Im Dead Im Done

for @i-standnochance & @woorweid ! books that take place in summer or have summer vibes :-) check content warnings if u need them!

godshot by chelsea bieker— a 14 year old girl in a religious cult in a california town ravaged by draught is chosen for an “assignment” by her pastor. this book is incredible at evoking discomfort to the point of being unbearable both to the characters and the reader

mostly dead things by kristin arnett— florida woman grapples with running her late father’s failing taxidermy shop, her mother’s mental health issues, and raising the children of her brother’s ex girlfriend who she had a long obsessive affair with

dogs of summer by andrea abreu— short novel chronicling the obsessive friendship between two girls in the canary islands. might be my go-to example of the writing style I privately call “yucky realism” which to me captures gross intimate details of every day life with such an honesty that it borders on nastiness

avoidance by michael lowenthal— summer camp counselor struggles with his attraction to one of the boys at his camp. with a side of amish shunning

the girls by emma cline— a young girl’s infatuation with an older teenage girl gets her drawn into a manson-esque cult

the power of the dog— 40 year old autistic asshole brocon uncle vs 16 year old morbid effete nephew….. who’s grooming who?

chlorine by jade song— a competitive high school swimmer struggles with her relationship with another girl, with her identity as a second gen immigrant, her obsession with swimming, and her self perception, all of which culminate in her desire to become a literal mermaid

the waters by bonnie jo campbell— three generations of women living in a rural michigan swamp reckon with family secrets, tradition vs modernity, and independence

Succession (2018 - 2023)