Across 1962 Nashville and 1992 Chicago, People of Means explores racism, ambition, activism, and the generational weight of fighting for change. Read my review of Nancy Johnson’s emotionally incisive novel.
Review: People of Means by Nancy Johnson
Review: Storm Caller by Nisha J. Tuli
Poet and Rook return to a New Manhattan full of buried secrets, dangerous power, and betrayals waiting to surface. Storm Caller is a fast-paced, stormy sequel that left me desperate for Book 3.
What I Read in August 2026
August was busy with swim lessons and back-to-school preparations, but I still made time for eight books. Here is my full reading wrap-up, including one unforgettable five-nerd favorite.
Review: Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin
A funny, tender, and deeply compassionate novel about a lonely neurodivergent girl searching for her place in a world that has always felt impossible to decode. Alice Franklin’s distinctive second-person narration makes this debut intimate, unforgettable, and moving.
Review: Stalkers Anonymous by Dana LeeAnn
With a relatable morally gray hero, plenty of chemistry, and some very blurry boundaries, Stalkers Anonymous is a fun, spicy dark rom-com, although a late twist strains credibility.
Review: The Best We Could Hope For by Nicola Kraus
Nicola Kraus’s The Best We Could Hope For is an absorbing, emotionally layered family drama exploring motherhood, abandonment, buried secrets, and the lasting consequences of parental choices.
Review: I’m a Weapon by Sean Robins
Sean Robins’s I’m a Weapon pairs action-packed space opera with an unusual and hilarious combat android narrator in a character-driven exploration of identity, free will, and what it means to be human
Review: Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
Five dangerous liars unite to kill a cruel God King in Mai Corland’s *Five Broken Blades*, an addictive fantasy filled with morally gray characters, swoonworthy romance, deadly secrets, and betrayal.
Review: Devils Like Us by L. T. Thompson
Three queer teens. Prophetic visions. A sinister magical society. Devils Like Us is a character-driven historical fantasy about found family, defying expectations, and finding the courage to accept who you truly are.
Review: Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier
Despite my long-standing disdain for vampire romances, Vow of Eternal Night won me over with its immersive gothic atmosphere, compelling romance, and thoughtful themes. Lily Crozier delivers a dark fairy tale that reminded me why this corner of fantasy can be so captivating.