How has your week been? What have you been reading lately? I finished and Golden Child, Claire Adam and Stay With Me, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. Both books were sooooo emotionally moving! Both the authors are new to me, and I’m planning on reading more from them in the future. Now on to the 10+ bookish links I bookmarked recently.
one+ I mentioned last week that my reading theme for February is books by Black authors, so I’ve been saving book lists, especially if they feature authors I’ve never read before, like these 12 Mystery Novels Featuring Black, Indigenous, and POC Protagonists and 30 Books by Black Women That Should Really Be on Your Bookshelf.
two+ I came across the free short stories from Subteranean Press. What a fantastic freebie, which they publish every month or so! And just look at that cover art for the stories published so far. I’ve only read 1 so far, Sign of the Times, Joe Hill, and it was classic Hill – weird and creepy. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the others (cuz you know I downloaded them all).
three+ I anticipate that for the forseeable future, every book list like Barnes & Noble’s What to Read Now: Dystopian Fiction, will include Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler and The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood. And … Dystopian Books Have Taken Over the Bestseller Lists…That Can’t Be a Good Sign.
four+ I’ve been missing perusing bookstores, and I’m doing more of that this year and in particular independent bookstores and reading walk through the bookstore with me resonated with me.
five+ Is the Book You’re Reading Literary or Genre Fiction? A 100% (Fun) and Definitive Guide. Are you contemplating the meaning of life or just swooning for a hot werewolf?
six+ Happy Valentine’s Day (albeit a day late)! This weekend is the perfect time to relax with any of these 8 Cozy Fantasy Romance Books to Warm Your Heart This Winter or bookmark and start working your way though The 100 Most Popular Romances of the Past Three Years on Goodreads and 112 Steamy Romance Recommendations for Valentine’s Reading.
seven+ But if you like it a little darker, and I know I do, then get with Psychological Thrillers That Ask, Who the F*** Did I Marry? Let me tell you, The Wives, Taryn Fisher was an interesting read for me – have you read it? What did you think?
eight+ Of course, if your ex is still on your mind – there’s a book for that! 10 Books to Read When You Can’t Stop Thinking About That Ex. And you probably might find comfort? in 8 Novels About Toxic Relationships.
nine+ 9 Readers Share Their Happy Moments gave me all the smiles.
ten+ Two completely opposite views -> Do You Enjoy Reading Challenges? (Pages Unbound) … does not but Let’s Talk Bookish about… Reading Challenges (A Dance With Books) does enjoy them. Where do you fall? I do (here’s The 2025 Reading Challenges I’m Doing) -> but I take them as “challenges” and don’t expect to complete them all. Reading is for fun – not for competition.
In case you missed it, this week we shared This FREE 2025 Reading Challenge Tracker Spreadsheet and 5 Years of 5 Star Reads.
—- Cheers to the weekend and week ahead!
