Chrysalis is split into three sections, in which we learn about an unnamed woman from the perspective of her mother, her colleague, and a potential lover. Through their eyes, we learn about her journey from isolated childhood to unconventional social media guru. I love how the story unraveled; there are no “twists” in this Chrysalis, … Continue reading Review: Chrysalis, by Anna Metcalfe (Random House)
Review: Hazardous Spirits, by Anbara Salam (Tin House)
Another cracking “something’s not quite right” novel for 2023. Set in 1920s Edinburgh, Evelyn’s husband, Robert, has decided he can talk to the dead, and pivots from a career in accountancy to become a spiritualist medium. Evelyn and Robert become society darlings, but Evelyn is shunned by her family due to them being embarrassed by … Continue reading Review: Hazardous Spirits, by Anbara Salam (Tin House)
Review: Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher (Tor)
Whoops! I finished this audiobook in a day, completely by accident. Once I entered Toadling’s world, I couldn’t leave. And after such a short time with her, I am now bereft. T. Kingfisher nails it again with her latest novella, Thornhedge. Toadling guards a tower, the contents of which are not immediately apparent. She stands … Continue reading Review: Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher (Tor)
Review: Lone Women, by Victor LaValle (One World)
Which Victor LaValle book did you read first? Mine was The Changeling. Brutal, devastating, ambitious, and incredibly weird. It made me reassess what a literary horror novel could be. I'm excited for the TV adaptation. So of course, as soon as I had the opportunity to read LaValle’s latest book, Lone Women, I dived right … Continue reading Review: Lone Women, by Victor LaValle (One World)
Review: White Cat, Black Dog: Stories, by Kelly Link (Random House)
This is a review from 2022, that I forgot to publish! My views are still the same! For me, a new Kelly Link collection is an event. When White Cat, Black Dog hit my inbox, I gasped so loud that my husband thought we’d won the lottery. Which I kinda did (thanks, Random House!). White … Continue reading Review: White Cat, Black Dog: Stories, by Kelly Link (Random House)
Review: Good Girls Don’t Die, by Christina Henry (Berkley)
When the ARC approval for Good Girls Don’t Die hit my inbox, I put my hands in the air and exclaimed “holy shit” to my mildly terrified husband. To me, a new Christina Henry book is an event. Henry wrote two of my favorite books of the past few years (Lost Boy, and Near the … Continue reading Review: Good Girls Don’t Die, by Christina Henry (Berkley)
Autumn 2023 Reading
Like everyone else, I read The Woman in Me, by Britney Spears (and possibly Sam Lansky). I listened to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Michelle Williams. It was an incredibly difficult listen; ten minutes in we’d already had a graveside suicide. It is comparable to I’m Glad my Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy, in that … Continue reading Autumn 2023 Reading
Books of my Thirties
I turn 40 tomorrow. To be honest, I feel pretty good about it. My thirties were absolutely bonkers (marriage, baby, moving to a new country), so I’m taking the time to reflect on the decade. I looked back at my trusty Goodreads, and picked a memorable book from each of the last ten years. 2013 … Continue reading Books of my Thirties
Review: We Have Always Been Who We Are, by Sofia T. Romero (Blackstone)
Sofia T. Romero’s debut collection, We Have Always Been Who We Are, contains a fantastic mix of stories. Here are my favorites: My First Confession - A weird sorority initiation ceremony including a book of secrets. It all goes wrong when an “outsider” tries to join. Ashes to Ashes - Oh my word, this was … Continue reading Review: We Have Always Been Who We Are, by Sofia T. Romero (Blackstone)
Review: Peach Pit, edited by Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley (Dzanc Books)
In this collection of stories of “unsavory women”, beautifully edited by Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley, there is a wide range of subjects and writers, encapsulating just how tired women are of all this nonsense. These were my favorite stories: Fuckboy Museum, by Deesha Philyaw - A great opener. A woman grows tired of the … Continue reading Review: Peach Pit, edited by Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley (Dzanc Books)
California Reading 