The audiobook for Anita de Monte Laughs Last (2024) by Xóchitl González (author of 2022’s Olga Dies Dreaming) completely enthralled me with the alternating stories of both Cuban artist Anita de Monte in the early 1980s and 3rd year art history student Raquel in the late 1990s. There is some controversy that shows up inContinue reading “Anita de Monte Laughs Last”
Author Archives: bbwesquire
The Magnolia Sword
The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan (2019) by Sherry Thomas is a satisfying YA retelling of the Mulan story, set in 5th century China. I was introduced to Thomas through her newest novel, The Librarians, which I loved so much that I had to check out her backlist. As the book opens, the protagonistContinue reading “The Magnolia Sword”
Divine Ruin
Divine Ruin (publication day January 13, 2026) by Margot Douaihy is another thrilling installment in the adventures of Sister Holiday–former punk rocker, current nun, nonpracticing lesbian, amateur sleuth! I love this series! (#1 is Scorched Grace, #2 is Blessed Water.) This time Sister Holiday is dealing with the overdose of one of her favorite students,Continue reading “Divine Ruin”
Is This a Cry for Help
Is This a Cry for Help? (publication day January 13, 2026) by Emily Austin was so, so good! This is the third book of Austin’s I’ve read and reviewed (Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, and We Could Be Rats), and it lived up to my already-high expectations! Darcy, a queer librarian whoContinue reading “Is This a Cry for Help”
Playing for Keeps
The description of Playing for Keeps (publication day January 6, 2026) by Alexandria Bellefleur pulled me in instantly: a Sapphic romance between two publicists–one for a mega pop star and the other for a respected NFL football player! I thought it was a cute twist on the story that all Swifties think that they know,Continue reading “Playing for Keeps”
2025 Analysis and Goals
Over on my original blog, bbwesquire.wordpress.com, I’ve got the analysis of my 2025 in books, so if you’re interested in the whole picture, please check it out. My 2026 reading goals are similar to 2025: Read at least 80 books. Read at least half by non-white authors. Read at least a third featuring queer charactersContinue reading “2025 Analysis and Goals”
2025 in Books: The List
Below is the list of what I read between January 1, 2025 to the present, with links to the reviews. An A = audiobook; BC = book club; D = diverse / non-white author; NG = read for NetGalley. A full analysis of my 2025 reading year is coming soon. My Broken Language, by QuiaraContinue reading “2025 in Books: The List”
The Reformatory
I just about have no words (with reverent awe) for The Reformatory (2023) by Tananarive Due, but since writing about books is the reason for this blog, I have to come up with some. First, this book is an example of my belief that white people need to read books written by black people (andContinue reading “The Reformatory”
The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts
Nonfiction was only a fraction of what I read in 2025, but The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts (2023) by Loren Grush made me want to read more. While some of the individual women that were part of the first women to be part of NASA’s first astronaut class to includeContinue reading “The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts”
The Measure
My book club chose The Measure (2022) by Nikki Erlick for our October 2025 read, and we had a great discussion! The premise is that one day, everyone who is older than 22 receives a box at their front door (later, you receive a box when you turn 22). On the box is an inscriptionContinue reading “The Measure”
