Rake I’d Like to F… by Sierra Simone, Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe

Summary from Goodreads: He’s a legend in the raking . . .

The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind – Sierra Simone: Peregrine Hind, known to all as the bloodiest highwayman ever to bedevil the road, seeks only one thing—revenge against the Dartham family. And so when a robbery sends the second Dartham son and notorious rakehell Alexander Dartham tumbling to Peregrine’s feet, it seems like fate has given Peregrine his vengeance at last. Except then Alexander offers him a desperate bargain: to kidnap him instead, so Peregrine can harvest a generous ransom from Alexander’s family first. Peregrine agrees, but he’s in no way prepared for a captive like Alexander, who insists only on the softest beds and the finest wines…and who enjoys being tied up a little too much…

Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell – Eva Leigh: The last thing Mrs. Vivian Sparkwell wants is to tie her life to another stifling husband. But thanks to the surprise terms of her last marriage contract, if she refuses any reasonable offer to wed again, she loses her widow’s portion. What she needs is a thorough and public ruining to make her would-be suitors cry off. Who better to provide the necessary scandal than notorious rake Rushton Cantley? Yet when Rush proposes that his friend, gaming hell bruiser Jack Morgan, join in on the ruination, Vivian can’t decide if she’s shocked—or aroused. How far is too far when infamy is on the line?

A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse – Nicola Davidson: London playwright and notorious rake Lennox Townsend is renowned for bold melodrama and bolder pleasures. When he loses interest in both, his shy yet devoted patron Lord Jonathan Grant escorts him to a country boarding house managed by repressed widow, Mrs. Viola Prescott. The trio soon surrender to sizzling—and forbidden—passion, made sweeter as each share their deepest secrets and find acceptance of their true self. Yet cold reality is ever ready to intrude, and they know happiness is fleeting. Or is it?

Monsieur X – Adriana Herrera: Joseph Cantor Marshall never imagined reaching the pinnacle of artistic success would be so… uninspiring. Desperate for a spark of excitement he attends the notorious masked soirée at the most exclusive sex club in Paris. The moment he walks in he’s entranced by the mysterious X, the embodiment of the painter’s darkest fantasies. But X is as slippery as he is tempting, and soon Marshall’s days and nights are consumed by growing desire for his elusive lover. Will falling for X prove to be Marshall’s undoing or his greatest masterpiece?

Sold to the Duke – Joanna Shupe: Though she once lived a life of privilege, Lady Eliza is now destitute and desperate to care for her ill sister. She decides to sell the one thing of value she has left: her virginity. At the auction, a shocked Duke of Blackwood recognizes Eliza and refuses to allow her to fall into the clutches of a depraved bidder. But his role of noble rescuer is upended when the proud beauty insists on giving him his money’s worth…

For some reason, I think I liked Duke I’d Like to F… a little better than Rake I’d Like to F… as a whole. It’s all the same authors, all of whose writing I’m familiar with, so it’s not that. Some of the stories felt more rushed in their internal timelines in this volume – “instalust” is always a harder sell for me, and when you make it a throuple/triad or more instead of just two people in the relationship it gets harder for me to buy that everyone is going to have a Happily Ever After after only a few days or weeks. The two novellas I liked best were Adriana Herrera’s and Joanna Shupe’s and both of those had longer elements of time in them and worked really well for me, despite the short nature of a novella format.

It’s all unbelievably sexy of course. Many, many chili peppers. And I can really recommend Adriana Herrera’s contribution, Monsieur X (riffing on the John Singer Sargent “Madame X” painting) which has an unbelievably lush quality to the writing and the evocation of artistic inspiration.

(Apparently, there’s going to be a Villain volume next year…yes please)

Dear FTC: I had a digital galley of this book from the publicist, but got pudding brain and didn’t read it, but I had a copy pre-ordered on my Nook anyway so I read that.

The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic: Revised and Expanded Edition by Jessica Hopper, foreword by Samantha Irby

Summary from Goodreads: An acclaimed, career-spanning collection from a fiercely feminist and revered contemporary rock critic, reissued with new material.

Throughout her career, spanning more than two decades, Jessica Hopper, a revered and pioneering music critic, has examined women recording and producing music, in all genres, through an intersectional feminist lens. The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic features oral histories of bands like Hole and Sleater Kinney, interviews with the women editors of 1970s-era Rolling Stone, and intimate conversations with iconic musicians such as Björk, Robyn, and Lido Pimienta. Hopper journeys through the truths of Riot Grrrl’s empowering insurgence; decamps to Gary, Indiana, on the eve of Michael Jackson’s death; explodes the grunge-era mythologies of Nirvana and Courtney Love; and examines the rise of emo. The collection also includes profiles and reviews of some of the most-loved, and most-loathed, women artists making music today: Fiona Apple, Kacey Musgraves, M.I.A., Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey.

In order for the music industry to change, Hopper writes, we need “the continual presence of radicalized women . . . being encouraged and given reasons to stay, rather than diminished by the music which glues our communities together.” The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic—published to acclaim in 2015, and reissued now with new material and an introduction by Samantha Irby—is a rallying cry for women-centered history and storytelling, and a groundbreaking, obsessive, razor-sharp panorama of music writing crafted by one of the most influential critics of her generation.

The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic was a really great book to read in clinic between subjects or waiting for the centrifuge to finish spinning. I hadn’t read the first version of this collection, and I don’t usually read tons of music criticism, so all the pieces were new to me. I really liked the range – lots of punk, some rap/hip-hop, some rock – with occasional longer form pieces about #metoo, women in country music, women in punk, several oral histories, etc. For a lot of the punk bands I didn’t know the music, but I was able to go with it.

Dear FTC: I read a digital galley of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss.

We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers edited by Marisa Crawford and Megan Milks

Summary from Goodreads: In 1986, the first-ever meeting of the Baby-Sitters Club was called to order in a messy bedroom strewn with RingDings, scrunchies, and a landline phone. Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne launched the club that birthed an entire generation of loyal readers.

Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series featured a complex cast of characters and touched on an impressive range of issues that were underrepresented at the time: divorce, adoption, childhood illness, class division, and racism, to name a few.

In We Are the Baby-Sitters Club, writers and a few visual artists from the original BSC generation will reflect on the enduring legacy of Ann M. Martin’s beloved series, thirty-five years later—celebrating the BSC’s profound cultural influence.

Contributors include Paperback Crush author Gabrielle Moss, illustrator Siobhán Gallagher, and filmmaker Sue Ding, as well as New York Times bestselling author Kristen Arnett, Lambda Award–finalist Myriam Gurba, Black Girl Nerds founder Jamie Broadnax, and Paris Review contributor Frankie Thomas.

One of LitHub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2021, We Are the Baby-Sitters Club looks closely at how Ann M. Martin’s series shaped our ideas about gender politics, friendship, fashion and beyond. 

I saw a copy of We Are the Baby-Sitters Club on Jeff Waxman’s Instastories, got super excited about it, and he was kind enough to send me a galley. (Thank you!!) A collection of essays and comics about The Baby-Sitters Club? For sure!

This is fun and diverse collection of essays, memoir, analysis, and comics about the BSC, including some work looking at the recent Netflix adaptation. I definitely recommend this for fans of the books – lot of nostalgia as well as good criticism. It covers a lot of representation from all corners. (The BSC is back on Netflix this fall!!)

Dear FTC: I read a paper galley of this book sent to me by a publicist.

Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, edited by Glory Edim

Summary from Goodreads: An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.

Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging can stick with readers the rest of their lives–but it doesn’t come around as frequently for all of us. In this timely anthology, “well-read black girl” Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black female writers and creative voices to shine a light on how we search for ourselves in literature, and how important it is that everyone–no matter their gender, race, religion, or abilities–can find themselves there. Whether it’s learning about the complexities of femalehood from Their Eyes Were Watching God, seeing a new type of love in The Color Purple, or using mythology to craft an alternative black future, each essay reminds us why we turn to books in times of both struggle and relaxation. As she has done with her incredible book-club-turned-online-community Well-Read Black Girl, in this book, Edim has created a space where black women’s writing and knowledge and life experiences are lifted up, to be shared with all readers who value the power of a story to help us understand the world, and ourselves.

Contributors include: Jesmyn Ward (Sing Unburied Sing), Lynn Nottage (Sweat), Jacqueline Woodson (Another Brooklyn), Gabourey Sidibe (This Is Just My Face), Morgan Jerkins (This Will Be My Undoing), Zinzi Clemmons (What We Lose), N. K. Jemisin (The Fifth Season), Tayari Jones (An American Marriage), Nicole Dennis-Benn (Here Comes the Sun), Rebecca Walker (Black, White and Jewish), and more.

I recently organized the glut of unread galleys in my Kindle app and ran across one for Well-Read Black Girl from 2018 (oops). I love Glory Edim’s IG account, so this was a definite missed read. I made it my next non-fic book to read while waiting for subjects in clinic. (I do a lot of waiting, between waiting for people to be on time and waiting for the centrifuge to finish spinning.)

The book is a very lovely collection of essays about what books and, in many cases, books by Black authors with Black protagonists meant to Black women interspersed with lists of books to read. It looks like Edim has a new collection out in October – On Girlhood – so pick up this collection now and then her new one in six months.

Dear FTC: I read a very overdue galley from the publisher via Edelweiss.

Kink: Stories, edited by R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell

Summary from Goodreads:

Kink is a groundbreaking anthology of literary short fiction exploring love and desire, BDSM, and interests across the sexual spectrum, edited by lauded writers R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell, and featuring a roster of all-star contributors including Alexander Chee, Roxane Gay, Carmen Maria Machado, and more.

A Most-Anticipated book of 2021 as selected by * Marie Claire * O, The Oprah Magazine * Cosmopolitan * Time * The Millions * The Advocate * Autostraddle * Refinery29 * Shape * Town & Country * Book Riot * Literary Hub *

Kink is a dynamic anthology of literary fiction that opens an imaginative door into the world of desire. The stories within this collection portray love, desire, BDSM, and sexual kinks in all their glory with a bold new vision. The collection includes works by renowned fiction writers such as Callum Angus, Alexander Chee, Vanessa Clark, Melissa Febos, Kim Fu, Roxane Gay, Cara Hoffman, Zeyn Joukhadar, Chris Kraus, Carmen Maria Machado, Peter Mountford, Larissa Pham, and Brandon Taylor, with Garth Greenwell and R.O. Kwon as editors.

The stories within explore bondage, power-play, and submissive-dominant relationships; we are taken to private estates, therapists’ offices, underground sex clubs, and even a sex theater in early-20th century Paris. While there are whips and chains, sure, the true power of these stories lies in their beautiful, moving dispatches from across the sexual spectrum of interest and desires, as portrayed by some of today’s most exciting writers.

A really interesting, diverse collection of stories about kink – all sorts of kink. Some feel more confessional, some more fantastical. I really liked RO Kwon’s story “Safeword,” which explored what felt like a mis-match in a couple, where the wife wants to explore kink as a submissive so they visit a dominatrix for lessons and the husband appears to be the one who wants to use a safeword. Garth Greenwell contributed “Gospodar” which also appears in his novel Cleanness and it is one of the best parts of the book (a bit terrifying at the end, but so beautifully written). Kim Fu contributed the amazing story “Scissors,” about a performance artist, where the writing is so sensual you can almost feel it.

I didn’t particularly like the last story – “Emotional Technologies.” It wasn’t bad, it just felt more like I was reading an art criticism essay (which was probably the point?) and it didn’t do much for me after reading so many excellent stories earlier in the collection. Side note: I have seen some criticism from readers much more experienced in various forms of kink – and I am definitely not experienced – that this collection skews more towards a D/s or BDSM experience of kink and, on reflection, I do see where these stories tend to cluster in that direction.

Kink is out today!

Dear FTC: I read a digital galley of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss.

Drawing Lines: An Anthology of Women Cartoonists

Summary from Goodreads: Showcasing stories from some of the comics’ greatest female creators, this anthology features stories that range from mainstream adventures to hilarious comic shorts to heart-wrenching autobiographical stories. Originally published as Sexy Chix in 2006, this new edition is presented in a larger, comic book size format.

Featuring over a dozen stories by top talents like New York Times bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates, Eisner Award-winning illustrator Jill Thompson, Scary Godmother creator Colleen Doran, DC Comics creators Gail Simone and Joëlle Jones, and many more!

Eh, this is fine. It was far too short and some of the pieces felt dated now in 2020. And a couple of pieces didn’t feel like they were celebrating the actual cartoonists.

Borrow from the library if you want to check it out.

Dear FTC: I read a digital galley of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss.

Duke I’d Like to F…. by Sierra Simone, Nicola Davidson, Eva Leigh, Adrianna Herrera, and Joanna Shupe

Summary from Goodreads: He’s got big duke energy…

The Chasing of Eleanor Vane – Sierra Simone: Ajax Dartham, the Duke of Jarrell, has a problem. And that problem is his future niece-in-law. When the clever and capable Lady Eleanor Vane—understandably—runs off into the night rather than marry his horrible nephew, the Duke has a choice. Should he catch Eleanor and return her to her fate—or make Eleanor his own instead?

Duke For Hire – Nicola Davidson: As her fiery clergyman father chases away all suitors, Miss Ada Blair is resigned to spinsterhood. Yet while she can’t wed, bedding might be another matter. One man meets all her requirements for a discreet and expert pleasure tutor—Jasper Muir, Duke of Gilroy—but he insists on a very wicked contract…

An Education In Pleasure – Eva Leigh: As a governess to the Duke of Tarrington, Cecilia Holme resigns herself to a passionless life. Except now the old duke is dead and Owen, the new duke, is very tempting—and much younger. Is the chance to give Owen an education in pleasure too enticing to refuse?

The Duke Makes Me Feel… – Adriana Herrera: Dukes and their demands are nothing new for Marena Baine-Torres. Her newfound success has her little apothecary teeming with ill-mannered aristocrats. But as tiresome as they are, she needs the business. When the unflappable Duke of Linley storms into her shop and makes her an offer she’d be a fool to refuse, Marena soon finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime with a man who is as infuriating as he is intriguing.

My Dirty Duke – Joanna Shupe: Violet knows that her father’s best friend, the Duke of Ravensthorpe, is the most powerful man in all of London with a reputation for sin. But nothing can stop Violet from wanting to shed her wallflower ways and fulfill her darkest, most forbidden desires…even if it means seducing a man twice her age.

If you were looking for a collection of super horny-pants romance novellas about dukes, Duke I’d Like to F… is for YOU. I’d go with 4.5 stars (which I’ll get into) but I’ll roll it up to 5 because it’s a fun anthology. Overall, the collection seems to be arranged roughly in chronological order, from the late Georgian to late Victorian periods. The over-arching theme (clearly) is dukes you want to bang and the collection delivers on it. Just a note on inclusivity: all the main couples are M/F couples – although in several novellas several MCs seem to be bi- or pan- in previous relationships – but several major secondary couples are F/F and all characters appear to be white except for several Adriana Herrera’s novella.

“The Chasing of Eleanor Vane” by Sierra Simone – the one novella that I thought really ought to have been a full novel; the characters Eleanor and Ajax are interesting, but the whole Second Kingdom (a shadow sex-positive kink community in England) concept felt very underdeveloped for this length of story and given what I’ve read of Sierra I think this is one of her less-transgressive pieces; 3.5-4 stars.
“Duke for Hire” by Nicola Davidson – the funniest novella in the bunch; sheltered/put-upon clergyman’s daughter Ada gets some help from her honorary godmothers (who are a hoot) in hiring the local duke Jasper (who, apparently, makes up super sex-positive and inclusive contracts ahead of time for all his mistresses) to rid her of her v-card and have a little fun for once; it doesn’t start out steamy but builds very quickly; 4 stars.
“An Education in Pleasure” by Eva Leigh – the story starts out with a little voyeurism (governess Cecilia spies new duke Owen skinny dipping) and gets very sweet plus steamy from there; Cecilia is the governess to Owen’s sisters and he’s been attracted to her since his teen years, but now he would like to acknowledge this attraction between them and allow the more-experienced Cecilia to teach him about pleasure (younger man-older woman, heyo, but Owen makes sure to put Cecilia’s employment as governess under his mother’s care so he is no longer her direct employer – that line is real fine there, but it turns out OK); 4.5 stars (I would have liked more)
“The Duke Makes Me Feel…” by Adrianna Herrera – I was really excited to read this one since Adriana has a historical series coming out late 2021 (early 2022?) from Avon and she doesn’t disappoint; I loved prickly herbalist Marena’s fight against her attraction to Arlo because all of her reasons are good and practical reasons but the heart wants what the heart wants (plus who wouldn’t want a good, socially-conscious Duke who is handsome as sin and has all his own teeth and wants women to have the vote and ALSO blows your mind?); the scenes in Paris are so beautifully and sensually written (and that’s just the market and dinner scenes, lol); 5 stars
“My Dirty Duke” by Joanna Shupe – probably the dirtiest and most-transgressive novella in the collection because silver fox plus much-younger woman who is his friend’s daughter? Sorry, but yes please; Violet has been attracted to Max as long she can remember and, now that she’s of age and “out” in Society, decides to sneak into Max’s house when she overhears his mistress’s assignation with him being cancelled….and THINGS HAPPEN. (Because Max has wanted her too and, well, he’s older and not a “good” man and and and….); all the stars.

So much fun!

Dear FTC: I bought this book on my Nook when it released.

The Best American Food Writing 2020 edited by J. Kenji López-Alt

Summary from Goodreads: The year’s top food writing from writers who celebrate the many innovative, comforting, mouthwatering, and culturally rich culinary offerings of our country.“These are stories about culture,” writes J. Kenji López-Alt in his introduction. “About how food shapes people, neighborhoods, and history.” This year’s Best American Food Writing captures the food industry at a critical moment in history — from the confrontation of abusive kitchen culture, to the disappearance of the supermarkets, to the rise and fall of celebrity chefs, to the revolution of baby food. Spanning from New York’s premier restaurants to the chile factories of New Mexico, this collection lifts a curtain on how food arrives on our plates, revealing extraordinary stories behind what we eat and how we live.

THE BEST AMERICAN FOOD WRITING 2020 INCLUDES BURKHARD BILGER, KAT KINSMAN, LAURA HAYES, TAMAR HASPEL, SHO SPAETH, TIM MURPHY and others

Food Writing is the first Best American volume I read every year. J. Kenji López-Alt has selected a fantastic array of writing about food, such great range. Writing about comfort foods, about toxic kitchens, about diet culture, and on and on. A great collection to read one piece at a time when you’re pressed and your brain is trying to go walkabout.

Dear FTC: I’m not fancy so I had to buy my copy.