Reviews as of August 2, 2026

Marilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail Crowther
I wish this had been a little more substantive (a bit too much seemed to rely on speculation just based on books being in Marilyn's collection) but I appreciated the overall argument being made.
~ remreader (bluesky)

What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds by Jennifer Jewell
I just didn't really vibe with this one overall, which is too bad since it's an interesting topic.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Gardening with Guineas - Jeannette S. Ferguson
I keep chickens and have no interest in getting guinea fowl (even less so after reading this book!), but I thought Gardening with Guineas was really charming nonetheless. The author is extremely excited about spreading the word about her favorite birds. I especially enjoyed the chapter talking about how she discovered the internet in the mid 90s and created a website to connect with other guinea owners and share tips. Heartwarmingly earnest.
~ LarndeSolen

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
2.5* - I didn't really enjoy this. On the surface of things, it felt like something I could enjoy, but I think the multitude of POV switches and the unconvincing... romance(??) between some of the main characters didn't work in favour of this book. I probably would have liked it better if they'd firmly remained friends and accepted that.
The book is trying to do a lot of different things, and I keep wondering what could be changed to make me enjoy it more but I think that'd involve cutting it down approximately 200-300 pages and having less POV switches. It felt like it dragged on for too long for the plot/the characters/the world while we still don't really know much about any of that. And maybe part of that is down to how YA this book feels despite also trying to be adult fantasy? I don't know. Maybe I should stop reading fantasy for a bit.
This is meant to be a series but I'm not really interested in what's going to happen in any of the next books because I'm not invested in the characters or the world. It's unfortunate, but it happens.
~ fpwoper

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke
Picked this up because sometimes I love getting on the hype train and it was a lot better than I expected that it would be. I read this in a rural farmhouse so I was pretty much primed to have a good time. I read one bad review that accused the author of making up a woman to be mad at but like, yes good, reminded me of Yellowface in that I was constantly infuriated by the narrator, both her downfalls and missed potential. Did some fun twisty things where I worked out some of the journey the book was taking me on but was surprised by others.
~ rueforyou

The Secret History - Donna Tartt
For family roadtrips I often pick a chunky non-fiction survival story audiobook by this time I subjected my family to The Secret History, which lead to my dad asking a couple of hours in 'Is this really a murder book? All they've done so far is learn Greek!' I love the prose, I love how terrible everyone is but I also understand why it took me so long to get around to it, it's long, and some of this length is maybe superfluous but also, I had hours to kill on open roads so it was a perfect companion.
~ rueforyou

The Killer Question - Janice Hallett
I'll read anything written by Janice Hallett (and do, each time I take a summer holiday). I love the epistolary style and the way the narratives hold back secrets until the very end. Didn't much care for the B-Plot of this at first but it won me back as the puzzle pieces started falling into place, a fun time.
~ rueforyou

Magical Girl Dandelion Vol. 1 by Kaeru Mizuho
I'm always looking for magical girl series that are doing something different, and this is a strong series start. Not 100% sure I'm sold yet, but I liked it enough that I'll keep reading.
~ acesaru

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein
I'm ALWAYS down for a sci-fi noir, but this one didn't stick the landing for me. It might have benefitted from being a novel vs a novella, with more room to explore its themes (which were admittedly interesting!)
~ acesaru

We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
I think my expectations were really high for this one. It didn't hit me as hard in the feels as it did other folks I know, but I did think it had its beautiful, poignant moments. There's some scenes that are definitely going to stick with me a long time.
~ acesaru

The Summer Hikaru Died Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren
I loved this anime a lot, and the manga is equally fun. And by "fun," I mean it's terrifying and sad and beautiful. I just want these boys to be happy!!! Even if one of them might actually be a [ unsettling radio static noises ]
~ acesaru

A Wild Radiance by Maria Ingrande Mora
I wanted to love this one so much, especially because of the polyam + queerplatonic relationships at the center. Unfortunately, almost every element was a miss for me. But to be fair!! I'm not the target audience. I very well might have adored this as a teen.
~ acesaru

Witch Hat Atelier Vol 4. by Kamome Shirahama
I finished the anime then and RAN to pick the manga back up where I left off. I'd been told the story really doesn't pull its punches, and we start to see that kick in here. Beautiful art, propulsive story, great character arcs. What's not to love?
~ acesaru

Witch Hat Atelier Vol 5. by Kamome Shirahama
Alright, I'm officially past where S1 of the anime ends! We're getting to know these characters on a deeper level, and the worldbuilding is also starting to ramp up even more. I'm consistently impressed by how much is packed into each volume.
~ acesaru

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Isekai and villainess stories aren't my usual fare, but I LOVED THIS. It's often cheesy and silly, but also very genre-aware and clever in how it plays with its fantasy tropes. I also love every character. Especially Key. He's the best guy around, what murder—?
~ acesaru

Magical Girl Dandelion, Vol. 2 by Kaeru Mizuho
This is officially just not clicking with me for some reason. The bones of the plot are all good, and it's still doing some interesting things with the magical girl genre. I just want a little bit more of everything it's already doing right.
~ acesaru

Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn
A story about the legacy of anger and revenge by way of sea monsters and an equally monstrous pregnancy. I wish we went deeper into the world and its lore so that all the really cool things this novella is in conversation with could come together more.
~ acesaru

Verdriet is het ding met veren [Grief is the Thing with Feathers] by Max Porter
4.5* - I read this in a Dutch translation. Translation of my review (in Dutch): I'm not sure how to describe how this book makes me feel but I understand why people think this is a gorgeous book. The way this is told is incredibly intricate and special and I love how the different POVs work together. I may have missed some subtext to fullly understand the book but it's gorgeous and will haunt me for some time to come.
~ fpwoper

Het laatste verhaal van Jamie Gunn [Jamie Gunn's last story] by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
5* [Book read in Dutch; review is translated - the book, unfortunately, has not been translated as of yet]

I had to put this book down last night because I was pulled too far into the story (and was genuinely terrified)... but then picked it up today and in the light of day, I couldn't put it down. It dragged me along. I love how many layers the book has - and as the last part of the book says, it's like a matrushka doll, and it may have even more layers than an onion, which is why the idea of rewriting the story has such an impact. I don't think you ever really know at which layer the story is rewritten. And wow, those final pages....
I was pulled right into the story. As per (almost) usual, another great Thomas Olde Heuvelt horror novel!
(and a great ode to writers, too. I do hope this one will be available in English, too, someday.)
~ fpwoper

Wild Pork and Watercress (1986) by Barry Crump
Mostly I thought of Taika while reading, this being the 10th anniversary of Hunt for the Wilderpeople (which was based on this book).

In the story, a boy and his uncle travel from hut to hut, mostly in and around Te Urewera. It’s in the Bay of Plenty region that also incorporates Taika’s birthplace. Te Kaha coast is one of the closest places mentioned. Maybe that’s one reason why Taika bought the rights. That, and it really is a tale full of emotions and adventure. (In T’s words, “so entertaining…not flowery and over the top, but straight up.”)

A lot of the book is in the film, and it was nice to have some visuals in my mind during reading.

Ricky liked to read.
‘Aunty Bella joined the library in town for me and I read everything I could borrow around the neighbours.’
{Stede likes to read, which he tells Ed in OFMD 1-04:
<<STEDE: And this is my pride and joy. (indicates library)
ED: Incredible. You've read all of these?
STEDE: Many times. These are just my favorites.>>}

Hec and Ricky were constantly looking for food, both what they could catch and what was in the huts.
‘Flour, rice and sugar were the main things we liked to find. …but condensed milk, sugar and tins of meat or fish were the rarest and best finds.’
This was a lot like pirates, whose accounts frequently mention “taking provisions.”
{Of course, one of the funniest scenes in OFMD 1-07 was due to worries about scurvy…
<<STEDE: All right, stop going on about your cakes. Barely tasted of orange, if that's any consolation. Let's just accept the fact that, due to Roach's immoderate use of the citrus... we now have to go grocery shopping.>>}
~ Cindyb5

White Supremacy is All Around by Dr. Akilah Cadet
I suppose finishing this an hour and a half after disability pride month ended is pretty on brand for me. 😅 But wow, this book is so powerful. That's always something to learn and this book is no exception.
~ @lem0nb0iii.bsky

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life after AI by Cory Doctorow
4* - A very insightful short read about how AI works, what its history is, and what may come after. I really liked the way Doctorow explained what the playbook is and how strangely it is financed. It's an enlightening book to say the least, and it manages to not be belligerent while describing what is going on. I very much also enjoyed the positivity at the end (what to scavenge, basically, and what we're going to learn when/if the bubble pops). Very much worth the couple of hours it took me to read.
~ fpwoper

Reviews as of July 26, 2026

Bone of my Bone by Johanna van Veen
I absolutely loved it! A sapphic folk-horror set during the Thirty Years' War, centered around a Protestant peasant girl and a Catholic nun trying to reuinite what they believe is a saint's skull with her body.

It did not hold back on describing the horrors that the common folk faced during a very violent time in history but the comfort and hope that Elsebeth and Ursula find in each other throughout offers light in an otherwise very bleak setting. The ending was great, give you more of that little ray of hope, even if it's very far from the usually happily ever after.

Very much recommend this book for anybody looking for sapphic horror!
~ Ivill

Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York by Ross Perlin
This book was really interesting, definitely recommend.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Unfit to Print by KJ Charles
Fun, fast-paced, very short novel (probably a novella actually) with two Victorian guys solving a missing-person case that hinges on a trove of inherited pornography. And falling in love, of course (it's a lovely second-chance romance with two characters who have Been Through It).
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Call it Courage (1940) by Armstrong Sperry
This is just the sort of children’s book I might have read as a kid, an adventure about a kid needing to survive on his own for a while. I read the 50th anniversary edition filled with illustrations by the author (they look like woodcuts). I also watched a Disney film version. Its Polynesian island setting was a bit of a connection to some OFMD actors.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Moana is the sea god.
Matafu believes the sea god took his mother’s life and wants to take his, as well.
{Auntie in OFMD 2-02:
<<AUNTIE: Sea witch. I have looked for you far and wide. But then you probably know that.
BUTTONS: Best not assume we know anythin' at all, ma’am. >>}

“That is woman’s work.”
Matafu does more practical work than his peers, but being handy and resourceful becomes an important part of his story.
{Pete in OFMD 1-01:
<<PETE: I'm not fսckin' sewing. That's women's work.
STEDE: Oh, Black Pete, come on now. You know that's not true. How many of you sew? Be honest.
ROACH: Sewed my shoulder up once... after I'd been stabbed. (all gasp) >>}
~ cindyb5.bsky.social

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
a CLASSIC murder mystery starring my beloved Hercule Poirot. Twisty and fun with some genuinely interesting characters and a satisfying wrap-up. NB: this book was written by an English author in 1937 and takes place in Egypt, so there is some pretty jarring period-typical racism
~ alimasin.bsky.social

The October Man - Ben Aaronovitch
Back with the wizards but this time it’s German wizards and German river goddesses. This book is definitely signalling changes in the world of magic and international magic relations.

Unlike the previous book in the series set internationally this one was closer to the rest of series with the protagonist being the equivalent of main character in the London books. It was interesting to get a few snippets of events during the war from the other side and river goddesses no matter what country they live in having to deal with life amongst mortals.
~ Robotpinemarten

The Dogs of Venice (2025) by Steven Rowley
I saw this novella and grabbed it on my way home from the library yesterday. I loved Steven Rowley’s “The Guncle” and I think I’ll always enjoy what he writes.
Here, Paul’s husband ended their marriage before a trip abroad and Paul is learning to not only travel, but be, on his own.
The cover is of a man with light brown hair in a teal blue jacket with a red scarf fluttering in the wind. Very Stede-like, although the character holds the sadness of both Ed and Stede when they end up apart after forming such a close connection.
Short and sweet.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Paul’s ex said Paul was too needy.
{Fang asks Ed in OFMD 2-05:
<<Do you think you talk so much because you don't wanna know how to sit with yourself? >>}

‘Paul lingered in the candlelight, savoring each forkful with an appreciation for both ingredient and technique, unearthing the china pattern on the restaurant's dishes with the slow precision of an archaeologist.’
{Stede is teaching Ed about the rule with cutlery in OFMD 1-05:
<<STEDE: In we go with salad fork...
ED: I learn all of this just to fսcking eat?
STEDE: Yes, oh, but it's not just eating. We're dining. And remember, dining is...
ED: Pageantry.
STEDE: Pageantry. >>}

Nicola says:
‘"Do you know your way at night? Streets in Venice are full of dark. Dark that can be too dark."
{Stede calls to Ed in 2-04:
<<Ed. Hey, um, can you come with? It's getting a bit dark, and I-I can't, actually... I can't find my way back to the ship. >>}
~ cindyb5.bsky.social

We Burned So Bright, TJ Klune
Oh boy mind the tags on this one, folks. I didn't and assumed it would be another Klune Feelings book that's ultimately hopeful and it is *not*. It gave me a night of nightmares when I fell asleep reading and I sobbed silently at the end cuddling my kid to sleep. It's good but it is Rough and you really need to be in a good headspace for it, which I very much wasn't as the apocalyptic wildfire smoke engulfed my house. Beautifully written except for a really clunky chapter that read like an LGBT history lesson weirdly and it just didn't work for me. Read it (if you can handle a study on grief and love at the end of the world) but don't expect the Cerulean Sea or even Under the Whispering Door. There are moments of joy but that's not what it is about.
~ michellethestan

1776 by David McCullough
Pretty straightforward history book, but well-written.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Reviews as of July 19, 2026

Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow
Oh my God. I need the sequel IMMEDIATELY. This was so good and so fun!! My god, I am enamored.
~ lem0mb0iii

Maggie Nelson "The Argonauts"
the “problem” with this book is that it’s incredibly theoretically dense but written in a way that makes you fly through. which, on one hand, makes the theory fun and accessible but i also probably missed a lot of it. you could spend a day meditating on every single paragraph. i think my favourite parts are the ones about art and about applying theoretical concepts to her own life, or choosing to reject or rework them based on her own experiences. overall, a really fun and thought-provoking book.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

Francesco Petrarca "Die Besteigung des Mont Ventoux"
einer der schönsten texte der literaturgeschichte <3
~ florenceafter12.bsky.social

Phaswane Mpe "Welcome to our Hillbrow"
unfortunately i didn’t like this at all. more an outline instead of a book, very tell-don’t-show, superficial about all the big topics it attempts to talk about, confusing and somehow manages to be repetitive in under 150 pages.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

John Berger "Ways of Seeing"
a bit too absolute at times, but offers fantastic ideas of thinking about art and images that will definitely shape my own perspective and research in the future.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

"A Marriage At Sea" by Sophie Elmhirst
Great book, especially for fans of survival stories. My favorite part was that (unsurprisingly) the wife was the one never giving up and keeping them alive.
~ SpaceCadetGlow

"Captain's Dinner" by Adam Cohen
CW cannibalism

This book is about the wreck of the Mignonette, which is known as the case that put an end to the tacit condoning of "the custom of the sea" (i.e. drawing lots to determine which of a wrecked/stranded group would be killed to feed the others). Before this case it was understood that what happened on a ship was the captain's domain, and somewhat removed from laws on land. Authorities would generally turn a blind eye to people doing what they needed to do to survive, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances. However, documented cases of "the custom of the sea" often conveniently resulted in a person with the least power, or a person from an out-group, being chosen. Such was the case with the Mignonette crew too, and this time they were put on trial for murder. The book delves heavily into the legal and ethical battle, and how it related to Victorian reforms to protect the vulnerable. Highly recommended!
~ SpaceCadetGlow

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman
The latest in the series (2 books to go), I spent most of it like this: O_O

Everything has been building up to this and it didn’t disappoint.
~ killerweasel

Lies Sleeping - Ben Aaronovitch
The end of a multi story arc or at least a partial end. The death of the bad guy wasn’t a surprising conclusion, a bad guy with the ability to use magic to bring about chaos and harm greater than the London terror attacks is not the sort of person you can just throw into a cell.

The mix of history, mythology and author embellishments is enjoyable and sends me down various rabbit holes afterwards.
~ Robotpinemarten

Winters gifts - Ben Aaronovitch
I think the fact that I enjoyed this book less than the others in the series was more on me than the book. This is the first one see outside of London focussing on a side character rather than the main characters.

In this book the vengeful spirit of dead explorers creates adverse weather and more fucked up magical creatures, this time some kind of yeti type monsters. The book took a while to get to the ‘weird shit’ and was a little rushed towards the end.
~ Robotpinemarten

The Big Short by Michael Lewis
Held my attention surprisingly well for a book about economics and I do actually think I understand what happened in the 2008 crash (slightly) better now.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Reviews as of July 12, 2026

Stupid Cupid by Maeve Black
Was a pretty decent monster-fucking story. it’s technically a second book in the series and even though it’s not necessary i did read it ahead of time. reading it helped with the world and the characters but idk its a story about straight people and just was not for me. stupid cupid a m/m romance between a cupid and a dragon (that is a santa claus 🧍) and if you love stupid hot things it’s short enough to not take up too much time.
~ gentlebeard

After the Fall, Edward Ashton
This was a pick my speculative fiction library book club, but based on the summary I would have picked it up for myself. It was another solid meh. Loved the idea, not so wild about the execution. Slow to start and too fast to finish, left me wanting more information and not in a good way.

I judge a 4-12 speculative fiction writing contest I used to do in school. I give a lot of feedback basically that you can leave your reader with questions but it should be strategic. Mystery and ambiguity are good, but you need to know the answers & don't annoy your reader. In this book I was frustrated because characters knew more than I did and never shared it. What's the point of that? Build me your world! And also if one of your main characters is an alien actually describe what he looks like. It was funny and the idea of the plot was good but I feel like it needed someone to sit down and be like, ok, what's happening here. Why are we here. What are you trying to say.

Fingers crossed the two dads that comprise the book club agree with me because I'm still very new and it'll be awkward if they loved it.
~ Michellethestan

The Sugared Game by KJ Charles
The second in the Will Darling Adventures series. Loved it! I’ve never considered myself a big fan of mysteries, but every time I read one by KJ Charles, I’m obsessed, so I dunno if it’s just that I need them to also be queer romances or if she’s just that good.
~ unfunpleasures

Subtle Blood by KJ Charles
The final book in the Will Darling Adventures series. I’m going to miss these guys! The audiobooks for this series are fantastic, as well.
~ unfunpleasures

A Good Puck by Rochelle Wolf
Oh man. This book has EVERYTHING. Egg cracks, the PWHL, Canada, and two lil sapphic cuties. 🥰🥰
~ lem0nb0iii

The Demon of Beausoleil by Mari Costa
If everyone keeps telling you that you’re cursed, that you’re evil, that you’re an incubus, then it has to be true, right? Helianthes, a half-demon, has to figure it out before it is too late.
~ Killerweasel

Wild Dark Shore (2025) by Charlotte McConaghy
This was filled with sadness and the feeling of potential disaster all along the way. I may not have chosen it on my own, but it was a book discussion choice. I’ll always find something good in a book, and I like how strong the family is.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

-OFMD - ‘Orly tells Rowan, “I’m here, I won’t leave you”’
{Mer!STEDE to ED in 2-03: Ed, wake up! Come on! I'm here. I'll never leave you. I'll never leave again.”

-OFMD - ‘We hear the sound before the lighthouse appears. The long, slightly mournful notes of a violin drifting through the fog to us.’
{Opening scene of 2-06: Inside, Ned Low with a violin}

-OFMD - ‘Eight years is too long to expect a child's friendships to hold on, so she has no real friends waiting for her.’
{ED in 2-03: “I don’t think anyone’s waiting for me.”

-OFMD - Rowan thinks, ‘I am returned to the sea.’
{BUTTONS in 2-01: “We are returned, my love. My ocean deep”
~  cindyb5

Bloom - Delilah S Dawson
Sapphic cottage core with a slow burn horror twist. A little too slow burn for me, the build up to pay off ratio was way off imo. The last few pages were horrible and I woke up in the night thinking about them but the journey to get there was a little frustrating at times. Inspired by Hannibal, no where near as suave.
~ rueforyou

The Correspondent (2025) by Virginia Evans
All letters, with different storylines occurring. There are holes, but they seem resolved by a subsequent letter. As a work friend said, the correspondent was opinionated, but she meant well and apologized when wrong.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

-OFMD - ‘My brother suffered at the hands of sadistic classmates for years.’
{NIGEL BADMINTON in 1-01: We were rowdy school chums. Always playing pranks on one another. Hmm? Do you remember the day with the rowboat? 
STEDE: The rowboat? 
NIGEL: Oh, come on now. 
STEDE: No, I can't. 
NIGEL: The rowboat. (laughs) It was hysterical!
[Stede’s bad memory - Look! It's Baby Bonnet! Get him! Bonnet! (all yelling, throwing rocks, while Stede is tied to the oars) Oh! Row, Baby Bonnet! Row!]
NIGEL (chuckling): Oh, it was all in good fun, of course. An initiation of sorts. 
STEDE: Yes, funny, I don't recall it happening to anyone else.}
~ cindyb5

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
4* - This is a short story collection and they're always hard to rate in my opinion. I loved the first two stories and the last two, and could barely put the book down. The other four weren't quite to my tastes, even though I can't really figure out why. Still, I did overall enjoy them. Genuinely enjoyed the body horror aspects of it all, how womanhood/female bodies were part of the horror and horrific aspects, how sex could also be horrible. And how much trauma is in this. A very good collection.
~ fpwoper

Dolly Parton: Star of the Show by Dolly Parton
I love Dolly. She’s amazing. This massive autobiography starts off with her childhood and goes to now, full of stories and so many pictures. I’d love to get a copy for myself.
~ Killerweasel

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles
Loved the format of this one - a novel in stories, each covering a different case. Ghosts and smut and unconventional true love.
~ alimasin

The Confessional by Paige Hender
Newly turned vampire is with her maker and an assortment of interesting vampires at a whore house in New Orleans. She falls for a priest. Is it love or does the priest have nefarious plans in mind?
~ Killerweasel

In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill
When I first heard about this book, I thought the premise was very sweet and fun, so I added it to my TBR. In truth, I had a hard time reading it. I don’t think it’s a bad book at all— I’m just not the target audience (it’s a YA title), and I didn’t even read YA when I was at the right age for it. While it wasn’t for me, I think it’s super cool that books like this exist for young queer kids— especially young trans guys in small towns who may not always have the luxury of feeling safe or seen. As for me, though, if this had been a fic, I’d have loved it, but as a book? Eh, not quite my cup of tea.
~ unfunpleasures

Reviews as of July 5, 2026

Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles
I’ve heard such good things about the Will Darling series and was excited to have a good reason to start it! Super enjoyable, and I’m already a good way into the second book. KJ Charles does period M/M romance so well.
~ unfunpleasures 

Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger
The book was a pretty straightforward "here's what happened" of the Apollo 8 mission and everything leading up to it without much in the way of critical discussion but I did have a good time reading it; the writing style was solidly engaging throughout without feeling like it was being padded with fictionalized pieces or anything.
~ remreader 

"What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane? A Memoir and a Murder Investigation" by Kate Crane
Not something I necessarily would have found on my own, but I saw this on a book rec thread on bluesky and was intrigued. The author writes about how her father's death affected her and her family, and traces the path she took as an adult to find out more about what happened. NB: there is not a super satisfying "wrapped up with a bow" ending regarding either the murder or the author's life/relationships, but it's a compelling and intimate read.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 7: This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinnimin
Quite possibly the most important book of the series so far, Carl, Donut, and their friends take on Faction Wars, doing battle with the universe’s most powerful people.

Hopeful about the books being turned into a tv series too.
~ killerweasel

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency (2026) by Lev AC Rosen
This was a lot of fun, with a small friend group who are so there for each other. I envy that.

I kept thinking of OFMD as I read…

-OFMD - ‘So Brandon needs to rescue Jon, right? That's what Prince Charming does. Destiny. It never runs smoothly. Maybe this is all just a trial for true love.’

-OFMD - [Brandon says,] "I'm so sorry we're all mixed up in this."
"Are you kidding?" Ollie says, taking Brandon's arm and squeezing. "This is the most exciting thing to happen to us in ages."

-OFMD - "Well, I'm glad you're coming with me anyway," Brandon says.
"I mean, if we are going to"—he leans in again-"die, then at least I'll be with a friend." He straightens up, spinning back a little on the pole. "And it'll be for love."
"For love," Ollie says with a nod.

-OFMD - ‘Victor smiles a little. Ian loves his smiles. He goes from this slab of muscle and fire to something so soft, and every smile feels like it's just for lan.’
~ cindyb5.bsky.social

The Picture of Dorian Gray (uncensored version)
still not gay enough
~ Feña - moonysmith81

As I Dream of You by Jennifer Lee
Modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice which asks, ‘What if Orpheus did what he did not out of love, but because he was selfish and didn’t want to be alone?’.
~ killerweasel

The Extended Universe: How Disney Killed the Movies and Took Over the World by Vicky Osterweil
I found the book/topic very interesting overall but one of the things I initially really liked about the book was the structure of each chapter analyzing one movie and connecting it to the chapter's theme and in the end I wished the author had done more with that; a lot of the movies were only briefly/superficially touched on or sort of felt like an afterthought to the arguments being made.
~ remreader 

Night witch - Ben Aaronovitch
What I like about the Rivers of London graphic novels is they are separate short stories but still fit into the overall series.

Each graphic novel is a nice length for reading during a spare hour. It’s always good to see recurring characters and stories that don’t fit into the main novels and novellas and in this we got more of a back story for the Russian ‘night witch’ and some amusing scenes with a river goddess and Russian mafia.
~ Robotpinemarten

I Who Have Never Known Men - Jacqueline Harpman
This is one of those books that my friends have been telling me to read for ages and the time finally felt right to listen to them. What a book! I love a short horrible novel, I love a world that refuses to tell you things and instead just takes you along for the ride. Phenomenally written/translated, disquieting and hopeful at the same time, a little gem!
~ rueforyou

The Blanket Cats - Kiyoshi Shigematsu
The Man At Work Who Occasionally Gives Me Books gave me this because I told him I had a cat.

'Healing Fiction' isn't a genre I had heard of before and, to be honest, the name alone put me off (I want my fiction to hurt me not heal me!) but I didn't hate this. It's hard to review a short story collection and some of the stories I just let wash over me as small little cozy bursts but I really enjoyed two (The Cat in the Passenger Seat and The Cat Who Went on A Journey) and didn't resent any of the time spent reading this so yeah, a fine book!
~ rueforyou

A Plague upon your family by Mark Tufo
The continuing adventures of Michael Talbot pick up where Zombie Fallout leaves off and chronicles Michael Talbot and his family and their group of comrades in arms in their struggle to survive the hordes of the undead and their decision for the group to split up and go their separate ways in order to find missing family members unfortunately those decisions have far reaching consequences that threaten to end their tenuous grip on survival as old enemies rear their heads
~ bonnietylerfan

Full Shift by Jennifer Dugan
Lesbian werewolf tries to figure out where she belongs while falling for a friend. Throw in werewolf hunters, family fights, and pack dynamics for more drama.
~ killerweasel

Black mould - Ben Aaronovitch
Evil sentient black mould that wants people dead, sounds familiar. A tale of scumlords, hazards come to life and naturally some magic.
~ robotpinemarten

Mahommad Gardo Baquaqua: An Enslaved Muslim of the Black Atlantic by Paul E. Lovejoy & Nielson Bezerra
A strong analysis of the life and autobiography of Baquaqua. The authors discuss the uniqueness of his story as an enslaved Muslim taken captive to Brazil, fleeing to freedom in New York, then working among abolitionist circles in the US, Haiti, Canada & Great Britain before returning to West Africa. A fascinating look at identity formation, resistance, and resilience.
~ Kim (bonnetsbookshelf)

Song of Ancient Lovers by Laura Restrepo
This book was so romantic and heart wrenching and very, very well written. The translation work was also very well done.
~ lem0nb0iio

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Fuck Nate, all my homies hate Nate. But for real, this book is so good. I definitely plan on reading more from Jenny in the future.
~ lem0nb0iii

Reviews as of June 28, 2026

De avonturen van Amina El-Sirafi [The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi] by Shannon Chakraborty
I read this book in Dutch. It was absolutely brilliant. Loved the storytelling, loved the queerness of it all, and I am incredibly intrigued by the main character and her merry band of pirates. What a great fucking book, honestly.
~ fpwoper

Not my father’s son, Alan Cumming
I got this book blindly on a flee market just based on being written by Alan Cumming. So going in blind it surprised me twice, once because even with the title alluding to it, I did not expect a memoir written by him to be so dark with no funny breaks for air.
Secondly I did not expect to "enjoy" reading a man’s reflections about his traumatic childhood quiet as much that I would go through them in under a week.

The constant switching between a present day narrative level in which the protagonist is trying to solve the secrets of his family and reconcile with the influence his abusive father had on him, and one set in his childhood is, unlike sometimes tends so be the problem with persistent time jumps, executed in a clear way that makes sense for the narration.
~ frooogscream.bsky.social

“My Lover, The Rabbi” by Wayne Koestenbaum
A wonderfully lyrical read, but to be honest, the main way it is to be enjoyed is to almost laugh at how cartoonish the pretentiousness of the writing is. I didn’t realize there were so many ways to wax poetic about a penis.
~ Delaney @lavenderluxury

“Banned Together” by Various Authors
Amazing read and especially rad as an educational resource. Great intro to book banning, how/why it takes place, and means of challenging said events.
~ Delaney @lavenderluxury

No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes
As always, I support women's rights and women's wrongs.
~ Tricia/lem0mb0iii

The Midnight Train, Matt Haig
It was.... Fine. Predictable and a little sappy. The concept was interesting but the execution really didn't leave room for any surprises. It was emotional, but in a way that was, again, very predictable. Had the main character's life not been such a textbook "Big businessman forgets what's important" and instead had been more interesting, his choice between his own eternity and encouraging his past self to live better would have had much higher stakes and been more difficult to predict.
~ michellethestan

A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou
This book stems from the author's obsession brought on by watching OFMD, and it feels like a season of the show in the best way. It has a hapless, spoiled aristocrat running away from an arranged marriage and finding love and home amongst the lovable crew of the Deliverance and their charming captain. The story is well-written and full of laughs, tears, and heart-warming moments, along with a twist that I did not see coming. I loved every second of it.
~ Cin - thesushiowl.bsky.social

The Organization is Here to Support You by Charlene Elsby
I loved it, it's a cheerfully nasty Ballardian novella about what happens when organization breaks down due to having rules but not exceptions, leading to surreal consequences and things like people divergently evolving because they started living in an office building.
~ @strangelibrary.com

My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribon with Cat Farris
Sweet and funny story with wonderful art. More poignant than I had expected.
~ MentallyDevastated

Somewhere Beyond The Sea - TJ Klune
This was a sequel to The House In The Cerulean Sea and while not as much of a cosy read as the first book it was no less enjoyable. The way magical beings are treated is clearly a representation of the way trans people are treated something the author confirms in the acknowledgments. A great book for anyone that likes magic, fantasy, found family and queer relationships.
~ robotpinemarten

Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann
3* - Not my favourite book. It's not as lighthearted as the blurb and the setting might suggest. If you do want to read this, please check the content warnings because there's a lot of things that might trigger people. I think the thing I liked best was the addition of the goats.
~ fpwoper

How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles
A super fun read with lots of great period details. A little too much of the book (i.e. basically the entire thing) was spent on deception/people not just *saying the thing*, and there were a few too many villains to keep track of, but the premise and characters won me over. The MC's personal development felt earned and sweet.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Reviews as of February 5, 2026

Chuck Tingle - Lucky Day
This was such a strange read. I did it entirely as an audiobook, which I rarely do. Mara Wilson's narration absolutely helped encapsulate the cosmic horror of the story! This book is a heavy one about fate, the universe, probability, and nihilism. It also has a lot of violence and just general absurdist horror so be warned of that. But I loved it!
~ ironstrangle

The Wager by David Grann
This story is soooooooo incredibly melodramatic and it's something that really happened at sea! I won't say too much because this was such a gripping read as someone going in without prior knowledge. It goes a bit pop-sci style of writing since I guess it's a pop-history book but I'll forgive it since it shares this bonkers, horrific voyage!
~ Highwaystars

Confessions of The Fox by Jordy Rosenberg
I think I might have liked this if I hadn't had horrible and life-changing negative experiences in academia. Like, lol, if my masters hadn't contributed in my cynical, depressed view of the world maybe this would have been more fun but it was not to be!
~ Highwaystars

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
This one didn't particularly grip me but it wasn't bad! I read it (on my phone) by candlelight which was fun and I'm so surprised by how many elements of vampirism HAVEN'T changed in centuries! Anyway, missing WWDITS now lol
~ Highwaystars

Lipstick & Camera Clicks by DJ Murphy
It was fine! It was fun enough but sadly for the book I ended up watching the movie Heat for the first time between reading sessions and have had my mind and heart altered forever. Hard to buy into this drama when after having my heart wrenched and seeing one of the most romantic ends to a movie ever.
~ Highwaystars

Tree and Leaf by JRR Tolkien
Unfortunately the last illness I had a couple weeks back has left my brain sooooo fogged up so this essay was extra difficult to follow sometimes. But I think I got most of it, fun to read someone's thoughts on fairy folklore as a folklor aficionado myself 😎😎
~ Highwaystars

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Some good bits, some bits that I didn't care for, some banger lines. Sorry I didn't feel more about this book:(
~ Highwaystars

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
I wasn't sold on first chapter but then the book gets to be suuuuuuuch a fun adventure. He writes action so well too, both combat and boat-on-boat. Makes me wanna be a better writer! Was sad to see the slurs and questionable poc opinions, though 🥀🥀🥀 warning to anyone out there
~ Highwaystars

Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
I'm sorry I actively disliked this one but finished because I can finally make an irl book club hosted in town. Very unimaginative use of tropes and story here, I didn't feel the chemistry, there wasn't anything really to hold my interest. Very boring action compared to the richness of last book I read 🥀🥀
~ Highwaystars

Bloodbones by Jonathan Green
This is my first Fighting Fantasy book and oh my god it is HARD!!! Very difficult to get to the end, I played it on the app and had to switch to easy mode because I kept dying so much, hahaha. Maybe I'll go back to it and explore more, love the pirate setting:)
~ Highwaystars