Gosh, was I delighted and emotional to revisit the Chibineko Kitchen with the release of the English translation of the 2nd book in the series on Tuesday. The audiobook is excellently narrated (right down to the meowing cat!). #booksintranslation #speculativefiction #newrelease2026
Similar to New Girl (but if Jake, Winston, and Schmidt cared a LOT about weight lifting) this story is a found family, meeting your people, and discovering yourself. Its a surprisingly tender romance, and explores fear of the unknown and overcoming personal loss.
Yikes! I have not been updating this account as much as I should! Its almost February, but here are my #2025reads in a nutshell!
I am a series completionist so I knew I would read Alcott Hall, even though it follows a different love story. I am so glad I did cus it was by far my favorite book in the series! And the Corbin family is heavily featured in the book! #emilyrath #secondsons #seriescompletionist #regencywhychoose
Emily Zipps' debut novel allows her characters to be complicated. There are things that really endeared me to each of the characters in this book and there were things that were very offputting. And I loved that about it. This was such a surprising read.
This YA dark academia novel reads like a supernatural teen show! Its campy. There's a spooky society with rituals. There are nefarious adults. There is a rivals-to-crush sapphic show-mance love story. Its messy and goofy and a really fun read! #debutauthor #darkacademia #angstyreads
Elle McNicoll writes neurodivergent (mostly autistic) characters and they are real and fleshed out and so loveable. This young adult book was absolutely relatable, while also being sweet and wholesome and daring. I highly recommend! #newrelease2025 #netgalleyARC #ellemcnicollbooks
Don Martin's new audiobook hit incredibly close to home and is so worth the read. I got this as a Netgalley ALC, but halfway through, just bought it outright. I will listen to it again and again to get ideas, to hear the research, and to remind myself how important connection is.
Series like this make it fun to be bisexual. These romances feature the women that work for the very controversial Belvoir's Library, which, in regency London, features a special collection of books on sex and romance for women. I suspect there will be a fourth book coming! #regencyromance
I didn't realize I was starting with the last book in a series until it was too late. Luckily the, Peach Blossom series can be read out of order. Karmen Lee writes characters that I wanted to cheer for. The romance in this book was tender and sweet. I can't wait to read the other two books!
Both of these books were on my TBR for spooky season and I happened to read them back to back. While these are really different books, with really different vibes, some of the similarities and the coincidence of reading one after the other really stuck out. #rileysager #wilddarkshore #spookyTBR
This was a seriously cute and cozy murder mystery, akin to watching a Hallmark mystery. The characters are quirky and likeable, the story is sweet with found-family vibes, and the mystery is a good one! A light, easy read; great for spooky season and beyond. #newrelease2025 #newmystery #jonichols
I liked Beautiful Things by Emily Rath, but I LOVED its conclusion, His Grace, the Duke. These are Emily Rath's first self published books (regency why choose!) and they got a MAJOR glow up for their trad pub release! Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARCs!
YAY TO MY 5-STAR DROUGHT BEING OVER!!! This was a seriously weird month of reading and that seems to be just what I needed!
Look, this book is so weird. I completely understand why it might not be for everyone. But damn, I loved it. All of the characters were messy, the narrator is unhinged... this is a plant girl's perfect Halloween read. #plantgirl #littleshopofhorrors #sapphicseptember
While reading this novella, I felt like I was hearing a story I knew, as it reads like a folktale that is told by a fireside or at a traveling show. For an immersive reading experience, have a physical copy of the book while listening to the audiobook.
Julian Winters makes his adult romance debut in this heartwarming duo! Every character in both of these books is so fleshed out (not an archetype in sight). #mlmromance #readdiversely #adultromance #julianwinters #upcomingrelease
Started off Sapphic September and spooky season off right with this wonderful anthology. Aiming to have a collection of stories that prove everyone is a little magical, these stories feature trans main characters with magical abilities. Its YA, diverse, and has a great range of fantasy stories!
Emily Rath and Nisha Sharma the QUEENS that you are! These 2 wonderful women showed up big for the Pucking Strong launch and then they just... stayed... in a bookstore that was too hot to make sure Every. Single. Book. got signed. And I should know, because we were in the last group of 10 people.
I think I am a sucker for found family and a character discovering there is more to life than how they have been living. And despite its absurdity, those are 2 of the themes of this unhinged romance, with a surprisingly sweet HEA and kind of shockingly well-rounded and loveable characters.
The 5-star book drought continues, but I had a lot of fun reading these books this month! What were your favorite reads this month?
I don't want to say too much about this book, other than (1) this is the perfect time to read it and (2) the audiobook is so well done, but you also need to be reading a physical copy of the book to get the full experience. Happy reading! #weusedtolivehere #hauntingreads #spookyseason
This book looks like a rom com (its not) and is often compared to the universally beloved "Eleanor Oliphant..." But Susan Green is no Eleanor Oliphant. She is smart, opinionated, and deeply unlikeable. But as the book goes on, she is also vulnerable, quirky, funny. Its a surprisingly sweet read.
I got to re-read it (and read it's sequel, The Cursed Fatel) courtesy of Netgalley! These books are queer found family, magic, and a bit of angst all in gorgeously illustrated graphic novels. The first one (out now) is literally the perfect read for as the weather turns cold. #graphicnovels
These books are sexy and sweet and tackle some bigger issues (addiction, mental health, PTSD) with tact and nuance. Definitely the perfect time to read about sexy teachers! 😉 #netgalleyARC #mmromance #mawardell
I don't normally post critical reviews. I was fully prepared for the 3rd book to be the last... and that would have been okay with me. The series would end when it was most fun. Instead, the 3rd book drags out worn tropes and a year-long wait (at least) for what I hope is the conclusion.
Super Niche Book Series That Probably Aren't for Everyone (but Definitely ARE for me) (And might be for you, too!)
Used to being on her own, when Tao meets Silt, Mash, and Kina, she begins to make friends and depend on others. This is a cozy, found family fantasy. Saccharine and gentle, this is a great read for the transition from summer to fall. #foundfamily #cozyfantasy #tellerofsmallfortunes #bookrecs
Is this the perfect sci-fi novel? Its not. Is it literally SUCH a good read? It really is. This was a solidly good story, with nerds with super powers, a race through space, and a yearning love story. If Stranger Things, X-men, and The Martian had a queer baby, it would be this book.
I normally hate Regency romance. Even Bridgerton on Netflix is a stretch for me. But I should have known that I was safe in Emily Rath's hands! I can't wait to read book 2, which is getting the same stunning treatment in October! #whychoose #netgalleyarc #sprayededges #specialedition
