Jack Edwards

Do you remember reading The Hunger Games for the very first time and just not being able to put it down? Books like that, or John Green books, you know, where you just can't stop reading.

It's one of those books like Yellowface or Yesteryear or I Who Have Never Known Man, which has such a strong premise that you need to read it. But, unlike all of those books, I think this one really sticks the landing.

It's one of those books like Yellowface or Yesteryear or I Who Have Never Known Man, which has such a strong premise that you need to read it. But, unlike all of those books, I think this one really sticks the landing.

I've been really into funny books recently, you know, books like Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte, books that analyze our current culture, but aren't afraid to poke fun at it.

Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for her book The God of Small Things, which is all about the Indian caste system, and it's a post-colonial book. It's an extraordinary book that I think about all the time.

So, this is an extraordinary book. Line by line just exquisite, a masterclass in the craft of writing if nothing else. It's also very funny.

It's one of those books like Yellowface or Yesteryear or I Who Have Never Known Man, which has such a strong premise that you need to read it. But, unlike all of those books, I think this one really sticks the landing.

This idea from a Maggie Millner poem called Couplets, where she talks about how each of your lovers, even though they may never communicate with each other, are in communication through you.

I think at its core, it's a book about what you can and cannot expect from other people. It's a book where every line is perfect.

This book right here is phenomenal. This is innovative and experimental. Each chapter kind of brings you something new.

And this book is just brimming with gorgeous writing. It tells the story of a Japanese woman who travels to Taiwan.

It's snappy and devastating but poetic and absolutely masterful. Did I sob? Yes, I did.

It is absolutely genius, I think. It's very funny. It's so bingeable.

Here's what I'll say, if you are looking for something to get you back into the habit of reading, pick up The God of the Woods because I couldn't put it down. I thought about it all the time. I was basically counting down the moments until I could read it again.

In Role Model, I think Rachel Reid really hits her stride. I was nearly ready to give up on the series at this point. This one kind of bucks that trend. Although technically I suppose the narrative arc is still the same template, this one has a lot more substance, I think.

I also think this book is a little bit forgettable. Of all of the books, I think this is the least memorable, and there are more interesting dynamics, more interesting pairings.

This is a couple you can genuinely root for and empathize with even if it does take them just a little too long to actually get together.

I do think Kip puts like a weird amount of pressure on him, and it's very Insta-lovey. It's not just cheesy, but an entire charcuterie board. I just needed it to feel a little bit more realistic, I think.

It really does keep you on your toes. You really are rooting for these two. It's fast-paced, it's swoon-worthy, but with understandable bumps in the road, I think.

In this book, Rachel Reid is detailing a relationship between two people with deep affection for one another. And while their physical chemistry is undeniable, their emotional connection is even more intimate, I think. And that's what makes this my favorite.

I recommended Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna, which is one of my favorite books that I read in 2024.

And this book is just so brilliant. It also won the Dylan Thomas Prize. So if you won't take my word for it, take theirs.

It challenges our perception of what a family could or should or can look like and it's so heartfelt and excellent. I've described this before as Brat in a book.

And yet it's a reminder that greatness can be concise. Ostensibly simple prose can speak to the very depths of our soul. I'm so glad I found this book or maybe it found me.