Hear the Dead by Ann Dávila Cardinal (publication day October 6, 2026) is a pulse-pounding thriller centering on 66-year old Elena Altieri, a former punk rock photographer who has been living a quiet life as a teacher in Vermont for the past forty years, since she fled New York City one awful day that sheContinue reading “Hear the Dead”
Tag Archives: contemporary fiction
There There
I didn’t get to multi-award winning There There (2018) by Tommy Orange when it came out, but am glad that I finally made the time to listen to it. The audiobook is narrated by Darrell Dennis, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Kyla Garcia, and Alma Cuervo, and I’m so glad the publisher decided to use multiple narrators, asContinue reading “There There”
Isn’t He Romantic?
Isn’t He Romantic (publication day September 22, 2026) by Adib Khorram is the third book in his Love on the Vine series that features wine and wine-related businesses in each storyline. I previously reviewed his breakout YA book Darius the Great is Not Okay and It Had to Be Him (#2 in this series), andContinue reading “Isn’t He Romantic?”
Mazywood
Mazywood (publication day September 22, 2026) by Tananarive Due scared me so much one evening I had to stop reading it until daytime! With two timelines–beginning in the Golden Age of Hollywood, it follows Mazelle Washington, a child star when films were still silent, through her lifetime, and alternates with a present day timeline followingContinue reading “Mazywood”
The Immortal King Rao
The Immortal King Rao (2022) by Vauhini Vara was a finalist for several literary awards that year, and I can see why. It’s a fascinating story to listen to. Following King Rao, born a Dalit in India in the 1950s, on his family’s coconut farm, through his emigration to the United States and the techContinue reading “The Immortal King Rao”
Body Language
Body Language (publication day September 1, 2026) by Meg Howrey is her fifth book, and the first of hers that I’ve read. I’m a sucker for stories with three sisters, and this one hit a little close to home for me, though we’re not quite in the same place as this family. Howrey uses severalContinue reading “Body Language”
But I Hate Him
But I Hate Him (publication day August 25, 2026) by Page Powars, is the story of Rory, a trans teenager who competes in the top echelons of science competitions in NYC, and is the face of his parents’ tutoring company, The Prince List, and Luca, the boy who always seems to win when they’re inContinue reading “But I Hate Him”
Hers For the Weekend
Hers For the Weekend (2024) by is the third installment in Helena Greer’s Carrigan’s Christmasland series. I previously reviewed and raved about Season of Love (Miriam and Noelle) and For Never and Always (Hannah and Levi), and I think it’s best to read those two first, or you might get bogged down when trying toContinue reading “Hers For the Weekend”
The Crossover
The Crossover (2014) by Kwame Alexander won both the Newbery and Coretta Scott King awards that year, along with many other awards. I am very late to this classic, but I was looking for a short, quick read by an author of color, and this one came up on Libby. I love a novel-in-verse andContinue reading “The Crossover”
How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House
How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe is a sweet, fat positive YA paranormal romance. I reviewed three of Howe’s previous books, all adult fat-positive contemporary romances (On the Plus Side; The Make-Up Test; and How to Get a Life in Ten Dates) and I enjoyed this one as well! AsContinue reading “How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House”
