Author: Kit

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Homeward

by Angela Jackson-Brown, Review 16 of 2023

Homeward is a moving and impactful story about Rose Perkins Bourden, a young woman trying to find herself while living through personal, familial, and societal tragedies during the Civil Rights Era. I expected the story to be more about the civil rights aspect but it ended up being more about the main character’s journey toward understanding what kind of a person she wants to be as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and woman. Rose’s family members were the heart and soul of this story and while I became extremely invested in the story, I almost wished that we could have heard some alternative perspectives on the events. Rose’s parents, siblings, and love interests tended to outshine her. I found myself immersed in the story and would recommend to others interested in what this era in U.S. history looked like for black families. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Racism, Violence, War, Death (adult and child), Grief

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Every Duke Has His Day

by Suzanne Enoch, Review 15 of 2023

SO CUTE. A seriously adorable regency romance featuring quirky mismatched leads and a fun cast of supporting characters, count me in! If you like your romance spicy, this is not the one for you. If you adore Bridgerton, this is a must read. He’s a stoic and science minded Duke with a distaste for society, she’s the bubbly diamond of the season. When they’re forced to solve a series of dog nappings together, what could possibly go wrong?

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories: Regency, Romance, Historical Fiction

Content Warning: Threats of animal cruelty, dognapping

Categories
Fiction

Bookshops & Bonedust

by Travis Baldree, Review 14 of 2023

If you liked Legends & Lattes, you’ll like this. If you don’t have any idea what that is, you’ll still probably like this. Bookshops & Bonedust is the prequel to Legends & Lattes and manages to be just as cute despite the extremely high bar. Viv, a young orc injured in battle, must use her time in recovery to engage in a journey of self discovery despite her determination to be out proving herself. Nonetheless, trouble finds its way to her. If you’re looking for something funny, comforting and low stakes, this is it. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories: Fantasy

Content Warning: Swearing, Mythical creatures engaging in violence 

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Fiction

Sex Ed

By Kristen Bailey, review 12 of 2023

I love a sex-positive laugh out loud romance. Sex Ed follows Mia and Ed, close friends and colleagues, as they take their relationship into uncharted territory in an attempt to prepare Ed, a 28-year-old virgin, to pursue a new love interest with confidence. I loved the awkwardness and found the honest communication about sex refreshing. Added bonuses include: supporting characters with depth and non-traditional gender roles. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Content Warnings: Cheating, Abusive relationship

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The Centre

by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, Review 11 of 2023

Something is amiss in this suspenseful and strange novel about language and identity. When Anisa learns of a secret language learning organization, her quiet life is changed forever. Without spoiling anything, this book says a little about a lot of topics but left me a bit disappointed at the end. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warning: Cannibalism, Death, Racism

Highlight the content above for content warnings (spoilers)

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King: A Life

by Jonathan Eig, Review 10 of 2023

This comprehensive biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and death, complete with references to recently released FBI investigation reports, is a must read for biography enthusiasts and worth the effort even for those who are not. It was a heavy lift at over 20 hours of audio, but Dion Graham, an expert narrator, made it easy to listen to. 

It’s tempting to simply idolize and ignore the complexity of figures such as King. This type of thinking comes at the expense of recognizing that we all have a role to play in changing the world and the country for the better. It has been 55 years since Dr. MLK Jr. was killed, and in many ways the U.S. is still inching toward the vision King proclaimed. This is a timely examination of a life lived with conviction.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

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Mountains Made of Glass

by Scarlett St. Clair, Review 9 of 2023

This unexpectedly spicy, little fairy tale retelling has left me with conflicted feelings. I laughed, I cringed, I blushed. It shares the problematic romantic origin of Beauty and the Beast but I loved that the female lead is definitely a force to be reckoned with. The narration was a little distracting at times because the narrators had very different accents. Overall though, I enjoyed the mystery aspect, the nods to multiple fairy tales, and the fast pace. I would recommend it to my spicy book loving friends.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content warning: Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship

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Radical Inclusion

by David Moinina Sengeh, Review 8 of 2023

This book explores inclusion, the “I” in the increasingly popular acronym, DEI. In David Moinina Sengeh’s personal and professional anecdotes we can see the possibility for true inclusion in organizations and communities. His coalition’s struggle for pregnant students’ education in Sierra Leone is evidence that progress toward inclusion is possible today. I enjoyed this book and I’d recommend it for anyone interested in social inclusion and/or shifting cultural beliefs.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

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Hello Stranger

by Katherine Center, Review 7 of 2023

Katherine Center does it again, another meet cute (or two) and more loveable characters in zany situations. You’ll see the ending coming a mile away but you’ll enjoy the ride anyway. There are some heavy topics covered so take a peek at the content warnings but everything is covered gently.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Death of parent, Bullying, Medical content

Categories: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance

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The Lonely Hearts Book Club

by Lucy Gilmore, Review 6 of 2023

One word review: Heartwarming! Oh, you want more information? Okay, the story is told through the perspectives of multiple narrators but centers on Sloane, a librarian who becomes the unexpected heroine of her own life as she is empowered by the love of her found family. This book is about loneliness, love, and being open to connection and community. I loved the literary references, the intergenerational friendships, and the diversity of characters. The book navigates some heavy topics in a respectful way without drowning the reader. 

Would like to give it a 3.5 out of 5 but since I have to pick I’m giving it a 4. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Grief, Death, Cancer

Categories: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction