The Future

The Future by Naomi Alderman is a science fiction book that takes place a few years from now technology-wise. 

Martha Einkorn was raised on a compound in Oregon. She now works for a social media mogul who wants to control everything. 

Lai Zhen, raised in Hong Kong, is an internet-famous survivalist. She writes articles, interviews and posts videos that have millions of followers. 

Both Martha and Lai have a role to play in a chain of events set into motion to change the course of the world, to hopefully save humanity. If something happens to make people willing to restructure their lives to help the Earth repair itself. One or both of them are unaware of their roles.

Alderman is a masterful storyteller. The twists and turns in this thriller will keep you up late reading. 

Alderman, Naomi. (2023). The Future. New York: Simon and Schuster. 

Cleat Cute

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner is a lesbian sports romance set mostly in New Orleans.

Phoebe Matthews is going to be a professional soccer player. She has been drafted to the New Orleans Krewe of the NWSL. She has a couple of weeks before she is due at practice when she is called to camp for potential US national team players.

Grace Henderson is a national soccer star, playing professionally for ten years even though she is only 26 years old. She is the captain of the Krewe and the National Team. Grace thinks players should be serious, not like this new kid, 22 years old, but full of energy and making jokes.

Grace is Phoebe's idol. She actually has Grace's poster on her wall in her childhood bedroom. Now she has to follow Grace-the-captain while not making a fool of herself - an not stare or drool!

Wilsner has created a steamy romance for soccer fans. Fun read. 

Wilsner, Meryl. (2023). Cleat Cute. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.

The Kingdom of the Gods (Inheritance #3)

The Kingdom of the Gods by N.K. Jemisin is the third book in the Inheritance fantasy series. 

Sieh, the child god, is lonely and bored. He finds himself going back to Sky, where he was imprisoned for centuries. Going back for the nostalgia of living with his favorite siblings who have scattered to the worlds. 

When Sieh arrives at an unused stairway at the bottom levels of the palace that is Sky, he finds to lost Arameri children - Shahar and Deka. They are twins, about eight or ten. They have been exploring, but have gotten lost in an abandoned level. 

Sieh, also the trickster gods, plays a game with them. He is just as likely to reward as kill at the end of a game, but the smart children convince him to come back in one year to continue the game. 

Jemisin is an amazing world-builder. The layers and complexities she must have in her head to write with such seamlessness in her own created world! It is no wonder she is the best of the amazing fantasy writers of our day! Read all of her books. Each series is wonderful and different and will make you think differently about some aspect of your life. 

Jemisin, N.K. (2011). The Kingdom of the Gods. New York: Orbit