To Read or Not To Read

From concept to execution, Hendrix had me absolutely hooked. I so enjoyed reading this book, from scanning the fun chapter openers that featured furniture design, to wondering if the characters were even going to make it out of the store alive. Definitely a fun read, I highly recommend for the experience. Grady Hendrix is a novelist and screenwriter based in New York City. He is the Bram Stoker Award winning author of Paperbacks from Hell , and the Shirley Jackson and Locus Award nominated author of Horrorstör , My Best Friend's Exorcism, and We Sold Our Souls , which have received critical praise from outlets like NPR, the Washington Post , Wall Street Journal , Los Angeles Times , A.V. Club, Paste, Buzzfeed, and more. He has contributed to Playboy , The Village Voice, and Variety . You can find him online at GradyHendrix.com . You can find more of my reviews of his work here .  Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, empl

So excited to review my first historical romance, and a "blind date with a book" pick from a local indie— Ana María and the Fox ! Liana De la Rosa's first book in the Luna Sisters series centers the eldest sister, Ana María, as she attempts to do right by her family but falls in love with Gideon Fox, a politician who has spent his career working to end slavery—a love match in the making! While there was a lot that I enjoyed, like the characters and their motivations and how De la Rosa starts to set up the future books within these pages, I ultimately felt that the pacing did not work in the story's favor.  Liana De la Rosa is a historical romance author who writes diverse characters in the Regency and Victorian periods. Liana has an English degree from the University of Arizona, and in her past life she owned a mystery shopping company and sold pecans for a large farm. When she's not writing, Liana is listening to true crime podcasts and pretending she's a dom

If I had to pick only three romance writers to read for the rest of my life, Kate Clayborn has cemented herself in my mind for placement on this list (don't ask me to choose the other two just yet though). Beginner's Luck is, I believe, her first published novel, and it's just as beautiful, heartfelt, smart, and real as all the others of hers I read so far. I can't wait for the other two books in the series to print in paperback so I can fall even more in love with Kate's storytelling!   Kate Clayborn lives in Virginia, where she's luck enough to spend her days reading and talking about all kinds of great books. At home, she's either writing, thinking about writing, or—during long walks around her fabulous neighborhood—making her handsome husband and sweet-faced dog listen to her talk about writing. Kate loves to hear from and connect with readers—follow her on Twitter, on Instagram, and on Facebook. Visit her at  kateclayborn.com  to sign up for her newslet

I think Talia Hibbert covers it all her in Goodreads review, but I would be remiss not to add my own (less brilliantly articulated) praise for Seven Days in June , because this book deserves all the hype and love! A beautiful and heart-wrenching novel that depicts chronic illness, motherhood/generational trauma, a steamy second-chance romance, and just plain old growing up, there's something for everyone between these pages!  Tia Williams had a fifteen-year career as a beauty editor for magazines including Elle, Glamour, Lucky, Teen People, and Essence . In 2004, she pioneered the beauty-blog industry with her award-winning site, Shake Your Beauty. She wrote the bestselling debut novel The Accidental Diva  and penned two young adult novels, It Chicks and Sixteen Candles . Her award-winning novel The Perfect Find  is being adapted by Netflix for a film starring Gabrielle Union. Tia is currently an editorial director at Estée Lauder Companies and lives with her daughter and her husba

Angie Kim's sophomore novel is a gripping mystery/thriller, about more than just the disappearance of one family's father. While that remains at the center of the story, what swirls around it—including philosophical discussions of happiness, searing looks at human connection and ability, and a not-always-pleasant analysis of family history—creates and unforgettable portrait of a novel.  Angie Kim moved as a preteen from Seoul, South Korea, to the suburbs of Baltimore. After graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, she studied philosophy at Stanford University and attended Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review . Her debut novel, Miracle Creek , won the Edgar Award, the ITW Thriller Award, the Strand Critics Award, and the Pinckley Prize and was named one of the best books of the year by Time , The Washington Post , Kirkus Reviews , and the Today show. Angie Kim lives in northern Virginia with her family. You can find her online at angiekimbooks.c

Maru Ayase's The Forest Brims Over is a lush yet concise look at gender dynamics in marriage, domesticity, love, and consent. Told in a mere 194 pages, this is the type of story that will haunt you, in more ways than one.  Maru Ayase  has published eighteen books, many of which have been finalists for major awards in Japan. The Forest Brims Over is her first title to be translated into English.  Haydn Trowell  is an Australian literary translator of modern and contemporary Japanese fiction. His translations include Love at Six Thousand Degrees by Maki Kashimada and the forthcoming title The Rainbow  by Yasunari Kawabata.  Nowatari Rui has long been the subject of her husband's novels, depicted as a pure woman who takes great pleasure in sex. With her privacy and identity continually stripped away, she has come to be seen by society first and foremost as the inspiration for her husband's art. When a decade's worth of frustrations reaches its boiling point, Rui consumes a