(A) means I listened to it.
(RR) means I re-read it.
(P) means I read it on paper.
I link titles to Powell’s Books if they carry them. I will often link to an edition other than the one I read. If Powell’s doesn’t have it, I will link to Amazon. These are not affiliate links.
I also log my reading on StoryGraph. I’m KarenD there. Feel free to friend (or follow) me. Once in a while I add spoilers to my reviews there in addition to what I write on this page (using spoiler tags there, of course).
January 1, 2024 to Now: (latest finished on top)
Melissa (previously published as GEORGE), Alex Gino
This is exactly the sort of book MAGAts are challenging in Idaho libraries. I’m sure none of them have read it. I of course liked it a lot. There were some uncomfortable parts, in the way that middle school can be uncomfortable, but they rang true.
Bringing Down the Duk,e Evie Dunmore
I think this is a good historical romance, though some of the elements may be too realistic for me at this particular time in my life.
We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian
I’m not sure if I’ve read 1950s historical romance before, much less a gay. I liked this one.
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good, Helene Thurston
Picked this based on the title from a list of books that would meet the requirements for a reading challenge. Wasn’t quite prepared for what the “no good” involved but did like the stories.
Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Loved how direct this is and how good the ideas are.
Never Seduce a Scot, Maya Banks
A quick enjoyable read despite a few upsetting moments. Ended rather abruptly.
The Protest Singer, Alec Wilkinson (P)
Just the right amount of information. Scary to think that if the US election this fall goes to the GOP, we might see a revival of the House Un-American Activities Committee like the one Mr. Seeger was called in front of.
Redirect, Timothy D. Wilson
Often this was a slog for me. Same points made repeatedly (though about different programs/approaches). I was looking for more practical advice on how to use the story editing technique in my own life.
The Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, Sarah Hawley
This one grabbed me from the start. Enough fantasy so I didn’t question things but real stakes.
Children of the Whales, Vol. 1, Abi Umeda (P)
I believe this is the first manga I’ve read. I knew from the Japanese quilting magazines I perused back in the day how to read “back to front” and right to left otherwise I might have been more confused. I don’t think I’m going to check the other volumes out of the library; it wasn’t a bad story, just not for me, I think.
All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rouge Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Martha Wells (RR)
Time for these comfort re-reads. (Didn’t quite read them back to back to back but close enough to group them this way here.)
A Little Kissing Between Friends, Chencia C. Higgins
Had a struggle getting into this one and wasn’t sure it was for me … I couldn’t keep the characters straight (one has three names she’s called), I don’t know the slang, I’m just not cool enough. But I persevered and it turned out fine, along with giving me a peek into a part of the world I don’t see in my regular life.
Naked at Our Age, Joan Price (P)
Bought this in paper because I wanted to support the local business I stopped in at on a trip. It turned out to be really good. I liked the mix of personal stories and advice from professionals. I liked the breadth of topics covered. I might need to read the author’s earlier book, too.
Every Last Breath, Juno Rushdan
If this weren’t for a reading challenge, I probably would have abandoned it, as it is not for me, being too heavy on the suspense/thrills/violence and too light on the romance for my tastes.
Just Past Two, Elia Winters
At first, this read sort of clunky to me, with awkward narration, but that faded as the action heated up.
Fix Her Up, Tessa Bailey
A contemporary romance that worked for me pretty darn well.
Chasing Cassandra, Lisa Kleypas
One of those books that made me pretty much ignore the other books I was reading. Lisa Kleypas is good at writing romance novels. (Where’s that t-shirt?)
I Love Myself When I Am Laughing … And Then Again When I Am Mean & Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader, Zora Neal Hurston, edited by Alice Walker
I am glad there was some context provided to help me understand the original works. I could have done with a glossary, too, for some of the vernacular.
Stolen Desire, Robin Lovett
More than once I had to stop and ask myself “what the heck are you reading here?” I always kept going, though.
Suddenly You, Lisa Kleypas (RR)
Picked this for a re-reading challenge because it came up in another context, and I was about to put it on my “to read” list when I noticed I’d already read it, but that was back in 2007 so I remembered pretty much nothing about it. It grabbed me again. I feel like I probably felt more empathy for one of the secondary characters this time through, but can’t confirm since my notes from 2007 don’t address that situation.
Repeat, Kylie Scott
Contemporary romance is not my go to, but this one worked pretty well for me.
More Than Two, Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert
As I’ve widened my social circle in retirement, I’ve met some people who are poly. Picked up this book to get more insight into that style of relationship. I found it slow going to read, then found some postings online about abuse allegations against the male co-author, so put it down for quite a while. Finally decided to finish it because it seems to be a foundational text in the area.
Any Old Diamonds, KJ Charles
This went some places I didn’t expect. I liked it.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse , Natalie Caña
I pretty much put the other books I was reading on hold to finish this one, so that’s a good indication of how much I liked it.
The Kingmaker, Kennedy Ryan
Read this for a StoryGraph challenge. Wish I’d known how it ended (spoiler in content warnings over on StoryGraph). Guess that’s on me for not doing more research, but it came from source that generally doesn’t recommend books with that sort of ending, so I let my guard down. The story is good, though too rooted in current events for me to fully enjoy (current events are pretty depressing, and I prefer not to deal with them in my pleasure reads).
Dare to Love a Duke, Eva Leigh
Heroine had a job unlike in any other historical I’ve read. Ending stretched my credulity a bit.
The Beast of Beswick, Amalie Howard
I appreciate being able to escape into a historical even when maybe the history parts aren’t quite accurate. I’ve put the next book on my TBR as I’m curious to see how it meshes with this one.
The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest to Be a Better Husband, David Finch
This has been on my virtual TBR pile for literally years; finally circled back around and found a library I have access to with the ebook. The emphasis here is on memoir, and I think I was originally hoping for more an actual guide to best practices. That’s on me.
Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit
As with most collections, some of the essays resonated more for me than others. Glad I read it despite the sometimes challenging material.
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, Sarah MacLean
I raced through the first three-quarters of this then stalled out, and I’m not sure why. Maybe because as I got closer to the end, I couldn’t see how things could be wrapped up in the pages remaining, and indeed they weren’t. The HEA is there, yes, but some big questions remain. Perhaps those will be touched on in later books in the series.
Set on You, Amy Lea
Took me a while to finish this, which is a me problem, not the book’s fault. Contemporaries are harder for me, and this is one, and some of the content was uncomfortable for me (body issue stuff).
Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD, Jesse J. Anderson
I found it quite appropriate that it took me a long time to finish this rather short book because a) I got distracted by other books and b) two separate times it disappeared from my Kindle because I failed to notice that my library loan period had expired before I connected to wifi and I had to get back on the hold list. Some of this was stuff I already knew, of course, but there were a few moments when I felt really validated about why I struggle to do things sometimes.
A Rogue by Any Other Name, Sara MacLean
Liked this so much that I neglected my other books in progress until I was done.
The Duke Gets Desperate, Diana Quincy
Continuing to enjoy Diana Quincy books.
Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us, George Zaidan
Don’t ignore the chemistry part of the subtitle; if that science is not your thing, some of this book will be a challenge. Also don’t miss reading the footnotes, as some of them are rather entertaining. I learned a few things about science and headlines but not much about what to do about my diet, which I guess wasn’t what this book was about necessarily.
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles
Mmm, yes.
The Marquess Makes His Move, Diana Quincy
Figured I might as well finish the series, though now I’m sad I’ve finished the series because I really like it.
The Viscount Made Me Do It, Diana Quincy (RR)
This held up for me on a re-read.
Her Night With the Duke, Diana Quincy
Loved this. Did not see how the hero and heroine were going to make it work (though knowing they would made that bearable to read). Wanted more of the world so started re-reading the second book in the series (which I read first) pretty much right away.
Storm’s Heart, Thea Harrison
Enjoyed this almost as much as the first book in the series. Read the teaser for the next one that was included and not as sure about that but will probably pick it up at some point.
Mothertrucker: Finding Joy on the Loneliest Road in America, Amy Butcher
Oof. I should have checked content warnings on this one before I read it. Still would have read it probably but would have been able to armor myself a bit first. I picked it up during a time I’d read a couple other books about long haul trucking then it sat on my Kindle for a while so I’d forgotten anything I knew about it other than the trucking part. I’m glad I finally read it but it had some tough spots for me emotionally.
Dragon Bound, Thea Harrison
Sometimes a plot is just so out there that it just busts right through my tendency to question every little thing. I sped through this and added the rest of the series to my TBR.
Flowers from the Storm, Laura Kinsale
For me, this had too much frustration and deceit.
Krampusnacht, Imani Joy
Super quickie that I wished for more of.
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