Today, one of my favorite reads this year is out for all: Some of It Was Real by Nan Fischer. It's a story of a psychic-medium with a dark past, a reporter determined to expose it, and the mystery and even romance that intertwine with heartfelt drama. This book encapsulates a lot, and yet it's... Continue Reading →
I've been looking forward to Claire Kann's adult debut, The Romantic Agenda. This is one of only a handful of romances I've come across that stars an asexual main character, and I hope there will be many more to come. Summary Joy has secretly been in love with her best friend, Malcolm, since they were... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is officially an auto-buy author for me. Since my introduction to her with Gods of Jade and Shadow in 2019, I've read three more of her novels and her recent short story, The Tiger Came to the Mountains. I've loved everything so far, and I could hardly wait for her newest book, The... Continue Reading →
There's a new historical mystery out today, set on a ship in summer 1936: Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare. If you're looking for dubiously linked murders, a calculated setup, a bit of music, and an examination of race, this is the book for you. Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House and... Continue Reading →
A debut novel that instantly piqued my interest this year was When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo. The cover is stunning, and I was excited to read a book set in Trinidad, especially since June is Read Caribbean Month! Summary When We Were Birds follows two protagonists. One is Yejide, whose mother has... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated historical fiction novels this summer is A Dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen. Inspired by a real woman who became an acclaimed fashion designer, it's a novel of beautiful gowns, a second chance at love, and survival in a rapidly changing world. I was pleased to get an ARC... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year, I was enchanted by the cover of Blitz Bazawule's debut novel, The Scent of Burnt Flowers. The summary was similarly intriguing, so I requested it on NetGalley. I was thrilled when I was approved for an advanced copy of the book. The Scent of Burnt Flowers is out now, and if you... Continue Reading →
A book I've been hearing about a lot lately is The Guncle by Steven Rowley. The audiobook, in particular, has been recommended, in part because the author himself narrates it. He does a fabulous job! With Pride in full swing, as well as my June reading challenge of books about family, this was the perfect... Continue Reading →
Summer is here, school is out, and we're all ready for a fun getaway. The perfect book to kick off the season is Bridget Morrissey's A Thousand Miles, a story of two ex-best friends taking a road trip from Illinois to Colorado. It's been a decade since they last saw each other, but a few... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, the summary of a new books caught my attention: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. With its focus on a father-daughter relationship, time travel, and getting more time with a loved one who is dying, I knew it was something I wanted to read as I reflect on my own dad's... Continue Reading →
This year I've been aiming to honor the different heritage celebrations by reading relevant books. May is AAPI month (Asian American and Pacific Islander), and this made Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos a perfect fit. It highlights a Bangladeshi family living in the United States and working towards updating their immigrant status, despite... Continue Reading →
Two weeks ago, Carley Fortune released her debut novel, Every Summer After. This buzzy novel is sure to connect with a lot of readers this year - it's an emotional, second chances romance with small town and beach read vibes. I was pleased to get an advanced copy of it, and despite some initial reservations... Continue Reading →
In fall 2019, I read and loved Abbi Waxman's novel, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. It was a fun read that highlighted a character I identified with in many ways. When I learned that it would have a sequel - Adult Assembly Required - I was thrilled. I was lucky to get an advanced... Continue Reading →
Two of my favorite romances in the last few years have been Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, and I've been eagerly awaiting her third adult novel, Book Lovers. It's finally out, I tore through it, and it just may be her best book yet. Summary Two years ago, literary agent... Continue Reading →
Just one week ago, I was excited to learn of When We Return by Eliana Tobias. NetGalley included it in a newsletter, and I was drawn to this novel set in my husband's home country, Peru. I hadn't realized at the time that this is a sequel to the author's first novel, In the Belly... Continue Reading →
I loved Zeyn Joukhadar's debut novel, The Map of Salt and Stars, a few years ago, and I was excited to read more from him. His second book is The Thirty Names of Night, divided between two timelines and countries. In the present day, a closeted trans boy is searching for a new name and... Continue Reading →
I've been growing more and more interested in Jasmine Guillory in the past year, and while I hadn't yet read any of her books, I was eagerly awaiting her 2022 novel, By the Book. It's the second in a multi-authored series called Meant to Be, published by Hyperion Avenue, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide.... Continue Reading →
A few years ago, I watched a movie about Nellie Bly and her famous undercover commitment to a women's asylum. Up until then, I had never heard of her, but it was a fascinating and eye-opening account. Earlier this year, I was excited to learn of an upcoming book based on her: The Mad Girls... Continue Reading →
My April reading challenge is to read books set in Paris, France. Following The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley, the second book I finished was Paris Is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay. I'd picked up the audiobook of it last year, so I was eager to listen to it. This charming, romantic, emotional... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated romances this spring has been Business Not As Usual by Sharon C. Cooper. I hadn't read her before, but this one's cover and plot both drew me in. I was so happy when I was contacted for an ARC of it - this book went to the top of my... Continue Reading →
March was all about reading retellings of the classics - at least for me and my personal 2022 monthly reading challenge! After reading Ramón and Julieta, a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, I was eager to continue the Shakespeare retellings with Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma. It's the first in a new trilogy called... Continue Reading →
This month, my reading challenge is to read retellings of the classics. One book that was high on my list is Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson - a retelling of Romeo and Juliet - that just came out at the beginning of February. Throw in themes of gentrification and stolen taco recipes and... Continue Reading →
Recently, Silvia Moreno-Garcia announced that she would have a short story in a new Amazon Original Stories collection called Trespass. I decided to get the whole collection - not only would I get to enjoy one of my favorite authors, I would also get to discover some new ones. I opted for the audiobook version,... Continue Reading →
Last summer, I read and loved Libby Hubscher's debut novel, Meet Me in Paradise. It was at once a story of romantic love and familial love, a novel that balanced laugh-out-loud hilarity and heart-wrenching drama. Libby Hubscher's second novel, If You Ask Me, offers a similar blend of humor, drama, and romance. It's out now and is... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 