The Storm We Made

by: Vanessa Chan

Why am I stoked for this?

This is set in Malaya in 1945, when a mother becomes an unlikely spy for the invading Japanese forces during WWII.

I know I have a thing for WII Historical Fiction – but this one is at least in Malaya! And with a spy! Come on – totally different than what I usually read about in this decade.

Here in Avalon

by: Tara Isabella Burton

Why am I stoked for this?

This is about two sisters that fall under the spell of a cult.

There are a few storylines that will always peak my interests. Cults are one of them. I like both reading and watching documentaries about them as well.

There’s some magical realism mixed with this one too, so I’m curious to see where it takes me.

Soundtrack of Silence: Love, Loss, and a Playlist for Life

by: Matt Hay

Why am I stoked for this?

This is a memoir of a young man who discovered he was going completely deaf just as he’d fallen in love for the first time. Growing up in the 1980’s, Hay loved pop music – so he planned to commit his favorite songs to memory.

I use music to cope with life in general. Especially after my dad was killed in a work traffic accident back when I was 12. Bands and music kept me going.

I’m also mildly fluent in ASL and Deaf Culture and they still listen to music – just in a different way than we do.

With all of that, I’m stoked to dive into this to see the music the writing selected as worthy enough to commit to memory to be his soundtrack.

Family Family

by: Laurie Frankel

Why am I stoked for this?

This is supposedly about adoption and how it’s not always sunshine and roses. But it’s also about a lot of other trauma and how everyone handles it differently.

This is probably going to be a lot in one book, but I’m easy for it.

A Quantum Love Story

by: Mike Chen

Why am I stoked for this?

Mike Chen wrote Here and Now and Then, which was a time traveling book released back in 2019 that I really enjoyed.

I also really enjoy a good time travel book. Why? Because what a trip to time travel! And the rules that would have to be a followed to not make a worm hole or something? I’m sure I’d probably get in trouble with how stubborn I am as a woman…

This one is actually a time loop, which is a bit of twist in and on its own. Romance mixed in too!

red

by: Annie Cardi

Why am I stoked for this?

This is being marketed as a retelling of The Scarlet Letter. After moving to a new town when her mother loses her job, 16-year-old Tess finds community in her grandparents’ church. After a personal decision goes public, Tess faces harassment and rejection. She must now find her voice again to get the courage to speak out against the silent cycle of abuse in Hawthorne.

I’m no longer a church going person. I spent my middle and half of high school going to church 3 times a week. It didn’t work for me as I got older, but I understand those who go and the community you can have. But I also know the community can also flipped on you if they deem something you did as wrong.

I want to see how this is written. Based on reviews already, they author did a good job at writing about some tougher topics. So let’s see what it’s about.