Lady Tan’s Circle of Women

As usual, Lisa See has crafted an engaging historical fiction novel centering on women and their relationships in Lady Tan’s Circle of Women (2023). In the late 1400s, in China during the Ming dynasty, child Tan Yunxian witnesses her mother’s death because of infection in her bound feet and the lack of medical care forContinue reading “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women”

The Sons of El Rey

The Sons of El Rey (2024) by Alex Espinoza is a brilliant historical, polyvocal, family drama with a bit of magical realism that was the August selection for Roxane Gay’s The Audacious Book Club. Although this was the third book from her book club that I’ve read this year, I’ve not been able to manageContinue reading “The Sons of El Rey”

The Emperor and the Endless Palace

I was drawn to the beautiful cover of The Emperor and the Endless Palace (2024) displayed on the “New” shelf at my local library. I was thrilled to find out it was one of my favorite genres–historical fantasy–and it was super-queer! Huang takes us to three different time periods. First in time is the yearContinue reading “The Emperor and the Endless Palace”

We Need No Wings

I read We Need No Wings (publication day September 10, 2024) by Ann Dávila Cardinal in one sitting! Teresa, known as Tere, is a literature professor of Puerto Rican descent stuck for the last year after her beloved husband’s unexpected death, until one day, while watering his garden, she begins to levitate. Startled and bewilderedContinue reading “We Need No Wings”

Killers of a Certain Age

I thoroughly enjoyed Killers of a Certain Age (2022) by Deanna Raybourn! While mystery/ thriller is a genre I read now and again, I was not familiar with Deanna Raybourn, but she has an extensive backlist and is an Edgar winner. We meet Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie, all 60-something women on the vergeContinue reading “Killers of a Certain Age”

Ash

I so enjoyed Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo that I sought out Ash (2009), Lo’s first published novel. A partial gender-swapped sapphic YA re-telling of Cinderella, it won multiple awards, including a Locus and a Lambda. In Ash’s world, there are those who live in the country, or woods, and followContinue reading “Ash”

The Pairing

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (publication date August 6, 2024) is a delightfully sexy romp through Europe on a food and wine tour with two former best friends and former lovers Theo and Kit. I really loved McQuiston’s Red, White, and Royal Blue and there are so many things I loved about this book! First,Continue reading “The Pairing”

We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky

I will read anything Cat Sebastian writes, so I very much looked forward to We Could Be So Good (2023) and You Should Be So Lucky (2024), considered her “Midcentury NYC” series, set in the 1950s/1960s in New York City. They have some overlapping characters, but can be read standalone. In We Could Be SoContinue reading “We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky”

Catalina

Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (publication day July 23, 2024) is a novel about an undocumented young woman from Ecuador, Catalina, who was brought to the United States at 5 years old to live with her grandparents in Queens, and goes to Harvard. I think some people will absolutely love it. Catalina is a smartass,Continue reading “Catalina”

Maame

Maame (2023) by Jessica George was on my TBR list as soon as I read the description, and I was not disappointed. 25-year old Maddie is Ghanaian and lives with her father in the London area. He has Parkinson’s and she is is primary caregiver, along with a home health worker that comes in mostContinue reading “Maame”