How to Protect Bookstores and Why

This was an important read that every book lover/consumer should read. I love the format that follows 12 bookstores and talks about issues they face, ways they've overcome obstacles, and ends with ways for readers to get involved. I loved learning about these book stores in the process and I want to visit them all! Obviously one of the biggest threats to bookstores is Amazon, followed closely by healthcare affordability, and lack of government support. Ways to help independent bookstores thrive include: writing reviews, buying books, going to author events, helping change legislation, wearing store merchandise in public, not using Amazon and not using Goodreads.... Sorry, I have a Librarything and a Storygraph as well, but Goodreads is my bread and butter. I love being able to easily see what my friends are reading, have multiple shelves, and see reviews in real time. I know, I know. I am part of the problem! But. Nothing comes close to this interface, sorry. I know Amazon is ripping large amounts of free data off of me, but.... I'll allow it. Necessary read for all and it definitely has spurred me to action! 

The Love Haters

It sickens me how much I love all of Katherine Center's books. I eat them up every time, I have yet to be disappointed. She could write a book about two kitty litter executives falling in love and I would think that was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I FLEW through this rom-com. I couldn't put it down. The witty banter was top tier and I don't care how unbelievable or cheesy the plot was I drank it up like dehydrated man lost and wandering in the desert. Katie Vaughn has been sent to the Keys to film a promo for the US Coast Guard. She is a little nervous for two reasons, 1. her job is on the line so this has to be her best piece of work ever and 2. she has no idea how to swim. She loves being behind a camera but not when the stakes are so high. When she arrives in the Keys she immediately falls in love with Rue her landlady and aunt of the Hutch, the coast guard subject she is being paid to film. Hilarity follows along with some wrong assumptions, and a side of love. Perfect fluff. I'll have another!

Fairy Tale

What can't Stephen King do? This epic quest starring a 17 year old boy and his ailing dog is masterful; it's a wonderful homage to fairy tales and legends. When Charlie helps the grumpy old man down the street he has no idea what he has gotten himself into. He's convinced that he has to help this grumpy old man and his adorable dog and despite his initial thoughts, comes to like the crotchety old man and adore his dog Radar. Little does he know that another world awaits and an adventure beyond anything he's ever read or seen in the movies is about to occur. So much fun, Fairy Tale combined so many elements from the Wizard of Oz, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Shrek, Rumpelstiltskin, and more. Dark at parts, but come on, it's a fairy tale. The audiobook narration was SUPERB. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one! I don't want to spoil anything, but it's so good!

Secret Indiana

As a Hoosier I enjoyed reading this fun little travel guide about the weird, quirky, and hidden gems in the state. I was aware of maybe a dozen or so of the locations (I happen to live by two of them) and was really intrigued by the others. Some of the locations were kind of meh, but some were super interesting and I hadn't heard of. Will I go out of my way to visit all these locations? No, but if I am ever near one of them I may pop over (especially if it is one of the free ones). I feel like I am better equipped to win Hoosier Jeopardy now. This is a great little coffee table or bathroom book because you can read a few locations at a time. Each location has a two page spread with photos, the address, a little write up, accessibility features, and information on whether or not it's free. Interesting for sure. Now I know that Indiana is more than the RV capital of the world, we are also the goldfish capital of the world. Who knew?! 

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

Why did I wait so long to read this book?!?! So freaking good. And I have to give props for Grady Hendrix, a male, for doing such an amazing job writing from the female perspective. His portrayal of young women going through pregnancy and childbirth was done so well and nuanced; so kudos to him! 

Fern is sent to Florida to live in a "women's home" with other young unmarried women while waiting to give birth. This home is where parents send their shameful daughters for a few months as a guise for "going away to camp" or "staying with an aunt for the summer," while in reality they are just waiting to give birth and adopt out the babies. It's the summer of 1970 and the Florida heat is stifling. With no access to news of the outside world and not much to do other than chores, Fern cannot wait for the bookmobile to come. When the librarian gives her a book on witchcraft, she and some of the other girls finally have something important, power. Can Fern and pregnant friends turn things around? Or are they getting involved in something that will place them in even more precarious straights? Delightful, wonderful. I could not put it down!

Made to Be She

This is a complicated review to write. There were a lot of areas I wholeheartedly agreed with and areas that I was appalled at. As a Catholic, one of the things I try to do most, is love thy neighbor. It's easy to judge others, but easy isn't right and we are not the judge, only God is. This book held a lot of judgment toward others - working mothers, divorced women, transgender individuals, non-Christian women, and more. It ruined a lot of the good message the authors were trying to get across. I love that they discussed the harm that the purity culture movement caused, the snares of the beauty industry, and falling into religious ditches. As another reviewer mentioned, some of those chapters could have been greatly expanded and been whole books. The authors chose to dedicate a lot of time however on transgendered men and women and casting judgement their way. Trans women existing doesn't diminish me as a woman. I love that I am a woman. Trans women aren't trying to take my rights away, but you know who is... men. All the time. Another chapter talked about how important it was to be a mother and to stay at home with your children. Well wouldn't that be nice. But in this economy... Come on. Nowhere in that chapter did the authors talk about the rising cost of housing or food. They mention how sad they felt for single mothers ONCE. The rest of the chapter was lamenting how much moms are missing out on by working. What about the dads? They are missing those moments too! If we are called to go forth and procreate in this awful American economy then most mothers will have to work. We unfortunately live in a time that demands that both parents work. We CAN'T have it all. Most women I know would love to stay home but can't. Most women I know would love to have more kids but can't afford to. The authors mention none of that. Another point I took issue with was that the authors villainized every wave of feminism and gave an awful over simplified view of them all. No mention of the benefits we got, only the negative downsides. We can own property, we can have credit cards, we can get custody of our children. They mentioned women getting the right to vote like it was a bad thing because the men should get the vote of the household... but even if that were the case what about unmarried or widowed women?! The final thing I take issue with is the oversimplified science of sex. According to the authors there are only males and females with absolutely NO VARIATIONS WHATSOEVER. However, intersex variations and hermaphroditism demonstrate that sex exists on a spectrum, and in some species, individuals do not fit neatly into a simple male/female binary. So I guess people born intersex can go jump off a cliff? I mean, what the heck. They are people too. Sorry they don't fit neatly in your little box. Not everything is black and white. Love one another. So actually now that I've typed all this out... maybe there wasn't that much good in here. 

We Know Your Secret

This was a fun and quick teen thriller, perfect for the Halloween season. This is essentially a Fear Street novel, but set in the 90s. Two best friends are looking forward to their weekly sleepover on Friday night, not knowing that it will be the last time anything is normal. Lisa and Katie have the house to themselves, two new releases from Blockbuster, pizza, snacks, and Cosmo magazine. Everything is perfect. That is, until they start prank calling people. What starts out as a funny joke, quickly goes dark. Maybe being home alone isn't the wisest move. Told through multiple perspectives, this fun little thriller was cute but could have had another rounds of editing. Some things weren't consistent. That being said it was still a fun little romp that any millennial or child of a millennial will enjoy.