First Quarter Reading Roundup
I read a lot of things this quarter, which means the amount of things I read was a little higher than normal. I also quit more things than normal for this point in the year. So I decided, I get to go a little more than top ten for the quarter.
Bookshop links except in one case where it's only available digitally.
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik – Space floof! Is how I have been describing this book. But basically it’s a classic space team gets hired by another space team for assistance with an investigation and discovers that they have not been entirely upfront about the mission but also sexual tension, and the aforementioned space critter.
Playing for Love by Jeevani Charika – Digital only – Very cute story about two folks who work at the same co-working space where there are some crush feelings happening and their gamer selves get paired up for an event and there are some crush like feelings, and well, wrestling of feelings ensue.
Battle Royal by Lucy Parker – I had been saving this story for when I had a good weekend where I could indulge because I knew Lucy Parker would make me both laugh and cry. There is a baking reality show, royals who need cake, and two bakers with very different styles who maybe discover they have more than sugar to talk about.
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl – I listened to this in audio. I confess I am a very casual fan, so much of this info was new to me, including discovering that Grohl and I are enough of an age that his high school club hangouts were recognizable to me. (I did know he was from the area.) He is, as the title implies, a great storyteller.
Darling by K. Ancrum – This retelling of Peter Pan where Peter is clearly both fun and concerning takes place in a short timeframe in modern day Chicago. Ancrum so perfectly describes that feeling of a night where you dare a little, that clearly has gotten out of hand and yet, it feels like leaving would be a bigger risk.
A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King – A Pride and Prejudice retelling set in a burlesque club.
Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland – This historical middle grade about a kid who gets a job with her mom working at a big house which is full of ghosts is just entrancing. It even did a thing I hate (the house gets a POV) and made me believe it was necessary.
Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke – This book is about a dude who gets trapped in the work slack, and the various things that happen as a result.
Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd – This book is also a gamer romance, but this time it’s about esports, so basically they know pretty quickly that that crush from when they were like eleven is on a rival team. So many feelings. Worth noting that this book is incredibly upfront about the ish gamers who are female, femme, of color, and such experience without making that the only thing it talks about.
XOXO by Axie Oh – Classic girl meets boy and they hangout and then she never hears from him again except like six months later when she moves to Korea with her mom and discovers they are in school together and also he’s like a huge K-pop star.
Deal With the Devil by Kit Rocha – This book about making a deal that turns out to be – well, not entirely as described – also involves sexy times and people trying to make good decisions in a world that has fallen apart.