I had some strong reads at the end of 2023 and at the start of 2024, making a really great reading month!
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly: This was another sweet romance from Anita Kelly. Our two main characters meet on the Pacific Crest Trail and fall in love over the many miles of hiking together. Great depictions of autism, queer faith, and anxiety (and a bonus chance to revisit some characters from Love & Other Disasters).
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown: While the Asexuality 101 aspects of this book will be familiar to anyone who read Ace, Brown goes beyond what's covered in that book to talk specifically about Black asexuality and how it challenges our society's structures on every level. It was a thought-provoking and validating read that pushed me to consider the ways I'm still trying to make my identity palatable to the masses even while embracing its validity.
The Bad Guys in The One?! by Aaron Blabey: This one didn't much of a plot except to extend what happened at the end of the last book and give us a little bit of context about how we got here and what needs to happen next. My kiddo decided to finally take a break from the series after we read this one.
Cosmoknights, Vol. 1 by Hannah Templer: This graphic novel was excellent. The first half was a lot of world-building, but the second half was fast-paced and engaging and ended on a cliffhanger that gave me chills. I immediately downloaded the second volume!
Cosmoknights, Vol. 2 by Hannah Templer: This was incredibly satisfying and had a fantastic (if relatively minor) plot twist. The art is cinematic — I can absolutely see this as a TV show — and all the characters are great. The ending leaves enough still to do that I hope there's another volume, but if there's not, this still has an action-packed climax and a hopeful ending.
Hazeldize: Volume One by Angie Bee: This was more an exercise in world- and character-building than a story. Hazeldine is a town of the Old West where there is diversity of race, ability, and sexual identity and more than a little magic. I liked what Bee was trying to do with this book, and I wish it hadn't been so scattered and had had more of a central plot.
Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships by Dedeker Winston, Jase Lindgren, and Emily Matlack: This is an excellent guide to the most helpful tools the Multiamory team has created over the years for having healthy communication in all kinds of relationships. Each chapter is dedicated to a different tool, with realistic example scenarios and dialogues showing common communication challenges and how the tools can help. The advice in this book is inclusive of non-monogamous relationships but isn't exclusive to that kind of relationship structure, nor is it applicable only to romantic/sexual relationships. I think anyone could find something valuable to take away from this book!
Heartstopper: Volume Five by Alice Oseman: This was another amazing volume of Heartstopper from Alice Oseman. I love how real the characters feel in these books and how there's a perpetually hopeful thread throughout, even when tough things happen. I'm glad that Oseman ended up pivoting and deciding to do a sixth volume, and I look forward to reading one more story of Nick and Charlie.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt: This was everything it was billed as: a heartwarming story with memorable characters, most notably Marcellus the octopus. The audiobook narrators were outstanding. I will join the many voices wholeheartedly recommending this book.
Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Towards Zero, Ophelia After All, McDonald's, and Sex Is a Funny Word
Five years ago I was reading: Cutting for Stone and Cold Comfort Farm
Ten years ago I was reading: Against the Gods, The Goldfinch, and War and Peace
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