Jessie fashions herself a Jack of All Genres, her tastes range from body horror to gentle lit fic, microhistories to memoirs, queer fantasy to cringe-y Amish romances, and everything in-between. Regardless of genre, Jessie enjoys beautiful language, complex characters, family drama, fever dreams, and slow burns. She is an unabashed fan of "bad books," especially when they are paired with good friends and stiff drinks.
(Her very niche specialty is New Zealand fiction and non-fiction. Aroha nui ki ōku hoa!)
A middlingly-successful gay novelist on the cusp of turning 50, the awkward yet charming Arthur Less says yes to a bunch of lame literary events around the world instead of responding to an invite to his ex's wedding. Globetrotting hijinks ensue. This low-stakes, whimsical little book is full of gentle humor, lyrical prose, and philosophical ruminations. The writing style gives off big Pushing Daisies vibes, and reading it is like being embraced in the warmest of hugs. I LOVE Arthur Less! ~Jessie
Secrets, social alienation, and a frustratingly familar lack of communication abound in this heartrending portrait of a mixed race family in 1970s Ohio, charting the events that lead up to and follow the mysterious death of the middle "golden" child, Lydia. This book is for all of us former gifted children who ever buckled under the crushing weight of parental and academic expectations. I wept like a dang baby. Ng's prose is simply exquisite. ~ Jessie
You ever read a book so good you wish you could literally consume it??? Well, the secret society of people in this book can do just that. It's the only thing they CAN eat, actually. Except for the rarities among them who are born with the insatiable hunger for minds... Part fantasy, part horror, and 100% feminist, The Book Eaters is a delightfully FERAL read, with some top-notch world-building. Let's just say that the main character, Devon, takes "overprotective mother" to the EXTREME! ~Jessie
Do you like... dads? Do you like serial killers? What about dads who are serial killers? Emotionally unavailable moms? Creepy houses with basement secrets? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, this might be just the book for you! ~Jessie
A
memoirnovel of toxic friendship, creepy furniture, dead bodies, punk rock music, possible vampirism, and a whole lot of... uhh, heart. Complete with snarky annotations!Fun fact: Most of this book takes place in Beverly, Massachusetts! Copper Dog makes an appearance as a bar, and co-owner Meg makes an appearance as a bartender!
YET ANOTHER FUN FACT!: I created a playlist of bands and/or songs that are referenced in Pallbearers Club, meant to be enjoyed by itself or as a reading accompaniment: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1YwxObJ3tdVetcnaYmBS4h?si=037e9e55e5f24044
~ Jessie
Recently widowed and pregnant, Elsie finds herself holed up in her husband's family's grand-yet-dilapidated country estate, with only the hired help and her cousin-in-law for company. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure--a silent companion--that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The servants are terrified of it, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition--that is, until she notices the figure's eyes following her.
I read a LOT of horror, so believe me when I say that this is one of THE scariest effing books I've ever read! Absolutely dripping with slow burning, Victorian gothic dread from beginning to end! ~ Jessie
This is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation of the BEST '90s book series EVER! Come relive my childhood with me! <3
Five kids receive the power to morph into any creature they touch, and must work together to save Earth from the mind-controlling, brain-infesting, slug-like aliens called Yeerks.
Great for kids (and adults) who love animals, aliens, war, and morally grey ethical quandaries!
Socially maladjusted teenage druggie Roberta, recently busted for dropping acid, writes in her diary about what really happened when she was a kid, discovered wandering through the desert and covered in blood.
If "Quentin TaranTWEENo" was a genre, Cruddy would be the pinnacle text. Featuring gritty illustrations, big '60s/'70s vibes, the Worst Father Ever™, wacky side characters, and a gory, rollicking road trip through the heart of America. This was my FAVE book back when I was, uhhhh, probably too young to read it (Thanks Dad!), and it has haunted me ever since. Magnificent!
Set in an alternate reality, police state Great Britain where time travel is real, cloning is commonplace, and literature is taken VERY seriously (unless you're attending an interactive, Rocky Horror-style production of Shakespeare, that is). Literary detective Thursday Next takes on the case of her life when a supervillain jumps into the world of Jane Eyre and kidnaps the titular heroine right out of her own book.
I first read this series way back in high school and it played an integral part of who I am as a reader. Perfect for lovers of literature, history, and groan-inducing puns.
After their parents are involved in a deadly car accident, estranged siblings Louise and Mark must work together if they have ANY hope of selling their childhood home. There's just one problem. The house maaaaaaaaay be haunted...
HOLY [EXPLETIVE]. This is a stunner of novel. What starts out with THE corniest horror trope on Earth turns DEEPLY unsettling... and ends up becoming a poignant, tender meditation on grief, loss, generational trauma, and what it means to be alive and loved. Utter perfection. A tremendous achievement. 6 out of 5 stars. No notes. ~ Jessie