Several months ago, before the cover had even been unveiled, I was intrigued about The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang. Spanning three disparate timelines, spotlighting gay Chinese men, and infusing it all with a theme of rebirth and fate, this is a fantasy debut I knew could not be missed. Special thanks... Continue Reading →
I was perusing NetGalley a few months ago when I came across Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman. It combines so many elements that excite me as a reader: a strong theme of music, a romantic plot, and diverse characters, in this case, Filipino celebrities. I was excited to read about two people torn... Continue Reading →
Last week, Cristina Henríquez released her new novel, The Great Divide. Set in 1907 in Panama, it highlights the various working class people who were part of the building of the Panama Canal and those who were affected by it. Special thanks to Harper Audio, Ecco, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!... Continue Reading →
Early last year, I absolutely loved Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. The first in her Skyland trilogy, I was left eager to continue the series (and to read more from this author in general!). This week, the Skyland series continues with This Could Be Us, offering a hard-earned happily ever after for Soledad.... Continue Reading →
Between her first two novels, I’ve become a big fan of Yangsze Choo. Now she’s back with her third novel, The Fox Wife, and I was thrilled to get an early read of it. Like her previous two books, this one combines historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery together, along with Asian settings and mythologies. This... Continue Reading →
Three years ago, I adored The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod. The first in her Lillys series, it introduced an all-girl rock band starting to gain traction before releasing their first album. It was an incredible work of music fiction as well as contemporary romance, and I was eager to continue... Continue Reading →
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is Shubnum Khan's first novel available in the United States. This is one of those cases where the cover completely captured my attention; it is gorgeous and evocative. I also have a growing interest in djinn, so I was excited to read a new book in which they feature.... Continue Reading →
Though I don't read many holiday romances, I had to read Amor Actually, a short-story collection centering Latina characters. So many of my favorite authors contributed to this anthology, with all their stories interconnecting by the end. Leading up to one Nochebuena party among friends, nine different partnerships (couples and throuples alike!) will get their... Continue Reading →
Months ago, I saw Melissa Rivero’s Flores and Miss Paula on NetGalley and was instantly intrigued. About an immigrant mother and her adult daughter, it describes their difficult relationship in the aftermath of a family loss, honoring their Peruvian culture while living in New York City, and navigating their future together. My husband is Peruvian,... Continue Reading →
It was thanks to some lovely authors I follow on Instagram that I first heard about Raiders of the Lost Heart, the debut novel by Jo Segura. Set in the Mexican jungle, it follows a team of archaeologists as they search for the long-lost remains of an Aztec warrior. However, the two leading this dig... Continue Reading →
It was this time last year when Erika T. Wurth's debut novel, White Horse, was released. I got a hardcover of it through Book of the Month, but this month, I decided to finally read it as an audiobook. In part, I always try to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with at least one book... Continue Reading →
Some months ago, I was on NetGalley when my eyes were drawn to a stunning yellow and red cover. The Sun Sets in Singapore was an equally captivating title. The debut novel by Kehinde Fadipe, it’s about three Nigerian women living in Singapore and the distinct ways their lives are upended when a newcomer, Lani,... Continue Reading →
We’ve all heard the Plain White T’s hit “Hey There Delilah” countless times since its release in 2006. I’ve loved the song all these years, and the lyrics have always made it easy for me to envision the story like a movie. Now, that story has been reimagined into a whole novel: What You Do... Continue Reading →
Early last year, I enjoyed Hiro Arikawa's novel, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, about a snarky cat whose loving owner is trying to find a new home for him. It was a beautiful and heartrending book, so I was excited to learn about the author’s new collection of short stories, The Goodbye Cat. Two of the... Continue Reading →
If you’re looking for a new historical romance series to dive into, look no further than The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy. The first in her Sirens in Silk series, it’s about an Arab American woman who unexpectedly inherits a castle in Yorkshire… much to the chagrin of the duke who was supposed to... Continue Reading →
Every month I check the Amazon First Reads selections on offer, happy to get a free book a month before its wider publication. For September, my pick was A Night at the Tropicana, a short story by Chanel Cleeton. I'd read one novel of hers before, Next Year in Havana, and was curious to read... Continue Reading →
Last year I picked up On a Night of a Thousand Stars, the debut novel by Andrea Yaryura Clark. Set between the 1970s and 1990s, it shines a light on the people affected by Argentina’s Dirty War and the repercussions that followed. I listened to the audiobook version of it, narrated by Paula Christensen. Summary... Continue Reading →
All of this year I’ve been looking forward to Thank You for Sharing, the debut novel by Rachel Runya Katz, and this week it’s finally here! This second-chance romance stars two Jewish people of color as they work together, rebuild their friendship, and develop a deeper connection along the way. It’s light and fun, but... Continue Reading →
One year ago, I enjoyed reading Miss Aldridge Regrets, the first in Louise Hare’s Canary Club Mystery series. Now the series continues with Harlem After Midnight, set immediately after the previous book’s events. Told in three timelines, it combines two different mysteries, both set in New York City in the first half of the 20th... Continue Reading →
After reading two excellent books by Emma Donoghue, I was excited to get into her newest novel, Learned by Heart. Set in the early 1800s, it shines a light on a small York boarding school for girls and the relationship that develops between two students over the course of one school year. Can this romance between... Continue Reading →
I love when two different things that I enjoy converge. Such is the case with the latest book I read. In the last few years, I've become a fan of Zoraida Córdova, having read several of her books. Last year, I also enjoyed Jasmine Guillory's By the Book, the second installment in the Meant to... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I enjoyed reading The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes. This week, that historical mystery gets a sequel in The Queen of the Valley. The new story takes places in Colombia as Puri tracks down a missing man—not only a man she does business with, but the father of her child. Special thanks to Kensington... Continue Reading →
Last year, I absolutely loved Nisha Sharma’s Dating Dr. Dil, the first installment in her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie trilogy. Now the second book of the series is here: Tastes Like Shakkar is a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. It stars Bobbi, a wedding planner, and her friend group nemesis, a chef... 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 →
Amanda's Book Corner 