Review: Summer Fruit

Summer Fruit by Renee Humphrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I met Renee Humphrey at a convention recently.  She had Summer Fruit displayed at her table, but the cover made me think "romance" which is not generally my thing.  After talking to her though, I decided to give the book a shot.  She was right that it doesn't fit neatly into any genre.  There is a little bit of romance, some mystery, and wolves.  I was really into the wolves because they don't get a fair shake.  If I had the money Jack, one of the main characters, has, I would also be pouring it into conservation and rescue efforts.  I was also really fascinated by the Nagual mythos.  It does make you wonder a bit why so many cultures have shapeshifters.  The characters in Summer Fruit have flaws, and some are deeply unlikeable.  Most are doing the best they can, but everyone could use some therapy.  If you like wolves, but are somewhat iffy on people, this book may appeal to you.  

My only cautionary note is if you are squeamish about animal suffering like I am, there are a few parts of the book that you may want to speed read through.  It wasn't gratuitous or so much that I had to put the book down, but it is in there.  

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Review: Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux via NetGalley.  This book is currently available.  

The irony of promoting Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook is not lost on me.  At the same time, it is essential because if you are reading this review right now, you should be reading this book instead.  You may have already heard about enshittification.  If you stay up on tech news, some of the examples won't come as any surprise.  I stay fairly current and yet, some of the things tech companies are currently doing shocked me.  I didn't realize we were in THAT deep.  The great thing about this is Doctorow makes the concepts easy enough to understand that you don't need to know anything about technology to educate yourself.  And you should educate yourself if for no other reason than to know how your personal information is used by tech companies.  

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Review: They Tried Their Best

They Tried Their Best by Kimlyn Stanyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of They Tried Their Best by Kimlyn Stanyon from the author via NetGalley.  The book is available now.

I don't always read books just because of their cover, but I did in the case of They Tried Their Best by Kimlyn Stanyon.  It is a beautiful cover!  Yes, I was swayed by the dogs.  I have a type.  This is a novella that is billed as experimental and weird.  I didn't find it that weird at all.  That may say something about me. As a single woman, I could completely relate to the interactions the narrator has with the men in her life.  That part felt very real.  It probably isn't a bad idea to think about building a bunker now too.  There is a twist that I won't give away.  I think that might be the "weird" part.  I liked it.  I appreciated the illustration at the end.  Cute!  If you are looking for something different that you can read in a sitting or two, check this out.  It is cozy dystopia.

Bonus points for Honey, Boo, and not selling out your best friends to save yourself. That would have been my condition too.  

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Review: My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir

My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow from She Writes Press via NetGalley.  It will be published around November 11, 2025.

My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow is a snapshot of her life as she navigates divorcing, raising children, and trying to get back on the dating scene.  Rachel just confirms my experience with dating at this age.  It sucks.  I also realized that bad dates are almost tropes themselves.  They are universal stories.  I think I have dated some version of every guy she mentioned.  Ugh.  Still, I give her props for sticking with it and for also getting out of the unhealthy.  If you need to laugh rather than cry about your own dating journey, you might want to pick this up.

Bonus points for a cute cat on the cover.  As a crazy cat (and dog) lady, I will say it is not as bad as Rachel thinks.  

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Review: The Third Gilmore Girl

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to The Third Gilmore Girl written and read by Kelly Bishop.  I love watching Kelly Bishop act, so I was sure I was going to enjoy hearing the stories of her career.  What I wasn't expecting was how much I would love Kelly Bishop the person.  As a childless-by-choice woman, it is uplifting to hear someone else tell their story.  But where Kelly really got me was her love of animals.  That's basically my personality.  It was joyful hearing Kelly talk about the furry companions who have filled her heart with so much love.  Finally, I have always loved A Chorus Line but did not know that one of the characters is based on her.  It makes sense though, and I will never be able to watch it again without thinking of her.

Bonus points for Venus.  I have had that companion that I never traveled without.  I get it.

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Review: So Thirsty

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison was the perfect read for spooky season.  Because it is right on the cover, I am not giving anything away by saying VAMPIRES!  While there are vampires, this is really a story about soulmates.  What lengths would you go to for someone you love? Is there anyone you love so much that you would want to have them around forever?  Really think it through before you go making your vampire posse. It was giving me strong Thelma and Louise vibes.  I loved it!  

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Review: Atlas of Unknowable Things

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.  This book is due to be published on October 7, 2025.

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman is a trippy, wild mystery with gothic and horror elements.  I thought the cover looked cool and sure I like a book about dark academia.  I was surprised at how quickly I got sucked into wanting to solve the mystery of what happened to the disappearing women.  Was it werewolves as some speculated?  Honestly, I could have read a whole other book just about the idea that people accused of witchcraft may have been practitioners of a misunderstood, forgotten religion (not Wicca).  If you like puzzles and your horror more spooky than graphic, give this book a read.  

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