It’s been a while since I shared my recent reads! As always, I jump around from genre fiction to nonfiction to poetry. Here are some of my favorites from the last couple months.
Bunny—Mona Awad
This book was so good. So. It was my first time reading anything by Awad, but suffice it to say, I was hooked! Think Mean Girls meets horror set at an elite university creative writing program where they take the term kill your darlings perhaps a bit too far. This is a must read!
All’s Well—Mona Awad
After reading Bunny, I needed to read more by Mona Awad. Somehow, I enjoyed All’s Well even more! A modern retelling of Macbeth, we follow a college theater teacher/former actress with an invisible injury and the slew of doctors and chiropractors convinced the pain is all in her head. As she attempts to put on a production of All’s Well That Ends Well, she makes a treacherous deal with consequences for everyone.
Remarkably Bright Creatures—Shelby Van Pelt
This book was so heartwarming! We follow three people and learn how their lives intertwine: Tova, a widow and grieving mother who works at an aquarium; Cameron, a young man trying to find his birth parents so they can repay him for the life he should’ve had; and Marcellus, the observant and wise octopus who may be one of my all time favorite book characters.
The Midnight Feast—Lucy Foley
Lucy Foley mysteries have always been a huge inspiration for me. Her latest did not disappoint! Set in a woodland resort, we follow several characters and learn about the harrowing past of the land the resort inhabits and the treacherous secret people would kill to keep quiet. Filled with local folklore and a deliciously sinister “eat the rich” narrative, I couldn’t get enough of this one!
On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay To Be Good—Elise Loehnen
A nonfiction deep dive into the origin of the seven deadly sins (originally eight) and their roots in patriarchy, this book was fascinating! It has completely reframed the way I view these and the inherited guilt women have felt for generations.
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language—Amanda Montell
I love Amanda Montell. After reading Cultish last year and The Magical Age of Overthinking earlier this year, I was so excited to get my hands on Wordslut. You could tell this was a passion project of Montell’s and her vivacity and enthusiasm was contagious. This book explores the origins of words and what the language we use really says about our society.
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments—Aimee Nezhukumatathil
This book was mesmerizing! A series of nonfiction essays that felt part memoir, part poetry, I was captivated by the elegant words and beautiful artwork. A must read for any nature lover!
The Carrying: Poems—Ada Limón
Limón has been a longtime favorite of mine. This collection was stunning and harrowing and heartbreaking all at once. My personal favorite from the collection was “The Vulture & the Body”, “Carrying”, and “Love Poem with Apologies for my Appearance”.
American Primitive: Poems—Mary Oliver
The beauty of Mary Oliver poems are their simplicity and vivid imagery. I adored this collection! “Fall Song” felt especially relevant to welcome in the season: “Another year gone, leaving everywhere/its rich spiced residues”. Other favorites included “In Blackwater Woods” and “The Gardens”.
The Moon That Turns You Back: Poems—Hala Alyan
This was my first time reading poetry by Alyan and I was blown away! The poems were so creative and unique, playing with format and content in ways I would’ve never imagined. I particularly loved the “Interactive Fiction” poems, “Relapse Dream Ending with my Grandmother’s Hands”, “Topography”, “Key”, “Figment”, and “Strike [Air]”. Though if I’m being honest, it feels impossible to pick favorites when this entire book was so stunning. This is a collection I’ll be returning to very soon!
I hope you enjoyed these recommendations. I’d love to hear in the comments what books you’ve been enjoying lately. And as always, happy reading!
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