Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo
An absolutely amazing short story about chasing your dreams, and succeeding, but with consequences you weren't expecting. The perspective of the wolves shown is absolutely amazing and heart wrenching, especially as the season goes on. The main characters interpersonal struggles are so realistic and difficult, because you understand where her wife is coming from. We also love some good butch rep, especially in the STEM field.
~ Trashdog13
When Caregiving Calls by Aaron Blight
A lot of it was pretty basic information to me by now, but it was pretty useful knowing that a lot of my experiences are normal. As a navel-gazer anyway I didn't find the reflection exercises that helpful to me. It's probably a useful resource if you're thinking about or just starting out with family caregiving. There is a bit of baked in Christianity from the author as a heads up, but it doesn't hit you over the head with it. You can also skip chapters that don't resonate with your situation.
~ Tristan
Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
This is a graphic memoir by a very recognisable cartoonist for the New York Times from a period in her life where she was dealing with caring for two aging parents as an only child. It's equal parts funny and devastating, and very relatable in parts if you're caregiving for elderly family members. I enjoyed it - it doesn't shy away from difficult topics and I find that refreshing at this point in time, but if you are going through this just take care of yourself if you think it's going to be hard to get through. In the end it was different enough from my situation that I didn't feel completely emotionally wrecked by it but could just appreciate having some solidarity with and a window into another person's caregiving experience.
~ Tristan
A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson
A bit dated (cw some victim blaming, depictions of spousal abuse, sexism but for 1958 honestly....could be a lot worse). Matheson was a cracking writer though. I don't think the movie based on it has much to do with the book but I haven't seen that.
~ madcatacres
Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber
CW some allusions to CSA that treat it queasily but not outright down on it, quote of a dusty old anti-Welsh slur in a rhyme, very peculiar theories about mental illness. This one's from 1977. I like the fictional occultist, magic system, and beings in this one. The pov character is semi autobiographical - the widowhood and alcoholism.
~ madcatacres
Tower of Dawn by Sarrah J. Maas
It took me a very long time to get through this book, as I wasn't that interested in learning more about the specific character the book is about, but I'm so glad I kept going because the redemption arc was beautiful.
~ lem0nb0iii
The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn
Not the strongest Bridgerton adjacent story (it is a very VERY mild enemies to lovers), but Julia Quinn is always a joy to read.
~HipHopAnonymous
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
A really good queer, southern Gothic. The endinf lost me a bit, mainly with the makeup of the magic system. But that might just be me. Over all, 4/5.
~ Trashdog13
How To Hide An Empire by Daniel Immerwahr
A friend described this as “a 300 page gut punch” and that’s an accurate description. I considered myself reasonably well informed about American history but I learned so many new and horrifying things! Absolutely a must read to understand everything that led us to this point in American and world history.
~ K
A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
Okay, so I love mediocre thrillers. They're perfect background noise for my adhd brain, and then I forget them once they're over, and it's wonderful. So you'll probably see a few more from me this summer/winter.
A Twisted Love Story follows Wes and Ivy, two lovers with an explosive on-again-off-again dynamic and hidden secrets, a detective with her own baggage, and a nosy executive assistant. Secrets get uncovered, drama ensues, everyone is fucked up. It's a fun ride. TW: car accidents, death. 6/10
~ Hoshi (@hoshiforever)
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
I always like her work, so yay! She is a mystery author unlike any other
~ Silverbatwing
Tiger, Tiger Vol 1 by Petra Erika Nordlund
Lady Ludovica, a sea-sponge-obsessed noble, will not let a rigid societal structure keep her from pursuing her passion. So she steals a ship and an identity before setting sail for an adventure, but the sea has secrets of its own.
This graphic novel is the perfect read for fellow pirate lovers & fans of fantasy. The grayscale art is absolutely gorgeous, it is very detailed and captures the action so well. I love the characters and how there is a nice balance of humor and genuineness. The fantasy elements are so intriguing, I look forward to reading more of this world!
5⭐
LGBTQ+
It's also an ongoing webcomic: https://www.tigertigercomic.com/about
~ Bookloverstede@bsky.social
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
I loved it. This was a reread for me, and it was lovely to revisit again after a few years. I really enjoy the wonderfully queer, wonderfully cozy atmosphere of Casey’s novels, and the mystery woven into this one is so fascinating!
~ Kerry/CommunionNimrod
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles
This was a reread so I think that pretty much answers the question in itself! This book is something of a comfort read for me - lots of Ed/Stede vibes, very well-written, and the setting is fantastic.
~ remreader
Darkhearts by James L. Sutter
7/10. Fun little YA about a teen band that made it big, and the former member that got left behind. Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers.
~ Hoshi (@hoshiforever)
Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey
A traditional 80’s romance novel with corresponding sensibilities, but I found that charming and silly enough to thoroughly enjoy.
~ HipHopAnonymous
R.I.P. by Charity B
If you’re looking for a dead dove incestuous murderers story, look no further … NOT for the faint of heart.
~ HipHopAnonymous
Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
i need to stop reading books i already know i’m not going to like.
way too many characters, none of which felt fleshed out or interesting at all. weird message about loneliness and bullying. often gruesome just for the sake of being gruesome, and not in a fun way, just in a gross way.
~ Florence (@florenceafter12.bsky.social)
The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis
It was cute, but it droned on and on. Could have easily been 60% shorter and I figured out the big reveal immediately.
~ FelinePharma
Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire by Christine Wenc
This was a very thorough history of The Onion and it was solid in that regard but I was expecting there to be a lot more of a deep dive into the actual content of the paper over the years and how it fit into the broader media and news satire landscape - really making the argument put forth in the title, which is something that I would've been much more interested in. (Also there are a LOT of names to keep track of.)
~ remreader (bluesky)
Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America - Talia Lavin
Wow - a really chilling read. It's easy to roll your eyes at the thought of people who believe in the literal existence of demons and things like that, but they are in the highest positions in this country right now, and raising their children in truly horrific and abusive ways. This book chronicles their beliefs, politics and social structures. Lavin is sounding the alarm that we need to take Christian Nationalists deadly seriously, because they believe that they are literally at war with the forces of evil, which includes most kinds of people.
~ Tristan
Subtle Blood by KJ Charles
3rd book in the Will Darling trilogy - I devoured all of them and am devastated to be finished. 1920s murder, spies, and organized crime. Pure delightful escapism. And great sex.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
A surprisingly compassionate look at early 20th century queerness and gender subversion and a plea for understanding which nevertheless has to end in misery
~ moderatecitrus
This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan
I enjoyed it! It was fandom and what it means to people, specifically around overcoming the stigma of what it is to be in a fandom in “normal” society - and learning to be proud and invest in the communities fandoms form. It was cute but a quick read :)
~ watchtheflow (on bsky)
Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
Loved it!
A refreshing tale that lays bare the lies we hold on to for confort and the ones that keep us confined.
~ Timere
The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi
Absolutely loved it!
If Lies of the Ajungo was an illuminating story about lies, then Truth of the Aleke is a brutal allegory about the weaponization of Truth. How our desperation to do good can lead to atrocity. How blind obedience to an ideal makes us pawns of the powerful. And, perhaps most importantly, how those who control the story, control what we think is the truth.
~ Timere
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
I loved a lot of pieces of it - the concept, the time period, the sensory experience of the language. It was a good audiobook read for long drives this past week!
~ darcylindbergh on bksy
Audition by Katie Kitamura
I didn’t love this. I believed the blurb that said it was a domestic thriller, which it absolutely is not. The whole time, I was waiting for a resolution that would make it make sense and that never came. Maybe I just don’t understand postmodern literature, or maybe this just wasn’t successful at doing what it set out to do.
~ K
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
I had high hopes for this book I was imagining a studio ghibli style coffee shop run by cats but it was a let down. The stories felt incomplete after the first character arc it felt rushed.
The book was very short and the author states that she’d initially intended to write a book about astrology which shows as the astrology is far more detailed than the rest of the book.
~ Robotpinemarten
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