10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2026 Edition Part 1

April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Every year I make a running list of books I really enjoyed throughout the year that I would recommend to my friends and readers. These aren’t necessarily books within the genres I write, just ones I enjoy. I have tried to give you some info about why I enjoyed them, so use your best judgement and make sure to check for CWs online if you have things that bother you. The links below are affiliate links, so I get a small kickback if you buy something.

Nobody’s Baby (#2) by Olivia Waite- You do need to read the first novella in the series to get some context for the characters and the world, but I absolutely loved this mystery. If you want a break from murders, check out “random babies oopsed into a space journey full of supposedly sterile reincarnated people.” It was an interesting concept and a fun story, even for someone who isn’t a fan of babies (aka me).
Me and My Beast Boss by Shiroinu- This is an ongoing manga series about a human woman in a world full of half-beast people where humans are seen as lesser. She is desperately trying to carve a path at work only to be abused and overlooked until a full-beast man (a lion who happens to be the boss of the company) takes an interest in her. The story is a bit of an office procedural (think Phoenix Wright but office politics instead of law) with a dash of slowburn romance thrown in.
Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti- Technically, this is the third book in a series, but I think it can be read on its own without losing much. It’s a sapphic romance featuring two Gothic novelists who have accidentally written very similar books only to find out, during the confrontation over literary theft, that they knew each other years ago. The two women’s lives were up-ended by the one’s horrid father, but together, they visit a spooky manor and eventually come to realize their lives can be so much fuller together.
The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore- this is McLemore’s first adult novel and thriller, and I loved it. It’s a slowburn where we get the intricacies of a mommy-blogger’s family before we get into the who and how of the story. It’s as much about the mystery of who killed Mother May I’s fitness bro second husband as it is about the destructive nature of family vlogging. I absolutely loved the way the characters were fleshed out and how the shapes of their lives are juxtaposed against their mother’s expectations and control. If you’re expecting a more shallow, plot-centric thriller, this isn’t for you. If you want family dynamics and a commentary on online spaces from a queer Latinx author, snap it up.
Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian- I saw way too much of myself in Simon: picky, prickly, chronically ill, and horribly anxious. I love the way Simon and Charlie navigate their relationship as two anxious people who have plenty of mental baggage. Costars turned lovers after a road trip to make sure Charlie’s step-dad isn’t dead was a storyline I didn’t know I needed. These two are just such messes, and I love them immensely. Cat Sebastian is so good at building emotional intimacy.
The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko- a fairytale-esque story about a disabled made with vitiligo who catches the eye of a man who is slowly turning into a crocodile. It’s equal parts Beauty and the Beast and a tale of making the world into a better place, from the lowest people in society to the highest. I think it’s more enjoyable if you’ve read Ifueko’s Raybearer series, but without having read it recently, I understood what was going on.
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe- I am very late to the party, but if you are queer or questioning your gender, I highly recommend this graphic novel. It definitely had me feeling some things because Kobabe’s experience was very relatable as an agender, lightly masc person. The comic is a quick read packed with a lot of gender and sexuality feelings.
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher- I make no secret about my love of T. Kingfisher’s work, and this was one of those horror(ish), Gothic stories that just hits. I loved Mexican Gothic for its atmosphere, and Wolf Worm has that same vibe but with insects. There’s an unsettling history surrounding the house and town, animals acting uncanny, parasites, and a man with plenty of secrets. I’m not a huge scary horror fan, so if you’re a chicken who prefers the unsettling, this is for you, especially if you like your horror historical.
Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar- this is an anthology of El-Mohtar’s shorter works, and I was absolutely blown away by it. It is a fantastic mix of fairytales, myths, sapphic pining, poetry, and yearning for places you can never know. I don’t think there was even one work in this anthology that I didn’t think was fantastic. El-Mohtar is quickly becoming a favorite for me as her work always leaves me a little devastated and wanting more.
River of Bones and Other Stories by Rebecca Roanhorse- I promise the next list will not be exclusively anthologies, but I really enjoyed this one as well. I am a big Rebecca Roanhorse fan, and I snapped up the anthology of her short stories as soon as I heard about it. Roanhorse is a Black and Indigenous author who writes primarily horror and SFF (with a bit of a horror edge). The collection is a great mix of her smaller works, some of which I read in anthologies or as an Amazon short. If you liked her Sixth World books, there’s a Sixth World novella from the male MCs point of view.

Stay tuned for more great books to add to your TBR pile!

Book Reviews

8 Books to Add to Your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 3

December 21, 2025December 21, 2025 Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

In the past, I would make a best of list for books I read, but I hate holding off on talking about my favorite reads. Instead, I plan to make a few of these posts throughout the year as I find books I loved. You can read the first installment here.

To Clutch a Razor (#2) by Veronica Roth- a one-time killer becomes the hunted and must atone for his past sins by taking out his family members for Baba Yaga in order to get part of his soul back. I absolutely loved this story. It’s about monsters, humanity, family- blood and found, and how you break generational curses in different ways. I can’t wait for more of this series.
A Mouthful of Dust (#6) by Nghi Vo- Cleric Chih arrives in a town famous for its pork dish and its past famine only to find some members of the town are far more afraid of the truth of the famine and what people were driven to than others. As always, Vo’s work is layered and unfolds in unexpected and deliciously perfect ways.
Queer as Folklore by Sacha Coward- a nonfiction book taking a look at the queer underpinings of folklore and monsters, from ancient times to modern pop culture. It is accessible and incredibly interesting and ends up being one of those books you finish and immediately want to do more research about the topic.
Cinder House by Freya Marske- a very bi Cinderella retelling where Cinderella (or Ella, in this case) is the ghost of a murdered girl haunting a house until she realizes she can explore her city post-mortem and makes a bargain that leads to her falling in love at a ball. It’s also a bit about generational trauma and how children become the pawns in adults’ games.
Snake Eater by T. Kingfisher- a woman escapes her life by running out to her aunt’s house in the middle of nowhere with only her dog and a few bucks only to find her aunt died a year ago and her house stands empty. She slowly becomes a part of the community and finds she has attracted the eye of a minor desert god. She soon realizes she is capable of far more than she thought possible.
Cronus by P. Djeli Clark- A short story about AI, time manipulation, and reclaiming Black history. I don’t want to say too much since it’s short, but the speakeasy, magic, and queerness of the story was chef kiss. It’s also very timely, and for me, Clark is an auto-buy author.
After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian- a man working at a bookstore in the 1960s, a man running from his past, a young woman starting over with her baby after the death of her husband, and finding their way to a new life together as family. I love how much this book focuses on found family and community while still dealing with so much grief. As with all Cat Sebastian books, it was like a cozy sweater and a hug after a very bad day.
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher- the third princess of a small royal family realizes she is the only one who can or will save her sister who is married to a prince who killed their sister and abuses her. The main character is a princess turned nun turned witch (?) who teams up with a bone witch with a demonic chicken, a banished knight, a bone dog, and a very odd godmother. I absolutely loved this one as it scratched my fairytale itch.

Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 2

September 21, 2025September 20, 2025 Kara Jorgensen2 Comments

Turning the Tables by Andrew P. Haley- If you like food history, this is a really interesting nonfiction book about how the rise of the middle class in cities in the mid 1900s led to the restaurant culture we see today. It goes into how “ethnic” cuisine rose above stuffy French food, how dining habits changed, why tipping culture exists, etc.
The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter by Yatsuki Wakatsu- If you like Oliver from my Reanimator Mysteries books, you will love the main character of this manga series. A workaholic accountant gets accidentally transported into a magical world, and instead of becoming the traditional hero, he decides to continue his workaholic ways as an accountant for the magical realm. He runs afoul of people in power, and he finds himself the target of help from a magical knight who decides he needs to save the workaholic from himself. This manga scratches so many book itches for me.
“Ark” by Veronica Roth- This one is less than 50 pages, but it is so good. The world is about to get hit with a dinosaur extinction level asteroid, so as the planet is being evacuated, scientists race to catalog and preserve plants in Svalbard. Samantha prepares to stay behind until she gets to talking with an older scientist who studies orchids. I don’t want to give too much away, but I found this story surprisingly poignant and lovely despite the bleakness of the set-up.
The Duke at Hazard by K. J. Charles- Technically, this is a sequel, but it can be read as a standalone or out of order with The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting. The Duke of Severin has lived a very sheltered life of privilege, and he is itching to get away from his life (and relatives for a time). A bet with his cousin combined with being robbed of a precious ring during a clandestine meeting with another man is the perfect cover and reason to leave. For a month, he will live like a normal person, though he isn’t sure how one does that or how to find the man who stole his family ring from him. That is, until he runs into a gentleman whose family has been ruined for years who doesn’t recognize him but is willing to help. Together, they set out to find the robber, give Severin experience, and perhaps, rescue his new love’s reputation along the way.
The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi- a caveat for this is that it is the third and final book in the series. I really liked this series, and if you read all three in close proximity, I think it would really highlight the cyclical nature of societies that Utomi is getting at. I wouldn’t say the ending of the series is good, per se, but it does what it sets out to do and it’s interesting. The whole thing is a fascinating and rather brutal look at how knowledge and propaganda shapes histories and society.
Copper Script by K. J. Charles- a policeman ends up becoming intrigued by a graphologist who reads his cousin a little too well only to realize the man’s talents are far realer than he expected. As Aaron tests Joel’s skills, they become embroiled in a case of corruption and murder that becomes far more than they bargained for, especially as they fall for each other against all odds. A bonus is that the one MC is an amputee, and there is quite a bit of hurt-comfort and intrigue going on.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells- this is the first book in the Murderbot Diaries, and I am recommending this as sort of “read the series” recommendation. Murderbot is a security bot who has hacked its government module (aka now it has free will) and spends the majority of its time doing it’s job as little as possible and watching Netflix in its head. Wells does a really good job portraying autism and sex-repulsed asexuality through Murderbot, and the series is fun, well done, and tugs at the heart as we see Murderbot truly come into itself.
Eaters of the Dead by Kevin J. Wetmore Jr.- Eaters of the Dead is a nonfiction/academic book about cannibalistic monsters that appear across the world and in fiction. As someone who writes about monsters and the occasional bit of cannibalism, I found this book incredibly interesting. Wetmore talks a lot about the root cause of creatures like ogres, Grendel, ghouls, etc. along with Eastern vs. Western views of funerary practices and how that plays into different views and anxieties surrounding the dead and cannibalism. Highly recommend if you want to get a deeper understanding of monsters.
The Summer War by Naomi Novik- a rather short book packed with a ton of action about three siblings grappling with their place in the world where they are at endless war with the fae. There’s magic, queer pining of a side character, fae trickery, and so much love and caring. I listened to the audiobook of this in one day and absolutely loved it.
Conquering Writer’s Block by K. M. Weiland- while I found this book to contain a lot of things I already know, I thought it would be useful to those who are earlier in their career. Weiland provides a grounding perspective and some good advice as to how to stay on track or get into good habits. Sometimes, when things get stressful, it’s good to have a reminder of what to do, especially in a book that’s less than 100 pages, so you can read it periodically to reset your flailing brain.

Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 1

May 26, 2024May 25, 2024 Kara Jorgensen2 Comments

Most years I put out a list of books I greatly enjoyed from the first half of the year some time in June. This year, I decided to do it early because, besides needing a blog for this week, I have read a lot of good books lately, so I’m thinking of making this something I do more than twice a year (and often forget to do in December). The books listed below are not in any order of favoritism, but I will provide reasons for why you should pick up my ten favorite reads of 2024 thus far.

Spear by Nicola Griffith– If you enjoy Medieval or Arthurian fantasy with a queer twist, Spear should be on your tbr. It is under 200 pages, but there is so much crammed into such a small book. The writing flows so smoothly, and while it reads as more authentically Medieval than many Arthurian retellings, it feels very modern while simultaneously being true to the time. Yes, the Middle Ages were diverse; get over it.
The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo– I am a Nghi Vo stan. If they write it, I will read it, and while you do not need to read the Singing Hills Cycle books in order, you should still read all of them. The Brides of High Hill was deliciously South-East Asian Gothic with little flourishes of Bluebeard-esque stories while being obviously grounded in Asian myths and folklore. Vo’s books are all at once beautiful and horrific with plenty of twists and surprises, and this one was no different.
The Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz– I received this one as an ARC, and now, Megaera is on my autobuy list. The Shabti is a historical-paranormal romance set in the 1930s between a washed up fake medium trying to go straight(ish) and an Egyptology professor with a ghost problem. Hermann and Dashiel are adorable together, and the side characters and titular ghost/object are all delightful.
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown– A really fantastic nonfiction book about asexuality, acephobia, compulsory sexuality and how that all intersects with anti-Blackness, racism, the patriarchy, etc. I think you should read Angela Chen’s ACE first if you aren’t familiar with asexual scholarship, but Refusing Compulsory Sexuality really puts all the pieces together in a concise way.
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian– Cat Sebastian is one of those authors who continually rips my heart out with how loving and cozy her books are, and We Could Be So Good is no exception. A reporter falls for the owner of the newspaper’s son and realizes Andy is far deeper than he seems. Andy and Nick are just so good for each other, and the side characters really make the story shine.
The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau– Technically, this is the second book in series, but I think they can be read out of order. The female main character is autistic with face blindness, and the male main character is an actor who prefers to stay out of the limelight. They are delightful together, and as with all Jackie Lau books, there is so much good food and heat to go with it.
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire– If the Tardis and an antique shop had a baby, it would be the setting of this story. You do have to read at least the book before this one to understand fully what’s going on, but this whole series is chef kiss if you enjoy portal fantasies and misfit kids finding where they truly belong. I love stories where we get to revisit a character and have them grow even more than the previous book allowed.
Ivy, Angelica, Bay by C. L. Polk– If Claudia is your favorite character in Interview with the Vampire, I think you’ll love Ivy, Angelica, Bay. Once again, this is technically a sequel, but it can be skipped (though you should read St. Valentine, St. Abigail, St. Brigid because it’s also fantastic). We have a witch fighting capitalism and gentrification and so much more.
Threads of Life by Clare Hunter– If you’re a crafter, especially someone into needle crafts, I highly recommend Threads of Life. Hunter talks about the sociological, political, cultural, and feminist issues that surround needle crafts. She talks about the shifting gender roles behind them as well as the ways people are lost to history yet their great works remain. She also touches upon Palestine and other disenfranchised and threatened people/cultures.
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi– This one is super short (under 100 pages), but Tutu goes through so much in such a limited amount of time. It’s a story about how empire destroys and defangs the people it colonizes and turns them against each other. I’m really interested to see how what happened in book one plays into book two’s plot.