Currently reading  ·  5 star shelf  ·  Local bookstore love

Titles on my bookshelf.

My reading list, my honest (but best) reviews, and a small but sincere request: buy from your local bookstore when you can. If not, Barnes & Noble. If not, your library card is free and your librarian is probs nice and fun to talk to.
Currently on my nightstand

Wordslut

291 pgs
nonfiction
feminism
sociology
Amanda Montell

The Story of More

Hope Jahren
224 pgs
nonfiction
nature
science

The Red House

Mary Moris
304 pgs
historical
literary
fiction

The Vagina Bible

Jen Gunter, MD
432 pgs
nonfiction
feminism
health science

My People Shall Live

Leil a Khale d
229 pgs
nonfiction
biography
history

On the Rooftop

Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
304 pgs
fiction
historical
literacy
My five star shelf
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Lion Women of Tehran

Marjan Kamali
This was such a heart wrenching take on friendship, perseverance, and advocacy. Like literally, I’m going to just sit with a bowl of ice cream and maybe in silence for a while after reading this. My heart breaks for all the women across the world who have to endure violence. This is definitely a must-read.
fiction
historical
literary
emotional
hopeful
inpsiring
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Art of Physics

Zahaan Bharmal
What a fun way to look at physics. I've always loved physics more than any other sect of science because it is relevant to every single thing we do. I mean, atoms are everywhere. But to apply it to such intangible concepts? I loved it!
nonfiction
science
informative
inspiring
refelctive
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Bombshell

Darrow Farr
I’m not even totally sure how to collect my thoughts after finishing this book. The main characters are so flawed and so human. Farr really shows how mindsets change as we age, especially about revolutionary ideas and idealism. Ugh I might have to sit with this for a bit and come back. Amazing for a first novel.
fiction
historical
literary
adventurous
emotional
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Last Run

Rachel Weaver
I got an arc of this book. It. touched a piece of my soul I didn't even know was there. I have never preordered something so fast just to have my own physical copy to read, and re-read again. I seriously could not put this book down. It took precedent over my other responsibilities, and I am not upset about it (though my calendar and to-do list might disagree). I will be reading Weaver's past book and any other books she writes moving forward. The honesty of the characters connected with me as I connected with each of them. The importance of family and forgiveness? Agh! I can't take it! A must read for every person I know.
fiction
literary
familial
emotional
challenging
hopeful
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoevsky
I cannot believe I waited this long to read this classic. I also can't believe how captivated I was. I thought this would be a long read that I made my way through slowly. Nope! The plot and pull of the story were so good I had no choice but to fly through it to see what the crazed mind of the narrator would do next.
fiction
classics
crime
literary
dark
reflective
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Slavic Myths

Svetlana Slapsak, Noah Charney
I really enjoyed this one. It was refreshing to see the cultural analysis after each lesser known Slavic tale. It's a good explanation of what lives behind folklore.
nonfiction
history
religion
adventurous
informative
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Say Nothing

Patrick Radden Keefe
Oh yea, baby. Another slay by Keefe. I love learning about the North of Ireland and the Troubles. This book made me think about that time in history in a way I hadn't previously. It really makes you analyze why people act the way they do, even if you think that could never be you. It also looks at how age can change our convictions. I appreciate the narrative following so closely to history but reading as a true story, not a string of facts.
nonfiction
history
politics
dark
informative
reflective
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Babel

R.F. Kuang
I wish I could rate this much more than just 5 stars. I don’t think a story has ever opened my eyes and heart so specifically at such a large scale as this one. This story is so full of intersectionality and true minority experience. Although it's fantasy, it holds so much truth about our world's history and human behavior. I don't want to give spoilers, but this book will change you. Read it immediately.
fiction
fantasy
historical
literary
challenging
dark
emotional
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Small Angels

Lauren Owen
Just wow. I will be rereading this more than once so I can pay more attention to the absolute masterful storytelling woven together by the author.
fiction
horror
dark
mysterious
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

V.E. Schwab
The last couple pages had me sat and shook. The end almost made the story for me. I enjoyed the entire read, but it was those last few pages that made me love the story overall.
fiction
fantasy
historical
literary
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Book of Lost Hours

Hayley Gelfuso
This story was so extraordinarily thoughtful and detailed in the best of ways. I always love a multi-timeline story that jumps back and forth, and this author does it well.
fiction
historical
science fiction
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Cultish

Amanda Montell
This was such a fun read for a nonfiction book. Language is so powerful, and there are things taught in this book that I notice in everyday communication still! So good! Definitely going to look into more by this author.
nonfiction
feminism
rhetoric
sociology
informative
reflective
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

To Clutch a Razor

Veronica Roth
Yes! Honorable mention for the Polish roots in this story. I love the dichotomy between the Polish Catholics and Slavic/Polish folklore... the way the story combines the two side by side. Ught this was so good and over too quickly! I need more of these characters and this story!
fiction
contemporary
fantasy
LQBTQIA+
dark
emotional
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Trust Her

Flynn Berry
I love all things Irish history. This story was so good at showing the reality (kind of.. this is a fiction thriller) of just regular citizens in the ongoing struggle in the North of Ireland between all the different paramilitary groups during, and after, the Troubles. #slay. Also, I'm a sucker for stories focused on sisterhood and a mother protecting her child.
fiction
contemporary
literary
thriller
dark
emotional
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Honey

Isabel Banta
Ugh wow. This story touches on so much but is organized so well that I was able to follow right along the whole time without losing the story's purpose. I mean, I deeply cared about what happened to this unlikeable protagonist. Love an author who can make me hate and love a character at the same time.
fiction
literary
emotional
reflective
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Northern Spy

Flynn Berry
Well, I think I’ve found another beloved author. What a beautiful writing style. The North of Ireland? Sisterhood? IRA? Female protagnoisnt willing to do anything for her family? Love.
fiction
historical
mystery
thriller
dark
mysterious
tense
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Sunrise on the Reaping

Suzanne Collins
I've been a Hunger Games fanatic since I was a pre-teen. This book was no different. I'm scared to reread it again because it made me feel that much. But I must... I must reread...
fiction
dystopian
young adult
dark
emotional
sad
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Wild Dark Shore

Charlotte McConaghy
Oof. "Once There Were Wolves" has been my favorite book by this author for YEARS. Maybe even my favorite book overall. This is a CLOSE second. The character development. The switching between narrators. The mystery and the way the reader learned just tidbits of info at just the right moments. If you're wondering why I'm not using complete sentences, it's because I can't help but gawk in shock at such a beautiful story. I cried. Big time.
climate fiction
literary
thriller
dark
emotional
sad
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Men Who Hate Women

Laura Bates
This book did a great job at tackling the issue of misogyny head on while  highlighting intersectionality and the way it all directly connects to the extremely prevalent problem of violence against women. It is clear the author is heavily researched and extremely educated on this topic, and her tone made such a heavy text easier to read and comprehend.
nonfiction
feminism
sociology
challenging
dark
informative
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

A Cruelty Special to Our Species

Emily Jungmin Yoonh
This might be the most invoking collection of poetry I’ve ever read… and don’t forget to read the author’s note on this one. That's all. I think you have to read it for yourself.
nonfiction
poetry
feminism
race
dark
emotional
sad
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Not Here

Hieu Minh Nguyen
This was such a beatiful telling of identity, intersectinoality, and owning one's sense of self in a world where tons of people point hateful fingers.
nonfiction
LGBTQIA+
poetry
emotional
reflective
sad
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Poetry of Birds

Samuel Carr
I got this book on one of my trips, as I always do when traveling somewhere new, and wasn't sure what to expect of it. Damn, I learned so much about different birds except I wanted to keep reading? And then it was over? Good stuff.
fiction
nature
poetry
reference
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Daisy Jones & The Six

Taylor Jenkins Reid
Girlll my jaw was DROPPED the whole time. I also love how ther story is told in interviews, so the reader gets so many different perspectives on one crazy situation. I could not put it down.
fiction
historical
literary
emotional
reflective
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
Oh my GOSSSHHHH! A book comprised of letters? And done so well! I love my WWII historical fiction, and this story was a cherry on top. It covers a lesser known area victimized by the Nazis and does so through letters between members of a book club. A book club that gave people hope during a terrible time. Also love the movie.
fiction
histoorical
romance
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
Five purple stars in a horizontal row representing a rating.

Once There Were Wolves

Charlotte McConaghy
I had owned this book for a couple years before I finally picked it up and read it. I swear, books find you when they're meant to. This story reminded me why I lovereading literary fiction and why I love writing. It rekindled that fire in me. Not only is it a diverse set of characters, it's a unique plot! That doesn't happen often these days! I also LOVE when timeline is used as a literary device. The author goes back and forth across the full timeline of the story in the most masterful way I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
climate fiction
literary
mystery
dark
emotional
mysterious
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