I came across this title after reading and loving the Dear Martin duology. While I can see why readers have compared This Is My America to those books, I would put it in an older YA or New Adult category. What I mean by that is that this title reads much "older" than the Dear Martin books. Johnson, the author, is able to address so many topical issues in her writing. These include interracial dating, racial discrimination, the death penalty, and the legacy of the Klu Klux Klan. What secured this book's five-star rating for me was the author's ability to represent both Black fear/pain and Black joy/hopefulness. I have read too many books that only focus on the worst-case scenarios for Black Americans and really appreciated the moments of triumph for the main characters in this story. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of This Is My America immediately.

After having this book on my tbr for a long time (three years according to Goodreads), I finally picked it up from my local library. I was super excited to read my first Lisa Jewell book, but The Girls in the Garden was pretty underwhelming. I didn't find myself really interested in the main mystery and have definitely read better books from this genre. That being said, I will probably give this author and her writing another chance because I know many readers sing her praises. Maybe I just started with one of her "not-so-great" titles? We shall see.

The Wedding Party is the third book from this series and I don't know if I will be reading the rest of the books or not. I had similar thoughts about this title as I did the first book. There was not a lot of substantial plot and parts of the story just felt so unrealistic. I am beginning to suspect that my adoration for the second book was just because I really liked the male love interest, Carlos. If you are looking for a contemporary romance series like this one, I would suggest checking out Talia Hibbert's The Brown Sisters series or Tessa Bailey's Hot & Hammered series instead.

As a self-proclaimed thriller fiction lover, I always am impressed when an author is able to create a book in that genre that is completely unique. Many times the same tropes are used over and over again, making thriller fiction titles seem repetitive. Galgon, the author, succeeded in writing a story, unlike anything I've read before. The Circle follows Douglas Goodwin after he is inducted into a secret society against his will. This society is made up of members who are given the mission to hunt each other in exchange for a life full of luxury and unlimited wealth. As a fast-paced story, I found it difficult to put this one down! I would definitely recommend The Circle to other readers who are looking for an action-packed thriller. 

When I stumbled upon this book written by John E. Douglas, the FBI criminal profiler who served as an inspiration for Mindhunter (a Netflix series), I knew that I had to read it. Not only am I a huge fan of the show, but I also have an interest in true crime. Douglas has talked to some of the most infamous criminals - mostly murderers - in the United States and his recounts of these meetings are phenomenal. He takes time to explain why murders commit the heinous crimes they do while walking the reader through four key interrogations he has led. I want to add that there is some content in this title that is disturbing. Douglas does share some graphic descriptions of violence and readers should take note of that before diving in.

Because April is National Poetry Month, I thought it was time that I picked up a poetry collection again. Poetry is not one of my favorite genres to read, but this volume, Felon, blew me away. Betts, the author, writes about his experiences during and after his incarceration. These poems will make you uncomfortable, as the current criminal justice system should. There is so much injustice happening today in America's prisons and too many people (especially people of color) are permanently scarred from their time behind bars. Betts' writing is heartbreakingly honest and when reading his work, I would suggest taking time to really process what each poem is about.

After reading many memoirs and essays from Black writers, I was determined to learn more about a historical figure that they frequently referenced: Ida B. Wells. I had heard of her (of course), but I wanted to know more. So, when I came across this book which is written by Wells' great-granddaughter, I was excited. My rating does not reflect the life or legacy of Ida B Wells, but rather the structure and information in this title. While it is marketed as a biography of her, the book actually contains a wide span of history. In other words, the text wasn't what I thought it was when I picked it up. My search for a more comprehensive biography continues.

The Office of Historical Corrections is easily one of the best short story collections I have ever read. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Evans' writing in the future. Comprised of six short stories and a novella, this piece touches on topical issues in the United States. I ultimately decided to give this book a 4/5 star rating because there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others. My favorites were Boys Go To Jupiter and The Office of Historical Corrections (the titular piece). I highly recommend adding this one to your reading list regardless if you are a fan of short stories or not.

Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors. I have read and loved all of his books (with 3 out of his 4 published titles receiving 5/5 stars from me on Goodreads), but this one missed the mark. Unlike his other titles, Survive The Night never completely pulled me into the story. In addition, the ending just felt off - I can't really say more about that without spoiling anything though. Of course, since he is such a popular thriller/mystery author, I have no doubts that this book will be a bestseller once it is released in June. I am curious to see if other Sager superfans will feel the same way after reading this one.
(PUB DATE: 06/29/2021)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

When asked about my favorite genres to read, I never say historical fiction. Why? I have been subjected to too many bad historical fiction novels that I try to keep as much distance between them and myself. With that being said, The Lost Apothecary makes me want to give this genre a second chance. This title is told through dual narratives, one in the present day and one in the 1700s. Both stories take place in London and both narrators have been betrayed by a man in their lives (this is crucial information to know because it directly correlates to the characters' actions in this book). Like other similarly structured stories, I did favor one storyline more than the other, but I would still recommend picking up this title! Sidenote: Can we talk about how beautiful this cover is??