New month, new book thread! My first read of May was The Reinvented Detective, edited by Cat Rambo & Jennifer Brozek (narrated by Sierra Kline & Perry Daniels).
A beautifully diverse and inclusive collection of sci-fi mysteries.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0cf78848-7d59-4310-91c0-b92890b9a852
Book 2 was A Well Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy, written and read by Tia Levings.
After growing up in purity culture, Tia finds herself married to an abusive, controlling man. She has a whole quiver full of children before leaving him and restarting her life.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/8637a616-92d3-4416-8e8c-7bd767258d10?redirect=true
Book 3 was Changing the Game by J.J. Mulder (narrated by Liam DiCosimo & Iggy Toma).
When NHL player Troy meets intern Sam, they’re instantly drawn to one another. A low-angst queer love story.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/29f7c7d4-b4b3-4982-9975-16053db8166c
Book 4 was Good Writing is Like Good Sex: Sort of Sexy Thoughts on Writing by C.S. Johnson (narrated by Faith Moore).
Good writing is like good sex: permissible only between one man and one woman who are legally married in the eyes of God. Wait, hang on.
I wish I were kidding, but alas…
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/a821ed6e-355f-4784-b7e9-72af80217b5c?redirect=true
Book 5 was Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne (narrated by Jessica Threet).
It’s nearly time for Reyna and Kianthe’s big day. Between unexpected parents, misbehaving dragon babies, and one unplanned royal coup, nothing’s quite going to plan.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b67e00c1-8414-4713-93a9-9ed3e8c7a315
Book 6 was Cut to the Feeling by A.J. Truman & M.A. Wardell (narrated by Greg Boudreaux & Kevin Earlywine).
Bryce comes home from work to find his boyfriend has moved out. His day gets even worse when Emerson shows up and says he’s the new tenant.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/18f6972a-c6ce-4bde-bb0f-2f0ac109a7bd
Book 7 was All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks (narrated by January LaVoy).
A look at all the different forms of love and all the ways society teaches us to minimise and dismiss them.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/549a8cce-2558-4d97-af0a-7c7e8d12c8ac
Book 8 was Machines of Consent by Sophia Turner (narrated by Autumn Wolff).
Jess is a scientist working a device that measures consent. One of her test subjects, Roh, isn’t just a fascinating person, she’s also a medical oddity.
A T4T cyberpunk romance.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/machines-of-consent-1
Book 9 was Crossing the Touchline by Jay Hogan (narrated by Gary Furlong).
It’s hard not to compare this to Rachel Reid’s work. That sets a high bar, so when I say this book measures up, please understand that’s high praise.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/crossing-the-touchline-1
Book 10 was Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (narrated by Kevin R. Free).
Murderbot has left Mensah and co behind (for now). It’s off on a quest to uncover hidden details of its own past.
This was my third read of an old favourite.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9b5995fc-5fa1-4d89-9936-f769158ad575
Book 11 was The Burnt Toast B&B by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz (narrated by Dorian Bane & Tobias Silversmith).
A deceptively nuanced romance with a trans MC, a challenge to toxic masculinity, and a redemption arc. Outstanding.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/the-burnt-toast-b-b-1
Book 12 was Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement by Ashley Shew (narrated by Maria Pendolino).
The author asks us to envision a world where disability is accommodated in whatever way works best for each and every disabled person.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/400e62e9-84ac-458b-874f-ce4d4b63663b
Book 13 was You Had Me At Happy Hour by Timothy Janovsky (narrated by Mark Sanderlin).
Love seeing a romance between people with sensory differences and complex needs. If you loved Each Reid’s Tough Guy, this one’s for you.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/035f7a80-43d5-492c-b05f-65f4bf628fa3
Book 14 was Love, Loss & Life: Real Stories from the AIDS Pandemic by Paul Coleman (narrated by Anita Dobson, Elexi Walker, Christopher Ashman, Kay Eluvian).
Survivors share their stories of living with HIV/AIDS. Powerful, moving, and filled with hope.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/love-loss-life
Book 15 was Luminous by Silvia Park (narrated by JiaLing Pan).
There is so much about this that screams me: a trans MC, sci-fi mystery, questions of robot personhood. But this is the lit-ficciest lit fic.
Not every book is for every reader and that’s okay.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/luminous-29
Book 16 was Antarctica by Katherine Rupley (narrated by Angela Dawe).
Ten women in isolation in Antarctica, preparing for life on Mars. Everything’s going wrong – is it coincidence or sabotage?
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/antarctica-53
Book 17 was The Paper Boys by D.P. Clarence (narrated by Sam Stafford & Luke R. Francis).
I love this grumpy/sunshine pair (ironic name included). And the side characters are delightful. Absolutely adorable!
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/88d082df-bc01-4c34-8ef1-4a6e3334774a
Book 18 was Magica Riot by Kara Buchanan (narrated by Emma Martello).
Coming out of the closet, joining a band, and becoming a magical fighter … Claire’s having quite a day.
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/magica-riot-1
Book 19 was Up Close and Personal by Jay Hogan (narrated by Gary Furlong).
One-and-done meets long-term-only🌞🌑
An adorable giant dog 🐶
A slight case of murder 🔫
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/up-close-and-personal-36
Book 20 was This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman (narrated by Kristen Sieh).
Take a load of fairy tales and chuck ‘em in a blender. A gender-bendy blender.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/98373ee6-da8b-41db-accb-b8d30c4fada5?redirect=true
Book 21 was Zero Pucks by E.M. Lindsey (narrated by Iggy Toma & Kirt Graves).
Drunken wedding💍
Traumatised x2
Bros being bros … for good🥊
Disability rep🧑🦽➡️
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/zero-pucks
Book 22 was Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People’s Council for Nine Thousand Worlds by Darkly Lem (narrated by Dion Graham).
Complex, multiverse-spanning literary speculative fiction.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9f3c71fa-f20f-4ed9-a630-7524cdd36ff1?redirect=true
Book 23 was Geoffrey the Very Strange by Angel Martinez (narrated by Dan Calley).
Pink-haired half demon meets weird loner necromage. Found family, one slightly evil ex, and an invasion of zombie rocks. Good fun!
Very short review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0ca46b98-e25e-4ec5-8cb2-d11407e3a26b
Book 24 was Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao (narrated by Nicky Endres & Natalie Naudus).
Getting over their exes together 👩❤️👩
Trans MC 🏳️⚧️
BIPOC leads ✅
Workers of the world, unite 🤛
Get it in #KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/make-room-for-love
Book 25 was The Lost World of the Dinosaurs: Uncovering the Secrets of the Prehistoric Age by Armin Schmitt (narrated by Shaun Grindell).
I enjoyed the chapter that walks through the mathematical calculations of how many T-rexes ever lived.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2485e2f5-93df-43b2-b9a1-799c84a444e4?redirect=true
Book 26 was Platform Decay by Martha Wells (narrated by Kevin R. Free).
The worst (best?) thing about Murderbot is I always get so absorbed in its reactions to people, places, and things – any nouns, really. Anyways, I inevitably lose track of what’s happening.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/00d63125-209e-4e5f-aa90-312915d089ee
Book 27 was Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner (narrated by Zim Avaltrades & Dana Varden).
Undiagnosed ADHD x undiagnosed autism 🧠
RR’s Time to Shine but make it sapphic football 👩❤️👩⚽️
Idiots to lovers (but sleeping together the whole time) 💕
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/fac87596-210c-4012-ba44-11893b104252
Book 28 was Bromantasy by Máire Roche (narrated by Mark Sanderlin).
Idiots to lovers (but still idiots) 💕
And they were roommates 🛏️
Accidental quest 🐴
Adorably vicious baby dragon🐲
Phteven 🤣
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4676934c-8e00-4182-babc-d7c39d9d57bf?redirect=true
Book 29 (and my final for May) was Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler (narrated by Emily Beresford).
Favourite quote: Without the idea of gender, there would be no gender at all.
Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c4980648-5a54-4443-bffc-8b7544e8a25a
Shouty person