Happy June, friends! Here are the eight books I read in the month of June: GIOVANNI’S ROOM by James Baldwin It was about time I finally read a James Baldwin book (at the ripe age of 32)! I started with Giovanni’s Room since it seemed to be the most recommended book out of all of his writings (at least according to my TikTok algorithm). David is an American living in the 1950s Paris, and while his girlfriend Hella (also American) is in Spain contemplating their future together, David meets Giovanni through an acquaintance. David goes home with Giovanni, or rather to “Giovanni’s Room” which becomes a symbol for how David…

Hi, friends! The first full month of Q2 went by fast, and per usual, it feels like I’m barely keeping up with how quickly time flies after January. I will say that I recently implemented “hibernation” weekends where I don’t make any plans and allow myself to do as much or as little as I want, and I hope that will be the trick for me to stay sane as a social introvert. Also thinking “hibernation” weekends will make for good reading time… anyways, here’s everything I read in April! THE BOYFRIEND BY Freida McFadden I’ve been on a Freida McFadden train recently which I think I’m going to come…

Hi, friends! Can’t believe Q1 of 2025 has come and gone already… I am happy for the longer days and spring weather we’ve been having despite the pollen (I have been medicated regularly for days)! SAY NOTHING by Patrick Radden Keefe A bit embarrassing but I told a lot of people about this already—I was one of those people who didn’t know Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were two separate countries (until last year, gasp). I had read a number of books set in both Ireland and Northern Ireland but always thought Northern Ireland was Northern part of Ireland, sort of like New England region of the US. That…

Hi, friends! February was a short month but I read quite a bit, though a couple of my reads are technically not real books… here’s everything I read last month: THE MAKING OF ASIAN AMERICA by Erika Lee Asian Americans are often left out of American history, and it’s important for me that I make efforts to seek out stories about Asian people in America. The Making of Asian America may be the most recent, comprehensive work about Asian American History as it covers events that predate the founding of the United States all the way through mid-2010s. Unsurprisingly, I learned so much while reading The Making of Asian America–the…

Hi, friends! Now that January is FINALLY over (it’s always the longest month of the year…), I’m sharing my thoughts on the six books I read in January: ALL ABOUT LOVE by bell hooks This was a partial re-read since I attempted to read All About Love a while back but I tend to be slower with this genre/format (a collection of “self-help” essays) and I had to return the library book before I could finish it. Reading a chapter or two each day but not every day, it took me a couple of weeks to finish All About Love and I see myself returning to it (at least certain…