I probably would not have picked up Arsenic and Adobo if my mom hadn't chosen it for her BOTM pick. To be honest, I never really gave cozy mysteries a fair chance. Their cheesy covers and cringey title names made me not want to read them. However, when one of my friends announced they were hosting a buddy read for this title, I thought I'd give it a shot. In the beginning, I was hesitant because I thought the plot was going to be too predictable. Seriously, I was sure I knew who the "bad guy" was within ten pages (I didn't). However, I ended up enjoying this novel way more than I thought I would and am now looking for other books to read from this genre. I cannot wait to discuss this funny, charming story with the other people participating in the buddy read!

I will read anything Carmen Maria Machado writes. The quality of her writing is unmatched and I will forever recommend her work to other readers. Her Body and Other Parties is a collection of short stories that fall into the gothic horror genre. As always, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but as a whole, this book was really great! If you are looking for a well-written selection of eerie tales, this is the title for you.

The Mother of All Questions is comprised of a handful of feminist essays. As it was published in 2017, some of the content has not aged well (Solnit, the author, commends Aziz Ansari and Louis C. K. on being allies to women...) and some of the content is just not as relevant as it once was. However, if I had read this short collection closer to when it first was released, I would have enjoyed it tremendously. Overall, while this is a thoughtful title, there are many more books in this genre that are more appropriate for the current day.

This book was sexy, funny, and a little bit nerdy. Smut had been on my radar for a while, but I finally read it after having one of my fellow book-loving friends convince me it was worth the time. If you're looking for a lighthearted read with some very steamy writing, this is the book for you. While this title isn't going to win any awards for its prose or plot, it certainly is entertaining. If you're looking for a palette cleanser between heavier titles, Smut would be a great choice!

After being completely enamored with Vengeance Road (the prequel to this book), I was hesitant to pick up Retribution Rails. I thought it could not possibly live up to its predecessor and - let me just say - I was wrong! Bowman, the author, did a fantastic job showing how the area had changed since the last book (there is a gap of ten years in the stories) and making the reader fall in love with a new dynamic duo. If you are looking for a title with lots of adventure and a sprinkle of romance, you should definitely check out this series. 

Let's Get Back to the Party explores the cultural divide between gay men of different generations. Set in the modern-day, Oscar and Sebastian, two older millennials navigate their adult lives in a setting very different from their youth. While this is a fictional story, I can't help but wonder if there are some autobiographical aspects in the plot. I commend Salih on his writing ability if it is truly all fiction because of the intense emotions he is able to create through his characters. That being said, I did not enjoy reading this title. Using a very happy event (the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States) and a very somber event (the Pulse nightclub shooting) for the gay community as the beginning and end of this book, Salih failed to write an interesting plot for the actual story. The general themes he wanted to portray were there, but it was executed so poorly that I cannot recommend this title. Don't get sucked in by the man crying glitter on the cover (that's what made me pick it up, at least), and take this one off your list

I was just as impressed with this title from Bashardoust as I was with her first book, Girls Made Of Snow And Glass. Both stories are fairytale retellings, but this one also had roots in Persian mythology. Soraya, the protagonist, decides to come out of the shadows her family has put her in due to her unique traits and causes quite the mess by doing so. It is up to her to fix what she has done and save her kingdom from potential evil. I loved the fast-paced action of the plot and the character development of the young princess. I highly recommend adding both of Bashardoust’s books to your reading lists!

I actually really enjoyed this title. The story was weird and the writing was advanced (I learned a lot of new words while working my way through this one), but for some reason, it worked. Kidd manages to embrace a wide span of genres including historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery with her book, which I found to be exciting. I had no idea what was going to happen next with the plot and was eager to keep reading. With all that being said, this story is very slow-paced and probably will not be a hit for everyone for that reason. However, I would be willing to read more of this author's work, as I thought this book was great.

I believe that Namesake might be my fourth YA fantasy book about pirates this year... I don't know why I am being drawn to this subject, but I have once again really enjoyed reading this type of story. In regards to this book specifically, I liked it more than its predecessor, Fable. I thought there was more action and that the ending was really clever. I would definitely read more books from Adrienne Young in the future and highly recommend this duology.

I finally read Hood Feminism after having it on my reading list for what seems like forever. I am not sure I have anything to add to the discussion of this title that hasn't already been said, but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive antiracist read. Kendall, the author, highlights why intersectional feminism is a necessity and shows the flaws of the different waves of the movement. If you have already read this book, I would also recommend checking out White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad, as it deals with similar topics.