Best of the Bunch (October 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in October.

Of the 11 books I read this month, I had two 5-star reads:

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman

It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram

I love everything Khorram writes, but since I already featured the first in this romance series as a previous Best of the Bunch (September 2024), I'm going to go with the other one this time!

Humankind was exactly what I needed right now. Bregman argues that how we view humanity as a whole becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and that our collective belief (reinforced by simplified histories, sketchy but famous psychological experiments, economic theories, and the criminal justice system generally) that humans are inherently selfish actually doesn't hold up to the evidence. I appreciated that Bregman takes the reader on his own journey of looking into questions about human nature, coming up with seemingly disappointing answers, and then digging below the surface to show that there's more going on than meets the eye. I'm sure that folks could find other evidence to poke holes in Bregman's theories, though I appreciated how often he cited meta-analyses and showed how a single story wasn't the whole picture. Even if not watertight, I appreciate having a solid collection of evidence that having trust, hope, and faith in humanity is not naïve. I would highly recommend this read (or listen — it was great on audio).

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Useful Delusions, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, The Usborne Book of Puzzle Adventures, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Five years ago I was reading: Amazing Grace and To Kill a Mockingbird
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, A Snicker of Magic, Lonesome Dove, and David Copperfield 

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What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

This reading month was a mixed bag for me, with some great reads and some that were disappointing. Here's what I read this past month.

Master Your Attachment Style: Learn How to Build Healthy & Long-Lasting Relationships by Scott A. Young: The best thing I can say about this book is that it was earnest. It reads very much like a college student took a Psychology 101 class and learned how to read peer-reviewed research articles and is now very eager to tell you everything they know about attachment theory. It was pretty rough.

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse: Roanhorse's world-building and character interactions kept me engaged throughout this trilogy, but ultimately I felt the pacing of this final book was too uneven, the characters' decisions too incomprehensible, and the book generally too dark and gory for my taste.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna: This was a delightful read that combined several of my favorite things: found family, adorable sibling relationships, excellent banter, crisp world-building, and a stellar audiobook narrator. There's a grumpy/sunshine romance, the development of which felt earned, and things all tie up with a bow in the end, but in a way that didn't feel rushed or entirely implausible.

You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth: I think everything Silverberg and Smyth put out is stellar — well researched, inclusive, accessible, and honest without being overwhelming. In addition to covering the facts about puberty, reproduction, and so on, Silverberg places a big emphasis on communication, respect, autonomy, trust, justice, and all the other aspects of relationships that get glossed over in traditional sex ed.

Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman: As with his first book, I appreciate Burkeman's practical approach to the finitude of life and embracing the present moment. This time around I bristled at the number of (incorrect) assumptions he made about me as a reader, though ultimately I still think Burkeman has a gift for laying out the realities of time and space and encouraging the reader on ways to use these limits to create a good, fulfilling life now.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson: I am in awe of Sanderson's ability to layer so much into a single book's plot. The plot twists in this book were perfect — unexpected, yet logical in retrospective. As with the first book, this one contains its own plot arc while also being just a piece of a larger story. Absolutely nothing is guaranteed here — not who will live or die, and not who will gain, hold onto, or lose power. It's a mind-blowing series so far.

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman: This was exactly what I needed right now. Bregman argues that how we view humanity as a whole becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and that our collective belief that humans are inherently selfish actually doesn't hold up to the evidence. Even if not watertight, I appreciate having a solid collection of evidence that having trust, hope, and faith in humanity is not naïve.

Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera: This book is another example of commitment to an agenda coming at the expense of an immersive story. It's a beautifully written book that covers every possible angle of the Sri Lankan civil war, but it covers so much in so few pages that the ability to care about any one character is diluted and the overall plot meanders along with the agenda. It's good for learning and good for beautiful sentences, but I can't recommend it for character development or a strong plot.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Excuse Me, Sir!, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, and Light from Uncommon Stars
Five years ago I was reading: The Vanishing Half, Ace, and Sabriel
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, A Snicker of Magic, David Copperfield, and Death in the Andes

Best of the Bunch (September 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in September.

Of the six books I read this month, I had three 5-star reads:

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth

These were all great in their own way, but the one I will be recommending far and wide is my Best of the Bunch!

I found affirmation and validation in the pages of How to Keep House While Drowning for the ways I prioritize (or don't) what Davis calls "care tasks." (This term both succinctly encompasses the tasks needed to care for one's body and one's space and also reminds the reader that these tasks are not externally imposed obligations but steps to take care of oneself and one's loved ones.) While Davis does offer what she calls "gentle skill building" — practical tips for specific care tasks — she spends much of the book breaking down assumptions and cultural messages that feed shame and make care tasks more difficult. She is relentlessly focused on function over aesthetics or appeasing some imaginary judge or taskmaster. And I appreciate her three-tier approach to care tasks, with the baseline being what needs to be done for health and safety, then what can be done to aid comfort, then what can be done to foster happiness. It's a clear structure for prioritization that allows one to adjust based on one's current capacity. I would highly, highly recommend this read!

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Delusions of Gender, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, and Here One Moment
Five years ago I was reading: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Girls with Sharp Sticks
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Number the Stars, The Pushcart War, David Copperfield, and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

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Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

It's time for another seasonal check-in! I finished all but one of the books on my Summer TBR. Here are ten of the books I'm planning to read this fall!

1. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
I've been wanting to read this one for a long time! It's been out for long enough now that there isn't a holds list at the library, so I should be able to pick it up as soon as I have a gap in my holds coming in. I haven't read any of Okorafor's work since reading the Binti trilogy.

2. Humankind by Rutger Bregman
Conversely, I've had a hold on this book for weeks and weeks and it should finally be coming in this fall. Unsurprisingly, I'm not the only one who would like a hopeful view of humanity right now.

3. It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram
So far Khorram has knocked it out of the park every time, so when I saw he had a new one coming out, I didn't hesitate to request that my library get a copy on Libby.

4. Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo
Oluo's So You Want to Talk About Race was stellar, and at this moment in time I would very much like to hear her rant against mediocre white men controlling the power structures of the country.

5. Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander
This has been on my list since the days of the Get Booked podcast (RIP). Although it's rare that I find a mystery novel that can compete with the likes of Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz, I am always game to try another cozy mystery.

6. The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath
This book was recently mentioned on an episode of the What Should I Read Next? podcast, and it reminded me how much I've enjoyed some of the Heath brothers' previous books. As I recently took on a volunteer events coordinator role for a local organization, it's nudged me to want to reread The Art of Gathering and pick up this one as well.

7. We Have Never Been Woke by Musa al-Gharbi
This is my one holdover from my summer to-read list.

8. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
It has now been several months since I read Mistborn: The Final Empire, and I'm hoping it all comes back to me when I pick up the next book in the series!

9. Worth It by Brit Barron
Barron's keynote at the 2024 Q Christian Fellowship conference was absolutely a highlight of that weekend for me, and I was very excited to see that she has a book out! I'm hoping to read this before I attend the next Q Christian Fellowship conference in January.

10. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
I gotta get in at least one read for spooky season. I'm not sure if I've actually read the title story of this collection or if I just saw it performed as part of speech team in high school, in which case it would have been abridged for time. In any case, I'm looking forward to revisiting it along with the other stories in this collection.

What do you plan to read this fall (or spring if you're in the southern hemisphere)?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Delusions of Gender, and Here One Moment
Five years ago I was reading: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rebecca
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Number the Stars, The Hiding Place, David Copperfield, and Uncle Tom's Cabin

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

It was a good reading month! While not every book was a home run, there was a great variety, and the audiobooks in particular kept me company through a very busy month.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: There are multiple levels to this story: There's the suspense of what's happening in the present-day story, there's the sprawling tale of one man's life as he lives by the skin of his teeth from childhood through university, and there's the myth-making aspect, as you see how one man — who is, in fact, remarkably clever and talented — becomes a supernatural legend through the power of storytelling and rumor. I'm looking forward to the next installment of his story!

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse: This was very much a middle-of-a-trilogy book, but that's not inherently a bad thing. The characters are trying to grapple with the fallout from the events of the first book, figuring out who their allies are and where their loyalties should lie, and traveling around the world as needed to advance the plot. Here's hoping she sticks the landing in the final book.

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater: I might have liked this interstitial novella more if I'd listened to it immediately after finishing the Raven Cycle series, when I wanted just a few more minutes with those characters. At the end of the day I'm not sure that it told us anything we didn't already know, though I didn't mind spending an hour and a half in this universe again with Will Patton's narration.

Queer Windows: Volume 2 Summer by Cay Fletcher: I liked this volume more than the previous one, though this too could use a thorough copyedit, which remains distracting for me. But the stories are very sweet, and the varieties of "queer" and "love" remain expansive.

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper: This was a sweet coming-of-age story about a Black girl in North Carolina in 1932. Draper manages to show transparently the very real discrimination and danger faced by Black communities in 1932, but does it as part of the everyday experiences of an 11-year-old girl whose life also involves love and pride and joy and chores and schoolwork and friendship.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness: I had hopes for this going in after recently reading and loving Ness' A Monster Calls, but this just wasn't for me. I found the plot repetitive and the characters' decisions difficult to understand at times, and as usual, my nitpicks about world-building got in the way of my reading experience.

Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper: This book is much quieter than Out of My Mind, following Melody as she travels to a summer camp for kids with disabilities and other special needs. It's all very sweet and wholesome and interesting to see how different activities can be made accessible, but it also wasn't super engaging, especially if you're expecting something similar to the first book.

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis: While Davis does offer what she calls "gentle skill building" — practical tips for specific care tasks — she spends much of the book breaking down assumptions and cultural messages that feed shame and make care tasks more difficult. She is relentlessly focused on function over aesthetics or appeasing some imaginary judge or taskmaster. I would highly, highly recommend this read!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Delusions of Gender, and I'll Have What He's Having
Five years ago I was reading: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rebecca, and Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Blankets, Caddie Woodlawn, and Uncle Tom's Cabin

Best of the Bunch (August 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in August.

Of the 10 books I read this month, I had two 5-star reads:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

This was a very hard decision because these books were both so good, and they're so different! I would honestly recommend both of them — and they're both pretty quick reads! — but if I had to push one into more readers' hands, I know which one I'd pick for my Best of the Bunch.

The book description says You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey "tackles modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity," and that's exactly right. In sharing these stories of the off-the-wall racist nonsense Lacey (and occasionally Amber and others in their family) have to deal with on a regular basis, the sisters rarely stray from the tone of "This is so terrible you have to laugh about it." If you're the kind of person who immediately tries to find a "reasonable," non-racist explanation for situations that Black people tell you are racist, I dare you to come out of this book with that instinct intact. I'm very glad I was able to get both the audiobook and the ebook of this, as there are pictures throughout the book but lots of audio-only bonuses as well. (Amber singing to her dad had me laughing uncontrollably.) It's a quick read/listen but well worth it.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Destination Unknown, You Don't Have a Shot, The Little Book of Living Small, and Nimona
Five years ago I was reading: Thank You for Voting and Dear Martin
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Still Alice, Brain on Fire, and A General Theory of Love

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What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

I've had a busy reading month! A good variety of reads, long and short, on audio and ebook, plus wrapping up a hardcover book I've been working through all year.

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood: This would be a good airplane read. It's sweet and sad and a little bit funny and includes Life Lessons and characters with complicated feelings. I don't have any major complaints, but I also don't think it will stick with me much.

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz: Once again, Horowitz has written a compelling murder mystery inside a compelling murder mystery, and I was here for the ride. The audiobook narration, with the dual narrators for the two stories, was excellent yet again, and I'd definitely recommend the series in that format.

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective ed. by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: This was a valuable read for learning more about the Combahee River Collective and the particular moment in history when they existed. Unfortunately I couldn't separate my reading experience from the less-than-ideal audiobook format, which is not the format I'd recommend for this.

More Than Two, Second Edition: Cultivating Nonmonogamous Relationships with Kindness and Integrity by Eve Rickert and Andrea Zanin: This was my July Best of the Bunch. Although it's specifically focused on the needs and challenges of non-monogamous relationship configurations, I think much of the book could be applied to any kind of relationship or would even be valuable for single monogamous folks to read. I highly recommend it.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister: This was a great listen as a multi-narrator audiobook. I'm not sure I took away anything profound from the book — it's not news to me that one book affects multiple people, each in their own way! — but I thought she did an excellent job conveying how most lives are made up of small moments, and what seems like an insignificant detail can have a profound impact.

Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam by Andrew X. Pham: I'm glad to have finally read this memoir, which has beautiful writing and valuable reflections on identity and culture, though I was frustrated by missing details and inconsistent verb tenses, not to mention formatting issues with the ebook version.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson: This was a little more self-help-y than I prefer, in that people are divided into a binary "emotionally immature" or "emotionally mature," but I do appreciate the detail with which the behaviors of each group were identified, though it took quite a long time to get to the "so what do you do about this" part of the book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness: This is a beautiful book about grief and anger. It's about being afraid to look the truth in the face and how opposing truths can exist at the same time. You could write essays on the symbolism or hold book discussions on the complex, challenging characters who populate the book, but for all that it's a very fast read, told in a cinematic style interspersed with actual illustrations.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi: This is a thoroughly researched and well written tome looking at the history of the United States through the lens of ideas about race. Although most of the historical figures and events Kendi discussed throughout the book were not new to me, this was an interesting lens through which to see all of them.

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar: The book description says this book "tackles modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity," and that's exactly right. If you're the kind of person who immediately tries to find a "reasonable," non-racist explanation for situations that Black people tell you are racist, I dare you to come out of this book with that instinct intact.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, How You Get the Girl, We Are Okay, and Nimona
Five years ago I was reading: The Color of Law and Still Life
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, Nervous Conditions, The Princess Bride, Madame Bovary, and Mr. Popper's Penguins