- Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough* (audiobook) (Cate Blanchett narrates half of this so that's a win. People are wayyyyyyy too harsh on this book because Hough is annoying online sometimes. Good thing I'm not like other girls and I can separate author from the book. It makes reading so much more enjoyable and intellectually fulfilling, try it sometime.) (My storygraph review: ignore the people who gave it 1 or 2 star reviews they have worms for brains. This is an incredibly nuanced and interesting collection of essays about a lesbian ex-military ex-cult former incarcerated who lived in many countries. My "favorite" bits were about her bouncer and blue-collar job days and dealing with her mental health. And hearing her describe her past relationships. I haven't read Stone Butch Blues yet but based on vibes this feels like it's in conversation with that.)
- The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith (okay yes I separate book from author but that doesn't mean I give money to transphobes. I illegally downloaded this so the author doesn't get any money from me. I'm not a huge detective mystery fan but I loooooove the books in this series. I view JKR as a John Grisham type now, kind of a pulpy writer. This is the weakest in the Strike series.)
- Biting the Hand: Growing Up Asian in Black and White America by Julia Lee* (Good! Felt like an accessible college textbook, I could see this being used in a discussion group.)
- Strong Female Character by Fern Brady* (audiobook) (a memoir by a Scottish comic who is autistic. I think this is my first nonfiction book by an openly autistic person. I learned a lot and will definitely recommend it widely. Love a Scottish accent audiobook.)
- Open Throat by Henry Hoke (library) (POV of a mountain lion who lives in LA and has very interesting thoughts. About climate grief and human/animal interactions and a very quick read.)
the star * symbol means it's very good. But it's important to know that I never complete "bad" books, so if I finished it then that means there's something worthwhile about it.