A must read. A powerful history on policing of queer Black identities and people in one of the United States wealthiest parts of the country today. The House of D., located in Greenwich Village, was a site of horror and abuse, but also a place of connection, found family, and radicalism for many of it it's people. Giving names to dozens of the tens of thousands of people who found themselves tortured in the high walls of the House of D., Ryan shares a 50 year story that is radical and humanizing. I can't say enough good things about this. Top 5 of the year so far for sure.

Even better than a Psalm for the Wild Built! An amazing commentary on capitalism and climate change, while falling deeper in love with Dex and Mosscap. Alongside Dex, Mosscap explores humanity and attempts to learn what humans "need," as they travel to multiple towns where people live multiple different lifestyles. I haven't stopped thinking about the conversation about pebs and the importance of supporting community and good periods and bad periods and being motivated by the want to helping people, not by money. I'm literally obsessed. I also cried multiple times. It's just a heartfelt, warm story. Chambers makes me feel so hopeful and such a strong sense of longing with the depiction of this world and these characters. Amidst all this chaos, these books are bound to ground you.

A reread- I was first exposed to this exquisite work in undergrad and it's amazing how much my own knowledge and thus my understanding of hooks' writings has changed. This ever powerful, intimately original, intersectional analysis of race and gender relations is so popular for a reason. hooks brings forth not a new, but increasingly supported understanding of the oppression and the work of Black women. hooks critiques one dimensional, racist perspectives on womanhood and feminism. She brings forth the history of black women being degraded by white men, white women, and black men. She considers ability, sexuality, class, and education to illustrate the functions of the cisheteropatriarchy. She also tells stories of Black joy and success, because throughout a several centuries of Black abuse, there was also hope and community and there continues to be efforts of change. This book isn't the most accessible, and yet everyone, especially white women, must engage with it.

God! I know this was satirical and Less was supposed to be annoying but MY GOD he was irredeemably so. I don’t know why I thought I would like what is essential a sob story from a cis white man after his not boyfriend of forever gets married to someone else so he travels around the world and has problematic takes about the people he interacts with,,, but I didn’t. He’s pretentious and his story is so boring and yet there have been thousands of books that tell this unoriginal story. The writing style is amazing and Greer is clearly extremely talented, but the story was so privileged, I couldn’t enjoy it.

The most adorable book ever! About a nonbinary monk and a robot's unlikely friendship when they meet far away from human civilization on a hunt for the peaceful sound of crickets. I understand the Chambers' obsession now. This book was the cutest and had the best, most comforting and hopeful social commentary about climate change, identity, and self-exploration. The best characters and the most stunning descriptions of our planet. It's under 150 pages, which was simultaneously the perfect length but also hundreds of pages too short. I want to share this book with everyone. Can't wait for book 2!

Beautiful, poetic and a story/perspective I’ve never read before. Pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me heart so warm.

What a complicated, stunning, heartwarming book. I've been waiting for this book since I heard about it almost a year ago and it was definitely worth the wait. I'm so grateful Lo didn't give up on Aria throughout the decade of creating her story. The Summer before starting college is the Summer of exploration for Aria when she is forced to move across the country to live with her grandmother. Of course, she meets the grandmother's gardener and gets whisked away to queer music festivals and dyke marches with her new friend and her friends. I love books that make me feel proud and deeply part of the queer community- Aria's relationships and the humor in this book is sapphic and if you don't get it, you don't get it. Lo clearly made this book for her community, which I am excited to announce, I am a part of. A friends to lovers trope, Asian representation, complicated family dynamics, and strong friendships are things I look for in books and Lo hits all of them (plus a very cute dog). Lo is specific and detailed in her descriptions of the events, places, and art throughout the book. Her dialogue is relatable, as are Aria's fears and awe and eagerness. I love that this is a stand alone novel but also beautiful calls back to Telegraph Club, an all time favorite book of mine. I also loved the way it ended- open but knowing, simple but hopeful.

Rip this book did very little for me and something about Jacobson’s style made it so slow. I like memoirs by famous people when they just tell me straight up about their life, not when they try to be super duper introspective and thoughtful. I didn’t feel like I drove across the country with her; I didn’t really understand why her driving across the country was supposed to matter to me. I love Abbi and she’s an incredible artist and tv writer (and funny!), but I don’t think this made me fall more deeply in love with her and her work (like most memoirs do).