A good old "what I've been reading"
Including a time loop audiobook and my new fave fanfic.
Hello, hello. What a difference a month makes! I can confidently say that I’m out of my reading slump and devouring books like they’re thin mints straight from the freezer (which I am — thank you, Girl Scout cookie season). So I figured it’s time for a classic “here’s what I’ve been reading” post. So…here’s what I’ve been reading!
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
This audiobook came highly recommended (via social media) by Reading Habit’s Arianna Rebolini and (per usual) it didn’t disappoint. It starts abruptly when a woman discovers a strange man in her house who appears to be…her husband? That’s right: her attic creates husbands — and entirely new lives — out of thin air. What follows is a kooky, but emotionally fraught unfolding of husband after husband with some delightful plot twists and tense moments sprinkled throughout.
Good for people who like: light magical realism, Palm Springs (that time loop movie with Andy Samberg), Rebecca Serle books
Remain Nameless by HeyJude19
Yes, I’m still on my fanfiction game. This new favorite veers hard into rom-com territory, taking place years post-war and finds Draco and Hermione accidentally running into each other at a coffee shop. It’s adorable, steamy, and pretty much everything you could want from a romance. It kind of makes me wonder why I can’t find such great writing and character development in traditionally pubbed romances?
Good for people who like: The Harry Potter universe, swoony romances, enemies-to-lovers
You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandria Kleeman
This is probably one of those books you either despise or adore. But I’m ~different~ so I’m going to say I sit somewhere in the middle. It’s hard to describe this gritty, anti-capitalist novel but maybe that’s because I skimmed most of the second half. There are glimmers of something special — like when Kleeman describes twisted, but vaguely familiar commercials or a cult of people wearing ghost-like sheets — but none of it ever got explored enough for me to feel invested.
Good for people who like: Ottessa Moshfegh (if you combined the weirdness of Lapvona with the malaise of My Year of Rest), Philip K. Dick for the modern woman
Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford
A friend (Hi, Emilie!) recommended this since I’ve been on the hunt for non-fic audiobooks and it definitely scratched that itch. An interesting exploration of the Pacific Crest Trail — something I’d never heard of despite growing up practically next to it — and the people who have disappeared while hiking it. The timeline did jump around a bit too much for me which made it hard to keep some details straight, but overall a captivating listen on a subject I didn’t know anything about.
Good for people who like: real life mysteries, narrative non-fiction
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
A queer romantasy set in an alternative Edwardian England (idk what that means, I stole it from Goodreads), this follows two men — one magical, one not — on a mystery to solve a murder before they find themselves victims as well. It’s definitely fun, queer, and cute but I can’t say this book did enough of an impression on me to finish the rest of the series. BUT, if you’re a big historical romance fan you probably will love this, so please take my review with a grain of salt.
Good for people who like: Bridgerton, Cat Sebastian books, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
That’s all I’ve got today — what have you been reading lately?
xoxo,
Kirby
I loved Remain Nameless! I'm hoping to jump back in to fanfic next year when I finish up a different reading project.