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Contemporary Fiction

November 2020: Books I Read

December 5, 2020      milelongtbr      27 Comments

Hi, friends!

Another month in the books! I’m glad to say November was one of my best reading months of the year! How was reading for you this past month?

In November I read 12 books, which Is awesome for me, especially as there are a couple of thick ones among them.

While I deviated from my original Nonfiction November TBR, half of the titles I read were nonfiction. I’m beyond pleased with that number!

I enjoyed all the books I read this month- some more than others- so I have them all listed here broken into two groups. There are books I loved and books I enjoyed.

Let’s jump in to my November 2020 reads!


LOVED!!


1. Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything

First off, let’s look at this fun read!

Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything – from driving on the highway to beans. Yes, beans. Especially Willow Bean, the woman she finds her husband sleeping with and eventually leaves her for. 

This book is laugh-out-loud funny, relatable, and inspiring all at once and manages to be both fun and thought-provoking. 

I especially loved Agatha’s character arc and growth. She may be an unlikely heroine, but you’ll find yourself rooting for her by the end of the book. (Think Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette Fox)

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy.


2. Becoming

For one reason or another I hadn’t read this book despite seeing nothing but glowing reviews for it. I decided this was the perfect book to start off Nonfiction November with- and I’m so glad I did!

I loved hearing Michelle’s account of her life. From growing up in Chicago to her life in the White House and her struggles as a woman. Despite her notoriety, her story is relatable and the warmth she brings to it through her narration makes it so comforting. That’s why we love her so much, after all.


3. A Promised Land

Again, I feel like I’d be the least likely person to pick up this book- anything over 400 pages is a commitment for me and I don’t especially gravitate towards political nonfiction.

Still, I couldn’t resist picking up the 700page first volume of 44’s account of his time in office- or the opportunity to hear him tell his own story on audio.

President Obama is wordy- he’s the first to admit it, but I love the way he speaks and writes as he explains so many of his decisions and struggles during his tenure as president.

This is an intimate look into the office as well as how a man balances family with one of the most demanding jobs on earth. Highly worth the read and I can’t recommend the audio enough.


4. Hood Feminism

This powerful collection of essays is a call to action t enure Intersectional Feminism isn’t just a catchphrase but a movement that makes feminism inclusive for all. I love this book for showing certain topics in a different light that some may not have considered and for taking the time to explain how things are feminist issues.

Hood Feminism should be required reading for those who consider themselves feminists- and everyone else- to see why feminism for all is so important.

5. The Midnight Library

Sometimes I’m wary of super-hyped books, but I just knew that The Midnight Library was going to be a five-star read for me.

In Haig’s latest, he imagines a place between life in death- a library filled with books of other lives we might have lived if we’d made different choices.

This is a introspective and emotional read- I had tears in my eyes a few times in the early chapters, but as the main character Nora is dealing with the loss of a pet it may have been a little close to home for me.

This is definitely a standout book for me- the end didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was expecting- possibly because I seemed to be realizing much of what was happening a step or two ahead of Nora- but that didn’t stop me from appreciating it in the least.

Definitely pick this book up and see for yourself what the buzz is all about!


6. Wow, No Thank You

Wow, No Thank You is a hilarious collection of essays on a wide range of subjects from her personal struggles to things all of us are sure to relate to. I love her deadpan sense of humor and observational wit.

This is my first time reading Irby but I definitely plan on reading her earlier books next time I’m in need of a good laugh!


7. Don’t Overthink It

I am prone to overthink everything, including my overthinking, especially in these times.

@annebogel had great practical advice on the subject and offeres many ways to streamline small decisions we make daily that can lead us to feel overwhelmed and indecisive.

I will definitely read through this book again to come up with a plan to put some of the ideas in action.

Anne narrates the audio version, which is perfect because many of us know her voice from her podcasts.

Overall I highly recommend this one if you have a tendency to overthink things and would like to save yourself that energy.


8. Apple: (Skin to the Core)

Apple (skin to the core) is a moving memoir in verse by Eric Gansworth,  is “a member of Eel clan, enrolled Onondaga, born and raised at the Tuscarora Nation.”

The verse is haunting and well-crafted but for me the real beauty came in the name and structure of the book. Gansworth reclaimed a racial slur used against him and drew a number of parallels to The Beatles and their music, albums and history, which he explains at the end.

I listened to this as an audiobook and while I enjoyed hearing the author narrate, there is other content to consider as well. Gansworth is a visual artist as well as a writer, so be sure to check out the accompanying artwork which is included in the print edition.

Many thanks to Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media, LLC for the ALC.

9. Hunger

Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist stands as one of my all-time favorite nonfiction reads. With that in mind I was excited to read this book, which explores her relationship with her body and food.

This book is moving and gives a look into a life and how those with larger bodies than are socially accepted are often mistreated. As always, the writing here is concise and compelling and I’m glad I read it.


Enjoyed!!

10. The Cul-de-Sac War

First of the books I liked is this fun enemies to lovers romance with lots of pranks as these neighbors try to one-up each other.

I really enjoyed the characters and their antics, as well as how the eventually see past their misconceptions.

All the elements going on in the story really added to the experience. There was more character growth than I expected and it made for a well-rounded read.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Kate Rudd was a good choice as a narrator and I highly recommend the audio format for this book. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advance copy.


11. We Met In December

Next up is this darling contemporary romance! This friends to lovers romance set in London is a lot of fun and just as sweet.

These housemates looking to shake up their lives found a deal renting from a friend- with the caveat that they aren’t allowed to date.

Over the course of a year they spend time together as friends- but this rule and a few other things stand in the way of making it more than that.

The book starts at Christmastime and circles back to end there too, so this is a fun light holiday read and was perfect to listen to while decorating to get into the Christmas spirit!


12. All Stirred Up





Finally, we have this Persuasion retelling!

All Stirred Up is a fun read, though not quite the light rom-com I was expecting. There was more focus on familial relationships, delicious food descriptions. But, that only made it an interesting and more complex novel- just like your favorite dish.

The audio version was great- loved the accents- and was an enjoyable way to experience this second chance romance and Austen reimagining.

Many thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.


There you have it! All the books in the first group were standouts and highly recommend them!

Have you read any of the books from my November 2020 reading list?

Let me know which ones you’re excited to get your hands on, and what your favorite November 2020 read was!

20+ Books The Gilmore Girls Have Been Reading Lately

October 7, 2020      milelongtbr      1 Comment

Over the course of seven seasons and four revival episodes, over 400 books were read and referred to by the characters of Gilmore Girls.

This is the show for book lovers, so I thought it would be fun to put together a list of what some of our favorite characters may have been reading since we last caught up with them.

Though with the way the A Year in the Life ended the book Rory might be picking up first is a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, I’m choosing to ignore the final four words and come up with title more suited to her interests.

For the purposes of this list, which is just for fun, I’m focusing on titles that were not mentioned on the show and which were published within the past five years, since 2015.

70 Most Relatable Gilmore Girls Moments For Bibliophiles

Take a look and see what I think everyone would be reading these days, and which title you’d like to add to your own TBR list.

Rory 

Becoming by Michelle Obama

No doubt after spending time on Barak’s campaign trail Rory would be eager to learn more about the former first lady. My guess is that she’d even have a signed copy. 

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel 

Science Fictions books didn’t feature heavily on Rory’s reading list in the show, but I feel that the pandemic would have made her want to read this literary novel about preserving art and literature in end times. I can also see her reading The Plague by Albert Camus, though I’m leaning toward more current titles for this list. 

Sanditon by Jane Austen, Kate Riordan 

I feel like Rory, Jane Austen fan that she is, wouldn’t have been able to resist checking out the new imagining of Janes unfinished novel. I imagine her doing a buddy read with Paris and them sending each other texts criticizing it while they read. 

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 

Alias Grace and The Handmaid’s Tale is on the Rory Gilmore Reading List, so I’m sure she was as excited to get her hands on the sequel as many of us were.

This one gets bonus points since Alexis Bledel had a role in the Hulu adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Rory would love the beautiful writing in King’s latest novel, and I think she’d be able to relate to many parts of the story as well. The main character is a struggling writer struggling to figure out what to do next, and the New England setting is close to home for Rory. 

The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead 

I’m sure Rory would keep up with books that have won literary awards, and two-time Pulitzer winner Colson Whitehead’s books would definitely be on her radar. I think Rory would be read this and The Underground Railroad before diving into the rest of his backlist. 

Our Women on the Ground

Our girl Rory enjoyed reading essays, and I’m sure she’d have been interested in this feminitst collection. Her idol Christiane Amanpour writing the forward would definitely earn this book on Rory’s TBR.


Lorelai 

Oona out of Order by Margarita Montimore 

Fun, funky, and full of retro pop culture references, I feel like this would be a book that Lorelai would love, especially since she said in season six she found time travel interesting. She may have been joking, but I still feel she’d enjoy Oona’s story and relate to her difficult relationship with her mother. 

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Furiously Happy is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read and I think Lawson’s sense of humor would be right up Lorelai’s alley. Some of Lawson’s adventures and thoughts are very Lorelai-esque, and she’d have a lot of fun reading it and calling Rory to tell her some of the funny things.

Daisy Jones and the Six

Me by Elton John 

Elton John’s autobiography has generated a lot of buzz, and I think Lorelai would love hearing about his life and epic career. She’s mentioned his music a number of times throughout the duration of the show, and it would be a great throwback to her youth.


Emily 

The Home Edit Life 


After a brush with The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up in the revival I feel like she’d be interested in this lifestyle book as well. While I can’t necessarily see Emily embracing THE’s rainbow style, I can see her recruiting them to help her reorganize her kitchen –and then bragging to her DAR friends about it.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Ove deals with the loss of his longtime spouse in the book, so this is one Emily could relate to and find comfort in after Richard’s death. It’s a heartwarming book, and I think she’d come to love it, even if she was hesitant about picking it up at first.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

As much as we love the Gilmore girls, it’s hard to deny that their world is one with a great amount of privilege. I think Rory and Lorelai would have worked through this book and then passed it along to Emily so she could try to reexamine things.


Jess

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

This book has a lot of commentary about

Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk

Jess just seems like a Palahniuk guy to me, you know? I think he’d appreciate the satire and dark humor and this one, and would probably be checking out the latest by the author, The Invention of Sound.


Lane


I think Lane would have loved a bit of escapism in the form of reading about rockstars and what it was like on the road. At one point Lane might have wanted a life like Daisy’s, but I don’t think she’d trade being a mom for anything.

Lane is about the same age as the title character in this book. I think she’d be interested in reading this one by a South Korean author that discusses a number of aspects of the country’s culture and society.


April

As a preteen April loved Judy Blume, so I find it likely that she’d want to try the author’s latest novel for adults.

Letters From an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry may have been too elementary for a science buff like April, but I think she would love hearing Tyson’s humorous and well-thought out responses to some of the letters he’s received.

Endurance by Scott Kelly

April would also love a firsthand account of one of the few people on Earth who have been to space.


Sookie


Sookie was reading “S is for Silence in Season 7, so I think she’d be reading the final installment of Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series.

A classically inspired romance where one of the characters is a chef would be a fun read for Sookie.


Paris

Paris is one of the strongest feminist characters on the show, so Hood Feminism is one that would be high on her TBR.

My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Paris was always looking to women in government as role models, so I think she’d have been eager for more insight into the late Justice’s life.

Rodham is a reimagining of Hillar’s life in a world where she didn’t marry Bill Clinton. I think Paris would love this story, and it would be one of her top contemporary fiction picks of the year.


Well, there you go! My best guess at what our beloved bookish Gilmore Girls characters have been reading lately.

I’d love to hear what you think!

Which picks do you agree-or disagree with- and what other titles would you add? Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out the 70 Best Bookish Moments from the show.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: Review

September 8, 2020      milelongtbr      10 Comments

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman review

” The problem is that everything is relative. Happiness is based on expectations”

Fredrik Backman, Anxious People. 

Fredrik Backman’s latest book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020. I adore everything of his I’ve ever read. When the early feedback started coming in I saw one rave review after the next as I anxiously awaited my own copy. Needless to say, my expectations for Anxious People were high.

Still, I tried to keep them realistic- surely not every book the man writes can be a masterpiece.


Keep reading this full review to see whether Anxious People lives up and deserves a spot on your own TBR, whether you’re new to the world of Fredrik Backman, or a devoted follower like myself.


Synopsis:

This is the part where I’m supposed to tell you what the book is about.

Anyone familiar with literary fiction in general and Backman in particular knows a simple summary couldn’t do justice to the work as a whole.

I could try to tell you the premise of the story, but thankfully the author has done that for me. I’ll just use his words.

“This is the story about a bank robbery, an apartment viewing, and a hostage drama, but even more it’s a story about idiots. But, perhaps not only that.”


Fredrik Backman, Anxious People


To say it’s not only about these things is an understatement.

Yes, there is an attempted robbery, and a hostage situation that evolves into a locked room mystery.

There is also a procedural element as two small-town-cops-turned-hostage-negotiators try to free the hostages and identify the perpetrator.

But idiots? I can confirm this description applies to the characters in the book. And why would you want to read a book about a group of idiots?

To answer that question I can only defer again to Mr. Backman.

“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots. So it needs saying from the outset that it’s very easy to declare that other people are idiots, but only if you forget how idiotically difficult being human is. Especially if you have other people you’re trying to be a reasonably good human being for.”

Fredrik Backman, Anxious People

Analysis:

To be an idiot is human.

I’m paraphrasing both Alexander Pope and Fredrik Backman here, but I feel that this really could be the adage of modern times.

Simply put, there is no other author today who writes about what it is to be human with the insight and emotion that Backman does.

Or, as he demonstrates here, who writes about idiots with such compassion and truth.

This book is everything Backman fans have come to love and expect of him. From the signature simple writing style to the nuanced story full of emotional surprises and alternating timelines, it’s a comfort for those who love the feel of his books.

Anxious People is a largely character-driven novel and it’s the ensemble cast of quirky idiotic misfits that make the book shine.

There are more than ten key characters, each with complex backstories and unique personalities. It’s easy to imagine this could be a case of too much information. Or that there wouldn’t be enough about some of them to give us insight into their lives.

Again, Backman strikes a perfect balance, giving us glimpses into these characters and the result is the characters are like no one we’ve ever met before, almost too rediculous to be real at times. And yet, they’re all of us- flawed, struggling, and deeply human.

As in most of his books, there’s exploration of difficult subjects, the predominant one in Anxious People being suicide. It is discussed multiple times from various viewpoints since it’s something that’s made an impact on many of the characters.

Overall, I think the topic was handled sensitively, though I can see how it being discussed so much in the book may be difficult for some.

There are so many parts of this book that made me start to tear up, but just as many that had me laughing out loud.

The dark humor was expertly executed and gave another level to an already fantastic book. When the hostage situation is underway, part of the irony is that the strangers held at gunpoint end up being more trying for the would-be bank robber than the other way around.

The characters from this small Swedish town are emphatically not Stockholmers. Yet they each come to empathize with their captor- and each other- before they leave the apartment.

The beauty in this book is how the lives of these unlikely strangers are woven together; their pasts, presents, and possibly even futures. They each have something to learn, something to teach one another and help one each other. And maybe, with enough kindness, the whirlwind events of the day will leave them all in a more hopeful place than they were when it began.


Takeaway:


Perhaps every book Fredrik Backman writes won’t be a masterpiece, but Anxious People won’t be the one to break the spell.

Not only did the book live up to the hype and my personal expectations- it’s easily a front-runner for my favorite book of the year.

All the stars for this beautiful, beautiful book.

It’s one I recommend to everyone, regardless of the genres they typically gravitate to because of the way it deals with the human condition- something that applies to us all.

Thank you to libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and the opportunity to review this book.

Content Warning:

suicide, infidelity, loss, of partner, grief, divorce, hostage situation, mental health topics


The Switch by Beth O’Leary Review

August 18, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

The Switch has been one of my most anticipated book releases of the year, and it’s finially here! Keep reading to see if it lived up to my expectations- and the high standard set by Beth O’Leary’s debut novel The Flatshare.


Synopsis:

The Switch is a charming novel about two women- grandmother and granddaughter who both find themselves in need of a change of scenery.

When Leena is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical from her high-pressure job in London, she decides to go her grandma Eileen’s house in the English countryside for a change of pace.

Eileen, almost 70 and newly single, needs a change of pace as well and decides to switch lives with her granddaughter.

She moves to London and starts online dating while Leena stays in her hometown and tries to mend her relationship with her mother and unplug from her hectic corporate life.


Analysis:

Obviously, there are growing pains as each woman adjusts to her new life, and this provides some great comedy as Elieen learns about dating in the age of technology, and Leena has to learn to live without her devices.

This book was so much more than a cute comedy, though.

In the style I’m coming to expect from Beth, she discusses some darker things; in this case grief and loss.

While the plot of The Switch seems very different from the Flatshare, they are both lovely books with similarities. They explore family relationships, juxtapose serious realities with fun, charming story lines, and have characters you can’t help loving.


Audiobook Review:

This was such an endearing and fun story, and I love the dual narrators who brought the story to life. They did a great job with the characters of Leena and Eileen and kept the pacing of the book consistent.

This book is a great one to listen to on Audio. You can listen on Libro.fm and get a free book for signing up!


Takeaway:

I absolutely adored this book. It’s such a heartwarming read, and offers a much-needed escape and breath of fresh air to your summer TBR. It really is the feel-good book we need right now.

I definitely recommend The Switch- and considering the audiobook format if that’s something you enjoy.

I rated the book four-stars, though looking back I can easily see myself rounding up to five-stars of pure joy.

Many thanks to Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the advance listening copy.

Upcoming General Fiction by BIPOC Authors

June 7, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

Fiction by BIPOC

Recently I’ve seen many great diverse reading lists pop up around the internet but wanted to extend this to highlight upcoming releases of fiction by BIPOC authors.

With so many of us committing to diversifying our reading in light of current events, it’s important to remember to keep reading books from BIOPC authors even when it’s not “trendy.”

Keeping up with upcoming book releases can be a great way to do that Whether you’re looking for books to keep your teens busy this summer or want to get lost in a good read yourself, this is the perfect list.

This list features 9 books from BIPOC authors in general fiction. They’re all are set to be published in the next few months and are currently available to read now or request on NetGalley.

If you have already bought and read other recommended titles by BIPOC authors, are on a tight budget, or simply want to help amplify BIPOC writers by supporting their emerging titles, this can be a fantastic way to get more relevant titles to read.

I have listed the publisher and scheduled U.S. publication date with each title, but please bear in mind that these may vary based on your country and that COVID-19 has impacted a number of publication dates, so these are subject to change.

Unlike most of my recommendations, the books on this list are not all ones which I have read personally, but am suggesting for those trying to find new and diverse fiction by BIPOC.

They all sound like great choices, and if you aren’t approved through NetGalley I’d consider preordering a physical copy from a Black-owned bookstore.


Fiction by BIPOC Authors

A Girl is A Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

This book is set to be published on 01 September 2020 by Tin House. 

NetGalley Description:

“International-award-winning author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s novel is a sweeping and powerful portrait of a young girl and her family: who they are, what history has taken from them, and—most importantly—how they find their way back to each other.

In her twelfth year, Kirabo, a young Ugandan girl, confronts a piercing question that has haunted her childhood: who is my mother? Kirabo has been raised by women in the small village of Nattetta—her grandmother, her best friend, and her many aunts, but the absence of her mother follows her like a shadow. Complicating these feelings of abandonment, as Kirabo comes of age she feels the emergence of a mysterious second self, a headstrong and confusing force inside her at odds with her sweet and obedient nature.

Seeking answers, Kirabo begins spending afternoons with Nsuuta, a local witch, trading stories and learning not only about this force inside her, but about the woman who birthed her, who she learns is alive but not ready to meet. Nsuuta also explains that Kirabo has a streak of the “first woman”—an independent, original state that has been all but lost to women.

Kirabo’s journey to reconcile her rebellious origins, alongside her desire to reconnect with her mother and to honor her family’s expectations, is rich in the folklore of Uganda and an arresting exploration of what it means to be a modern girl in a world that seems determined to silence women. Makumbi’s unforgettable novel is a sweeping testament to the true and lasting connections between history, tradition, family, friends, and the promise of a different future.

About the Author:     

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize and her first novel, Kintu, won the Kwani Manuscript Project Prize in 2013 and was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize in 2014. Her story “Let’s Tell This Story Properly” was the global winner of the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Jennifer lives in Manchester, UK with her husband and son.”


His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

This book is set to be published on 01 September 2020 by Algonquin Books. 

NetGalley Description :

“Elikem married me in absentia; he did not come to our wedding.”

Afi Tekple is a young seamstress whose life is narrowing rapidly. She lives in a small town in Ghana with her widowed mother, spending much of her time in her uncle Pious’s house with his many wives and children. Then one day she is offered a life-changing opportunity—a proposal of marriage from the wealthy family of Elikem Ganyo, a man she doesn’t truly know. She acquiesces, but soon realizes that Elikem is not quite the catch he seemed. He sends a stand-in to his own wedding, and only weeks after Afi is married and installed in a plush apartment in the capital city of Accra does she meet her new husband. It turns out that he is in love with another woman, whom his family disapproves of; Afi is supposed to win him back on their behalf. But it is Accra that eventually wins Afi’s heart and gives her a life of independence that she never could have imagined for herself.

A brilliant scholar and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, author Peace Adzo Medie infuses her debut novel with intelligence and humor. For readers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Candice Carty-Williams, His Only Wife is the story of an indomitable and relatable heroine that illuminates what it means to be a woman in a rapidly changing world.


Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

This book is published by Park Row (Harlequin) and is scheduled for release 16 June 2020.

NetGalley Description:

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by The Every Girl, PureWow, Book Riot, Library Journal and more.

“Forever and to the end. That’s what they say instead of I love you.”

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it’s a devastating loss that leaves her on her own with her violent father. While she receives many condolences, her best friend, Layla, is the only one who understands how this puts Ruby in jeopardy.

Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla uncovers the murky loyalties and dangerous secrets that have bound their families together for generations. Only by facing this legacy of trauma head-on will Ruby be able to break free.

An unforgettable debut novel, Saving Ruby King is a powerful testament that history doesn’t determine the present and the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future. 


Memorial by Bryan Washington

This book is set to be published on 06 October 2020 by Riverhead Books. 

NetGalley Description:

“This book, in what feels like a new vision for the 21st century novel, made me happy.” —Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

“This book made me think about the nature of love, and family, and anger, and grief, and love again.”  —Jasmine Guillory, author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal

What happens when a love story collides with the limits of love–and everyone has an opinion?

Benson and Mike are two young guys who live together in Houston. Mike is a Japanese American chef at a Mexican restaurant and Benson’s a black day care teacher, and they’ve been together for a few years — good years — but now they’re not sure why they’re still a couple. There’s the sex, sure, and the meals Mike cooks for Benson, and, well, they love each other.

But when Mike finds out his estranged father is dying in Osaka just as his acerbic Japanese mother, Mitsuko, arrives in Texas for a visit, Mike picks up and flies across the world to say goodbye. In Japan he undergoes an extraordinary transformation, discovering the truth about his family and his past. Back home, Mitsuko and Benson are stuck living together as unconventional roommates, an absurd domestic situation that ends up meaning more to each of them than they ever could have predicted. Without Mike’s immediate pull, Benson begins to push outwards, realizing he might just know what he wants out of life and have the goods to get it.

Both men will change in ways that will either make them stronger together, or fracture everything they’ve ever known. And just maybe they’ll all be okay in the end. Memorial is a funny and profound story about family in all its strange forms, joyful and hard-won vulnerability, becoming who you’re supposed to be, and the limits of love.


Buck Black by Mateo Askaipour


This book will be published on 19 January 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

NetGalley Description:

For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street—a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems.

There’s nothing like a black salesman on a mission.

An unambitious twenty-two-year-old, Darren lives in a Bed-Stuy brownstone with his mother, who wants nothing more than to see him live up to his potential as the valedictorian of Bronx Science. But Darren is content working at Starbucks in the lobby of a Midtown office building, hanging out with his girlfriend, Soraya, and eating his mother’s home-cooked meals. All that changes when a chance encounter with Rhett Daniels, the silver-tongued CEO of Sumwun, NYC’s hottest tech startup, results in an exclusive invitation for Darren to join an elite sales team on the thirty-sixth floor.

After enduring a “hell week” of training, Darren, the only black person in the company, reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman unrecognizable to his friends and family. But when things turn tragic at home and Buck feels he’s hit rock bottom, he begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate America’s sales force, setting off a chain of events that forever changes the game.

Black Buck is a hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.


Luster by Raven Leilani

This book is scheduled to be published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux on 04 August 2020. 

NetGalley Description:

“Exacting, hilarious, and deadly . . . A writer of exhilarating freedom and daring.” —Zadie Smith, Harper’s Bazaar

“Impossible to put down.” —Ling Ma, author of Severance

No one wants what no one wants.

And how do we even know what we want? How do we know we’re ready to take it?

Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties—sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She is also haltingly, fitfully giving heat and air to the art that simmers inside her. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage—with rules.

As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren’t hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and invited into Eric’s home—though not by Eric. She becomes a hesitant ally to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie may be the only black woman young Akila knows.

Irresistibly unruly and strikingly beautiful, razor-sharp and slyly comic, sexually charged and utterly absorbing, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life—her hunger, her anger—in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent, and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.


The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

This book is scheduled to be published on

NetGalley Description:

Margot Lee’s mother, Mina, isn’t returning her calls. It’s a mystery to twenty-six-year-old Margot, until she visits her childhood apartment in Koreatown, LA, and finds that her mother has suspiciously died. The discovery sends Margot digging through the past, unraveling the tenuous strings that held together her single mother’s life as a Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant, only to realize how little she truly knew about her mother.

Interwoven with Margot’s present-day search is Mina’s story of her first year in Los Angeles as she navigates the promises and perils of the American myth of reinvention. While she’s barely earning a living by stocking shelves at a Korean grocery store, the last thing Mina ever expects is to fall in love. But that love story sets in motion a string of events that have consequences for years to come, leading up to the truth of what happened the night of her death.

Told through the intimate lens of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand each other, The Last Story of Mina Lee is both a gripping page-turner and a profound family saga that explores identity, secrets and what it truly means to belong.


The White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha

This book is scheduled to be published on

NetGalley Description:

Grey’s Anatomy meets Scrubs in this brilliant debut novel about a young doctor’s struggle to survive residency, love, and life. 

Having spent the last twenty-something years with her nose in a textbook, brilliant and driven Norah Kapadia has just landed the medical residency of her dreams. But after a disastrous first day, she’s ready to quit. Disgruntled patients, sleep deprivation, and her duty to be the “perfect Indian daughter” have her questioning her future as a doctor.

Enter chief resident Ethan Cantor. He’s everything Norah aspires to be: respected by the attending physicians, calm during emergencies, and charismatic with his patients. And as he morphs from Norah’s mentor to something more, it seems her luck is finally changing.

But when a fatal medical mistake is made, pulling Norah into a cover-up, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the secret. What if “doing no harm” means putting herself at risk?


Aria by Nazanine Hozar

This book is scheduled to be published on

NetGalley Description:

An extraordinary, cinematic saga of rags-to-riches-to-revolution–called a “Doctor Zhivago of Iran” by Margaret Atwood–that follows an orphan girl coming of age at a time of dramatic upheaval.

It is the 1950s in a restless Iran, a country rich in oil but deeply divided by class and religion. The government is unpopular and corrupt and under foreign sway. One night, an illiterate army driver hears the pitiful cry of a baby abandoned in an alley and menaced by ravenous wild dogs. He snatches the child up and takes her home, naming her Aria–the first step on an unlikely path from deprivation to privilege. Over the next two decades, the orphan girl acquires three mother figures whose secrets she willonly learn much later: reckless and self-absorbed Zahra, who abuses her; wealthy and compassionate Fereshteh, who adopts her; and mysterious Mehri, whose connection to Aria is both a blessing and a burden. A university education opens a new world to Aria, and she is soon caught up in the excitement and danger of the popular uprising against the Shah that sweeps through the streets of Tehran. The novel’s heart-pounding, explosive finale sees the Ayatollah Khomeini’s brutal regime seize power–even as Aria falls in love and becomes a mother herself.

Nazanine Hozar’s stunning debut gives us an unusually intimate view of a momentous time, through the eyes of a young woman coming to terms with the mysteries of her own past and future.


The books on this list are a great starting point for upcoming general fiction by BIPOC authors.

Please keep publication dates in mind as reading and posting timely and constructive reviews to retail sites is a great way to amplify BIPOC voices.

And, of course, also consider requesting your local library buy these books, purchasing a copy for family or friends (preferably from a Black-owned bookstore), posting honest favorable reviews to retailer sites, and searching for backlist titles by one of these authors.

Start reading this fiction by BIPOC authors and stay tuned for more upcoming own voice titles in nonfiction.

Review: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

May 26, 2020      milelongtbr      Leave a Comment

Lian Dolan’s new novel, The Sweeney Sisters not only has one of the most stunning covers released this year; it’s also a great book to add to your Summer TBR. If you’re looking for an engrossing read full of family secrets and strong women keep reading this full review of The Sweeney Sisters.

Synopsis:

Their trademark red hair may be the only thing the three Sweeney sisters have in common.

First there’s family-centered Eliza, who lives only a few blocks from the house they grew up in Connecticut, caring for her children and husband along with her widowed father.

Then there is the artistic “Mad” Maggie who goes sheds men and careers regularly in an effort to find herself.

Finally, career-focused Tricia, climbing the corporate ladder at her New York law firm without much time for anything resembling a personal life.

But despite very different personalities, the Sweeney sisters have always had an unbreakable bond.

Then their father, acclaimed author Bill Sweeney, unexpectedly dies.

The sisters know they can count on each other as they try to make sense of the loss and try to make arrangements to settle his estate.

They don’t count on the mess he left behind.

There’s no money, a sketchy literary agent skimming royalties, and a long-lost half-sister they never knew about.

Serena, the unacknowledged daughter of Bill Sweeney, inherited a love of writing from the father she never got to have a relationship with.

Will Serena always be an outsider, or will she be able to become one of them and be embraced as the fourth Sweeney Sister?

Or does her presence threaten the lifelong bond of the other three, along with their father’s legacy?

Analysis:

The Sweeney Sisters beautifully combines the nuance and themes of family drama, with the heart and warmth of women’s fiction. It really is the best of both genres, having equal amounts of sharpness and sentimentality.

The four central women in this story couldn’t be more different, but they do have two things in common: their red hair and their complexity.

All the characters in the book have a level of nuance to them, but especially so with the four daughters of the late literary giant Bill Sweeney.

I’m impressed with Dolan’s care in making these women believable and multifacated, along with the journey they each embark on in the book. Not a single one of the four ends the novel in the same place, emotionally or physically, that she started in. All of the transformations are believable and in character. Instead of outright changing, Dolan paints each woman as coming into her own and being a fuller, truer version of the self they were all along.

In addition to stunning characters as individuals, The Sweeney Sisters explores familial bonds of every kind. From the friction between the very different sisters, to each of their personal relationships, to their collective disillusionment with their larger than life father after his death, the Sweeney girls give ample opportunity to dissect the complex emotions and relationships in our lives.

The novel also explores small-town life and the struggle to keep up appearances. These themes are not developed as well as the family dynamics, but it adds another dimension to the story, which is nice.

Unlike with some character-driven novels, the plot felt fresh and moved along steadily as the sisters navigated life without their father. The plot is enjoyable and satisfying, but getting to know these four women is what will draw the reader in most.

Ultimately, the novel ends in a way that has enough of the loose ends tied up to satisfy, while still giving the impression that the women are moving forward. They may not have everything in their lives completely in place, but they’ve certainly come a long way. The ending stays true to the characters and leaves them in a hopeful place, which was a good choice from Dolan.

Takeaway:

The Sweeney Sisters is a charming, five-star family drama with a lot of heart. It’s definitely one you should read if you’re looking for something balanced right between light and thoughtful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advance copy in return for an honest review of The Sweeney Sisters.

Content Warning:

divorce, sudden death of parent, cancer, miscarriage, infidelity, depression

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I’m Danielle and I have a mile long TBR!

You can usually find me surrounded by books and cats, listening to an audiobook and designing something cute.

I love making new bookish friends and am so glad you’re here!

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milelongtbr

Name a better way to spend a Caturday morning.. I' Name a better way to spend a Caturday morning.. I'll wait!

I'm spending some time cuddled on the couch with sweet Neera, and reading Dark Corners by @megangoldinauthor , which I started last night. It's a highly anticipated title for me and so far I'm really enjoying it! 

Most (basically all) of my reading this year has been via audiobook, so this is a very welcome change of pace. 

Hope your weekend starts just as peacefully and hi to all of you!
The bookish advent calendar is here! This amazing The bookish advent calendar is here! 
This amazing holiday gift for bibliophiles is the perfect way to treat your self or your #bookishbesties💕 to an amazing holiday season 
 
There's a mix of holiday items and shop favorites that can be enjoyed all year, and there are a number of items exclusive to the calendar. It's filled with all kinds of bookish goodies!

They're on sale and quantities are limited, so get yours now! SHOP @milelongtbrboutique link in bio!
Just a little shelfie for you today. These shelve Just a little shelfie for you today.

These shelves sure have filled out since I last posted them. Pretty accurate, my tbr is pulling up and I'm making almost no progress in it!

Miss ya, bookstagram! 💛
Happy Caturday from sweet Scribbles! I absolutely Happy Caturday from sweet Scribbles! I absolutely love it when she sits like this.. too cute ! 😻

After finishing a book last night I have a question for y'all... do you prefer a book ending that neatly ties everything up, or an ending that leaves you wanting more because it ends in the midst of things? 

The book I was reading ended mid conversation... and I think that was a very powerful (and mildly infuriating) choice, but it worked!
Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also lo Really, this pic is for the flowers, but I also loved Good Company by @cynthiadsweeney which I read last year. Her characters and their messy and real relationships stay in my mind long after I finish reading.
I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here I took no vacation photos from this trip, but here's an obligatory plane photo from the trip home. 

What's the best part about coming home from vacation for you? Im looking forward to my bed and seeing the cats!
✨Book recommendations needed! ✨ I'm looking f ✨Book recommendations needed! ✨

I'm looking for something very specific, and am hoping you awesome Bookstagram folks can help.

If my library haul doesn't give it away, I'm looking for literary fiction. Two of these titles I've read and loved (Silver Sparrow and Good Company) -the rest were titles that called to me, but not exactly what I was looking for. 

I've already gone through the blacklists of these two authors, plus Lily King,  Emily St John Mandel. Books with stories like This is Where I Leave You, The Sweeney Sisters.

Specifically, I'm looking for something:

💛written and set in the set in 21st century (this is most important to me-most of what I've been able to find is period and I need contemporary) 

💛 Preferably set in US/Canada

💛 Priority to female authors 

💛Dealing with dysfunctional family; themes of blood, home, self-discovery

💛Angsty adult characters 

💛 Full of beautiful writing 

💛 Setting that becomes central to story, esp. a small town or family home

💛Nothing too genre; speculative/scifi, romance, whatever. Looking for pure lit fic or contemporary fiction with literary bend. 

It's a long shot and I know I'm being picky, but if you can recommend something close to the above, I'd be eternally grateful! 💛
Don't think I could have fit another book in this Don't think I could have fit another book in this tote if i tried! 😂

I've been enjoying flipping through what I checked out during my latest library haul, but I couldn't resist snapping a pic before taking them out of the bag. Especially not when everything was so coordinated and the lighting was perfection.

I'm trying to get back into this Bookstagram thing- I've missed y'all too much!
On Wednesday we... A. Wear pink B. Read Toni C. S On Wednesday we...

A. Wear pink
B. Read Toni
C. Smash the Patriarchy
D. All of the Above

D 💯
When in doubt... I took a couple intentional phot When in doubt...

I took a couple intentional photos of my library trip this afternoon, but decided I liked this accidental one I must have accidentally snapped while putting my phone in my pocket best.

I hadn't been to the library in far too long and left with a full tote of books I probably won't read. So I guess you could say it was a good day! 

How's your week so far? 💛
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