Rating: 6/10 Believe it or not, this is the actual book that got me out of my 1.5 year reading slump! I don't know how it did it, but it did. For a good year and a half I barely wanted to read. I even tried reading like 6 different books in this period, but every time I'd pick up a book, I would read one or 2 pages and just had zero interest in continuing. I guess you sometimes just need to take a break from reading, even though I love it so much. I think because I had no expectations of actually finishing this book when I picked it up, the pressure to read it wasn't there, which I guess meant that I somehow breezed right through the first few chapters. I picked it up thinking, hm, okay i'll give this one a go. I remember at some point halfway through reading it i thought to myself...huh, guess I'm reading books again! ha So shall we see what this read is all about? Although, you can kinda tell from the cover itself. About 'The Second You're Single' We follow a young woman named Sora Reid who believes in Inertia. Who's always been the odd one out of her family of go-getters, including her Japanese-American mom and her bridezilla sister, who's due to be wed soon. With the wedding coming up, Sora needs to figure out who she's taking to the wedding as her plus one. The one thing that irritates her Inertia is her total dislike for Valentine's Day. Sora has had many heartbreaks so when her pledge to stay single for February inspires readers to #GoSolo, Sora feels she now has a responsibility to her readers that she must complete. ..and in walks in Jack Mann, a muscly baker and old schoolmate of Sora's. They run into each other at her local grocery store and sparks fly. Sora knows that she needs to shut it down. In her experience, relationships aren't built to last so why should Jack me any different - even though he's confounding all her long-held expectations of love? My Review Well this was a fun read! I guess I kinda needed a fun and easy book to get me out of my slump and this definitely hit the mark! I actually read this during Valentine's week so it also fit in with the time of year. I know this is silly to mention, but I loved how large the font was in this book! haha I guess in a way that's why I picked it up! This is the kind of book that you can whiz right through. It's not complex at all, doesn't require much thinking or concentration, and yes, the large font definitely helps! haha I wouldn't say that it's the most riveting writing I've read with a book, but sometimes the simplicity of a book is what makes it a good read. There weren't a ton of characters either which made the book super easy to follow. I quite liked the main character, Sora. She was relatable and I felt like we've all been Sora or will be Sora at some point. She's had awful luck with dating, to the point of where she almost gives up on it. And even does a dry February, from dating I mean. Who hasn't done this kind of thing amirite?! Very relatable. I loved that she was a writer, and that the author chose to show the struggles of trying to make it as a freelance writer. A lot of people would relate to that struggle, taking jobs you're not super interested in, but it pays the bills and it's within your field of expertise. Yeah it was all relatable. One of my favorite aspects was the setting of the book. I loved that it was set in Chicago. I LOVE Chicago and I miss living there, so it kinda hit home for me, the way that the author was very descriptive of the chilly winters. It does get pretty damn cold there. I could very much picture Sora and the sorta apartment and life that she had cause I pretty much had that life. I was definitely into Jack, Jack was a great character. I sometimes found myself thinking, like hold on a minute. This guy cannot be real! He's hunky, tall, cute, wears flannel shirts, and he bakes?! And he's super nice? I wish guys like Jack actually existed. I guess I'm a little more like Sora before she met Jack. One GINORMOUS critic and aspect that I absolutely detested with this book was the body shaming!! WHY?? Why are we body-shaming women in this day and age?! I felt that this was actually very shocking that no one caught on with this when they were creating this book, how did it even make it past its editors?? Everyone who was involved with creating this book must be all one shape because I took major offense to some of the messaging in this read. I thought that the author could have done a better job in maybe trying to highlight the fact that women's bodies don't all look the same and that a normal body is nothing to be ashamed about. It actually made me cringe reading some parts of this book. You'll know if you do end up reading it. It felt so dated, it really did. Flip to page 191 for reference. Yes, I get it. The main character had an affinity to bacon, and yes she likes to eat, we all do, but there were certain parts in this book that just turned me off. A major one was where Sora was trying on bridesmaids dresses with her mom ad sister. Obviously the dress they give her is too small, and instead of asking for a size up like a normal person would do, she sort of dances around and makes excuses and is embarrassed by her body. Like no one cares! Just ask for a larger size? It was awful. That's my only disclaimer with this book. Otherwise, I actually enjoyed the story. It was a fun and easy book to read. Perfect for reading while you're traveling, or on a flight, or at the beach, or when you have a reading slump like I did. This is a great book for gals who live in the city, Sex and the City fans would like this book. It was light and breezy. Minus the body-shaming. DO BETTER!!!!! These publishing houses need to do better!! Song Pick I wanted a fun and easy pop-y pop love song. Something that felt a bit boppy! lol since it's a light-hearted read. I chose 'This Kiss' by Carly Rae Jepsen. It's a fun and easy pop-y, catchy love song about catching feelings, and wanting to kiss your crush. lol super cute! Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Romance Pages: 288 Pages Publication Date: January 31, 2023 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Rating: 10/10 I am so so late in the game with reading this insane bestselling read!! Like VERY late! But ALAS, here I am, catching up with the world in my own time. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, most of you will know that this book has been a best seller since it came out in 2018! Yes a best seller for that long y'all. Also, confession time. I've had this book on my shelf for about 4 years! I kid you not...It's just been there, looking at me not reading it! This book is so good that Reese Witherspoon made a movie version of it. This is what spurred me on to read it! I couldn't bring myself to watch the Netflix movie before reading the book 1st. I hate spoilers so...any-who! Let's get into the synopsis for this epic best seller, Where the Crawdads Sing. About 'Where the Crawdads Sing' We follow a young girl called Kya, who is known to the local townspeople as the 'marsh girl'. For years, the towns people have made up all sorts of rumors about her such as calling her wild, unruly, or unfit for society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her. But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens. Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age mystery and an ode to the natural world. Especially the marsh lands of the Carolinas. This is a thought provoking and deeply moving debut from Delia Owens. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps. My Review THIS BOOK!!! Why did I wait so damn long to read this absolute masterpiece of incredible storytelling and writing. Wow I was blown away. I really was. I think a part of me had low expectations while reading this book simply because this book really received a lot of hype when it was released, and for years after that too. Where do I begin? Okay let's start with the storytelling itself. Immediately upon picking up this book, you are instantly transported to the hot and sticky marsh lands North Carolina. Wow. The writing in this book was stellar. I loved how this book had a proper beginning, middle and an end. The storytelling was superb. Immensely hard to put down after reading that very 1st chapter. The character development was great. We follow about three or four characters and the book is told from the point of view of Kya, the March Girl. We follow her from adolescence and into her senior years. The author does a fantastic job in describing how Kya grew up, the difficulties that she faces and how she became the adult that she is in the book. I loved the protagonist character in this book. You're always rooting for her and also understand her deep loneliness and struggles. Kya, as a character was fantastic. She has her guard up like no one I've ever known before. She sort of reminded me of me in a small way I definitely have a hard time trusting people and always keep people at a distance and definitely have my guard up at times. I could relate to Kya in a deep way. You also just felt for her and the way that she grew up but also admired her resilience and tough exterior. She was a fighter and a tough cookie that you do not want to mess with. And ultimately, she's a softie who just wants some company and to be loved. What a complex and amazing character. The 2nd main feature that I want to talk about is the writing! My god. I think a good way to describe this book would be satisfying. I felt full after reading this book. The writing is some of the best fiction writing that I've read in a long time. Owens knows how to set a scene y'all, and then some!! You truly felt as if you were right there in the marshes with our girl Kya. Let's not even get into the food mentioned in this book. If you're a fan of southern culture and southern living then this book is a must read for you. I now see why this book received numerous accolades. It's a top notch book with excellent writing and storytelling. If you're a person that loves an un-putdownable book, then this is the one for you. I was genuinely excited to run to bed to read this book every night! I whizzed right through it. You will have ALL of the feelings while reading it. It's a good book, good story, good plot, well rounded and developed character build up, and a satisfying book. Read this book if you love southern culture, read this book if you've ever felt like an outcast, read this book if you are a survivor, read this book if living off the land is your jam, read this book if you're a nature lover, a solitude lover, a food lover, and most of all, a lover of a good ol fashioned storytelling. An atmospheric, poetic and humbling read. HIGHLY Recommend this book! Dare I say, a perfect book!? I immediately watched the film starring Daisy Edgar Jones (available on Netflix at the time of this review date) after finishing the book. I have to say, the book was better. It was more descriptive, it captured the essence of the wonderful nature and environment, and was more satisfying than the movie. Also, I'm not one to hate, but the fact that Daisy Edgar Jones didn't have a southern accent bugged me to my core! They should have cast a different actor for this role. She looked the part but I wasn't fully convinced by her performance. It was good but the book was better. Song Pick: I decided to listen to the official soundtrack of the film 'Where the Crawdads Sing' to see if I would feel inspired, and believe it or not, that very first track was the one! I listened to all of the songs but this one hit the mark! Song pick for this read is Carolina by Taylor Swift. It's atmospheric, melancholy, moody, and totally fits in with the movie! Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Mystery Pages: 384 Pages Publication Date: August 14, 2018 Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Rating: 10/10 I have been reading this book for a very long time! It's one of those books where I would read it in short burst throughout the year and it was always on my bedside table. I actually finished it in February of 2023, which also happened to be Black History Month in the US. The theme for this year's BHM theme was 'Black Resistance: A Journey to Equality'. How funny was the timing of me picking this relevant read for this relevant theme?! This indeed is a perfect book to read for this year's theme of Black History Month theme. I remember being initially drawn to the book when I saw the title of it, 'Traveling Black'. I thought, oh wow, what a cool title! Also, I don't know a whole lot about travel during the civil rights movement, other than a chunk of history about 'The Green Book', also known as 'The Negro Motorist Green Book'. I liked the idea that this book delved much more into traveling from the black experience during this time period. I had to know what it was all about. Also, as a fellow and avid traveler at Chrissy on the Move, the subject of travel always fascinates me. I was especially keen to learn about traveling via aviation and trains in the US. About 'Traveling Black' Mia Bay, a professor of American history at the University of Pennsylvania, writes a book that highlights what travel was like for the black race during the Jim Crow era and navigate a plethora of discriminatory travel accommodations. From segregated train stations, to airport terminals and whites only service stations and accommodations. Mia Bay went back to the sources with some basic questions, such as: How did travel segregation begin? Why were so many of those who challenged it in court women? How did it move from one form of transport to another, and what was it like to be caught up in this web of contradictory rules? From stagecoaches and trains to buses, cars, and planes, Traveling Black explores when, how, and why racial restrictions took shape and brilliantly portrays what it was like to live with them. Bay unearths troves of supporting evidence, rescuing forgotten stories of undaunted passengers who made it back home despite being insulted, stranded, re-routed, or ignored. Bay sources a great amount of supporting evidence and unearths forgotten stories of passengers who made it back home despite being insulted, stranded and ignored. A digestible and insightful masterpiece, this book helps explain why the long, unfinished journey to racial equality so often takes place on the road. My Review I loved the simplicity of the structure of this book. Bay splits each mode of transportation into seven simply laid out chapters in this book. As a person who loves structure, I found this very easy to understand and to get into. She frames the book from the beginning of the Antebellum era to the present day. I loved this quote from her introduction paragraph: "American Identity has long been defined by mobility and the freedom of the open road, but African Americans have never fully shared in that freedom." I have always felt this to be true even to this very day. So many black people still and will always have that fear of traveling safely and not being discriminated against, this is something that the white race will never know about or how it feels to travel as the minority race. I absolutely loved the intro chapter ' The Road to Plessy'. I learned quite a bit about how the Antebellum south came to be, even though I already knew some of the facts, there was a lot of information that I was unaware of in this chapter. She covers all sorts of subject areas around the Jim Crow era such as; legalizing segregation and how that came to be in travel, they key civil rights cases of this time, and so much more. A colored only taxi, Birmingham, Alabama 1963 (pg. 225 - Traveling Black) One of the most fascinating things I learned was about the history of so many well known companies and businesses such as; The NY Globe - I honestly did not know that it was a black weekly paper back in the day, or about the history of Greyhound, Trailways, Ford, and many more companies and the roles that they played in segregation during the Jim Crow era. As someone who still uses a lot of these transportation companies, it made me think twice about who is actually behind these massive well known companies. It was absolutely fascinating to read about the stories of individuals who faced segregation and to see it come to fruition and become legalized. That beginning chapter was stellar. You learn all about the companies that didn't cater to black travelers within aviation, restaurants, airline companies, and more. Although this may seem like it would be a dense and difficult read, it was actually very digestible. All due to the great writing of Mia Bay. I loved how she threw in real life accounts from past travelers, to quoting companies that contributed with segregation, and I especially loved all of the incredible images that she included within each chapter, such as this image below featured in the Traveling by Train (pg. 65) chapter. They were absolutely daunting and brilliant and helped tie in certain topics she would discuss within each chapter. As you read the book, it becomes quite comprehensible and flows much easier. I enjoyed learning simple facts such how blacks were taken advantage of when it came to insurance policies on their cars, this chapter was fascinating! I learned about what it was like for blacks to own a car and the difficulties they faced while on the road. Railroad advertisement typically featured white passengers and Black servants, as can be seen in this 1880s print advertisement extolling the virtues of meal service aboard the Chicago and Alton Railroad. (pg. 65 - Traveling Black) One other amazing fact that I didn't know was that they only stopped making wooden JIm Crow cars (trains) in the 1950s. They finally had to stop having them because so many trains would crash and catch fire and only the black people would die in these events because the blacks were always sat in the front of the train... "...so that in the case of a head on collision, the 'Negroes' will get killed first." The Great Train Wreck of 1918 (Wikipedia) (pg. 73 - Traveling Black) How horrible was that. No accountability, no remorse, nothing. No wonder some of these wounds never heal, it's almost ingrained in black people up until this day and this is something that white people will never ever understand. The privilege they have is deeply ingrained in them too. In the chapters about Traveling by Car, I enjoyed reading about the well known The Negro Motorist Greenbook, and many others like it. This book was a lifeline for anyone traveling by car in the Jim Crow era. Bay dedicated a chapter to this specific book and the creation of the book as a guide to fellow black travelers. A Black airman from New York City reads the "Colored Waiting Room" sign in the segregated Terminal Station in Atlanta, Georgia, 1956. (pg 266 - Traveling Black) I even enjoyed the chapters on Traveling for Civil Rights, and Traveling for Freedom. "..by the beginning of the 1960s the South's Jim Crow buses, trains, and public accommodations had become a highly public symbol of the nation's failure to live up to its own democratic ideals." (pg. 278 - Traveling Black) Freedom Fighters being arrested at the Tallahassee Municipal Airport, June 16, 1961 (pg. 282) "With the passage of the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964, African Americans across the country ventured out to restaurants, hotels, barbershops, swiming pools, bowling halls and countless other facilities to test its impact. In doing so, they made history while engaged in otherwise everyday activities..." (pg. 303 - Traveling Black) I loved that the last few essays focused on how traveling while black looks like in our current climate and touches on subjects such as, racial profiling and how it all started and evolved to our current time. She discusses how black people to this day are still being racially profiled when flying and how traveling black is still an ongoing issue in this country. I will say that it is also a beacon of hope and continues resistance within the black race. Black people have always been a fighting force and will always fight for injustices brought upon them. This is the message that I got after reading this incredible book. This was an absolutely fantastic insightful and riveting read. You will learn a lot about segregation in travel during the Jim Crow era, you will learn about the first black pilots and aviation within the African American race, which is something I knew very little about, and all about world records and achievements in aviation, you will also learn why you hardly saw any black pilots back in that day and age. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about what it was like for black people to travel across the united states during the Jim Crow era up until today. This is a great book for students who are studying a similar topic to the resistance during the civil rights era. I will add that this book is a fantastic read for this year's Black History Month theme of 'Black Resistence'. It questions if black people will ever truly be free in their own country. I loved every single chapter and I would highly recommend it. While I am here, I will also recommend a great article by the NY Times about the lack of black pilots in aviation titled, "The End of the All-Male, All-White cockpit". They touched on a lot of topics that were covered in this read. Song Pick Love this dong for a long time! It also felt appropriate! My song pick is "Rosa Parks" by Outkast. Rosa Parks, bus, transport, traveling black. You get the gist of it! Genre: Nonfiction | History | Race Pages: 400 Pages Publication Date: March 23, 2021 Publisher: Belknap Press

Rating 9/10 Fun fact** I actually listened to this audio book a month before the whole Oscars fiasco! My review is solely based on the actual book and not Will Smith's actions on that fateful evening (which I happened to have watched live because I'm obsessed with the Oscars and movies - that was some real drama!) Any-who, I've always loved Will Smith. I've been following him on Instagram for a while, I love all of his 90s films and generally thought he was a cool person. Also Fresh Prince of Bel Air was my go-to show back in the day! It gives me major nostalgia whenever I think of that show. So when this book came out, I knew I wanted to give it a read and especially a listen because the audible is narrated by Will Smith himself. So without further ado, let's crack on with what 'Will' is about and my review for this best selling read. About 'Will' As you can guess, this book is a memoir about Will Smith. In this memoir, we learn all about his journey to success, his music and acting career, his journey to self-knowledge, and how he became to be the man that he is today. This book is written with the help of author, Mark Manson, who wrote the best selling hit that I loved, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck". Together, they write an absolute entertaining read into the psyche of Will Smith and how he came from his humble beginnings of West Philly to being one of Hollywood's top A-list actors and top rappers. My Review: One thing I will say about this book is that Will Smith LOVES Will Smith. I guess rightly so, hah. This was a thoroughly entertaining book to listen to. I actually really loved the audio-book a lot! It's probably the most entertaining audio-books I've ever read. This is what you get when you have an actor/musician narrating his own memoir. Pure entertainment. His story starts off right at the beginning, from when he was a kid to where his now. It's got a great chronological order to it from childhood to adulthood, through his music career, and then his acting career. We learn a lot about his upbringing in West Philly, how his work ethic was shaped through his childhood, and how it was ingrained within his family. We learn about his values growing up, his struggles with being the awkward kid who's not black enough, nor was he white enough, and how it shaped his young adult life. I quite liked that there were also some very serious chapters within his memoir. For example, the domestic abuse that he grew up with and his intimidating father and the complex relationship he had with him, I found those chapters to be quite raw and real. He explains to us how his relationship with his father shaped the type of father he wanted to become for his children. Those were intense chapters but also provided a good balance for the rest of the memoir. Of course, we get into some fun chapters within the book such his music career. Actually, one of my favorite chapters was when he talked about the birth of hip hop. This was a great addition to have in the book because he really grew up in a very specific and amazing period for hip hop music and he got to see it all and be a part of that world. If you don't know much about the birth of hip hop, I would definitely recommend that you listen to this book. I liked his interpretation of this time period a lot! He definitely had a deep love for hip hop and it shines through in this book. One amazing addition to this audible is that he rapped a few times which was awesome! I loved that aspect of the book a lot. You don't usually get that in books so it was such a treat to listen to him rapping some old skool tunes. Obviously, he gets into how the Fresh Prince of Bel Air came to be and I adored that chapter a lot! I'm a huge Fresh Prince fan, and I grew up with that show and used to watch it after school on weekdays. On top of all of the entertainment parts of the book, in the later chapters, I noticed that Will Smith these days, is quite spiritual and he gets into a lot of metaphors in this read. Some people may not like that and some people might. At times I also felt that the book was a little too detailed about his life, and actually, he really beefs himself up in this book! haha he really loves how much he's accomplished and you will hear all about the stats and numbers in this memoir. I thought that was a bit funny. But also, he's one of very few black actors who have accomplished what he has and I have to give him props for that. Will was a very entertaining listen. He raps, he sings, he was very animated in it. There's a ton of fun trivia in this book, and it's also a love letter to the Fresh Prince. You learn a lot of fun facts about how the show was created and all about the cast of the show too. This is a fun book for any Fresh Prince of Bel Air fans out there. Or anyone who is an aspiring actor, you get fun insights about how filming a TV show works, as well as Hollywood and the whole celeb world. I will say, at the Oscars, the general definitely attended the Oscars, and Mr Fluffy stayed at home - a little reference from the book - you'll know what I mean when you read it! ha Loved this memoir. I feel like I understand Will Smith as a person much more now. Even though at times the beefing up and ego was a little much, I will say that he has done very well for his career and he should be proud of that. Song Pick: Okay so this song played at the end of the audio-book and I loved it! It's so catchy lol Also it's all about this book basically! The song pick is Will (Remix) by Will Smith & Joyner Lucas Genre: Nonfiction | Biography Pages: 418 Pages (hardcover) Publication Date: November 9, 2021 Publisher: Penguin Press

Rating: 8/10 This book has been on my tbr list since its release in early 2020, or the early pandemic days as I like to call it. This was a book that a lot of my bookish friends were raving about and it received quite a lot of praise in the feminist scene. It has a curious title which makes you want to read it and learn about what ‘Hood Feminism’ is. I listened to the audio book which was narrated by the author herself. Let’s get on with the review and what this read is about. About ‘Hood Feminism’: In Hood Feminism, Mikki Kendall questions today’s feminist movement and its blind-spots. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. Kendall highlights that feminism is indeed privileged and does not focus on basic survival. She argues that feminists refuse to prioritize these issues. She looks into how prominent white feminists tend to overlook issues such as race, class, sexual orientation, and much more. Kendall asks - How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, and also asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others? My Review: As a feminist myself, I love reading different perspectives when it comes to dissecting feminists ideas and challenging those ideas. This book is an absolute must read for white feminists as it forces them to look inward and question the challenges of feminism as a whole. I listened to the audible which was narrated by the author, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book. In ‘Hood Feminism’, Kendall blends her own personal experiences with the numerous topics that she dissects in each section of her book. In all honesty, I pretty much agreed with 90% of the issues and challenges that she talks about in this book. As a person of color, I can understand where she is coming from, and the challenges that she has faced in her life as a feminist and as a black woman living in our day and age. I have often felt that feminism sometimes, can be too broad and doesn’t truly look at the whole scope of issues that lead to feminist problems. In this book, she gets into politics and the role that has played in feminism over time, she gets into inequality of all genders, gun violence, homelessness and poverty, housing, reproductive systems and abortions, social class, school systems and stereotypes in black women and so much more. I loved the plethora of topics that she discusses and it really got me thinking like 'oh wow, I never really thought of these issues as feminist issues before’...but it actually all made perfect sense as she walked you through her challenged and her ideas. Some of my favorite topics that she discusses were when she challenges oppression within gender and feminism. For example, white women oppressing black women, or cis women oppressing trans women. I feel that these issues are true and that as feminists, we should all stand in one fight and stand together instead of tearing each other down. I also liked the chapters in which she delves into the black girl stereotypes, and why this has come to be in our day and age, the lack of resources that the black community has in comparison to the white race, homelessness, she even delves into black icons such as Beyonce and Serena Williams, and the general stereotypes that society places on them. I thought this book was an interesting read and ALL feminists should give it a listen whether you agree or disagree with it. It’s good to hear from other perspectives on this topic. I will say though, that the book is mostly told from a US perspective, so some of these issues may not relay in other countries. That’s my only sort of disclaimer about this book. I also sometimes found that the topics sort of jolted from one to another quite fast, and would have preferred more elaborations on some chapters. But all in all, I liked listening to this book and I got a lot out from it. That’s what I generally like when I rate books. Did I get anything out from reading this book? Yes, I definitely did. This a great book for white feminists, black feminists, all feminists really. It deals with many interesting topics such as reproductive rights, social class, poverty, gender identity, healthcare discrimination, and much much more. Kendall blends in her own life experiences which I thought added a nice and relatable touch to this book. This would make a great read for students, and anyone who wants to learn what it is like from a black feminist female perspective. I also loved that she’s a Chi-City gal! Hayyy! Song Pick: For this song pick, I knew that I wanted it to be by a black female rapper, also an old school one in a way because old school female rap is just super dope. I had a lot of songs in mind, but ultimately, one stood out by the amazing and talented, Queen Latifa. The song is called U.N.I.T.Y and it’s such a banger. I also kind of feel like ultimately, what Kendall is trying to achieve in this book, is unity among all feminists. It’s a dope song, dope music video filmed in the hood from a very young and gorgeous Latifa, and a huge feminist tune too! Genre: Nonfiction | Feminism | Essays Pages: 288 Pages Publication Date: March 3, 2020 Publisher: Viking

Rating 8/10 I adore Reese Witherspoon immensely. She just seems like a really lovely person inside and out whenever I’ve seen interviews about her. I also have watched quite a lot of her films, and I love her work ethic and her inclusions on featuring female authors with her book club, Reese’s Book Club. Did I mention that I also follow her book recommendations on IG? Yeah she rocks. I love her. So it was only fitting that I eventually read her book, Whiskey in a Teacup! This nonfiction read came out back in 2018 and since then it’s been on my to read list! I have a crazy long list but I do eventually get through my reading pile. Let’s get on with what this quirky fun book is all about! About Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing up in the South Taught me about Life, Love and Baking Biscuits Academy Award–winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites us into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm. This book is an in-depth look into why Reese Witherspoon is the way she is. She is a southern woman and it truly reflects in her mannerisms, her charm, her hair, and even in the way she talks! In this book, she shares the joys of southern living, and shows us that she truly takes the south with her wherever she goes. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids. She tells us all about her beloved grandmother Dorothia who has been a big influence in Witherspoon’s life. This book is also filled with tips on southern living, delicious recipes passed down from her family and friends, and so much more on the How Tos for Southern living. Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said that a combination of beauty and strength made southern women “whiskey in a teacup.” We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we’re strong and fiery. My Review: I mean…how could I not love this book! Haha it’s Reese Witherspoon! I feel like it’s impossible to not like her. She has all the charm you could ever want from a woman. I decided to listen to the audible for this book because it was narrated by Reese Witherspoon herself. If you’re thinking of reading this book, give the audio book a go because it was fantastic! It also helps that she’s an actress so her voice really shines through in everything tells you about. It’s a perfect book to listen to while you do your household tasks, or while cooking your weeknight meal. I love her voice and accent a lot, so for me it was an enjoyable listen. In this book, she literally gets into what Southern living is all about! So if you’re a person who lives in the south, or loves southern culture, then you’re gonna get into this book very easily! Even if you’re not familiar with southern culture, like myself, then you’ll learn a whole lot about how everything operates in the south. It was quite informative! This book is definitely not a self-help book, I would say that it’s more of a how-to bible on southern living. It’s filled with cozy and comforting recipes that Reese Witherspoon makes on the regular, I especially liked that she put her grandma’s fried chicken recipe in it too! She also throws in all kinds of tips about how to entertain guests, the dos and don'ts for hosting the perfect party, she talks about how southern women live their day to day lives, how tos on hair, make-up, how to dress, gift giving etiquette, she basically covers it all! I especially liked the sections in which she delved into everything Nashville! Haha I love Nashville, I even watched the entire series of Nashville haha. Nashville is a fun city and when you’re there you really do feel like you’re in a totally different part of the US compared to the other states. She tells us all about Nashville’s rich history with music, culture, traditions, values, and so much more. I also loved it when Witherspoon talked about Nashville’s contributions to the civil rights movement. You could tell that she’s an advocate for equal rights among all people, which is one of the reasons why I adore her. After reading this book, you’ll get a pretty good sense of who Reese Witherspoon is and what she values in life, that’s for sure. If you're quite a feminine person, then you will like this book. I will say that at some points I did find the book to be too feminine, or a little too traditional in gender roles for me, but the book was also charming in itself, so I did let those feelings slide! haha This is a perfect book to give to friends as a gift, it’s a perfect book for people who love southern culture, people who value family, traditions, southern music, and people who love to entertain too. All in all it was simply a charming read. It’s not majorly deep or filled with a lot of substance, but I think that’s what I liked about this book. It’s simply a delightful, light, and entertaining book that anyone would love to own. Also it helps if you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon’s. Highly recommend getting a physical book as it is filled with a ton of recipes and how-tos, but I also recommend listening to the audio-book! She has such a charismatic voice and accent. I love her more after reading this book. Song Pick: I pretty much knew even before reading this book who I would pick for the artist. Reese Witherspoon LOVES Dolly Parton! I know this because she mentions it a lot in general. I mean, who wouldn’t. She even mentions Dolly quite a few times in her book and says that Dolly is the quintessential southern woman. She’s not wrong there! The hardest part was choosing one Dolly Parton song, she has so many great songs it was super hard to pick just one! But in the end, I decided on the most southern and charming of her songs that I feel captures the essence of this book. Southern Living, amirite? I chose ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’. An absolute charming song that hits the nail on the head on what it’s like living in Tennessee. Genre: Nonfiction | Biography | Food & Drink Pages: 299 Pages Publication Date: September 18, 2018 Publisher: Atria Books

Rating: 9/10 I was in a total mood for a self-love and self-reflection kind of book and this book definitely hit that spot! Also I'm kind of totally in love with the gorgeous book cover. How inviting and adorable is the cover though!? I want to send a huge thanks to Penguin Books for sending me this #gifted book last year. My Inner Sky came out in the spring of 2021. It's only right that I read it in time for Spring for 2022! About ‘My Inner Sky’: My Inner Sky is a collection of essays and illustrations that are divided into four phases of the sky; Twilight, Golden Hour, Night, and Dawn. These phases help you to navigate life’s unpredictable curve-balls. In this insightful and warm book, writer and illustrator Mari Andrew explores all of the emotions that make up a life. While in the process, she offers insights about trauma and healing, the meaning of home and the challenges of loneliness and finding love in the most unexpected of places. My Inner Sky empowers us all to transform every little thing that's happened to us into something meaningful, reassurance that even in our darkest times, there's light and beauty to be found. My Review: First of all, I have to once again comment on the absolutely beautiful cover of this book, and even more so, on all of the gorgeous illustrations that are trickled throughout this read. I adored it! As an art lover and creative person, this was one of the most visually stimulating books that I’ve read in a while. I adored all of Mari’s illustrations in this book. The book itself is a collection of essays, and I loved how the author split the book into four main sections; twilight, golden hour, night, and dawn. It’s actually quite a clever way to structure a book, both for the writer and as a reader. In each section, she delves deeper into what each phase of the skies represents for her, and also how each phase comes with certain moods. I loved hearing all about her life journey, her struggles, her ups and downs, the little things that kept her going, and her passion and dreams. Mari Andrew felt like the kind of person one could easily relate to and she had a warm and easiness about her when reading her life story and journey. Also, the four sections made you look forward to what was to come in each phase. I definitely think that most people who read this book will resonate with at least one or two phases of sky sections in this book. I definitely did, and at times, found myself nodding along to what she was talking about. One of my favorite sections in the book was when the author described the four seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter. Here is an excerpt from the Fall section: -From the Golden Hour Section: Page 51 - ‘My Inner Sky’ by Mari Andrew “FALL: You return to ideas you might have had long ago that now seem interesting again. Just as school supplies seem exciting again in September.” I loved that these pages also came with wonderful watercolor illustrations. Super lush. One of the highlights of this book to me, were the beautiful and calming watercolor illustrations that were trickled throughout this book. This was a massively stimulating book to read and look through too, and it physically felt quite hardy and nice to hold. It gives you a sense of calmness, peacefulness, hope and beauty. As a creative person and an artist myself, I loved this aspect of the book and highly recommend that if you do want to buy this book, you get yourself a physical copy of it. It’ll definitely be a book that I will treasure for years to come. I also think that the audio-book would be fantastic too! The writing style of this book was very easy to read and I felt like the author was right there in the room, telling me her story over a coffee on a lazy afternoon. I loved that some essays were short and sweet, and others were more detailed and thoughtful. It’s a very easy book to pick up and read whenever because of the short sections between each essay. I will also say that this book will very much appeal to travelers, nomadic types. Like myself, haha. The author is definitely a fan of solo traveling and I LOVED that! She took us on a journey to many continents and amazing destinations, and I simply loved that she is a woman of the world who lives wherever her heart desires. It definitely gave me the itch to start traveling again or to move to a different country and city and take up a new hobby! People who love to dabble in new and exciting ventures will definitely resonate with this book. I loved this aspect of her story immensely. Last but not least, this is a fantastic book for anyone who is craving some self-reflection, self-love and mental health awareness. It's great for anyone dealing with anxiety, anyone who has a physical disability, or has overcome a difficult injury, anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, creative individuals and solo individuals. It’s a surprisingly mindful read that sparks your inner self to question everything and to look more inwards. It was brilliant. My Inner Sky is a calming, hopeful and stimulating read. I loved getting to hear Mari Andrew’s story and she sounds like a fantastic human being! Highly recommend this book. Some of my favorite Quotes: -From the Twilight Section: Page 54 - ‘My Inner Sky’ by Mari Andrew “This time of day brings a lot of uncomfortable Feelings: Regret, dread, longing. It’s not day, not evening, not the mysteriously comforting night. It’s a light purple transition that we don’t quite know what to do with. There are so many times of life that feel like a twilight – while moving, while recovering, while unhappily single, or ambivalently partnered. This is the uncomfortable time when you’re very much anticipating the next chapter, and not exactly sure when it will be.” -From the Dawn Section: Page 154 - ‘My Inner Sky’ by Mari Andrew “Morning is a symbol of renewal. After struggling through a dark night, dawn eventually breaks. It may not be the tidy conclusion to the tossing and turning we just suffered through, but it’s a gift to begin again. Morning brings a sense of triumph and gratitude: We made it! Dawn gives us the opportunity to begin brightening our future.” Song Pick: While reading this book, I had one artist in mind who I felt visually represents this book. I adore this singer’s quirky and delicate voice and that’s why I chose her. I feel like I wanted a song that felt like the illustrations of this book, and the simplistic and mindfulness of this book. Additionally, I wanted to be sure to pick a female singer. I chose the artist, Feist, and the song pick is titled, ‘Mushaboom’. It has a curious, freeing, and whimsical feeling to it which I like. I also feel like it’s a good song to draw or paint to. I chose this song mostly because of how the song felt in comparison to this read. Lovely, feminine, light and airy. Genre: Nonfiction | Self Help | Essays | Memoir Pages: 255 Pages Publication Date: March 2, 2021 Publisher: Penguin Books

Rating: 6/10 I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently, no lie. This is the first book that I’ve picked up in four months! I guess I just needed some time off from reading and there’s nothing wrong with that. I thought I would pick up an easy thriller type of a read, something that wouldn’t require much thinking and a gripping book. For me, that genre is always the psychological thriller, or suspenseful reads. I chose Find Me simply because it sounded like it would get me out of my reading slump, also because it came out very recently on January 11th 2022. Thank you to Harper Books for my Advanced Review Copy! Let’s get on with the plot for Find Me. Plot: We follow a young woman named Hope Miller. Hope has no memory of who she is. Fifteen years ago, she was found in a small New Jersey town thrown from an overturned vehicle, with no clues to her identity. Doctors assumed her amnesia was a temporary side effect of her injuries, but she never regained her memory. Eventually, Hope started a new life in this small and welcoming town, but deep inside, she always wondered where she came from, who she left behind and who she may have been running from. After 15 years in this small town, Hope decides to leave it behind and start fresh elsewhere. Hope’s best friend, Lindsey Kelly, a Manhattan defense lawyer worries about Hope moving to a bigger town in East Hampton because she’ll be far away from anything or anyone familiar. Lindsay’s worst nightmare comes true when she finds out that Hope has disappeared without a trace. The only lead is a drop of blood found where she was last seen. Even more ominously, the blood matches a DNA sample with a connection to a notorious Kansas murderer. The women search for the truth beneath long buried secrets in the pursuit of answers. when their searches converge, what they find will upend everything they’ve ever known. My Review: It’s been a really really long time since I've read any crime fiction books! I actually forgot about all the detective work and writing style that goes into it! This book was definitely a slow burner type of read. It was all about figuring out the clues, and following each character throughout the book to find out the answers to this nagging mystery. It took its sweet time to letting us solve this puzzle. If you’re a fan of detective type, slow burning reads then you’ll enjoy reading this crime story. Apparently one of the characters in this book is part of a series of books from this author, Ellie Hatcher, who plays a police officer in this book has a series of books called The Hatcher Series, but I don’t think you would need to read them to be able to read this plot line. Just thought that was a cool fact. There were quite a plethora of characters in this book, which made it a little hard to follow who was who in the beginning. It drove me crazy for a while. But as the story built up, it got a little easier to navigate it all. Of course, our central characters are Hope, who is our amnesia stricken character, and her best friend Lindsey, the Manhattan lawyer. Together, they go on the hunt to try and solve this mystery which eventually comes together towards the end of the book. I actually found their relationship quite sweet. That enduring friendship they had, and there’s also a fun twist at the end with them which I liked a lot. The book also had these timelines that I paid absolutely no attention to! Ha I guess to mark the date and time that everything was happening. Each new chapter began with one. I personally didn’t feel that it was needed because I honestly kind of bypassed them. I will say that the writing was okay, not the most gripping style of writing, but it was very easy to read and you could tell the writer kind of knew her stuff! All in all, this was a good book. I wouldn’t say that it had the most interesting reveal at the end, it was a little underwhelming for me. I wasn’t massively blown away by any means, hence my lower rating. But I did manage to get to the end and figured out this whole mystery behind the character’s amnesia and disappearance. It’s a good book for fans of slow burning crime/police reads. But after reading this, I definitely realized I’m more of a fan of shocking psychological thrillers with crazy plot twists haha. The book was okay, not great and not terrible, sorta just okay. Song Pick: For this song pick, I kept singing this song in my brain every single time I picked up this book! It always made me laugh when I did it. My song pick is a fantastic song by the one and only Madonna and it’s ‘Who's That Girl’. Haha I mean it’s pretty fitting right?! What a fun music video too, Madonna was a total babe back in the day. Genre: Crime Fiction | Mystery | LGBTQ+ Pages: 320 Pages Publication Date: January 11, 2022 Publisher: Harper Books

Rating: 9/10 I remember being drawn to this book last Summer by the beautiful tropical and bold cover that it has. Also, what a title - Black Girls Must Die Exhausted. I thought wow, ain't that the truth! But also felt kind of sad about the title...upset to the fact that it's kinda true. I want to thank Harper Perennial for sending me an advanced review copy of this read. They also sent me the cutest tote bag too (you can see a pic of it below)!! I'm in love with it ha. I actually read this book wayyyy back in the summer of 2021 and I'm only now getting to finally writing my book review for it! It is so unlike me to be this tardy with book reviews, but a lot has happened these past few months so...better late than never right? Let's get on with the plot for this read. Plot: We follow a black 33 year old woman named Tabitha Walker. Tabitha has a very well thought out plan to ‘have it all’ which consists of a checklist of all of her life goals that she wants to accomplish by a certain age. Education, great job, down payment on a house, a boyfriend who is marriage material, check, check, check & check! She even has a great standing weekly hair appointment that has yet to fail her. Everything seems to be going according to plan until the day that Tabby received an unexpected diagnosis that throws her perfect plans off kilter. With her dreams at risk, Tabby is now faced with an impossible decision to make between her career, her dream home, and a family of her own. With the help of her ride or die best friends, and her rock that is her grandmother, Tabby explores the reaches of modern medicine and tests the limits of her relationships around her. She soon learns her grandmother’s age old saying that may just be true; Black girls must die exhausted. My Review: This book is actually the first novel in a three part series about modern womanhood. I wonder how the other two books will turn out! This is definitely one of those 'slice of life' type of reads, which at the time when I read it, I was totally in the mood for. Also you know how much I love supporting minority authors so I definitely had to read this book. The title really resonated with me on a deeper level because dear lord! It’s so true!!! I’m so tired…all the damn time! Haha I don’t wanna die exhausted, but alas. I’m here to talk about the book review, not my life. I actually really enjoyed reading this book. It’s definitely a slower paced read, so if you enjoy those types of books then you’ll like this story. The plot does take it’s sweet time to get going, but one thing that we notice right off the bat, is that this character, Tabby, is definitely doing those cliche things that most women do. Going through their life checklists, and she definitely succeeds to a certain point. Until she hits a curve ball that came out of nowhere. It’s quite a realistic story line, and I think what Tabby goes through would resonate with a lot of women in our current climate. That pressure that straight/cis black women feel to hit all of their targets in life; good job, stable home, the right man, starting a family…it’s all in there. I loved that Tabby was surrounded by all of these great, strong and funny women throughout the book. The characters in the story were so lovable. I especially adored Tabby’s grandmother, and loved the grandmother’s best friend even more! All of the female relationships were sublime in this read. The author did a fantastic job in creating these very relate-able strong black women that if you are a black girl, you have these kinds of characters or relationships in your life. I liked Tabitha as a person. She had goals, aspirations, she was strong, she held her own. I love to see it. She is a woman to not mess around with. But also, I loved that the author touched on her vulnerabilities. It made her character even more endearing and you wanted to root for her the entire way through. The writing in this book was also such a delight to read. Very effortless, clean, and engaging. I definitely found myself wanting to read more and more as I turned each page. I was invested in the story line, I could see myself in each and every one of these characters and loved the representation of strong black women in this read. To put it simply, I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn’t the lightest read, I will say that. It deals with a lot of struggles and challenges that black women face. The book reminded me of a mix between Waiting to Exhale (a 90s classic film) and the TV show, Girlfriends (2000s sitcom). I loved it! Black Girls Must Die Exhausted is about modern womanhood, it’s about strong female friendships, the pressures that black women feel, life in general as a black woman and the life challenges that we face. It’s also about love, laughter, and finding that slice of happiness wherever you can find it. Definitely would recommend this read to my girlfriends. Song Pick: For my song pick, I knew I wanted a song about strong black women, a song about friendship and how your girls always have your back, and I knew I wanted it to be by a girl group. Only one black girl group came to mind. I wanted a long standing group and we all know every since Destiny’s Child broke up, there really hasn’t been another black girl group that’s taken over like they did. So for my song pick, I chose an absolute banger, ‘Girl’ by Destiny’s Child. I loooove this music video! They were inspired by the show Sex and the City, one of my all-time fav shows, and I feel like the lyrics as well really vibe with the female friendships in this book. Genre: Contemporary Fiction Pages: 352 Pages Publication Date: September 28, 2021 Publisher: Harper Perennial

Rating: 9/10 I remember seeing this book on Instagram last year and thinking, I must read it! I LOVE the title of the book ‘Here For It’. It’s a phrase I use often with my friends and in general, also how joyous and fun does the cover look too?! I knew it was an LGBTQ+ read as well and that was a plus too. I listened to a sample of the audiobook and heard that it was narrated by the author himself. I liked the sound of his voice too so I finally gave the audiobook a go! Glad that I did too. I have to add that I loved that he was from Baltimore, shout out to B’more! About ‘Here For It’: Here For It is a collection of essays by writer and playwright, R. Eric Thomas. In his hysterical and heartfelt essays, Eric redefines what it means to be an "other" through the lens of his own life experience. He explores the two worlds of his childhood: the barren urban landscape where his parents' house was an anomalous bright spot, and the verdant school they sent him to in white suburbia. He writes about struggling to reconcile his Christian identity with his sexuality, about the exhaustion of code-switching in college, accidentally getting famous on the internet (for the wrong reason), and the surreal experience of covering the 2016 election as well as the seismic change that came thereafter. Ultimately, Eric seeks the answer to the ever more relevant question: Is the future worth it? Why do we bother when everything seems to be getting worse? As the world continues to shift in unpredictable ways, Eric finds the answers to these questions by re-envisioning what "normal" means, and in the powerful alchemy that occurs when you at last place yourself at the center of your own story. R. Eric Thomas is a long running host of ‘The Moth in Philly & DC’, and he’s a senior staff writer for Elle.com where he writes ‘Eric Reads the News’, a daily current events and culture column. My Review: I remember hearing a lot of positive reviews about this book. Also that it was joyous and uplifting read which is exactly what I was in the mood for. I don’t often listen to Audiobooks but I definitely recommend this audiobook. It was narrated by the author himself. It felt as if he was talking directly to you and telling you all about his experiences and journey. It was an intimate audiobook and truly enjoyed listening to it. Firstly, I will say that the writing of this book was pretty exceptional. You can definitely tell that Thomas has a way with words seeing as he is a writer. It was written really well and that’s one of the very first features that I always notice about a book. But it also felt very down to earth and not too wordy which I loved! I definitely had my favorite essays and some that I wasn’t too keen on. But to be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this whole book. He has such a charming and heartfelt voice and I loved listening to his adventures and tales of how he grew up, navigated into the world, and especially loved hearing about how he actually got to his career choice. I found those parts of the book very fascinating. You just want to hang out with him and have cocktails or brunch with him. He sounds like such a lovely human being. In the book, he covers his upbringing in a very suburban setting in Baltimore, MD, his uppity suburban Ivy-League college experience, his struggles with his sexuality and religious upbringing, and the dark and unpredictable world that we currently live in as well. This book had a bit of everything mixed in it and I loved it. I really did. Here For It is about R. Eric Thomas’ upbringing, told in a series of poignant and hilarious essays that tells us how he saw the world differently, finding his own joy in this crazy world. It will be a very relatable read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, anyone who has ever felt awkward, anyone in the LGBTQ+ community and general minority group, and anyone looking for a hopeful and joyous book. I really enjoyed it and loved hearing about his journey to self acceptance too. A really funny and sweet memoir. Song Pick: This was an easy one! I wanted a joyous song, a song that makes you wanna dance, a song that is uplifting and spreads happiness, a song that absolutely fits this exciting and fun book cover. Also, it helps that the author practically picked out the song for me haha Thomas is a huge fan of this mega star artist. I chose ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)’ by the amazing Whitney Houston. I mean, who doesn’t love this song! Such a banger and I am Here For It! Genre: Non Fiction | Memoir | LGBTQ+ Pages: 264 Pages Publication Date: February 18, 2020 Publisher: Penguin Random House

Rating: 8/10 This is now my fourth B. A. Paris book that I’ve read. I seem to really like her books! I was in the mood for a suspense/psychological thriller read and B.A. Paris always delivers on that genre, so I gave this read a go. Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press for sending me a gifted advanced review copy of this thrilling read. The Therapist came out on July 13, 2021. I actually read it a while ago but I’m only just getting around to writing the review for it! Been a crazy busy few weeks for me. On to the plot! The Plot: The setting for this book was North London, UK - near Finsbury Park. (I actually used to live near Finsbury park so this brought back a lot of memories for me) We follow Alice and Leo, a new couple as they move into their new home in 'The Circle', a gated community of exclusive houses in North London. It’s everything they’ve dreamed. But appearances can be deceptive. As Alice gets to know her neighbors, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before. Alice soon becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened in the house 2 years before. But none of her neighbors want to talk about it, she soon finds out that her neighbors are keeping secrets and they’re not as perfect as they all seem.. My Review: I love a good B.A. Paris book! She always keeps you on your toes in every one of her reads. I do have to say that this particular read really creeped me out! Haha I’m one of those people who gets scared very easily and can definitely not handle scary movies so this read to me was her most frightful of all the books I’ve read by her. Haha by my standards anyways. The plot itself was interesting. I liked this idea of living in a gated community where your neighbors seem so perfect and welcoming but deep down there’s a ton of eerie secrets that people don’t want to talk about. It definitely kept you on your toes with who to trust and what the heck happened in this house 2 years prior to Alice moving in. I liked the setting of the book too because I used to live near Finsbury Park in London, so that brought back some fond memories. It had that sort of moody London feel to it which I liked. The character development was really good, there weren’t a ton of characters in the book, maybe 5 or so , but mostly you follow the young couple, Alice & Leo. Alice definitely needed some therapy of her own, although, she was a relatable character and you felt for her in the book. I do have to say, she was a bit dumb at times, but that could just be the plot of the book I guess. One of my favorite features about Paris’ books is that she always has really short and readable chapters. Her writing style is super easy and fun to read. I’ll always read her books because of that. So if you’re a lover of fast paced and domestic thriller books then definitely add this to your list. All in all, I enjoyed this book. Even though it creeped me out immensely, it was a good read. It’s one of those books that you can read whenever, it doesn’t require much effort or thinking. A straightforward past-paced read. All of Paris’ books seem to always get an 8/10 rating from me. I guess I always know what to expect with them and I’ll definitely read more from her in the future. Her books are addictive. This book was all about secrets, mourning, loss, moving on from difficult past events, and was an overall an addictive and fast paced read. Song Pick: For the song pick, I wanted a song that felt melancholy, and a song that deals with mental health. I personally like this song, it’s a beautiful song and the singer is mega talented. I also feel that Alice, the main character, would really relate to this song, wanting to punish herself, and needing to ask for help. My song pick for The Therapist is ‘Breathe Me’ by Sia. Lovely tune... Genre: Psychological Thriller | Mystery | Suspense | Domestic Thriller Pages: 298 Pages Publication Date: July 13, 2021 Publisher: St, Martin’s Press

Rating: 8/10 So I’ve been dreaming of a Florida holiday recently, and thought to myself, hm this might inspire me even more to travel to Florida soon. That hazy heat, the gorgeous beaches. Also, I loved that this was a collection of short stories which sometimes can be a fun read and less of a commitment in a book. I remember seeing quite a few celebs reading this book on the gram and thought that I definitely had to get my hands on it! With that said, I would like to say a massive thanks to Grove Press for sending me this book. I love the title of it, it totally pulls you in and makes you want to read it. About Milk Blood Heat: The setting for this book is Florida, US. Milk Blood Heat is a collection of short stories that delve into the ordinary worlds of young girls, women, and men who find themselves confronted by extraordinary moments of violent personal reckoning. These intimate portraits of people and relationships scour and soothe and blast a light on the nature of family, faith, forgiveness, consumption, and what we may, or may not, owe one another. A woman recovering from a miscarriage finds herself unable to let go of her daughter; two 13 year olds ponder and flirt with all the ways they could die; a man struggles with the fact that his wife is dying from cancer; these are just a few of the riveting stories within this lusty book. My Rating: This was an interesting and intriguing collection of short stories. Dantiel W. Moniz definitely has a completely powerful and clear point of view within her writing style and her storytelling. She flirts with the idea of morality and our short time on this earth in each and every story. It was quite harrowing and also beautiful to read. It’s almost like when you want to look away at a grotesque or a trippy and weird scene in a movie but your eyes can’t seem to leave the screen. An absolutely riveting read. The one massive great quality about this book was the writing. It was brilliantly sharp, dark, seductive and plain good ass writing! I admired Moniz for this. She truly has a way with words and is able to capture interesting and dark moods within each story. You can definitely tell that she’s a true writer in the way that this book was written and told. Highly respect her for that. If you’re a lover of lush and descriptive words then be sure to read this book. I have to say there were times where I was completely blown away by the weight and the intensity of these stories. Some stories seriously blew my mind. She really goes there, and she defies the rules of storytelling. Each story had a dark twist at the end which you never saw coming. Completely riveting. All of the characters definitely had a connection or something in common which was the struggle to grapple with this delicate and stressful life that we all have. Some stories I loved more than others. I absolutely loved the very first story titled, after the book, 'Milk Blood Heat', wow what an opener. Each one though carried it’s own weight and brilliance with the characters that she gave us throughout each story. I loved the focus on girlhood and that confusing adolescent time that all girls face. It was super raw and visceral. I also adored the setting of this book. It fit the mood of the stories really well. That sort of relentless, wild and unpredictable, destructive weather that Florida has. It’s amazing really. Fantastic setting. What a great debut from Moniz. I’ll definitely be reading more from her. I would suggest for you to give this book a chance and see how you feel after reading it. I can definitely say that I haven’t read a book like it before. It deals with loss, family, friendship, girlhood and womanhood, loss, temptation, mortality, our fragile lives, and it questions everything. I recommend this book if you are looking for a challenging and visceral collection of short stories. Song Pick: For the song pick, I knew I wanted a song by a young artist, someone in the Gen x generation. I also knew that I wanted the song to feel atmospheric, lush and wild. When I think of all those features, my mind immediately goes to Billie Eilish. The song that I chose is titled ‘Everybody Dies’ which is from her latest album, Happier Than Ever. Moody, atmospheric, raw, real. Genre: Short Stories | Contemporary Fiction Pages: 208 Pages Publication Date: February 2, 2021 Publisher: Grove/Atlantic