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Cover of STARLIGHT AND CINNAMON

STARLIGHT AND CINNAMON

by a lovely woman costumed as Mulan. Mulan, who’s actually Cinnamon Cheung, a counselor for stressed\u002Dout tech workers, is just as taken with Daphne, who, in a moon costume, reminds Cinnamon of starlight, “All sharp, bright shards piercing the depths of night.” Unfortunately, the nascent romance derails when a home security camera reveals that just before Cinnamon got doxxed, Daphne logged onto her computer uninvited. Burned in a previous relationship and aware that the Redgrave and Cheung families are business rivals, Cinnamon suspects the worst. But Daphne isn’t ready to give up, embarking on a risky venture that she hopes will prove her innocence. In Spears’ romance, every character, even minor ones, overflows with personality. Security expert Brad is a pretend himbo who dresses up like Thor every year. Androgynous Clarissa, Daphne’s boss, had “never outgrown their ‘Matrix’ phase.” Even Coco, the kidnapped chimp, charms, “cooing…like an old woman excited to take a field trip out of the nursing home.” In Spears’ telling, San Francisco in 2015 is an exciting time and place to be. The Supreme Court is set to rule on gay marriage, and there’s an upcoming Pride parade to get excited about. Everyone parties at The Intermittent, a building in the Castro district, that’s a “a beacon of joy.” The book, lighthearted and witty, uses frothy dialogue that continually entertains (even when the characters text), yet the serious subplot of workplace and online harassment unfolds seamlessly. Best of all, the romance feels sweet and fresh."⭐ 5.0/5(2)

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Cover of STARLIGHT AND MOONSHINE

STARLIGHT AND MOONSHINE

by Hannah’s death: her husband, James\u003B her adult children, Mary, Colleen, and Jack\u003B and her sister\u002Din\u002Dlaw, Adelaide. Jack seems to be the favorite among everyone in the family: “It’s not right to love one more than the others, but all mothers do really, no matter what they say,” Hannah says in a flashback of sorts. Addy imagines him a “leading actor in a movie,” but he spends his days cleaning the surgical intensive care unit at a local hospital, which is viewed as a waste of his talents. He spends his evenings napping, seemingly waiting for his grief to pass. Colleen, the middle child, is an aspiring chef working as a bank teller to save money for culinary school. Her mother’s death affects her the most traditionally, and she spends the days after the tragedy crying relentlessly. Mary, the eldest, yearns for the body of her new fling, Roman, wanting to be anywhere but home. James spends his days and nights avoiding his children, seemingly too stricken with grief to interact with his family. James’ sister Addy lacks empathy, failing to understand why so much has changed in the aftermath of Hannah’s death. “And then she starts with the waterworks again, feeling sorry for herself like she’s the only one ever lost a mother,” she thinks harshly about Colleen. Each character is united in free fall, searching for whatever’s next, linked by a sadness that’s nearly palpable."⭐ 5.0/5(1)

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Cover of STITCH HEAD

STITCH HEAD

by town, in the form of a sinister, scheming ringleader named Fulbert, who’s seeking new additions to his Traveling Carnival of Unnatural Wonders. After years of being ignored by his master, Stitch Head is eager to run away and join Fulbert’s coterie—but the mustachioed man has something more dastardly in mind. The setting is comedically cinematic, with a shadowy, outsize castle, endless haunted hallways, and a richly kitschy mad scientist’s laboratory. The professor’s crew of creations inhabiting the castle are colorful and imaginative—bat\u002Dwinged brains, alienlike blobs, and furry and feathered beasties. Based on Bass and Williamson’s chapter\u002Dbook series, this graphic novel adaptation benefits beautifully from the addition of the visual element—a gleeful stylistic echo of Tim Burton’s 1990s work in particular. All human and humanlike characters are pale\u002Dskinned."⭐ 3.9/5(89)

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Cover of STOLEN HISTORIES

STOLEN HISTORIES

by Nuru, an ancient shapeshifter from a hidden colony, who asks them to retrieve a stolen artifact hidden in the Empire\u002Dcontrolled Archive—an ethereal realm of lost knowledge. What begins as a job for hire unfolds into a layered journey involving magic, politics, and mythic lore. Michaels crafts a vivid world where elemental magic hums through every object and ritual, and where ambient power bleeds into city streets and backroom deals. The friendship between Amari and Taliya is the novel’s emotional heart—equal parts banter, strategy, and fierce loyalty. Both characters are well developed with clear voices and complementary strengths that balance action with emotional nuance. The prose is rich and often lyrical, particularly in the worldbuilding: Castor pulses with life, from the haunted Kiyoshi Crater to floating market districts and magically enhanced restaurants: “In the Upper District, the ambient magic is a touch calmer and flows around her like a fast\u002Dmoving stream.” The magic system—based in singing, runes, and time manipulation—feels both unique and intuitive, integrated naturally into daily life. Although the novel features frequent exposition and a large cast of minor characters, it remains grounded in Amari and Taliya’s dynamic, making even the slower\u002Dpaced chapters feel purposeful. By the end, the story sets the stage for even more expansive world\u002Dsaving adventures."⭐ 4.1/5(15)

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Cover of STRONG GROUND

STRONG GROUND

by Wambach. Sometimes these chapters transcribe interviews, such as one with Fifth Dimensional Leadership creator Ginny Clarke, interrupted by descriptions of Brown’s psychological reactions. (“Big pause while Ginny watches me get reflective and more emotional than I thought I would.”) More often, they simply quote, paraphrase, or condense long swathes of the various authors’ books, without much explication, critical questioning, or refinement of the ideas. She also throws in, seemingly at random, poems by authors including David Whyte and Clint Smith. Sports analogies abound, whether it’s Brown recounting in detail what she learned from her physical therapist while recovering from an excruciating pickleball injury (“Use your mind and your body, Brown”) or transferring the theory of “pocket presence” from football to the boardroom. Readers who are not occupants of what Brown calls “the C\u002Dsuites” are not likely to find much of value here. Most of her assertions are so amorphous that it’s hard to argue with them. But they’re also so abstract that it’s difficult to imagine how to put them into action."⭐ 4.5/5(28)

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