DIY Extremes, Puck Dreams & Media Themes

A woman creates the man of her dreams and sets off a problematic chain of cascading consequences.

[a hardcover book arranged face up: "BLOB, A Love Story by Maggie Su" with a "NEW" sticker in the upper right corner]

BLOB, A Love Story by Maggie Su

contemporary speculative fiction

Harper, January 2025

Comparisons to a more lighthearted Frankenstein are appropriate for this poignant tale about excavating the fundamentals of identity. Vi Liu is experiencing a very rough entry into adulthood. She's lonely. When a chance to create her perfect mate presents itself, she goes for it. Unexpected revelations and mayhem ensue. Similar to The Blob movie of the 1950s starring Steve McQueen, once it starts absorbing things it's hard to stop. BLOB is ultimately a provocative self-love* story that explores the ways in which people reconcile the various elements of themselves - or don't.

*For romance fans: This is a love story, not a romance.

[6 books arranged from left to right atop a piano: binding side - Back After This; horizontal stack from top to bottom - Collide, Unsteady, Down in Flames, The Last Guy on Earth, Pucked]

Maureen Smith, Maria Luis, Xio Axelrod**, Naima Simone, Marika Ray & Sylvie Stewart have written some on my most favorite hockey romances in addition to the authors of the books in the stack shown above. What is it about hockey romances that makes them extra compelling? Authors Bal Khabra, Peyton Corinne, Kate Meader, Sarina Bowen, and Helena Hunting know the answer.

And last but not least, Back After This by Linda Holmes offers a humorous and heartfelt behind-the-scenes look at the cutthroat world of podcasting, reality entertainment, and influencers. Readers familiar with the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) area will recognize many of the location references.

And BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) again

[6 books arranged vertically from left to right: Death of the Author, Kilt Trip, The Garden of Small Beginnings, Get Lost with You, My Big Fat Fake Marriage, Played]

A browse of the "new arrivals" shelf at my local library branch proved too tempting to resist, as usual. And my recent binge of hockey romances combined with the enthusiastic coverage of Ovechkin's #GR8 Chase sparked a desire to reread Played by Naima Simone (not that an excuse to do so was necessary).

Wishing you good health and some pleasure every day.

**At an event at the Hershey Public Library last year my inner reader fan girl burst free upon seeing Xio Axelrod in-person in the form of tears and not being able to speak. She gave me a hug, which made me boo-hoo even more. She was so compassionate toward me. Similar behavior from me when meeting Ms. Beverly Jenkins and Leslye Penelope with varying degrees of embarrassing nerdiness.

Comments

Tapping into Your Power

The following two books celebrate powerful characters who overcome their fears to manifest their greatness for the benefit of themselves, their loved ones and communities. So satisfying. [2 books from left to right: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff] A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna contemporary speculative romance Berkeley, July 2025 Sera's story of navigating otherness was worth the wait. The advantages, responsibilities, and consequences of being powerful are explored with nuanced observations, humor, and compassion. Themes on distinctions between family by blood, choice, and intention weave throughout this poignant tale about paying attention and recognizing personal details as fundamental to the evolution of one's perspective on who and what are valuable. One of my favorite passages from the end of chapter nineteen: Like this was a thing that had, somehow, become...

Beach Reads That Sizzle (in Many Ways)

It's a miracle that so many actual and imagined human young survive into adulthood, and then on to old age. The following books offer entertaining and provocative tales of challenges, misadventures, and triumphs. [a collage of 4 images: upper left - It Had to Be You hardcover Thorndike Press large print edition set on the edge of a small table between 2 chairs; upper right - a "BEACH" tote bag in a striped beach chair along with a paperback ARC of Up in Smoke; lower left - a paperback copy of An Evening at the Hotel on a wood table next to a beach umbrella; lower right - a paperback copy of All Super-Heroes Need PR] All Super-Heroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens contemporary speculative romance Amazon Publishing, May 2025 Vanessa's story delivers a riveting aliens-among-us origin story, a fake romance with unexpected twists, and nuanced workplace interpersonal dynamics that offer drama, humor, razor sharp social commentary, and visceral memories of past chi...

TWWBF Grand Finale Gratitude & More Books

The 6th and grand finale The Write Women Book Fest 2025 event last weekend was phenomenal! It exceeded our most ambitious hopes during these very challenging times. Many, many heartfelt thanks to the each of the featured authors, tabling authors & their assistants, TWWBF Poet Laureate Aressa V. Williams, performing poets, storytime readers in the children's area, narrators, author and publishing services professionals... Special thanks to the 2/3 of the TBR Trio who attended, a dynamic IG influencer, and each and every attendee who engaged with participants and bought books and merch. And to the volunteers, Bowie Comfort Inn staff, the team at South Bowie Branch Library, and as always, our conscientious, tireless team of dedicated TWWBF voluntolders, expressions of gratitude beyond words! [a "The Write Women Book Fest" journal, a tote bag with "Maria Secoy Romantic Suspense" and a smaller "Thank you" tote bag] [a collage of 3 images: left - pla...

Search This Blog