Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

This book might now be one of my all-time favorites. WOW. I love anything Gatsby, and I’m always intrigued by retellings, whether it’s something inspired by a book or from a different point of view. 

Cantor reimagines The Great Gatsby from the women’s points of view: Daisy, Jordan, and Catherine, Myrtle Wilson’s sister. There’s also a detective thrown into the mix, a new addition since the book focuses on trying to solve Jay Gatsby’s murder. 

It stands alone (I would compare it to Big Little Lies and books along those lines, honestly), but it’s fun to see the little mentions of things that were in Fitzgerald’s original - whether they’re used as-is or seen through a different lens considering the POV of this book. 

There was also a nod to Harold Bloom that made me smile. I can’t recommend this one enough.

I do have one nitpicky remark that I'll hide under a spoiler tag...

The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by K. Woodman-Maynard

The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by K. Woodman-Maynard

This graphic novel adaptation is a stunning way to revisit The Great Gatsby. Woodman-Maynard’s watercolor illustrations seamlessly blend with Fitzgerald’s words, capturing both the extravagance and the eerie, dreamlike quality of the original. 

The imagery takes on a life of its own—sometimes literally—which adds a fresh layer to the classic. 

That said, it’s an adaptation, so while it beautifully distills the novel’s essence, it’s best enjoyed alongside the full text. The author’s note explains this well, but if you’re just looking for a visually rich Gatsby experience, this one’s a treat.

How to Love a Black Hole by Rebecca Fishow

How to Love a Black Hole by Rebecca Fishow

I reviewed Rebecca Fishow's latest collection for MicroLit Almanac - read it here!

How to Love a Black Hole is a haunting, profoundly emotional collection that explores the fragility of human relationships, the weight of trauma, and the search for meaning in a world often defined by contradictions. Each story in the collection leaves a lasting impression, lingering in the mind long after you turn the final page. Fishow’s writing is surreal yet grounded, rich in symbolism and vivid description that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

If you love The Great Gatsby in any form, The Chosen and the Beautiful is a fascinating twist on the classic. 

Nghi Vo reimagines Jordan Baker as a queer, Asian adoptee navigating the glittering excess of the 1920s—while also wielding a quiet, eerie magic. The fantasy elements aren’t in-your-face but woven subtly into the story, letting you catch them as you go. It’s dreamy, sharp, and just the right amount of haunting—a fresh take on a world that already feels otherworldly.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

I always thought I would hate a book about covid and lockdown but I guess… we’re far enough from it now (while possibly being on the cusp of another?) that it almost seems… quaint?

I’m sure that’s not the right word but it almost fits.

The memories of everything shutting down, the quiet cities, and uncertainty of interacting with others works so well to establish an unsettling premise here. Add in the possible romance and moving in with someone you’ve been on just a few dates with and the stakes are certainly high!

I think the twists were really good because you think you have one figured out, then the rug is pulled out from beneath you right at the end. And not in an underhanded way - you have all the information all along, it’s just not what you expect. I liked the time jumps and how more was revealed each time.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Once I started seeing this book everywhere, I knew I needed to give it a try. I was surprised to see it was classified as romance at the library, considering the title and book summary. Once I read it, I got a bit of the romance aspect, but it was pretty light and behind closed doors. It made me think of what an Emily Henry cozy mystery might be.

I really enjoyed the writing and the brief interludes of the police transcript. Randomly jumping to Ethan’s POV halfway through, and then sporadically after that, kind of threw me off. I feel like he would mention things and the reader would get them, then he’d mention them again later to Maggie and, while I understand why it was that way, it just felt repetitive as a reader and I would have rather had new reveals instead of reliving the elevator scene several times. However, I loved this overall and want to read more by the author.