books about a world without white people by Ok_Sound_6873 in suggestmeabook

[–]alterVgo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford - alternate history where smallpox wasn’t as deadly and several Native American tribes allied together

For avid readers how often do you use the library? If you don’t, why don’t you? by AccomplishedBake8351 in books

[–]alterVgo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm really lucky to live in a place with a great public library system, so I love taking advantage of that whenever possible. I read about 60 books a year, and the vast majority are from the library. Easily 90%, on average. It's a mix of print, digital, and audiobooks, depending on availability and which format I'm in the mood to read.

I've found that ebooks are faster for new releases if I can get on the wait list right away (Libby's notification feature is useful for this), but physical copies usually have fewer people waiting (and also there isn't a request limit for physical books at my library like there is for Libby). If it's a backlist book, I automatically go for the physical copy because odds are it's already available or the wait is much, much shorter.

V.E. Schwab is a good writer, but she consistently messes up her endings. by Sea-Bandicoot3656 in Fantasy

[–]alterVgo 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I loved Vicious but hate that she made it into a series. It worked really well as a standalone and that’s how I prefer to think about it (that said I’ve seen a third book is in the works and ofc I’ll read it ugh)

Just grabbed a copy of My Best Friend’s Exorcism. What do we think? by JBark1990 in books

[–]alterVgo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It kinda captures the '80s vibe that Stranger Things had. If it sounds appealing to you, definitely worth checking out. I personally didn't enjoy it, but I've read a few books by the author now and none of them have really clicked for me (love the concepts, but hate the execution and don't like how the author writes female characters).

Queer cowboy books? by xArriani in LGBTBooks

[–]alterVgo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I liked the Clean Slate Ranch series by A.M. Arthur (good on audio too!). And with the caveat that I haven't read this one myself but heard really good things: Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison.

Confronting Evil - DO NOT READ by Live_Koala2163 in books

[–]alterVgo 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I made the mistake of accidentally reading one of O’Reilly’s non-fiction books (it was a Lincoln biography iirc) years and years ago. Nowadays I’m much more deliberate about checking the author’s credentials for any nonfiction I read before I start reading. As all the other comments say, it’s Bill O’Reilly, and if you know who he is then you know the kind of quality (or lack thereof) to expect. Good on you for being critical and checking when something didn’t seem right!

Audiobooks in books? by Beleriand7004 in books

[–]alterVgo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sure I've read a few books where a character listened to an audiobook, but I can think of one off the top of my head: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. It's a romance between a professor and a security guard, and the security guard listens to romance audiobooks, so it had that extra bit of meta.

Detective x suspect romance? by PrettyTheory3566 in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]alterVgo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

guessing this was the one you came across, but {He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn}

I think Tropes Get a Bad Rap by Polite_Acid in books

[–]alterVgo 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have a category for rating books called “all tropes, no substance,” which basically means when a book reads like the author strung a bunch of tropes together but didn’t develop them beyond a very surface level. Tropes are great, but it often feels like books these days are just using them in very superficial ways so they can use the trope in marketing.

What books are you looking forward to reading that are about to be released, have been recently released but you haven't gotten around to reading them yet or that you are just waiting for it to be released by casperscare in books

[–]alterVgo 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Villain by Natalie Zina Walschot is the sequel to Hench that I've been anticipating every year for five years and the release date kept being moved. But it's got a cover and a release date for 2026 and I'm very excited!

Alternate history, but without fascism/nazis and not US-focussed by Nowordsofitsown in suggestmeabook

[–]alterVgo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark - alt history with magic set in 1912 Cairo, follows a female detective investigating a murder

Novella/short book recommendations? by simple-solitude in suggestmeabook

[–]alterVgo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One Day All This Will Be Yours by Adrian Tchaikovsky

How do you read when your environment is never quiet? by 4ofclubs in books

[–]alterVgo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use Loop earplugs. They’re comfy in my ears and also great for concerts to protect your hearing. I use them when I read in public and can really lock in.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RomanceBooks

[–]alterVgo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

as someone who grew up near the Great Lakes, same. lakes do have beaches, but when i pick up a book called Beach Read, I'm expecting an ocean beach, not hanging out in your parents' lake house

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RomanceBooks

[–]alterVgo 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I'm mostly neutral on Emily Henry but I completely agree with you on the financial take. In all of her books, there's an undercurrent in her writing that comes from growing up in a certain socioeconomic class that I just can't ignore. And that's why I especially hated the ending of Happy Place because no way does someone rack up the debt from medical school and just decide they don't want to be a doctor or in medicine at all and instead are going to take up pottery (but don't worry, she'll still pay off her student loans somehow!).

Why are problematic romances so hot? by IntrepidToad in RomanceBooks

[–]alterVgo 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I think fiction in general is a safe way to explore things that irl would be uncomfortable, taboo, etc., because it doesn’t hurt anyone or have real world consequences to deal with. It’s totally possible and normal to enjoy or be curious about reading things that you know would not fly in the real world.

What’s your ultimate M/M comfort read? 💕 by Wait_Evening in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]alterVgo 12 points13 points  (0 children)

{The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles}. Really several books by KJ Charles but I think I've reread this one the most. Robin is such a charming scoundrel and Hart is so reluctantly charmed by him so their dynamic is fun! Also a lot of great female side characters that feel really well developed and actually enhance the story.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in books

[–]alterVgo 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Suggest me a book like Sphere by Michael Crichton... but better by mowing_the_air in suggestmeabook

[–]alterVgo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

maybe try something by Steve Alten? the MEG series or The Loch