dear reader

April 2026

I've been reading voraciously, and editing a bit more slowly (but making progress!). This past month, Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust trilogy kept me busy for hundreds of pages, and, honestly, hit a little too close to reality to be the escapist retreat I needed. I did find distraction in Alison Espach's The Wedding People and Da Ngan's An Insignificant Family.

But I want to talk some books I'm going to read next, because I'm that shameful author friend who is just now catching up on several books by people I've been lucky enough to cross paths with ~~~

Fellow at Louis Place member and 2024 debut, Sarah LaBrie's memoir No One Gets to Fall Apart.

"No One Gets to Fall Apart is a sensitive and courageous debut by a talented writer seeking a deeper understanding of herself and her past." — Nicole Chung for Esquire

"This memoir was an eye-opening account of mental illness and family dynamics. LaBrie allows readers into deeply personal moments while shedding light on more widespread themes that stem from her family’s past as well as LaBrie’s own creative drive." — Debutiful, "10 noteworthy debut books"

Fellow Austinite Ashley Whitaker's Bitter Texas Honey.

“Bitter Texas Honey is a remarkable debut. What sets up as a wryly comic künstlerroman—‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Republican’ (in the comparatively “innocent” days of Mitt Romney’s nomination)—deepens into an affecting story of loss and addiction. Joan is by turns feckless and funny, knowing and naïve, but always utterly human in all her messy contradictions. Best of all, Whitaker not only pivots from hilarity to heartbreak, but manages to build to a close that is—magically—both at once (fittingly reflective of her bitter-sweet title).” — Peter Ho Davies, author of A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself

Fellow Austinite and university staffer Michelle C. Harris' A Latte Like Love.

“Harris' debut romance is a leisurely paced love story that delves deeply into the pain and anguish of two people from different backgrounds as they discover each other and find joy and surprising revelations in art.”—Booklist
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​"This wonderful debut is a great addition to romance collections. It is enhanced by an added element of mystery about Theo’s background that will intrigue readers."—Library Journal

Fellow 2024 debut, Eve J. Chung's second book, The Young Will Remember (out May 5).

"A searing portrait of war’s moral failures and the undying power of a mother’s love. While countless narratives chart the experiences of men in war, Chung gives voice to the women who bear the violence, hold families together, and record the truths men want forgotten. A revealing exploration of women during the Korean war whose sacrifice and resilience we must never forget."—Marjan Kamali, New York Times bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran

"The Young Will Remember is a searing indictment of modern warfare and a testimony of human strength. With the same clarity and vividness she demonstrated in her debut, Daughters of Shandong, Eve J. Chung brings us another cast of compelling female characters who must fight for their place in a world that sees them only as collateral. Through this remarkable novel, Chung urges us to consider the human cost of wars, a cautionary tale that still rings relevant today, while reminding us that our humanity is ultimately what will save us."—Karissa Chen, author of Homeseeking, A GMA Book Club Pick

Hope you enjoy a book or two (or three or four) this month 💗

With love,

Thao

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