Missing Sam (publication day January 27, 2026) by Thrity Umrigar caught my attention immediately, telling the story of a fight between married Aliyah and Samantha, that they don’t resolve before they go to sleep. In the morning, Sam goes for a run and doesn’t come back. Ali becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. UmrigarContinue reading “Missing Sam”
Tag Archives: grief
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”
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 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”
And Then, BOOM!
In 2022, I read and reviewed Lisa Fipps’ award-winning first book, Starfish, a fat-positive middle-grade novel-in-verse, so I was happy to find out that she published a second middle-grade novel-in-verse in 2024, And Then, BOOM! And Then, BOOM! tells the story of Joe Oak, a tween who lives with his grandmother, because his Mom oftenContinue reading “And Then, BOOM!”
Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed, and Sisters in the Wind
So I read Warrior Girl Unearthed (2023) by Angeline Boulley in September, and immediately had to read Boulley’s first book Firekeeper’s Daughter (2021, Goodreads Choice Award for YA), and was thrilled to find out she’s just published a third book, Sisters in the Wind (September 2, 2025), which I also devoured. They are each amazingContinue reading “Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed, and Sisters in the Wind”
ZomRomCom
I preorder anything Olivia Dade publishes, and ZomRomCom (August 2025) was no exception. It was great fat-positive fun, full of action from the very beginning! Edie lives within the Containment Zone close to the Compound where zombies are supposed to be corralled after a breach nearly two decades ago. She won’t leave because her parentsContinue reading “ZomRomCom”
The Dogs of Venice
I was a big fan of The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley, so when I saw his The Dogs of Venice (print publication day October 14, 2025) available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. As the story opens, Paul finds out that his marriage is over but they had scheduled a tripContinue reading “The Dogs of Venice”
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway
Set amidst the summer of a newly-upgraded Renaissance Faire, Ashley Shumacher’s young adult romance The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway (2023) is a sweet story of Madeline, a fat girl dealing with grief after the loss of her mother and her reluctant falling for a bespectacled, lute-playing boy, Arthur. Arthur’s dads have recently bought the park,Continue reading “The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway”
Reading While Fat 