1. What are you currently reading?

• The Apothecary Diaries vol. 2 (LN) by Natsu Hyuuga: the more Apothecary Diaries I engage with across adaptations, the more I'm starting to think that the problem here is just... I don't actually like Maomao very much, and I also think it irks me (not the book's fault) how often I see her touted as such ~excellent~ autism rep and how relatable she is. I know the folks saying that are ultimately talking about themselves but idk I really really really don't find her relatable. It comes back to: I want to see these characters grow and change, especially Maomao, and them not doing so is annoying to me. It keeps hovering right on the edge of "why am I still reading it if I don't like it that much?" because I DO like it enough to keep reading, but only barely. Idk.
• The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin: I'm stalled. Ostensibly it's because I have three novels on Libby rn and they're gonna come due, whereas this I own and it can wait, but also I really didn't like multiple things about the previous chapter, and with the amount of book left I have no idea how everything that's been introduced can possibly be satisfactorily resolved. All in all, this has felt more like the idea of a book instead of an actual book. It's like how people will be like "fanfic authors, did you know, you don't have to write the whole thing, you actually can just skip to all the parts you're excited for and leave the rest out and it's okay because this is all for fun!" and that's what it feels like happened to the book except while I'll tolerate it in a fanfic it really doesn't work in a novel. It's disappointing, because I thought the first one was much stronger than this.
• 盗墓笔记 vol. 2 by 南派三叔: keeping at it, tho I'm behind my page-a-day pace. Oh well.

2. What have you recently finished reading?

You can tell I wasn't enjoying my novel reads much cause I read so much manga.  

• Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! vol. 15 by Yuu Toyota
• Dandadan vol. 8 by Yukinobu Tatsu
• My Love Mix-Up! vol. 8 and 9 by Aruko: finally got the last two volumes of this through Libby. The amnesia fake out in vol. 9 nearly made me furious enough to rage quit, I'm glad it was a fake out. The pacing on vol. 9 still felt off, tho, but oh well. A cute series, all in all.
• SHWD episode 1 by sono.N: modern paranormal, GL. This was kinda a mess, there kept being logical leaps between panels and the way it talked about women in the workplace was just weird. If the episodes were longer I'd probably not bother keeping on but it's only 4 episodes long and each episode is only about 40 pages so I guess I'll read at least one more.
• Sakamoto Days vol. 18 by Yuto Suzuki
• Cute but Not Cute by Senmu Sakishita: modern BL. Two unpleasant people making each other less pleasant. Y'all know I like toxic but this was so meh.
• The White and Blue Between Us by Kiyuhiko: modern BL. Another mediocre BL, premised on one character lying to the other to break up with him and then their reunion years later. Random pointless rape for no reason? This all seemed so pointless and bad.
• Star and Hedgehog by Nayuta Nago: modern BL. After reading the other two, this was a breath of fresh air. Very cute, likeable characters, good chemistry.
• Kase-san and Bento (Kase-san vol. 2) by Hiromi Takashima: more jealousy, more insecurity, the constant circling back to these themes is so annoying.
• Murderous Lewellyn's Candlelit Dinner manhwa vol. 2 to 6 by Sumnagi: okay so I went to the library yesterday, and was like !!!! cause they had vol 2 and 3 and I'd really liked vol 1 when I read it last summer, and so I read those, and nope couldn't stop, pirated the rest, and oh dayum. I might have a new obsession. They're such precious fucked up hurt/comfort murder beans, I love them.

3. What will you be reading next?

Novels: I have Apothecary Diaries vol. 2 and 3 and The Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault (which I started last month) on Libby, so I gotta read those. (...when I went to check Libby I discovered my hold of A Drop of Corruption has also come through so now four, FOUR novels due imminently on Libby, hahaaaaa)

Graphic Novels (Physical): I haven't actually put my new library loans in a coherent pile yet so I'm not sure, but I'm most excited about Spy x Family vol. 15 so odds are that'll be next.

Graphic Novels (Libby): A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow vol. 4 by Makoto Hagino is due in 4 days, and Flip by Ngozi Ukazu is due in five days, so. Definitely those, at least.

Our Kickstarter to fund our release of the Twinned trilogy by Tris Lawrence is entering its final 48 hours! We’ve hit our base goal handily, and we’re $70 from our first stretch goal as of when this post is being written. We’d love your help in reaching that stretch goal, and beyond!

Welcome to Pine Hills University, where magic changes and danger lurks!

Be among the first to get the print version of Into the Split! Back our Kickstarter today, before time runs out!

For the third and final book of the Twinned trilogy by Tris Lawrence, there’s a lot I can’t say because shhhh, spoilers! But here’s a taste of the tropes and events I thought y’all might like a sneak peek of.

Our Kickstarter campaign is funding the first-ever print edition of Into the Split. Become a backer and get the whole trilogy!

Only three days left to back! This campaign ends at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time on January 28th.

Missed Fortunes is the second book of the Twinned trilogy. Yesterday, we shared some tropes and representation from the first book, Commit to the Kick. One guess what we’ll be sharing tomorrow! Each book is about the same group of friends at the same university, but each has a different point of view characters! Don’t worry, though, your faves from each book don’t go away.

We’re currently running a Kickstarter to fund this trilogy. If you haven’t taken a peek at it yet, there’s no time like the present! (Especially because the campaign ends in 4 days!)