We Could Be Rats (publication date January 28, 2025) by Emily R. Austin (Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead) is a uniquely-told literary novel about two sisters, Sigrid and Margit, who still both have significant trauma and mental health issues from growing up in a conflict-ridden home. The title comes from a storyContinue reading “We Could Be Rats”
Author Archives: bbwesquire
I Think They Love You
I Think They Love You (pub. date January 28, 2025) is Julian Winters’ adult rom-com debut, and it’s lovely. Winters has written many YA novels, including Right Where I Left You, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and several others that I need to get to. Told from the perspective of Denz, whose Instagram is “notthatdenzel” andContinue reading “I Think They Love You”
Call Her Freedom
Call Her Freedom (publication day January 21, 2025) by Tara Dorabji is an intense and powerful multi-generational story of a family in the village of Poshkarbal in Kashmir, starting when Aisha is sent to school by her mother, Noorhajan, though few girls attend school. Her mother is the village midwife and herbalist, and is raisingContinue reading “Call Her Freedom”
My Broken Language
My Broken Language (2021) by Quiara Alegría Hudes had been on my list for a while, and I’m so glad that I finally listened to this memoir. Hudes, a Pulitzer award-winning playwright, co-authored In the Heights with Lin Manuel-Miranda, and she narrates the audiobook, which I think enhances the listening experience. Hudes’ mixed Puerto RicanContinue reading “My Broken Language”
All the Water in the World
I absolutely loved All the Water in the World (pub. date January 7, 2024) by Eiren Caffall! This literary climate story is told from the perspective of Nonie, a 13-year old girl who has lived on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History for eight years, with her father, and older sister Bix,Continue reading “All the Water in the World”
The Last Bookstore on Earth
In The Last Bookstore on Earth (pub. date January 7, 2024), by Lily Braun-Arnold, the immaturity and poor choices made by the narrator indicated that it was clearly for a young adult audience. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this queer post-apocalyptic climate fiction, Narrated by Liz, a teenager who is living alone in the bookstore where sheContinue reading “The Last Bookstore on Earth”
The Great Transition
The Great Transition (2023) by Nick Fuller Googins is a completely engaging, hopeful climate fiction novel told from the perspective of Emi, a 15-year old living in Nuuk, a city in Greenland, and her father, Larch. Larch, and Emi’s mother, Kristina, were part of the Carbon Capture Corps and Great Transition, where young people wereContinue reading “The Great Transition”
Weight and Wisdom: Reflections on Decades of Working for Body Liberation
Weight and Wisdom: Reflections on Decades of Working for Body Liberation (publication day January 1, 2025) edited by Nancy Ellis-Ordway and Tigress Osborn, foreword by Caleb Luna, is the essay collection that has been missing in body liberation literature. Tigress and Nancy, and others, have collected dozens of personal essays from activists and therapists whoContinue reading “Weight and Wisdom: Reflections on Decades of Working for Body Liberation”
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School (2022) by Sonora Reyes is a deserving award-winning (Lambda, National Book Award finalist, Goodreads Choice, among others) young adult book centering on Yamilet Flores and her brother Cesar. They are transferring to Catholic school because Cesar kept getting jumped at their public school, but Yami will have to findContinue reading “The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School”
Everything I read in 2024
Here is what I read in 2024, so far, in order. If the title has a link, it’s to a review if I wrote one. This will be cross-posted on both Reading While Fat and bbwesquire. I will also do a more formal analysis and goals for 2025. Legend for parentheses (Div = non-white authorContinue reading “Everything I read in 2024”