Multicultural Spines: Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero

The heartfelt memoir of a trans pageant queen from the Philippines who went back into the closet to model in New York City—until she realized that living her truth was the only way to step into her full power.

It’s a pilipino author, of course I had to!

Read with Jenna: The sun sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe

Basking in Singapore’s nonstop sunshine, low tax rate, and luxury goods market, Dara, Amaka, and Lillian are living the glamorous expat dream—until their carefully constructed lives are upended by a handsome and mysterious new arrival.

This sounds a lot of fun!

Oprah’s book club: Let us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

Let Us Descend is a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is heart-wrenching. Searching, harrowing, replete with transcendent love, the novel is a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and into the fearsome heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation.

I have never read any Ward before, but I’ve had several of her books on my list! Sing, unburied, sing is high up there!

Reese’s book club: Maybe next time by Cesca Major

One Day meets Groundhog Day, in this heartwarming and emotionally poignant novel about a stressed woman who must relive the same day over and over, keeping her family and work life from imploding as she attempts to spare her husband from an unfortunate fate.

I have to admit, this sounds like the perfect book for me! I loved both one day and Groundhog day! Might check this one out! (And I read that Reese bought the rights to this one, so we might have a series coming!)

Diverse spines: The leftover woman by Jean Kwok

An evocative family drama and a riveting mystery about the ferocious pull of motherhood for two very different women–from the New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee and Girl in Translation.

The gorgeous cover, the east meets west, be still my heart. I already have this lined up in my tbr!

GMA book club: Class by Stephanie Land

We all know and loved the netflix series Maid and that was based on the memoir of Stephanie Land. This is her follow up memoir, what happens after the show ended. I follow her on Instagram so I’ve seen that not all has been sunshine and rainbows since the series. (Unlike what people might think.) And I definitely believe the series ended at the beginning of another story, so I’m looking forward to see the continuation of Stephanie’s journey.

Amerie’s book club: One hundred days by Alice Pung

I cannot with this books one liner: “One day, a boy in a nice silver car gives sixteen-year-old Karuna a ride. So Karuna returns the favour.“

Hahaha I think this book has humor, cause she ends up pregnant. Her mother “grounds” her for 100 days so she won’t get into more trouble.

This sounds like a fun read! Glad to see something lighter from Amerie, I was starting to think her book club only did heavy novels.

Killers of the flower moon – the Osage murders and the birth of the FBI by David Grann

Let’s begin at the the biggest blockbuster this season shall we. If you haven’t read it yet, there’s still time before you run to see the movie!

I started listening to this on audio a few years back, but then my subscribtion ran out and I never got to pick it up again. But a true story is always a winner in my book.

There There by Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange’s wondrous and shattering novel follows twelve characters from Native communities: all traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow, all connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize.

Together, this chorus of voices tells of the plight of the urban Native American–grappling with a complex and painful history, with an inheritance of beauty and spirituality, with communion and sacrifice and heroism. Hailed as an instant classic, There There is at once poignant and unflinching, utterly contemporary and truly unforgettable.

I might have to put this one way on the top.

The only good indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

I cannot believe I haven’t read this yet!

Night of the living rez by Morgan Talty

How do the living come back to life? 

Set in a Native community in Maine, Night of the Living Rez is a riveting debut collection about what it means to be Penobscot in the twenty-first century and what it means to live, to survive, and to persevere after tragedy.

Short stories – love it!

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

I have mixed feelings here, because I read The round house by Erdrich back when, and fell in love. I vowed to read all her books after that. And then after that came and I didn’t. I tried reading the night watchman – that was a pulitzer winner I believe? But I just couldn’t stick with it.

I’ve also been wanted to read the sentence and the rose, but haven’t gotten to them yet. I desperately want to find the enthusiasm I had for The round house – if anything – read that!

The Fire keeper’s daughter by Angeline Boulley

This was a Reese’s YA pick and it was phenomenal. I read this summer two years ago and for mixed race kids specifically stradling two realities and cultures, I think I would say it’s a must read.

It also mixes in an exciting crime element. I already read it, but had to bring it up to recommend it. It’s so good!

Never Whistle at night – An indigenous dark fiction anthology

Featuring stories by: Norris Black, Kate Hart, Conley Lyons, Nick Medina, Tiffany Morries, Tommy Orange, etc.

I was drawn to this because the title is something my mom would always tell my dad. “Because the snakes would come” and my mom hated snakes. He would whistle his mocking little song, and she would be furious! I just laughed, but apparently, there are some dark stories behind it. Can’t wait to find out what.