Megan

Clever Girl is a nonfiction book, a feminist examination of the original Jurassic Park movie. This one is a little off the beaten path for me, it was mentioned on a podcast I like and reminded me of my undergrad days and getting my concentration in women’s studies. I’m glad I read it and got to exercise a different part of my brain……and now I’m heading back to the land of fiction!

This was the January read for the Sword and Laser podcast. What a great book! In the near future, the UK has discovered time travel, and use it to bring “expats” from the past to the present. Our protagonist is a “bridge” (a person whose job it is to acclimate the expats to the present). This is part sci-fi, part thriller, part romance, and all really well done.

Also - I think it wills one of the more challenging prompts for Popsugar this year - A dystopian book with a happy ending

Finished my first book in 2025! Since I’m getting sucked into the Popsugar challenge, I decided to get what seems like the worst prompt out of the way - a book rated less than three stars on Goodreads. Plus this was an easy decision because as far as I can tell it was the ONLY book on my TBR that was rated under three stars?!? (I must have good/boring taste….)

This book is a dark academia thriller, and honestly I didn’t hate it. I was interested in the characters and while most of the plot was pretty predictable, there were a few fun moments in there. Might be a good rec if you have a tween/young teen reader who is into darker stories.

So do I know anyone who has ever done the Popsugar reading challenges? I heard about them this year and so I’m going to try to do the challenge for 2025. They give 50 prompts that you need to fill with 50 different books. We’ll see how it goes!!

Anyway…Akata Witch is the December read for the Sword and Laser podcast. I’m also using it to fill Popsugar prompt #14 “A book about a nontraditional education.” The book follows Sunny, a Nigerian girl born in America who is also albino. She and her family have returned to Nigeria to live and Sunny has a hard time fitting in. This both becomes better and worse when Sunny learns she is a Leopard person (a magical person). She finds her way to new friends and teachers and learns to take her place in this new world.

This has a lot in common with other magical coming-of-age stories (think Harry Potter, etc), but the setting and characters in this book are unique and fun to read. I especially enjoyed that the way to earn magic currency is to learn new things. In a few places some of the side characters seem a bit one-dimensional (maybe because the book is YA?), but generally a good read. I believe this is the first of a trilogy and I would like to read more!

Percy Jackson’s saga continues! I started this series because it was E’s favorite when he was younger, plus there is also a fun podcast bookclub to go along with it. This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far - as with Harry Potter the books get more interesting (to me) as the characters get older and the stakes get higher. I have high hopes for the final book!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is my 50th book for this year!! I may sneak in one more before the new year, but I sort of want to leave it here because 50 is a great number and this was a great book! E read it a while ago and recommended it to me, and I’m so glad he did.

In mid 1700s France, Adeline LaRue makes a deal with the devil. She wants to experience more of life and in exchange for her soul she is able to live as long as she wants…but there is a catch. She is unable to leave a mark in the world. People will interact with her, but once she leaves their sight she is forgotten. Until one day, nearly 300 years later….someone remembers her.

This is a really sweet story about love and loss and what makes life worth living. Highly recommend! (And, for those following at home, this fits for prompt 35 for the Popsugar reading challenge - a book centering LGBTQ characters that is not about coming out.)

5

This was my book recommended by a friend for this month. Now, has Sandy actually read this book? No. (At least, not last we talked about it.) But she heard about it from a friend and she thought I'd like and she's right!

Apparently I'm in my spacemance era, as this is my second (queer) spacemance book in a row! Ruthie is a space-faring con artist, and her newest mark is personal. She wants to get revenge on the man that broke her sister's heart. But of course nothing goes smoothly, and her mark's mysterious sister might be on to her....

This was a fun book, really mostly a thriller/heist story that happens to be set in space. Bonus points for the female focus (there are men, obviously, but all in minor roles). Almost through with this year - here's hoping that the book I've had on hold for MONTHS now comes through to be my December read! Then I'll be needing more recommendations!

This was a fun read to curl up with over this gloomy weekend! This book was suggested to me by Alana, and I was about 80% of the way through it when I remembered I had been meaning to save it for 2025 so I could use it in next year's friends recommendations! (Alana already claimed a month this year, with the excellent Ladyhoppers.) But I'm sure she'll be full of more good recommendations for next year (right??)!

The Stars Too Fondly is a spacemance, which is sci-fi's answer to romantasy. Cleo and her friends start out on a quest to break into the site of a failed spaceship that has been sitting empty for 20 years. While exploring, they manage to fire up the engines and send the ship off on it's original journey. Luckily, the captain of the original journey has programmed herself as a hologram on board the ship so they have help in figuring out what went wrong with the original plan, and of course how to get back home.....

I think this book did a great job balancing the sci-fi/action plot with the romance story, and I really enjoyed all the various plot lines. Just what I needed to help me escape reality for a weekend!

Woot! Another series finished! This was the third book of the Scholomance series. In this book we get to see our protagonist leave her magical school and confront the realities of the world outside (including a few prophecies/mysteries that have been floating around for most of the series). This book was really action from the very first page, it definitely kept me wanting to turn pages.

This has been a great, fun series, and a must-read if you're into the whole dark academia vibe. Landing the ending to a series is always difficult, but I'm 95% satisfied with how this one turned out. (It got a tiny bit too into the weeds about how some of the pieces of magic worked for my personal preference, and I was sad to “lose” the school as a major character in this book.) Strong recommend, and looking forward to reading more Naomi Novik!

It is always such a satisfying feeling to finish a series! This is the last book in the main Bridgerton series (yes there are prequel and side quests but we're just not going to count that at the moment). It follows the story of Gregory, the youngest brother, as he finds his way into adulthood. The story is fun, and full of many of the romance tropes that will all know and love, plus a few extra twists and turns. The story made me hope that the show actually makes it all the way through the books because Shonda will have a GREAT time with some of the things happening here.

If you, like me, have had the gumption to read all the way to Bridgertons #8, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

This was my October book recommended by a friend. Thanks, Julia and Andy, for the many great book recommendations you guys give me! I wanted to pick something fitting the spooky season, and this title seemed promising on that front.

This was a really fun mystery novel! I thought the framing device (the narrator is an author who writes books on how to write mystery novels...) was really fun, and of course the idea that everyone has killed someone is also a great twist. This is a book full of classic mystery themes modernized and lightly satirized. I almost (but not quite) guessed the reveal at the end, which felt pretty satisfying. I did get slightly confused along the way about who was who and how everyone was connected, but outside of that a pretty solid read.

This was my October read for the Sword and Laser podcast. This book is a fun read for the spooky season. As you can guess from the title, it takes place over the month of October, with a chapter for each day. (Apparently some people like to read it that way - one chapter for each day, so if that sounds good to you you'll have to put this on your calendar for next year??) Our protagonist for the book is a dog, which is also fun. Through his eyes we slowly learn about a “game” being played by a variety of humans and their animal companions.

If you are a fan of spooky season and/or other horror tropes, you should give this book a try. Spoiler alert - I am a spooky season Scrouge so I think a lot of this was lost on me. Clearly I am supposed to “get” who all the “players” are at some point (maybe? I think?), but alas I was lost on probably half of them (including the protagonist). I did figure out The Count, who sleeps in a coffin and has a bat companion, though! Despite this I did enjoy the story, so I'm not mad about it, just clearly a book that someone else would enjoy more than I did.

Continuing my re-read of The Dark Tower series, which still stands as my favorite series of all time. I guess the re-read is partially to check and see if that is still the case. Anyway, The Drawing of the Three is the second book, in which Roland gathers his group for his adventure. Whereas the Gunslinger (book one) is slightly more poetic/mystical/meditative, this book is action from the very first chapter. (The first chapter of this book is one of the scenes that has stuck with me for years after reading this the first time.)

It's Stephen King, so it is dark, but it is not horror. It combines elements of fantasy with the feeling of a Western. And it has its funny moments as well. This book begins the sense of connectedness among/between the characters and the different worlds they come from.

If you tried The Gunslinger and just couldn't make it through, there is an argument that you can start the series with this book as well. So, if that is you, maybe give this one a try!

The Last Graduate is the second book in the Scholomance trilogy. I had really enjoyed the first book during this summer, and I was looking forward to continuing this series (before I forgot everything that happened in the first book)!

The second installment was also quite enjoyable! I think middle-of-series books are harder to make more interesting - you're not fully in world-building mode, and you can't quite bring everything to a nice conclusion. However, my two favorite characters (the snarky, loner protagonist and the equally sarcastic school itself) both were able to continue to grow as characters, and able to throw a few curve balls as well. Both book one and book two end on cliffhangers, so I'm really glad that I started this series after it was finished because boy would I be mad if I had to wait to find out what happens next! I have a few other books in line but I think the third installment in this series will find its way into my hand relatively quickly.

I am on a reading spree, guys! This weekend I finished Chef's Choice, which is the sequel to Chef's Kiss, which I read a few weeks ago and really enjoyed. This book stars the roommate of the protagonist from the previous book, a trans woman who has just lost her job and is feeling down on her luck. She runs into a French trans man who has money spare and needs a pretend girlfriend for a few days. What could possibly go wrong??

I do really enjoy this author, with a combo of queer-friendly love stories (mildly spicy) and plenty of food/baking/cooking as part of the plot! I liked this one just a fraction less than the first, I think because it was so ridiculously too-good-to-be-true that it pulled me out of the plot a bit. But overall, great, I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

This was the September read for the Sword and Laser podcast. The book opens with our protagonist as one of the few humans left after aliens destroy the Earth. She lives on a small space station with a community of other humans who are determined to have revenge. This is one of those stories where you are dropped into the middle of action, and need to learn as you go along. I think the author uses this style particularly well, as you learn more about the world both through the author and also through the eyes and experiences of our protagonist.

This book explores ideas around brainwashing, radicalization and fascism in a way that is surprisingly enjoyable and fun to read. Initially our narrator is both unreliable and somewhat unlikeable, but just give her a chance to grow on you. Also think about reading this if you're a fan of parallel universes, time travel, and/or artificial intelligence.

I just finished the third book in the Percy Jackson series. This is one of the series I am reading along with a podcast. The third book seems to be where this series takes a turn to the slightly more serious. Percy again must travel across the country to help a friend (does this kid ever stay in one place??), and needs to contend with trying to understand more mysterious prophecies.

This book (and the series, so far) are fun and easy to read, and I'd definitely recommend it to any middle-grade readers near you (especially boys, especially neurodivergent boys). Also probably more fun for anyone with a working understanding of Greek mythology. I'm still waiting for it to really grab me, though. E tells me the 4th and 5th books are the best, so I'm excited to get started on the next one!

TA-DA! With this book, I met my book reading goal for 2024! I have said before and I'll say again, the one thing the pandemic was good for was getting me back into the habit of reading.

Anyway! The book that tipped me over the edge was Calamity, which is the final book in the Reckoners trilogy. We listened to the first book as a family on vacation at some point, and over the last year E and I have been listening to the rest while getting in his driving hours. He got his liscense with an hour left to go in the last audio book, and we finally finished it up driving out and back for his senior pictures.

The series follows the Reckoners, a group of humans who are trying to fight entities known as Epics. Epics used to be normal humans until a mysterious event called the Calamity gave them powers and also inevitably turned them evil. In this third book we learn the truth about Calamity as the Reckoners try to find a solution to undo what has been done.

I found this whole series to be fun and enjoyable. It is pitched for a YA audience but I still found it fun and engaging, and there were a few twists at the end of this that I did not see coming. E and I both agreed that the ending was pretty satisfying. Good book, good series, would be a great read for younger readers who are into Marvel/comics/superhero type stuff.

Chef's Kiss is my September book (well, author, really) recommended by a friend. Thanks, Lexi, for the most excellent recommendation! This is an extremely sweet (and mildly spicy) queer love story. Simone is a perfectionistic pastry chef whose world gets a bit more chaotic when she meets her kitchen's new manager. Then, the kitchen is in trouble and they have to work together to save it. I mean, romance PLUS baking?!? How could I not like this?? I sped through this book in about two days and I have the sequel waiting for me at the library as we speak. Need I say more?

The Wishing Game is my August book recommended by a friend. Although this may count as the most I have stretched to count a book as a recommendation?? Laura read this book a while ago, and if my memory serves, her review was not super glowing. BUT she compared it to The Westing Game, which is a book that holds a lot of affection in my heart, so I decided to count it as a recommendation and go from there. THEN, I was talking about books with the lovely Sarah, and she mentioned she owned this book, but could never really get into it and did I want her copy? So, despite a double lukewarm review, here I am, reading this book.

The premise of the book is fun - an eccentric, reclusive, author of an extremely popular series of children's books comes out of retirement and proposes a game to win the only copy of his latest book. Our protagonist is one of a lucky few invited to his private island to solve a series of puzzles/riddles to try to win the prize.

I saw a review of this book that called it “a middle grade book for grown ups,” and that is a really apt description. It reads young and whimsical but is clearly meant for adults? That style sat a bit oddly with me. Also, the lead-up/scene setting took way too long. Once everyone was on the island and the game was being played, I found the book pretty enjoyable and engaging. The ultimate outcome of the book was pretty clear about halfway through the book, but it was fun to read the twists and turns along the path to the ending.

This book was the August read for the Sword and Laser podcast. Set in what feels like ancient/mythical China, the bulk of the story follows two warriors who must free and return the Empress (who is also the moon) to her home. It is a story of battles and intrigue and the relationships between our warriors and the Empress. What makes this novel different is the story structure. While you are following the main story, you are also following the story of a magical theater which is showing a play of this story, and you are also in the personal life of one of the members of the audience in the play.

You know how some books are really easy and just fly by? Popcorn/beach reads? Yeah, this was not that. Which is not to say that the book was not good. It's just....thick. It took me a while to really get into the book, although once I was in I was invested. The prose is very pretty, and the unusual structure is a nice departure (although again requires a bit of concentration). I'm glad I read it, totally recommend it, just don't expect to fly through this one in a few days.

When the 3rd season of Bridgerton came out on Netflix a while ago, it reminded me that I hadn't yet finished reading the series. So I put in a hold for the book I was on, saw the waiting list was long, and then forgot about it for a bit. When it showed up (on Saturday), I contemplated waiting to download it as I had just started another book. Then I thought, “I mean, it's not going to take me THAT long to read, is it?” ......and I was finished before lunch on Sunday.

If you're not familiar with Bridgeton at all, it is a series of romance novels taking place in Regency England. (Think Jane Austen but much, much spicier.) Each book follows one of the 8 Bridgerton children, and in book 7 it is Hyacinth's turn. I enjoyed seeing Hyacinth in adulthood and there is no doubt Julia Quinn knows how to write. There was a fun added twist of mysterious lost jewels and otherwise it was good, but nothing really earth-shattering.

If you are only familiar with the show, the books are very worth reading - but be aware that the show adds A LOT of extra stuff. Extra characters, extra plots, extra everything. It is a rare series where I am able to enjoy both even though they are different from each other. They are fun, quick reads and I'm going to have to get #8 so I can be done!

Apostles of Mercy is the third book in the Noumena series (apparently intended to be five books). In this installment we continue to follow Cora, who is acting as the main interpreter/liaison for a group of aliens on Earth. While Cora is trying to figure out her relationships with both humans and aliens, there is more trouble brewing as another group of aliens is discovered.

Consistent with the first two books, this novel is action-packed. Drama, battles, explosions, espionage - you really want to keep turning the pages. I find the author's depictions of the aliens thought-provoking. Many times aliens are written basically as humans, but with horns or purple skin or whatever. If not that, then the other choice is just generic “monsters.” Sci fi where the authors really try to imagine truly alien intelligence is fascinating. (I think Arrival does a good job of this, and maybe also Project Hail Mary?) This series is trying to do that as well - and mostly succeeding.

Overall, fun read and a great series (I think I liked this book less than the first but more than the second).

Mirrored Heavens is the third (and final!) book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy. If you are not familiar, this is a fantasy series set in what feels like the Indigenous Americas. The book uses multiple points of view to follow the leaders of various clans who are fighting for power. By the time we get to the third book, the real battle is between a few of the gods and their human vessels.

This book (and series) is really, really wonderful. It has it all? Original world-building. A suspenseful plot. Delightful prose. But the strongest point are the complex characters. There are many characters, but not so many as to be confusing. And no one is one-dimensional. You might want to separate them into “good guys” and “bad guys,” but it's very hard to do. And yet, it all resolves at the end. Ending a series is a tough thing to do well, but this one managed it.

Strong recommend! I think the first book (Black Sun) is the best, but the other two are very very good as well. Totally worth reading, and now the trilogy is done so it's binge-able as well.

Cursed Bunny was the July read for the Sword and Laser podcast. This book is a collection of short stories originally written in Korean and then translated to English. The stories cover a variety of genres/themes, although most of them land somewhere in the horror/fantasy/sci-fi zone. They are all creepy and dark in some way.

I have to say this was not really for me. Intellectually I can appreciate the work and the message of many of the stories, and a couple of them did grab me. Many of the other stories, though, my response was something like: “Huh. That was weird.” This would be a great choice for a literature class (I know there are lots of interesting metaphors hanging out in there!) - but not something I would just pick up for fun. Your mileage may vary, though! If stories of talking feces and murderous lamps seem up your alley- this could be the book for you!