I’m a little behind on getting our September voting poll up, but better late than never, right? I’m so excited to start tucking in to fall reads soon! I know we can read epic fantasy anytime of the year, but it’s always more fun in autumn 🍁 It’s going to be hard to pick just one of these this month! Voting will close on Thursday, September 3rd and our September pick will be posted on the 4th. Per usual, the giveaway winner will be announced then in the Discord as well!

The Castle and the Cloister by Laura Weymouth

The Priory of the Orange Tree meets Black Sun in the thrilling launch of a political fantasy duology following three people—a wet nurse, a heretic queen, and a priest—as they attempt to shape the fortunes of a continent shattered by war.

Amid a treacherous landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives will intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings alike to alter the course of nations.

Malice by John Gwynne

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed in battle. An uneasy peace reigns, but now giants stir once more, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of gigantic worms. Those who can still read the signs see a prophecy realised: sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield.

As the Kings look to their borders, and priests beg answers from the Gods, only a chosen few know that the fate of the world will be decided between two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. And with their coming will be a war to end all wars.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

Hey, y'all! Help us with our relaunch by donating here! Our website is also back up and running (linked in our bio section but also here!)

Our new logo has been designed by our good friend Will Marasco! Isn't she a beaut?

HELLO friends!

I'm sorry for disappearing for a whole month right after launching. Severe imposter syndrome. I genuinely felt like it was pointless to be on Bindery because who is going to care what I'm talking about here?

Which brings me to a point I made in a really vulnerable video a few weeks ago called "why I'll never be famous" about my frustration with the lack of growth on my platform and not connecting with the people I know are out there who read what I read and like what I like. Especially when it comes to promoting diverse authors who aren't people like Sarah J. Maas, who, problematic as she is, is revered in a godlike way by a mass of predominantly white women. And you know what? Post about her or any other quintessential mainstream white author and your follow count goes through the roof and brands and publishers actually notice you.

I won't lie, I would love to turn this into something sustainable where I could pay some bills with it. But not in a way that compromises my integrity or my moral compass. I want to talk about books and press on nails and makeup and outfits and be vulnerable without being performative. So I was feeling really down, wondering if there was even a point and if I'd ever make this into something more. Not just for me, but for the bookish community, to give them another person who can diversify their reads across authors and genres and concepts and make reading fun and knowledgeable and safe again, not a chore. That's what I set out to do when I started.

I didn't expect so much support on that video, not just from my friends but from creators I really admire and people who follow me just because I'm me. It reminded me that I'm doing something right and it's resonating somewhere, and I can't give up. Like everything else in my life, I'll just have to work harder to get where other people already are.

So I'm just going to yap on Bindery now. If you've made it this far, HELLO, let's be friends. I promise to share more about what I'm reading and doing here in longer form, and thank you to anyone who's here now and anyone who joins later.

I read 9 books in August, which is crazy, but it felt like a meh month because it was the first time this year that a lot of what I read was....mid. They were alright, but I've been on such a streak of amazing books that I noticed it more. Here they are though, form your own opinions.

The Lunatics — Navessa Allen (4★)

Blurb: a shifter romance built on two very different kinds of werewolf.

My first shifter book in forever and it delivered. Loved the two-tier wolf system, the once-a-month mostly-human ones vs the ones fully in touch with the animal. Felt refreshing. Layla's powers with Michael feel like we barely scratched the surface. I wanted more spice, but I read the bonus chapters for volume two and now I'm dying for the rest!!

Boring Asian Female — Canwen Xu (4★)

Blurb: a lit fic spiral about an Asian American woman whose lifetime of perfectionism finally snaps.

This was a WILD ride and I'm genuinely concerned for this woman. It nails that final-straw crash out. Being Asian American, the pressure to hit these ridiculous dreams your parents have for you because you feel like you owe them. Elizabeth ranking everyone by percentile is just her trying to quantify her way out of being deeply insecure. Her killing a girl over a Harvard spot, based on nothing but stuff she made up, is still living in my head. The ending wasn't what I pictured so I took off a star, but this is going straight in the crazy girl lit fic pile.

Embrace (Off the Ice #4) — Bal Khabra (3★)

Blurb: book four in the Off the Ice hockey romance series, with Kian and Scarlett.

My three stars was purely for Kian. I usually love Bal's books but this one wasn't it. Scarlett's storyline felt weak and the plot never went anywhere, with barely any connection to the sport. Kian's one of my faves and his story could have been more.

The Anatomy of Magic (Darkest Divine #1) — Alexis L. Menard (3★)

Blurb: a surgeon gets pulled into a world of magic and court politics.

I really liked the magical concept but the plot got lost in places and I was confused more than once. Nina's fun and I loved that she was a surgeon, and I wish we saw more of that. There needed to be more logic behind the magic and political systems, and more detailed romance. Still curious about book two.

Molka — Monika Kim (3★)

Blurb: a Korean horror-thriller about spycam voyeurism and the women it destroys.

A sharp commentary on how little care or justice women get when intimate content is taken without their knowledge. Started off really strong and it did get crazy, just not in the supernatural direction I wanted. A few plotlines get raised and never resolved. The real horror at the end is that she gets no justice at all and the misogyny just wins again. Kind of sad.

A Trade of Blood (Ana and Din Mysteries #3) — Robert Jackson Bennett (5★)

Blurb: third in the Ana and Din fantasy mystery series.

This was SO SO SO good. One of my most anticipated series releases this year and it HIT SO WELL. I was sad when it was done because I wanted more, and if you haven't read this series you really need to. It's Sherlock Holmes type detective vibes with crazy cases, set in a semi mysterious sci-fi fantasy world with augmented humans, leviathans, and a lot of secrets. This one shared a LOT more secrets and explored more of the politics of the nation while Ana and Din solved the murder, and I was so riveted.

The Sweetest Fiend (Played by the Piper #1) — Raven Kennedy (5★)

Blurb: first in a new Raven Kennedy fantasy romance series.

The queen has done it AGAIN. Esti and Varrick fall hard and fast and I spent the whole book wondering how this could possibly keep going if they get their HEA, and man, was I surprised and played the entire time. The world building is fascinating and there's so much more to learn about how the crack in the world happened, who the fates are, the banes. Am I shocked and riveted and thirsting? Yes. I need the next book NOW.

Wait and Hope — mightbewriting (3★)

Blurb: a Dramione fan fic where Hermione wakes up married to Draco for six years and remembers none of it. Currently being trad published.

Wanted a little more out of this. With all that magic on the table the ending could've been so much bigger, and it needed more spice. Still excited and curious about the trad pub version.

The Maiden and Her Monster — Maddie Martinez (3★)

Blurb: a sapphic dark fantasy rooted in Jewish golem folklore, where a healer's daughter bargains with a zealot priest to hunt the monster in the cursed forest and save her mother from execution.

I enjoyed the folklore a lot but it was trying to do too many things at once, which is why it was three stars for me. Still good, but I wasn't going crazy. I liked the horror aspects, and I wish we had more romance because the build up for these enemies to lovers was lacking. I wanted more banter. I also found the main character annoying sometimes, but that was the point since she's naive to the way the world works. The ending was well done!

That's all from me for now. Let me know if you've read these, what recs you have for me, or what content you want.

Talk to you soon, BYEEE

Happy first day of September! What better way to celebrate a brand-new month than with a brand-new stack of books?

We've gathered up a few books that are hitting shelves today that some of our members are very excited about, and honestly, we think you will be too!

First up we have -

If this title sounds interesting to you, listen here to Jordy, Lana, and Jilly's discussing family, self-trust, and the power we discover within ourselves. They dive into what it means to claim your power, trust your instincts, embrace who you are, and push back against the voices, both internal and external, that make you doubt yourself. 

Next on the list -

For the horror fans -

And for the grand finale -

Let us know in the poll which book you'll be picking up first!

Happy September everyone!!! It’s officially fall spooky season 🧡🍂🍁🎃 the winners for September book club areeee….

A Forbidden Alchemy for the fantasy category and Seed for the horror category!! I am soooo excited for both of these books I cannot wait to get into them! Make sure to click the link to the discord where we will discuss everything

Bindery Followers, Inner Circle, and Producers, this one is just for you! 

I'm excited to announce the very first round of Bindery Bingo here on Rachael's Reads!

The Basics: 

• Save the Bingo board to a safe place 

• Drop a snapshot of the completed activity into each square as you complete them*

• Game will run September 1-November 30, 2026

Scoring: 

• One (1) point will be awarded for each square completed (24 total - no points for Free Space)

• Two (2) bonus points for each BINGO. For the purposes of this game, Bingos will include: horizontal rows, vertical rows, & corner-to-corner diagonal rows

• Five (5) bonus points for a blackout board

• Total available points: 53

• Upgrade your subscription to Inner Circle and receive 10 bonus points

• Upgrade to Producer and receive 20 bonus points

What do I win?  I'm so glad you asked!

The winner of this fall's Bindery Bingo will receive an Aardvark Book Club Box with their choice of three titles from Aardvark's December selections. Thank you to Aardvark Book Club for partnering with me to spoil our first winner! (Photo is an example only and used with gracious permission of the owner)

The Fine Print:

• Open to all membership tiers of Rachael's Reads with US or Canadian mailing addresses.

• Winner must be willing to supply a mailing address to the host (Rachael) to be shared with the prize sponsor (Aardvark Book Box). 

• Prize will be awarded to the player with the most points, earned as detailed above. In the event of a tie, a winner will be drawn at random from the players with the tied scores. 

• Final game boards must be submitted by December 4, 2026. Submission instructions to come.

• Game is not sponsored by Bindery Books or any of their imprints.

Have fun!!!

*If you are unable to edit photos onto the Bingo board, please drop a note in the #bindery-bingo channel on Discord and I'll send you alternate instructions.

Hello my fellow Collaborators, and a very happy Tuesday to you all!

I come to you this September 1st with a quiet house - as school has officially begun! Insert horns here I was also met with a first - my youngest (almost 10) shut me down for a hug today as I dropped her off in her school line - my affectionate, sweet, little cuddle bug, denied me a goodbye hug for the first time, and while consent is always top priority for us, it did break my heart. She's growing up so quickly, and I never thought this day would come! 4th graders, y'all!

I've spilled my tears, now let's discuss some books!

The

I mentioned previously that I was starting a personal curriculum - for the remainder of Q3 (the rest of this month) I will finish up all my current reads, which are, now:

1. Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H (Also our Q3 book club selection)

2. Among The Wildflowers by Anita Kelly (we will be in discussion with them NEXT WEEK, Sep. 11)

3. Welcome To The Grief Club by Janine Kwoh

I am actually ahead of my September reading by a week.. And who knows if I will stay ahead, but these books are also ones I want to read this month:

1. The Latinx Guide To Liberation by Vanessa Pezo (Reading this for @Carmen Nonfiction September/October side quest) I'll be reading this via audio

2. And If I Die Before I Wake: A Memoir by George M. Johnson (It's READ NOW on NetGalley through 9/2 - tomorrow, go!) It releases in November of 2026

3. Cemetery Boys & Cemetery Boys: Espiritu by Aiden Thomas (I pre-ordered a signed copy of Espiritu, so I need to reread Cemetery boys to immerse myself back in the story.)

4. To Our Untamed Core by Sonido Reyes (I received a PR box from BookSparks for this one, and it was beautiful! Also, this is our Q4 book club pick and we will be in conversation with Sonido in November.) This releases September 22, 2026

So, a lot of books I want to finish this month! Who knows (probably not) if I will get to them all, but they're amazing and I cannot wait to read them as the majority of the authors are my favorites and auto-buys!

I also wanted to stop and reflect on reading habits - I was on track this year to read 100 books - it would've been my first year hitting that milestone. And while I set my goal at 1 this year across the board (books, page count, hours) I knew I was on pace to hit a major milestone due to my reading habits. And then my Memaw passed in June, and my reading completely halted. I was unable to pick up a book for 2 months. I am still struggling to find enjoyment in my hobbies - but this month, not only did I pick up a book again, I read a total of 9 through various formats - mostly audio and physical. Here's the StoryGraph breakdown for those of you who are curious:

If you're unaware of The StoryGraph, is a Black woman owned app that allows you to track your books, TBRs, current reads, and so much more, and they are constantly behind the scenes adding and creating new features! I love this app. The nerd in me appreciates the graphs and breakdowns every month.

I think my favorite of the month is a tie - Anger is Only A Shadow and Conversion Therapy Dropout. Both were PHENOMENAL books and even more amazing on audio. I also pre-order Anger is On A Shadow. (Which releases September 15). I still need a physical copy of Conversion Therapy Dropout.

I'm so excited for what September has in store, and I know I'll have a lot of top contenders for favorites!

Looking ahead! For Quarter 4, I will be back to my reading challenge that I made into a queer edition from my friend Kelli over on Bookstagram, which is the Unhinged Reading Challenge: Queer Edition where I wrapped, yes wrapped, ALL of my queer books, numbered them, and them put numbers in a jar to pick at random what I read next. So far? They've either all be complete duds and I've DNF'd them or I just lack all interest? I did separate my thriller/"spooky" books and wrapped them in the Nightmare Before Christmas wrapping paper, and then my Christmas books in Christmas wrapping paper. Sooo, for October, I will be selecting books from the thriller or "spooky" theme, and November will be my regular queer reads, and then for December, I will select books from the Christmas wrapping paper stack. I'm excited to get through them. I think I wrapped like 400 books total, no joke. lol. Yay me.

I will be starting Hijab Butch Blues after this newsletter is completed, so I hope you all will join me over on Discord to share your thoughts as we wrap up this month and the discussion of this book. This one is also a reread for me. It was my top book the year it was released, and it's hitting just the same now as my first time reading it!

I hope you all find pockets of joy today and immerse yourselves in things that bring you peace and happiness. I will see you on Thursday for Trans Joy Thursday, AND ALSO Thursday night at 6-7pm CST for our Beyond The Rainbow Chat with Dr. Kiki Fehling! I shared the zoom information in the previous newsletter from Sunday, August 30th, and there's also an event created in Discord for you to join to set you a reminder, as well!

See you all Thursday!

With all my trans joy,

Sawyer Cole

My TBR for September is so intense and ambitious! (I didn’t even include the bookclub books. I will update channels in the Discord tomorrow)

Check out my new TBR YouTube Video here. I’m chasing that elusive 4,000 watch hours and I’m sure I will get there soon with 10 minute videos LOL)https://youtu.be/WOdmmEGHlhc?is=JW7SIOEAVBY9_UQm

I’m headed off to NYC in 2 weeks and my Pango shop will be going on hold! If you see anything you like, buy now and I will ship out tomorrow

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/jackofallnays

What is everyone reading this week? And who got the arc for CRACKS?

Hey Sickos, apologies for being a day late on this one but better late than never is a thing people say. Let me know what you're reading in the comments and I'll fill ya in on what I've been up to. Let's boogie!

READING

REVIEW

THIS IS CHINA: THE FIRST 5,000 YEARS [edited by Haiwang Yuan] (academic history)

Progress: Finished

Along with my sentiments from last week, I'll just add that this is the exact type of brief refresher that I like to keep me sharp on topics I'm a little less than solid on. This would be a good place to start if you're trying to get into Chinese history.

FEET OF CLAY by TERRY PRATCHETT [Book 3, City Watch - Book 19 Discworld] (fantasy)

Progress: Finished

Of the three City Watch books I've read so far, I'd put this one slightly below Guards! Guards! and a solid step above Men at Arms, so around a 4.25. This one keeps on with the expanded Watch and the central mystery/detective thread is tighter. S/O to Nobby, who has a great subplot. Basically it has everything Men at Arms was setting up and takes full advantage of it.

A FIRE AMONG CLOUDS by CAMILO MONCADA LOZANO [Book 1, Codex Black] (graphic novel)

Progress: 201/319

This was recommended by Ofelia (author of Grave of Petals) as a "really good depiction of the more complex pre-Colombian geopolitics" that is "very cute and very actiony" and I'm loving it. The artwork is so vibrant and stunning and the story is exactly as advertised, plus the characters are great. I've already got book 2 on standby.

PREVIEW

I'll be onto the History/Fiction Sickos Book Club reads for September which are Fifth Sun by Camilla Townsend and East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I'll be setting up the Discord forums for those later today!

SICKO SOCIETY LAST CALL!

The next Sicko Society quarterly book box is set to be shipped and now we're prepping for the third box. The deadline to make sure you qualify for the third quarterly box fast approaching. Upgrade your tier to be a Sicko Society member by TODAY 9/1 and update your mailing address to make sure you get in on the action!

EVERYTHING ELSE

• Publishing News: It's pub month for A Complement of Scoundrels!!!

• Game of the Week: Still bug-eyed addicted to Civilization VI and the folk in the Discord have convinced me to try Cyberpunk 2077 for my late night veg gaming.

• Show of the Week: A new season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has me watching those new eps and doing yet another re-watch of the entire series, which has me up to S8.

• Movie of the Week: Akira is in theaters this week! An all-timer movie and manga for me, gonna try seeing it in IMAX.

• Content News: Going to be filming what I can this week (monthly wrap, five-star recs from our community members, maybe a YouTube video) because next week I'll be in London for the "Arca-1 Citizenship Ceremony" with Thomas Weaver and Kris & Mads. I've got a bunch of stuff clipped out and ready to schedule from my Ancient Near East syllabus, so those will go on shortform if I need to get something up. I'm sure I'll film some content while I'm there and I'll be posting updates in the Discord. That means no Weekly Checkpoint next week but hopefully that's supplanted by other cool stuff.

Here's your weekly roundup of romances hitting shelves this week that have a Rebel Ever After vibe. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. If there are other books out today that you think folks will enjoy, feel free to recommend them in the comments. Please click through to read the post on Bindery for my full commentary.

As a heads up, we are entering peak romantasy season. I am not a romantasy reader and don’t have much insight into which authors and new titles are worth including here. If there are releases that you are excited about and think others should support, please recommend them in the comments. 

[This isn't an exhaustive list of every romance novel published this week. If you are an author with a progressive romance coming out soon, please email brosandprose@gmail.com to get it on my radar!]

I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell by Mackenzie Reed (Berkley) — What happens when a receptionist at an insurance company witnesses her boss performing an exorcism on Debra from accounting? A road trip to Hell that navigates “a corporate underworld of monsters and bureaucratic nightmares.”

Mantras & Minotaurs by Ashley Bennett (Berkley) — A single mom and a minotaur navigate a steamy long-distance relationship. The latest in Bennett’s Leviathan Fitness monster romance series stood out to me for featuring leads over age 40. Shouldn’t be radical, at yet!

In The Frame by Hayden Stone (indie) — I adore the cover art for this M/M fake dating romance that takes place in the UK arts scene. 

The Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder (Abrams / Amulet) — Where were the sapphic YA romantasy books about lady pirates and beautiful mermaids teaming up to find sea witches when I was a kid??

The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre (Sourcebooks Casablanca) — This is the first time I've read "sunshine-shadow" in a blurb instead of "grumpy sunshine" and I respect innovation. Also: two hotties on a quest to free a changeling from her absent husband.

I have some events coming up in NYC:

9/3: Launching Love Me Like a Rock Song with Shelly Jay Shore at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

JUST ADDED 10/5: I'm hosting another Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans at Book Club Bar in Manhattan on October 5th at 7:30pm! Tickets just went on sale here. We sold out last time, so don't hesitate. We'll have several featured author guests, so far including Shelly Jay Shore and Blair Fell.

September is here, which means I can finally start pretending it’s fall even if the weather has absolutely no intention of cooperating. 😂🍂

For me, this is when reading gets REALLY good. Give me darker fantasy, twisty mysteries, atmospheric horror, historical fiction I can completely disappear into, and a giant iced coffee that will remain iced regardless of the season.

And this week’s new releases understood the assignment.

🆕 NEW RELEASES

🕰️ HISTORICAL FICTION

The Survivor’s Guild
Two women from very different worlds survive the Titanic and unexpectedly find themselves caring for an unclaimed baby. But surviving the shipwreck is only the beginning...they still have 1912 New York society to contend with.

🚀 SCI-FI

Scion
John Wick meets Blade Runner in a fast-paced cyberpunk thriller from James Islington, author of The Will of the Many. Honestly, that pitch alone sold me. 👀

🐺 FANTASY + ROMANTASY

Blacktail
A wolf sets out on an epic journey of revenge in a dark fantasy from the author of The Library at Mount Char. Yes, the WOLF is the main character. 🐺

Reign
Found family, forbidden love, and a heroine who refuses to kneel in a feminist romantasy about choosing freedom over fear. Oh, and apparently setting fire to the throne. 🔥

Fire Power
Fourth Wing meets Formula One with childhood friends turned racing rivals competing in the ultimate DRAGON RACE. 🐉🏁 Enemies-to-lovers + sports romantasy is a combination I didn't know we needed.

Our Strange Duet
A Phantom of the Opera reimagining centered on Christine Daaé as she navigates fame, love, ambition, and the dark secrets of the opera house. Perfect timing for gothic reading season. 🖤

The Gods Will Sing Our Song
WWII historical romance meets magic and myth as two Japanese American teenagers fall in love against the backdrop of internment. It's inspired by the author's own family history of resilience.

🔎 THRILLER + MYSTERY

The Truth About Ruby Cooper
“If my sister hadn’t been beautiful, none of it would have happened.” 👀 An incident involving sixteen-year-old Ruby destroys her family's idyllic life, and the consequences follow two sisters across decades.

Cards on the Table
Two witchy sisters are accused of making their elderly client's substantial trust disappear after her sudden death. Witchy mystery season has officially arrived. 🔮

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies
Post-WWII Oxford + mystery + romance + academia + undercover operatives working for the Crown. Dark academia readers, I feel like this one has your name all over it. 👀

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger
Eleven years after surviving the plane crash that killed their parents, one sister suddenly disappears on the exact anniversary of the tragedy. Now her sister must uncover what happened while protecting the daughter she left behind.

🩸 HORROR

As the Snow Gathers
A remote Canadian town, a vanished settlement, a forbidden love—and creatures in the forest that drain the blood from the dead. The Fanteur have never touched the living…yet. 🌲🩸

🌳 LITERARY FICTION

The Birthing Tree
From the author of The Berry Pickers comes a story of family, legacy, buried truths, young love, and the fragile future one woman must protect. This is one of my most anticipated September releases.

💬 BOOKISH GROUP CHAT

A couple of things worth sending to your favorite bookish friend this week:

🔎 How Agatha Christie Helped Create the Modern Thriller

There’s a reason we’re still talking about Agatha Christie.

Robert Gold takes a closer look at the way Christie planted clues, hid killers in plain sight, and created mysteries that become almost MORE impressive when you reread them and realize the answers were sitting in front of you the entire time.

As someone who gets annoyed when a thriller’s big reveal feels like it came out of absolutely nowhere, I loved this discussion of Christie’s philosophy: the clues should be there. The reader just shouldn’t necessarily realize they’re clues yet. 👀

Read “Planting the Seed: How Agatha Christie’s Techniques Shaped the Modern Thriller” on CrimeReads

☀️ What Do Authors Actually Read During Summer?

Reader’s Digest asked authors to share the books they recommend for summer reading, and I am always fascinated by what writers recommend when THEY get to be the reader.

Consider this one last little summer-reading list before we officially replace everything with witches, haunted houses, murder mysteries, and pumpkin spice. 😂

See the authors’ summer reading recommendations from Reader’s Digest

🎥 WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT ON YOUTUBE

I have a confession:

I have started 36 book series that I have not finished. THIRTY. SIX.

Some of them I absolutely want to continue. Some have been sitting untouched for so long that I barely remember what happened. And a few made me wonder why I ever thought I was going to pick up the next book. 😂

So I finally sat down and went through them. For every unfinished series, I’m deciding:

✅ CONTINUE
❌ DNF
🤔 MAYBE

And yes, there were definitely a few decisions that hurt.

If you also have a graveyard of unfinished book series silently judging you from your shelves, come hang out with me on YouTube, and then tell me which series YOU desperately need to finish.

🎥 Watch: 36 Book Series I Started...But Never Finished

🐾 LINK’S CORNER

Link would like everyone to know that fall is almost here, and frankly, she has been waiting very patiently.

Cooler weather means longer walks, more outside time, and (most importantly) pumpkin doggie ice cream. 🎃🐶 She does not understand why humans insist on making summer last this long, but there is also some VERY important dog-related entertainment news this week.

Netflix is releasing A Dog’s Perfect Christmas on November 4, and obviously Link felt this deserved newsletter coverage.

The movie follows a family trying to hold things together over the holidays with some assistance from a basset hound named Winstead. Even better? It’s based on W. Bruce Cameron’s 2020 novel of the same name, so technically this is BOTH dog news and book news.

Which means it absolutely belongs here. 😂

Read more about A Dog’s Perfect Christmas via The Pioneer Woman

Link has not yet confirmed whether she’ll be watching.

She has, however, confirmed that she would like the pumpkin ice cream now.

That’s it for this week’s shelf! 🍂

September reading is officially underway, spooky season is creeping closer, and my TBR has once again reached completely unreasonable proportions.

What book are you most excited to read this month? Hit reply and tell me...I’m always looking for an excuse to add another book to my list.

Until next week,
Brittany + Link 🐾

Happy Monday, mis internet amigxs!

September snuck up on me and Latine Heritage Month is almost here! Be prepared to have your TBR toppled by an incredible month of releases.

SUPPORT MY WORK

If you've been considering supporting my work here on Bindery, Latine Heritage Month is the perfect time to do so. It's the not only the one time of the year I feel a spotlight is being shone on my work, but it's also the time I feel the most pressure--receive the most requests for content. It's stressful and beautiful and I'd love for you to be a part of it. I will be updating my tiers, but just some of the things paid members get is advanced newsletter of all the month's releases, including my blurbs of each book, frequent surprises and exclusive giveaways, the ability to ask me for recommendations, ALL the chisme before it's announced anywhere else, plus more things I am planning. Join and support me and the work I do to boost Latine literature!

SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT

Today, we begin reading our September book club pick, The Grand Paloma Resort Hotel by Cleyvis Natera, on Discord! This is a fast paced literary thriller taking place on an exclusive resort on Dominican Republic and told exclusively from the perspective of the staff.

We also begin reading our nonfiction sidequest (that we'll complete in October): The Latinx Guide to Liberation by Vanessa Pezo.

I hope you'll consider joining us to discuss one or both books!

And finally on to today's releases!

Gothic Horror

An Immaculate Deception by Isabel Livino (Audiobook)

Middle Grade Fantasy

Quetzal’s Labyrinth by Karla Arenas Valenti (Audiobook)

Picture Book

Mami's Heart by Ana Siquiera and illustrated by Nomar Perez

The Singing Tamales Present: 'Tis The Season for Tamales by Andrea Campos

Poetry

Witness: Poems to Address the Past, Present, and Future of Policing Edited by Ari Tyson and Ty Chapman and illustrated by Damon Davis

Middle Grade Graphic Memoir

Mexikid Dreams by Pedro Martin (Audiobook)

Translated Literary Horror

Asmodeus by Rita Indiana and translated by Achy Obejas

Graphic Novel Adaptation of a Classic

In The Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez and illustrated by Krystal Quiles (Audiobook)

Short Stories

The Patron Saint of White Menageries by Lauren T. Davila (Audiobook)

xoxo,

Carmen

Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs!

September snuck up on me and while you aren't receiving this week's releases early, you are about to have an avalanche of September Latine Reads on your TBR for Latine Heritage Month and beyond! I think this is the most books I've ever tagged in a Bindery post.

As a thank you for your patience, not only is there a giveaway in this post, but if you scroll all the way down the bottom, I have a little sneak preview of something that'll be released officially in a few weeks...

But first, a quick reminder about September book club!

Today, we begin reading our September book club pick, The Grand Paloma Resort Hotel by Cleyvis Natera, on Discord! This is a fast paced literary thriller taking place on an exclusive resort on Dominican Republic and told exclusively from the perspective of the staff.

We also begin reading our nonfiction sidequest (that we'll complete in October): The Latinx Guide to Liberation by Vanessa Pezo.

I hope you'll consider joining us to discuss one or both books!

As a mea culpa for not getting your newsletter our earlier, you can enter to win this beautiful pr box for today's release of Julia Alvarez's classic In The Time of Butterflies graphic novel adaptation! The box is beautifully illustrated and includes a beautiful print of one of the panels. All you have to do is comment with a butterfly emoji below and you'll be entered the win.

You must have a US mailing address to enter. Winner will be emailed on Saturday, September 5th to their email they signed up to Bindery. You must reply with your full name and mailing address within 24 hours to claim your prize.

And without further ado, all the September Latine releases on my radar!!

September 1st

Gothic Horror

An Immaculate Deception by Isabel Livino (Audiobook) Taking place in Brazil in 1877, this story follows Madalena conceives a child out of wedlock. She's convinced she can get her dashing beau, Leandro Neves, to propose, but at the moment she goes to tell him, the carriage overturns and she awakes in his family home. He's basically mute and things only get weirder from there as she convalesces...

Middle Grade Fantasy

Quetzal’s Labyrinth by Karla Arenas Valenti (Audiobook) Twelve-year old Diego discovers the Aztec gods are real, and he must journey into a deadly labyrinth to stop a vengeful power from destroying the world

Picture Book

Mami's Heart by Ana Siquiera and illustrated by Nomar Perez

The Singing Tamales Present: 'Tis The Season for Tamales by Andrea Campos

Poetry

Witness: Poems to Address the Past, Present, and Future of Policing Edited by Ari Tyson and Ty Chapman and illustrated by Damon Davis (Audiobook)

Middle Grade Graphic Memoir

Mexikid Dreams by Pedro Martin (Audiobook) Companion novel to Martin's first graphic novel memoir, Mexikid, addressing migrant farm workers, la migra, family, love, and trying to find what you want to do in the world.

Translated Literary Horror

Asmodeus by Rita Indiana and translated by Achy Obejas: A hallucinatory thriller about a failing demon’s search for a new host in post-dictatorship Santo Domingo

Graphic Novel Adaptation of a Classic

In The Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez and illustrated by Krystal Quiles (Audiobook) graphic novel adaptation of the classic about the Mirabal sisters who fought against the Trujillo dictatorship

Short Stories

The Patron Saint of White Menageries by Lauren T. Davila (Audiobook) debut magical-realism collection cracks Los Angeles open to reveal a kaleidoscope of unlikely heroines, talents, and dreams

September 8th

Young Adult Fantasy

Espiritu by Aiden Thomas (Audiobook) Julian, our favorite chaos <former> ghost, and Yadriel are back this time fighting restless spirits and ghosts from their past.

Creative Nonfiction Collection

Bodega Stories by Amaris Castillo featuring narratives and vignettes about the employees and customers who orbit my Dominican parents' bodega in St. Pete, FL. A good portion of stories center the Dominican and Cuban diasporas, with themes of immigration, love, community, history, identity, food and cultural traditions

Translated

Bury Your Dead by Ana Paula Maia and translated by Padma Viswanathan: We follow a man who cleans up road kill in Brazil deep into the woods in a story about friendship and all the small ways we shape the world

Children's Book

In Case of Las Moscas by Jackie Morera and illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson

Horror

Daughter of Rot by Rios de la Luz: horror blends magical realism with dreamlike botanical horror

Memoir

East of the River: A Memoir of Los Angeles Girlhood by Guadalupe Rosales (Audiobook) Memoir

September 15th

Translated

Terrestrial by Cristina Rivera Garza and translated by Christina MacSweeney (Audiobook) Short story collection of a fiercely poetic, tenderly observed portrait of young women’s travels on the fringes of Mexico and the United States

Silencio by Clyo Mendoza and translated by Christina McSweeney: A lyrically haunting and powerful account of women surviving femicide and destruction in Mexico, using fantasy to relate atrocities that exist beyond language.

Fantasy

Daughter of the Dark by R.J. Valdeperas (Audiobook) Enemies-to-lovers romance fantasy about a demon slayer in a world torn between destruction and revolution

Horror

Rooted by Leopoldo Gout (Audiobook) "a blood reckoning" where one woman's return to Mexico City digs away the layers of her forgotten past and the Aztec gods she awakened

Middle Grade

Julieta and the Cryptic Rose by Luisana Duarte Armendariz (Audiobook) Middle Grade Mystery where Julieta travels to Guanajuato, Mexico, where she is drawn into a new, head-scratching mystery involving a secret society, mischievous cousins, and the ever-inspiring art of Diego Rivera.

Memoir

The Flowers Along The Way by Claudia Castro Luna: Speaking in the language of flowers—mango, chirimoyas, jocotes, sprawling oregano, reedy pomegranate, and leggy chilipines—amidst state-sanctioned brutality, The Flowers Along the Way is a memoir both lush and taut.

Young Adult Novel In Verse

Anger is Only A Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo (Audiobook--Elizabeth narrates the audiobook) My gushing review. I don't know how Elizabeth Acevedo keeps writing better and better books, but we are so lucky to have her.

Bilingual Picture Book

Antonio's New Tacos by Veronica Benavides and Andres Acosta and illustrated by Addy Sonda

Cookbook

Comemos: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Contemporary Mexican Cuisine by Alejandra Graf

Young Adult Fantasy

Wolves of No World: Lobizona and Casadora Romina Garber (Audiobook Lobizona and Cazadora) 2 books in 1 paperback release for this iconic young adult fantasy series

September 22nd

Dystopian

Buzzard by Inez Ray (Audiobook) SO excited this release is from Bindery's very own @Michael LaBorn! In 2086, corporations are monitoring fertility. Abortion is illegal. And the last woman alive who can perform the procedure is in hiding.

Young Adult Dystopian

To Our Untamed Core by Sonido Reyes (Audiobook) This was comped as the Mexican Hunger games: a trans boy keeps a secret from his boyfriend until he's sent to El Torneado (prison) and must fight to death to save him

Nonfiction

Racist by Design: Two Centuries of U.S. Immigration Control by Kelly Lytle Hernández (Audiobook) Our nonfiction author from earlier this year has a NEW book tracing how law enforcement has spent 200 years targeting non-shite immigrants as part of immigrant enforcement

Middle Grade

Mischief and Monsters by Adrianna Cuevas (Audiobook) Jordi and his friends must save their town from an evil oil company moving in and blaming newly found creatures for what they're doing.

Young Adult

Perfect Liars: Lies and Secrets by Alex Mirez (Audiobook) 1st book in the Perfecto Mentirosas series and soon to be an Amazon Prime movie

September 29th

Young Adult Gothic

The House Of Gardenias by Isabel Canas (Audiobook) Coming of rage YA about Minerva who retreats to the countryside of the lady she serves only to find forces more ancient and sinister than in the city they have left.

Young Adult

When the World Was Happy by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Audiobook) Benjamin's loss earlier this year affected me tremendously, but I'm glad we have his final book: a heartrending but uplifting tale of twins and their group of friends who are forced to navigate life, relationships, and grief after their world is turned upside down

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez (Audiobook) Reissue of classic novel about three teen boys navigating through the intolerant world of the early aughts and their own insecurities, finding each other and the confidence to come out of the closet in this seminal queer coming-of-age novel.

Horror Anthology

Something Followed Us Home Edited by Cynthia Pelayo (Audiobook) Anthology of Tales of Latinx horror anthology with foreward by Brenda Lozano

Literary Fiction

Ply by Hernan Diaz (Audiobook) Combining Dickensian odyssey, family drama, and scientific thriller, Ply poignantly charts the tenuous boundaries of selfhood and the distance that inevitably stands between us and those we love, Ply turns to the future and examines the future of technology and humanity.

King of Aloe Vera by Tomas Moniz Adult (Audiobook) An elderly man has just a month to leave his home. A young woman from his neighborhood is soon to be unhoused. Slowly but surely, the two form an unlikely yet transformational friendship in this warm and funny novel about love and community.

Young Adult Graphic Novel

Second Generation Blues by Julio Anto and illustrated by Red Dryer: Almost American Girl meets Brownstone in Second Generation Blues, a poignant coming-of-age young adult graphic novel about a Cuban American teen as he struggles to choose between being the son his parents need him to be and living the life he wants.

Memoir

Work In Progress by Devon Rodriguez (Audiobook) This inspiring, raw memoir traces the path Devon Rodriguez took from an abusive childhood to becoming the most followed artist on social media worldwide, as he discovered the transformative power of seeing and being seen—featuring new graphite illustrations of the people and places that shaped him.

xoxo,

Carmen

PS--Here's a little sneak peak of something I've been working on...more details, including how to get your hands on one, coming VERY SOON to your inbox!

What a month, y'all, and unfortunately not my best reading month quality-wise. (Notice how several of my favorites of the month are rereads. Hmph.) Here's what I read in August, and what I'm hoping to get to in September. My favorites are starred. Books marked with a * were gifted to me and books marked with a ^ I was paid to read.

Where There's Room For Us by Hayley Kiyoko*

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston* (reread)

Together We See by Ari Tison*

Out Of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch*

The Price of Mercy by Tristen Hannah^

Fair Market Value by Hailey Edwards*

Chaos by Constance Fay*

⭐ This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (reread)

⭐ Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel*

⭐ Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman (reread)

Acts Of Service by Lillian Fishman*

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams*

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil*

⭐ Catch The Devil by Pamela Colloff*

⭐ The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (reread)

Stories Of A Devoted Mother: From The Kovno Ghetto to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn by Diane Cypkin^

The theme of September's TBR is "holy shit I am years behind on ARCs but also look at everything publishing in the next few weeks!"

The Four Wives And Five Deaths of Richard Milford by Nafissa Thompson-Spires* - I've been recommending Thompson-Spires' short story collection HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE since it came out in 2018, and I'm so pumped to get to read a full novel (novella?) from her. I know it's gonna be smart, funny, and dramatic.

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram* - I'll admit I've been putting this one off because it sounds so heavy. It has great reviews, though, and I love how Khorram writes the emotional inner lives of young men.

She's A Doll by Barbara Truelove* - Truelove's debut novel, OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES, was unexpectedly delightful, and this book sounds even more unhinged. Bonus: It's published by Bindery Books' @Jaysen Headley !

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm* - Okay, maybe the theme for September reading is actually going to be "what is the most unhinged thing I can read" because this sounds like it's gonna be up there.

Punished by Ann-Helen Laestadius* - TBH I don't know if I'm going to be in the mood for a long, heavy book like this, but I have been kind of back on my true crime shit lately. A historical fiction novel inspired by crimes of the government sounds like a good replacement for so much of the pro-cop stuff out there.

Coffeeshop In An Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee* - Been meaning to read this sapphic cozy fantasy since it came out last year, and the start of fall seems like a good time to finally do it.

One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford* - Speaking of fall arriving, let's get into the spirit with a horror read. Yeah, I wanna read about this lady secretly trying to keep her undead husband alive after the zombie apocalypse!

Carried over from last month's TBR: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova, and Long Division by Kiese Laymon. Currently reading carryovers: Redshirts by John Scalzi.

Hey gang,

Anyone fancy a physical arc of THE WOLVES OF WAR? 👀

Write below!

Head and Heart,

Ed and Will

Hello everyone!

September starts tomorrow, and so we wanted to make sure to share the book of the month! As a reminder, September's theme is Back to Our Roots! With that said, our September book, as voted by the community, is...

WILD SEED by Octavia E. Butler!

Doro is an entity who changes bodies like clothes, killing his hosts by reflex or design. He fears no one until he meets Anyanwu. Anyanwu is a shapeshifter who can absorb bullets and heal with a kiss and savage anyone who threatens her. She fears no one until she meets Doro. Together they weave a pattern of destiny (from Africa to the New World) unimaginable to mortals.

Make sure to get a copy of Wild Seed and join us as we read it this month! Support your local library, or you can support Feminist Book Club by purchasing it on Libro.fm or Bookshop.org.

Happy reading!

Friends! Enemies! Everyone in between!

I hope you're all doing as best as you can be and taking care of yourselves. It's time to vote for the October book club!

Sunny’s Book Club is a monthly book club highlighting both new releases and backlist titles we love. A virtual discussion is hosted over Zoom on the last Sunday of the month.

A new physical book will be shipped to you (or available for in store pickup) the month prior to when this month’s book club will take place. The October pick will ship the last week of September to ensure you have the entire month to read the book.

The link for sign up is not a subscription service, you opt in on a monthly basis dependent on your interest in that months chosen title. We do however have a recurring book club subscription if you are interested here.

An urgent and electrifying must-read with shades of Octavia Butler and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Library journal calls it "a modern cousin of The Handmaid's Tale."

In 2086, corporations are monitoring fertility. Abortion is illegal. And the last woman alive who can perform the procedure is in hiding.

Seven years ago, midwife Mae Bastet was arrested for infanticide in the fractious Arizona Territory for providing health care to women in need. She was torn from her sons and sent to Buzzard--an experimental private prison deep in the Sonoran Desert, run by the paramilitary corporation Obsityan.

Desperate to reunite her family, Mae tries to keep her head down, swallow her prison-issued hormone supplements, and do her job as a glorified school nurse to Obsityan's army of teenage drone pilots. But when mysterious, improbable pregnancies begin cropping up in her charges, she uncovers a web of secrets that has the power to destroy Obsityan. Mae must choose: stay complicit in Obsityan's crimes or hold fast to her midwife principles and risk never seeing her sons again.

Buzzard is a ferocious dystopian debut that traces the possible trajectory of our current political and technological reality--and the power of our deepest human bonds.

A disquieting, atmospheric debut horror novel about a young woman investigating her mother’s disappearance at an abandoned Nevada observatory, for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Mariana Enriquez

On a scorched summer day, Renata Scarborough comes home to find the contents of her estranged mother Corinne’s life on her doorstep. Her aunt and cousin seem eager to conclude that the troublesome Corinne is dead. Renata isn’t convinced and begins poring over her mother’s journals for answers. Among descriptions of Corinne’s work at the McNairy Observatory, Renata unearths a hidden obsession with an early twentieth-century surveyor whose encounters with a mysterious entity bear a startling resemblance to her mother’s reports. Compelled beyond reason, Renata journeys to that now-abandoned outpost in the Nevada wilderness to search for the truth.

But in McNairy, a thorny, decades-long clash between science and the desert only complicates Renata’s questions. The town’s scarred and suspicious residents refuse to discuss the observatory’s closure, leaving Renata to wonder if Corinne’s version of events reflects reality. As she ascends the peak that looms over McNairy, Renata witnesses unnerving phenomena she can’t explain and feels a creeping dread that what is waiting for her isn’t her mother at all.

Haunting, darkly comic, and captivating, Observer reveals the pure cosmic terror of the desert, a place of wonder and menace, asking what happens when we look out at nature and find something inhuman looking back.

A BBC must-read book of 2026—"Sharp, dark and humorous, it's a real nail-biter."

Go gay. Go sad. Go dark.

A washed-up author will stop at nothing to claw her way back to relevancy—even if it means appropriating a young gay man’s tragic story.

Mallory Maddox is buried under seven years of writer’s block. With her status as a literary sensation fizzling, she’ll do anything she can to resurrect her career. Inspiration needs to strike—and fast.

Enter Leo. He’s a struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for. 

Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. The world needs Leo’s story right now, and Mallory believes she deserves to tell it. Really, it’s her story—she’s the one who wrote it, after all. 

But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide how far she will go to pen the perfect story.  A razor-sharp satirical thriller, Fruit Fly will appeal to fans of R. F. Kuang’s Yellowface and Yomi Adegoke’s The List.

The Love Witch meets Monstrilio in Bruja's Nest, where a young woman's abuse history and ambition erupt into body horror, class war, and monstrous motherhood.

Raised amidst poverty, alcoholism, and sexual abuse, Yolanda is determined to seize control of her future. When she starts work as an indentured servant on the Fernández De la Rosa estate, she realizes she can secure a place as the lady of the house: with a spell from the local bruja, she can trick their naive son into getting her pregnant.

But the fertility ritual--piercing her flesh, tucking a rooster's heart inside herself--begets more than she expected. Yolanda's body swells and seethes with infection, her few allies dwindle, and she delivers a massive egg under the watchful eye of Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death. The hacienda where she's been promised a permanent home is full of blasphemies, secrets, and bodies, and the family she's tied herself to is loyal only to wealth and power.

But Yolanda will do anything to protect her child, who deserves the love and safety she never had. Even if everyone insists he's a monster.

Four very compelling choices! Happy voting and remember we are reading Switzy by Emma Cline in September. Today is the last day to sign up on our website. You never have to buy the book from Sunny's to pariticpate in book club, we just love it when you do.

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