In recognition of Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, I’d love for you to meet a few of my favorite neurodivergent, bookish characters. 5 Books With Neurodivergent Characters I’m linking up today with Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads for Top Five Tuesday. Meeghan’s topic this week is Neurodivergent Characters. I have five wonderful reads for you, but first I need to mention a book that will not be on my list that you might find on many others: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. This might be difficult to explain without revealing spoilers, but Eleanor’s quirkiness and social awkwardness is related to ..read more

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed is the heartfelt and compelling story of young Amal and her pursuit of education. Do you have middle-grade fiction on your bookshelf? Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed Genre/Categories/Setting: Middle-Grade Realistic Fiction, Education, Pakistan Welcome to #ThrowBackThursday where I highlight an older review or post a current review of a backlist title. Today, I’m sharing a compelling middle-grade selection (enjoyable for all ages), Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed. I’m linking up with Davida @ The Lady’s Book Review Blog for #ThrowbackThursday. My Summary: Amal, living with ..read more

Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley is a loose retelling of Pride and Prejudice featuring an Asian American family. Pride and Preston Lin by Christina Hwang Dudley Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, romance, complicated family drama, sisters, Asian American, own voices, retelling, San Francisco Bay area of California *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My Summary of Pride and Preston Lin: Thanks #NetGalley @ThirdStateBooks (and @AustenProsePR) for a complimentary e ARC of #PrideAndPrestonLin upon my request. All opinions are my own. Lissie is ..read more

In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth I’m highlighting a favorite novel that I read before I started writing reviews, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Genre/Categories/Settings: Historical (and Contemporary) Fiction, Multigenerational Family Saga, Family Life, Diverse Read, Africa, Ghana, African American Literature, locations in the U.S. I’m linking up this review with Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog for #ThrowBackThursday. Homegoing is a book I read before I started blogging in 2017. I always wished I had written a review for this memorable book, so here it is no ..read more

Today, I’m celebrating selected Black authors for Black History Month. Do you see a favorite title or author? If you are looking for one great read during #BlackHistoryMonth consider one of these highly recommended titles! Celebrating Black Authors Image Source: Canva (In no particular order) ***This post contains Amazon affiliate links. DeLana R.A. Dameron I enjoyed DeLana Dameron’s debut novel, Redwood Court. Esau McCaulley I loved Esau McCaulley’s memoir, How Far to the Promised Land. Ashton Lattimore All We Were Promised is a page-turning debut by Ashton Lattimore. Brendon Slocumb I’v ..read more

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson is a compelling and memorable story of sibling relationships, family drama, and found family. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary/Historical Fiction, Complicated Family Drama, Adoption, Diverse Reads, California/Caribbean/London Welcome to #ThrowBackThursday where I highlight an older review or post a current review of a backlist title. Today, I’m sharing a thoughtful family drama, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. I’m linking up with Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog for #ThrowbackThursday. *This post contai ..read more

All We Were Promised is a compelling and page-turning story of family secrets and abolition in pre-Civil War Philadelphia by an author of color. All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Pre-Civil War, Abolition, Anti-Slavery, Racism, Women Supporting Women, Philadelphia This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Summary: Thanks #NetGalley @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for a complimentary eARC of #AllWeWerePromised upon my request. All opinions are my own. Pub Date: 4/2/2024 All We Were Promised is a complex and suspenseful, pre-Civil War story tol ..read more

Inspired by true events, The Women of the Post is the story of the all-Black Women’s Army Corps Battalion which sorted over one million pieces of mail for the U.S. Army during WW11. Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Biographical, WWII, WAC, England, Diverse Read, U.S. History, Racism and Prejudice, *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My Summary of Women of the Post: Welcome to my stop on the #HarperCollins Summer 2023 Blog Tour. Thanks #NetGalley @HTP_Books @ParkRowBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #WomenOfThePost upon my request. All ..read more

America, a Redemption Story shares formative events of Tim Scott’s life, inspirational stories of his mentors and heroes, and his hopes for America. America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope, Creating Unity by Tim Scott Genre/Categories/Setting: Nonfiction, Memoir, South Carolina, Washington DC, U.S. Government, “Own Voices” *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My Summary of America, a Redemption Story: Senator Tim Scott shares formative events of his life, inspirational stories from his mentors and heroes, and his hopes for America. My Thoughts: What I Loved: Honest and reflective I ..read more

How Far to the Promised Land is a compelling memoir of hard work, determination, faith, racism, and hard-won achievement. How Far to the Promised Land:  One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South by Esau McCaulley Genre/Categories: Nonfiction, Memoir, Forgiveness, Complicated Family, African-American, Spiritual, Diverse Reads, Autobiography *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My Summary of How Far to the Promised Land: When you’re born into family dysfunction, drug addiction, struggle, and hopelessness, your pursuit of education and vocation is the f ..read more