Review: Sweet Pea by Kit de Waal

 

Sweet Pea by Kit de Waal is a very thoughtful, character-driven story about grief, motherhood, belonging, and the unexpected ways people become family. de Waal writes about complicated lives and personal relationships with commendable warmth and sensitivity.

What stood out to me was the exploration of family beyond blood ties, the importance of kindness, and how people navigate loss and difficult circumstances. The novel focuses on Paulette's (Sweet Pea's) yearning for love and a family of her own, all the characters and their experiences. Although, it did not work out how she thought, she found one through some of the people she interacts with.

Overall, Sweet Pea is a well-written, thoughtful novel with plenty to reflect on especially if you are from the Caribbean or the diaspora. As a #ReadCaribbean title (Paulette is from St. Kitts), I appreciated the emotional depth and experiences she brought to this story. It is relatable and made it easy to connect. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Kit de Waal and St. Martin's Press for a digital copy (ebook) of #Sweetpea in exchange for my honest opinion. #Sweetpea is out tomorrow, November 3, 2026. 

Review: A Confederacy of Dunces - A Graphic Novel

 

A Confederacy of Dunces by Albert Monteys is a graphic novel adaptation of John Kennedy Toole's 1980 comedic novel. This 21st century version makes the story easier to read and connect with. It follows Ignatius a regular 'bloke' and his daily adventures and escapades. This was okay, rather dull and boring at times. It felt like Monteys' was trying to create a modern version of American Splendor (published in 1976). Tried too hard and fell short. Despite this the artwork was okay, had a gritty look like American Splendor. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Albert Monteys and BOOM! Studios for a digital copy (ebook) of #AConfederacyofDunces in exchange for my honest opinion. #AConfederacyofDunces is out tomorrow, September 29, 2026. 

Review: Look! A Bear! by Elise Kleven

 

This is such a cute picture book. All Remy the rabbit wants to do is make friends and play. The illustrations are super cute and has a pencil crayon vibe that I love. 

Most picture books have some lesson to teach and I think Look! A Bear! has one but not for kids. It's a lesson for parents to careful not to impose their issues and fears onto their children. Remy wanted to make a new friend and play with Bella the bear yet her parents were pointing out that Bella was different and bears and rabbits can't be friends. Bella and Remy did not see any difference. All they saw was that there was an opportunity to make a new friend and have some friend.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and illustrator Elise Kleven and The Collective Book Studio | Tiny Torch Books for a digital copy (ebook) of #LookABear in exchange for my honest opinion.#LookABear is out tomorrow, September 29, 2026. 

REVIEW: Queenie Is Working On It by Candice Carty-Williams

 

Queenie "Hot-Mess" Jenkins is back. Older but not necessarily wiser. Queenie Is Working On It is the follow up to Candice Carty-Williams bestseller Queenie (my favorite of all her books) and one of this Summer's most anticipated reads. 

Queenie's life is still the same as it was before, she is still trying to figure out her life. She now has a better "more permanent" job that she actually likes. She is "seeing" someone, a friends with benefits situationship. She is still searching for her thing and her place in the world. I enjoyed this novel, I continue to enjoy watching Queenie trying to figure out her life. She is very relatable as we all are trying to figure out our own lives, taking it day by day while trying not to fall apart. The only issue I had was that Queenie's character still has some growing up to do. She as a grown adult is approaching life like a 20 something year old college student. I am going to predict that if there is another Queenie novel, the title will be Queenie: Grown and Sexy that lends to her finally figuring her ish out, has a stable relationship or realizes that she is fine on her own and will start loving who she is. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Candice Carty-Williams and Gallery Books | Gallery/Scout Press for a digital copy (ebook) of #QueenieIsWorkingOnIt in exchange for my honest opinion.#QueenieIsWorkingOnIt is out today, September 8, 2026. 

REVIEW: The Disappearers by Marlon James

The Disappearers by Marlon James is truly a masterpiece. 

Set primarily in Jamaica beginning in 1988, the novel follows a group of gay men who respond to an ad for actors to audition for a gay play. Just to note it was not a group of men coming together to rehearse for a "regular" play, it was a group or a group of men joining a co-ed cast. Many will find this book difficult to read because the themes are uncomfortable or disturbing especially the extremely graphic violence and sexual content is because Jamaica according to Time Magazine in 2006 was the most homophobic country in the world*.

The novel is centered around an event that was not proven to be factual. The alleged incident was allegedly based on hearsay, rumor and gossip and Jamaicans do not care about fact checking before they "investigate" and unleash justice. I should know, I am Jamaican. In a recent interview James said "..in Jamaica we trust rumours more than facts, so the fact that people kept whispering about it meant it was true."** The only event I can remember from 1988 is Hurricane Gilbert. I found myself taking mental breaks at times, it is a lot to process and digest so the faint of heart or very sensitive readers are duly warned. 

James came back to the literary world with a true tour de force. The Disappears was longlisted for the Booker Prize before it was even published, something that literally never happens. That's how good this book is and left a lasting mark on the selection committee and I agree. I cannot wait for my preordered copy to arrive. Everyone needs to read this book and approach it with an open mind and really think about how people are labeled by society and mistreated accordingly. 

The only issues I had were (1) more patois was needed, (2) a few grammatical issues (granted this is a review of the uncorrected proof) that caused me to reread a number of sentences multiple times to understand what was being conveyed and for the love of [insert your higher being person] enough of Kurt Cobain. One other thing is the focus of Jamaica's university English lit courses, very white American and British and void of regional works. I was in primary school in the 80's so I can't verify this part of our education system.  

The Disappearers is many things brutal, angry, unflinching, queer, complex, haunting, · provocative, funny (yes, I laughed many times), ambitious and unforgettable. And apart for being a Booker Prize worthy 5star masterpiece, The Disappearers is unapologetically Jamaican. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Marlon James and Riverhead | Riverhead Books for a digital copy (ebook) of #TheDisappearers in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheDisappearers will be published on September 1, 2026. 

P.S. Note to Mr. James, your fans have not forgotten that we are due the last book in The Dark Star Trilogy. 

* https://time.com/archive/6939331/the-most-homophobic-place-on-earth/ 

**This quote was taken from a Booker Prize longlisted author interview published on August 16, 2026 https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/marlon-james-interview.

REVIEW: Handsome by Ezra Palmer

 

Handsome by Ezra Palmer is one of those novels that you have to experience. I was a bit unsure of what to make of Handsome during the first few chapters, however I eventually got in the groove. The writing is like one long stream of thoughts with very little pause. It reminds me of Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann.

The story follows Evvie, a former journalist living with Alzheimer's disease, as she prepares for a trip with her husband. We are invited into Evvie's mind as memories ebb and flow, circle back, and become muddled. There are moments that will make you smile, others will broke your heart. Occasionally I found myself thinking about my own memories, aging, the future and what will happen when my own memories start to fade. 

Ezra Palmer writes Evvie with so much dignity and humanity, and not as a sufferer of Alzheimer's. She's funny, complicated, loving, frustrated, and frustrating - even as her memories become less reliable. This is also a beautiful story about marriage—not the idealized version we often see, but the messy, imperfect kind that's built over decades. Love, resentment, forgiveness, disappointment, loyalty - it's all here. 

Handsome is quiet, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant. It challenged me as a reader in the best possible way, and I'm really glad I stayed with it. It's one of those books that lingers in your mind and has been one of the most memorable books I read this year. I read this Correspondent by Virginia Evans earlier this year and I think Handsome is far superior and deserves it time in the spotlight.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Ezra Palmer and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for a digital copy (audiobook) of #Handsome in exchange for my honest opinion. #Handsome will be published on July 13, 2026. 

Review: The Overseer Class by Steven W. Thrasher

The Overseer Class by Steven W. Thrasher is a sharp and unsettling examination of how modern systems of power operate through networks of surveillance, bureaucracy, and institutional control rather than just obvious political or economic elites. Although an extremely heavy topic is explored The Overseer Class was powerful, informative and insightful. Thrasher challenges readers to rethink power as something embedded within systems and cultural norms that quietly sustain inequality and is designed less to comfort than to provoke deeper reflection about the structures shaping everyday life. The is an important read and should be added to a college reading list as a start. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Steven W. Thrasher and Amistad for a digital copy (eBook) of #TheOverseerClass in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheOverseerClass will be published on May 19, 2026. 

Review: Doubles by Nora Gold

There are novels that tell a story, and then there are novels that quietly unsettle you—Doubles by Nora Gold although a novella is firmly in the latter category. This novella packs a punch and lingers long after you’ve finished it. It centers around a young math-obsessed girl stuck in an institution. It is creative, dark, disturbing and clever.  

One can appreciate how this novella resists a clean resolution. If you’re looking for a tidy ending, this isn’t that. But if you’re willing to sit with ambiguity—and perhaps even discomfort—there’s something deeply satisfying in how the story unfolds. It trusts the reader to draw their conclusions.

If I had to place Doubles within a reading mood, I’d call it a quiet psychological study with literary edges—perfect for when you want something thoughtful, slightly unsettling, looking in on someone else's life and experiences that is intellectually engaging without being overwhelming.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Nora Gold and Literary Press Group of Canada|Guernica Editions for a digital copy (eBook) of #Doubles in exchange for my honest opinion. #Doubles will be published on May 1, 2026. 

REVIEW: Search for a Mysterious Mushroom Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser

 

Search for a Mysterious Mushroom is a lively and imaginative pick-your-path adventure that turns reading and learning into a fun quest. Designed for young readers, the book invites kids to choose their research team, gear, and expedition as they hunt for the elusive Amparoina spinosissima mushroom. Along the way, each choice leads to new habitats and discoveries, that blend real science - an introduction to mycology - with an engaging cast and a fun narrative.

This book would be perfect for an end of the week class or science club activity, with props of course. Even a weekend adventure club or a sleep over etc. The artwork is simple and conveys exactly what the authors want.

The bright comic book/graphic novel style approach makes the information feel interactive, and even if one route doesn’t find the mushroom, readers will still learn a lot. the publisher describes this book as perfect for young adventurers who are into STEM, nature and will enjoy hands-on storytelling.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the authors Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser and Chronicle Books for a digital copy (ebook) of #SearchforaMysteriousMushroom  in exchange for my honest opinion. Search for a Mysterious Mushroom will be published on May 5, 2026. 

REVIEW: Zicky-Wrath of the Rat King by Darin S. Cape

 

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with a dark, fairy-tale feel. Zicky is not heroic in the grand sense but he is in his world. A rich, imaginative world. He is small not only against the scale of the foes he faces but also in size and age. This gives the story its tension. It is clear and engaging, making the action scenes engaging while allowing readers to connect emotionally with Zicky, his family and his fantasy world. the characters. The Rat King is a dominant villain—both creepy and powerful—which raises the stakes throughout the story. Overall, Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King  is an enjoyable graphic novel, especially for those who like an underdog and adventures with a little  touch of darkness.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Darin S. Cape and SHP Comics for a digital copy (ebook) of #ZickyWrathoftheRatKing  in exchange for my honest opinion. Zicky Wrath of the Rat King will be published on April 16, 2026.

I AM A GREEN READER

 I took the Read Your Color quiz and I am a green reader (scored 45%)

Based on the concept or theory developed by Steven Reese that explores how readers, think, feel, process thoughts, enjoy or dislike books. "Our quiz is designed to get beneath the surface of your reading preferences — not by asking about favorite genres, but by exploring how you think, feel, and approach stories. We’ve blended insights from reader psychology, narrative theory, and thousands of book reviews and patterns to create a system that helps you find books you’ll actually finish — and love." Courtesy of https://www.readyourcolor.com/how-it-works-
Reese started posting last April and has shared books recommendations based on these six color categories. I went through his posts (the ones not behind a pay wall) to pull out the recommended GREEN books - see the titles listed below. The results were interesting as majority of them are nonfiction. On an annual basis I would say about 25% of my reading is nonfiction titles. Out of this 45 titles recommended for green readers, only a handful are fiction. I will see how well I engage with this list throughout the year. 

I OWN three of these titles, have three on my TBR and have only READ one. Am I really a Green Reader?

The Green List

1. The Gulag Archipelago (abridged) by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1973)

2. Neptune’s Fortune by Julian Sancton

3. Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story by Max Marshall

4. Attensity! by The Friends of Attention

5. Why We Drink Too Much by Dr. Charles Knowles

6. A Flower Traveled in My Blood, by Haley Cohen Gilliland

7. The Sea Captain’s Wife: A True Story of Mutiny, Love, and Adventure at
    the Bottom of the World by Tilar J. Mazzeo

8. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) OWN

9. True History of the Kelly Gang (Peter Carey)¹

10. Redeployment by Phil Klay

11. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann OWN

12. This Is Your Mind on Plants by Michael Polla

13. Judgment at Tokyo by Gary J. Bass

14. Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert

15. Bottle of Lies:The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom by Katherine Eban

16. The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet

17. King of Kings by Scott Anderson

18. The Great Contradiction by Joseph J. Ellis

19. 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin

20. How Infrastructure Works (Deb Chachra)

21. The Patriarch — David Nasaw

22. Cloudsplitter (Russell Banks)

23. The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O’Sullivan

24. The Known Citizen: A History of Privacy in Modern America by Sarah Igo

25. On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss

26. This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust

27. The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

28. War Trash by Ha Jin

29. When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut

30. The Face of Battle by John Keegan

31. American Pastoral by Philip Roth (1997)

32. The Cold Millions by Jess Walter OWN

33. The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson

34. On Consolation by Michael Ignatieff

35. The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel – Douglas Brunt

36. Cue the Sun! – Emily Nussbaum READ

37. Work – James Suzman

38. Abundance – Ezra Klein

39. Some People Need Killing – Patricia Evangelista TBR

40. The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson TBR

41. The Tiger by John Vaillant

42. The Sirens Call by Chris Hayes

43. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

44. The Prosecutor by Jack Fairweather

45. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green TBR

Review: Animal Farm by George Orwell (Graphic Novel)

 

Another graphical adaptation of George Orwell's enduring political fable Animal Farm. This very gritty and visually compelling adaptation was brought to life by illustrator Jakub Politzer and adapters Christina Dumalasova and Katerina Horakova. The original novel—a classic is a cautionary tale about revolution, power, and corruption—endures because of its striking simplicity and its ability to expose the mechanics of how easy it is for those who gain power to lose control and oppress others. It is more relevant in today's society than every before. So much of Orwell's work is relevant to our current political climate making is a timeless classic. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the team of adapters J. Politzer, C. Dumalasova and K. Horakova, and Gemini Books Group  for a digital copy (eBook) of #GeorgeOrwellsAnimalFarm (a graphic novel) in exchange for my honest opinion. #GeorgeOrwellsAnimalFarm will be published on March 3, 2026. 

REVIEW: Analog Sun by Alex Woodard

 

Alex Woodard’s short, atmospheric an allegorical novel that follows a man who wakes up injured, disoriented, and cut off from the digital life that once defined him. No phone. No GPS. No easy way to explain himself. What begins as panic gradually becomes possibility, as he moves farther from the hyperconnected world and deeper into a quieter, more elemental one.

This isn’t a plot-driven novel, but one of sparing reflective prose. If you enjoy this type of writing you will welcome this novel like an old friend sitting around a camp fire. However, if you do not, you may find this type of introspective a bit hard to follow and borderline boring.

Analog Sun is not anti-technology or nostalgic for some idealized past. It is really about taking life slow. Being observant and appreciative of nature, peace, one with nature and  attuned to the quiet rhythms that make us human. Analog Sun is less about resolution and more about attention.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Alex Woodard for a digital copy (audiobook) of #Analogsun in exchange for my honest opinion. Analog Sun was published on November 18, 2025. 

REVIEW: The Merge by Grace Walker

Grace Walker’s The Merge left me both unsettled and deeply moved. Set in a near-future Britain where two minds can be merged into one body, it explores what happens when love and desperation blur the line between salvation and surrender. Through Laurie, a mother fading into Alzheimer’s, and her daughter Amelia, who risks everything to preserve her, Walker asks haunting questions about memory, identity, and how far we’ll go to hold on to those we love. At its heart this is a story about a mother-daughter bond under extreme strain.

Quietly dystopian yet achingly human, The Merge balances speculative intrigue with emotional truth. It’s less about technology than about what it means to be known — and what we lose when we merge too much of ourselves for someone else’s sake.

A powerful, provocative debut that lingers long after the final page. Interestingly, I can't stop thinking about what fragrance Amelia and her mother would be wearing. The Merge embodies the fading memory and speak to Narciso Rodriguez for Her for its nostalgia and Juliette Has a Gun for its minimalism like consciousness pared down. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Grace Walker and Mariner Books for a digital copy of #TheMerge in exchange for my honest opinion. The Merge will be published on November 11, 2025. 

REVIEW: Good Intentions by Marisa Walz

 

Marisa Walz’s debut Good Intentions is a gripping tale that lingers in the uneasy space between love, loss, and the moral blur of “helping” someone too much.

Cady, an event planner with a seemingly perfect life, loses her twin sister, Dana, in a sudden accident. While grieving she meets a grieving mother in the hospital, Morgan. Cady convinces herself that helping this stranger will somehow heal them both. What follows is a quiet, unnerving unraveling of identity and obsession. Walz pens this mystery-thriller with emotional precision, crafting the somewhat perfect unreliable narrator who we cannot help but be sympathetic towards.  She captures grief’s claustrophobic effect, and the lengths people are willing to go to in order to make sense of loss. 

This isn’t a fast-paced thriller; it’s a psychological portrait that poses uncomfortable questions about boundaries, intention, and the things we tell ourselves about being “good" and having "good intentions". It’s haunting, humane, and deeply unsettling in a pretty good way.

If this novel was a perfume it would be either Imaginary Authors - A City on Fire for its smoky sweetness and emotional unease or Le Labo – Iris 39 for its elegant, intimate, but unsettlingly detached feel.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress and the author Marisa Walz for a digital copy of #GoodIntentions exchange for my honest opinion. Good Intentions will be published tomorrow February 3, 2026.

REVIEW: Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh

 

A fantastic historical fiction about one of the original women horse "daredevil" divers in a circus or amusement show.  She answers an ad in her late teens at the urgence of her mother. She goes to see the show and is enamored. Sonora loved horses. Now, she loved horses even more, and her death-defying act bolstered this love. She became a main attraction and loved every minute of it. However, after years of doing the act, she had an accident during a performance. Literally in the blink of an eye, she went blind in an instance. This would crush some but Sonora, but as soon as she was able to get up and "heal," she was back at it. She made a stellar comeback and continued her act while blind. This is not only an interesting story about Sonora Webster but one of endurance, self-sufficiency, independence, and perseverance. She found her calling in life, loved it, and did it on her terms. It's such a great novel. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and the author Jenni L. Walsh for a digital (audio) copy of #Sonora exchange for my honest opinion. Sonora will be published on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

REVIEW: BOOM TOWN by Nic Stone

 

Debut adult thriller from young adult and middle grade author Nic Stone. Boom Town is her first adult novel. 

Boom Town is a fast pace intense urban thriller set in one of Atlant's infamous gentlemens club. We find two employees, Charm a newbie and Lucky, a seasoned [former] headliner have gone missing without a trace. The only person that notices this and how similar the two disappearances are is Lucky's former partner and co- headliner, Lyriq. 

Lyriq is on a mission to find out what happened and where these women are. This thriller is a mix of Player’s Club and P-Valley. It is gritty, raw, sharp, suspenseful and thought provoking. The latter is evident in the novel's social commentary on power, abuse, race, class, misogyny and the lack of attention and resources dedicated to finding missing women and girls.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #SimonSchuster, the author Nic Stone for a digital copy of #BoomTown exchange for my honest opinion. Boom Town will be published tomorrow October 14, 2025.

REVIEW: Orange Wine by Esperanza Hope Snyder

 

Orange Wine is a quiet, lyrical family saga about betrayal, endurance, and survival. Inés’s story—losing her husband to her sister just weeks after giving birth—unfolds with a kind of fated inevitability, more whispered family secret than melodrama.  Esperanza Hope Snyder's novel is tender, evocative, and beautifully penned, suffused with themes of feminine resilience, artistic freedom, and emotional rebirth. Snyder’s prose is gorgeous and precise, and the atmosphere reminded me of Isabel Allende and Elena Ferrante.

This is not a fast read—the pacing is slow, and Inés herself can be frustrating—but the language and emotional weight make it worth sitting with. Like the lingering scent of citrus, this one will stay with you long after the last page.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Esperanza Hope Snyder and Bindery Books | Mareas for a digital copy of #OrangeWine in exchange for my honest opinion. Orange Wine will be published on September 30, 2025. 

#CampNetGalley: Review of Dexter: The Stand Up Dog

 

Dexter: The Stand up Dog by Bonnie Kelso and Kentee Pasek is a warmhearted true story of a rescue dog that was involved in a tragic accident. As a result he lost one of his legs. Dexter could have given up, yet he persevered and learned to walk. He went on to bring joy not only to his family but to many people especially children across the country. 

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CampNetGalley, the authors Bonnie Kelso (and illustrator) and Kentee Pasek and Gnome Road Publishing for a digital copy of #DexterDogOuray in exchange for my honest opinion. Dexter: The Stand Up Dog  will be published on September 16, 2025.

#CampNetGalley 2025: Review - 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann

 

9 Little People by Regina Feldmann is a super cute picture book that follows 9 kids born on the same day and highlights activities and events they experience together. The illustrations are themselves gorgeous. This is a great book to read with children ages 4-8 (Kindergarten to grade 2).

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CampNetGalley, the author Regina Feldmann and NorthSouth Books Inc. | NorthSouth Books for a digital copy of #9LittlePeople exchange for my honest opinion. 9 Little People  will be published on September 2, 2025.