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Stuff We Like: Household Staples

Amanda has discovered some hidden gems during her first year of home ownership.

The Rec League: Mysterious, Spooky-Adjacent Romances

The Rec League - heart shaped chocolate resting on the edge of a very old book

This Rec League comes from Sarahjane: Was listening to (and loving, as usual) the latest podcast and have a bit of a Rec League request. I’d love to find more books that have a plot of “We main characters find ourselves on the fringes of spooky/mysterious/magical/alien shenanigans and must solve the mystery (or defeat the aliens or banish the ghosts, etc.) One of my big favorites is KJ Charles’ Magpie Lord series. I especially love … Continue reading The Rec League: Mysterious, Spooky-Adjacent Romances

Links: Art, Pet Adoptions, & More

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Welcome back to Wednesday Links! For those who had a long weekend, was it relaxing? One of my best friends was back in town from Los Angeles and I had such a good time seeing her. I also started listening to audiobooks while I game. Shoutout to Agatha of the She Wore Black podcast for inspiring me to give this a try. I tore through a 10hr book in a little under two days. Now … Continue reading Links: Art, Pet Adoptions, & More

Book Review

It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror ed. by Joe Vallese

It Came from the Closet

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror is a collection of essays by horror fans who reflect on their experiences with the cinematic horror genre through a queer lens. I enjoyed every essay in this book and gained a new understanding of the complexities of meaning that each viewer can find within a film. As the LGBTQIA+ viewers in this volume strive to see themselves reflected in a media that erases them, they … Continue reading It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror ed. by Joe Vallese

Help A Bitch Out

HaBO: Heroine with Digestive Disease

This HaBO request is from Alison, who is hoping to find this romance: I’m trying to remember a book I read and have neither the title or author. She has IBS or Crohn’s or UC. She goes on a vacation-ish and ends up staying in a friend’s family vacation house. The brother is fixing up said house. Grumpy/ sunshine romance begins. He has/finds a dog and begrudgingly takes care of it. They go to a … Continue reading HaBO: Heroine with Digestive Disease

Hide Your Wallet

Hide Your Wallet: September 5th Release Week!

It’s Tuesday! I hope everyone in the States enjoyed the long weekend and maybe even got some reading done. It’s a short release week for us at SBTB HQ, though next week is looking rather beefy. We have a contemporary romance, some horror that Carrie just reviewed and enjoyed, and some witchy historical fiction. What’s on your TBR pile for this week?

Book Review

The September House by Carissa Orlando

The September House

TW for description and discussion of violence, including domestic violence, alcoholism, fear, emotional and physical harm to children, death of children and birds. My goodness, I have a LOT to say about The September House, a haunted house story that is emphatically not a romance. This book tackles mental illness, domestic violence, alcoholism, messy parenting, and the logistical difficulties of getting gasoline fumes out of antique upholstery. I didn’t so much read it as eat … Continue reading The September House by Carissa Orlando

Cover Awe: Greens and Blues

Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Zelda Knight. The background is a green moss. In the center is a Black person with tight braids in a soft yellow space suit, accented by bits of shiny metal. They are holding small white flowers, with one tucked behind their ear.

Let’s look at some covers we’re enjoying lately! Cover art by Manzi Jackson Sarah: That is a fabulous illustration. Sneezy: Wow! That’s gorgeous! It’s so evocative and lush! Amanda: I think right now, the key to any standout illustrated cover is making use of different art styles. Cover art by Jenifer Prince Amanda: I really love her covers! There’s always a hint of vintage in the design and style. Elyse: Oooh! Sarah: I love her … Continue reading Cover Awe: Greens and Blues

Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 49

Welcome back to Get Rec’d! We are rapidly approaching fifty of these things. Wow! As always, thank you for sharing your recommendations with me. This one has some academic texts, a spooky mystery, and an Austen-inspired romance set in Chinatown. Want to pass along any recommendations? Drop them in the comments below!

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