Chessa
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chessakat.bsky.social
Chessa
@chessakat.bsky.social
She/her. Public librarian, voracious reader of genre fiction, women’s barbershop baritone, enthusiastic cook & eater. In the rolling hills of SE WA state. Feminist, progressive.
FUN AT PARTIES by Jamie Harrow out 9/16/2025 from Dutton at @penguinbooksusa.bsky.social . Fun road trip romance! The reason for the road trip requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but the trip is fun and so is the romance. Work/life balance, self-worth - all good themes. #ewgc
July 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
SECRET NIGHTS AND NORTHERN LIGHTS by Megan Oliver. Out from @berkleyromance.bsky.social 11/18/2025. Another great travel romance - family friends and first loves reconnect on a work trip to Iceland. Made me want to recreate their travel itinerary! #ewgc
July 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
EVERY STEP SHE TAKES by Alison Cochrun out 9/2/25 from @atriabooks.bsky.social Super loved this queer romance set on Portugal’s Camino de Santiago- adventure romance is really having a moment! All the feels for these two, even if I did want to shake them to just tell each other how they felt! #ewgc
July 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
EW, IT’S BEAUTIFUL by Joshua Barkman out 7/15/25 from @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social I laughed so hard I cried and completely alienated my family by making them stop to read comics the entire time I was reading this darkly hilarious collection! #ewgc
July 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
PLAY NICE by Rachel Harrison coming out 9/9/25 from @berkleypub.bsky.social LOVED this haunted house book that’s really about family, grief, and memory - @rachelharrison.bsky.social is always a slam dunk for me! #EWGC
July 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Backyard lettuce season+ lilac season = 😍
April 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
PREPARING TO BITE by Keiler Roberts - out 5/13/25 from @dandq.bsky.social I found this browsing Edelweiss and cackled through the entire thing! A series of one page comics, it could seem mundane, but it’s so acerbic yet extremely human and relatable. Highly recommend. #ewgc
April 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
FLIP by Ngozi Ukazu out 9/23/25 from @firstsecond.bsky.social Ukazu is an absolute auto-read for me - her graphic novels are SO funny and full of heart. This one is more introspective and existential, but I swung wildly between giggling and feeling deeply for the MCs. A fantastic read! #ewgc
April 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
THE WITCH’S ORCHARD by Archer Sullivan - coming out 8/12/25 @stmartinspress.bsky.social
Do you like the Reacher TV show? Do you wish it was headed by a female PI and set in Appalachia? Do you like creepy & vaguely threatening things like Applehead Dolls? Check out this great mystery. #ewgc
April 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
ZOMROMCOM by Olivia Dade coming out 8/5/2025 from @berkleyromance.bsky.social I *love* a genre mashup, and this mixes paranormal romance with comedy with zombies and it is a LOT of fun! Clearly the start of a series, and I’m looking forward to the next installment. #ewgc
April 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
#EWGC THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean out 7/8/2025 from @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social MacLean’s first foray into contemporary romance, although this reads more Women’s Fiction (a weird genre distinction, but iykyk). This was HIGH DRAMA and rich people problems, so ymmv. I did love the romance
March 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
#EWGC FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS by Marisa Kanter out 5/6/2025 from @celadonbooks.bsky.social I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance! Their marriage makes too much sense on paper, but can they let themselves face the truth about their feelings? Great inclusion of dealing with family trauma.
March 6, 2025 at 10:05 PM
#EWGC SWEPT AWAY by Beth O’Leary. A hilarious and kinda absurd premise produces very fun results! I enjoyed the time on the boat the most - it goes a litttttle off the rails once they are back on land, but still a very enjoyable read! Out 4/1/2025 from @berkleyromance.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
#EWGC SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez out from @littlebrown.bsky.social 4/1/2025. A fast and furious romance complicated by a move to care for a mother with dementia. Extremely heartfelt, with real barriers the protags must overcome to be together.
March 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
YA horror novel HOW TO SURVIVE A SLASHER by Justine Pucella Winans is SUCH a fun, heartfelt ride. The mystery kept me guessing, the sweet teenage romance is swoony, and you can’t help but root for CJ and her family. Out 3/11/2025 from @bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social #ewgc #booksky💙📚
February 6, 2025 at 9:41 PM
After putting off finishing it for weeks because I didn’t want it to end, I finally finished the graphic novel SPENT by Alison Bechdel and it was SO FUNNY and so real and I can’t wait for everyone to scream about it. Out 5/20/25 from @harpercollins.bsky.social #ewgc
February 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Finished up FIRST-TIME CALLER by BK Borison last night, and what an absolute DELIGHT. Loved the strong sense of place in Baltimore, and the supporting characters are so fun and well-drawn. Out next week, 2/11/2025 from @berkleyromance.bsky.social #ewgc
February 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
January was a good reading month - luv 2 escape reality right now 💀 #booksky💙📚
February 2, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Cooked up a pound of @ranchogordo.bsky.social Garbanzos using my favorite Master Beans recipe from Molly Baz’s Cook This Book and they are so goooooood (used shallot, garlic, cilantro, leftover diner breakfast ham, parm rind, and dried chiles). Now to update the leguminati spreadsheet! 😂
January 25, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Just finished Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings - super cute contemporary romance with a snarly and snarky FMC a swoony and emotionally intelligent male love interest, set in the content creation world. Very funny! Out 8/5/2025 #BookSky
January 25, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Behold! My spreadsheet nerdery crossing over with my #RanchoGordo nerdery to produce the dream document
January 25, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Scout says hang out in front of a fireplace if you feel like it
January 23, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The peace I feel being off Facebook and Insta this week
January 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Day 10 (final!) of #LibFaves2024 : MOONBOUND by Robin Sloan @fsgbooks.bsky.social

My favorite read of 2024! If you love your fantasy with a big pinch of science fiction and your SF with a healthy dose of whimsy, please pick up this EPIC book! Epistemology, multi-dimensional thought, quests, oh my!
December 19, 2024 at 12:51 AM
Day 9 of #LibFaves2024 : BURY YOUR GAYS by @chucktingle.bsky.social @macmillanlib.bsky.social

An absolute romp of a book! Takes on corporate greed and queerness in media, all while scaring the pants off the reader in a very unsettling way! Chuck Tingle is a national treasure. Want this movie!
December 19, 2024 at 12:43 AM