Wow. Ok. This book was outstanding, full stop. The romance was incredibly satisfying on so many levels, and the story deals quite directly with issuesWow. Ok. This book was outstanding, full stop. The romance was incredibly satisfying on so many levels, and the story deals quite directly with issues of class and racial justice, the targeting of black folks by police, the justice system, challenges faced by refugees, academia….I mean. This book was written pretty much exactly at the intersection of several things I care about. It was masterfully done.
I could discuss the ways this book deals with social justice at length, but I also need to yell a bit about the romance itself. Easton and Patrice have so much chemistry I am surprised my kindle didn’t self combust. I loved each of them as individuals, their growth and vulnerability was beautiful, their love story had me near tears in a few places (when I wasn’t fanning myself).
One of my favourite things in this book is the mark of some of my absolute favourite romance novels: the way they fought and talked about difficult things. This book is obviously very different in style and content, but that aspect reminded me of the best of KJ Charles.
Plus this book has what is sure to be one of my all time favourite epilogues. I will be revisiting this book for sure, and I am eager to complete the series, which is also shaping up to be a favourite....more
I absolutely loved this book. The writing is absolutely sublime, I wanted to roll around in its glory.
Emily, the protagonist, is prickly and difficulI absolutely loved this book. The writing is absolutely sublime, I wanted to roll around in its glory.
Emily, the protagonist, is prickly and difficult in a way that is rarely seen for female main characters in romance. I have read heaps and heaps of male protagonists like her, and it was an absolute joy and delight to revel in to story of a curmudgeonly woman who risks allowing herself some joy, while staying true to herself.
This book is a romance, though it is a very slow burn, and the love story is not as central as in most romances. That being said, I absolutely loved romance between her and Captain Andrews, and found their story really satisfying.
One of the highlights of the book was the relationship between Emily and Grace. I legit cried a couple of times at key moments between them in the book.
This book has a magnificent cast of supporting characters, all of whom I adored. Each was well developed and compelling, and I look forward to future rereads so that I can revisit them like old friends.
Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!...more
Loved this book so much. It had so many elements that I loved:
- found family - conversations that go from deep to silly - two fully fleshed out MCs and Loved this book so much. It had so many elements that I loved:
- found family - conversations that go from deep to silly - two fully fleshed out MCs and well drawn secondary characters - fantastic group scenes - humour and difficult issues both done well (including a parent with Alzheimer’s and MMC with likely adhd/dyslexia) - the mmc really actually listens to and respects and seeks to understand and honour the fmcs opinions, values, desires, priorities - sisters actually getting to know each other - the complexities of actual family - a crumbling castle - yes learning embroidery is actually fun and it is a soothing activity thank you! - being known my god it’s done so well here - how finding someone you love to be in committed relationship with can actually be freeing
Ok I’ll stop now. I need the books for Effie, Simon, and Olive now please and thanks!!!...more
Kai Cheng Thom is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers and thinkers. So much to think about and unpack in this book. I will be revisiting elemKai Cheng Thom is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers and thinkers. So much to think about and unpack in this book. I will be revisiting elements of this one for sure....more
I loved both main characters. Nesto is a bit larger than life, driven by his ambition, and deeply connected to his roots. HisI loved this book a lot!
I loved both main characters. Nesto is a bit larger than life, driven by his ambition, and deeply connected to his roots. His boisterous friend group and family were a highlight of the book. Jude is more introverted and quiet, and we slowly learn about his conservative and homophobic family.
I absolutely loved their romance, which was filled with moments of love and care that are basically my kryptonite. I enjoyed the reflections on the different ways folks respond to hurt. I really loved the way Jude did his best to maintain boundaries while holding so much love, understanding, and compassion in his heart.
I am really pumped to read the rest of the series!...more
Well this was a delight. This story obviously requires a significant amount of suspended disbelief, but once I got past the set up I pretty much inhalWell this was a delight. This story obviously requires a significant amount of suspended disbelief, but once I got past the set up I pretty much inhaled this book. I found the romance really swoony, I loved the two characters. A light and fun popcorn romance that I may very well revisit....more
A friend of mine recommended Dan Harris’ podcast to me several months ago and he has had a major impact on me as I have started listening and followinA friend of mine recommended Dan Harris’ podcast to me several months ago and he has had a major impact on me as I have started listening and following him. I decided to read his book for its 10 year anniversary and recommend it! At this point I find his voice to be incredibly comforting, funny, and relatable, and I’m so glad I went with the audio which he reads.
Harris is a former news anchor for ABC and was a self-described jerk and skeptic. He discovered meditation and had a significant personal transformation when he committed to a regular practice. Since he wrote the book he quit his high powered career in broadcast journalism to work on his podcast and projects that popularize and make meditation accessible.
I feel like I’ve gotten to know Dan Harris via his more recent podcast episodes and online presence, and it was really interesting to travel back in time when reading this book and learn how it all started for him. It’s incredible to really grasp how much he has changed, and to better appreciate the immense courage it took for him to be vulnerable like this in his book and subsequent work.
I love the combination of his sharp humour and his honest self-reflections that reveal his faults and mistakes. There’s something so hopeful to me about someone who is able to sit with complexity and contradiction, reflect on errors and strive to do better without reaching perfection.
I loved the book, can’t wait for his new one. Love the podcast and ADORE the encouragement he shares at the end of each of his instagram videos: inner peace motherf*cker!...more
I absolutely loved this book. I have a bookmark from Anita Kelly that describes their work as “queer romance with heart and heat”, and I can’t think oI absolutely loved this book. I have a bookmark from Anita Kelly that describes their work as “queer romance with heart and heat”, and I can’t think of a better description.
This book is a slow burn sapphic “practice dating” sports romance, but naming the various trope categories doesn’t do it justice. Julie is a high school basketball coach with an unfulfilling desk job. She has lots of people in her life, but they are all coupled up, while Julie has never dated and is still figuring out her own sexuality.
Elle is a former professional basketball player who carries some baggage from her past. Elle is fostering a teenager called Vanessa, who is her cousin’s daughter. Vanessa join’s Julie’s basketball team and this brings Elle into her life. Julie spent many years as a super fan of Elle’s, and it was really fun to see how Julie copes with being suddenly confronted with her idol.
They develop a friendship, and Julie struggles with figuring out how to handle her feelings for Elle. Julie has a lot of hang ups about her lack of experience, and continued uncertainty about whether she’s interested in dating and romantic and sexual relationships. Elle offers to “practice” dating with Julie, to help Julie figure things out. Of course they both are clearly into each other!
I loved how kind and gentle Elle was with Julie, and how she was so supportive of her process of self discovery. Julie in turn also offers Elle support when Elle confronts some of her own issues. I am a sucker for acts of care and small ways of showing love, and this book had many of these moments!
It was really satisfying to see my faves from the previous two books in this series. In particular Ben and Lex, who are my absolute favourites! I don’t think you need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one, but it adds to the experience for sure.
Recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC!...more
This one is about Camillo, a social worker who has a one night stand at a gala with a man who then turns ouThis book was SO GOOD. My god this series.
This one is about Camillo, a social worker who has a one night stand at a gala with a man who then turns out to be a major donor to the org he works for. Tom is a wealthy entrepreneur from the Dominican Republic with a heart of gold. I loved the romance, the side characters once again crackled. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!...more
I have had this book on my TBR for quite a while, and was waiting to feel ready to read it. Giridharadas’ previous book “Winners Take All” had a transI have had this book on my TBR for quite a while, and was waiting to feel ready to read it. Giridharadas’ previous book “Winners Take All” had a transformative impact on my life, and I wondered if this one would also make a strong impression. I’m glad I read it this summer, because it landed like a both a balm and a framework to understand this political moment.
The central premise of the book is that if progressive movements are going to be successful, we need to persuade others to come on board with our vision for society. You need to find ways to bring more people on board to fighting for the rights and dignity of undocumented folks, LGBTQ+ folks, black and brown folks, to fight for economic, climate and social justice. We can’t win if we don’t build the movement by persuading others. So how do we persuade folks, and who does that work?
The book essentially consists of in depth profiles of key “persuaders”: people who have successful worked to persuade others in different ways, and examines how they do it, what their challenges are, and ultimately presents some key lessons that should be used to inform folks in progressive movement spaces.
Among those profiled are Linda Sarsour and Alicia Garza, Bernie Sander and AOC. I found those sections deeply compelling. The most impactful chapter was the one that follows Anat Shenker-Osorio, a progressive organizer and political advisor. Turns out Shenker-Osorio has been one of Tim Walz’s advisors, and some of the wisdom this book contains is now being enacted live during the current US presidential campaign.
The book talks about the approach of organizer Ernesto Nieto, who tries to strike a balance between “being intransigent about what is right and where things must go”, while also “calling people gently into your visions (…) assuming enough of the humanity of those you want to win over”. He also advocates giving folks “the golden gate of retreat”, which is the idea of “giving people who might change their mind a face-saving way out”.
I really loved the deep dive into Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and in particular the ways that AOC uses both the inside and outside game. I’ve long been an admirer of hers, and I came away from that chapter with a much deeper appreciate for the ways she manages to do the very difficult work of straddling the line between social justice movement spaces and their expectations, and the world of Washington politics and the messiness of actually getting things done politically.
AOC understands that there are some things that can only be accomplished by grassroots organizing, and some things can only be done via legislative change, and you need both. She uses an analogy from her father’s work in home renovation: “it took many tools, and there was a time and place for each tool, and different people might use different tools. But in politics some of the metaphorical carpenters ‘think that if you’re painting the house, you’re a bad person or being counterproductive’”.
The most impactful part of this book follows Anat Shenker-Osorio. It argues that a winning strategy is must involve exciting your base and bringing on board the undecided without diluting your message to some imagined white working class person. This section of the book argues that moderates don’t really exist, what you’ve got are folks who are undecided and can be won over. They are persuadable.
We shouldn’t be leading with outrage and problems, but rather with shared values. “Don’t be wonky; don’t assume everyone is one of your activists; paint the beautiful tomorrow; sell the brownie, not the recipe”. Shenker-Osorio’s theory of change is “engage the base, persuade the base, alienate the opposition”
The book ends with an examination of deep canvassing, and the ways it is essential for at least some folks in the movement to truly listen to folks and engage with them in a way that creates an opening for a changed perspective.
This book was excellent and should be required reading for anyone engaged in social justice work.
Some of the key take home messages for me: - we need to be spending more energy bringing people on board than pushing them out - there are different tools and approaches that are necessary to progressive movement, and not everyone needs to use the same ones. One of the key approaches must be to meet people where they’re at, meet them with compassion and given them a path to change their mind with dignity. “Making space of the waking among the woke” - Alicia Garza - Expending energy trying to get folks who are 90% aligned with you to be 100% aligned is not the best use of time. Reaching out to folks who are less aligned will have more impact. - Stop trying to appeal to some imagined white working class voter by diluting our message. We must energize our base and work on persuading those who are undecided. - We shouldn’t be leading with outrage and problems, but rather with shared values. “Don’t be wonky; don’t assume everyone is one of your activists; paint the beautiful tomorrow; sell the brownie, not the recipe”. Shenker-Osorio’s theory of change is “engage the base, persuade the undecided, alienate the opposition”...more
Truly excellent. This book manages to have so much to say about slavery and the Civil War, while also balancing a beautiful and complex love story thaTruly excellent. This book manages to have so much to say about slavery and the Civil War, while also balancing a beautiful and complex love story that is truly central to the narrative, with lots of internal tensions and narrative AND a good chunk of plot and side characters. Like, that is a lot! Recommended!!...more
This book is important and essential reading for folks seeking to understand wealth inequality and how wealth taxes and other forms of progressive taxThis book is important and essential reading for folks seeking to understand wealth inequality and how wealth taxes and other forms of progressive taxation are an essential and non-negotiable part of the solution.
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while, and jumped on the chance to buddy read it with a friend. I was already quite familiar with several of their arguments and data, but I still learned tons.
The book answers several important questions about inequality and provides clear and data-driven analysis and recommendations to have a more just society. How bad is inequality and how did we get here? Do the rich really pay less taxes than everyone else (spoiler : YES)? What are the mechanisms by which wealthy individuals and multinational corporations avoid taxes, and has it always been this way? What are concrete actionable solutions to these problems (Spoiler: solutions include a wealth taxes, and changes to how corporations are taxed)?
Maintaining growing and extreme wealth inequality is a choice, and we can make different choices. Are you in favour of the status quo, which involves increasing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few? If not, the solutions proposed in this book are a way out of this mess....more
Claire aka DocReads
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