Kevin D. Hendricks

Easter Lily EP

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:04:39 +0000

It’s been nine years since new U2 music, and then we get two EPs only 40 days apart, with Days of Ash and now Easter Lily.

I’m not going to go song by song, but it is quintessentially U2, from Bono’s soaring lyrics to that signature guitar. There’s even a song with Edge on vocals that sounds so much like Bono you might not notice at first. It’s unabashedly religious (I mean, with that title, duh).

“In a Life,” “Scars,” and “Resurrection Song” jump out at me as the best songs, though “COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord at All Times?) is a beautifully eerie dirge.

But my fear is they all sound like U2 songs we’ve heard before, and not the great ones. I love to be wrong when I write these initial reactions. But that’s my sense. Even in my half a dozen listens, I have trouble distinguishing those three songs I said might be the best. Even on Days of Ash the songs had more variation. (Don’t get me wrong, I like it—they just sound the same.)

What I find especially intriguing is how they talk about this EP. Here’s Bono introducing it:

“We are in the studio, still working towards a noisy, messy, ‘unreasonably colour xerox’ album to play LIVE… which is where U2 lives. We still look to vivid rock n roll as an act of resistance against all this awfulness on our small screens. These are for sure ‘wilderness years’ for so many of us looking at the mayhem out there in the world. It’s a time that has our band digging deeper into our lives to find a wellspring of songs to try to meet the moment…

“With Easter Lily we ended up asking very personal questions like: Are our own relationships up to these challenging times? How hard do you fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the mangling of meaning that those algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and still ripping us apart?” (Facebook)

They’re struggling with these times, which is reassuring to hear. I think we all feel a little of that.

“While we accept how absurd it is to talk about faith and friendship in such nihilistic times, we are unrepentant… this is emotionally direct which for some will be uncool. But that’s the point… to be confrontational and challenging to the coolness that creeps into relationships.” (Facebook)

I like that they’re unrepentant. I think there’s often been an impression of U2 as a band chasing cool. I don’t think it’s accurate, but I think people dismiss them for it. From having the ego to rub shoulders with greats on Rattle and Hum to reinventing themselves with Achtung Baby, from the try-hard feel of Pop, to the soaring earnestness of the early 2000s—even showing up on everyone’s iPhone with Songs of Experience. It’s like they’ve been holding back lately, afraid to put something out and be ignored or irrelevant. And now they’re just letting it hang out.

I kept hoping for U2’s last EP to break out, with everyone talking about “American Obituary” the way they did Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis.” But they never did.

Now I suspect U2 is OK with that. They’re not trying very hard, and that’s intentional because these aren’t EPs trying to reclaim their space or connect with a new generation. It’s for the fans: “We will attempt hoopla and fanfare at a later date to remind the rest of the world we exist but in the meantime… this is between you and us.”

John Lewis, Civil Rights, & Operation Metro Surge

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:32:42 +0000

Recently I’ve been reading about Civil Rights hero John Lewis. I read his weighty biography, Walking With the Wind, as well as a couple shorter, kind of “rah-rah” books that collected some of his inspiring wisdom. It felt timely on the heels of the ICE surge in Minnesota.

What did I learn?

A reminder that the Civil Rights Movement is recent history. Math, obviously, but plenty of people lived through it and are still alive. They saw ‘White’ and ‘Colored’ drinking fountains in their daily lives. It’s just shocking.
A man who beat John Lewis came to him decades later and apologized. The only one who did. And of course Lewis forgave him. He said in effect: I have no animus toward you as a person, you were caught up in a racist system. That’s kind of staggering.
The Civil Rights Movement took that ‘nonviolent’ thing seriously. I knew that, but seeing it carried out was wild. It meant forgiving the person who beat you. It meant not pressing charges against the person who beat you. It meant not posting bail.
The Civil Rights Movement in general and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in particular, fractured at the seams over tactics and strategy. There’s an incredible amount of infighting among movements like these.
The root cause of Jim Crow in the South was that many white people simply did not believe the credo of the Declaration of Independence that ‘all men are created equal.’ Their justification was that the races should remain separate, there shouldn’t be mixing, etc. “We’re just too different,” they might have said, trying to keep the conversation polite. It’s literally white supremacy. And it’s wild to me that it was never put that way: You don’t believe in equality. Perhaps it’s just a different time, but that seems like a heinous accusation today. At the same time, that attitude enjoys a resurgence when we talk about certain groups today.
In comparing it to Operation Metro Surge, it’s fascinating how motivated and committed the protestors had to be. Today, we hail them as heroes. But back then they were radicals. Martin Luther King Jr. was not a popular person. It’s similar to how some people just assume that any kind of resistance to the powers that is a bad thing. Our country is founded on this kind protest (to the point of violence—property damage and ultimately war), but if the other side is doing it, it’s traitorous.

Days of Ash by U2

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:23:21 +0000

U2 surprised everyone with new music this week. They released a six-track EP (five songs and one poem) called Days of Ash on Ash Wednesday.

The Discovery

I didn’t even hear about it until Thursday morning.

And even then, I didn’t believe it. I saw a photo post on social media set to music, with the name “American Obituary” by U2. I thought, that’s odd, I don’t know of any U2 song by that name. Often social media sites license music so people can add it to their posts, so I thought this must be some relic U2 song, maybe a Joshua Tree outtake? I unmuted the post so I could hear the song, listened to a bit of it, and moved on.

It wasn’t until another friend posted about actual new U2 music that I realized what it was.

New Music

So we have new U2 music. We haven’t had a truly new U2 album in nine years (2017’s Songs of Experience). I’m not sure 2023’s retread collection Songs of Surrender counts. And 2024’s “Atomic City” for the Las Vegas residency was just one song.

There have been rumors of a new U2 album for years. I just checked in on the latest rumors a few weeks back, and the reports said to expect a new album in 2026. I figured I’d believe it when I see it, because they always say that.

And they’re still saying it. Apparently, this is just a teaser, and there is a new album coming in late 2026. That’s according to the band’s own press release, but we’ll see.

Why Now?

I’ve mused before about an aging rock band trying to maintain relevance. U2 have been reinventing themselves since 1990.

Bono always used to say, “Two crap albums and we’re out.” I’m not sure you can call their most recent releases crap, but they weren’t amazing. I think they’ve been on shaky ground since 2009’s No Line on the Horizon (looking back, “Magnificent” and “Moment of Surrender” are my only repeat listens). 2014’s Songs of Innocence and 2017’s Songs of Surrender further muddied the waters. Some good moments, a few good songs—not crap, but no real break throughs.

U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. asked the obvious question this week: “Who needs to hear a new record from us?”

The answer? When there’s something to say. Days of Ash is a political statement, each song inspired by person or moment.

“We talk a lot about when to release new tracks,” Mullen Jr. said in a statement. “The way the world is now feels like the right moment. Going way back to our earliest days, working with Amnesty or Greenpeace, we’ve never shied away from taking a position, and sometimes that can get a bit messy, there’s always some sort of blowback, but it’s a big side of who we are and why we still exist.”

So why now is the reason U2 still exists. It’s fitting that the band who always had something to say, always had a flag to wave, is finding a voice with statement songs in a moment that demands nothing less.

Bono’s a little more direct:

“The songs on Days of Ash are very different in mood and theme to the ones we’re going to put on our album later in the year. These EP tracks couldn’t wait; these songs were impatient to be out in the world. They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation. Songs of celebration will follow, we’re working on those now … because for all the awfulness we see normalized daily on our small screens, there’s nothing normal about these mad and maddening times and we need to stand up to them before we can go back to having faith in the future.”

But is it good? I’ve long awaited U2’s version of Johnny Cash’s late career resurgence with the Rick Rubin albums. Is this it? I don’t know. But I will say I haven’t seen so many people talking about U2 on social media in a long time. Granted it’s Facebook, so it’s a bunch of us oldsters. If it breaks through on TikTok then they might have something.

Initial Take on Days of Ash

For the last several U2 albums, I’ve live blogged my initial reaction. I don’t write about music well, but I like capturing my first take. It’s often wrong, and that can be funny. Music has a tendency to grow on you and morph with repeated listens.

This isn’t my very first take. I first heard the album Thursday morning, and it’s been on repeat because that’s what I do with new U2. Though I will say the first listen didn’t blow me away. I didn’t drop everything I was doing and write this post then because I wasn’t that amazed. But it has been growing on me. So here’s my early take on Days of Ash:

American Obituary – “The worst can’t kill the best in us.” Damn, U2 and maybe Bono in particular have been the conscious of America for a while—”Pride,” “Bullet the Blue Sky,” mourning 9/11 (that Super Bowl performance?), AIDS and African debt relief, Bono’s plea in response to terrorism that ‘we don’t become monsters to defeat a monster.’ Bono has long been enraptured by the idea of America and is quick to call us to account when we fall short. And lately, whew. This song is dedicated to Renee Good, the Minneapolis mother killed by ICE agents six weeks ago (exactly six weeks from her death to the release of this song; can we pause to revel in the speed of that creativity). This song is that conscious, amped up to angry, but still full of the classic Bono hope: “I love you more than hate loves war.” It’s full of powerful platitudes. And leaning into their classic flair for the visual, U2 released lyric videos with each song (again, in less than six weeks?!). The ‘POLICE’ to ‘PLEASE’ transition in this one is powerful. I didn’t react to this one initially, the almost spoken cadence of the verses not hitting, but on repeat listens I’m feeling the power here.

The Tears of Things – “Richard Rohr suggests that the greatest of the Jewish prophets found a way to push through their rage and anger at the injustices of the day, until they ended up in tears,” explained Bono, talking about this song that wades into the difficult ground of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Some poignant words here—”If you put a man into a cage and rattle it enough / A man becomes the kind of rage that cannot be locked up”—but it doesn’t strike me as a go-to song.
Song of the Future – This song is about 16-year-old Iranian Sarina Esmailzadeh, who was beaten to death by Iranian security forces during the 2022 schoolgirl uprising. Initially I thought it felt different for a U2 song, though Bono’s falsetto and those guitar licks remind me of 2000s era U2. “She’s holding up the sign all alone / But not alone, yeah, we’re not alone.”
Wildpeace – A poem by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai set to music. I’m never a big fan of these. I mean, the words are great—”the howl of the orphans is passed from one generation to the next”—but I’m listening to an album, not digesting poetry.
One Life at a Time – This reminds me of U2’s music for the movie The Million Dollar Hotel, like “The Ground Beneath Her Feet.” It’s written about Palestinian Awdah Hathaleen, who was killed by an Israeli settler. “Perfect love drives out all fear / Well how’s that gonna happen here?”
Yours Eternally – This song feels like a fun departure. In contrast to Bono’s statement that these songs are “songs of defiance and dismay,” this one feels joyful and exuberant: “If you have the chance to hope / It’s a duty,” (reads kind of clunky, but in the cadence of the song it really works). The song features Taras Topolia from the Ukrainian band ANTYTILA and Ed Sheeran. Edge and Bono met the band when they traveled to Ukraine shortly after the Russian invasion (because of course they did). It’s written like a letter back and forth, with Ed Sheeran coming in for the response (what little I know of Sheeran’s music is everything is soaring and catchy). The song has a light, airyness. Some of the opening guitar licks after the first verse are very reminiscent of recent U2 songs (can’t put my finger on which one, but oh so familiar). This definitely feels like those songs of celebration Bono hinted at for the upcoming album:

You are not lost out there because
You are not alone
If you have a chance to reach
Reach for me
In the chaos of the earth
We’ll find beauty
All this time we’ve been chasing dust
A soldier’s song a sailor’s lust
For the glory of a world
That we can’t yet see

So my verdict? I think there’s potential here. “American Obituary” and “Yours Eternally” are definitely growing on me. I don’t know if they’ll stand the test of time, but they are meeting the moment. Sometimes that’s all you need.

What It’s Like in Minnesota Right Now

Kevin D. Hendricks — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:45:03 +0000

I hesitate to post this, but I want to give people around the country a glimpse of what Minnesota is going through right now in the midst of an ICE surge and after the killing of Renee Good. I’m a middle-aged white guy who lives in a first-ring suburb of 20,000 people. Minneapolis is miles away and we don’t go there often. My family is not suffering like some are, but it’s far from normal.

Here’s what I’ve experienced:

ICE is everywhere. Seriously, they’re all around town—Target, Walmart, gas stations, restaurants, strip mall, etc. They are in marked and unmarked vehicles. They’re masked and geared up.
People are detained and harassed seemingly at random. Many are U.S. citizens. There are stories of ICE going to door to door—I haven’t seen it in my neighborhood, but I did hear about it a mile north of us. ID checks in the parking lot of Lowe’s. I heard about a masked person waiting at the dumpster for people to take out their trash.
Kids aren’t going to school. One local school had 25% of kids absent on Friday. When kids do go to school, getting them to and from school can be a challenge as ICE shows up at bus stops, and parents are afraid to come out and get their kids. Local police have been following school buses to make sure nothing happens (though I’m not sure what local police could do). Since people are afraid to go out, schools have started delivering food and essentials to families. There are even collections to pay rent and bills.
Businesses are closed. I saw two businesses announce temporary closures, I went to a third and found it closed, and I know of a fourth that’s considering a permanent closure. Employees are afraid to come to work and customers are afraid to go out.
We got takeout on Friday night. When I went to pick it up, the front door was locked and an employee was there letting people in one at a time to ensure they were customers. ICE hung out in their parking lot the night before.
My son is an immigrant. He’s a U.S. citizen, but he’s not white and could easily be targeted. We renewed his passport last year out of an abundance of caution (apparently not enough—we only got his passport book and should have also got a passport card; getting the card now would require sending in his passport book, which seems like a bad idea). We’re constantly debating what to do—should he carry his passport? Is a photocopy good enough? Will any of that matter when they frequently detain citizens? He wants to help and participate—but is that safe? Should he deliver food to apartments? Should he partake in a peaceful walkout at his school? Should he drive to work by himself?
We all know social media has to be taken with a grain of salt. I’ve seen AI photos of crowds in Minneapolis. But I’m also seeing videos I recognize as the places I shop, posted by people I know. Yes, I see reports from random strangers, but I also see reports from friends I know and trust. I’ve also seen an absolute flood of trolls—it’s unclear if they’re bots or just riled up people, but they are folks who have not participated in our extremely local online community before. Not only does it feel like we’re under siege, but we’re being drowned out by people telling us we’re getting what we deserve.
I’m a journalist who didn’t go to school for it, and I’ve had to take safety classes and consider how I would cover an ICE/protestor standoff, especially if it becomes violent, chemical irritants are used, etc. As a one-person, part-time operation—I’m simply not prepared. The decisions about what to cover and how to cover it are intense. I’m often at a loss.
I covered City Council last night and about 40 people showed up, with a dozen speaking during citizen comments. They were unanimously opposed to ICE, and the elected officials agreed but were at a loss for how to respond.

Notice I haven’t made a value statement about anything that’s happening. I’ve simply described it. Most of it isn’t even that extreme. But through it all, there is a palpable atmosphere of fear.

One comment I see frequently is that if you don’t do anything wrong, you have nothing to fear. Tell that to the citizens detained. And officials are lying about what is happening, so what trust can we have that citizenship will protect us? It’s a bizarre shift from the second amendment crowd.

Another comment I see frequently is the comparison to Nazi Germany—what would you have done then, well now is the moment to find out, etc. I have a new appreciation for the complexity of that scenario. Hindsight makes things simple and easily heroic. It’s a lot harder to accept risk in the here and now, especially when it means the safety and provision of your family.

I want people to understand the reality we’re facing here, because it’s so far from normal. It’s not the America we know and love. People need to make their voices heard. Call your senators and representatives in Congress. I know that sounds like bullshit, but the voice of the people matters. Sometimes it’s the only thing that does.

Finally, remember a week or two into the pandemic lockdowns in March 2020? That uncertainty and anxiety? It’s back. The doomscrolling is real. And I’m getting emotional. I broke down yesterday writing this. My eyes welled up when my wife came home and told me how people were volunteering at her school (good news at least!). And again during the Council meeting when a 16-year-old kid said, “It just hurts.”

And I’ll end with this: I have a hard time reading the comments right now. One of my stories related to ICE has nearly 500 comments and there’s a lot of hate there (and my stories don’t get 500 comments, they rarely get 10). I stopped reading them. The only reason I haven’t shut off the comments is because people are taking the opportunity to show us who they are.

Which reminds me of a blessing I often heard at church. It’s kind of a command to show the world who you are. So to paraphrase, whatever we do in this moment, gladden the hearts of those around you, be swift to love, and quicker to kindness. Because I don’t know what else we can do. We’re frazzled and weary. Please, help.

(Here’s my more journalistic roundup of ongoing updates on what’s happening just in my community.)

2025 Reading Stats & Goals

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 22:56:11 +0000

So I already ran my total books in 2025, top 10 fiction, and top 10 nonfiction. Time to talk stats.

Total Reads

As noted before, I hit 211 total books this year. That’s my second highest all time.

How is that possible? I wrote a whole book about it, so it gets tiring answering that question. You have to love it and then make time for it. It’s not that hard. Put your phone down, shut off the TV.

Audio: And yes, listening to books is reading. This is a silly thing to fight over. Audiobooks accounted for almost 40% of my reading. That’s more than double since 2023. I now listen to audiobooks while doing chores. It started when I got sucked in to a good book and had to see how it ended, and now I do it all the time.

Not a flex: And I say this every year, but I’ll repeat it—I’m not bragging about reading 211 books. It’s just a number. I know people who read more. The point is just to read. However many books you can read, that’s awesome. Readers are a rare breed, and I want to celebrate any reading achievement, whether you read two books or 200. So don’t fall into the trap of comparison.

My Diversity Stats

51% POC books
64% women/nonbinary authors

Here’s how it compares to previous years:

Here’s how that compares to total reading:

Why?: In a year when diversity was practically outlawed, it’s more important than ever. I’ve long believed it’s important to be exposed to a diverse range of voices, and that requires an intentional effort.

Difficulty: Finding diverse books continues to be hard. It’s better than in the past, for sure. But I had a hard time this year. I think romance saved me, as I was able to tap into a vein of diverse authors there (that also likely explains the spike on women/nonbinary authors). I hit a slump, maybe around May, where finding diverse reads just wasn’t working. For a while I didn’t worry about it, and it looked like I wouldn’t hit 50% POC books and I wouldn’t hit one of my goals of reading so many Latino authors. Romance for the win.

More Stats

I love nerding out about the numbers:

Genres: I have a new genre king! Romance has dethroned science fiction. Shocking, I know. My long favorite sci-fi has been on a dip in recent years, falling to 22% last year (but still on top; in 2021 it hit a high of 53%). This year sci-fi fell to 17%, while romance soared from just 5% in 2024 to 29% in 2025. Why? I stumbled into romance last year and really enjoyed it. I think there’s something about a happily ever after that really resonated with me this year (huh, wonder why that would be?). And as much as the tropes should be annoying, I think there’s freedom in embracing the tropes and seeing what an author does with them. Honestly, I think it’s the characters that pull me into romances. When I quit books, I often find there’s no connection to the character and that stops me reading. It kills quite a few science fiction books. Nonfiction (11%) and memoir (10%) came in at #3 and #4 genres, which is a bit of a shock for nonfiction (though maybe that’s just a catchall).
New is always better: My reading definitely slants to more recently published books, though goals in recent years to broaden that have helped. I read a book from every year going back to 2002, but then it gets spotty, though I did read at least something from every decade back to the 1940s. The three oldest books I read were from 1949, 1952, and 1967.
Quit: New stat this year—quitting! I quit an astounding 146 books this year. There are too many good books to read to bother slogging through something you don’t enjoy. I get it, it’s hard to quit. But it’s worth it. This year only had 5.2% two-star books this year, down from last year’s 6%, and probably still too many. This year I often quit books that were probably good but I just wasn’t in the mood. I’ve learned there are definitely times to read a book and times not to. Don’t force it. Reading should be enjoyable. We’re not in school anymore.
Book source: 70% of my reads came from the library, 20% from my ‘new’ shelf (books acquired in the last year or so), and 10% from my ‘old’ shelf. With our local library being remodeled in 2025, I thought that might lead to less library use. Guess not (last year was 62%). I imagine 40% audiobooks had something to do with that, since 100% of those come from the library.
Monthly: March was my lowest reading month at 10, and December the highest at 24. Cold weather continues to encourage more reading.

Reading Goals

Since 2023 I’ve made some unique reading goals to keep my reading interesting. I did more of that in 2025, reaching most of them. It feels like gamifying reading, which works for me.

Total books: I’m still not a fan of a total number of books reading goal. That puts too much pressure on quantity.
Author goals: I had a list of 24 authors I wanted to read, and I tried all of them (quit one, Percival Everett; maybe should have quit the Frederick Buechner as well). This tends to be a mix of old favorites I haven’t read in a while and newer authors I’m trying to read more of. Sometimes it feels a bit like padding my goals, so not sure how well it’s working.
Diversity: I didn’t have hard diversity goals, though I tried to read more in specific months (Black authors during Black History Month, women authors during Women’s History Month, Asian authors during Asian and Pacific Islander History Month, etc.). A bit of a reading slump killed those first three, but later ones were successful. I did want to read at least 14 Latino authors, since I seem to lack in that area. Searching for books was an important part of the process, and I did ultimately more than double that goal (with a big assist from the romance genre).
Clear the list: I dropped my to-read list from 163 to 93 (part of quitting so many books). I like seeing that become a more manageable list. This year I specifically worked to remove everything added before 2020 (no more books languishing on the list from a decade ago).
New vs. old: This year I worked to clear my ‘new’ book shelf, which was pretty successful. I struggled to read ‘old’ books (unread books that I own) and just hit the goal of 20 (at the beginning of October, I was only at nine). It’s especially satisfying to actually read what’s on your self (and get rid of some books if I didn’t like them). I need to do more of that in 2026.
Local authors: One creative goal I had this year was to read five new-to-me Minnesota authors. I managed it, discovering Mindy Mejia (made my top 10 fiction), Allen Eskens, Tasha Coryell, Antonia Angress, and Mona Susan Power. I tried and quit eight books from six authors, so this one took some effort.
In-person: In college, I discovered the wonder of author readings and seeing an author in-person. Haven’t done much of that lately, so I made a goal to do that at least once, and ended up going to several, seeing Jilly Gagnon (in my romance top 5), Maris Kreizman (though I haven’t read her collection of essays yet—oops), Mona Susan Powers, and Marcie Rendon (a 2024 honorable mention and I’ve read almost everything she’s written).

Top 10 Nonfiction of 2025

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 16:49:06 +0000

While I read a lot in 2025, nonfiction only accounted for 23% of my reads. Not as many to pick from, but still some good ones.

You can also check out my top 10 fiction and my reading stats/goals.

Everybody Writes: Your New and Improved Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley – Really solid and meaty writing advice. Used it with my intern this summer.
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings – I thought this would be one of those windows into extremism, but it felt way too close too home.
Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis – Essential reading for a time when government workers are under attack.
You’re Not Fooling Anyone When You Take Your Laptop to a Coffee Shop: Scalzi on Writing by John Scalzi – Another incredibly practical book for writers. Longer than it needs to be (reprinted blog posts), but still good stuff.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen – In-depth and frightening.
Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith by April Ajoy – More of the church/politics embrace that hits too close to home.
Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy by Bill Adair – Intriguing and depressing.
The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource by Christopher Hayes – Really interesting take, though the author goes a little too far down the rabbit hole on some of his tangents.
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder – Inspiring stories and narrative flow. Pretty much anything Tracy Kidder writes is worth a read.
Never Say You Can’t Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders – More writing advice, though this one is very specific nuts and bolts for fiction writers, so less appealing for me. But I hadn’t read anything this practical before.

Honorable Mentions

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond – Really detailed investigative reporting about landlords and renters and poverty. It’s pretty depressing, but gives real insight.
How to Resist Amazon and Why: The Fight for Local Economics, Data Privacy, Fair Labor, Independent Bookstores, and a People-Powered Future! by Danny Caine – Not the best written book—the arguments often feel too hyperbolic. But I mention it because I think it’s time we wrestle with mega-corporate greed. Danny Caine’s other book highlighting independent bookstores is more positive and better, but this gives some of the foundation about why Amazon is a problem.

Top 10 Fiction of 2025

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:45:18 +0000

Another big reading year in 2025 (211 total books!), which makes it hard to compile a best-of list, but here we go.

You can also check out my top 10 nonfiction and my reading stats/goals.

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley – Sort of a romance with song-writing thrown in. Best example I’ve seen of a book about a writer where they show you their writing and it’s good.
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor – I’ve soured on Nnedi Okorafor’s stuff lately, but this is her best yet. Really fascinating and a bit meta.
The Reason You’re Alive by Michael Quick – I love a strong voice, and this book has it. Doesn’t matter that the character is gruff and mean, it’s all part of the charm. Matthew Quick is good at that.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – This author single handedly got me into romance, and this was a fun read. I love the guy’s goofy but committed focus. It’s endearing.
Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton – I’m a sucker for deadpan AI narrators.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby – This was dark, disturbingly so, but Crosby tells a good story.
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria – I enjoyed reading this romance, but part of why it worked so well was the build up of the previous two in the series.
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean – Oof, this was a dark thriller. Really sucked me in.
Leave No Trace by Mindy Mijea – Really interesting mystery and setup, enjoyed the Minnesota angle.
Coyote by Allen M. Steele – An old school sci-fi colonizing story that had some fun and unique takes.

Honorable Mentions:

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall – Mystery and family drama all in one.
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller – This one felt a little too heavy handed, but lots of fun.
Woodworking by Emily St. James – Powerful story about the complications of the trans experience.

Romance Top 10

I read lots of romance this year (lots!), so let’s do a top 10 with some honorable mentions (keeping in mind there’s three more romances above in the original top 10).

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams – The jock-bro voice actually worked for me. Also, the rare romance about a married couple.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert – Really enjoyed the characters here.
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin – An old guy romance? Yeah, I just loved Eddie as a character.
Beach Read by Emily Henry – I’m a sucker for books about authors, and this one was pretty fun.
What If It’s You? by Jilly Gagnon – Really interesting alternate choices story, with some don’t-think-too-hard quantum dynamics thrown in.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – The escort setup feels a little weird, but the character voices were great.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren – Just a happy read.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata – Such a slow burn romance, and I only gave it three stars, but it stuck in my head a bit. Really enjoyed watching the characters make a life together.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan – Another married couple, with a layered and complicated relationship.
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory – I enjoyed the relationship dynamics.

Best holiday read: A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone – It helps to read the first in the series to get the full porn/Hallmark set up, but this installment has a great purity culture angle.
Great author: Casey McQuiston. One Last Stop was my favorite of their’s, though the first half of The Pairing was better (the viewpoint shifts halfway through, and I didn’t like the character telling the second half of the story).
Therapy for romance: Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey is another great example of a married couple romance. They actually go to therapy, which I thought was really intriguing. Unfortunately, it’s also very cliche, with a little too much toxic masculinity and a climax that’s kind of contradictory.

2025 Reading List

Kevin D. Hendricks — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:51:32 +0000

Another big reading year with 211 books. Not as high as last year, but second highest overall.

You can also check out my top 10 fiction, top 10 nonfiction, and my reading stats/goals.

You can also check out my previous reading lists: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001.

If you want to read more, check out my booklet 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading Again.

Reading Themes for 2025

I read a lot, again.
Romance was huge this year. A different genre actually dethroned science fiction for the first time ever.

The Books I Read in 2025:

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman – 4 stars
The third installment of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Donut’s adventrues is just as ridiculous and perhaps more complicated. When the action and hilarity is clicking, this is a great read, though the complication means slogging through too much exposition at times.
Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women, and Queer Christians are Reclaiming Evangelicalism by Deborah Jian Lee – 4 stars
A fascinating history of the church in recent history on issues including race, gender, and sexual identity. I probably came to the book a decade too late though—published in 2015, just before the Trump era, it now feels a bit dated, like a snapshot in time.
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now… by Jason Reynolds – 4 stars
The story of a teenage couple’s first time having sex, though it’s more about the anticipation than the act itself. Especially because the narrative starts just before they have sex and then moves increasingly further back in time. It’s kind of a bizarre narrative approach, but like most everything Jason Reynolds does, it works pretty well. In the end, it’s an encouragingly sex-positive YA love story.
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby – 4 stars
A revenge story about two fathers hunting down whoever murdered their gay sons. It’s a rough story, but plenty of gruff heart as they come to terms with their own failures.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis – 4 stars
A quick story of a space emergency and salvage operation. It’s set up like a space romance, though the romance really doesn’t get going in this installment. It’s quick and fun though, and definitely feels worth reading more of the series.
Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey – 4 stars
A really complicated multiverse saga. It’s good, but it definitely takes a while and a lot of exposition to lay out the world and how it all works. And this is just the first installment.
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello – 3 stars
I’m a sucker for a bookstore story, and an artist creating a mural inside is only better. But the YA drama is a little predictable and groan-worthy.
The Storm by Frederick Buechner – 2 stars
Such a big set up for nothing happening. “Two estranged brothers confront each other”? Where’s the confrontation? Even when something finally happens, the narration treats it like an afterthought.
That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones – 3 stars
This is a difficult book to review. Having been through a similar public meeting and knowing a tiny sliver of what author Amanda Jones is going through, I have a lot of sympathy for her and found the opening chapters to be rage inducing. I’m 100% behind Jones, librarians, and freedom from censorship. But as the book went on it felt meandering, repetitive, and contradictory.
How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis – 3 stars
The first installment in this series had an unexpected twist, but now in the second in the series we know what a trickster Ada is and it feels like we’re just being gaslit about her next inevitable twist. Doesn’t help that all the action takes place during a single party and there’s not much action at that. Maybe it’s setting up for a great ending of the series, but it’s hard to know. Only saving grace is Ada’s voice.
East Meets West by Yang Liu – 3 stars
A quick, infographic book showing differences between China and Germany. It’s a fascinating visual shorthand, though it would have been interesting to get some commentary about the differences.
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell – 5 stars
This is such a weird love story. It’s a weird conceit, captured in a the only moment in time when it would have been possible. And it’s weirdly perfect. I love how weird it is. I love how simple it is. I love watching Lincoln try to put his life together and create the right kind of attachments. I love how it comes together in the end. Good stuff.
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens – 3 stars
This is maybe worth 3.5 stars, but the ending bugged me. It’s painful to watch characters make dumb decisions. Sometimes that’s part of the story, but here it just felt like too much plot convenience. It’s an engaging, twisting mystery, but some of those turns felt too contrived.
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger – 4 stars
The mystery at the heart of this one is typical William Kent Krueger and pretty good. But it has an odd sub plot that bookends the story and is hinted at throughout. It’s an interesting approach but feels a little off (it always feels like a little too much happens to Cork O’Connor and his family, this plot just leans too far into that).
Just the Good Stuff: No-BS Secrets to Success by Jim VandeHei – 3 stars
Some helpful advice delivered in a quick matter, but there’s a lot of unnecessary repetition.
Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton – 5 stars
I have a hard time resisting snarky AI in a good sci-fi story. This is no exception. We follow an AI who hoped to be a non-combatant but got swept into the middle of a war. It’s dead pan and quick moving.
Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park – 3 stars
A cute middle grade story about a young girl exploring coral reefs. It’s a bit basic.
Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou – 3 stars
I’ve been working through Maya Angelou’s autobiography series for years, and the last installment isn’t a continuation but more of a departure. It’s a homage to her mother. It recounts her life’s experience with her mother. It’s in the familiar, somewhat rambling style.
Pure Scum: The Left-Out, the Right-Brained and the Grace of God by Mike Sares – 3 stars
Kind of a random book that tells the story of Scum of the Earth church, but it’s not really a history, it’s kind of a weird mix of preaching and story and church.
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang – 4 stars
This is quite an enemies to lovers romance, something I normally don’t care for, but it somehow worked for me. Which makes me think it stretches the bounds of believability. I just enjoyed the ride and didn’t think too hard.
Star Wars Darth Bane: Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn – 3 stars
An Old Republic Star Wars novel (that’s since been de-cannonized), this one tells the story of a war between the Sith and the Jedi and how the Sith came to follow the one master and one apprentice rule. The character of Darth Bane starts out interesting enough, and there’s plenty of intrigue as he falls deeper and deeper into the dark side, but ultimately it doesn’t go anywhere interesting. It’s not a battle of good versus evil, but evil versus more evil, I guess?
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor – 5 stars
I never feel like I fully understand Nnedi Okorafor’s work, though I often enjoy reading it. Sometimes I get a little put off my by not understanding and enjoy it less. I didn’t have high hopes for this one, which felt very high concept, but I enjoyed it. As the ending came, I definitely felt like I didn’t follow it all, but I enjoyed much of the journey. So much interesting possibility mingled with frustration.
Trans-Galactic Bike Ride: Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories of Transgender and Nonbinary Adventurers by Lydia Rogue – 3 stars
A collection of trans bike stories. A few weird ones and a few interesting ones.
My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez – 3 stars
A memoir of growing up as a first generation immigrant that focuses on childhood to early adulthood. It’s a bit of a quick story, illustrative, but not incredibly engaging.
Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson – 4 stars
Like any Neal Stephenson novel this thing is long and interesting and long. It explores some really fascinating ideas, though I’m not sure he ties it all together very well. Also, long isn’t always good. There were definitely places with a bit too much sideshow meandering. A fun ride, for sure, hence four stars, but could have been better.
The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood – 3 stars
Vampires fighting in the Civil War. I’ve read this setup a few times before, and it’s interesting, though this one veers into the predictable enemies-to-lovers, falling in love with a vampire trope, and that’s a little tired.
The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott – 3 stars
Kind of a weird, psuedo-supernatural story. It was good enough, though felt a little flat.
The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold – 2 stars
A post-apocalyptic story about a bookstore? Yes, please! Great concept, but horrible execution. It suffers from a typical whiny YA main character who refuses to accept the reality of the apocalypse. That’d be great if the story explored that refusal, but it really doesn’t. But the bookstore plays a fun role, right? Nope, it’s not much more than a setting. Surprised I saw this one through to the end.
The Last Segregated Hour: The Memphis Kneel-Ins and the Campaign for Southern Church Desegregation by Stephen R. Haynes – 3 stars
This is maybe worth 3.5 stars, but I’m going to call it 3. The writing is a 3, the topic is a 4. It’s a fascinating historical story of the civil rights movement coming to the church doorstep (and being refused entry). But it’s dry and dull. Overlapping interests are about the only reason I kept reading. Fascinating, but a slog for sure.
Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy by Bill Adair – 4 stars
Super fascinating and awfully depressing.
Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia – 4 stars
A pretty good murder mystery. A bit cliche with the set up, but it read well and had some good and not over-done twists.
Just Like You by Nick Hornby – 3 stars
An interesting enough romance with several gaps and set around the Brexit vote. So it has some interesting background (politics, class, race, age), but it didn’t feel as connective as some of Hornby’s other work.
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris – 3 stars
It’s an OK, predictable political memoir, not bad but not amazing either. I started it on President’s Day, because that seemed depressingly appropriate. The best part of it was imagining the differences in how Kamala Harris talked about things vs. how Donald Trump would. Sure, it’s a memoir, and you put yourself in the best light, but she admits mistakes and talks about learning moments with self reflection and empathy.
Not in My Book by Katie Holt – 3 stars
An engaging enough story watching two writerly enemies thrown together and forced to work with each other. OK, sure, that’s the trope. But the inevitable fight that throws it all into question was just too ridiculous.
Funny story by Emily Henry – 4 stars
An entertaining romance that doesn’t get too caught up in itself.
I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman – 3 stars
The tone of this story felt off. It’s feels like it should have a bumbling Weekend at Bernie’s vibe, but instead it’s half-thriller, half-insecure writer trope. It makes the main character unrelateable.
Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie Rendon – 4 stars
A difficult story focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women, that’s part mystery and part telling trauma of those living through it. The difficult parts are perhaps the most realistic, where every action doesn’t necessarily make sense as the characters react in the midst of trauma.
Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin – 5 stars
Eddie Winston is a perfect character. I loved learning how he went through his day and the kinds of things that attracted his attention. Just great. My only complaint is he didn’t seem like 90 years old. He mentioned his knee occasionally, but otherwise he was in perfect health. Other books I’ve read about older adults have really nailed the struggle with age. This portrayal seemed a little unbelievable. I didn’t let it ruin my enjoyment of the story, but it would have been an interesting angle to see more of that.
Star Wars: The Last Command by Timothy Zahn – 3 stars
Meh. This supposedly great Star Wars trilogy wasn’t nearly worth the hype. This installment had a little more going for it, and some unique if poorly executed ideas at the end (a fun new [old] take on what happened to Luke’s hand and lightsaber after Bespin!?). But long and overwrought.
Bikenomics: How Bicycling Can Save The Economy by Elly Blue – 3 stars
Plenty of interesting ideas and stories about biking and advocating for safer, healthier, more environmentaly friendly streets. But the narrative isn’t great—feels repetitive and could have been tighter.
No Happy Endings by Nora McInerny – 4 stars
This has a bit of tragedy porn to it, wondering how someone can lose so much at once and carry on. The memoir is a bit of explaining how that happens, how you can find joy again despite the pain. It’s funny at moments and frustrating at moments, and maybe not as poignant as it tries to be, but you still appreciate it.
Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!: How to Take Back Our Time, Attention, and Purpose in a World Designed to Bury Us in Bullshit by Julio Vincent Gambuto – 3 stars
Some interesting ideas here about pulling back from the relentless pace of society, but it also comes across a little overwrought and from a perspective of not having any boundaries in the first place. Helpful idea, but a little laughable in some of the practical applications.
Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia – 5 stars
Riveting story, right from the start, which is what I needed lately. It continues with interesting twists and reveals. A couple things seemed like a stretch, but all in all it was good fun.
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky – 4 stars
A fun robot apocalypse story from the robot’s point of view. I enjoyed the tone, probably helped by the audio book, though it did start to drag as the adventures went on and on. Probably kept it from five stars, which is how it felt from the start.
Echo of Worlds by M.R. Carey – 4 stars
Fun conclusion to the series. It feels like it covers less ground and does less than the original, but it’s still an enjoyable end.
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue – 3 stars
Kind of an Office romance centered on a character stuck in teenage trauma who really needs therapy. But I guess you don’t have a plot if your damaged character gets help. It has its moments, which is why I kept reading, but overall it’s a letdown.
Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell – 4 stars
This is a slightly unhinged murder/mystery following a woman who becomes obsessed with an accused serial killer. It’s a little nuts, but if you embrace that unhinged factor, it’s a pretty good ride.
Alter Ego by Alex Segura – 5 stars
A comic book murder mystery that takes the 1970s era Secret Identity and brings it into the modern age of comic books with a sequel that embraces today’s comics and reboots and makes it all work.
Mommy Man: How I Went from Mild-Mannered Geek to Gay Superdad by Jerry Mahoney – 3 stars
Breezy memoir about a gay couple going through surrogacy to start a family. It’s funny and a quick read.
Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton – 3 stars
Kind of a so-so follow up to Mickey 7. It seemed to lack the bitter sarcasm and sense of discovery. It had its moments, but doesn’t hold a candle to the original.
Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes – 4 stars
A different take on the murder mystery, focused on an almost Hogwarts-like school for murder. It’s a unique take and pretty fun, though the three stories it follows feel a little disjointed. Extra bonus points for audio narration by Neil Patrick Harris.
Dark Space by Rob Hart and Alex Segura – 4 stars
An intriguing sci-fi/mystery that’s fast-paced and fun. The alien first contact feels a little slapdash, but otherwise it’s a good read.
The Reason You’re Alive by Matthew Quick – 5 stars
Matthew Quick is always great at really engaging characters with a unique voice, and this novel is no different. David Granger is a Vietnam veteran wrestling with his demons and decrying all the liberals. He’s a gruff, crusty man’s man who takes delight in being politically incorrect, which you’d expect to get annoying but it’s actually insightful and hilarious (and not because it’s skewering or mocking).
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the ModernWorld by John Mark Comer – 4 stars
A thoughtful approach to checking out from the speed of light and practical ways to engage at a more manageable pace.
Heaven’s Keep by William Kent Kruegger – 4 stars
Really enjoy these mysteries, but man, it starts to feel like all the most awful stuff happens to Cork O’Connor. That’s too much awful stuff to happen to one person.
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers – 3 stars
This series is slower than most sci-fi, but this installment was especially slow. It’s readable enough, but not as good as Chambers other stuff.
Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell – 4 stars
A fast-moving space adventure with an AI ship and some weird alien artifacts.
When The Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi – 4 stars
What a ridiculous concept turned into a fun read: What if the moon turned to cheese? I usually don’t enjoy books where each chapter follows mostly different characters and we get very little overall character development, but damn if John Scalzi didn’t manage to make it work.
The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday – 3 stars
A brief recounting of Kiowa tradition and stories.
Sackett’s Land by Louis L’Amour – 4 stars
A swashbuckling adventure from the fens of England across to the shores of America. The history seemed a bit questionable, but it’s a quick and fun read.
Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson – 4 stars
A bot has feelings, goes on an adventure, falls in love, and wants to make movies. It’s funny and a little ridiculous.
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory – 4 stars
A pretty straight forward romance about someone trying to write a memoir and the editor helping him. It’s tame and the ending gets a little tropey, but it was pretty good.
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis – 4 stars
The last 150 pages get 4 stars, the first 150 get 3 stars. Connie Willis writes fascinating books, by oh my goodness to they get bogged down in minutia. I barely got through the start when it was clear the entire plot was dragging over nothing. When it picks up, it’s good. But when it drags, it’s a slog. Also, how can a scifi writer in 1992 not envision cell phones and alternate forms of communication? It’s insane how often the characters have difficulty getting a hold of someone on the phone.
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite – 3 stars
A space age murder mystery, but it’s so short it never has time to get going or build intrigue.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – 5 stars
So I think Abby Jimenez has almost single handedly gotten me into romance. There have been a couple others, but she is three for three. In this one, it’s the characters that sucked me in. Justin has such a wry, honest voice that it’s fun to watch him do chores.
The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon – 4 stars
Part memoir, part examination of current culture, this book dives into the exodus from evangelical churches of people questioning their faith in the light of anti-LGBTQ sentiment and support of Donald Trump, among other factors.
And Both Were Young by Madeleine L’Engle – 2 stars
An early example of Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult work. The way it addresses the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust was before its time (so much so that they cut those sections and they weren’t re-added until the 1980s), though more direct handling of it would have been more engaging. In the end, the story is mostly following a whiny girl and that just makes for a difficult read.
Streetlethal by Steven Barnes – 2 stars
The plot is all over the place. Never quite came together for me.
Throwback by Maurene Goo – 4 stars
A YA version of Back to the Future where a daughter needs to connect with her mother in the 1990s. Really interesting retread and fun to see how the author handled the 1990s.
Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives by Sami Sage & Emily Amick – 4 stars
So I think this book is a helpful encouragement and first step for those interested in getting more engaged. It’s a quick read, mostly fun, and has lots of exercises for you to fill in and zero in on what you should do. All that is helpful, though my complaint is that a lot of it is duh. If you’ve thought about civic engagement for any length of time, there’s not a lot new here.
Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott – 4 stars
Classic Anne Lamott. Some incredible turns of phrase and insightful perspective. A little bit of whining and trying to hard. And then more insight.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen – 5 stars
This book has some flaws, but there were moments when its minute-by-minute roll out of armageddon had me on the edge of my seat. Five stars for that, for sure. The opening is a bit of a turn off and and it times the incredulousness factor is a little high. But I can overlook that for the sure terror of what nuclear war would unleash and how close we are to such a precipice.
You’re Not Fooling Anyone When You Take Your Laptop to a Coffee Shop: Scalzi on Writing by John Scalzi – 5 stars
This is the most practical, straight-forward, and honest book about writing I’ve ever read. It’s nearly 20 years old (and it shows), but the pragmatic approach John Scalzi takes is still refreshing. Granted, it’s mostly reprints from his blog, but he’s pulled out all the applicable stuff and he doesn’t bother with platitudes or pats on the back. You want to make a living as a writer? This is how you do it. Work hard. Get over yourself. Follow the rules. We could use an updated, and slightly shorter version, but Scalzi is too busy making bank with his sci-fi novels, so work with what you’ve got.
Remembering by Wendell Berry – 3 stars
A bit of a disjointed, rambling collection of thoughts that tries overly hard to embrace the nostalgia. It’s classic Wendell Berry, though it’s not as writerly and gripping as some of his others.
A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua – 3 stars
A story of immigrants and mothers and loss and rejection. It had its moments but it also dragged at times.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones – 4 stars
A vampire story on the great plains. After actually reading Dracula last year I can appreciate the structure and format of this a little more. Parts of this are fascinating, but like a lot of Stephen Graham Jones, I find it gets weird and long and weird. Not enough to stop me from reading, but enough that it’s shy of a five-star read.
Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith by April Ajoy – 4 stars
If you feel like the church has left you behind after Trump, COVID, and January 6, this is the book for you. April Ajoy, who grew up as a conservative Pentecostal, describes growing up in what she now calls Christian nationalism and how she came to recognize its danger. It’s a helpful guide to identify what sets Christian nationalism apart from other Christians. It has some interesting moments as memoir, though the narrative falls a little flat as memoir, it works better as a guide to Christian nationalism.
The White Mountains by John Christopher – 3 stars
A post-apocalyptic story about an earth that’s been taken over by giant metal aliens and human society is in a state of casual slavery. It’s a little heavy handed on the freedom and rebelling against authority vibe, and the main character has a voice that’s oddly personal but not very likable. It’s fairly simple and interesting enough, I’ll probably keep reading the series (a post-apocalyptic/dystopia trilogy feels a about 50 years ahead of its time).
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price – 4 stars
Fascinating book exploring how we tie productivity and work to self worth and anything less than that is bad. It’s an invitation to unplug, slow down, and enjoy life.
The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher – 3 stars
The second on the Tripod series, this one gives us more answers about the alien overlords and sets up the final installment. Though our main character doesn’t get any more likable.
The Pool of Fire by John Christopher – 3 stars
The concluding chapter where the heroes strike back against the tripods. It’s really more of the same and our hero continues to be unlikeable and doesn’t grow, unlike his friends. It ends well enough, if a bit heavy handed.
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers – 4 stars
A basketball story with a strong voice. Classic Walter Dean Myers. Holds up pretty well for being 30 years old.
What If… Marc Spector Was A Host To Venom? by Mike Chen – 3 stars
This was… complicated. I guess you’d know that going in since it’s Marc Spector, but still. Mike Chen did a good job keeping the multiple versions of Spector separate, but the whole concept was too convoluted for my liking. It did make me want to rewatch Moon Knight, so I suppose that’s what Marvel wants.
Beach Read by Emily Henry – 5 stars
I’m a sucker for books about writers. I know they make it look easy and romantic (while it’s obviously not, the whole book is about her career stalling with writer’s block), but that book within a book and seeing the creative process unfold (even if it’s never that simple) just inspires me every time. Oh, and there was a love story going on, that was good too.
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean – 5 stars
Oh wow, that was dark. The twists just kept coming, riveting to the very end.
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan – 3 stars
A slow, literary story about aging and art, set in the midst of a declining world that’s nearly post-apocalyptic. It has some interesting elements, but it was just too slow.
Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More With Less by Jim Vandehei , Mike Allen , Roy Schwartz – 5 stars
A reread to cover it with my intern. Full of practical help and reminders. This go around inspired some ideas and changes I could make.
The Acolyte: Wayseeker by Justina Ireland – 3 stars
Love being able to dive back into the world of The Acolyte, though don’t love the ho-hum adventure. It has its moments, but it’s nothing amazing. Getting backstory on Indara and seeing Vernestra Rwoh (plus more than a cameo from Yaddle) again is fun. You don’t need to know the High Republic series, though there are plenty of callbacks and connections. Another so-so Star Wars novel where they can’t let the plot rise above the other properties.
Freedom’s Gate by Naomi Kritzer – 4 stars
A free woman posing as a slave to infiltrate a band of nomadic warriors. Throw in a little magic, and this is the beginning of an engaging trilogy. Naomi Kritzer’s effortless style keeps me reading. More please.
Gravity Lost by L.M. Sagas – 4 stars
Pretty engaging for a sci-fi space romp sequel. These retreads can often get a little dull or too insidery, but I enjoyed this one. I’m curious if we’ll get a next installment with more on the fun new AI captain they discovered. Not nearly enough of that character.
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal – 4 stars
Stradal’s time skipping, generational approach is great, and I love his focus on Minnesota. Diving into family businesses and legacy is also fun. But the timelines felt a little disjointed and the characters not consistent. I kept waiting for the moment to explain why a character seems disjointed, and it never came. A good read, but felt like it could have been great.
Freedom’s Apprentice by Naomi Kritzer – 4 stars
The series continues and it’s a little more free flowing, a more open-ended adventure as we’re not sure where Lauria is going to go or do. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, more so than the first, and sets up the final installment.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – 4 stars
I enjoyed the banter and breezy start to their relationship. Only downside was Drew’s unchecked anger that flared up at the oddest times.
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil – 4 stars
A collection of mini-essays about the natural world woven with memoir-like remembrances and stories. Each one uses a plant or animal as a prompt and gives simple facts and memories with a lyrical voice that makes it clear the author writes poetry.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory – 3 stars
Really enjoyed Carlos’ character from The Wedding Date and this had a fun initial setup, but it got a little old as it went along.
Freedom’s Sisters by Naomi Kritzer – 3 stars
This series felt like it got overly complicated with this installment. The magical realm of the borderlands and the djinni and the spell-chains were all complex enough, but this one got way more intricate and harder to follow. Interesting to see how it all came together but not as engaging as earlier installments.
How to Resist Amazon and Why: The Fight for Local Economics, Data Privacy, Fair Labor, Independent Bookstores, and a People-Powered Future! by Danny Caine – 3 stars
Expanded from its initial form, this screed against Amazon raises important issues. While I often agree, the arguments take on a hyperbolic tone and lack support. Tighter arguments, less repetition, and more grounding would have vastly improved the book. I did enjoy the interludes between chapters that gave more positive examples. Those reminded me of the author’s other book, How to Protect Bookstores and Why.
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann – 3 stars
Sheep solve a murder. Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds.
Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake – 4 stars
This one had enough snappy characters to keep me engaged, though about two-thirds of the way through the trope started to feel a little boring. But I think the last third rallied for me.
The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource by Christopher Hayes – 4 stars
An engaging exploration of how little devices in our pocket have sucked our attention away from everything good in the world. A good read for anyone concerned about what tech is doing to us (or what we’re letting it do). It does dive into quite a bit of philosophy and a few times feels like Christopher Hayes takes an esoteric turn when he just needs to get on with it. But overall it gives broad historical context, examples that hit a little too close to home, and a few suggestions about what to do about it (though feels like it could have used some more of those).
Never Say You Can’t Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders – 4 stars
This is really solid, nuts and bolts fiction writing advice that’s pretty rare. I’ve read lots of rah-rah-rah fiction advice and plenty of seemingly practical stuff. But Charlie Jane Anders digs into stuff like how to rework your drafts and how to make your characters more interesting. Others have talked about it, but Anders makes it practical. My only quibble is the book is set up as an antidote to a scary world (says the jacket: “”The world is on fire. So tell your story.””). I love the sentiment, but it’s not consistently carried through. It’s not how to survive a trash tornado (at one point I noticed she kept making up synonyms for ‘dumpster fire,’ and I love it), it’s how to craft fiction.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher – 3 stars
I really enjoy this series—it has a great voice and I’d follow it along for any ride. But this one is a bit of a let down. The story is just muddled. The story is built around a showdown Harry had with a sorcerer that happened in the past, where Harry gets a knightly sidekick, and it feels like a previous installment in the series—but it’s not. It’s just an awkward way to tell a story and makes this one frustrating to follow.
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams – 5 stars
The jock narration voice hooked me from the start. Could have been off putting, but since we start with Gavin at rock bottom, it works. He’s also not a one-dimensional jock, so that helps. I’ve been curious about a romance involving a married couple, and this was a great example. It’s more interesting to see a couple fix what’s broken. The guys reading romance novels to improve their relationships is also a perfect idea.
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory – 4 stars
A light, breezy romance. I appreciated that when the inevitable drama came, it wasn’t the couple yelling at each other. A nice change of pace.
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall – 4 stars
A post-apocalyptic journey following a group holed up in a New York museum when they’re ousted by a “”hypercane”” (bigger than a hurricane) and head toward potential safety.
What If It’s You? by Jilly Gagnon – 5 stars
I’m going to go ahead and give this 5 stars even though it’s closer to 4.5 because it’s just a fun and interesting ride. It’s a romance that explores the what if concept through quantum physics. Ultimately it’s about whether Laurel chose the right relationship five years ago and whether she’s willing to commit. I’ve been looking for romances that go beyond the meet cute and fall in love story, and it’s engaging to see a relationship tested and endure.
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake – 4 stars
This one’s a fun ride. Better than I expected knowing Astrid from the first in the series.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry – 4 stars
The story felt a little convoluted as it strolled merrily through the countryside, but I might follow Nora and Charlie where ever they want to go.
Everybody Writes: Your New and Improved Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley – 5 stars
Really solid book on content writing. Most of the writing books I find are focused on fiction or maybe journalism, so it’s rare to find a good one focused on all the other kinds of writing. Of course it has good stuff for any kind of writing (made my journalism intern read it), but especially applicable to marketing content.
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn – 3 stars
Another in a line of books about books, bookstores, and book lovers, this tale of an elderly man who delivers books and the child who befriends him is charming. Unfortunately, the final conflict and resolution feels too forced and then perfectly solved.
History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook – 4 stars
A mystery with a bit of romance, this engaging story unfolds on a college campus as a college professor uncovers a bizarre plot. It’s soft on the mystery and soft on the romance, but still pretty good.
Coyote by Allen M. Steele – 5 stars
On the surface it’s a space colonization story, but it starts off with a mutiny/revolution, has a wilderness adventure in the middle, and ends with a bizarre encounter. A lot going on here, but really engaging all the way through.
Broken Fields by Marcie Rendon – 3 stars
I enjoy Cash Blackbear as a character. She’s flawed, but interesting and engaging. But sometimes that’s a difficult line to walk. This installment finds Cash dealing with blowback from previous installments in the series, but not really. That’s somewhat typical Cash, but it feels more like we’re going to refer to the previous books, but not actually engage with the issues. The result is a story that’s kind of all over the place.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura – 3 stars
A romance tapping into the adventure of classic movies like Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone? Yes, please. I’ll give that a shot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t meet the goal. There’s way more talking and very little adventuring.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – 4 stars
Enjoyed Stella’s awkwardness and Michael’s protectiveness. The inevitable meltdown could have been a little smoother, but overall it was a fun read.
American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera – 3 stars
An engaging enough story, and fun following a food truck and a librarian. But it dragged a bit at times and the really engaging part came late in the story.
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings – 5 stars
I went into this book thinking it was an example of extremist religious trauma, like really out there whackadoodles. But the first 100 pages or so looked awfully familiar. Yeah, it did get weirder and weirder, but it started out pretty much exactly where I did. It’s a harrowing tale of abuse and marriage mixed up in a gross cocktail. Not a fun read, but gripping.
When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa – 4 stars
A good read with some quality banter. My only complaint is it felt a little too obvious to everyone but Mari what should happen. I know that’s a staple of the genre, but usually it’s a little more believable. Still a fun read though.
Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender – 3 stars
A fake romance among spoiled actors is a tough sell, but it does get more interesting. I started flagging in the middle and the ending eventually got better, but it was rough.
Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis – 5 stars
This is fascinating and should be required reading in the anti-government age when civil servants are being vilified and fired. It’s story after story of the humble, wonderful things government employees do to make life better for tax payers.
My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby – 4 stars
A solid mystery and dark, compromised characters. Gritty and quick.
The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez – 3 stars
An interesting setup, and I’m shocked the librarian/football player matchup isn’t played up more, but ultimately it’s a lot of talking.
Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver – 3 stars
An interesting setup for writers and book lovers with a few fun dramatic scenes, but the love is more of yawn than a slow burn and the setup quickly gets old.
The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton – 3 stars
So. Much. Talking. Edward Ashton’s books have been good because of unique character voice and interesting action. I suppose they’ve probably had a fair amount of talking. Mickey 7 liked to hear himself talk. But the Fourth Consort lacks action and a clear, unique voice. It’s kind of boring. Ashton’s style is enough to keep it going, and I was curious to see how it finished, but it wasn’t nearly as good as some of his others.
Fledgling by Octavia Butler – 4 stars
Rereading this classic, and it’s still a powerful entry into the vampire genre. I did notice that it’s a lot of talking, which seems par for the course for Octavia Butler. She manages to make it pretty engaging, though I long for a little more action.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston – 4 stars
I really loved the first half of this book. Theo was an engaging, interesting, unique character with a great voice. I could read them do anything (I’d love a prequel where we just watch Theo build their bar bus… Zen and the Art of VW Maintenance). But then it switched to Kit, and Kit is kind of full of themselves? How much Rilke do we need to quote. Kit surely didn’t kill the book, but it did drop from five stars to four for my taste. The book was recommended based on the descriptions of food, which were pretty stellar, but Theo’s unexpected humor did it for me.
America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story by Felipe Torres Medina – 3 stars
A ‘choose your own adventure’ about immigration? Yeah. It sort of works. Thankfully you can read the book straight through and not have to deal with the anxiety of making choices and it works pretty well. The humor is decent but the concept is a little half baked in that it doesn’t cover some of the hardest, most difficult immigration issues (which to be fair, aren’t exactly comedic fodder). There’s a nice example of a certain immigrant first lady.
Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo & Jenny Owen Youngs – 4 stars
It’s a little weird to read a memoir about a podcast you never heard of about a show you love. But it works. Now I want to listen to the podcast (and I don’t like podcasts). And I highly recommend the audio version, since it includes snippets of the original songs they write for the podcast.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall – 5 stars
Beth and especially Gabriel annoyed me, but I got sucked in and gobsmacked by this one, despite the set up from the start, despite the twists and turns. Good stuff.
Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez – 4 stars
I liked this one, despite some of its faults. Learning about an asexual romance was new ground for me, with lots of new terms. It’s not a dictionary and understanding wasn’t always clear from context. It seemed like the setup never matched the asexual nature, but that’s probably more my lack of understanding with the terms. I liked the characters and the romance, and the family drama was good (if maddening). The TikTok bit was kind of weak, but bearable.
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria – 4 stars
The ups and downs of Hollywood romance isn’t quite my thing, but this had some good chemistry and a bit of telenovela drama that made it fun.
The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas – 3 stars
Started off too slowly, but eventually got more engaging.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler – 4 stars
The exciting conclusion to Davi’s quest to become the Dark Lord is fun and irreverent, just like the opener. It is perhaps a little tamer, as Davi is down on the ‘death to all humans’ vibe and actually working toward peace—which is like hard and stuff. But a satisfying conclusion and no stretching this into a trilogy or more.
A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria – 4 stars
This friends to lovers romance has a good back story and setup, with the right amount of family drama. The teenage fanfic is a bit of a left turn, but I’ll always take a Star Wars joke.
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria – 5 stars
My favorite of the series, but it works so much better if you read them in order. Really loved watching Ava and Roman work through their issues. The secret lover trope is a bit maddening, but this approach worked for me. I loved Roman, and even though he was a strong character to begin with, he still had growth.
Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine – 4 stars
I’m a sucker for books about writers, and this one didn’t disappoint. The voice narration for Mr. Hot Tub in the audiobook took breathiness to a new level, but what are you going to do? That’s kind of the trope.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata – 3 stars
This is the slow burn of all slow burns. You’re 85% of the way through the book before there’s more than a peck on the cheek. Vanessa and Aiden are train-wrecks of characters—I kept waiting for some explanation, but it just never came. And the green card marriage setup isn’t adequately explained (a successful professional athlete doesn’t need to marry into citizenship). But despite all that, I kept reading—so something was working.
Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress – 4 stars
Definitely a slow read, but fascinating characters kept me hooked. The glimpse into the art world, but the creative and commercial sides, was fascinating.
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa – 4 stars
Engaging and funny, good characters you want to root for.
After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez – 3 stars
I liked the set up, the mystery and the reinvention and the town history. Telling the immigrant stories in small town Kansas was great. But I didn’t care for Alex.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren – 4 stars
A fun and happy romance. Hazel is just a treat—I would read about her doing anything all day long.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña – 3 stars
This was a tough one. I liked Kamilah and Liam, but the ringer they went through was too much. Their grandparents blackmail them into this arranged marriage thing, and they just accept it with a shrug? Then a hot mic reveal—which is the second time this month I’ve seen that. Some good pieces here, but it doesn’t come together well.
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya – 3 stars
An interesting coming of age story, punctuated with a lot of faith.
Ramón and Julieta by Alana Albertson – 3 stars
The Day of the Dead meet cute and the Romeo and Juliet connections were fun, but the rich boy solving all the problems with his riches is kind of weak.
Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders – 4 stars
There are moments in Charlie Jane Anders books when I get bored, and moments when I can’t put it down. More of the same here. Really fascinating watching the exploration of magic and the expanding family dynamic. The bits of 18th century literature and trying to keep which random semi-historical figure straight were dull.
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller – 5 stars
While it’s a bit heavy handed and reading about people who want to ban books makes me twitchy, it’s a fascinating story intermingling so many characters in a town who are all touched by books.
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin – 3 stars
I’m a sucker for bookstore books and books about authors, so this was a double whammy. But it never felt quite up to par. Drew didn’t seem fully formed as a character, and that came out when things inevitably fall apart. There were other bits and pieces that felt half baked too. Lots of great pieces, but it didn’t all come together like it needed to.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume – 4 stars
Hard to believe I’ve never read this one, but I corrected that during banned book week and during my wife’s campaign to restock the local food shelf with period products. Felt timely. It’s a cute little story of a pre-teen struggling with acceptance, faith, and puberty. It’s surprisingly hard hitting, especially with the whole struggling with religion thread. I liked the refrain of talking to a God she doesn’t believe in, as well as watching all the adults in her life lose their minds over her religious journey (mainly when she so much as considers a path that’s not theirs).
Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas – 3 stars
A rough coming of age memoir navigating race, gangs, drugs, and prison.
Woodworking by Emily St. James – 4 stars
I read this entire book thinking the author was Emily St. John Mandel, author of several popular high literary works, which I guess makes my stupidity is a compliment? Also feels like more misidentity the book portrays. At any rate, this is a powerful and difficult read, due to the subject matter and raging asshats. But Emily St. James does a masterful job navigating these tough topics and bringing us along for the ride. Hard to believe it’s her debut novel.
A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power – 3 stars
I like the idea of telling generational stories through dolls, though I just had a hard time keeping up and making the connections.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan – 4 stars
A complicated and layered romance about a fractured marriage. I like these romances that are a little more complicated and nuanced.
No Place Like Home: Lessons in Activism from LGBT Kansas by C.J. Janovy – 4 stars
A recent history of LGBTQ activism in Kansas. It covers roughly 2000-2018, a whiplash era of setbacks and successes. It’s a little dry, but there are plenty of heartening stories from the heartland.
Lush Money by Angelina Lopez – 3 stars
Couldn’t have a more stereotypical royalty soap opera romance. Though the billionaire leading lady with a small town past does break the mold. Interesting to see where it went, but ultimately wasn’t entirely believable.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert – 5 stars
I love the witty back and forth between Chloe and Red. I love how he sees her and understands her. I love how she lights him up. The artist angle was fun too, I would have loved to see more. Only complaint: terrible audiobook. Gave up after a few chapters, but intrigued enough to grab a print copy and glad I did (never had an audiobook fail like that before, usually it’s the other way around).
Skyn by Nikki Payne – 2 stars
Not really feeling this one. It had some moments, but ultimately the story felt rushed and the character flat.
The Long Game by Elena Armas – 3 stars
Meh. An interesting viral moment setup turns into a let down when the main character is just a jackass (the meet cute is running him over and not feeling bad about it?!).
First by Ali Hazelwood – 3 stars
The storytelling here was gripping, but the coercion and rape not so much.
Bait by Adriana Herrera – 2 stars
A bit cliche for a post-apocalyptic setup. The action didn’t work and the romance came out of nowhere.
The Secret Crush Book Club by Karmen Lee – 3 stars
An author, librarian, and a book club should be a winning combination, but it was kind of yawn worthy.
Lingus by Mariana Zapata – 4 stars
Given the premise, it’s ironic how relatively tame this one was. But I enjoyed the lightly comic tone and avoidance of the usual romance tropes.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby – 5 stars
Such a dark story that unspools seductively and keeps you reading.
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey – 3 stars
Egad! This was creepy and not really my cup of tea. I only kept reading because Sarah Gailey’s writing style kept me hooked.
So Far Gone by Jess Walter – 4 stars
An interesting helter-skelter kind of story that jumps around all over the place. Intriguing.
Bowman’s Store: A Journey to Myself by Joseph Bruchac – 4 stars
A quiet and humble memoir about an author growing up. It’s a fascinating story of the unacknowledged Native heritage he had to discover for himself as an adult.
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava – 3 stars
The romance was decent enough, though the lying trope was a little maddening. Overall, the voice seemed odd to me. Not sure if it was the tone of the audiobook or something in the writing, but it felt like a much more main character centered voice that felt disjointed from the present. I had a hard time putting my finger on what was off about it.
Rose Eagle by Joseph Bruchac – 3 stars
A decent enough prequel to Killer of Enemies, though it lacked a clear connection to the characters. It ended very abruptly as well. Does make me want to re-read Killer of Enemies though.
Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown by Tessa Gratton – 3 stars
While it’s fun to see another adventure with Jecki and Yord, with a bit of Master Sol, it’s ultimately just an OK story. It’s hard to make tell good stories when the stakes are low.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones – 4 stars
I’m not a big fan of horror, but Stephen Graham Jones just makes these things so addictive and it’s hard to put down. Ultimately it’s an interesting merging of multiple threads and a good story.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey – 3 stars
I generally liked this book, despite some flaws. I liked Georgie overcoming the baby sister image and Travis moving on from failure. But while I could go along with most of it, the climax felt forced and contrived.
Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo – 3 stars
A memoir with a poetic way with words, though it most focuses on poverty and abuse.
The Last Order by Kwame Mbalia – 3 stars
Disney has been awfully stingy with any post-sequel trilogy content, so it’s exciting to see a book that explores that space. Though it’s mostly backstory on Finn and Jannah. And so-so. Jannah’s works well, but Finn’s is messier. And the actual post-sequel trilogy is rushed.
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey – 3 stars
It’s interesting reading a romance where the couple actually goes to therapy to work through their issues. Unfortunately, Dominic started out on the verge of toxic masculinity and barely grows away from it. Spoiler alert: The climactic fight that’s trigger by keeping things from one another is resolved by more keeping things from one another.
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar – 4 stars
A coming of age poetic novel, with hints of Judy Blume but for modern readers.
¡Hola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer – 4 stars
A gay Latino member told with the frame of an advice columnist, though it’s mostly just a window into his experience and not insufferable advice.
Hole in the Sky by Daniel Wilson – 3 stars
An interesting story of first contact, but it’s so weird it’s hard to connect to.
The Way by Joseph Bruchac – 4 stars
A quick story about a teen finding his place.
The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn – 2 stars
I’m a sucker for a book about writers, but this was not it. The constant lying and then being upset that you lied is just maddening.
Uphill by Jemele Hill – 3 stars
Kind of a so-so memoir. Drama with Trump criticism was interesting, but nothing earth shattering and it didn’t feel like much of a story.
Back in the Frame: How to get back on your bike, whatever life throws at you by Jools Walker – 2 stars
Was really looking forward to this story, but the writing just drowned in minutia and unnecessary detail.
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory – 3 stars
Perhaps the worst in the series, centered around a ridiculously unnecessary secret relationship. I never get why that’s necessary, and this approach doesn’t do anything interesting with the trope.
White Birch, Red Hawthorn by Nora Murphy – 4 stars
An interesting grappling with Native American history from a white author, exploring the intersection of family history and colonialism in Minnesota.
Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel by Lamar Giles – 4 stars
A pretty decent installment in the Star Wars universe, standing a little taller than most Star Wars books. It might help that the Bad Batch is already filling in gaps in the series and the stakes are fairly low (the biggest pain point in most Star Wars novels), but it does a good job offering a new adventure for the Bad Batch.
Wrapped Up In You by Talia Hibbert – 3 stars
A quick Christmas romance, though it’s a lot of talk and not a ton of plot.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory – 3 stars
Interesting to see a romance exploring an “”older”” couple (she’s 55ish), but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking and not hugely festive.
Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. – 3 stars
A satire about man building machines to replace men, which is chillingly appropriate in our artificial intelligence era.
Another Word for Love: A Memoir by Carvell Wallace – 4 stars
Very lyrical memoir. A bit all over the place, but the writing is phenomenal.
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone – 4 stars
A cute little story, and the porn/fake Hallmark crossover is pretty funny. Throw in a washed up boy band, and there’s lots of goofiness to enjoy.
Summer in the City by Alex Aster – 4 stars
Some interesting twists and turns, ultimately an enjoyable read. Though some of the details felt like they could have been an entire story and left me wanting more.
This Is Not a Holiday Romance by Camilla Isley – 3 stars
Obviously it is a holiday romance, but it falls a bit short on the rom-com vibes. It starts off funny, but it peters out when the enemies-to-lovers trope veers more juvenile than adult.
Disobedience by Naomi Alderman – 3 stars
Lesbian drama in an Orthodox Jewish community. It has some interesting moments, but it did drag a bit. Not as good as Naomi Alderman’s other stuff.
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone – 5 stars
Five stars is maybe a bit generous, but this happy holiday romance had a lot going on and did it well. The purity vs. porn vibe was unique and it built well off the series start in A Merry Little Meet Cute (unlike most romance series, this one works way better if read in order). Fun read.
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper – 4 stars
A pretty intense story of teen death and suicide, told in a spoken word style. Hard to believe it was published in 1994—feels much more recent.
Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways: A Memoir by Brittany Means – 4 stars
This is a tough memoir. It has some great writing, with moments of wonder and clarity. But it’s also full of abuse after abuse. At times it starts to feel voyeuristic, like can it get any worse?
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder – 4 stars
A deep dive following Partners in Health founder Dr. Paul Farmer and his incredible commitment to the poor, especially in Haiti.
When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s by John Ganz – 2 stars
A very deep dive into early 1990s American politics and culture that goes too deep, offering so much detail you lose the point and then never gets around to making the point.
Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines by Karine Jean-Pierre – 2 stars
I saw Karine Jean-Pierre’s appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Her claim that Democrats had stabbed Joe Biden in the back and dismissal of his abysmal debate performance seemed shocking (Colbert was incredulous), so I wanted to read her book and see what she meant. Unfortunately, it still feels incredulous. It was honestly hard reading about the summer of 2024, and I get how someone who closely worked with Biden could feel betrayed. But her claims felt like a stretch and missed the mood of early 2024. She never mentions the large ‘uncommitted’ vote that grew during the spring in response to the war in Gaza. Biden had impressive accomplishments, but voters weren’t feeling it. That’s hard to accept (it was baffling at the time), but it was the reality. Jean-Pierre instead blames it on party infighting noting a few vague examples, when that didn’t seem like the cohesive reality of Democrats rallying around Kamala Harris. Ultimately, Jean-Pierre’s conclusion was to become an independent, a fine personal choice, but her rationale is practically insulting, accusing Democrats of mindlessly following the party line. She talks of being in a political party like it’s an actual club we join and participate in, when I don’t think that’s the reality for most voters (certainly not me). There are going to be a lot of hot takes on the 2024 election and the aftermath. This is one of the first, and it shows. I was hoping for more, which is why I rate it so poorly and yet have so much to say.
Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper – 5 stars
Sharon Draper just brings it. This is a tough read. I hesitated to give it five stars because it was uncomfortable, but that’s how good it was, comfortable or not.
Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac – 4 stars
Fun, quick story that mixes Native themes with a modern thriller for middle grade readers.
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley – 5 stars
An opinionated music lover and a songwriter start a back and forth dance over collaborating on music. It’s kind of a romance with vibes of High Fidelity. I adore the parts where it describes Percy at work, either her attempts at writing (every draft felt so good) or the descriptions of crafting better music.
Boy21 by Matthew Quick – 4 stars
Matthew Quick is incredible at engrossing stories with truly unique characters. No exception here. Only complaint is some of the characters’ quirks and changes are a bit abrupt and hard to believe. But it’s still a good story.
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond – 4 stars
A sobering introduction to the revolving door of poverty and eviction. It starts with the landlord’s perspective, which feels like a calculated attempt to ease us into poverty.
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J.M. Nouwen – 3 stars
This is set up as spiritual instruction for secular people, though (spoiler alert) in the epilogue Nouwen says it failed and then reframes it. I have to agree. It had a line or two I liked, but it mostly missed.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston – 4 stars
A subway romance with some magical time slippage thrown in? It’s a weird premise, but Casey McQuiston seems to be a writer who can make anything sound good.
Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan – 4 stars
Quirky and poignant and plenty of heart. Holly Goldberg Sloan never disappoints.
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood – 3 stars
A breeze of a story that barely lays much groundwork and is over quickly. It’s fine, but not much to it.
Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land by Noé Álvarez – 2 stars
A weird plodding memoir that tells a disjointed story of what should be an interesting run but ends up sounding sketchy as hell.
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone – 4 stars
This one maybe slips a bit from the others in the series, but it’s still a fun and goofy Christmas romp.
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz – 4 stars
This is one of those happy, joyful, quick reads that you kind of want to go on forever.
Songs for Other People’s Weddings by David Levithan and Jens Lenkman – 3 stars
An interesting setup, but a weird vibe and kind of a downer.
Jesusland: Stories from the Upside Down World of Christian Pop Culture by Joelle Kidd – 3 stars
Part memoir, part cultural critique about growing up in 2000s era evangelical culture. Some parts are interesting and funny, but it’s not enough memoir to be fully engaging and the critique can be off-putting at times.

Campaigns Should Get Weird

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:59:13 +0000

I love this take. Charlotte Swasey, a self-proclaimed political data nerd, says Democrats need to get weird:

“Maybe what your district needs is an entirely row-boat-based campaign. There’s essentially no downside here. If you’re running in an R +20 district, that marginal 10 votes from a careful, ordinary campaign is just not going to matter. It should be hail-mary all the way.” –Charlotte Swasey

She’s arguing that campaigns for state legislature are a great place to experiment and try weird things. Especially in races that are incredibly lopsided—there’s nothing to lose, so try something different.

I love the idea of doing something different to connect with voters. That’s half the battle—breaking through all the noise so voters can even consider you.

It’s important that every race is contested, even the ones that don’t have a chance. Because anything can happen in an election. So contest the race, and try some things. You’ll likely lose, but you could change some minds and you might learn something for future races in other places.

Instead of always focusing on the tight races, I think politicians need to force the debate even when it’s going to be a landslide. Make those candidates have defend their positions. Don’t just hand it to them.

Too often politicians play it safe. It doesn’t have to be that way. I think there’s one important lesson from the Trump era—change is OK. If there’s one thing you can say about Trump, it’s that he’s thrown convention out the window. Sometimes that’s shocking and bad. But in some cases it’s just fine.

Be willing to experiment. Lean into your authentic self and do what works for you. If that doesn’t fit the typical political mold, so be it.

I’d especially love to see this in local races. Too often I see safe campaigns with vague safe platitudes. I see campaign websites written with buzzwords to activate certain constituencies or so vague they’re trying not to tip their hat. It would be refreshing to see a local candidate just say what they mean.

I don’t know if we’ll ever get there, but trying some weird approaches on a campaign is a good first step.

2025 in Music: Spotify Wrapped

Kevin D. Hendricks — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 19:51:25 +0000

This year I listened to 41,063 minutes of music, accounting for 5,413 songs and 2,625 artists. Less than last year all the way around.

Here’s 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 data to compare.

My Top 5 Songs of 2025

Lots of girl-powered punk/pop vibe in my top songs, with some harmonies and Lizzo:

“Table for Glasses” by Joseph (44 times)
“Love in Real Life” by Lizzo
“Don’t Tell the Girls” by BIZZY
“Don’t!” by L0L0
“Your Story” by Millie Manders and the Shutup

That top spot has half the plays of last year. Spots 2-5 are separated by two plays and #3 & #4 are tied. #4 and #5 are repeats from last year (as is #6). All of these songs feature prominently in playlists, and I’m honestly surprised about “Table for Glasses”—I couldn’t tell you what the chorus is without hearing the song first. Mostly this means I didn’t narrow in on a few songs, I just played a broad swathe of music and this is what floated to the top.

My Top 5 Artists of 2025

My top two artists were in last year’s list, and U2 regains the top spot. Sort of surprised to see Five Iron Frenzy fall off the list (though also not).

U2 – I played 1,160 minutes of U2, which is the top .3%.
Millie Manders and the Shutup
The Paradox
Winona Fighter
Semler

This year Spotify also gave you an age based on your listening habits. Mine was 18! Apparently because I listen to a lot of new music, which I guess is true. Though it cracks me up since I don’t feel like I’m into any of the music the kids are into these days (I mean, ska punk was in my top five genres).

Aside from the Paradox, I never felt like I narrowed in on a single band this year. Much of my top five songs are just from playing the same playlists over and over.

Kevin D. Hendricks

Easter Lily EP

John Lewis, Civil Rights, & Operation Metro Surge

Days of Ash by U2

The Discovery

New Music

Why Now?

Initial Take on Days of Ash

What It’s Like in Minnesota Right Now

2025 Reading Stats & Goals

Total Reads

My Diversity Stats

More Stats

Reading Goals

More Reading

Top 10 Nonfiction of 2025

Honorable Mentions

More Reading

Top 10 Fiction of 2025

Honorable Mentions:

Romance Top 10

More Reading

2025 Reading List

Reading Themes for 2025

The Books I Read in 2025:

Campaigns Should Get Weird

2025 in Music: Spotify Wrapped

My Top 5 Songs of 2025

My Top 5 Artists of 2025