On June 13th, Libro.fm is celebrating Audiobook Month with a global audiobook walk! Audiobooks are my favorite way to consume stories, and I am so excited to celebrate them on the 13th with a stroll. 🥳

Last week, I asked my Bindery community for their audiobook recommendations, and I wanted to share them and some of my favorites with you all in case you need some recs for the walk (or just want to add to your audiobook TBR!):

My Bindery community recommends:

• @Sawyer loves Billy Porter’s Unprotected (narrated by the author)

• @Readingwithlori loves Legendary by Stephanie Garber (narrated by Rebecca Soler) and The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera (narrated by Frankie J. Alvarez, Kyla Garcia, and Anthony Rey Perez)

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West)

• Taste by Stanley Tucci (narrated by the author)

I recommend:

• Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (narrated by Katie Anvil Rich, DeLanna Studi, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Darrell Dennis, Elva Guerra, Erin Tripp, and Jordan Waunch) - A welcoming, sweeping collection of interconnected stories with Native pride, food, and love.

• Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England (narrated by Dani Martineck) - A queer, heartwarming, and cozy fantasy filled with farmer's market trips and delicious treats.

• The Children by Melissa Albert (narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Saskia Maarleveld, Kristen Sieh, Leslie Aleman, and Iggy Costello) - A twisty and haunting novel perfect for readers who love dark fairytales that feel like fever dreams.

• Shim Jung Takes the Dive by Julia Riew (narrated by the author) - A hopeful, whimsical, and enchanting middle-grade fantasy with Korean folklore.

• A Potion, A Powder, a Little Bit of Magic by Philip C. Stead (narrated by Daniel Henning) - A quirky, creative, and magical middle-grade tale.

• Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin - A poignant, thoughtful, and charged yet peaceful literary fiction novel.

• The Summer of Lost Things by Jenn Bennett (narrated by Allie Shae) - An addictive and adventurous treasure-hunt romance perfect for summertime.

What are you listening to this Saturday? 🎧🫶

Happy Pride Month! To celebrate, I wanted to share some stories I love written by and/or featuring queer authors and characters:

• No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe - An exhilarating thriller with cinematic adventure and a delightful sapphic romance.

• The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder - An action-packed and heartfelt YA retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” perfect for fans of Indiana Jones.

• A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar - A simultaneously heartwarming and heart-wrenching YA historical novel set on the Titanic with a riveting heist and sapphic love.

• Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan - A fun, sexy second-chance sapphic romance with a hilarious cast and vivid small-town setting.

• The Incandescent by Emily Tesh - An atmospheric, enchanting dark academia fantasy with an addictive sapphic romance and captivating magic system.

• Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall - A creative, strange (complementary), and fever dream-esque sci-fi retelling of Moby-Dick.

• The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap - A gripping, gothic historical fiction novel with murder and a dark academia atmosphere set in Scotland, 1828.

• To the Bone by Alena Bruzas - A heartbreaking and unsettling YA historical fiction novel with a tender sapphic romance and powerful portrayal of Colonial America.

• An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields - A sweeping, irresistible dark academia fantasy set in a queer-normative world.

• No Better Than Beasts by Z.R. Ellor - A vicious, darkly mesmerizing retelling of "The Nutcracker."

• Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood - An achingly beautiful and wildly entertaining fantasy infused with Greek mythology, love, and tragedy.

• This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings - A sumptuous yet gritty YA historical fantasy set in Jazz Age Harlem with vampires, sapphic romance, and female rage.

• The Marble Queen by Anna Kopp; illustrated by Gabrielle Kari - A swoony, stunning YA fantasy graphic novel with gorgeous illustrations and sapphic romance.

• Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald - An empowering, romantic, and fierce YA retelling of Hades and Persephone.

What are you reading this Pride Month? 🫶

Happy Friday, friends! One of my most anticipated reads of the year, These Kindred Hearts, releases on June 30, and I wanted to put it on your radar, too.

These Kindred Hearts: 17 Tales of Love and Magic features stories by Alexene Farol Follmuth (Olivie Blake), Angela Montoya, Brent Lambert, Chelsea Padilla, Cheryl Isaacs, Jamar J. Perry, Jennifer Helen, Jill Tew, Kalynn Bayron, Kwame Mbalia, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Nia Davenport, Nikki T. Grant, Shari B. Pennant, Sophie Li, Vanessa Montalban, and Zoraida Córdova.

I'm truly obsessed with the incredible lineup! I'm already a huge fan of some of the amazing authors' work, but I haven't read quite a few, so I'm very excited to discover new favorites. Anthologies are one of the best ways to find your new favorite author (and escape a reading slump!).

I cannot wait to dive into these swoony and spellbinding stories! 🫶

Thank you to Sweet July and Zando Books for the free review copy!

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, and to celebrate, Libro.fm is hosting a global audiobook walk on June 13! Listening to an audiobook is my favorite way to read, and I want to know...what's your favorite audiobook?

My goal is to make a list of favorites from the Bindery community to share before the walk! I would be so grateful if you took a second to comment below with your favorite audiobook (bonus points if it's a rec for Pride Month!). 🥰

Wherever you are, I hope you also join me for the Audiobook Walk on the 13th! 🥳

Happy Audiobook Appreciation Month, and Happy Pride Month!

P.S. Please let me know if you'd like me to include your name and/or social handle with your recommendation. 🫶

With a day left in AANHPI Heritage Month, I wanted to share some more of my favorite AANHPI reads to continue the celebration all year long! 🫶🏼

• The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia by Leia Ham - A captivating, witty, and magical middle-grade fantasy with stunning illustrations that explores family, friendship, and the weight of expectations. (Leia will join me for an Instagram live on June 12th to discuss and celebrate TMMoSX! We hope you join us. 🥳)

• The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro (translated by Yuka Maeno) - A hopeful, entertaining, and cozy novel of food, love, and the power of friendship inspired by the author’s own breakup story.

• Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - An emotional, sea-swept SFF novel of sisterhood and salvation set in Earth’s future after an ecological disaster.

• Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong - A cinematic, sweeping YA contemporary fantasy with ghosts, Malaysian folklore, and friends-to-lovers romance.

• Shim Jung Takes the Dive by Julia Riew - A whimsical, heartfelt middle-grade fantasy with Korean folklore and captivating adventure set in an underwater kingdom.

• Midnight, at the War by Devi S. Laskar - An emotional, thought-provoking novel following a journalist set soon after 9/11.

• Dinner with an Astronaut by Leroy Chiao with Victoria Bruce - An entertaining and informative memoir of Leroy Chiao, one of the first Asian American astronauts, filled with witty anecdotes and thoughtful insight into space exploration.

• Morbid Curiosities by S. Hati - An addictive, creative, and emotional YA thriller set in San Francisco with a haunting STEM dark academia atmosphere.

Happy AANHPI Heritage Month!

Thank you to HTP Books, Fierce Reads, Mariner Books, Epic Reads, Macmillan Audio, Crown Publishing, and Scholastic Press for the free review copies!

As Pride Month approaches, I wanted to share one of my all-time favorite YA romances that’s perfect for Pride Month: And They Were Roommates by Page Powars. I finished ATWR in 2025, and it remains one of the funniest, most delightful, and most welcoming stories I’ve read. 🥰

The paperback of ATWR just released on May 26, and Page’s next YA romcom, But I Hate Him, releases in August. It’s the perfect time to pick up ATWR for your Pride Month TBR (and preorder But I Hate Him!). 🥳

Thank you to Fierce Reads and Ro Romanello PR for sending me free copies of And They Were Roommates and But I Hate Him!

With a little over a week left in May, I wanted to share some of the incredible AANHPI stories on my TBR to continue celebrating AANHPI voices all year long!

*Pitches from the publishers.

• Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow - Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first installment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology. (Strange Familiars is also the July pick for Musings of the Nine Book Club! Keshe will join the club to comment insight about Strange Familiars and chat with the club as we read. We hope you join us!)

• For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow - In this romantic, gothic fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights, a teen girl with the power to move between life and death must journey into the afterlife. But to survive, she’ll need the help of her two sworn enemies—both dangerously captivating, both hiding secrets that could destroy her.

• Unfinished Business by Clare Osongo - In this funny, warmly chaotic tale of love, a floundering office worker discovers her mother's ghost is trapped in the company Slack server, and must free her by resolving her own troubled love life.

• The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng - An ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female F1 champion finds her plans going off track when she catches feelings for her biggest competition in this dishy, delicious contemporary romance for fans of love, Lynn Painter, and Lewis Hamilton.

• The Revenant of Surolifia by Florence Chien - In the vein of The Traitor Baru Cormorant and The Unbroken, The Revenant of Surolifia is a gripping political fantasy of empire, identity, and impossible choices, where rebellion blazes in the streets, loyalty is a double-edged sword, and the price of peace may be too steep to pay.

• The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi - In this heart-pounding, richly imagined fantasy set in the Belle Époque, a trapeze artist fights to win a deadly tournament amid the glamour and illusions of a magical circus. But survival isn’t her only goal—she wants revenge.

• Witch Daughter by Tanaz Bhathena - In her adult debut, award-winning author Tanaz Bhathena expertly weaves a tale of love and loss in ancient Persia with her take on the timeless tragedy of Tahmineh, a temptress, a witch, a victim, or, perhaps, a woman trying her hardest to protect her loved ones.

• Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari - A fierce Indian queen must defend her country against both the colonizing monsters attacking from the sea and the cowardly manipulations of a neighboring king…who happens to be her husband.

• The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham - A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world.

• A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese - Inspired by medieval India’s most epic love stories, this debut Romantasy blends rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. Perfect for fans of Nisha J. Tuli and Tasha Suri.

• The Book of Fallen Leaves by A.S. Tamaki - Shogun meets Game of Thrones in this epic fantasy debut of ambition, vengeance, and sacrifice.

• Coldwire by Chloe Gong - The start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.

• The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim - In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.

• Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang - The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.

• Double Happiness by Heather Eng - Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself.

• Brighter Than Nine (sequel to Darker By Four) by June C.L. Tan - The Shadowhunter Chronicles meets the Chinese underworld, drawing inspiration from diaspora folklore, in this epic, sweeping contemporary fantasy duology.

• Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen - XO, Kitty meets Dash & Lily in this rom com about two teens falling in love via letters left in their favorite library books—even if in real life they think they have nothing in common.

• Roar by Varsha Bajaj - The gripping story of a boy whose eye-opening trip to a tiger sanctuary ignites his desire to join those who are roaring to protect the animals.

• Babel by R.F. Kuang - A historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire.

• Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim - A mother and daughter must break their family’s curse through trials of war and immigration, love, loss, and redemption in this riveting multi-generational saga with a shimmer of magic.

• The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe - In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name.

• Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker - In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

Happy AANHPI Heritage Month!

If you want to experience the past, I highly recommend reading A. Rae Dunlap's The Resurrectionist—a haunting, gothic debut set in 1828 in Scotland. With chilling anatomical descriptions, a hilarious cast, and a touching queer love story, it is absolutely mesmerizing.

If you want to explore the future, I highly recommend reading Veronica Roth's Seek the Traitor’s Son—a sweeping dystopian fantasy set on a futuristic Earth. Blending romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopian, it is an irresistible genre-straddling story.

The audiobooks of both are incredible! Seek the Traitor's Son features a spectacular full-cast narration, and Tom Kiteley's performance in The Resurrectionist could not have been more captivating.

Seek the Traitor's Son releases on May 12, and while you wait, The Resurrectionist is available now!

As flowers bloom and baby birds hatch, welcome spring (and continue the Earth Month celebration) with these brilliant books that highlight the power and beauty of nature! S0me are darker, and some are cozier, but all of them are captivating stories that will sweep you away. 🫶🏼

• Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee - Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe is a spellbinding, cozy YA fantasy with sapphic love, magic, and a powerful exploration of doing one’s part to take care of the planet in the face of climate change.

• Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes - Is It Spring? is a calming, peaceful, and captivating children’s book that emphasizes the importance of patience, hope, and nature.

• Metamorphosis: Climate Fiction for a Better Future edited by Grist - Metamorphosis is a thoughtful, immersive short story anthology filled with hopeful, creative stories that present an alternative future of “sustainability, inclusivity, and justice.”

• The Tear Collector by R.M. Romero - Set after the end of the world, The Tear Collector is a middle-grade cli-fi tale of monsters, love, memories, and hope.

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy - Eerie, rainy, romantic, mysterious, and atmospheric, Wild Dark Shore is a gripping cli-fi psychological thriller with powerful descriptions of the nature, weather, and animals of Shearwater (a tiny island near Antarctica).

• Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee - Heiress of Nowhere is an immersive, sea-swept YA historical mystery with lush descriptions of the nature of Orcas Island.

• Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley - Capturing the real-life magic and joy of gardening, Burn the Kingdom Down features a captivating plant magic system (as well as swoon-worthy romance and addictive adventure).

• When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery - Brimming with botany, Black history, and anecdotes from Montgomery’s life, When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy is an eye-opening and entertaining non-fiction read.

• Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - Set in Earth’s sea-consumed future, Saltcrop is a sweeping, vivid story of sisterhood, sailing, and Earth’s environmental salvation.

• The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley - Propulsive and vivid, The Island of Last Things is a creative dystopian novel following two zookeepers at Earth’s last zoo.

• Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves by Jaap de Roode - Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves is an enlightening, fascinating, and fun read that blends medicine, evolution, agriculture, and animals.

• Brewed with Love by Shelly Page - Witches, sapphic love, and a delightful mystery meet in Brewed with Love, a cozy YA fantasy with a magic system inspired by the properties of redwood trees.

• The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields - Cozy, romantic, and witchy, The Honey Witch is a spellbinding fantasy with a bee-filled magic system.

• Weyward by Emilia Hart - Weyward is a powerful, irresistible novel following three women across five centuries that centers on the power of women, nature, and magic.

• The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen - Haunting, magical, and immersive, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is a twisty historical fantasy with a wonderfully eerie plant magic system perfect for fans of The Secret Garden.

• Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos - Cozy, sapphic, and atmospheric, Homegrown Magic is a welcoming and sweeping fantasy with garden magic and found family.

• Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood - With monsters, mythology, and a harrowing adventure through a Jamaican jungle, Wildblood is a gripping YA novel.

• Wild Is the Witch by Rachel Griffin - Set in the Pacific Northwest, Wild Is the Witch is an enchanting adventure with lush descriptions of Washington’s mountains, banter, only-one-tent, and the cutest owl.

Happy reading, and let me know which books you're reading this season! 🫶🏼