As someone who loves reading, with the added goal of trying to add “a little bit of sparkle,” Emily Luethy launched a Bookstagram account in 2020. Whether it’s sharing titles that help spread a message about disability advocacy or gushing about her ever-growing TBR (to-be-read list), Luethy loves that books are always in her life in one way or another. Luethy is on track to finish a bachelor's degree in communications, with the goal of getting a master's in library science to help bring this book-loving energy to even greater heights. You can follow Luethy’s journey and get regular bookish updates over on Instagram at @theglitterybookworm_.
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the 21st Century
Edited By Alice Wong
As previously mentioned, one of my passions is spreading disability advocacy, as someone who is a part of the community. The best recommendation I can give is for this title that also has a young readers edition, so everyone can learn from it regardless of age. Because this is an essay collection, I find it really accessible to choose what interests you, or you could read the whole thing in one go. I also love that most of the contributors have their own titles that you can check out to learn even more from them.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Here
By Autumn Krause
My favorite season is without a doubt fall. Give me all the pumpkin spice, amazing spooky vibes, plus a gothic fiction book. The novel is set in a brooding, isolated environment that immediately immerses the reader in a sense of dread and mystery that screams fall vibes, while also enthralling you so that you never want to leave.
Still Life
By Louise Penny
One of my top reading experiences is finding a long series that you can just keep paging through because you love it so much. This is absolutely the case with Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series. Set in a small Canadian town, you quickly start to adore the inspector, as well as the people who live in Three Pines. This series is very similar to Hercule Poirot, but in my opinion, so much better
Maybe in Another Life
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you are tired of waiting for your hold of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid to come, I instead propose one of her other backlist titles, that I consider one of my all-time favorites. This book follows Hannah, who is living her regular life, who just so happens to be invited to a party by her best friend, Gabby. When she is given the option of staying with her high school boyfriend or leaving with Gabby, the book splits open, sharing how her life would have turned out, depending on what she chooses.
King of the Armadillos
By Wendy Chin-Tanner
When looking for my next historical fiction read, I really try to find a subject that is not the stereotypical World War II story. I was pleased to find out that it hit this criteria excellently. It introduces the reader to the only leprosy colony in the United States, which was an element of history I never knew even existed, causing me to research more about it after finishing it.
This Is How It Always Is
By Laurie Frankel
One author who I absolutely love, who I even consider myself a completist for (meaning I will complete their entire book catalog) is Laurie Frankel. I credit this book as my introduction to her work. It is mostly a family drama as it chronicles Rosie, the mom, as her son Claude says they want to start going by Poppy, as well as what others might consider feminine. It examines this complicated discussion with such delicacy, especially since Laurie’s daughter identifies as transgender, too.
The Maid
By Nita Prose
I am super picky with my mysteries, but I will probably always try to read them anyway, even if it usually ends in a lower rating because I guessed the twist. Luckily, this read was a delightful surprise, mainly because it kept me guessing until the very end, with one of the most surprising endings that I have read in recent years, while also having a sequel that is almost as entertaining as the first.