Hearts in Circulation

Hearts in Circulation

by Sarah Monzon

Bethany House, 2025. 304 pages. Romance.

Book #2 in the "Checking Out Love" series

Circulation librarian Haley Holt is afraid that the ramshackle Little Creek bookmobile is going to careen down a mountainside with her in it. Her fears come true when the bookmobile breaks down and a rockslide traps her in the small hollow of Turkey Grove. Reclusive mechanic Levi Redding lives there to get away from people. He can handle getting the bookmobile running again, but the endless chatter and unsettling touch from the vibrant librarian leaves him overstimulated. When forced proximity leads to a misunderstanding, a note of apology begins an epistolary friendship, proving that sometimes the happiest of endings aren't contained within the bindings of a book. 

Given my line of work, I'm a bit biased toward stories that favorably depict librarians. This lighthearted romance brings awareness of sensory issues and other forms of neurodivergence, as well as discussing mental health topics like grief and fear, and the importance of libraries to communities. Monzon deftly weaves in these topics into the narrative without becoming preachy or dry. While the chemistry did seem a bit contrived and unrealistically instant, the literary references and cute kittens sold me on this sweet, fluffy romcom read, just in time for upcoming Valentine festivities.

This work is marketed by Bethany House as a "Christian romance" (as are all of their publications), but there is very little reference to religion or God beyond mealtime prayer. The eleventh hour mention of faith came across as almost abrupt, as if an editor hastily crammed it in last minute to meet a benchmark or quota. Readers used to this subgenre may be uncomfortable with the spice level, which admittedly does not rise much above (abundant and passionate) on-page kissing; heaven forbid delicate sensibilities are offended by the thought of a couple cohabitating outside of wedlock (gasp!).

Bury Your Gays

Bury Your Gays

by Chuck Tingle

Tor Nightfire, 2024. 295 pages. Horror.

Misha knows that chasing success in Hollywood can be hell. But finally, after years of trying to make it, his big moment is here: an Oscar nomination. And the executives at the studio for his long-running streaming series know just the thing to kick his career to the next level: kill off the gay characters, "for the algorithm," in the upcoming season finale. Misha refuses, but he soon realizes that he’s just put a target on his back. And what’s worse, monsters from his horror movie days are stalking him and his friends through the hills above Los Angeles. Haunted by his past, Misha must risk his entire future—before the horrors from the silver screen find a way to bury him for good.

I'll be the first to admit that horror isn't my first go-to genre. But I've been trying to appreciate the genre more. Tingle strikes a good chord here with a clever storyline that evoked discomfort with its gory, graphic, upsetting descriptions of body horror. I was surprised by the undertones (or overtones?) that spoke to corporate greed and queer erasure in media, and I didn't expect to be that deeply touched by this work. Plus, these topics are handled in a way that doesn't come across as heavy-handed or pedantic, nor does it detract from the storytelling. While the pacing lagged a touch in the middle, I was strangely uplifted by the value of honoring all parts of yourself and refusing to hide your identity. It's fair to say that I didn't expect any of this, given Tingle's enormous self-published body of work which largely comprises satire and what one might call performance art in prose (and what is technically gay monster erotica).

A Different Kind of Power

A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir

by Jacinda Ardern

Crown, 2025. 352 pages. Biography.

When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister at age thirty-seven, the world took notice. But it was her compassionate yet powerful response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, resulting in swift and sweeping gun control laws, that demonstrated her remarkable leadership. She guided her country through unprecedented challenges—a volcanic eruption, a major biosecurity breach, and a global pandemic—while advancing visionary new policies to address climate change, reduce child poverty, and secure historic international trade deals. She did all this while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership—proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. She is a model for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or has aspired to lead with compassion, conviction, and courage.

Admittedly, I didn't know much about Ardern before reading this memoir. I found the story of an ordinary person who not only endured but thrived in extraordinary conditions. This work was written to an international audience and doesn't require any knowledge of New Zealand parliament or government structure to be accessible. There were remarkable moments of humble introspection that helped me reflect on my own values and the values of those in political power. It gives me hope to know there are people like this in government, despite what I so often see in my own nation and on the news.

Winging It with You

Winging It with You

by Chip Pons

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025. 384 pages. Romance.

Asher Bennet thought his relationship was just fine. Until he’s unceremoniously dumped at the Boston airport ahead of the world-wide travel competition reality show, The Epic Trek. Asher is determined to find a new partner and luckily, right in front of him is a smooth-talking airline pilot ready for takeoff. Theo Fernandez has been grounded. As he struggles to bask in his new downtime, without reconnecting with his family, he stumbles upon the perfect opportunity. Theo and Asher buckle up to fake date for the cameras, but as they do the undercurrents of attraction make them wonder if their on-screen chemistry hints at something bigger.

Every so often, I need what I call "cotton candy" reads: something light and fluffy, perhaps without a lot of substance, but sweet and palatable. That's exactly what I found in this work. The main characters are both extremely lovable, and it really just hit the spot. 

Too often, MM romances are written for the female gaze, with heteronormative standards (i.e., one masc partner with one femme), or unrealistic sex mechanics, or blatant fetishization. Pons does a good job of writing a realistic, refreshing story with surprising emotional depth for the genre. 

I also appreciated how he chose to focus on the joy the characters are pursuing rather than the pain they go through: we still feel pain in both sides of the story, but it's not the central focus as happens all too often in gay literature. 

A delightful, modern rom-com with impressive character development despite an ending that might have dragged the tiniest bit.

Pieces You'll Never Get Back

Pieces You'll Never Get Back: A Memoir of Unlikely Survival

by Samina Ali

Catapult, 2025. 272 pages. Biography.

At 29, Samina Ali nearly died giving birth to her son. Miraculously, she survived the unchecked eclampsia that had endangered her pregnancy, instead sustaining major brain injury and falling into a coma as she gave birth. When she woke up, only her deepest memories were intact. Her husband was a stranger to her, she didn’t remember having a baby, and any language other than her native Urdu was foreign. Medical consensus was she would never recover. Advised to think of her brain as a shattered puzzle, Ali began the long and difficult journey of piecing herself back learning to walk, speak, and accomplish basic human tasks alongside her newborn. She attempted to reckon with her past identity as a writer and a wife, and her new identity as a mother. Despite her miraculous survival, the disconnect between the old and the new self was devastating. It would be three years before she felt remotely normal, and seven before she was mended and could fully connect with her son. Ali pairs the story of her recovery with the parallel narrative of her relationship to her Islamic upbringing and her fluctuating connection to her faith.

As a single gay man with no children, I'm obviously quite unfamiliar with the process and inherent risks of pregnancy and childbirth. The raw and honest detail with which Ali recounts her journey is eye-opening, and she gives her reader sufficient pauses to not be flash-banged by hit after hit of medical complications. I appreciate how she weaves religious topics into her experiences, and she provides a fascinating peek into Islamic traditions regarding childbirth that I had never encountered before. Through it all, Ali presents herself candidly and vulnerably, letting the reader see an honest register of the hurt and pain she experienced from all sides, including from within. This gently-paced memoir of a remarkably harrowing time has a powerful and lasting impact.

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

Chapter summaries

1. What is the Bible? The Bible is a collection of texts, and texts do not have inherent meaning. They were written, edited, and translated by many people in many contexts with many purposes. The characters that make up the text of the Bible only have meaning when a reader interacts with them, and it's harmful to limit what the Bible is "allowed" to say or not say to support a dogma. A prevalent dogma that may impede our understanding of the Bible is the idea that the Bible never contradicts itself, which is objectively false.

2. The Bible says the Bible is inspired. Not really. 2 Timothy 3:16 is often used as the basis for this, but a better transition is "life-giving". And it probably didn't refer to the entire Bible as we understand it today. 

3. The Bible says God created the universe out of nothing. Not really. We can better understand Genesis account to begin: "When God began to create the heavens and the earth." There are many other remnants of creation mythology through the Bible and other southwest Asian texts, and they are understood to reference creation from primordial matter. 

4. The Bible says God lies. Despite parts of the Bible that say he cannot, it generally seems to be the case that God lies in the Bible. 

5. The Bible says slavery is wrong. Not true; in fact it endorses slavery.

6. The Bible says God has a wife. Maybe. There isn't enough data to say for sure. But a mother goddess Asherah was worshipped alongside Yahweh in early Israelite history. 

7. The Bible says abortion is murder. Generally no. It's debatable as to what would have been considered a person, and what rights that person would have had, whether that's a fetus, a woman, an enslaved person, etc. A fetus was generally not considered a person until birth, and abortion was not murder, but rather a loss of property in some cases.

8. The Bible says rape victims must marry their rapists. Kinda, but not really. It isn't concerned with the consent or even personhood of the victim, but rather with the compensation of her "owner", in this case her father. 

9. The Bible says Satan is God's enemy. Not really. Identifying an antagonist to God as Satan is unique to the New Testament, which arose from consolidating the Hebrew word satan (opponent or adversary) with other figures into one malevolent angel figure, likely in the first century CE.

10. The Bible says God has a body. True. God was understood to be corporeal, even when described as a "spirit". Greek philosophy later led to the belief that God couldn't be holy if confined to a material from. 

11. The Bible says to sacrifice your firstborn child. There was likely a period in ancient Israel when child sacrifice was not viewed negatively. Yet it's unclear if the related commandments were ever enforced, or if this legislation was really just propaganda. The concept of child sacrifice does play a formative role in the development of Jewish and Christian traditions, as both God and Abraham were willing to sacrifice a child. 

12. The Bible says you should beat your kids. Yes, this is clearly evident in Proverbs. And that's problematic.

13. The Bible says there is only one God. False. It consistently refers to and acknowledges other gods, but many passages exalt Yahweh over all others. 

14. The Bible says homosexuality is an abomination. The Bible doesn't really say anything about homosexuality, given that its authors wouldn't have had a concept of sexual orientations. The Hebrew Bible does condemn same-sex intercourse because its sexual ethic views sex as an action that a man performs on an object, and that a male should not debase himself by being conquered sexually by another man. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is about hospitality, not sexuality. And Paul argues that all sexual behavior is sinful and debasing.

It is actively harmful to vulnerable populations to reinforce the "Biblical" anti-gay identity markers, and it is as indefensible as a "Biblical" position on slavery, polygamy, and other things that are no longer widely believed.

15. The Bible says women need to cover up. False. The hyper-sexualization of the female body today isn't found in the Bible. Nudity was associated with shame, not lust. Any argument regarding women's appearance as distracting is plainly misogynistic. 

16. The Bible says the Messiah would be born of a virgin. False. It mentions a young woman bearing a child. The passage in Isaiah doesn't refer to Jesus, but rather to the downfall of Israel. The sexless conception of Jesus is convenient rhetoric to separate him from the baser impulse of lust, which is not Biblical.

17. The Bible says Jesus is God. Yes and no. The New testament description has enough gaps to fit all kinds of interpretations, but not in a trinitarian sense.

18. The Bible says to beware the Mark of the Beast. Yes, but they were referring to Nero, not Satan. 

19. The Bible says sinners will be punished forever in hell. Generally not. There is by and large no concept of a postmortem realm of punishment. 

Final thoughts: We make meaning with the Bible, not pull meaning from its pages. It has no meaning until a reader interacts with it. It's healthy to acknowledge and criticize its harmful ideologies.

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.

Wrong Answers Only

Wrong Answers Only

by Tobias Madden

Page Street YA, 2024. 384 pages. Realistic fiction

Marco should be at university, studying biomedicine. Instead, he’s been sent to live on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with his estranged uncle, all because of a ‘blip’ everyone else is convinced was a panic attack. (Which it most definitely was not.) And even though Marco’s trip is supposed to provide answers – about himself, about his family – all he finds on board the Ocean Melody are more and more questions. But then his best friend CeCe proposes a new plan: for someone who has always done the right thing, in every possible way, it’s time for Marco to get a few things wrong.

It's no secret that I love to go on cruises, so the premise that this book is largely set aboard a cruise ship seemed like a perfect match. However, there was a considerable amount of suspension of disbelief required, and perhaps Madden went a bridge too far for my taste: Hunter's decision to engage in a sexual relationship with someone who is essentially a passenger would definitely have gotten him fired, full stop. It's worth noting that this work definitely doesn't classify as a romance; it's more closely a bildungsroman, and it focuses on Marco's sense of self (including a realistic depiction of grappling with anxiety), as well as his family and friend relationships. Madden also sheds light on generational differences regarding views on homosexuality, which definitely rings true.

In Our Stars

In Our Stars

by Jack Campbell

Titan, 2024. 383 pages. Sci-Fi

Book #1 in the "Doomed Earth" series

Earth, 2180. Genetically engineered with partly alien DNA, Lieutenant Selene Genji is different from ordinary humans. And they hate her for it. Still, she’s spent her life trying to overcome society’s prejudice by serving in the Unified Fleet while Earth’s international order collapses into war. Genji is stationed on a ship in orbit when humanity’s factional extremism on the planet reaches a boiling point, and she witnesses the utter annihilation of Earth. When the massive forces unleashed by Earth’s death warp space and time to hurl her forty years into the past, Genji is given a chance to try to change the future and save Earth—starting with the alien first contact only she knows will soon occur. But altering history could put her very existence in danger.

Campbell has written a fast-paced story with likeable characters. The social commentary was veiled a bit thinly at times, but it didn't detract from the plot. To say it ends on a cliffhanger is an understatement: rather, it ends in the middle of the story, which is difficult because the sequel has not been released at the time of reading.

Spare

Spare

by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Random House, 2023. 410 pages. Biography

As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered how the lives of the two young princes would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last. Before losing his mother, Harry was known as the carefree Spare to the more serious Heir. Grief changed everything: he struggled at school, and struggled to accept life in the spotlight. Enrolling in the British Army gave him structure, but he soon suffered from post-traumatic stress and crippling panic attacks. The world was swept away by his cinematic romance with Meghan and rejoiced in their fairy-tale wedding. But from the beginning, Harry and Meghan were preyed upon by the press, subjected to waves of abuse, racism, and lies. Watching his wife suffer, their safety and mental health at risk, Harry saw no other way to prevent the tragedy of history repeating itself but to flee his mother country. For the first time, Harry tells his own story, chronicling his journey with raw, unflinching honesty.

I know I kinda missed the trend with this one; it was really big when it first came out, and then slipped into quiet obscurity. However, maybe it worked out okay to read this when I did, precisely because I could view it more objectively without the hubbub. I enjoyed learning the behind-the-scenes peek at the British Royal Family and their relationship with the press, and my heart broke to hear of how Harry and Meghan were treated. Harry speaks with candor and honesty, giving an honest and raw look at his life thus far. What this was missing was a true purpose: Harry doesn't seem to have a clear call to action or any goal for this work. Instead, it just seems to be him telling his story and what things were like for him. But I suppose that's fine, isn't it.

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

by Michiko Aoyama

Hanover Square, 2023. 304 pages. Realistic fiction

What are you looking for?

This is the famous question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Like most librarians, Komachi has read every book lining her shelves—but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of her library guests. For anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it. Each visitor comes to her library from a different juncture in their careers and dreams, from the restless sales attendant who feels stuck at her job to the struggling working mother who longs to be a magazine editor. The conversation that they have with Sayuri Komachi—and the surprise book she lends each of them—will have life-altering consequences.

I may have a personal connection to this story in particular, since I am a librarian by profession. This brief book was lovely to read, with five separate yet interconnected stories who find inspiration and clarity in the library. I love when we see glimpses of the author's culture shine through the translation, as they did in this work. I do wish Aoyama had introduced us to Komachi and let us get to know her in a way beyond just her physical appearance. With its simple, digestible writing style, this made for a heartwarming and uplifting read that underscore the importance of libraries and literature.

Too Big for a Single Mind

Too Big for a Single Mind: How the Greatest Generation of Physicists Uncovered the Quantum World

by Tobias Hürter
Klett-Cotta, 2021. 398 pages. Nonfiction

There may never be another era of science like the first half of the twentieth century, when many of the most important physicists ever to live—Marie Curie, Max Planck, Wolfgang Pauli, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Ernst Schrödinger, Albert Einstein, and others—came together to uncover the quantum world: a concept so outrageous and shocking, so contrary to traditional physics, that its own founders rebelled against it until the equations held up and fundamentally changed our understanding of reality.
In cinematic, page-turning chapters, Hürter takes us back to this uniquely momentous and harrowing time, when war and revolution upended the lives of renegade scientists. Hürter reveals these brilliant thinkers anew, as friends and enemies, lovers and loners, and indeed, men and women just like us. Hürter compellingly casts quantum mechanics as a concept Too Big for a Single Mind—and its birth as a testament to the boundless potential of genius in collaboration.

Having a background in science, I had heard of all of these scientists and their discoveries. However, my formal education focused more on the interactions between the ideas, whereas Hürter here portrays them as real people, showing how their complex individual and professional lives interacted (and sometimes clashed). The writing is exquisite and flawless, which isn't always the case for work on scientific topics -- or for any narrative nonfiction, for that matter. If you're looking for a deep dive into the science, you might want to look elsewhere. On the other hand, you don't need any sort of prior knowledge to fully appreciate this work, making it quite accessible to the average reader. I'd recommend this to any nonfiction reader interested in science or history.

The Last One

The Last One

by Will Dean
Atria, 2023. 448 pages. Thriller

When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends. But when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing. And when she walks out into the corridor, all the cabin doors are open. To her horror, she soon realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, nobody but her. The Atlantica is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is the only person on board. But that’s just the beginning of the terrifying journey she finds herself trapped on in this white-knuckled mystery.

I loved the premise of this book. As an avid cruiser, I found myself drawn in and invested in this setting, even though there wasn't much reason to connect to the characters. None of them seemed to experience much character development or growth -- with perhaps the exception of some minor characters (but it turns out, they were plants all along, so that doesn't really count.) There was a sharp change in tone around the 35% mark: this book went from a thriller to a survival story bordering on horror, and that was unexpected to say the least. I also wish the pace were a bit quicker: for a thriller, there is an awful lot of reflecting and remembering that didn't seem to influence the plot at all. I was also a bit mystified by the ending: the way I understood it, she is set up again to be a contestant on another Dark Web broadcast show, but this time it's on a plane? It seems a bit too far-fetched for my taste. All thing considered, it gave me a lot to think about.