This is a quirky micro-history-science book about beavers that I did not anticipate I was going to like, but ended up being sneakily interesting and entertaining.  Who knew that a well-written book about a strangely unique creature could be just the right amount of not-political and not-depressing to make my list of recommendations?
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This was the perfect book to fall asleep listening to. It wasn't so much that it was boring, as that the cadence of the narration is very soothing.  The author employs a writing technique in which he makes long lists of things, often the latin names for plants or animals, that might interest the hardcore biologist and botanist enthusiasts, but I found lulled me to sleep, like a lullaby.  In fact, I would listen to the same chapter several nights in a row, having not made it to the end of even one chapter before I drifted off to sleep.  I would like to say that the book was light and pleasant, as he describes at length the natural spaces that he is so drawn to--and there is something compelling about how much he loves these spaces and wants to make sure they are preserved--and yet the racism of 1901 finds its way into a world it has no business being.  This is in addition to the complete exclusion of women from the narrative in any meaningful way.  All said, I just can't recommend it.

​Not recommended.

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I didn't even know there was a genre of hockey romances and I certainly did not know that it was going to end up being a book genre that I would end up liking, but here we are.  This is, I think, the third book in the last few months that I am recommending in which there is a romance and there are hockey players.  And truly, who knew there was an entire genre of hockey romance in which consent and health reciprocal relationships was front and center?  This one also weaves in themes of the pull between traditional families with modern kids struggling to find a balance between the two, sexism in sports, and figuring out how to manage competing career tracks in relationships.  It was just a really unexpectedly fun, light romance.  Perfect bedtime or beach reading.

Recommend.
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​This is a ridiculously cute college romance.  For all the stereotypical forbidden lovers plotline, this jock frat boy meets ambitious, determined budding sports journalist whose brother is on the jock's rival team is actually remarkably fun--and a model of consent based romance, which I just love to see becoming more popular.  

Light. Sweet. Predictable for the most part.  It is a great choice for escape reading. It is slightly more steamy than a regular read, but has more of that YA feel to it.

Recommend.

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I als odid not This is a reflective memoir by a long distance, thru-hiker, which in places is sort of a micro-history of trails across contexts.  This read like a book written by someone who has spent a lot of time walking by themselves reflecting on random things and then using those ideas as the springboard to explore tangentially related things which comes back to walking for long periods of time alone in order to think more about the topic they are obsessed with.  I mean, some of it was interesting for sure, but there was just a lot of ruminating and reflecting on wildlife, snails, ants, and humans over time and space to come back to the same concept of trails.  I found it pretty pedantic, going over the same points in different contexts ad nauseam. I did enjoy the chapter on Newfoundland, while really disliking the chapter on the deer hunt. I also did not love the reverence with which he talked about indigenous concepts.  It felt oddly detached and maybe performative.  Even after reflection, I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like how he wrote those parts.  Overall, it was a very masculine reflection on a life of leisure time and isolation that just did not resonate with me.

Not recommended.

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Light romance with a heartwarming and feel good story, set against the backdrop of grief and family obligations, I liked it overall. The biggest issue with the writing was the dialogue--and I do love a writer who can write good dialogue.  I found the lack of flow in the dialogue a distraction from the rest of the writing, which, for what it was, was solid.  I think particularly in an audio book that if the dialogue doesn't feel genuine, then as a flaw it is really amplified.  Nevertheless, a fun little love story.

​Not not recommended.

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A really light, playful romance set in a snowed-in airport on Christmas Eve.  It is sweet and fun, nothing offensive (or even juicy), but nothing deep, either.  If you want something to read over the holidays without needing to put an ounce of emotional energy into, this might be for you.  

Not not recommended.

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Part of the growing number of holiday romances popping up in the last few years centering around winter holidays other than Christmas, this one was super cute.  Unlike many of the other ones I have read in this genre, this one did not feel like it was trying too hard at all. It was comfortable and I do love a gentle romance with a bookish girl and a smart guy trying to navigate their awkward meet cute and figure out a problem together.  A young editor's assistant is sent in to help an author with writer's block, but ends up meeting the author's grandson and being flung into a joint venture together just in time for the Chanukah baking and cooking season and in the midst of family loss that adds a sweet tang into the mix.  I quite enjoyed it as one of my favorite light holiday romances this year.

​Recommend.

This is a sweet, short anti-romance romance, where the everyone is with the wrong person and it takes some time for things to unwind themselves. Definitely on the cheesy side, but I can't say I didn't like it.  Soft recommendation that applies only if you are looking for sure a thing.

Recommend.

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Cute, light book when a nouveau-riche influencer meets her sister's future brother-in-law on a flight to the extended family's first Christmas together.  

​Nothing offensive, just a classic, mindless holiday romance

Not not recommended.

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