Chapter #02: Good Scribes Only
The best season has (almost) arrived.
Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy.
By the time you read this, it’ll almost be fall.
So close that those of us who don’t live in sunny-void-of-all-fall-foliage SoCal can hear the sound of leaves crunching. (If you couldn’t tell, I’m jealous.) This time of year always reminds me of two things. One: I’m one of the few Black people that actually really likes pumpkin. Like really likes pumpkin. Well, except pumpkin spice lattes, funny enough. Those are absolutely terrible and I’ll shout that from the rooftops. Back to my point, i.e. two: that the best season has officially (finally!) arrived—Libra season!
Libras (like myself!) are charming and artistic if you don't already know. Giving and obsessed with bringing balance, peace, and justice to the world. We also struggle with making decisions sometimes (read: all the time.) And you know, maybe…sort of…okay, fine, are definitely control freaks. But we’re also romantics and conversationalists who love to talk and share.
Guess that explains how I ended up in your inbox every other week. In honor of this superior spectacular season, here are three very Libra book picks that hit all the previously mentioned beats—justice, charm, and romance for all.
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
In case you missed it, when Stacey Abrams isn’t out saving democracy, she writes books (steamy and otherwise.) This political thriller follows Avery Keene, a law clerk who becomes the legal guardian of a gravely ill Supreme Court justice at a critical time in Washington, DC. Shady politicians and conspiracies are not usually my favorite things, but this book was so well written that I devoured it in two days.
Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson
Part-romance, part-quarter-life-crisis with an emphasis on the quarter-life crisis part. The protagonist has spent five years in an entry-level position at a publishing house. Layoffs happen, salaries get slashed, and she’s left with some tough choices that lead to her questioning the existence of “dream jobs.” Cue lots of tears from me. Did I mention that Libras are also really sensitive? Because we are.
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
With their mutual best friend’s wedding rapidly approaching, two sworn enemies decide to call a temporary truce. Instead of constantly trading insults, the two control freaks—to sort of borrow a line from another wedding-related piece of content, The Best Man — decide to lose control and get their freak on. Cue some good ole secret lovers type fun! The banter and chemistry if off the charts in this one.
Another reason to love this time of year? Books, of course! Fall is often when some of the most anticipated reads of the year drop, and Alexis’ bank account takes yet another hit. Here are some of the titles I’m most excited about.
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
In what will surely be another great read from Jasmine Guillory, a wine-country romance starts with a vineyard co-owner discovering that her recent one-night stand is also her newest employee. Yikes!
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
The sequel to Jemisin’s fantasy, The City We Became (a truly spectacular sci-fi/fantasy read!), follows the human avatars of New York City who battle an extra-dimensional threat to the multiverse. If you enjoyed Lovecraft Country (the show), you’ll probably enjoy this too.
Anon Pls.: A Novel by DeuxMoi
A stylist assistant who faces the fallout and newfound fame that comes after she drunkenly revamps her fashion Instagram account into an anonymous source for celebrity gossip. Enough said.
Don’t mind me. Just watching Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Emmy speech again (and again.) The best tweet in reaction to the weirdos mad about the upcoming live action Little Mermaid. What (most) film & tv get so wrong about Black abortion stories. How Brit Bennett (author of The Mothers and The Vanishing Half) helped create the American Girl franchise’s latest historical character. A case for embracing your basic side this fall. And also, for allowing yourself to be bad at something.