Author: Liberty Hardy

It’s 1993 in Mexico City, where a young sound editor and her former soap opera star best friend meet a director of cult horror films. Montserrat wondered what happened to director Abel Urueta, whose last film was never finished. When her bff Tristán moves into his building, they become friends with Urueta and he tells them what happened: he’s cursed. Supposedly, a Nazi occultist was going to imbue the film with magic that would help them. But he died before he could finish the spell, and now the director is cursed. He convinces Montserrat and Tristán to help him break the curse by finishing the last scene of the film, which should then bring them all good things. But pick a cliché: be careful what you wish for; if it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is; the truth is stranger than fiction, etc. Because weird things start happening to them, scary and powerful things, and they’ll have to get to the truth of dark magic if they want their lives to get back to normal. It’s a really fun examination of Mexican film history and the movie industry, as well as a story of friendship and loss, and of course, a dark mystery with some scares, too. (CW include sexism, bullying, antisemitism, racism, homophobia, cancer, drug abuse, infidelity, animal death, car accident, injury, gore, violent death, murder.)

Backlist bump: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

And the whole “don’t go in the scary woods” trope never gets old because there are so many fun books about scary things in the woods! This one involves a tradition in the town of Fall Hollow on Halloween. Many years ago, a young girl named Abigail supposedly went into the woods and never came out. Now, on Halloween each year, three sixth graders play a game. They must run into the woods and ring a bell before Abigail’s ghost catches them. The first to do it will keep their town safe from being haunted for another year. Bailee is determined to win the game this year so that her classmates will think she is brave and want to be her friend. But it’s one thing to say you’ll do it and another to actually do it, and Bailee and her classmates are going to find out that what they thought they knew about the woods is nothing like the truth. (CW for bullying, illness and loss of a loved one, and grief.)

Backlist bump: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

If you love books about royalty, mystery, and drama, this is a fun one you’ll want to pick up! James is the young heir to the British throne, just 17 years old. He’s already been subjected to tabloid scrutiny and rumors as the first Black heir. When his father dies, his life is put under a magnifying glass, which makes it hard to keep his secrets, like that he has a boyfriend. And when his boyfriend goes missing and he starts receiving threatening letters, James will have to find out what happened to him and who in the palace he can trust with his secrets before every last one is shared with the world. Long live the king…he hopes. This is fun and intense. (CW for homophobia and racism, outing, bullying, loss of a loved one, grief, stalking, injury, and violence.)

Backlist bump: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

This week, I am reading The Country of Toó by Rodrigo Rey Rosa, Stephen Henighan (translator) and The September House by Carissa Orlando. In non-book things, I am considering learning how to do scrape painting. I saw it on this Instagram account and it looks SO fun. It’s my birthday today and my husband is setting up all the supplies for me, so we’ll see how it goes! The song stuck in my head this week is “Bittersweet” by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. And here is your weekly cat picture: It looks like Zevon has burst into song, or is maybe laughing. But he’s just yawning, because he’s lazy.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Riley returns to Haiti once again with this look at the life of Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid. Her husband, King Henry I, was the ruler of Haiti before his death. Left behind with his debts and having lost the approval of the people, she fled to Italy and became an exiled queen. Louise and her daughters face new circumstances as they try and establish themselves as royalty in a quickly changing world. It’s a look at a brave woman fiercely holding on to her life in a male-dominated society. Riley is great at historical fiction and also has mystery and romance series. (CW for sexism, racism, child death, violence, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

By now, most readers know Tremblay’s name is synonymous with horror books. He’s the author of such bestsellers as A Head Full of Ghosts, The Pallbearers Club, and The Cabin at the End of the World (which became the movie Knock at the Cabin). This is his second published collection, 15 tales of suspense and unease that are sure to keep you awake on these hot nights, pondering your own mortality and wondering what that noise is outside your window. Sleep well. (CW for substance abuse, animal death, violence, gore, death of children and adults, loss of a loved one.)

Backlist bump: Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay

And because it’s summer and we all need some fun, I chose to share this art/history book! It’s a really delightful examination of video games over the last few decades, doing a deep dive into a different one each year. You’ll see favorites such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, and more! Each year has a popular game with an accompanying illustration and a bit of history about its creation, its impact on the world of gaming, and more. This book is an epic nerdpurr! (Though not mentioned, my favorite game as a kid was Pengo — does anyone remember that one?)

Backlist bump: Arcade Game Typography: The Art of Pixel Type by Toshi Omigari

This week, I am reading When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey, which is out today, and When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb, because a million people (give or take) have told me it’s wonderful. In non-book things, I have been watching the NBA summer league and revisiting movie classics from my childhood. The song stuck in my head this week is “Angels and Darlas” by Say Hi. (Yes, like in Buffy.) And here is your weekly cat picture: Zevon doesn’t even realize he has a rainbow on him. It looks like it passed right through him and out the other side, lol.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

This is a fun and funny alien abduction novel from the amazing award-winning Willis. Francie has agreed to attend her college roommate’s wedding in Roswell, New Mexico. It is UFO-themed, because the groom is obsessed with extraterrestrials. Francie thinks this is dumb, partly because it’s the busiest time of year for the town, and partly because she most definitely does not believe in UFOs. So of course, she is abducted shortly after arriving by an alien that appears to look (in my mind) like a fried onion tumbleweed. (Mmmm, delicious bloomin’ alien.) Upon her capture, Francie will meet her fellow abductees, and also begin to realize the alien is in trouble and needs help, not captives. This is classic Willis wackiness! (CW include mentions of violence, abduction, substance use, and death.)

Backlist bump: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

This is one that I will admit up front to not having finished yet, but I am enjoying what I have read. It’s a powerful debut of war and family, set in Ethiopia. It’s about a young girl who grows up in southwestern Ethiopia in the 1980s while a civil war rages. Selam Asmelash’s family once prospered in their town but are now struggling under the new regime. As Selam grows, she gathers a list of enemies she swears to pay back some day. It’s a fascinating story so far, of a time in history I have read little about, and I look forward to finishing it.

Backlist bump: The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

And last but not least: I am a sucker for a true crime book involving art and for a book with a bat on the cover. Plus, I loved Finkel’s last book, The Stranger in the Woods, so I had to read this one. It’s the tale of Stéphane Breitwieser, considered the world’s most successful art thief. He perpetrated over two hundred heists before he was finally caught. Finkel dissects the life and psyche of a man who risked his freedom not for money or glory, but to amass his own secret personal collection. And how he craved the adrenaline rush of the job, which kept him going back, even when it became too dangerous. It’s absolutely fascinating!

Backlist bump: Con/Artist: The Life and Crimes of the World’s Greatest Art Forger by Tony Tetro and Giampiero Ambrosi

This week, I am reading The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das and Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel, which is out today. In non-book things, I started rewatching A.P. Bio for the millionth time because I love it an inordinate amount. Because of that show, the song stuck in my head this week is “Government Center” by The Modern Lovers. And here is your weekly cat picture: Farrokh is watching me watching the puffins.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

This is one of my favorite novels of the year! It’s set in the post-Civil War West, and follows an orphan who winds up in Dodge City. Bridget didn’t know what the future would hold but she certainly didn’t expect to lose her home and her father in quick succession. In need of money to survive, she takes a job at The Buffalo Queen, a high-end brothel in town. And she finds the life suits her; she has clothes, friends, money, and — as the sheriff’s favorite — protection. But when Bridget falls for one of the other women, it sets off a chain reaction that brings chaos and destruction to the Buffalo Queen’s doorstep. This is an excellent Western about women trying to find agency in a city run by men, and about young love and discovering who you want to be. It’s so fantastic! It made my Deadwood-loving heart very happy. (CW include animal harm and death, pregnancy death, substance abuse and addiction, misogyny, homophobia, violence, murder, gore, and death.)

Backlist bump: Heresy by Melissa Lenhardt

This is a beautifully illustrated, moving YA memoir about Pham’s family’s journey from Vietnam to America. In recounting how his family fled their home country to a refuge camp to Thailand, and then eventually made their way to America, he documents the food he remembers from major events in his life. It is an excellent book about belonging. And like Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang, which came out earlier this year, it is an important, heart-squeezing examination of the sacrifices parents make to ensure their children have a better life. (CW include racism and xenophobia.)

Backlist bump: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

And last but not least, this is another look at U.S. immigration, this one from a Mexican American translator who has worked with asylum seekers from many years. Oliva talks about the infuriating and inhumane treatment of people trying to navigate U.S. immigration policies in the face of racism and misinformation. She examines who qualifies for citizenship and why, and shares the story of her own family’s life at the border. It’s a powerful, compassionate, and sometimes enraging look at people who want a better life, sometimes a safer life, for themselves and their children. This is a 2023 nonfiction must-read. (CW include violence, loss of a loved one, racism, and xenophobia.)

Backlist bump: Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States by Hector Tobar

This week, I am reading This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer, Linghun by Ai Jiang, and The Infinite Miles by Hannah Fergesen. In non-book things, I have been watching lots of quiz shows. I have a bunch cluttering my DVR, so we’ve been going through them. The song stuck in my head this week is “Down By the Water” by PJ Harvey. And here is your weekly cat picture: I like to leave the live puffin cam on when I’m working. The cats are often transfixed by it, even when the puffins aren’t doing anything. Like in this photo, they’re asleep, and Farrokh can’t stop staring. Related: The puffling hatched just over a week ago and it is SO cute and, no surprise, a big fan of fish.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

The removal of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos and his shoe-loving wife Imelda from power was a huge news story when I was in fourth grade. So I was really curious about this novel, about a Filipino father telling a newsworthy story to his estranged journalist son in America. Lito is the former driver for Corazon Aquino, who succeeded Ferdinand Marcos. Years after the end of his job, he writes down a never-before told story involving Corazon and Imelda in the hopes that this one gift might bring his son some fame. And the gift of the story might also bring Lito a little forgiveness. I did find the ending to be a bit rushed, but overall, I thought this was a touching, poignant novel about a man at the end of his life looking for closure. (CW for violence, murder, war, child abuse, substance use and abuse, sexism, racism, illness, loss of a loved one, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: Insurrecto by Gina Apostol

On today’s episode of “I’ll Read Anything Kelly Link Blurbs”: This is a gothic 18th century novel about two best friends at a music school in Venice. Life for young women in the 1700s doesn’t offer much other than marriage and motherhood. When Luisa and Maddalena are drawn to one another at the Ospedale della Pietà, they have more on their minds than music. Maddalena has a plan to get them out of their scripted futures. But it involves a strange plot that draws the girls down deeper into a dark they may never return from. This is a simmering, heady, fairy tale about friendship, futures, and changing your fate. (CW for sexism, misogyny, violence, illness, body horror.)

Backlist bump: The Upstairs House by Julia Fine

First I must admit that I am only halfway through this one, and it’s like a train wreck I can’t look away from, except it’s funny. Key is a Thurber-award winning humorist, known for his books and TED talks. This is his memoir about finding out his wife of many years was having an affair, for many years, with a friend. But instead of divorce, they went to counseling, got really horrifyingly honest with one another, and started over. This isn’t a book about blame or revenge. It’s about the institution of marriage, something millions of people sign up for every year. Key is brutally honest about his relationship, and his feelings over the whole situation, and he also can’t help but be funny. As he says, “Men never talk about being betrayed. I want to. I feel I must. I have many deep convictions, and one of them is that suffering can and should be monetized.” Perhaps this wouldn’t be entertaining if readers didn’t know up front that they work things out, but it is earnest and funny, and I’m rooting for them.

Backlist bump: Congratulations, Who Are You Again? by Harrison Scott Key 

This week, I am reading The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook and Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir by Curtis Chin. In non-book things, I started watching Mrs. Davis but I think I figured out the big reveal, so I may have spoiled it for myself, lol. The song stuck in my head is “The Recluse” by Cursive. And here is your weekly cat picture: I managed to capture a rare moment of twinning by Farrokh and Zevon.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

This week: I’m currently reading Forgiving Imelda Marcos by Nathan Go, The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo, and AHH! That’s What I Call Horror: An Anthology of ’90s Horror edited by Chelsea Pumpkins. Outside of books, I started watching Three Pines, which is based on the Chief Inspector Gamache books by Louise Penny. I was sad to learn that it will only be these eight episodes, since it was canceled after the first season. Not that I think it is particularly wonderful, but I do love Alfred Molina so much. The song stuck in my head right now is “Painted Yellow Lines” by Dispatch. And here’s a cat photo: Do you think Millay is looking for attention, stretched out on my desk like this? She is just showing off her wide variety of toe beans.

You knew I was going to include this one, I am sure. I love Luis Alberto Urrea so much! He’s one of our greatest storytellers. This beautiful World War II novel was inspired by his own mother’s work with the Red Cross. It’s about a young woman named Irene who joins the Red Cross and is sent to Europe during the war. There she makes the best friend she’s ever had in Dorothy. But do relationships formed in times of danger and chaos last? And will they make it out of the war alive to find out? This is a gorgeous love letter to women who served and to friendship and love, and a lovely tribute to his mother. (CW for war violence and death, domestic abuse and sexism.)

Backlist bump: The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea 

This is a fun romance collection that gives six authors an idea and lets them run with it! When an alarm indicating the possible end of the world is accidentally set off, six couples must take shelter, and secrets and desires are revealed as these pairs contemplate what they think are their last hours on the planet. What would you do and say at the end? And what will happen when they find out it was a false alarm? DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNN. Lane Clarke, Farah Heron, Taj McCoy, Charish Reid, Sarah Smith and Denise Williams have each delivered a fun, thoughtful take that answers those questions.

Backlist bump: The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams

Five college friends who haven’t reunited for five years decide to gather again in Big Sur. Over the decades since they graduated, they’ve returned to this spot to party and talk about the good old days. But this time doesn’t feel like the other ones. They’re firmly in middle age, their lives are not what they thought they would be, and some of them are in serious trouble. Can they honor their pact to remind each other about why life is glorious (which they do by holding “living” funerals) when one of them is sitting on a secret that might destroy what remains of their friendship forever? Like The Guncle, this is charming and funny, but also broaches serious subjects. Related: I think it’s adorable that Rowley’s husband Byron Lane’s book Big Gay Wedding is also out today. It’s a double new book day in their house! (I haven’t read it yet, but it sounds fun.) (CW for illness and loss of a loved one, substance use, and suicide.)

Backlist bump: The Guncle by Steven Rowley

This week, I am reading How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair, Kala by Colin Walsh, and slowly making my way through The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh, thanks to this post by Min Jin Lee. In non-book things, I started rewatching New Girl, because I apparently retained none of it the first time around. (Except that Prince was on an episode.) The song stuck in my head is “Biggest” by Idris Elba, once again courtesy of a commercial. (I’m so easily influenced, lol.) And here is your weekly cat picture: Here’s a rare visit from Her Royal Highness, Queen Millay. She’s over 12 now, but still races around like a spry little kitten. Probably because she gets like 22 hours of sleep a day. She might be part koala.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

I have been doing this newsletter for eight years, and this might be the first time I’ve recommended a craft book. But I had to do it, because it’s cool AF! In this brightly colored book, Dinh teaches you not only how to draw fun and fabulous letters and doodles. but how to find your authentic artist inside. And how to stop caring about what you make as long as you’re having a good time! I haven’t tried drawing anything yet, but just looking at these charming pages made me feel more relaxed. And if you love it, The Rule-Breaking Letterer’s Workbook is coming in July.

Backlist bump: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon

This is an important piece of underreported history, related to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a prosperous area for Black citizens in the early 20th century. Much of it was destroyed in the racist violence of 1921, but it was rebuilt, and grew to be a thriving community known as Black Wall Street for many decades. The community shrank and changed over the years, but its citizens never gave up on it, and fought back against urban renewal policies and gentrification. Today many of the prominent families still live there, including the granddaughter of a Greenwood businessman who is now in the Oklahoma state legislature.

Backlist bump: Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert

And on this week’s show, I mentioned that I probably could have filled all four of my spots with middle grade graphic novels. MG graphic novels and mystery books have been my 2023 catnip. This is a delightfully weird comic about a young boy named Iggie who goes to live in Peculiar Woods. It’s the site of a historical flooding, a great tragedy, and Iggie is told not to go in the woods. But from his very first night in Peculiar Woods, weird things begin happening, like rocks and chairs talk to him and his blanket has a life of its own. As Iggie sets out to discover the secrets of the town, he has grand adventures and makes new friends along the way. I loved how funny and absurd this book was! My only complaint is that not everything resolves at the end and I want the next part RIGHT NOW, lol.

Backlist bump: Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment (Another flooded town middle grade graphic novel!) (Related: I read the flooded town vampire horror novel Dawn of the Vampire by William Hill when I was a kid, even though the cover terrified me.)

This week, I am reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui. In non-book things, as I mentioned, I am going to channel my high school self and watch Monty Python’s Holy Grail repeatedly on my break, because nostalgia is a powerful force. The song stuck in my head is “Lift Off” by Labrinth, courtesy of a car commercial. And here is your weekly cat picture: Look at King Handsome, aka Zevon.

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty