Hi, Book Lovers! Browse My Site Index of Book Reviews & Projects
By a novelist studying great works, revising my book, & sharing writing tips 😊
🌍Welcome to my worlds. 🛸
Enter the SubStack Where You Choose My Next Read:
How does a writer read the books of others?
I love a great story just like you, but the difference is that I like to analyze what keeps readers turning the pages. My reviews are bullshit-free with bonus actionable writing tips at the end of each post. I read and review one book per month, and YOU get to vote on which one it is. I support local libraries, so all book nominations are completely random selections that support books written by humans, for humans.
Plus…I’ll also be sharing what an author’s journey is actually like. (NOT all the glamorized versions of it) over here in the section called:
I can’t wait to share my books with you! Until my revisions are complete, we have lots of other books out there to discuss, so…
Vote on my monthly read & join in on my journey.
📚Here’s a full list of my book reviews by genre:
Fantasy:
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett was a fantasy comedy featuring golems coming alive.
Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is a historical fantasy with pirates set around the 12th-century Arabian Sea.
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas was a Historical Gothic Romance/ Fantasy I adored.
The Binding by Bridget Collins was a Historical Literary Fantasy featuring a wonderful gay romance (m/m).
Sci-Fi:
Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams is everything I ever wanted in a sequel to one of my favorite comedies: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Urban fantasy:
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo was a terrifying Horror-Mystery set in the real-world Yale University with secret-society magic (a.k.a. dark academia).
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is exceptional Literary Fantasy / magical realism with a gay romance! This book takes place around various real New York City locations and universities, featuring a hidden “second-world” of magic.
Contemporary:
The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews was a moving Contemporary YA drama.
The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell was a Contemporary Rom-Com.
Rich & Pretty by Rumaan Alam was Literary Fiction satirizing young NYC women socialites.
Historical Fiction:
Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce was Historical Fiction based on the true story of serial killer Belle Gunness.
The Outsider by Howard Fast was Historical Fiction around the effects of Oppenheimer’s project and the nuclear spy trials on the U.S. Jewish community.
The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas was Historical Fiction set around the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
The Story of Chicago May by Nuala O’Faolain was a biography of the most famous Irish female thief of the early 1900s.
Merivel by Rose Tremain was Literary Historical Fiction in the reign of King Charles during the 1600s, filled with sex and scandals around Versailles as well.
📝My progress in revisions (updated monthly)
“Uncensored/ what it’s actually like turning original universes in your head into books people want to read.”
In Fall 2020, I started drafting my current project, a Gothic-Romance Thriller/Fantasy set in 1938 Paris. I worked on other projects in between drafts for a few months here and there until I finally finished it.
In 2023, I had 3 generous alpha readers give me feedback on the whole piece! Since then, I’ve been submerged in developmental revisions.
March 2024: I put in 80 total hours in solving world-building plot holes to connect all the remaining dots together in my revision-organization notes!
April 2024 goal: To top 80 hours this month and work on this full-time 😊 …& (May update:) I did work >80 hours! 🎉
May 2024 goal: To finishing the backbone of filling in my core conflicts for every scene in the book.
🧰I’m building a developmental editing tool for your book:
I’m developing a master template and beginners’ course on how to track your progress in revisions without losing your mind. You know that feeling when you’ve just finished a book and don’t know how you’re ever going to determine when it’s done? I got tired of asking this question, so I built a concrete framework to answer that question myself once and for all.
I’m making a big draft overview tool that works to identify when all the plot holes are patched, whether you’re neurodivergent, a plotter, or a pantser. Then you’ll know what your book needs the most so that you can ask beta readers more helpful questions moving forward. It allows you to work in any order you want without getting lost!
The course will be done when my book is done (because then I will have tested out every part of it thoroughly and received feedback from a LOT of others in my community, agents, editors, etc.)
More links to come here later…
🔎My book coaches & favorite writer resources:
I joined in on a lifetime membership plan to the Tenacious Writers community, led by book coaches
and . These two started GoldenMay Editing, which I first noticed when they helped the now multiple-time NYT bestselling author J. Elle with her debut novel Wings of Ebony. (This book is amazing; go read it!)You can find out all about their Tenacious Writing program novel-writing mentorship courses and live-coaching sessions (worth every penny) at this link.
They offer discounts to their program periodically, so you can use the SubStack Notes app to message me if you want more info on this.
🤩Other links to writers who inspire me:
has an exceptional SubStack series on writing and revising tips.📝Blogs: I made a huge collection of useful links to curated blogs on writing and editing tips on my Novel Writing Secrets Pinterest board here.
📕Courses: I took Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass, which is excellent if you’ve got writer’s block and want practical tips on the general craft of writing fiction. I also loved the Masterclass by Shonda Rhimes that taught me so much about story structures and pacing.
🎥Videos: My collection of Writing Resources on YouTube has 60+ videos I curated with everything from the writing mindset to powerful revision tools and software.
❓What else would you like to see in this SubStack?
Please tell me any of your special requests. Eventually, I’ll probably post some short stories or a series in here, but there are other things I could add here in the meanwhile. For example:
Would you like a paid subscription feature that gives you private feedback from me on an excerpt of your book every month?
Do you like unhinged “first thoughts” I’m having as I’m reading a book as a fun bonus feature before the final review comes out?
Are you interested in submitting questions for me to ask authors, editors, or agents in special interview pieces?
Is something like a “feel-better” series with great advice more of what you’d fancy? I know the journey of learning to write a novel and improving is often tediously long and can feel draining, so I’m always collecting bits of wisdom from others for motivational inspiration.
And if you’re looking for a writer to collaborate with on book-related topics, then please reply to this post or message me to let me know!
Cheers, Joy