If We Survive This

If We Survive This

by Racquel Marie

Feiwel & Friends, 2025. 336 pages. Horror.

A colorful creative who spends as much time fearing death as she does trying to hide that fear from her loved ones, Flora Braddock Paz has always considered herself weak. But half a year into the global outbreak of a rabies mutation that transforms people into violent, zombielike "rabids," she and her older brother Cain are still alive. With their mom dead, their dad missing, and their LA suburb left desolate, they form a new plan to venture out to the secluded Northern California cabin they vacationed in growing up―their best chance at a safe haven and maybe even seeing their dad again. The dangers of the world have changed, but so has Flora. Still, their journey up the state is complicated by encounters with familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year. And for Flora, one thing inevitably remains: no matter how far you run, death is never far behind.

I haven't read very many apocalyptic stories that feature queer or neurodiverse characters, and this one refreshingly has both. The sibling dynamics between Flora and Cain seemed very true to life. This spooky little read has its fair share of violence and gore, but it mainly centers on community, family, and belonging. This wasn't nearly as nightmare-inducing as the bone-chilling oeuvre of Stephen King and the like (but I did have to pause when a certain inevitable scene involving the dog Biscuit came around... don't worry, the dog doesn't die).

The Bible Says So

The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues

by Daniel McClellan

St. Martin's, 2025. 320 pages. Nonfiction.

The Bible is the world’s most influential book, but do we really know what it says? Every day across social media and in homes, businesses, and public spaces, people try to cut debate short by claiming that "the Bible says so!" However, they commonly disagree about what it actually does and doesn't say, particularly when it comes to socially significant issues. McClellan leverages his popular "data over dogma" approach, and his years of experience in the academy and on social media, to lay out in clear and accessible ways what the data indicate the Bible does and doesn't say about issues ranging from homosexuality, abortion, and slavery to monotheism, inspiration, and even God's wife.

I've long been a fan of McClellan's videos and his respectful yet direct approach to debunking (or rarely, confirming) claims made by other Bible devotees. What I find fascinating about both his videos and this work is his singular ability to remove himself and his opinions from his discussion of Biblical content. He provides evidence and discusses ideas regarding what is actually in the Bible, not his personal religious beliefs nor how Biblical teachings should be applied. McClellan has helped me develop my relationship towards the Bible and see it as an anthology of religious stories from various authors who lived in various times and places, writing to various audiences for various reasons. It isn't univocal and it's okay if it disagrees with itself, and this is a better way for me to take the Bible seriously, rather than to force it to fit what I may want it to say to support dogmas and traditions.

Just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean it's true. Just because it's true doesn't mean it's in the Bible.

You Are Fatally Invited

You Are Fatally Invited

by Ande Pliego

Bantam, 2025. 371 pages. Thriller.

When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance — particularly since she has an ax to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem. Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two — the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead — and it’s not the murder she planned — Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether. With a storm cutting off the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.

It's been a minute since I've read a good thriller, and this definitely scratched the itch. This locked-room mystery reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None plus a few unexpected twists and a sprinkling of the board game Cluedo. The audiobook used different narrators to identify the various perspectives, but even still I got a little confused sometimes, especially by the second-person passages.  Also, the several intertwining plotlines were a touch on the overwrought side (bordering on convoluted) for my personal liking. However, this brilliant and complex work was well executed and enjoyable, and the biggest twist was not identifying the bad guy, as that revelation was rather underwhelming.

How to Piss Off Men

How to Piss Off Men: 109 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego

by Kyle Prue

Sourcebooks, 2024. 144 pages. Nonfiction.

Have you ever been badgered by an annoying pick-up artist at the bar? Ever felt a burning desire to emotionally torture a friend’s boyfriend in an act of revenge? Have you ever endured just talking to a man before? If so, then this book is for you. With more than 100 phrases, questions, and comebacks, How to Piss Off Men is your essential guide to sending even the most relentless mansplainer into an existential crisis. Whether it’s referring to his expensive NFL jersey as “cosplay” or letting him know he has the confidence of a much taller man, this handbook will ensure you’re equipped to combat toxic masculinity in any situation.

With an air of levity, this quick read is a real page-turner. Prue also delivers surprisingly poignant afterword commentary on the damaging and damning effect of a patriarchal society on people of all genders, calling for men to "take our cultural medicine" by allowing anger to "inform us of our hurt and finally heal from it."

First-Time Caller

First-Time Caller

by B.K. Borison

Berkley, 2025. 448 pages. Romance

Book #1 in the "Heartstrings" series

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing. Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending... even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

This was a sweet, fluffy romance that I really enjoyed. The premise was original, and the writing was very well done. The audio format naturally lends itself well to the "on air" portions, and it was clever how these sections were portrayed. The pacing did lull in a few spots, but that's nothing unforgivable. I do think Aiden needs therapy, but don't we all? 

Caveat lector: this work contains a few scenes of open-door intimacy. Honestly, I'm not really sure how to feel about the scene in the closet -- is it really realistic to cum from riding someone's thigh? -- but maybe that's just because sex with women is something I'm not interested in at all, whether it's in literature or elsewhere. It didn't ruin the book for me, which might be saying something.

Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the Reaping

by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic, 2025. 387 pages. Sci-Fi

Book #0.5 in the "Hunger Games" series

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

It's not an understatement to say that I was a Hunger Games girlie when the dystopian series came out in 2008-2010. I was in high school, the target demographic, and it was exactly what I needed at the time. Flash forward to 2020, when Collins published The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to the original trilogy. I thought it was alright, but it just wasn't up to the same caliber as the first three. I was apprehensive to read Sunrise on the Reaping, but that was quickly dismissed as I dove back into the familiar world of Panem. Some have criticized this book for pandering to fans with cameos and namedrops, but I say: let Collins pander. This is exactly the fanservice I wanted after so many years of fandom. That said, I do wish we had seen more development in the character of President Snow: he seemed to be too similar to the version of him we see with Katniss, and it would have been nice to see a midpoint between that and who he is in Songbirds and Snakes. Is this work some big, earthshattering revelation that changes how I see the whole series? No, and I think that that's okay.

The Small and the Mighty

The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement

by Sharon McMahon

Thesis, 2024. 320 pages. Nonfiction

Most pundits and historians sell a dangerously naïve version of the American story— either praising its most consequential figures uncritically or criticizing them unfairly. McMahon believes the truth is more human. She here tells the inspiring stories of twelve Americans — regular people with human foibles — whose extraordinary heroism in the face of mounting trials created the character of our country. With clarity and candor, McMahon follows the daughter of formerly enslaved parents who sparked a reformation in Black education, a Japanese immigrant who nearly died in combat and became a consequential Senator, and the electrician who saved her husband’s life.

I had the wonderful chance to go with a bestie to hear McMahon speak on her press tour for this work in October 2024. I hadn't read the book beforehand, and I quickly realized that I was missing out for sure. McMahon's extensive research shows in the depth of the stories, and the inspiring lessons learned from these unsung heroes are impactful. She also intersperses the work with her personable asides and commentary, which made for an entertaining read that felt nothing like a boring history lesson. This was a good book to read slowly, enjoying the nuance of each episode and the multifaceted characters involved. In this politically fraught time when I'm not so sure that I'm always proud to be an American, McMahon reminds us of the goodness of humanity and the meaning of what America is at her best.

Hera

Hera

by Jennifer Saint

Flatiron, 2024. 389 pages. Fantasy

Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronos, helped her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father so that they could rule the world. But, as they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as their father was, and she begins to question her role at his side. She was born to rule, but does that mean perpetuating a cycle of violence and cruelty that has existed since the dawn of time? Will assuming her power mean that Hera loses herself, or can she find a way to forge a better world? Traditionally portrayed as a jealous wife, a wicked stepmother, and a victim-blaming instrument of the patriarchy, Hera is ripe for a retelling that shows her as a powerful queen―ruthless when she needs to be, but also compassionate, strategic, and ambitious.

When I think of Greek mythology, I vividly remember some heroes and deities, but Hera is never one of them. In my mind, she always appears as a minor character in someone else's story. The decision to give the Queen of Mount Olympus her own narrative was ingenious, and this iteration is remarkably well executed. Having read Saint's Ariadne and Elektra, and Madeleine Miller's Circe and The Song of Achilles, I thought I knew was I was getting myself into. However, Saint channels the story of the most powerful female being of the Greek pantheon into a nuanced and remarkably introspective tale of feminism under the patriarchy, sexual abuse survivorship, and privilege with complex, evolving characters, all without coming across as pedantic nor preachy. It was a remarkable read with a quick pace and a bittersweet (yet fitting) ending: I mean, how else did I really expect the story of the Queen Goddess to end? In death? Hardly. I can't wait to see what she writes next. 

The Phoenix Keeper

The Phoenix Keeper

by S.A. MacLean

Orbit, 2024. 496 pages. Fantasy

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins. But saving a species from extinction will require help from the hotshot (and hot) griffin keeper at the zoo's most popular exhibit, who happens to be her arch-rival from college. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job: the future of a species – and her love life – now rests on her shoulders.

This work struck just the right chord for me: funny and relatable characters, fantasy creatures amid a surprisingly pedestrian life with emails and DVDs, intrigue and suspense in trying to prevent a heist, and of course queer romance involving our female protagonist and characters of differing genders (although I still think she should have dumped that white man a bit earlier). MacLean has some very poignant messages about wildlife conservation and animal trafficking, entitlement and privilege, introversion and mental health. I also loved the bisexual and trans representation where it's just a part of life, no justification required. The LGBTQ+ elements are woven in naturally without being a slap in the face, which is the queer rep we deserve. Don't let the page count startle you; this character-focused book has a gentle (and intensifying) pace, but with a writing style engaging enough to keep the pages turning.