Review: "The Sun Down Motel," by Simone St. Jamies

This Horror/Mystery is a pretty fast read and will definitely keep you on your toes. Twenty-year-old Carly travels to Fell, New York to solve the mystery of how her Aunt Viv disappeared at the Sun Down Motel in 1982. The non-linear plot went back and forth between Carly in the present day to Viv in 1982. Their lives parallel as they both women search for answers. Who are these ghosts that haunt the Sun Down? Is there a connection between all the women who died in this small town? Lots of strong female characters, the storyline will keep you guessing and creep you out as the mystery of what happened to Viv unravels itself. 📖🐛🐛🐛

Review: "Outlawed," by Anna North

I don't usually go for Westerns, but I was intrigued by the feminist plot of the novel. Set in the Western Frontier somewhere in the Colorado/Texas/Oklahoma area where women are ostracized and thought of as witches for their inability to have children. Ada, the main character, meets up with the Hole in the Wall gang, a group of lawless women doing everything they can to survive. The story is fast-paced, with sweeping descriptions of the landscape. The Diverse cast of characters are often flawed but very likable. Ultimately it is a story about survival, female friendship, and love. 📖🐛🐛🐛🐛

Review: "The Office of Historical Corrections," by Danielle Evans

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories and a novella. Each story is a poignant look at race and its effects on personal history. The stories have a leisurely pace exploring issues of race with well-developed, reflective characters. The writing is compelling and thought-provoking giving you lots to chew on. 📖🐛🐛🐛🐛

Review: "Such A Fun Age," by Kiley Reid

One of the perks to being a Little Free Library steward is getting first dibs at reading books that are
donated. I really enjoyed Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. The story draws you in and is a quick read. It's told in alternating perspectives of the two main characters. There is Emira, a young Black college grad that holds down two jobs. One of her jobs is babysitting for the Chamberlain's, a White upper-income family. Alix, the Mom of the family, is the second narrator. The story, set in Philadelphia in 2015, starts off when Emira is confronted at a grocery store because she is out late at night with the White child in her care. As the novel unfolds and their lives intertwine, the story explores race, class, privilege, dating outside your race, and what it means to be a White Savior. Another underlying theme is that there is always more to a person's story, and it's not always a good idea to assume another person's intentions. 

Review: "Mexican Gothic," by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I loved Silvia Moreno-Garcia's style, voice, and descriptions of 1950s Mexico in her gothic horror novel, Mexican Gothic. I quickly fell in love with Noemí, the main character. She is an intelligent, independent socialite who heads to a remote mountain town to rescue her cousin from a mysterious ailment. Her ailment stems from Catalina's husband's English family, who take eugenics to another level. I loved the book up until the climax. At that point, it becomes too sci-fi for my personal taste. However, if you love a book with a strong female character and like Gothic Horror, then I definitely recommend this book.