Ever since the last presidential election—or really, for the past decade—I've constantly wondered how Donald Trump could have won the support of so many people. What is he doing "right" to attract people to him? What are Democrats doings wrong? (And as a progressive voter myself, I can openly admit the many ways I wish... Continue Reading →
Last May, Nisha J. Tuli released her first contemporary romance, Not Safe for Work. I had never read her before, but was excited for this workplace romance set at a resort in Hawaii. Trishara and Rafe have been rivals for the past five years that they've worked at his dad's company in Chicago. Now they're... Continue Reading →
Last May, Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro released her debut novel, Bochica. Today, the Spanish version is out, and though I'm not yet fluent in the language, I celebrated by reading the ebook in English and listening to the audiobook in Spanish. Set in Colombia in 1936, it follows Antonia in the aftermath of her mother's death. She... Continue Reading →
Last week saw the release of Silver & Blood, the first in a new duology from Jessie Mihalik. Riela is a mage who just gained her powers last year, though she can still barely use them. But as the only mage in town, she's sent to kill a beast in the forest, only to wind... Continue Reading →
I love books that shine a light on historical figures, perhaps especially so when it's someone I know little about. This led me to ReShonda Tate's new novel, With Love from Harlem, about the jazz and classical pianist, Hazel Scott. Between 1943 and 1960, we get to see the ups and downs in Hazel's music... Continue Reading →
This year, I find myself increasingly drawn to medieval stories, and this is what piqued my interest in Ryan Collett's new novel, George Falls Through Time. George is going through a rough time: recently broken up with, unemployed, and stressed about life's mundanities. Then a heightened moment of stress literally sends George falling through time,... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, Brenda Navarro's novel Eating Ashes was made available in English for the first time. It was translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell. It follows a Mexican family to Spain, where they experience xenophobia and a worsening sense of belonging. The unnamed narrator's younger brother, Diego, ultimately takes his own life, further fracturing... Continue Reading →
I really enjoyed Emma R. Alban's debut novel a couple years ago, and I was excited to read her new romance, Like in Love with You. In 1817, both Rosalie and Catherine are spending the season in Bath trying to get a husband. Well, their respective mothers want them to find husbands, and both have... Continue Reading →
Happy book birthday to The Storm by Rachel Hawkins! I read her first thriller, The Wife Upstairs, three years ago, and I'm excited to be getting back into her books. The Storm is set between 1984 and 2025 at a seaside town in Alabama. A hurricane in 1984 claimed the life of the rising politician,... Continue Reading →
2025 was a difficult year, especially in terms of United States politics and social issues. So the here's the energy I want to bring into 2026: Fight Oligarchy by Bernie Sanders. This is a succinct book that dives directly into his unwavering message of acknowledging the real issues brought on by billionaires... and using our... Continue Reading →
Years ago I loved The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, and I've been wanting to read more from her ever since. The Sun Down Motel has been on my list the longest, and now that a new book set in the same universe is about to come out, it was high time I finally... Continue Reading →
Last month, Marina Scott released her historical horror novel, The Night Guests. (It was also an Amazon First Reads selection in October.) Set in Omaha, Nebraska in 1903, it follows Nina Wilson in the wake of losing her father. Her twin brother is absent and her mother lives in a delusion that she can communicate... Continue Reading →
Farah Heron is an author I've been wanting to read for a few years, and I've finally found my entry point with her recent Christmas romance, A Little Holiday Fling. Ruby has spent years moving around Canada working in different retail jobs, but now she's about to make her and her mom's lifelong dream come... Continue Reading →
Gothic tales always catch my eye, and I've been especially interested in ones set in different countries. This drew me to The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo, set in the Philippines. Filipina-American Sophie travels to the Philippines for the first time with her boyfriend, Adrian Sepulveda, when his grandfather passes away. The Sepulveda villa... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated horror novels this year has been I'll Make a Spectacle of You, the debut from Beatrice Winifred Iker. Set at a Tennessee HBCU, it follows Zora, a grad student in Appalachian Studies who's researching religions, folklore, and hoodoo... and a beast that supposedly lurks the university woods at night. A... Continue Reading →
Despite reading almost no YA books in the past few years, I was unable to resist My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich. This paranormal romance follows Owen during his first semester of college. His dorm roommate turns out to be a literal demon, Prince Zarmenus, come straight from hell. Zar seems friendly, but he's... Continue Reading →
Erin La Rosa is an author I've been wanting to read for a couple of years, and I've finally started with her newest release, Not You Again. Carly and Adam are two strangers, but both are having a terrible day. Carly is in town for her dad's funeral; Adam just found out his wife cheated... Continue Reading →
Last week, Once We Are Safe by Alessandra Carati become available in English. Translated from Italian, it follows a Bosnian family fleeing the Bosnian War in 1992. They end up in Milan, Italy, where they must rebuild a life. Still tethered to Bosnia, still hoping to at some point return, they spend decades in their... Continue Reading →
Alix E. Harrow is a master of building multilayered worlds, and that skill is on full display in her latest novel, The Everlasting. It's a tale of time-travel, love, ambition, and memory, one where the ending is never really the end. Owen Mallory has spent his whole life obsessed with the legend of Una Everlasting,... Continue Reading →
Happy book birthday to Sasha Laurens's adult debut, When I Picture You! I've been eagerly reading every music-related romance that has come out this year, so when I heard about this one, I couldn't wait to read it, too. Lola Gray is a wildly successful pop star known for her songwriting. But after a breakup,... Continue Reading →
Ever since I lived in Spain for a year, I'm eternally drawn to books set there. This is why Suzanne Redfearn's new novel, Call of the Camino, first caught my eye. Set between two timelines, it follows two different women who walk the Camino de Santiago through northern Spain. In 1997, Isabel is on the... Continue Reading →
Happy release day to Kill the Beast, the debut novel by Serra Swift! This was one of my most anticipated books this fall, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Thirteen years after a horrible beast killed her brother, Lyssa has made a career of slaying evil fairy creatures. But her ultimate goal... Continue Reading →
Happy rerelease to Hollow by Karina Halle! First published two years ago, it has just been republished with a gorgeous new cover. Hollow is the first half of A Gothic Shade of Romance duology; the second part, Legend, comes out in December. Hollow is a retelling of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving.... Continue Reading →
This week sees the traditional publication of Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor. It was first released through Kickstarter, but the new Harlequin edition has additional content to fill out the characters and hint at further books in the Claw Haven series. This first in the series finds Luna, a slightly out-of-touch heiress,... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 