February 2025 Reads

TL, DR above

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). 

StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned. 

Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here: 

Engrossing Reads

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben - The second Sami Kierce novel. I love the Sami Kierce universe, and this book did not disappoint. I think I love the cast of supporting characters more than Sami himself. Can't wait for the next. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree by India Hayford - A recommendation from Shelby - thank you, my friend (follow her on IG to get links to Shelby's own writing) - I loved Genevieve and her whole story. Women of strength and magic vs. cruel men hits right now. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley - I loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by this author, and this next did not disappoint. I like how Oakley tells a story, and I loved the quirks of the characters in this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 11.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo - Obsessed with this book, I couldn't put it down. Loved the way it was told, through alternating accounts and interviews, and the characters and wild actions. All the good figure skating drama stories rolled into one. OCNJ library hardcover

Passed the Time Just Fine

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead - I was compelled to finish this, although several things bothered the shit out of me. True crime folks might dig this more. An interesting premise, entirely unrealistic in its unfolding, but that's reading, am I right? Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 25

The Antidote by Karen Russell - This one is a little outside of my preferred reading genres, but felt like a timely read right now despite being set in the Dust Bowl era. Well written and I loved the Prairie Witch angle. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 11. I also won this in a giveaway so I read the paperback version instead of the digital then passed it on to a Little Free Library

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey - Loved the writing. Ivey does a fantastic job of incorporating the setting of Alaska almost like it's a character itself, which is what I loved about Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone. A lonely novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the free after publication copy in exchange for an honest review

When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham - I always enjoy a Michael Robotham book, particularly his Evie Cormac books. This is the first in a series I am delving into and I look forward to the others. OCNJ library hardcover

Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch - This was a ride - and a well written one with a solid pace that only lagged in a few spots. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley invite for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 18

A Hired Kill (Garrett Mann #2) by Steven Konkoly - I'm pretty sure the first in this series made my top reads of last year. I didn't like the follow up as much, as you can see. I felt like the first one was more focused on the characters and this one...too much government intrigue shit in a time when man I fucking hate hearing about the government and I'm up to my neck in its lying intrigue shit. So this is definitely an it's not you, it's me moment. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes May 27

Not Another Rockstar by Kate Callaghan - Is this a mystery? A romance? A mymance? Whatever it was, it was a quick read and passed the time just fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

The Wildelings by Lisa Harding - I am probably an outlier on this one, but it didn't do it for me. The story was not strong enough to overcome my extreme annoyance with Jessica through most of the book - difficult to take a ride alongside a character like that in a character-driven story even when it serves a purpose. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes April 15.

Did Not Finish

 n/a

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What have you been reading?

Economic Blackout February 28

This costs you literally nothing and you don't even have to leave your house to participate. It's a 24 hour action that is testing our limits. Americans are very into convenience. Will we sacrifice convenience tomorrow, and at points in the future, in order to put a stick and some grit in the wheels of the fascist oligarchy before they steamroll us?

Absolutely nothing happening at the federal level is business as usual. It's not "just politics" or "how politics works" and should not be treated as such. I'm sorry people did not ever learn or have conveniently forgotten how the United States government works or was set up to work. Me, and others like me, are not overreacting. If anything, we are very seriously underreacting as a population. We're tired, we're overloaded, we're overwhelmed, and we're reliant on convenience and have forgotten how to live near the edges - all of that by design, so we don't rise up when fascism comes slithering in. We've been told we have no power, there's nothing we can do. Both of those things are a lie. Wake up. Do not let your American exceptionalism - "it can't happen here, we have safeguards, the courts are doing their jobs, " etc lull you into doing fuck all.

I'd like to say I'm surprised at how many people appear to be in support of DOGE and cutting alleged waste and fraud in government spending thaving absolutely nothing to say about the fact that tax cuts for the .01% - which you will never, ever, be, babe - are going to increase while our taxes go up AND programs like Medicaid get defunded, but I'm not suprised. DOGE is not auditing the government and finding waste/fraud, either. They're taking a chainsaw to agencies and departments they don't like and steering clear of any that gives Elon Musk's companies subsidies. 

And it is in the budget resolution to cut Medicaid completely - Republicans are banking on Americans not being able to read a budget resolution, but it's in there, so save me from the lie of it not being cut just because they say it's not going to be cut. These people fucking lie to cover the asses of the billionaire broligarchy. The resolution as it stands requires the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion dollars. The vast majority of that Committee's jurisdiction is over Medicare and Medicaid...so where exactly will that $880 billion dollars come from if not from Medicaid? Even if the Committee cuts EVERYTHING not related to healthcare to ZERO, it will still be more than $600 billion short from the required $880 billion in cuts. Think critically, friends - I know some of us are out of practice on that skill, but let's do it - the Republicans are a step away from cutting Medicaid completely, relying on us not to understand the budgeting process. I understand it, and you need to understand it too. Thanks to Jess Craven for breaking it down on IG and spurring me to go read it.

Incidentally, if you were unaware, Medicaid covers:

- Nearly half of all children in the United States

- Over 40% of births in the United States. 

- Low income elderly folks

- Veterans! You guys remember them when they need services or payback for what they've given to this country, or do you only trot them out when you wave your flag on the holidays or need to feel something in your tipsy heart before major sporting events? 

- People with disabilities

- Working adults in lower-wage jobs that don't offer affordable coverage

- Medicaid is also a major source of funding for hospitals, community health centers, physicians, and nursing homes

- People you know and love. They will not be spared. 

You all cool with those people losing access to healthcare and a lot of them dying so the billionaires you will never be can get more tax cuts? Be for fucking real with yourself right now. Answer that question. You good with no National Parks, nothing beautiful and wild left? You cool with some ketamine fueled immigrant with zero qualifications aside from getting rich off of other people's ideas, being a nazi, and  running everything he touches into the fucking ground cutting federal civil servant jobs that literally keep the country running in ways you cannot possibly comprehend until you lose access to services or information that you need so, again, billionaire and corporate welfare can continue on as it has? You all don't think THAT is waste, giving the people who have more money than god even MORE money while cutting funding for everything good that helps regular people like YOU and people you know? The people who make under $100k a year being billionaire bootlickers is fucking wild. Stop punching down and sideways and punch up at the people who don't give a shit if you live or die let alone if you can afford to do either or have any joy in the process. 

I'm sick of seeing people I know applaud DOGE and ghoulish cuts across the board because they've  eaten misinformation and hatred for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the past 20 years held up to their mouths on a spoon fed to them by by male podcasters,  Fox entertainment hosts, and lying liars who fucking lie and made it their personality, like they are a bastian of leanness and cutting spending. Bros...if your billionaire's tax breaks and corporate welfare are not your first battle cry for cuts, you're propping up the real bloated pigs sucking from the teat of the American taxpayers. This unwillingness to untether yourselves from this has made you the ushers of fascism and oligarchy in a country that is supposed to be a democratic republic. And that is damn hard to live with. 

It's not too late. Connect the dots. Know that when people get desperate, when they're unwell, when the cost is rising and they can't keep up, when they're hungry, when they cannot provide for their kids, when they're losing jobs (what republicans are proposing to cut will impact MANY industries, federal workers won't be the only ones without jobs) - crime, homelessness, deaths, violent reactions will all rise. Every single one of us will feel this pain in our communities. 

A rising tide lifts all boats. We have the money to pay for all the services if the .01% pay their share and corporations pay theirs. Are you on the side of people, or profits that you'll never see? 

SMD