Whew. This was a truly wild journey through the world of pregnancies, cults, drugs, and traumatic brain injuries. When 39 year old Sanjana comes home from a year long stint in Bombay researching an old religous figure, she is forced to confront everything she ran away from - a failed PhD, strained family relations, a failed marriage, and above all, her own fertility. She starts to get messages from...herself? And thus begins an unravelling and reckoning with what it means to be a modern woman. This book is both hilarious and equally disturbing, resonating with the double consciousness of what it means to be a modern woman. I could not put it down! Highly highly recommend.

Thanks to Ecco and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available January 2025

Expansive yet precise, Imani Perry's Black in Blues traces the appearance of the term blue in African and Black history, starting pre-colonization and ending in our present era. As with all of Perry's books, there is a delicate balance of history, cultural analysis, and personal reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid way Perry brings it all to life and seems to be able to time travel without much break in logical reasoning. What felt a bit off was the ending, particularly the multiple endings. With a book this enormous, I know a tidy ending wasn't possible, but it feels like Perry became ummoored and lost in the blues herself. Still, this is a worthy read! 

Thank you to FSG and NetGalley for the ARC.

Now available.

Deep and orderly, this ekphrastic poetry collection explores Agnes Martin's artwork. At the same time, Chang discusses the passing of her father, the recent rise of violence against Asian American women, and her own struggles with depression. The poems are transformative, starting at one place and shifting to another. I loved seeing the paintings intermix with Chang's own lines, the comparison of paint lines to the written lines.

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available November 14th.

I was in ninth grade when I first found Mma Ramotswe and the No 1 Ladies Dectective Agency. Now it's been over a decade and I still look forward to each new addition to the series, to hearing the ever enduring, gentle hearted Mma solve a never ending series of mysteries in her home country of Botswana. This particular story is more heavily led by Mma Matsuki, but is still just as delightful as the rest. I recommend pairing this book with your favorite cup of red tea and an indulgent slice of fruit cake and an afternoon of mystery and humor.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Now available.

Like a cinematic masterpiece, Rachel Khong's Real Americans starts with an unexpected meet and greet. When twenty something Lily goes on a date with young, handsome, and mysterious Matthew, she can hardly imagine the twists and turns her life will take. Told from the perspectives of Lily, her mother, and her son Nick, this story travels from 1970s China to 2030's America. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two sections, but began to lose some interest in the third - mainly because I wanted more Lily! Selfishly, I enjoyed seeing her transition from her twenties to her fifties, to see her settle into life. I wanted to hear more about her experiences later in life, alone but still finding ways to make life beautiful and meaningful. The sci-fi elements in this work are subtle but still intriguing enough, though they feel secondary to the human drama at the heart of the piece. Very moving.

Thanks Greywolf Press and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy.

Now available.

First penned in the aftermath of 9/11, Don't Let Me Be Lonely is a deep and disturbing look into the American psyche. Through personal and fictive essays, news excerpts, research studies, and TV snippets, Rankine looks at the violence of the US empire both at home and abroad. Compared to her previous books, this one feels both broader in terms of themes explored and narrower in scope of time. This is one book that will keep revealing new depths each time you read.

I would say for the most part I enjoyed this book - workaholic Andrea Tang has to finally confront her priorities and grow up. It reminded me a lot of Crazy Rich Asians, just for the lesser wealthy. I think there was a lot lot lot of liquor and sex which made some parts of the story feel too unreal. But overall, I felt satisfied by the ending!

These stories are like pressing your forehead into a cool glass of water and looking at the world through droplets. It is disorienting but also oddly satisfying. Each story focuses on different South Asian women's experiences of marriage, pregnancy, girlhood, romance, and intimacy.  I am excited to read more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this deeply psychological novel exploring modern love, loneliness and community. After the death of his mother, an unnamed protagonist decides to try an unnusual career - a Rental Stranger who can be hired for different positions, anything from a missing father, a grieving widow, and a drunken brother. By introducing the concept of the Other as kin, Tang asks to consider the isolation and loss of social bonds in today's harried world. I wish there was more time to think through the ending - I was confused by the sudden trip to LA and sex scene.

This debut fiction marks sharp remarks about class, gender, and privilege. I enjoyed how the author didn't try to defend the protagonist's mistakes.