’s debut novel after his memoir came out a few years ago. And I can honestly say that it is an arresting and raw voice. The story foThis is Sam Lanksy’s debut novel after his memoir came out a few years ago. And I can honestly say that it is an arresting and raw voice. The story follows a man on a desperate journey to find self-acceptance—and the honest, gutting way Sam writes about it is truly exceptional....more
This is one of those books where I just want to press it into your hands and say, “Read it.” It’s beautifully written with lush characters in both JosThis is one of those books where I just want to press it into your hands and say, “Read it.” It’s beautifully written with lush characters in both Josephine and her great-great-grandaughter Ava, the two women whose storylines cut back and forth throughout the novel. It’s about how the world changes—or doesn't change—over generations, and particularly the complexities of relationships between Black women and white women. But what stands out to me the most are the lines so good and so chilling that I had to shut the book for a moment to process it all....more
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