Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

When someone tries to put all their ideas and research into one novel

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

by Leave a Comment

Bingo Square: Justice (there’s systemic oppression, a character unjustly punished for crime, ideas about legality vs morality) Southern Lit Book club is starting back up for the fall session and this was the first book. While I enjoyed The Help when it came out, I also think the later critiques were valid, and wasn’t exactly in a huge hurry for this one but book club was a nice excuse to read this. And it’s a bit of mixed reaction – it’s fine but I was […]

Late to the party, but still at the party!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

by 2 Comments

Each year, my spouse and I pick out five books for each other to read. The Wedding People was on my 2026 list, so here we are! A great recommendation. Five stars. It’s almost like she knows me. I know this was a monster book in 2024, so you probably already know about it. If you are one of the uninitiated like I was, The Wedding People is a feel-good dramedy set in a fancy Rhode Island hotel. As you can probably guess, pretty much all […]

I, a lactose intolerant person, love this book so much I made a cheese board for it

World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade

by 4 Comments

The thing that struck me pretty early in World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon, was that there was no internal barrier to a relationship between Gwen and Hugh, it was all external. Hugh and Gwen met once just before the most humiliating moment of Gwen’s life. But as soon as Gwen walks back into Hugh’s life 20 years later, it’s very clear that he’s all in. There will be no third act break up, he will make any and all adjustments to keep Gwen in […]

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m weird. I’m a weirdo. I don’t fit in, and I don’t want to fit in.

Knot Mine (The Oakley-Verse #1) by Alice La Roux

by Leave a Comment

CBR18 Book Bingo: Middle – Zale stays in the middle, never causing problems but ignoring what he wants for the sake of popularity and fitting in. Shiloh is whatever the opposite is of “the life of the party.” He snaps at people before they can tear him down. It doesn’t help that his endlessly-lovable twin sister, Milly, is an omega who has the alphas at their small college eating out of her hand while Shiloh is the antisocial beta sibling. Milly’s boyfriend Zale – the […]

Dark But Also Sweet

Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

by 1 Comment

Rating: 4 Stars In a nutshell: Gilda is anxious. Or maybe depressed? Or perhaps having a heart attack? She’s definitely unemployed and needs a job. So why not a Catholic church receptionist? Perfect for a gay atheist. Best for: Those who liked books like “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” Quote that made me think: “I am smiling despite it. I am presenting as happy because people prefer that.” “I find it so bizarre that I occupy space, and that I am seen by other people.” […]

Some novellas as a little treat

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher

by 1 Comment

CBR Bingo: Repair – In Automatic Noodle, the characters not only literally work to repair themselves and each other because they are robots who need repair after a few months of being shut down, but they also work to repair the reputation of their restaurant so they can grow it into a thriving establishment. CBR Bingo: Refuge – In Nine Goblins, Sings-To-Trees has created a refuge where magical and non-magical creatures alike can come for help. Automatic Noodle Automatic Noodle takes places in the not-too-distant […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo