For the last couple of years, one of the books that's been highest up on my TBR has been The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec. With her second novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, coming out imminently (July 25th, to be exact!), I decided that it was officially time to read her debut. Though... Continue Reading →
As soon as I heard about Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia, I knew I had to read it. Set in a small town in Washington (like my hometown!), it follows a music critic whose job is on the line. With a second-chance romance, found family, and themes of connecting with yourself, this... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is among my favorite authors, and I'm always ready for more from her. Today, she releases her latest novel, Silver Nitrate, a horror set in 1990s Mexico City with themes of dangerous magic and sorcery. It's a slow burn, but with its intricate details and exciting climax, this is another hit in the... Continue Reading →
When I learned of The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, I was excited to dive into the subject of Paris’s Salpêtrière asylum. It would be my second time reading about it in fiction, and I find the whole subject fascinating. This novel just came out last week (sorry for my late review; it... Continue Reading →
This week, Jodie Slaughter releases her newest romance, Play to Win. Set in the same world as her 2022 book, Bet on It, this novel is a second chance at love between two estranged spouses, all thanks to a winning lottery ticket. But will that ticket bring them back together... or at long last finalize... Continue Reading →
A debut romance I could hardly wait for this year was Wanderlust by Elle Everhart. When two virtual strangers win a trip around the world, they're stuck in close quarters and butt heads a lot... before slowly developing deeper feelings. But one of them is keeping secrets that could prevent a romance from fully blooming... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved reading Ramón and Julieta, a Romeo and Juliet romance retelling by Alana Quintana Albertson. Her Love and Tacos series continues with Kiss Me, Mi Amor, out today. This one is a romantic take on The Taming of the Shrew. It stars the middle Montez brother, Enrique, and a new character named... Continue Reading →
Last year, Zoe Sivak released her debut novel, Mademoiselle Revolution. I've been excited to read it, and now felt like the perfect time: June is both Pride Month and Read Caribbean Month, and this books fits both quite well! Set in the 1790s, it starts in Haiti and the dawn of the Haitian Revolution, then... Continue Reading →
By now I have several books by Amalie Howard on my TBR, but this summer I decided to start with Always Be My Duchess, the first in her Taming of the Dukes series. Set in 1865, it features a feisty, out-of-work ballet dancer, a neurodiverse duke, and a fake fiancée scheme that both can benefit... Continue Reading →
Today, one of my favorite recent reads hits shelves: The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. Set in Cork, Ireland between 2009 and 2010, it follows a young woman named Rachel as she finishes college, moves out for the first time, and finds herself in the middle of a messy romantic entanglement. It is a quick... Continue Reading →
A new book I was greatly looking forward to this month was Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine. Set in Venice in 1717, it follows two teenage girls attending the Ospedale della Pietà, learning to play their instruments and even get training from Antonio Vivaldi. But there's also a dark magic lurking in the... Continue Reading →
I love music, so I’m always on the lookout for books about musicians or music lovers. A debut novel that particularly caught my interest was All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim. This dual timeline romance stars two Asian American men, from their time in high school in the 1990s to the present day when... Continue Reading →
For the past two years, I've been itching to read She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. Finally, I decided to listen to the audiobook version a few weeks ago, partially in honor of AAPI Month. Set in 1345, it fictionalizes the rise of Emperor Zhu Chongba and the start of the Ming Dynasty.... Continue Reading →
I'm a sucker for a good cover, and The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis certainly has it. France is also a country I'm eternally drawn to, so it's no wonder this thriller, set in Provence, captured my interest. It follows Darcy and her three friends as they return to her grandmother's titular chateau. But when her... Continue Reading →
All of this year, I've been eagerly anticipating Dances, the debut novel by Nicole Cuffy. It follows Cece, a young Black woman who has just been promoted to principal within the New York City Ballet. Over the course of a few months, we get a glimpse of the pressure she feels and the passion that... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved reading Jenn McKinlay's 2020 novel, Paris Is Always a Good Idea. Now she has a brand new book, Summer Reading, and I was thrilled to be included in the book tour for it. With a neurodivergent heroine, a librarian hero, and a focus on family, this is a sweet and inclusive romance.... Continue Reading →
Last year, Claudia Gray began a new Regency mystery series with The Murder of Mr. Wickham. As you may have surmised from that title, the story is inspired by Jane Austen and indeed features characters from all six of her novels. It also introduced several new characters, including our sleuthing protagonists, the respective children the Darcys... Continue Reading →
In the past several years, I've been particularly drawn to stories by and about Somali people. Admittedly, part of this has been inspired by the singer K'naan, whose music I enjoy. Whether reading memoirs or novels or shorter fiction, there is a growing number of authors with roots in Somalia. This week, Idman Nur Omar... Continue Reading →
A fantasy book I was super excited for last year was The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah. Her debut novel, it's also the first in the Sandsea Trilogy. In all honesty, I was first drawn to the cover and the Aladdin vibes I got from it. Even so, this book is all its own, an... Continue Reading →
While perusing NetGalley last summer, I came across The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro. The cover was stunning and the summary captured my interest, and I was so happy to be given an ARC of it. I read it last October, both in honor of Latinx Heritage Month and to celebrate Spooky Season. I... Continue Reading →
Last year, I greatly enjoyed Brendan Slocumb's debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy. As soon as I heard about his second book, I could hardly wait. I was overjoyed to get an ARC of his new novel, Symphony of Secrets, which comes out tomorrow, April 18th. His sophomore release is even more impressive and impactful than his... Continue Reading →
In the past four years, Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become one of my favorite authors. She has quite a few books already, and I'm still working my through her catalogue. One of the three novels left on my list was Untamed Shore, her noir thriller from early 2020. Set against a 1970s summer in Mexico, a... Continue Reading →
For at least six months, one of my most highly anticipated books has been Ana María and The Fox by Liana De La Rosa. The first in her Luna Sisters series, this historical romance is set in the 1860s and follows three Mexican heiresses fleeing their home country for England. The eldest sister, Ana María,... Continue Reading →
Are you ever compelled to read a book simply by its name alone? That was the case for me when I came across White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link. This collection of seven short stories reimagines French lore, Scottish ballads, and the Brothers Grimm, making each classic tale fresh and utterly original. Special thanks... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 