Murder Bimbo by Rebecca Novack. This one had SO much potential! The buzz due to the release pushed back. The cover, the title, the tagline, the concept! But whomp whomp, it fell so flat that I don’t even know where to start with my thoughts. I thought the idea of telling the same story in different ways could work - I liked contrasting the initial podcast story with what I thought was the “real” story to the ex, but then when the third act was just the same story again, but possibly the truth this time? I was not only tired of hearing the story (which was VERY lackluster and boring considering it was about an assassination) but finding out that she did it all to get an ex back? BORING. There’s so much potential for this storyline and it was just the worst possible outcome for the book. Proof that hype can do a lot of the work, and since my library didn’t have a copy, the author made money on me wasting hours of my life reading this, so at least there’s one “good” thing to come of this?
The Most Common Symptom is Pain by Rhiannon Conley. Poetry book of the month. I bought this years ago during SMOL Fair and read it but apparently never reviewed it! I like it a lot - the moodiness is so relatable, especially with the state of things now, and I love how so many poems take small moments or fleeting thoughts and turn them into something bigger and more beautiful, even if that beauty does include pain.
Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer. I think this is the best biography I could expect on an icon like Judy Blume. A friend once said, about Celine Dion, “she’s so famous she might as well be dead,” and I feel that about Blume. I know she’s alive and active and outspoken still, but she is SO epic that the idea of reaching her, or really knowing her, seems impossible. But I think Oppenheimer has shown us as much of her as possible, and it was honest and not always flattering, and that made me love it. Also, here's an article about a fallout between Blume and her biographer, which seems just as juicy as the book itself (aka not).
Going Short by Nancy Stohlman. My writing book for the month. This is probably my favorite flash fiction guide because it’s so spot-on and so matter-of-fact. I’m extremely biased because I also love Nancy’s workshops, but still - you can’t go wrong with this one. I’ve referred back to specific sections many times over the years, but this was only my second full re-read - and now I’m going to ensure I do that at least every year, because the info is so valuable and such important reminders for my writing.
Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson. Jackson has been one of my favorite writers since gods in Alabama first came out, and though she’s shifted more toward thrillers, she still has incredibly strong, literary writing in these that makes them stand out compared to so many writers that seem to churn out suspense for the hell of it. This one had some great twists but above all I love her writing style and the realistic characters she creates.
You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir by Christina Applegate. I love Dead to Me and celebrity memoirs so despite not knowing much beyond pop culture surface-level stuff about Christina Applegate, I was really excited to read this one. She’s brutally honest and I think it’s refreshing. I also like how she didn’t name exes to protect herself from legal issues but you can look up her dating history and figure it out. (I feel so justified at one of them, who had been pinging my radar for a bit recently.)
Aphmau: Searching for Home by Aphmau. My kid loves Aphmau’s channel and really enjoyed this book, so he recommended it to me. It’s really cute and I love books that escape into games/imagination. This one ended on a great cliffhanger and he’s eager to read more… I am, too.
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lại. My son read this for school and it’s been a long time since I read a verse novel, so I wanted to read it too. I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the author’s note about how much was true, and her writing tips for descriptive writing!
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. I can’t count how many times I’ve read this book. It was just a fun read when nothing else was grabbing my attention. I love how silly it is.
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