📖 Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Aria (mystery) listened on Libby. I’m working through a lot of Autostraddle’s Best Queer Books of 2021 and I this was a great way to get out of my comfort zone! The 20s setting was really lush and I enjoyed reading a book with a stable and established sapphic relationship.
📖 Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (fantasy, romance, f/f) read a borrowed copy on paper. I’ve wanted to read this since I first heard about it! Slice of life is really working for me as a mood right now- this book had the perfect balance of plot and…not. Now I need the sequel about the chess gnome.
📖 I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson (romance, m/m) listened on Libro.fm. This is going to be the first book for Kira and my queer romance book club hosted by Charis and it’s going to be a great book to start us off! The queering of the fake-dating trope is intriguing, and surprise! There’s a whole chunk of this book set in Atlanta/Decatur! I really liked Kian’s internal monologues and Timothy Bell Reese did a great job on the narration, especially with Hudson’s rumbly drawl.
📖 Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond (romance, f/f) read with my eyes on NetGalley. I enjoyed this as a light, cute romance, but it didn’t all the way work for me. I wanted to get to know the love interest a little more (her motivations?). I did like the pre-marriage equality Tulsa setting.
(Thanks for the eARC!)
📖 Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner (romance, f/f) reads with my eyes from NetGalley. I did not expect this book to work! Falling for your best friend’s mom? But it did. I really loved the way it felt tropey and trope-bending all at the same time. And sexy!
(Thanks for the eARC, this book comes out Oct 11!)
📖 Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (romance, m/f) listened on Libby. Many of the same things that worked for me in All the Feels apply here. I bought into April’s need for secrecy and Marcus’ reasons for keeping things to himself when similar miscommunications have felt more contrived.
📖 A Master of Djinn by P Djèlí Clark (fantasy) listened on Libby and Scribd. I book-clubbed this book with Monica and Sarah and had a wonderful time. The world building felt organic, the historical setting felt grounded and interesting, and oh, Fatma’s suits! I loved all the descriptions. I hope for more.
After I finished all three, I had to go back and listen to the prologues, which are perplexing at first listen but are ultimately completely haunting and fascinating.
Also, as I’ve said before, Joel Leslie brings Ardy to life and was a large part of shaping my experience here