Recs if you like The Collected Regrets of Clover...

books whose main characters are older and disillusioned with life and go on a little adventure that melts their hearts (and heals yours)

Books about death, dying, grief and what remains.

sometimes they're running to something, sometimes they're running from something, sometimes they're just running.

Here's every book so far from BOTM's monthly shortlist since February 2015 for anyone who wants to read them all like I do!

Beautiful books for when your monthly reading roundup needs a little facelift 😉

Short-ish Novels inviting consideration of novel characters in novel situations. Are we on a war ship? An airplane? Dedicated to a niche passion? Practicing a little known, long-ago tradition? Choosing a seemingly reasonable path in life that is nonetheless judged “unconventional” by others? Curated through my ACE lens!

Nonfiction books on the way we care for the dead and dying - always looking for recommendations!

Literary and contemporary fiction with Black FMCs that will make your heart break into a million pieces and then knit itself back together (hopefully). Specifically wanted to curate books that all also come with tough topics and hefty doses of warnings for major possible triggers. Check the comments for specific warnings tagged to individual books (mostly major stuff, recommend doing some research before diving in if there are other things you don't want to read about no matter how minor).

books that discuss loss or losing a loved one

books dealing with the process of mourning and grieving the loss of a loved one

Mostly cozy non-romance, or not traditional romance reads that pair well with a nice cup of tea, petrichor, and an oversized sweater

Books that explore womanhood through the bad and the ugly

Happy endings, tender lessons, sweet dialogue, low stakes, tear jerkers for good reasons.