Madam X. Niobia Bryant. 2023. Dafina. 320 pages. [ARC provided courtesy of publisher via NetGalley for an unbiased review.] Loved it! Have we read about Desdemona before?? I feel like I haven’t…if I’m right and this is a new character – I need some “flash book” books. The character was endearing and seemed to have enough history for a series on her past to be built. I love the self discovery and romance plot, mixed in with the mystery of who told. Felt like the reveal came out of nowhere, but overall, I enjoyed. 4 stars.

Bookmarked. Bella Jay. 2022. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of author.] I’ve heard of honeymoons. Babymoons, even. A divorcemoon, though? This will either be a complete disaster or the greatest thing ever. Either way, Brooklin’s about to find out when she accepts her estranged husband Elgin’s invitation for a final baecation before they divorce. It’s a bit unconventional, but what does she really have to lose? Brooklin, aka Books, and Elgin, aka Juice, have been together more than a decade; long enough to see his unexpected pivot into Hollywood stardom and her own ascent as a host of a popular romance book podcast. It’s no small thing to part ways after so much time and so many changes. To his credit, Juice creates the perfect getaway for the two, with a book-inspired itenery that’s entirely suited to Books’ love of reading and will ensure she doesn’t forget how very good they were together. Throughout their story, Bella Jay brilliantly captures the complex emotional and mental journey it is for them to consider what’s ahead of them. This book was an emotional roller-coaster as it explored Books’ and Juice’s search for clarity about the decision to end their marriage. One moment they…

Hold You Down. Tracy Brown. 2022. St. Martin’s Griffin. 336 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] Expertly written as always, Brown produces another relatable work. Both her gift and curse, she spanned the characters whole lifetime. I found myself at times thinking surely this book has come to an end, but I was significantly far from the ending. It not often that I say a book could have been a successful part one and two, but Hold You Down could’ve been just that. I would’ve loved more detail to part 1, transitioning into part 2, and would’ve happily acceptable the rest as a sequel. Great characters and character development with an unexpected twist, she never disappoints. 5 stars.

Waiting on Mr. Sloth. Katy Hudson. 2023. Capstone. 32 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] I don’t often review children’s books anymore, but I can’t turn down anything sloth related. I was in for such a treat with Waiting on Mr. Sloth and am sure the little in your life will love (and relate) to this story. All Sasha wants to do is go swimming with Mr. Sloth. But, being a sloth, he’s so slow and is keeping her from enjoying the only thing she wants to do. It’s not just Mr. Sloth that keeps Sasha from her swim — the two encounter obstacles that exist solely to derail an otherwise fun day in the water. I love this book’s choice of a sloth as Sasha’s foil. He’s nothing if not true to his nature — he’s not rushing anything. Sasha’s frustration, however, leads to a great teachable moment about patience, mindfulness, and just going with the flow. It’s perfectly worded for young readers and is presented in a way that makes the lesson easily digested and understood. As a treat, the book also provides a list of easy and accessible…

The Monsters We Defy. Leslye Penelope. 2022. Redhook. 384 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] The Monsters We Defy starts with a birth at crossroads; this is an apt foreshadowing of what’s to come for the baby born at the turn of the twentieth century. Clara Johnson was born in a caul and yet, her life comes with none of the fabled luck of being born in her “veil.” Instead, she’s had a life filled with heartbreak and strife. Where she’s unlucky, she is equally headstrong and can be a fierce advocate or enemy. Despite this strength, she’s often at odds with her gift of connecting with the spirit realm. This ends up being the key challenge in the story — Clara’s interactions with the spirits drop a burden in her lap that she can’t afford to ignore but can’t resolve on her own. In her attempt to free herself from a bad deal she made with a particularly powerful spirit, she finds other wayward souls who carry their own burdens and seek their own versions of freedom. There’s her roommate Zelda, an albino pickpocket; Aristotle, an actor whose skill overshadows…