Tag Archives: Weekend Reads

Weekend Reads: Cottage Core Vibes

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Welcome to April! I can’t believe it is already April. Time waits for no man, eh? It’s a new month and the end of the week, so I’m back with another weekend reads that has suggestions for this month’s TBR Project Book Club on Fable. The TBR project is our book club with a twist: everyone reads their own selection! The catch is that it has to be something off your TBR. Every month, we pick a theme, you pick a book, and we cheer each other on and discuss our picks (no spoilers) on Fable.

After last month’s theme of Stories that were meant to stay fiction a.k.a. it was a story, not a suggestion, we thought this month we’d shoot for something lighter. I was thinking something Springy, maybe something pastoral and Beth suggested Cottage Core. The idea here is to pick something that is home-centered, chill, maybe a little bucolic, maybe a little slice-of-life. This is a good theme for that classic you’ve always wanted to get to but never had or that one romance novel you’ve been saving for just the right time. If you needed a sign, this is it! So, without further ado, here are four picks for you to consider.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

An all-time fave here at Stacks, Beth and I have both read this multiple times. It follows the adventures of Heathcliffe as he meets a girl, loves a girl, loses a girl, and then proceeds to mess up both his life and hers! It is terrible people doing horrible things to each other and I know that doesn’t sound like a recommendation, but it is. If you like messy people, reality TV, and gossip columns and you haven’t read this yet, this is a classic for you.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

This one has already made an appearance in weekend reads, but I’d be remiss in not mentioning it because it is my pick for this month! Beth read it an age ago and lent me her copy, and it is time I read it, too. I’m promised adventures, romance, hijinks, flying houses, and piracy. It is not necessarily the pastoral notion I first envisioned, but from the cover it seems like it’ll fit the bill. (And, yes, I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but… I’m also judging it by Beth’s recommendation. So, I think I’m all good.)

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

If you’re feeling the pastoral, country vibes of the theme, but you’re not excited for something soft and romantic, then I’d like to recommend some gothic horror to you. Set in the time after Mexico’s war for Independence, Beatriz moves to the countryside to her new husband’s pulque-producing estate. She has big plans about being the lady of the house and making her mark, but house itself has some other ideas. Interesting characters, good atmosphere, chilling and creepy moments. This is a fun one.

Get a life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Last but absolutely not least, if you’re feeling the slice-of-life, soft home vibes, but you aren’t feeling the country aspects of the theme, try Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. Part of the Brown sisters series, this installment follows eldest sister Chloe Brown as she decides to get a life. Chloe is thoughtful, hardworking, and serious and so she makes herself a to-do list of life-getting goals. This book was so cute. Chloe is wonderful and relatable. Red is also great. Chloe’s family are a hoot. I absolutely love this series and I think you will, too.

So, there you go. Some recs to start your weekend off right. Let us know what your favorite books with cottage core vibes are in the comments!

Weekend Reads: Body Parts

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This theme just popped in my head and I couldn’t tell you why. I thought it and it made me giggle and now here we are. So, without further ado here are some recommendations for your weekend that all share a common theme, they involve bodies.

The Vagina Bible by Dr. Jen Gunter

Image of the cover of the vagina bible by Dr. Jen Gunter. Shows an open pink zipper with the title written over the top

Dr. Jen Gunter is (was? now that twitter is no longer twitter?) twitter’s doctor, especially when it comes to downstairs parts. This is a good resource to keep around. It dispels myths and gives you clear and forthright information about the vagina, vulva, uterus, and other bits.

Head On by John Scalzi

Black and White Cover showing a human figure missing its head and circle. The text reads "John Scalzi" and "Head On"

This is a standalone novel by John Scalzi related to another of his novels, Lock in. Set in a world where people with Haden’s disease become locked into their bodies and have to interact with the outside world through android, Chris Shane is an FBI agent and a Haden who is called in to investigate a Haden-related crime. This book was so good. There was mystery, politics, betrayal, characters you loved and characters you loathed. This is definitely something you can finish in a weekend. And you’ll want to. It was hard to put down.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

You know how I said that I had no idea where this theme came from? I think I have solved my own mystery. I assigned Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to students taking a general humanities course about the modern world, which means I’ve recently re-read it. This is a classic for a reason. Science, madness, reason, love, hate, what does it mean to be human? What do we owe each other? There is so much in this classic.

Okay, so there you have it. Selections of pieces and parts. Have you read any of these? What did you think? What are you planning on reading this weekend? Sound off in the comments!

Weekend Reads: How about a Little Romance?

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An Absolute gimme of a theme for today, Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t miss an opportunity to highlight some of our favorite romance novels for this addition of Weekend Reads. While it has gained popularity in recent years, especially with the advent of Booktok, I still feel Romance is a culturally slighted genre. It often centers women’s stories and/or more mundane topics of daily life and these are important and worthy things to include in our fiction. Also, there is the possibility of a little smut that isn’t super gratuitous because it contributes to the narrative, something you might not get in another genre like fantasy or mystery. St. Valentine risked his life for love and in honor of him here are some, admittedly much lower stakes, romantic tales to delight you this weekend.

Spolier Alert by Olivia Dade

This is one that both Beth and I enjoyed! Marcus Caster-Rupp is an actor in a popular TV series by day and an avid reader and writer of fan fiction by night. He uses it to explore his character and work through his frustrations with the adaptation of the source material for the small screen. April Whittier is a geologist by day and a Cosplayer and fan fiction writer by night. When April posts a picture of herself, a plus-sized woman, in her cosplay on social media, she gets all kinds of hate from dumbasses who think the ultimate flex wiill be if they tag Marcus and he comes into the comments and also dunks on April. But then he asks her out. And he means it. Marcus then also discovers that April is his beta-reader and his very best friend in the fic writing world. Sparks fly but can they survive the publicity and secrets? If you haven’t read this but you like cosplaying and fan fiction, this one is for you. Even if you aren’t into those things, Marcus and April are such a cute pair that this one is also for you.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by india Holton

Part of the Dangerous Damsels series, you have witches, pirates, flying houses, romance, hijinks…what’s not to love? When Beth finished this, she lent me her copy and I’m embarrassed to say that it has been on my bedside table for probably a year and a half now. Perhaps it will get bumped up that TBR queue this weekend!

iThe Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Rhiannon is the CEO of a successful dating app and Samson is a former football player. They met once, through the app, and had a marvelous time for what it was, but nothing ever came of it. But now they are meeting again because Rhiannon wants to buy another dating site to grow her business and Samson is the new spokesperson and company representative that attends industry events. Can they both move forward in their lives? Are they both really feeling the vibes? And what happens when a former business-partner turned competitor throws his hat into the dating site purchase ring?

These characters were both so likable, with their flaws and their strengths. I needed to know what happened next in their story. I enjoyed the arc of this novel and if you want some cheeky fun with some really touching serious moments in a contemporary setting, this one is for you!

We here at Stacks hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day! What are you planning on reading this weekend? Are you starting something new or are you finishing something up? Let us know in the comments!

Weekend Reads: True Story

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If you are looking for a good book to curl up with this weekend, but you aren’t sure what to pick, Beth and I are here to help! This week we are bringing you suggestions of memoirs. Inspirational, moving, funny, heartbreaking, these are stories exploring the lived experiences of others.

Believe Me by Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard is a personal favorite comedian, and I know Beth also really enjoys her work. This 2017 memoir is a touching and honest exploration of Izzard’s life in which she discusses openly topics like loss, coming out, and how hard it can be to figure out your identity when you really don’t have the words for it.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Wild by Cheryl Strayed was an Oprah book club pick that became a 2014 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, so maybe you’ve already picked it up. But it you haven’t, this is a really moving story that deals with loss, the struggle to bear enormous grief, and how to come back to yourself in the end. I really enjoyed this when I read it, so much so that I assigned it to Beth as a Pop Culture Homework assignment. We both enjoyed this book, and if you’re looking for something moving, or even something to remind you that eventually all the snow will melt and the cold weather will pass, and you’ll be able to get outside again, we recommend this.

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

The second memoir by a comedian on this list! Outrageous! Hannah Gadsby is an Australian comedian who became an huge international success following the Netflix debut of her comedy show Nanette. Part of what got people buzzing about the show was its discussion of queer trauma and the use of humor to cope with bad things that have happened to us. Incredibly funny, but also incredibly heartbreaking, it made a lot of people feel very seen. This memoir, which discusses Gadsby’s life from her childhood up through her writing and performing the show Nanette is also incredibly funny and incredibly heartbreaking at times. So, if in these trying times, you think you might want to have a good cry but you also want to feel moved, uplifted, and maybe even a little bit seen, This might be the book for you.

Alright, assorted cryptids and fellow weirdos, go forth and enjoy your weekend! Sound off in the comments about what books you’re excited to pick up this weekend!

Weekend Reads: An Enemy is not so bad

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Hello! And welcome back to our new seires in which we suggest things you may want to pick up this weekend, if you’re looking for your next read! This week’s theme is Enermies!

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

The first in a series, Carry On the Fan Fiction that the Cath is writing in Fangirl. The tale is sort of Enemies to Lovers fan fiction for a novel series that is a little Harry Potter-esque. These books are fun!

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Sydney is a covert operative and Winter is the biggest pop star in the world. After being invited to play at a birthday party for the daughter of a man the CIA has their eyes on. Sydney must play the role of Winter’s bodyguard in order to infiltrate and get the evidence she needs to take the bad guy down. Of course, Sydney and Winter don’t like each other. But can they work together to survive?

The Queer Principles of Kitt Webb by Cat Sebastian

Kit is a retried highwayman just trying to live his life. Percy is the son of a Duke who is up to some shit. Can Percy convince Kit to help him pull off a marvelous heist? Or will Percy just get both of them into a world of trouble and hurt? I loved this book and it’s follow up so much! There’s enemies-to-lovers vibes, there’s some spice, there are excellent supporting characters. It’s all so good.

Weekend Reads: Red, White, and Blue

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This is a day late because a cold has sidelined me, but it is a long weekend here in the US because Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is a federal holiday.

Monday is also Inauguration for the U.S. President. So, with that in mind, here are some “American themed” (very broadly speaking) suggestions for your next read.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is the story of Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman living in the US. The narrative moves between the past and the present and is interspersed with blog posts Ifemelu has written about life as a Non-American African in the U.S. This had me hooked immediately. The characters were real and vivid and it gave me so much to think about.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Beth and I both loved this book, a first in the series. It is an alternate history set immediately after the Civil War…but with zombies. It is written from the perspective of a Black woman who has to navigate both the terror of a zombie-filled world and the racism of the time period. Bonus, the audio book is read by one of my favorite narrators, Bahni Turpin.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Since he’s about to be our new vice president, you can take a whack at J.D. Vance’s memoir. The audiobook is read by the author and it is a well-written tale about his life growing up in Appalachia. Drug addiction, incarceration, lack of resources, broken families, grit, and perseverance all make an appearance. Honestly, I was lukewarm about the memoir when I read it first in 2018 and I’m still pretty meh about it now. But maybe you’ll like it better!

Ms. Marvel No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

Kamala Khan is such a wonderful character. I enjoy her so much. She is your typical American teenager, wanting to fit in but also stand out, wanting to make her parents happy but also follow her dreams. When she finds she has super powers, she does the only thing she can think to do, and that is help people. If you don’t know Kamala Khan, I highly recommend you give her comics a try.

Weekend Reads: Gross Vampires

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Beth and I recently saw Nosferatu, and it got me thinking about vampire media. I’ve noticed three distinct types of vampire offerings: campy vamps, sexy, vamps, and seriously disgusting vamps. Nosferatu, I think, straddles the line a bit between disgusting and sexy? He’s got that vampy charisma, but he also has somehow both dry and gushy corpse vibes. With that in mind, here are some recommendations of gross vampires you can check out if you’re looking for a new book to dive into this weeked.

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The Strain follows the story of Ephraim Goodweather, Abraham Setrakian, and others as they battle a plague of vampires that begins with an airplane landing mysteriously at JFK with no damage but also almost no survivors. The vampires cannot be mistaken for your sexy True Blood or Twilight Vamps. It is the first in a trilogy that is intense, heart-pounding, and an interesting take on vampire mythology. It is also a TV series, if you’re not looking for a book, but would like some vampire content.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Sunshine is a favorite here at Stacks Exceed Life Expectancy. I think both of us have read it multiple times. Set in a world of magic, it follows the story of Rae “Sunshine” Seddon and her unlikely compatriot, the vampire Constantine as they join forces to fight other vampires. These vampires aren’t gross in the way that Del Toro and Hogan’s vampires are, but they are decidedly more dangerous and less fun than other modern takes on vampires. This one is so good, y’all.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

They come at night.They are shrouded in mist. They leave you with a fever that portends death. This one is set in Texas before Texas was a U.S. state. It has cowboys. it has Anglos coming in and making trouble. It is historical fiction as well as a vampire novel and it was so good. Oh, and it has a love story. So, even if you still want that bit of romance with your gross vamps, you get it. I really enjoyed this one and the audiobook has a solid narration.

Do you have a favorite unsexy vampire novel? Sound off in the comments!