I’m very excited to share Season 2 Episode 2 of the Books Right Now podcast! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify, linked here! 🎧

In this episode, I’m joined by S. A. MacLean as we dive into her monster romance, Voidwalker, and her cozy fantasy, The Phoenix Keeper.. 

We also talk about our favorite books growing up, animal companions, and the construction of fantastical worlds.

Yay! Our "Ally Book Club" has picked " The Unmapping" by Denise S. Robbins for Junes book! I am so excited to read this. I have been eyeing it for awhile.

If anyone wants to join this book club please let me know!

Some of you might’ve glimpsed this already on the membership page but I’m excited to share a new membership perk for Galaxy tier members—the Galaxy Book Box!!!!!!

This is an exciting new perk where Galaxy members will receive curated book mailings over the next year where we explore a specific theme and dive into deeper discussion. Galaxy members who are signed up before the cutoff date each quarter (4 mailings per year) will receive the curated book plus a note from me in their mailing. These books will be accompanied by in-depth content specific to each book and the overall theme, including some literary commentary (complimentary essays/articles/criticism), annotations to refer to as you read, and my own personal opinions. I will also be scheduling zoom calls for all Galaxy members to join so we can discuss the books together. 

This year’s theme is inspired by the fact that I want to (hopefully!) acquire a literary/upmarket horror novel as our next Boundless Press title. I’ve been obsessed with horror in the last couple years and have been wanting to explore more titles in this genre that straddle the line between horror and female rage from the lens of BIPOC women.

Devastating Women in Horror will be a journey through stories where femininity becomes monstrous, grief becomes generational, and desire, identity, and survival collide in terrifying ways.

Across the year, we’ll read and discuss books exploring womanhood, cultural inheritance, bodily autonomy, family trauma, isolation, transformation, and the horror of carrying what came before you.

By joining the Galaxy tier for Devastating Women in Horror, you:

• Support the mission and future publishing vision of Boundless Press

• Help champion ambitious horror and speculative fiction by women of colour

• Back stories centered on complicated women, identity, and emotional truth

• Join a community of readers who love literary horror, unsettling atmosphere, and emotionally incisive storytelling

• Receive a curated reading experience in return

Every Galaxy member receives:

• ALL perks from previous membership tiers including advance e-books + exclusive advance print copies of original Boundless Press books, your name in the "Thank You" page of to-be-published books

• Access to Jananie’s quarterly unhauls where you can claim one book/ARC to be sent to you (January, April, July, October)

• BONUS secret item added to your monthly snail mail <3

• Exclusive 20% discount on all Boundless Press titles

• A curated novel each quarter

• Exclusive notes and commentary from Jananie K. Velu

• Priority access to future perks and benefits

$25/month, billed monthly. Limited availability. Cancel anytime.
Physical benefits unlock after 90 days. Shipping available to U.S. residents only.

The Galaxy tier is for readers who want to go deeper than recommendations.

It’s for the people who:

• Trust my taste

• Love literary horror and emotionally devastating fiction

• Crave stories about monstrous women, inherited grief, rage, hunger, and transformation

• Want to support bold speculative storytelling that takes risks

• And want to be part of a community centered around thoughtful discussion, horror, and creative exploration

If that sounds like you, welcome, I would love to have you along for the journey!

FAQ’s:

What’s included in each shipment?

Each box includes:

• The featured novel

• Exclusive commentary from Jananie K. Velu

• An invitation to a group discussion on zoom

Does Galaxy Tier include perks from lower tiers?

Yes. Galaxy tier includes ALL perks from previous membership tiers, plus premium physical benefits and exclusives.

How much does it cost?

$25/month.

When do physical perks start?

Physical benefits unlock after 90 days of active membership.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, cancel before the next billing deadline to avoid future charges.

Can I join mid-year?

Yes, as long as you join before the cutoff date for each shipment.

Is shipping international?

Shipping for the book boxes is currently available to U.S. residents only. Mail club is still available to international members.

Is this a limited program?

Yes, this is a limited pilot with capped spots while we test demand and fulfillment.

How does this support Jananie’s publishing mission?

Revenue from Galaxy helps:

• Support Jananie’s publishing imprint

• Fund new author discovery

• Champion bold, risk-taking books

• Sustain tastemaker-driven storytelling

Featured Titles

Join/upgrade by 90 days prior to the ship dates.

Q1 - The Eyes are the Best Part by Monica Kim
ship date around Sept 1st

Q2 - The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
ship date around December 1st

Q3 - The Hunger We Pass Down by Jen Sookfong Lee
ship date around March 1st

Q4 - Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
ship date around June 1st

Hi everyone,

Due to some unforeseen and pressing personal circumstances that have come up, I need to make some changes with my work/life balance to make more time and more headspace for things I’m dealing with behind the scenes. After discussing with my husband, I have decided I need some distance between myself and my job to deal with what’s happening with my family. I’m taking a step back from some parts of this job, and one of those step backs is I’ve decided to delete my discords altogether. I hope to make another discord in the future when things settle down in my personal life, but for now it’s just not something I can see myself being able to keep up with.

I’ll still be doing my videos as scheduled, but my social media presence outside of YouTube will be limited.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

What is yearning… and why does it hit so hard?

It’s that delicious tension in a book that has us all kicking our feet and giggling like children. It's that will they, won't there tension that makes want to scream and throw the book.

It's the almost-confessions. The “I want you but I’m not saying it” energy.

It’s longing stretched over time… and when it’s done right, it will have you staring at a wall after one scene.

I wrote a full blog post breaking down authors who really understand slow burn and yearning (and yes… I included anime too). But here’s a little taste:

• Uncovering Love - M. Monique

• The Proposal - Jasmine Guillory

• Just for the Summer - Abby Jimenez

…and plenty more.

In the full post, I break them down by the type of yearning they give because not all slow burns hit the same.

Click To Read -> Slow Burn Books & Anime That Actually Make You Feel Something

Happy Wednesday, mis internet amigxs!

My original post disappeared, so here I am recalling as much as I could from the original text...needless to say, this isn't a comprehensive overview of the weekend, but more why it's the best bookish vibe of the year in my opinion. If you have any questions, then please drop them in the comments!

I spent the weekend at a book even like no other, created by book content creators FOR book content creators, where we have NUANCED bookish conversations that we started online. In-person panels discuss the hard questions and we always get to interact with Q&A at the end. It's called BookNet Fest. This past weekend, we discussed everything from anti-intellectualism, book bans, hobbies, our favorite tropes, overconsumption and so much more.

I've attended 5 BNF's because Marines and Sam put on a spectacular and thoughtful event every single year and it just gets better every year. I'm always blown away by the intimacy of the event.

Obviously, I attend for the panels, but it's the people that keep me coming back year after year. And this year, I got to see even more book friends AND, most importantly, SO members of Bien Leidos Book club. Hanging out wit Angie, Zuki, Nani, Michelle, Allison, and G all weekend was delightful and we had the BEST dinner at Disney Springs. I really hope this is the start of a tradition.

I cried on all 3 of my panels:

• The Things We Do For Fun

• The Book Community As Courtroom

• Creating In The Attention Economy

The entire weekend was so gentle and affirming. It filled my bookish heart and mind to see and interact with so many bookish friends, ESPECIALLY getting to spend so much quality time with Bien Leidos Discord members who I chat with online so often but we live so far away from one another. It was treasured moment after treasured moment.

This year, I FINALLY attended Prom, which was such a delightful way to end the weekend.

Overall, I said "I love you" approximately 1,000,000 times last weekend and all I want to is go back...Dates for next year aren't confirmed yet, but you better believe I will be there. Who's down?

Until 2027,

Carmen

Warning: this post contains spoilers for The Art of Scandal by Regina Black.

I'm someone who loves all the infamous book tropes when done right.
Yes, even cheating and miscommunication.

Though the latter is really never done right. So like, do I like it? idk. Different topic for a different day LOL.

What got me thinking about this was a book I just finished, The Art of Scandal, by Regina Black. Mannnnn was it a time. It had been on my TBR for quite a time, and I bought it a while ago. I even met Regina Black at Steamy Lit two years ago. She's so sweet and brilliant.

But I wanted to talk about the book and cheating "done right" in books.
The FMC didnt set out to get her lick back on her cheating politician spouse, but she did. And how she did it mattered. I love a FMC who was stifled, put in a corner and then rebirthed to be the baddest bitch on the planet. Or an FMC where her spouse is just used to her, but then the REAL MMC comes in and is absolutely dazed when it comes to her. ive been there before.

What makes this book so good to me is the prose. It was fucking amazing.
In my Goodreads review, I called it achingly romantic. My chest was hurting with all the sweet love words and the pouring of feeings. Even the slight banter between the FMC & MMC was brilliant. The FMC was BRILLIANT. She was beautiful but imperfect. I along the way I understood why she was making the decisions she decided to make. Everything made sense.

And THAT is how you do the cheating trope. Even though cheating by itself does not make sense, making sure the FMC gets her mfing lick back in a way that does?

YEAH I NEED THAT.

This week’s reading lineup feels wildly unhinged in the best possible way because somehow these books jump between toxic rich people, body horror, emotional romance, sprawling fantasy politics, and existential dread without missing a beat.

Honestly? Incredible week for complicated characters, questionable decisions, and books that make you stare at the wall afterward.

🩸 The Dorians

Read or skip: READ
Rating: 4 stars | Gore: 4/5

This book is glamorous, disturbing, excessive, and deeply uncomfortable… which means it absolutely understood the assignment.

Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray, this story takes obsession with beauty, wealth, and immortality and pushes it into full modern horror territory. Everyone here feels morally rotted in a way that becomes impossible to look away from.

And fair warning: this book earns that gore rating.

The body horror and graphic content throughout are intense, visceral, and sometimes genuinely nauseating, but it never feels shocking just for the sake of being shocking. Everything ties back into the larger themes surrounding vanity, excess, identity, and the desperation to preserve youth at all costs.

What really worked for me though was the atmosphere. There’s this constant feeling of decay underneath all the luxury and beauty. Even during the quieter moments, the book feels tense and wrong in a way that keeps building as things spiral further and further out of control.

The characters are objectively terrible people, but fascinating terrible people. The kind where you keep reading because you desperately need to see how badly everything implodes.

My only reason this wasn’t a higher rating is that a few sections in the middle dragged slightly for me pacing-wise before the final stretch fully locked me back in. I also went into this expecting much heavier horror elements throughout the entire story. While the atmosphere is dark and unsettling from the beginning, the more intense body horror doesn’t really appear until the final 20% or so.

Final thought: A decadent, grotesque modern horror filled with vanity, excess, body horror, and beautifully toxic people making catastrophic decisions.

💌 Soon By You

Read or skip: READ IMMEDIATELY
Rating: 4.75 stars | Spice: 3/5

This book completely snuck up on me emotionally.

I expected a cute romance. What I got was a deeply tender story about grief, timing, loneliness, vulnerability, and learning how to let yourself be fully seen by another person again.

And wow did this one hit.

The chemistry between the main characters feels effortless from the beginning, but what really sold me was how emotionally grounded their connection feels. Their relationship develops through small moments, honest conversations, awkward vulnerability, and genuine comfort with one another instead of relying solely on tension or drama.

Which made all the emotional moments land even harder.

This is one of those romances where both characters feel fully human outside of the relationship itself. They’re messy, hurting, hopeful, and trying to figure out what they actually want from life while carrying baggage they don’t always know how to talk about.

The romance absolutely delivers, but the emotional intimacy is what made this such a standout read for me.

Also? The pacing was dangerously bingeable. I kept telling myself I’d stop after one more chapter and suddenly half the book was gone.

The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars is that there were one or two smaller conflicts that resolved a little faster than I personally wanted emotionally.

But overall? This was so close to perfection for me.

Final thought: A heartfelt, emotionally intimate romance about grief, healing, timing, and finding connection when you least expect it.

🚢 The Shippers

Read or skip: Skip
Rating: 3 stars | Spice: 1/5

I really wanted to love this more than I did.

The setup is honestly so fun: after Jojo’s estranged best friend Cooper crashes her wedding and convinces her not to go through with it, she becomes determined to “fix” her serial dumper tendencies by winning over Finn, the guy who gave her her first kiss, during her sister’s cruise ship wedding.

And on paper? This should have completely worked for me.

The romcom energy is chaotic and entertaining, the cruise ship setting is fun, and I genuinely liked the friendship dynamic between Jojo and Cooper. Their history together felt believable in that very specific “we grew up together and know exactly how to annoy each other” kind of way.

Jojo herself is messy in a way I actually appreciated. She’s awkward, impulsive, emotionally reactive, and constantly getting in her own way. She felt much more flawed and realistic than the super polished romcom heroines you sometimes get in this genre.

But ultimately… I just never emotionally connected in the way I wanted to.

For a story that relies so heavily on the relationship dynamics, I kept waiting for the emotional intimacy to really hit harder than it did. I wanted more tension, more vulnerability, more emotional depth between the characters. Even the romantic buildup itself felt flatter than I expected.

And honestly? Even with this being a low/no-spice romance, I still needed stronger chemistry. Not necessarily physical scenes, but more emotional and romantic pull between the characters themselves. I wanted to feel the longing and emotional connection more deeply, and it never fully landed for me.

I also didn’t care much about the subplot involving Jojo’s dad, which slowed the pacing down even more for me in certain sections.

That said, I still think this could absolutely work for readers who enjoy lighter, chaotic romcoms with messy heroines, friends-to-lovers dynamics, and more comfort-read energy overall.

Final thought: A cute and chaotic romcom with strong best-friend energy and lovable messiness, but the emotional connection and romantic chemistry ultimately felt too underdeveloped for me personally.

⚔️ Mortedant’s Peril

Read or skip: READ
Rating: 4.5 stars

This book felt specifically engineered for me.

I live for fantasy worlds that feel weird, layered, ancient, and slightly overwhelming in the best possible way. Ancient gods. Competing factions. Strange lore. Dense histories. Tiny little worldbuilding details that make a setting feel genuinely alive instead of just existing as backdrop.

And yes… powerful goats.

R.J. Barker is ridiculously good at worldbuilding. This world feels massive and complicated, but never in a way that feels inaccessible. Every corner of the story feels like there’s history behind it.

But honestly? One of my favorite things about this book is that despite all the fantasy chaos, the true villain is still bureaucracy. No matter how magical a world becomes, someone is still trapped dealing with paperwork.

The story follows Irody Hasp, a Mortendant who can read the final thoughts of the dead. After being framed for murder, he gets pulled into a desperate investigation while also trying not to get himself killed in the process.

I loved Irody almost immediately, but the real standout for me was the group dynamic surrounding him. Mirial and Whisper especially were incredible, and together they have that messy, sharp-edged found family energy I will fall for every single time.

This book also reminded me of some of my favorite parts of The Tainted Cup, Empire of the Wolf, and Lies of Locke Lamora while still fully feeling like its own thing. There’s mystery, investigative momentum, political tension, humor, and constant movement without ever losing sight of the characters.

And that’s what impressed me most: the balance.

The worldbuilding is huge, but the characters never get buried beneath it. For a first book in a fantasy series, that’s honestly really impressive.

Also worth mentioning: the audiobook is fantastic. I switched between physical reading and audio for this one and highly recommend both.

Final thought: A strange, layered fantasy mystery packed with ancient gods, murder investigations, found family chaos, fascinating worldbuilding, and enough weird little details to completely pull you in.

🕯️ Murder at Hotel Orient

Read or skip: READ
Rating: 3.5 stars

This book was such a fun surprise because I went in expecting something closer to Murder on the Orient Express and instead got a very dramatic, slightly chaotic noir thriller set inside a mysterious old hotel in Vienna.

And honestly? I kind of loved the vibe.

The atmosphere was easily my favorite part. The Hotel Orient has this faded glamour to it with strange rules, unreliable electricity, secretive guests, and this constant feeling that literally everyone is hiding something. The hotel almost feels alive in its own weird way.

The entire story has strong old Hollywood noir energy layered into a modern murder mystery, which made it feel really distinct from a lot of thrillers I’ve read lately.

Sterling was also a really interesting main character to follow. She’s observant, morally grey, clearly carrying baggage, and not written like a typical detective character at all. I liked slowly uncovering more about her while the murders and conspiracies around the hotel escalated.

The story itself is packed with twists, secret identities, suspicious characters, espionage, murder investigations, and multiple overlapping plotlines. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, the book introduced another layer.

That said, I do think the middle section got a little tangled under the weight of everything it was trying to juggle. There are a lot of characters, a lot of moving pieces, and not every subplot worked equally well for me. At times the constant hidden identities and dramatic reveals started feeling a little more theatrical than believable.

But overall? I still had a genuinely entertaining time with it.

I also think the cheekier tone helped the book stand out. There’s a lot of innuendo and exaggerated noir-style drama here that won’t work for everyone, but I thought it made the story feel fun instead of taking itself too seriously.

Final thought: A twisty noir-inspired murder mystery filled with glamorous atmosphere, morally grey characters, hidden identities, and a hotel where absolutely nobody can be trusted.

Overall, this ended up being such a strong release week for me. Some of these books completely consumed my life, some surprised me in really good ways, and some just didn’t emotionally connect for me as much as I wanted them to.

But collectively? This lineup delivered chaotic energy, morally questionable decisions, emotional damage, murder investigations, suspiciously glamorous people, and at least one book that made me ignore my bedtime entirely.

Let me know which of these are on your radar because I need to know who else is about to emotionally spiral with me.

My friends, the time has come to sprinkle some magical, pre-order fairy dust and I need your help! ✨

Pre-order incentives have arrived and I'm really proud of all the bundles we've put together for Twigs.

But why do pre-orders matter?

Pre-orders are one of the biggest ways readers can support a book because they help show bookstores and retailers that there’s excitement and demand before a release even happens. Strong pre-orders can lead to wider bookstore placement, more marketing funding to help support the book, and greater visibility for the author and book overall. Pre-ordering tells the world, “people are eager for this story,” and that support can make a huge difference for a book’s success.

You'll see myself, Gryffin, and Bindery post about these pre-order incentives today, and it would mean the WORLD if you'd boost those posts in whatever way feels most comfy. Like, repost, share to stories, comment, etc. Anything helps!💕

Now the fun part! Let’s break down the bundles:

🍄 Bundle 1:
- All entries will receive digital downloads of themed phone background
- All entries will receive a signed bookplate by the author
- All entries will receive a custom themed bookmark
Eligibility requirements: To enter, all you have to do is pre-order a copy of Twig’s Traveling Tomes or add it to your TBR on Goodreads or Storygraph. All pre-order entries will receive this bundle. Open internationally.

⭐️ Bundle 2:
- Metal candle spinner
- Vellum character art page overlay
- Personalized book recommendation from Meg + Gryffin
- Cliché Tea gift set
- All previous benefits in Bundle 1
Eligibility requirements: To enter, all you have to do is pre-order a copy of Twig’s Traveling Tomes. 5 winners will be drawn. Open internationally.

☕️ Bundle 3:
3 month subscription to the Cozy Quill Bindery community (eligible for new/existing subscribers)
- VIP box with exclusive promo items and ARC
- Quilted witch hat
- Leather tea cup satchel
Eligibility requirements: To enter, all you have to do is pre-order a copy of Twig’s Traveling Tomes. 1 winner will be drawn. Open internationally.

Winners will be selected in October and, as we know, the book will be released on September 8th.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN

I truly can't wait to get this book into your hands, friend. And your support throughout this publishing journey has meant the WORLD to Gryffin and I! Thank you so much for sharing and uplifting us as we ramp up into launch season. This is so exciting!

xx,

Meg

This was my experience attending a Heated Rivalry x Spotify event!

The other day, I was extremely fortunate to be invited to a Heated Rivalry event sponsored by Spotify. I know it’s normal to see influencers at these really cool events, and it often seems like you only get a quick glimpse of what actually goes on when they’re there. For my Bindery subscribers, I wanted to go more in depth about the overall experience I had at the event.

This was actually the first event I’ve been invited to that wasn’t specifically put on by a publisher. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Spotify would ever invite me to something, let alone know that I exist.

A fun fact about me is that I don’t technically live in NYC — I’m from Long Island. Because of this, I usually have to be selective about which events I decide to attend because my commute is around two hours each way. Obviously, I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet the icon and legend Rachel Reid.

The day of the event, I arrived at Penn Station and took my Uber (that Spotify paid for, ehhh) to the venue. When I got there, the line to get in was HUGE — like, REALLY long. They had mentioned that the event was going to be packed, but I didn’t realize HOW packed. I got in line and, while standing there, realized that I was probably waiting in the wrong area. They hadn’t mentioned that the event was also going to be open to the public, which, in hindsight, makes a lot of sense. A few moments later, I realized there was a separate line for invited influencers and press. I was able to kiki with other influencers while we waited to be let into the event space.

After checking in, I was handed my Spotify influencer/press lanyard and ushered into the experience. When I first walked in, the first thing I noticed was the Heated Rivalry-themed décor. Against the back wall was a locker room setup with two cubbies on display for our favorite hockey players, Shane and Ilya. The attention to detail was impeccable. They had jerseys, skates, and interactive items in the lockers, including a recipe for tuna melts and a phone-and-headphone combo that let you listen to the Heated Rivalry audiobook! Across the room, there was a station where you could order your own custom hockey jersey and baseball cap. You KNOW I was feral and needed those items in my grubby little hands IMMEDIATELY. I’ve already worn the hat at least five times, and the jersey is so comfortable to sleep in!

Roughly an hour in, we were ushered into a different room where we got to enjoy a Q&A with the one and only Rachel Reid! She told us what it’s been like since the show came out, how her life has changed, how Elton John personally asked for early screeners of the show, and gave us some information about what to expect from Unrivaled! (I have a video of this on my TikTok and Instagram if you’re interested in watching!) Rachel Reid is so personable and funny that I could listen to her talk for hours.

After the talk, we were ushered back into the main room, where we continued to mingle, drink, and eat. Rachel Reid surprised and gagged us all by coming out into the main area, and we were able to meet her and take photos! Honestly, I blacked out during our entire interaction. All I remember is that she said she liked my hat lol. I was wearing a different one btw.

After that, I took another Uber (that Spotify once again paid for, ehhhh) back to Penn Station, and then I went home!

Who else is excited for Unrivaled to be released next year?

Not every amazing book gets blessed by the TikTok algorithm. These hidden gems by Rebel Ever After guests deserve more love. After reading, make sure to listen to their authors on the podcast!

Single Player by Tara Tai. I read over a hundred romance novels in 2025 and Single Player stood out as a groundbreaking on-ramp to the genre for folks who never saw themselves in its pages. Yes, there's queer and nonbinary Asian-American representation, which is worth celebrating on its own. But I recommend this book all the time to nerds: gamers, cosplayers, tabletop RPG (role-playing game) devotees, and anime fans. There is much more overlap between romance fans and lifelong gamers than publishers and game developers realize, mostly because of antiquated ideas about gender and genre. Many gamers live for romancing NPCs (non-playable characters) and making their Sims whoo-hoo. Single Player delves into what it's like to write romantic storylines for video games by featuring a workplace romance about characters who do exactly that.

Friends With Benefits by Marisa Kanter. The day I stop screaming about this book is the day I am dead. Two childhood best friends get married for health insurance and housing!!! How did this book not exist until 2025!!! Oh my god!!!!!!! It's hard to find a well-executed marriage-of-convenience romance in the contemporary sub-genre, and Kanter found the perfect premise to explore the inherently political underpinnings of marriage as an institution. Plus abandonment issues, what commitment really means, and a sexy, sweet central relationship. If you have ever considered marrying your best friend because you are disabled and they have union insurance, and married couples somehow qualify for more apartments, here you go!

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel. I am not a big celebrity romance reader, but Ariel brings the sub-genre down to earth with compelling characters and workplace issues. Pop star Ella Simone is determined to take back her career in the wake of her shitty ex-husband's coercive control. The last thing she needs is a splashy relationship in the tabloids with Miles Westbrook, a playboy baseball player who is down bad for her. No Ordinary Love is a swoony angsty sexy read worthy of its title inspired by Sade. It's also a thoughtful, layered depiction of litigation abuse and falling in love after intimate partner violence. Ariel's prose is gorgeous like a soulful R&B track on vinyl.

I’ve been reading the Realm of the Elderlings audiobooks for the past few months, and I am truly obsessed.

No, your eyes do not deceive you. I read an audiobook over the weekend, and in fact, I read audiobooks all of the time.

Preface to the following discussion:
I am not trying to start a whole listening vs. visualization, audiobook vs. physical vs. e-book debate. It’s tired and worn out. Instead, I’d actually like to point out that the conversation at large, at this point, is an opportunity for us to see language evolving.

First, let’s start off with the word “READ”. Merriam Webster has 15 varying definitions of the word. For our purposes, however, let’s focus on the following three.

1.  To receive or take in the sense of (letters, symbols, etc.), especially by sight or touch

2.  To learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing

3.  To become acquainted with or look over the contents of (something, such as a book)

All three of these definitions have something in common. To read is to take in information. Definition #1 even specifies by sight or touch. I believe that it’s time we finally add listening as well, given that it is the oldest form of learning and conveying both stories and information, primarily because reading visually is rather new for the masses as a whole.

For thousands of years, most of the general population of the world was not able to “read” visually, as it required education. Education was (and still can be) expensive. Access to and education were reserved for the wealthy and privileged, not just because of cost, but it also helped the wealthy to keep their power and hold over the working class. Many communities relied on oral recitations and tellings to convey both histories and stories. Elders and poets were responsible for holding these memories and stories and conveying them to their neighbors and community. One example is the griots, from West Africa, who served their communities as oral historians, musicians, and poets, preserving important information that had been passed down for years.

Oral recitations were not the only form of holding knowledge, though. The Incas used knotted yarn or string, called khipus, as their main form of keeping records and holding knowledge. Recently, new information has come to light on the subject, showing that this form of record keeping was not strictly reserved for elite members of society, but that it was also practiced by “commoners” as well.

“Reading” in much of the world, however, did not become common in the general population until the 19th century and even then, it depended on where you lived in the world and the resources available to you in obtaining an education. For example, serfs in 19th-century Russia were not being taught to read as their noble rulers did not deem the literacy of a working population as important (Catherine the Great did, but she famously had a difficult time modernizing her court). Additionally, in the American South, anti-literacy laws existed, preventing and excluding the black population from access to literacy. These populations relied on other forms of sharing knowledge.

Imparting knowledge through oral recitation is the original form of learning.

Audiobooks are not “new” yet our culture often treats them as inferior to physical books (or e-readers). Audiobook’s are books. “Book” is literally in the name. We “read” books whether that is through sight, touch, OR sound.

Technology rapidly progressed in the early 1900’s, and books were able to be recorded. The first “audio-book” appeared in 1932 , when it was recorded at The American Foundation for the Blind. Recordings of books were pressed on vinyl records, and each vinyl side was only able to hold 15 minutes of audio. Audio books were created to offer accessible avenues to reading, providing access to stories, history, and other forms of literature for the disabled, elderly, and more.  (The first records weren’t actually for music, but for audiobooks!)

Audiobooks became much more commonplace for the general population’s use in the mid-1990s, with readers’ being able to download their audiobook files onto computers or CD’s that you could play in the car. I remember that two of the first audiobooks I listened to as a kid during car rides were At the Back of the North Wind, by George MacDonald, and Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, so my love-affair with them has been ongoing for well over two decades. Not to mention that listening and reading them now allowx me to work with my hands (knitting) without having to sacrifice one of my other favorite hobbies and pastimes.

Hopefully, if you have read this far, you will see that audiobooks aren’t a new way of relaying information. They revert to the original form of storytelling and education of our ancestors, and its language that hasn’t quite caught up to match culure.

The next time someone says they are reading and they are talking about an audiobook, just think about how you are able to witness language change and evolve in front of your eyes. The cool thing about language is that it grows to encompass the needs of society. Well, at this point, its long past due for the word read to encompass another form of obtaining information. Our society has evolved to include technology that allows for the relaying of information through recorded audio. It’s not too often you get to see language change in front of your eyes beyond the use of slang.

Happy Tuesday, misinternet amigxs,

I'm still coming down from BookNet Fest Weekend (roundup post coming tomorrow), so, for now, I'll leave you with a couple of book club announcements before getting to this week's releases.

We're still currently reading Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez and Accordion Eulogies by Noe Alvarez. It's not too late to join for either, but especially for Accordion Eulogies because we're reading it through the end of June.

There will also be a poll this week on Discord to schedule our author chat with Natalia Hernandez in early June.

A note on programming, effective immediately, we'll be taking official Monday night sprints from weekly to a monthly event, on the second Monday of every month, meaning our next sprint will be Monday, June 8th. Also, Journaling/Sticker night is cancelled this month as well. I'm working on some alternatives that I hope will more than make up for these changes. Watch this space for more announcements and polls as we move forward!

And now onto this week's Latine book releases...

MEMOIR

The Keeper of My Kin by Ada Ferrer (Audiobook)

ROMANCE

I'm Gonna Get You Back by Eva Des Lauriers (Audiobook)

Running Home To You by Samantha Saldivar (Audiobook)

TRANSLATED LITERARY FICTION

Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon and Translated by Daniel Hahn

NONFICTION

What Science Says about Astrology by Carlos Orsi

Hello, everyone!

Happy New Release Tuesday! Here are some releases we are excited for today!

• The Dorians by Nick Cutter

• Filth Eaters by Ito Romo

• Startup Hell by Caitlin Rozakis

Recent reads include:

• Trad Wife by Sarah Langan

• A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay (reread, still 10/10)

• The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis

• To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth

• The Return by Rachel Harrison

More to come on the recent reads!

Till next time!

This romantasy was a delight! Life got busy so it took me a little longer to get through but this is ideal if you like fun fantasy, still with high stakes and chaotic. 

I started with the physical ARC and then switched to my e-reader as it is available on Kindle Unlimited! 

Okay, not back to the review —

It made me laugh! I was nervous, irritated, curious, and surprised. Full of action, filled with humor, and the stress is there too. 

I really enjoyed Shanora’s writing style. Ultimately I gave this book a 4 stars out of 5. I am not sure if you would consider this a cozy fantasy or not but it definitely gave me that vibe but still full of action + high stakes. It’s a fantasy you can just jump in, get what you need, and enjoy. 

Overall, I enjoyed it — just wasn’t obsessed with it but its still a really awesome tale with great storytelling and I will probably re-read in the future. 

Oh and did you see how GORGEOUS the first edition is (with the sprayed edges)?! I was so happy to get my hands on a copy. 

Special thanks to Shanora Williams and Entangled Publishing for sending me the physical advance copy — I appreciate it more than you all know! 

Happy reading ✨📚📖

Our newest reading kits for Tattered Tides by Sarah A. Bailey are officially here and they are packed with everything you need for the ultimate emotional coastal romance reading experience. 💙

Whether you’re diving into Tattered Tides with your book club, reading alongside a friend, or spiraling emotionally on your own at 2AM with ocean ambience playing in the background honestly valid, we created a kit for YOU.

These guides were designed to help you fully immerse yourself in Weston and Willow’s story through thoughtful discussion questions, emotional check-ins, themed activities, playlists, annotation prompts, snacks, drinks, and deep-dive reflections that make every chapter hit even harder.

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🌊💔 What happens when two broken people collide do they heal or pull each other under?

Our book club took a deep dive into Tattered Tides by Sarah A. Bailey, and this one sparked one of our most emotional, layered discussions yet. If you’re looking for a romance that goes beyond surface-level love and digs into healing, trauma, and second chances this is it.

🌊 First Impressions: More Than Just a Beach Romance

At a glance, Tattered Tides gives off those irresistible coastal romance vibes surfing, small-town tension, and forced proximity. But very quickly, it becomes clear this story is carrying a lot more emotional weight.

Weston Ashford isn’t just your typical troubled bad boy. His fall from grace losing his title, his future, and his freedom adds a gritty, realistic edge to his character. And when we meet him again, fresh out of prison and desperate for redemption, there’s this underlying tension that never fully lets up.

Willow Graham, on the other hand, brings a quieter but equally powerful storyline. She’s navigating the aftermath of trauma, trying to reclaim control over a life that was completely derailed. Her pain feels internal, raw, and deeply personal in contrast to Weston’s more outward struggles.

Together? They create a dynamic that’s complicated, messy, and incredibly human.

💔 Character Deep Dive: Broken, But Not Beyond Repair

One thing our book club unanimously agreed on: the strength of this story lies in its characters.

Weston’s journey is all about accountability and redemption. He’s not perfect, and the book doesn’t try to make him one. That’s what makes his growth feel earned. Watching him fight for a second chance not just in surfing, but in life was one of the most compelling parts of the novel.

Willow’s arc, though, is where a lot of our discussion centered. Her experience with trauma is handled with care, and her struggle to move forward feels authentic. She’s not fixed by love, which we appreciated, it’s more about learning to exist alongside her pain and slowly reclaiming her sense of self.

Their relationship builds from tension to understanding, and while there’s definitely a romantic pull, it’s the emotional connection that carries the story.

🔥 The Romance: Slow Burn With Substance

If you love slow-burn romance, this one delivers.

The forced proximity trope works beautifully here, creating moments of friction, vulnerability, and gradual trust. Weston and Willow don’t fall into an easy romance; they push, pull, and challenge each other in ways that feel realistic.

That said, this was one of the few areas where our book club had mixed opinions. Some readers loved the pacing and emotional depth, while others felt parts of the relationship leaned slightly predictable. But even those who felt that way agreed the emotional payoff was worth it.

🌊 Themes That Drove the Discussion

This book gave us a lot to unpack:

• Can love coexist with unresolved trauma?

• What does redemption really look like?

• Is it possible to rebuild your identity after losing everything?

• When does support become dependence?

We found ourselves circling back to the idea that healing isn’t linear and Tattered Tides doesn’t pretend that it is. It embraces the messiness, which makes for a richer, more honest reading experience.

🌴 Atmosphere & Writing Style

The coastal setting of Pacific Shores adds such a strong emotional backdrop to the story. The ocean almost feels like its own character reflecting the turbulence, calm, and unpredictability of both Weston and Willow’s journeys.

The writing itself is accessible and engaging, leaning into emotional depth over fast-paced plot. It’s the kind of book that invites you to sit with the characters and really feel what they’re going through.

⭐ Final Thoughts: A Story That Stays With You

Tattered Tides isn’t just about romance it’s about rebuilding, confronting the past, and figuring out who you are when everything you thought defined you is gone.

It’s emotional, sometimes heavy, occasionally predictable but ultimately impactful.

As a book club pick, it’s a standout because it doesn’t just give you a story it gives you something to talk about.

❓Book Club Question

Do you think two people who are both still healing can truly build something healthy together or does healing have to come first?

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Sickos! I'm back from BookNet Fest in Orlando and ready to give y'all the goods with this Monday Reading Update. Let me know what you've been reading and plan on reading this week in the comments and let's boogie!

READING

REVIEW

LONDON FALLING: A MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN A GILDED CITY & A FAMILY'S SEARCH FOR TRUTH by PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE (narrative historical nonfiction)

Progress: Finished

My opinion from last week still applies here as the second half didn't alter my view of it much. I still prefer the stakes/subject matter of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing, I still found the mystery bit to be a bit gimmicky but engaging (big true crime fans may feel differently), and it was still a solid, superbly researched and woven together read that I quite enjoyed. I did love the quote "three bullshit artists, selling air" and felt that could've been part of a great subtitle.

The History Sickos loved this once based on the reviews I see in the Discord, and while I'm a touch lower than their consensus at 4.0 stars, PRK remains an auto-buy author.

WE DO NOT PART by HAN KANG (historical fiction)

Progress: 237/256

I went back and re-read the first two chapters of this one as I was surprised by how lyrical Kang went with the prose here. Maybe that's because I haven't read The White Book, which is supposed to be her most poetic. I'd wager We Do Not Part sits between The White Book and Human Acts re: lyrical prose and emotional, historical devastation, but instead of feeling like a mash-up, it's still very much doing its own thing. This really started to click for me in the second half and I feel much more connected to it all so I'm glad I stuck with it. So close to the end so you'll hear more about my experience with this next update!

CARTHAGE'S OTHER WARS: CARTHAGINIAN WARFARE OUTSIDE THE 'PUNIC WARS' AGAINST ROME by DEXTER HOYOS (academic historical nonfiction)

Progress: 115/192

Didn't make much progress on this but I am enjoying intentionally slowing things down for this academic style of book. It will likely be my priority while I'm lounging on the coach again now that I'm home from Orlando. While out of town though my go to earball listen was the Fall of Civilizations episode on Carthage. I'm getting re-obsessed with this topic and may make a YouTube video out of all the stuff floating around my brain ball about it.

PREVIEW

Haven't budged much on the next reads since last week, so Parable of the Talents will definitely be up next, The Roman Empire in Crisis will be the next academic historical nonfiction, and I'm feeling the urge to re-read the excellent Carthage Must Be Destroyed but I may throw that in the next History Sickos vote to see if y'all wanna do that with me.

PUBLISHING IMPRINT NEWS

Any minute now I'm hoping that an email hits that gives me the final green light on our second acquisition. I'll have some cool stuff for A Complement of Scoundrels posted here and on social media on Thursday, but also we are currently doing bundle giveaways for ACoS, those details are here.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for The Devils by Joe Abercrombie!

Beaking Bad is still my go to re-watch right now because old dog new tricks and all, we're up to S4E6. I've also been catching up on Daredevil with the eldest. Last night we watched a couple episodes that we're pretty damn good plus the Punisher special which was insanely bonkers.

As I mentioned, I was in Orlando this past Friday/Saturday for BookNet Fest, which was an absolutely blast. I felt I did well on my three panels, game night was a hoot, and the send-off party was all good vibes. Can't wait to go back next year.

While I was in Orlando I snuck off for a quick climbing session and lemme tell ya, I feel good about the grading at my home gym because this one felt much more commercial and soft. I was flashing V4's no problem followed by fighting for my life on V4's this morning at my local (sent 'em tho!).

💜 Same feels as Hannah x Graham, but lets make it a Bull rider romance 💜

✨"It's like coming back home" This is what Elsie Silver said about writing Fever Dream and I couldn't agree more.

💜 Emmett is a bull rider, selected to be the bachelor for a show. Julia aka Jules aka Baby Silva, is the location manager. Julia needs this job for her career. Emmett needs it to save his grandparents farm. Not to forget that Jules is his nemisis's sister. So what will happen when he falls in love with her, instead of the one of 10 girls he is supposed to.

✨ This books is good!
He risks his farm and career for them 😭
Emmett is a green flag and Jules is so sweet 💕
Loved the ending (no messy third act break up)
His sisters are amazing and Oma is just ♥️
Also cameos of Theo and Winter!

💜 9/10 💜

✨ Book releases tomorrow!! (19th May 2026)

Thank you so much @atriabooks and @authorelsiesilver for sending me a copy!

#bookstagram #bookreview #newbook