Between the World and Me is a piece (part letter, part essay) that author Ta-nehisi Coates wrote to his adolescent son where he grapples with his personal thoughts about what it means to be Black in America in 2015. This is not meant as a guide to the entirety of the African-American experience. But it is a personal account of Coates grappling with what it means to inhabit a black body, especially with the weight of American history and current societal views. It’s been almost six years since this was first published, and it breaks my heart to still feel like many of the questions Coates asks are still questions that don’t have definitive answers. There is something utterly raw about his candor in telling his son about his history, the country they live in, and the fears and concerns and even the hopes he harbors. And it’s the personal nature of this non-fiction read that really struck me the most. While I will never be able to fully understand exactly what being Black means in this country, I do think that reading these reflections from Coates offered valuable perspective and I’m glad I read it. (P.S. Highly recommend the audiobook as the author narrates it!)

Pub Info: July 14, 2015 by Spiegel & Grau | Add it on Goodreads

Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism has been on my radar since its release last year. I impulsively decided to listen to the audiobook recently and I’m glad I did! This non-fiction release centers entirely around Kendall’s frank assessment of feminism and societal issues, including basic needs like food, education, housing and medical care, and examinations of race, politics, class. I appreciated the frank, raw honesty of Kendall’s tone as she lays out a combination of her personal anecdotes in tandem with the facts gathered from her research. Since there are a variety of topics tackled (and broken up neatly into consumable sections), it is a solid starting point for anyone looking to become more informed and educated viewed specifically from a feminist perspective. It wasn’t always the easiest thing to read (or to hear, in my case, since I listened to Kendall narrate her work on audio), but I appreciated the way it challenged me to reevaluate my perspective and view things with a more critical eye. Hood Feminism was smart and digestible, and I’d fully recommend giving this non-fiction read a shot.

Pub Info: March 3, 2020 by Viking | Add it on Goodreads

Whenever I heard someone talk about The Poet X, it was always being praised. My expectations for this novel in verse kept getting higher and higher as time went on and more of my friends read it, and I will admit to being so nervous before I finally clicked play on the audiobook this year. I’m so happy to be able to say that my worries were unfounded, as I loved The Poet X. At its heart, this is the story of a teen – Xiomara Batista – as she grapples with her place in the world, her relationships, her feelings and her mother’s religious beliefs. There’s so much she wants to say but can’t do so out loud, and so, pouring out her feelings through words on the pages of a leather notebook becomes her outlet. But things change when she’s invited to join her school’s poetry club and even as she works out how to attend without her mami finding out and whether she can really find the courage to perform her poems out loud, Xiomara can’t help being drawn to the idea of her voice finally being heard. I said this when I shared my initial thoughts on Goodreads, but so many other, more eloquent reviewers have already shared their thoughts on this incredible book. I really admire Acevedo’s way with words; her poetry is lovely in rhythm, word choice and length, and I love the way that she’s able to tell us Xiomara’s story in so few words. Her technical use of narrative through verse is undeniably clever too (and I loved the bonus of hearing about the contrapuntal poem included in the story). Xiomara really came to life in such a vibrant, real way through her words, as did the supporting cast in her story. Though she and I couldn’t be more different in a lot of ways, our mutual love of and comfort in words as a form of expression instantly made connecting with her an easy thing. I loved going on this journey with her! The Poet X really lived up to all the hype I’d heard (and noted in my mind), and I can add my hat to the ring when it comes to singing its praises and recommending you pick it up if you haven’t already. (P.S. I actually listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Acevedo herself, and it is definitely a stellar way to experience this story.)

Pub Info: March 6, 2018 by Harper Teen | Add it on Goodreads

I’ve had The Nightingale, an adult historical fiction novel from author Kristin Hannah centered around sisters Vianne and Isabelle and their individual experiences during World War II, on my TBR for years now, but I kept putting off reading it because I was genuinely afraid that it wouldn’t live up to the hype. I don’t want to add yet another voice to that hype train, but wow, The Nightingale lived up to all the expectations I had for it! I so rarely indulge in historical fiction these days, but it is novels like this one that make me regret that and want to read more. Books like The Nightingale always remind me of the harsh realities of war and the brutal history of violence and pain that lingers in the not-so-distant past, and how important it is to acknowledge, reflect, learn from and be inspired by these stories of survival, mercy and hope. This book is a long one, true, but I was captivated from the very first page. Hannah’s writing immediately incites interest in the two sisters, and it’s impossible not to feel like you’re getting to intimately know these two young women who feel so very real as you continue to read the book. Vianne and Isabelle are very different; where Vianne is cautious and reserved, Isabelle is passionate and impetuous, and their experiences during the war do highlight their differences. But it does become clear eventually that the sisters do share similarities in many ways, including their love and loyalty to those they care for, the lengths they are willing to go to do the right thing and the capability, cleverness, and courage they possess. Both their storylines were compelling; they were filled with moments of beauty and grace, but also terror and hardship. I was so emotionally invested in their stories that I was moved to tears more than once! The Nightingale was just brilliant, and it is definitely one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve ever had the honor of reading. (P.S. I listened to the audiobook, and it was really good!)

Pub Info: February 3, 2015 by St. Martin's Press | Add it on Goodreads

I’m honestly upset I put off reading Bringing Down the Duke for so long because it was such a fun book to read! Our heroine, Annabelle Archer, a brilliant but destitute young lady has earned a scholarship to attend the University of Oxford. There’s only one condition: she needs to support the rising women’s suffrage movement by recruiting men of influence to champion her cause. Our hero, Sebastian Devereux, is one such man, as he is the Duke of Montgomery and a brilliant tactician and strategist in politics who works for the Queen. When the pair encounter each other more than once, it’s clear that there is something between them. But will societal standing and the potential scandalous fallout keep them apart? While I didn’t love Bringing Down the Duke as passionately as I do other historical romances, I thought it was lighthearted, lovely and fun to read. Dunmore has a very readable writing style and knows precisely how to weave romance and humor seamlessly into her (rather believable) plot. I liked Annabelle right off the bat, as it was clear that she had a good head on her shoulders and was willing to do what she had to in order to secure the future she wanted for herself. Her insecurities and vulnerabilities were relatable, and I was definitely rooting for her success in all aspects of her life. Sebastian, on the other hand, took a while to grow on me, but the hints of his soft heart that peeked through every now and again kept me hopeful. Watching him figure out what he really wanted for himself and seeing the lengths he’d go to get it was definitely a big part of what made me fall for him in the end. It was lovely to watch their relationship develop from a rather antagonistic beginning into a tentative friendship with the barest hint of physical attraction to an undeniable romantic connection, and I soaked up every single second of it (angst included and very much felt). I finished this one feeling warm and fuzzy, and it definitely had me curious about book two!

Pub Info: September 3, 2019 by Berkley | Add it on Goodreads

Before it started popping up on my social media feeds, The Wife Upstairs wasn’t actually on my radar. But I did start getting curious about it when I heard that it was partially inspired by Jane Eyre and Rebecca (both classics that I’ve read!) And when it was chosen by my sister Mel for our second family book club of the year and Kristin had an extra copy to pass on, well… it felt like fate was telling me to pick this one up. Readers will be introduced to Jane, a broke dog-walker who works in the exclusive gated community of Thornfield Estates where the residents are so rich that they would never miss the small items Jane swipes. Jane sees an opportunity in the recently widowed Eddie Rochester, an opportunity that will ensure that she gets the life and protection she’s always craved. But their budding romance is haunted by the specter of his wife Bea, an ambitious businesswoman who drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, will Jane ever be able to measure up and truly escape the past? I’m honestly surprised by how entertained I was by The Wife Upstairs. The novel is well-paced, the writing is easy to devour and the plot is compelling (in that ‘you know it’s a train wreck but can’t look away or figure out when the wreck is actually going to happen’ sort of way). These characters make some questionable choices; they aren’t likable, and I don’t think they’re meant to be. It’s worth noting, however, that Hawkins goes out of her way to give us a personality tidbit that makes each character relatable in some way, which is a clever method to invite the reader to, well, give a sh*t. Throw in some solid nods to Jane Eyre and Rebecca, and Hawkins has managed to weave a well-constructed tale that hooked me right from the start. I liked The Wife Upstairs more than I expected to! While it’s not a new favorite, it’s definitely an entertaining read that I devoured very quickly.

Pub Info: January 5, 2021 by St. Martin's Press | Add it on Goodreads

March was, without a doubt, the hardest month of 2021 so far. The truth is that I was engaged in an internal battle with my own anxieties for nearly the entirety of March. While I tend to be more private about certain aspects of my personal life, I feel like it's important for me to note that I spent a lot of time just allowing myself to feel the way I felt, and actively engaging in the activities I had, in the past, known to help improve my own mental health. My own personal internal struggles coupled with the external stress, anxiety and anger over the many moments of anti-Asian violence... well, you can imagine that it was definitely not a great mix. It took a while to really get out of the dumps/slumps/funk (I interchanged these three words when referring to my state of mind all month). Truthfully, I'm still reeling from the antagonism and horror of the violent attacks, and also very wary and paranoid about my own safety and ease in a city I used to feel comfortable roaming freely. (And I don't know what else to say, but please check out this card with Anti-Asian Violence Resources).

Just when I thought I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, my Lola Lydia (my grandmother on my dad's side) passed away in her sleep. Because of the stricter COVID protocols being implemented, our family was only able to do a small mass service and burial and we did a tribute/eulogy over Zoom. In the end, while I'm still reeling from the speed with which things happened and sad we couldn't be there in person, I'm grateful for the technology that allowed those of us who aren't in Manila to be a part of things.

I know I've mostly talked about the hardships of this last month so far, but there were definitely a few highlights that deserve a shoutout. I started using the app Happy Color on my iPad and coloring has been an excellent method of de-stressing for me ever since. We finished up WandaVision and Black Clover (both of which have been brilliant), watched Raya and the Last Dragon (a new favorite), and started the new season of My Hero Academia and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. We relaunched Fandom Buzzz for season two. And, of course, the best parts of my month were spending time with family and friends!

Unfortunately, because of the mental state I was in, my reading took a slight dip and I only managed to finish a total of thirteen books. It was a fairly average reading month in terms of ratings, but I did want to note that I read mostly audiobooks this month (specifically, 8 of the 13 were audio!). My two highest rated reads were Legendborn (which I thought was such a clever YA fantasy debut) and Black Sun (I was initially unsure of how I'd feel about this one, but man, it really sucked me in). But in terms of which books I enjoyed a lot, I also wanted to shoutout Halfway to the Grave (an older adult urban fantasy series that Rachel & I are reading together), If I Had Your Face (which I found fascinating and could not stop listening to) and Dustborn (an upcoming YA sci-fi/dystopian release where the story had me turning the pages to see what happened next).

Here are the two blog posts that went up last month:

Here are the videos that were uploaded to the channel:

Here are the episodes of Fandom Buzzz that went up last month:

While it was this adorable cover design that drew my attention initially, I was convinced to read The Dating Plan because of the premise. A fake dating situation between our heroine (software engineer Daisy Patel, who loves lists, Marvel and her family) and her older brother’s former best friend-slash-her childhood crush who broke her heart (venture capitalist Liam Murphy who is determined to prove something to the world… and his family) to ensure both their families get off their backs for their own specific reasons? So many of my buzz words are in that description, so I obviously jumped at the chance to pick this book up! While The Dating Plan was likable enough, it just didn’t hit the mark for me personally. I did appreciate the relationship dynamic between Daisy and Liam. They had plenty of great moments together, and I loved seeing their second chance play out the way it did. I also enjoyed the familial relationships, but particularly on Daisy’s side because I found her well-meaning, lovable, large family dynamic very familiar. Unfortunately, overall, the novel felt like it fell short in the character development department, which tends to be a big deal to me when it comes to the romances I read. I want to feel personally connected to at least one person in the main romantic relationship, and I didn’t get that with this book. The Dating Plan did have a lot of potential to be a new favorite read, but the reading experience fell short for me in the end.

Pub Info: March 16, 2021 by Berkley Books | Add it on Goodreads

When Wren Southerland uses her healing magic recklessly, she winds up dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from her best friend (who also happens to be the girl she’s in love with). Her only goal is redemption – and it seems like fate is working in her favor when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord of a neighboring kingdom asking for her help to cure his servant from a mysterious illness. But when she arrives, she discovers the mansion is crumbling, the master is eccentric, and her patient is Hal Cavendish… who is her kingdom’s sworn enemy. But Hal has secrets too and when they puzzle out that more sinister forces are at work, a partnership between them is the only chance they have at saving both their kingdoms. This is the premise of Down Comes the Night, a debut young adult fantasy on my radar since last year. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the high hopes I had. It starts off slow, slow enough that I nearly set the book down. It does eventually pick up, though it incorporates familiar YA tropes (in plot and character) in ways that felt mediocre to me. I persisted in reading this one even though I wasn’t hooked, and I don’t regret that since it coalesced into a solid story in the latter half. Sadly, Down Comes the Night was just okay overall.

Pub Info: March 2, 2021 by Wednesday Books | Add it on Goodreads

I loved Fable, the story of a resilient young woman who escapes an island of thieves and cutthroats by booking passage on the Marigold to get to the island where her father resides so that she can join one of his crews, when I read it last year. It was an exciting adventure that gave me total Pirates of the Caribbean vibes (which is a franchise I thoroughly enjoy, mind you)! And after the way it ended, I was so eager to dive into Namesake. The sequel explores the consequences of the choices made in the first book, including a brand-new series of obstacles and challenges that Fable will need to find her way around (or through) if she wants to keep the people she cares for safe. Namesake was an enthralling adventure that had me hooked right from the start! I was happy to be reunited with Fable, to see the ways she’d grown from her experiences, to discover how she still had a lot to learn, and to witness her extraordinary (and stressful) adventures as she tries to make sure things all turn out okay. This, in tandem with learning more about the world and other characters, made this such a satisfying read. I couldn’t stop turning the pages once I’d started reading it, and I really enjoyed how Young chose to wrap up Fable’s tale. If you’ve yet to read Fable, consider this my endorsement for the full duology and encouragement to pick it up! And, if you’ve read Fable and are excited for Namesake, I can confidently say that you’re in for a treat. (P.S. I’d recommend reading them back to back for the full immersive story experience, which is what I ended up doing!)

Pub Info: Match 16, 2021 by Wednesday Books | Add it on Goodreads

Series: Fable #2 | Previous Book in Series: Fable

Having read most of Trish Doller’s body of work, I was eager to get my hands on her adult contemporary debut Float Plan… especially after I found out about its compelling premise. Our heroine Anna is still grieving the loss of her fiancé (spoiler alert, but also content warning: suicide); her life’s been at a standstill ever since. But when a reminder pops up for the start of an epic sailing trip they had been planning to take together, Anna impulsively decides to go to sea on their sailboat and follow through with their plan. She realizes all too soon that this isn’t a journey she can make on her own, and ends up hiring Keane, a professional sailor and a man also coming to terms with an unexpected future, to help.

It was easy to read the entirety of Float Plan in one day, with Doller’s writing style still as consistently readable as it is in her other novels. The framework for Anna’s journey – both the literal travel onboard the sailboat and the internal struggle with loss – was well-constructed, and it flowed smoothly from start to end. The travel aspects, including the details about sailing and the variety of experiences the characters have along the way, were interesting and harrowing at turns. And, without a doubt, Keane is one of the best parts of this book, as charismatic, capable, and charming as he is! But the novel did fall substantially short for me in two specific aspects. While they did pique my interest just enough, the travel descriptions didn’t immerse me in the various locales they visited. More importantly, as this is a novel that, in part, explores her emotional journey, my lack of any personal connection with Anna prevented me from really getting invested. Even though I didn’t end up clicking with it on a personal level, objectively speaking, Float Plan is a good read. I would encourage you to check it out if your interest has been piqued!

A trip you took with someone that will always be special? I'm so, so lucky to be able to say that I've been on some pretty incredible trips in my life. I had a really hard time narrowing down my pick for this question because I have fond memories of so many (here are posts I've written for some of those trips). But in the end, I decided on a trip that I ended up on last minute where I accompanied by Lola (grandmother) and her friends to visit Japan. There's something about those two weeks that felt monumental to me, perhaps in part because I was in a country I'd always planned to visit one day and because it was the first time that I was able to do things solo (without a smartphone!) and in charge of taking care of everyone else on the trip. I haven't been able to go back to Japan since then, but I'd like to someday for sure.

Float Plan was released on March 2, 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin.