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Every Book I've Read This Year (And Which Ones I Absolutely LOVE) - A DiversifyYourShelf Reading List
17
items I read and review over 100 books per year on social media (find me @diversifyyourshelf). I focus on reading diversely, highlighting mostly books written by authors of color, queer authors, and disabled/chronically ill authors.
Sections
3
The Standouts
Other January Reads
Other February Reads
The Standouts
A tragicomedy about a Chinese-American woman after her white husband has admitted to having an affair. It's a lovely story of friendship and turning dark moments into heartfelt funny ones.
Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar: A Novel
Translated from Swedish, this is a hilarious ensemble novel about an incomplete bank robbery, an accidental hostage situation, and the power of human connection.
It's so funny and heartwarming and hopeful. Loved.
It's so funny and heartwarming and hopeful. Loved.
Anxious People: A Novel
An introspective novel about a Black woman choreographer who accepts a residency at a historically white arts institution. The descriptions of dance in this book were amazing. I didn't realize it was possible to write about movement in a way where I ...
Little Movements: A Novel
An insightful novel about the golden boy of a community, his Black church, and the mother and girlfriend who love him.
This is a fantastic book with complex women characters that explores a wide breadth of themes.
This is a fantastic book with complex women characters that explores a wide breadth of themes.
Dominion: A Novel
An intricate and immaculately written story about seemingly connected people over the course of hundreds of years.
It's lovely and smart. Mandel's books are always excellent, and I highly recommend this one!
It's lovely and smart. Mandel's books are always excellent, and I highly recommend this one!
Sea of Tranquility: A novel
An affecting memoir about a Pakistani's writer's abusive relationship and the sweet little dog who helped get her through it.
This is a very well-written and hopeful story! I especially loved her reflections on friendship and yearning for motherhood.
This is a very well-written and hopeful story! I especially loved her reflections on friendship and yearning for motherhood.
The Hour of the Wolf: A Memoir
Other January Reads
I finished 10 books in January!
A fun and juicy novel set in the early 80s about the children of a famous singer and the infamous end-of-summer party they throw every year. Great character development and a plotty story. This is a fabulous beach read.
Malibu Rising: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
Vignettes of a Japanese woman and her son after her white American husband unexpectedly dies. This started out very strong but didn't quite come together cohesively for me! It's an exploration of grief and motherhood and extended family.
See Loss. See Also Love: A Novel
A novel about a Vietnamese-American girl whose brother dies unexpectedly. A bizarre and violent study of grief and teenage female rage. I wasn't sold for most of this, but the ending made the rest of the book work beautifully!
What Hunger: A Novel
This novel follows mixed-race Indian-American teen girls who endeavor to kill their live-in uncle. This was a highly anticipated read that left me disappointed! Tried to do too much and felt uneven in tone.
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder: A Novel
Set in Nashville in the aughts, this vibey novel follows a young woman in her 20s who works at a music venue and dreams of becoming a musician. This novel doesn't have much plot or character growth, but it has exceptional scene-setting and a very spe...
Lo Fi: A Novel
This novel is about a group of Chinese-American friends who grew up in the same small community and the aftermath of an unexpectedly viral video about their lives.
It's a solid debut! I found the storytelling style a little confusing, but the immigrant kid experiences were very relatable.
It's a solid debut! I found the storytelling style a little confusing, but the immigrant kid experiences were very relatable.
Bad Asians: A Novel
Other February Reads
A gritty urban fantasy novel about an estranged afrolatinx family, the magic they carry, and the secrets coming back to haunt them.
My favorite kind of magic in novels is based in culture/folklore, so I loved this. It's an imperfect book but absolutely worth reading if the premise appeals to you! VERY good on audio.
My favorite kind of magic in novels is based in culture/folklore, so I loved this. It's an imperfect book but absolutely worth reading if the premise appeals to you! VERY good on audio.
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery
A funny and intimate novel about three best friends in Ireland after their fourth friend has passed away.
It's a sweet and somewhat chaotic look at grief and friendship and partying and young womanhood.
It's a sweet and somewhat chaotic look at grief and friendship and partying and young womanhood.
Thirst Trap: A Novel
This novel follows an Indian-American family after the death of their queer teenage daughter. It's a story of grief and recovery and learning to move forward. I liked it a lot. There were some storylines that I thought could have been better explored...
Keya Das's Second Act
This book combines memoir and ADHD research to discuss the complexities of living with ADHD as a woman.
I learned a lot from this book, but I'm not the intended audience. I can see a lot of people relating to and really benefitting from feeling seen by this book.
I learned a lot from this book, but I'm not the intended audience. I can see a lot of people relating to and really benefitting from feeling seen by this book.
Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD's Lost Generation
Follows an Indian-American teen who desperately wants to change her face to look less like her father. Explores the beauty industry, generational trauma, family, friendship, and chronic illness.
Maybe tried to tackle too many topics at once but I really enjoyed this! It's timely.
Maybe tried to tackle too many topics at once but I really enjoyed this! It's timely.
Ravishing