Mr. McCane

I can’t count how many movies I’ve watched or books I’ve read about World War II. Adolf Hitler was a horrible person, and unfortunately, because of that, we have an unlimited amount of horror stories about death and survival. What I haven’t seen before is a perspective from France or one told through the eyes of women. Welp, that was until I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

In this book, we follow two sisters who take very different paths to survival. These are awful times, so the author includes some truly graphic and disturbing scenes, so check your triggers.

This book really takes you on an emotional roller coaster. I loved and hated the main characters at different points. There’s also a love story mixed in and a really satisfying ending. I waited until Women’s History Month to read this one, and these two ladies kicked ass.

I know there are mixed reviews on this one, and I understand both sides. I’ve read that it isn’t historically accurate and that there are plot holes. However, as someone who isn’t from France, I still enjoyed it.

Wow, just wow! This book was fascinating and arrived right on time for me. There is so much history in these pages that I’m calling it a must-read for anyone interested in Black history. It’s incredibly thorough. I took my time reading it because it’s packed with knowledge. There are sticky notes on damn near every page of my hardcover.

We first learn about David Ruggles, who ran the country’s first known Black-owned bookstore in the 1800s, along with so many other pioneers. I mean, it’s loaded with nuggets.

I have always known about the government’s attempts to silence Black leaders, but I didn’t realize the extent of what was done to Black bookstores and their owners.

Author Char Adams did an amazing job; you can tell she likely spent years on research alone.

I am currently at war with my local Barnes & Noble over how they never have new releases from popular Black authors, or how they refuse to put up displays for Black History Month. Since February 6, 2026, I’ve only shopped at Black-owned bookstores and indie bookstores that support our authors.

One of the best things about this book is in the back. there’s a list of all active Black-owned bookstores.

My only critique is that the book felt a little dry at times. I listened to the audiobook while reading along with the physical copy. The narrator, Shayna Small, did an outstanding job, but at times it read more like a textbook.

Here’s a quote:

“Toni Morrison joined Random House as an editor in 1967 and immediately got to work. Random House published more than two dozen books by Black authors during Morrison’s sixteen years with the company. After she left, that number dwindled, with Random House publishing just two books by black authors between 1984 and 1990–one of which was Morrison’s own book Beloved.” 😡

Well, damn! I’m a mood reader, and I was really in the mood for a quick horror fix. I ended up receiving a beautiful book in the mail, which came at just the right moment. This novella is just over a hundred pages, so I dove right in. I also purchased the audiobook for a more immersive read. The first page hooked me.

This book is a mind f*ck. We follow a guy named Jason who wakes up in a hotel room, apparently after having been attacked. He doesn’t know who he is or how he got there. All he knows is that every clock reads 10:41 and that he has to make it to a meeting.

For most of the book, nothing made sense, and I was just as confused as Jason. Although there wasn’t much of a traditional storyline, Jason meets people along the way who make this read highly entertaining. There was no chance of me putting the book down until I figured out what was going on.

There were a lot of sick and gross scenes, which I enjoyed; however, I didn’t like all the genital references.

I enjoyed the ending, though, and it was good to see everything come together. Solly Vo did an amazing job narrating it. He has the perfect voice for this. I enjoyed the read.

My main issue is that I wanted to know more about Jason. Who is he? I could’ve used another 50 pages. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

A friend gifted me this book because of my love for memoirs. I’ve lost a lot of love for Tiffany Haddish over the years because of the terrible 2014 comedy sketch with Aries Spears titled “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes.” Despite that, I thought I would give it a shot. I even purchased the audiobook so I could hear it in her own voice.

This book came out in 2017, a few months after the release of the movie Girls Trip. I can say there were some heartbreaking moments, and I laughed twice. She had a tough childhood, and I admire how she stayed true to herself. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say there were more cringey moments than anything else.

After reading a lot of other people’s reviews, I can see that the Roscoe joke pissed many people off. (She basically made fun of a physically disabled person for an entire chapter.) But for me, that wasn’t what bothered me the most. She came across as very immature and a little annoying.

I didn’t hate the book, but I damn sure didn’t love it. In this memoir, she promised to lay it all out and tell it all. However, she failed to mention anything about engaging in the sexual exploitation and grooming of minors. I couldn’t wait for it to end. I say let’s meet in the middle. Two and a half stars.

This book takes us back to the beginning of when COVID hit. There was a ton of hatred in America directed at people of Asian descent, specifically Chinese Americans. In this story, we follow Cora Zeng. After being called a bat-eater, she witnesses the murder of her sister. While trying to process this trauma, she takes a job cleaning gruesome crime scenes in Chinatown. Several months pass without an arrest, and Cora finds it difficult to keep herself together. She’s also seeing what she believes are ghosts. While working these crime scenes, she notices that the victims are all Asian women and that bat carcasses are present.

This was a great read. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but it was certainly unexpected. For me, the real horror wasn’t the ghosts, it was everyday Americans. The book made me reflect on how we currently live alongside individuals who would treat others in such a cruel manner. For many Americans, this country itself can feel like a horror story. I’ll never forget the treatment of Muslims after 9/11, the treatment of Chinese Americans after COVID-19 hit, the current treatment of Hispanic people, the treatment of Haitians last year, the treatment of Indigenous Americans in their own country, and the historical treatment of Black people since the dawn of time.

The only thing I disliked was that the book dragged a little in places; however, I absolutely loved the author’s note.

This short story is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who meet at eight years old while living in a shelter. They spent four months as roommates before losing touch, only to cross paths several times throughout their adult lives. Each time reveals how differently they remember their past.

What I enjoyed most was how Toni Morrison deliberately withholds the characters’ races. That omission shifts the burden onto the reader. It’s a brilliant experiment. By the end, I thought I had it figured out. That was until I read a review from a white reader whose interpretation was completely different. That’s when I realized the point of the book. We are being forced to rely on assumptions, biases, and cultural stereotypes to figure out which girl is black and which is white.

This was genius writing! This is the only short story Tony Morrison ever published, and it made me want to work through her entire catalog.

If you’re listening to the audiobook, I recommend reading the story first, then going back to hear the introduction by Zadie Smith. It adds context for sure, but I think you’ll appreciate it more once you’ve formed your own interpretation.

So I picked up this book because I half-read the synopsis and completely misjudged what it was about. I thought it centered on a woman working in the late 90s early 2000s hip-hop magazine industry, and I was expecting tons of references to artists and music from that era. That’s not what I got, but honestly, I’m glad. I got an entire experience instead. If I had fully understood the synopsis, I might have skipped it. That would’ve been a mistake.

This story follows Nikki Rose, who begins her career in a white-dominated fashion magazine industry, where she’s forced to hear things like, “Black girls don’t sell magazines.” From there, she works her way up to become editor-in-chief of an urban, male-dominated hip-hop industry. And that’s where we meet characters like Alonzo Griffin, an unapologetic, sexiest monster.

Nikki finds herself in some incredibly dangerous situations, surrounded by the worst manipulative and predatory people. The story is engaging and difficult to put down. Yes, she makes several frustrating decisions that had me shaking my head, but she’s human, so I gave her a break. Plus, she touched my heart.

I loved how the author kept bringing up the importance of Black women’s hair. The politics, its perception, and the pressure for it to look a certain way in order to be deemed “acceptable.” It made the book seem so realistic. It’s a very important topic that doesn’t receive enough talk. Same with how the industry is full of male-dominated spaces with idiots who hide behind power and influence. This book forced me to sit back and really reflect on how difficult it was, and still is for women, especially Black women. The storytelling was great. I felt as if I worked there.

Shout out to the narrator, Kristolyn Lloyd. She did amazing!

Wow, what an experience. This is another standout psychological thriller from my new favorite suspense author. The Trainer is the final installment in the Red Series, but the books can be read in any order.

This collaboration is a trio I didn’t know I needed: Tanisha Stewart delivers with her amazing writing, elevated by dual narration from Drama Simpson and JR Mason. Together, they’re a powerhouse. Their performances kept me fully invested and on edge from beginning to end.

I don’t do spoilers, so I’ll just give you a bite instead of the whole sandwich. The story follows two women, Latifa and Adele, who join forces to stop a manipulative and abusive man named Alonzo. Be advised: the novel deals heavily with domestic violence, so check your triggers before diving in.

At just 197 pages, this book packs a serious punch. It’s fast-paced, tightly plotted, and delivers a few sharp twists. The ending, in particular, was deeply satisfying.

I highly recommend the audiobook for the full experience, it even includes a bonus chapter from narrator JR Mason that I’m now always looking forward to.

So far, I’ve read The Hitchhiker, The Bridesmaid, The Babysitter, and now The Trainer. I’ve loved every single one. I will be recommending the book for a long time.