Lessons in Magic and Disaster

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders

A young witch teaches her mother how to do magic--with very unexpected results--in this relatable, resonant novel about family, identity, and the power of love.

Jamie is the average New England academic in-training--she has a strong queer relationship, generational trauma, and an esoteric dissertation proposal. But she has one extraordinary secret: she's also a powerful witch.

Serena, Jamie's mother, has been hiding from the world in an old one-room schoolhouse for several years, grieving the death of her wife and the simultaneous explosion in her professional life. All she has left are memories.

Jamie’s busy digging into a three-hundred-year-old magical book, but she still finds time to teach Serena to cast spells and help her come out of her shell. But Jamie doesn't know the whole story of what happened to her mom years ago, and those secrets are leading Serena down a destructive path.

Now it's up to this grad student and literature nerd to understand the secrets behind this mysterious novel from 1749, unearth a long-buried scandal hinted therein, and learn the true nature of magic, before her mother ruins both of their lives.

Charlie Jane Anders is one of my favorite authors. I will read everything she publishes! This is a great book with fully formed characters. Read it today.

Anders, Charlie Jane. (2025). Lessons in Magic and Disaster. New York: Tor. 

Detransition, Baby

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters is a tour du force novel about womanhood, family and so much more. This is one of the best books I have read this year.

Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. She had scraped together what previous generations of trans women could only dream of: a life of mundane, bourgeois comforts. The only thing missing was a child. But then her girlfriend, Amy, detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. Now Reese is caught in a self-destructive pattern: avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men.

Ames isn't happy either. He thought detransitioning to live as a man would make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese—and losing her meant losing his only family. Even though their romance is over, he longs to find a way back to her. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby—and that she's not sure whether she wants to keep it—Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family—and raise the baby together?

This provocative debut is about what happens at the emotional, messy, vulnerable corners of womanhood that platitudes and good intentions can't reach. Torrey Peters brilliantly and fearlessly navigates the most dangerous taboos around gender, sex, and relationships, gifting us a thrillingly original, witty, and deeply moving novel.

Buy this book today. Then read everything else Torrey Peters ever publishes, she is that good a writer and storyteller.

Peters, Torrey. (2021). Detransition, Baby. New York: One World.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an epic novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

In the summer of 1980, astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin begins training to be an astronaut at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond; mission specialists John Griffin and Lydia Danes; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer. As the new astronauts prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined and begins to question everything she believes about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

This is a great book! Go get a copy today from your local bookstore or library.

Reid, Taylor Jenkins. (2025). Atmosphere. New York: Ballantine,

Hello Beautiful

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is centered around the four Padavano sisters in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. 

William Waters grew up in a house without love. His parents barely looked at him. The only time he had any happiness was when he was playing basketball. When William earns a scholarship, he chooses a school away from his parents. He meets Julia Padavano during his freshman year.

Julia comes with her family. The four sisters are inseparable. As William become part of the Padavano circle, he has his first experiences of a loving family. The house is always full of love and chaos.

Napolitano writes characters whom you would want in your own life. Her stories will stay with you for long after you have stayed up all night to finish her books. 

Napolitano, Ann. (2023). Hello Beautiful. New York: The Dial Press.  

We Deserve Monuments

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds.

Mama Letty is very ill in the late stages of cancer. Though Zora left the second she was old enough, and has an unspoken of, decades old, conflict with her mother, she and her family are moving to Bardell, Georgia to help.

Avery know little of her grandmother. She and her mom visited once when she was five, but all she remembers of the visit is yelling. Now, at the beginning of her senior year of high school, she is leaving D.C. and her two best friends, moving to a town that looks tiny and run-down. 

Luckily, right away Avery meets Simone and them Jade. Finding two new friends is a blessing. But what Avery doesn't know is the history between their three families. The layers of secrets, racism and town history will slowly be revealed.

As friendships grow closer and time is spent in Bardell, stories are revealed that will both bring Avery closer to her mother and grandmother as well as reveal how racial violence can ripple through generations. 

Hammonds has written a story about family relationships set in a small town with big secrets. This is a beautifully written novel of our history as well as current day country. 

Hammonds, Jas. (2022). We Deserve Monuments. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

The Collected Regrets of Clover

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer is about a death doula in New York City.

Clover Brooks was raised by her grandfather from age six when her parents died. Clover was sad about her parents, but ready to leave the school where everyone thought she was weird since the day her kindergarten teacher dropped dead during storytime and she was the only kid to not run screaming from the room.

As an adult she is a death doula. Really, she spends little time with those not dying since grandfather died. She spends as much or little time with the dying to help them process anything they want to talk about before their time is up. 

She does need to process these deaths. So she does two things. She keeps journals of people regrets and last words. And she goes to Death Cafes to speak with others who have experienced a loss. 

At one of the cafes, she meets a man who wants to hire her for his grandmother. Grandmother Claudia will be different - she will make Clover want to open up to people more, make her try to face her regrets now, and make other choices. 

Brammer has written a beautiful book about relationships and using time wisely while we have it instead of putting things off that we may regret later. Read this book.

Brammer, Mikki. The Collected Regrets of Clover. New York: St. Martin's Press. 

The Girl with the Louding Voice

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré is a coming-of-age story set in Nigeria. 

Adunni is fourteen. She lives in the village of Ikati. Her mother made her father promise to keep Adunni in school when she died. Her mother said that the more education you had the better your louding voice, your ability to speak up for yourself. 

Now her father has taken her out of school. There is no money to pay the fees. He cannot pay the rent for them and her two brothers. His solution is to marry Adunni to a man who can afford a good bride price. Adunni has no desire to get married. Her true love is learning. 

Any further details would necessarily include spoilers. Daré has written a heartwarming story set in a country rich and alive, but with a huge wealth gap. Though she has an arduous journey, Adunni is a beautiful character who could be many girls in Nigeria. She is always hopeful and that is what allows her to get where she wants to be. Read this wonderful story. 

Daré, Abi. (2020). The Girl With The Louding Voice. New York: Dutton.

The Singer's Gun

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel is a story of life choices.

Anton Walker was raised by the owners of an antiques salvage shop in New York City. In this case, salvage mostly means stolen. His dream as a kid was to work in an office, but out of high school he and his cousin Aria started a forgery business - helping immigrants work quasi-legally.

Anton was originally saving money for college, but at some point, decided to skip the classes and make himself a diploma. Now he works in an office in Manhattan. He is engaged to a cellist, has a rescued cat, and is kinda happy.

When his honeymoon location is convenient to a job Aria is working, she offers to pay him a lot of money to receive and envelope and pass it on to someone. Then he will be clear of the business and she will forgive him for leaving it in the first place. 

Mandel is an amazing writer - both they type whose words make you stop and reread a beautiful sentence, and the type whose twists and turns make for a mesmerizing ride.

Mandel, Emily St. John. (2010). The Singer's Gun. New York: Unbridled Books.

Becoming

Becoming by Michelle Obama is a memoir of a Southside Chicago girl who grew up to become a bad ass woman. I listened to this on audiobook, read by the author.

Born into a loving, supportive family, Michelle Robinson demanded excellence of herself from a young age. From going ahead of the assigned piano assignments, to excelling at school, to becoming a lawyer she pushed herself. It may have come from her family lovingly pushing her to do her best. Or her mother and a couple of other moms pulling their kids out a class with a teacher who was too overwhelmed to encourage. Whatever the case, Michelle Robinson was an awesome young woman before she met Barack Obama.

This is a beautifully told tale of growing up, meeting the love of her life, supporting a partner in politics even when she herself never liked politics, becoming the first Black family in the White House, raising two strong, independent daughters, and more. 

Michelle Obama is a powerhouse. This audiobook was a delight to listen to. Once you read/listen, check her out on the Netflix show Waffles and Mochi! 

Obama, Michelle. (2018). Becoming. New York: Crown Publishing.

Some Girls Do

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan is a young adult romance where opposites attract.

Morgan is changing high schools. Kicked out of her private school for being lesbian, she is suing her former school to make it easier for others to come out. 

Ruby has been in the same town her whole life. She is a beauty pageant contestant who wants to become a mechanic. Really the pageant thing is her mother's dream.

Morgan and Ruby meet when Ruby almost runs over Morgan as she sprints across the parking lot to catch her brother before he drives off with her backpack. 

Dugan has written a sweet tale of falling in love with someone who seems like your opposite. This is a great YA romance.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2021). Some Girls Do. New York: Putnam.

Tell Me How You Really Feel

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi is the tale of school enemies being forced together and realizing they may have been wrong about each other.

Sana Khan is a Persian/Indian high school student in Los Angeles who lives with her mom, a production designer for movies. She is going to be a doctor, is currently a cheerleader and loves movies. 

Rachel Recht is a film student at the same high school. She creates and directs movies and is running out of time to finish her senior project - which could undue her acceptance to NYU is she doesn't work fast.

When they were both freshmen, Sana asked Rachel on a date. Rachel thought it was a prank by a snooty cheerleader and has hated Sana since that day. 

When an literal run in (to each other) happens and a camera gets damaged, the film teacher tells them they will have to work together to finish the project or pay for the damaged camera. 

Safi has set Sana and Rachel up for a bumpy start to the next phase of their relationship. This is fun young adult book. Great summer read. 

Safi, Aminah Mae. (2019). Tell Me How You Really Feel. New York: Feiwel and Friends.

The Galaxy and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4)

The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the final book of her Wayfarers science fiction series - one of my favorite book series of any genre!

The planet of Gora has not water or life. However, it is perfectly situated at the crossroads of five wormholes that see huge numbers of ships each standard. Since people often have a wait to transmit to the next gate, inns and entertainment venues have been built on the stark planet.

Once such place is the Five-Hop One-Stop. An eclectic inn that tries to cater to all forms of life that may visit. 

With a satellite system malfunction, the three strangers who have landed will be staying for longer that they thought. The two hosts, one exiled artist, one cargo runner and a mysterious person whose species is rarely seen will all have time to get to know each other better. 

Chambers is a wonderful story teller. Her characters and species of sentient beings are well thought out and fully formed. This is one of two complete series I own. I plan on rereading it about once per year! The entire series won a Hugo Award. Get started reading it today!

Chambers, Becky. (2021). The Galaxy and the Ground Within. New York: Harper Voyager. 

The Vanishing Half

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is the tale of twin sisters and their diverging lives. 

Stella and Desiree Vignes were born in Mallard, Louisiana in the 1950s. Most people born there stay their whole lives. 

At sixteen, their mother takes them out of school so they can help support the family. That is when they leave and move to New Orleans. From there they separate, creating very different lives for themselves.

Ten years later, Desiree moves back home, bringing her daughter Jude. She has not seen or herd from Stella in years. Desiree hires someone to track Stella to find out what happened to her.

Spanning forty years and the width of the United States, Bennett explores the history of passing, racism and identity in this beautiful family epic. 

Bennett, Brit (2020). The Vanishing Half. New York: Riverhead Books.

The Russian Cage (Gunnie Rose #3)

The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris is her alternate history series featuring Gunnie Rose. Lizbeth Rose is a guard who, with a crew, guides people through the wilds of an altered United States.

Lizbeth gets a letter from her half-sister in the Holy Russian Empire (what we call California and Oregon) - a sister she only discovered months ago. On a second reading she notices a code.

Eli has been arrested. Eli's brother, a classmate of her sister, has been to see him but cannot find out why he is in jail. 

Lizbeth packs a bag, digs up some money and hops a train west. Once arriving in San Diego, she has to attempt to blend in - including not carrying her guns. 

Harris has created a wonderful genreblend - alternate history magic, western - which should surprise no one who is familiar with her Southern Vampire (aka True Blood) series. She is a great writer with an extra amount of imagination! I love this series!

Harris, Charlaine. (2021). The Russian Cage. New York: Saga Press.

Cantoras

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis is an historic novel of military governed Uruguay in the late 1970s and a group of lesbians who find each other and create a beach hideaway that helps them survive their circumstances.

In 1977 Uruguay is run by "the Process" which is little spoken of - it is too dangerous to say anything about the current dictatorship - but controls most aspects of daily life. 

Flaca, the daughter of a butcher in Montevideo, invites her friend and ex-girlfriend Romina and a couple of other women to a beach escape. Cabo Polonio is an isolated cape with only a tiny fishing village. 

Here, out of the eyes of others, the women can be themselves. A break they desperately need in their oppressive time. 

This trip leads to returns, until the (now five women) pool their money and buy a rundown beach shack This is the setting for the epic tale of the next decades of their lives and the changes that come to Uruguay. 

De Robertis is a wonderful writer who captures a difficult period in history and how those whose very nature went against the rules survived until a better time. I love this book. I am already making my way through everything else she writes. A must read for queer women everywhere!

De Robertis, Carolina. (2019). Cantoras. New York: Knoph. 

Leave the World Behind

 Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam is a different kind of dystopian or apocalyptical novel as it takes place during the event - when no one yet knows what is happening. 

Amanda and Clay, and their children Rose and Archie, are taking a vacation from NYC. They rented an Airbnb on Long Island where they plan to spend a quiet week of rest and relaxation.

On their second or third night, there is a late night knock at the door. A couple is there saying it is their house and that something has happened in the city. GH and Ruth drove the couple of hours instead of returning to their city apartment. 

They cannot say what, exactly, has happened. Radios, cell phones, cable and internet are out. They request to stay in the downstairs bedroom until someone can figure out what is going on.

At first the couples are focused on small things. Ruth feels strange having people in her home - usually the house is cleaned and put back together before she and GH return. Clay and Amanda feel strange having the owners there - should be get their money back, should they leave or stay?

The chaos and uncertainty come across in the writing, making readers on edge as they hope to find out what caused the terror. But like the characters, we will never know. 

Alam has taken a popular genre and created a story that others often gloss over - the onset of the change. It is an effective and unsettling tale.

Alam, Rumaan. (2020). Leave the World Behind. New York: Ecco.

The Office of Historical Corrections

The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella & Short Stories by Danielle Evans is a book of powerful stories. These amazingly well written stories vary but all have aspects of race or racism. They are smart, timely and haunting.

Included:

Happily Ever After

Richard of Your Gave Battle in Vain

Boys Go To Jupiter

Alcatraz

Why Won't Women Just Say What They Want

Anything Could Disappear

The Office of Historical Corrections

After reading this collection, I will be reading everything else that Danielle Evans has or does publish! I just ordered her collection titled, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self.

Evans, Danielle. (2020). The Office of Historical Corrections. New York: Riverhead. 

On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous

On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong is a beautiful memoir of a Vietnamese American man finding his way in two cultures, caught between two worlds - one at home and one outside of the home.

When he is small, his mother and grandmother move him to the US, to Harford, Connecticut. His father was an American soldier he has not met. He is called Little Dog in the Vietnamese custom of not praising a good looking child and possibly calling trouble.

His mother and grandmother work hard to make sure he can have a good, American life. His story is largely about the relationship between him and them.

Each sentence packs a punch by this poet author. Covering many real topics throughout the story including race, class, masculinity, sexuality, addiction, violence and trauma, and first love. This is powerful storytelling that also about how to tell stories.

Read this beautiful, difficult story.

Vuong, Ocean. (2019). On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous. New York: Penguin Press. 

A Court of Frost and Starlight (Court of Thorns and Roses #4)

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas is the fourth book in her Court of Thorns and Roses series. - set in the fairy realm.

Everyone is rebuilding after the war. In the Night Court, Fayre and her friends are doing everything possible to repair the city and help those whose homes or lives were destroyed during the war.

This entry in the series is a treat for fans. The book takes place over a couple of weeks around the Winter Solstice. It is a holiday books where everyone figures out how to deal with the past few months - a nice looks at the more ordinary life in the fairy realm.

Maas is a great fantasy writer. Both this series and her Throne of Glass series are stellar. If you are not yet familiar, go get one today!

Maas, Sarah J. (2018). A Court of Frost and Starlight. New York: Bloomsbury.

Homegoing

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is the best book I have read this year. I have given copies away and recommended it to everyone I know who likes to read!

Homegoing is an epic family tale, following two branches of a family tree from 1700s through today. The family started in what is today Ghana. The book begins with two sisters. They live in different villages and do not know they are sisters. One, Effia, marries a British man and lives in the castle that controls the slave trade in the region. The other, Esi, is captured during a battle between two tribes and is sold to the British and send to the United States.

Each chapter is a new person in the line, alternating between the progeny of Effia and Esi, through all of the changes in Ghana and the United States. Gyasi highlights the major themes of African and African American history through personal stories of the characters.

I tend to like family epics. A couple of examples are The Night Counter by Alia Yunis and Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. What Gyasi adds is a greater sense of how the social and political changes effect each generation and build on what that generation learned from the last.

If you have not yet read this, buy a copy TODAY! You will be drawn in by it. With each chapter you will fall in love with the next character while wanting more of the previous one (which you will get in many cases through the stories of their children). This book will live with you long after you finish it. I have read four books since this and still find myself thinking about it every couple of days.

Homegoing is on my list of best books I have ever read. I will always be grateful to my local bookstore for putting it on display.

Gyasi, Yaa. (2016). Homegoing. New York: Vintage Books.