2026 book 57

 Amy Spalding’s In Her Spotlight

This was a very cute lesbian romance involving a woman who’s famous for being in superhero movies, and she’s taken a role in a play to try and pivot her career. But when the director is fired for being a creep, and the replacement director is a woman whose heart she broke years ago, what will happen! I did like this a lot, though all of the third act conflict is super contrived and annoying. There is a great pug, at least! This is the fourth book in a series but aside from one very minor character who I’m guessing is the protagonist of one of the other books, it works fine as a standalone. I might try one of the others, as I enjoy reading about both Hollywood and lesbians. Lol. A-.

2026 book 56

 Laurie Frankel’s Enormous Wings

I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read by Frankel, and I was into this one at first—a seventy-seven year old Jewish woman’s children move her into a retirement community—the same one where her ex husband lives—where she makes friends and falls for her neighbor. But then she discovers she’s pregnant! And because she lives in Texas in our current times, it’s all very fraught. I loved the protagonist and her relationships with her children and grandchildren, and I did like the end a lot, but I had mixed feelings about how the political message was conveyed. It was all too satirical or something. Frankel does family stuff so well, but this didn’t entirely work for me. B+.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 5th.

2026 book 55

 Portia Elan’s Homebound

What a beautiful story. It’s set in three different times, with three different protagonists (all are Jewish women)—one in 1983, a college student whose uncle has just died of AIDS; one in the near future, a scientist working to restore ecosystems; and one in the far future, who captains a rundown ship and takes on some unusual passengers to pay a debt. All are compelling on their own, but once they start to come together… chef’s kiss. I was pretty teary by the end, but in a sort of nice way? The main message here is the importance of community and I’m here for it. Highly recommend. A.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 5th.

2026 book 54

 Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club

Reread for book club, and I’d forgotten how much I like this book! Really solid mysteries and great characters, lots of time developing everyone and a good mix of narrative voices. This did kick off a wave of wacky/cozy British mysteries but I don’t think any others have grabbed me like this. Now I wish the Netflix movie had been a miniseries to see it justice.

2026 book 53

 Ann Leckie’s Radiant Star

Interesting new novel set in the world of the Imperial Raadch, focusing on a small and isolated planet rife with religious squabbles and politics. The narrative voice is sort of a dryly funny academic type, which I enjoyed. There are a lot of different characters, so I will say there isn’t a lot of /momentum/ in the story. But it all comes together in a cool way. I don’t think this will be as popular as some of Leckie’s other works, but I liked it. A-.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in May.

2026 book 52

 Rachel Neumeier’s Bereket

I DO love the books in the Tuyo-verse! This one features a secondary character from Rihasi, the titular Bereket, a clever mercenary. The other POV character is an Ugaro warrior from a tribe that hates the Lau (this is related to the events of Nikoles but the book works fine as a standalone). Anyway, both are involved in the same complicated story from different angles (false accusations, people on the run, unraveling mysteries, etc) and it’s interesting as a reader to see the pieces come together until both stories meet up. I was slightly more partial to the Ugaro POV, I just like their community a lot. The Bereket half had some pacing that didn’t always work for me, but there were also a lot of sort of heists that were very fun? Anyway, another very satisfying story, and I was especially intrigued by the way religion and the gods came into play. Truly some cool world building. A/A-.

2026 book 51

 Rachel Neumeier's Rihasi

The latest book in the Tuyo-verse is out soon, and I believe it's a prequel involving a character from this book, which was a perfect excuse to reread it! It's one of my faves in this world, involving a woman on the run, determined to bring her corrupt and powerful family to justice, accompanied by a mercenary as her bodyguard. Also, they gradually fall for each other because they are both highly competent and decent people who respect each other!!! Romantic!!!! Just a super satisfying story with an end that makes me tear up. 

2026 book 50

 AG Slatter’s The Crimson Road

I hadn’t read this one before—it just came out last year—but I’m glad I reread the others first! I’d say all the others work fine as standalones, but this revisits characters from The Path of Thorns, All the Mumuring Bones, and The Briar Book of the Dead, so definitely read those first to avoid spoilers! Anyway, this one invokes a woman whose father raised her to be a fighter and a killer—so she can stop a prophecy and save the world from the Leech Lords (vampires!). Very cool and occasionally creepy! I really recommend all of Slatter’s Sourdough books if you like dark fairy tales and stories about stories. A/A-.

2026 book 49

 AG Slatter’s All the Murmuring Bones

This novel by Slatter involves the last daughter of a formerly powerful and wealthy family, who long ago made a bargain with the merfolk, but haven’t kept their end of the deal, leading to failing fortunes. I do really enjoy this one, but there’s a lot going on and the pacing doesn’t totally work for me. I do love the protagonist and think this wraps up in a satisfying way though! 

2026 book 48

 AG Slatter’s The Path of Thorns

I do love how all of these books involve stories and storytelling! (Actually, some of the stories here involve stuff from Of Sorrow and Such but also A Forest Darkly, which came out later—it’s cool to see the seeds and connections.) The plot involves a woman who takes a job as a governess at an isolated manor—but she has her own reasons for being there. This story has major gothic vibes mixed with dark witchy magic. And yet it’s also got a lot of caring and kindness in it. Great stuff.

2026 book 47

 AG Slatter’s The Briar Book of the Dead

I’m really enjoying reading/rereading all the Sourdough books together! This one features some descendants of characters from Of Sorrow and Such—a family of witches who basically run a small town. The protagonist is a young woman who doesn’t have any powers, but of course as this trope always goes, discovers she actually does have an unusual power. There are also some mysterious elements with missing townspeople and a new priest. Really great characters, as usual, and very satisfying wrap up. 

2026 book 46

 Angela Slatter’s Of Sorrow and Such

I believe this is the first book in Slatter’s Sourdough world (though I know there are a bunch of short stories and I think some are earlier). This novella actually has some similar themes/characters as A Forest Darkly—the protagonist is a witch in a small town with an adopted daughter, and things start to go wrong when a local shapeshifter is injured and people are suddenly looking for witches. It’s a pretty satisfying story for the protagonist, but the daughter’s wrap up is a bit abrupt. I do really enjoy Slatter’s dark fairy tale atmospheric vibes though. A-.

2026 book 45

 A.G. Slatter’s A Forest, Darkly

An author’s note describes this as her “grumpy menopausal witch in the woods” book and that is a vibe I am here for!! There’s a lot going on here—a young woman on the run who becomes the witch’s apprentice, a mysterious force in the woods, missing village children, an old lover, etc—and Slatter weaves it all together really well. I did love all these characters and hope we’ll get to revisit them! This is set in Slatter’s Sourdough universe and I caught a couple of references to the other books, but I might reread them all and see how they all connect. A/A-.

2026 book 44

 Kaye Bellot's Green Year Dragonfly

Rereading this because I remember liking it a lot and that it was pretty chill*--it's an epistolary novel set in a world where some houses are alive! Our protagonists are a mapmaker whose house has walked off, and the woman he hires to track it down and bring it back. But complications ensue! I was especially into the meddling mama and aunt. I do love a good epistolary story.

* Aside from the occasional zombie or murderous unicorn.

2026 book 43

 Martha Wells’ Platform Decay

NEW MURDERBOT, Y’ALL!!! And it’s REALLY GOOD!!! Murderbot is on a mission! It’s tense and exciting!! Events of the last couple of books are coming into play!!! Murderbot is trying to deal with its emotions!!!! I sincerely loved every second of this. Murderbot is firing on all cylinders (not literally). Chef’s kiss. A.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 5th.

2026 book 42

 Martha Wells’ System Collapse

I do still think this one is really slow to start, even though it picks up where Network Effect leaves off, but the second half is so good that I enjoyed this reread. Lots of action, lots of cleverness, lots of creativity, plus all those annoying emotions. Love it. 

2026 book 41

 Martha Wells’ Network Effect

Rereading this because there’s a new Murderbot book coming out, and I wanted to refresh my memories (and enjoy some rereading), and this is good jumping on point for me. Plus it’s so good and so much fun to revisit! ART remains a fave, I love its bickering friendship with Murderbot, but a lot of the new human characters are great too, and the plot is fast moving and action packed. Very satisfying all around.