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December reads I have my eye on: THE EMPIRE BURNS AT DAWN by Fatima Al-Shemary, STRANGEBREW APOTHECARY by Rustin Lovewell, THE MAYOR by Brian Alexander. #ewgc

The cover of The Empire Burns at Dawn by Fatima Al-Shemary features a young female warrior in the desert with her back to the viewer. She stares towards a distant city while a bird of prey swoops down in the sky above her.

The cover of Strangebrew Apothecary depicts a green medicinal bottle surrounded by leaves, small white flowers, and dark red buds.

The cover of The Mayor is a photograph of a man's face zoomed in to just show sunglasses with a bit of his nose and forehead below and above. The photo is in black and white but the image reflected in the sunglasses is a colorful city skyline.

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Just started U UP? by Hanna Kozlowska, a look at the history of online dating that I couldn't resist given that I met my husband on OkCupid back in the day. #ewgc 💙📚

The cover of U Up? depicts a Cupid on the screen of a mobile phone with a fishing pole extending from the screen and a heart dangling on his line.

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Currently reading UP TO THE LIGHT by Julia Armfield, which follows a mountain-climbing expedition where we know things are going to get real weird the higher up they go. Still early on and getting to know the characters, but I can't wait to keep reading! #ewgc 💙📚

The cover of Up to the Light depicts a mountain mostly in black and white, with a dawn colored blotch of light in the sky distorting some of the letters of the title.

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Historical mystery fans should keep an eye out for COLD DARK DEEP by Julia Keller, which sees authoress Sarah Fielding (Henry's sister) sleuthing around 1750s London to uncover the "mastermind" targeting vulnerable young girls. I really enjoyed this and hope to see a Book 2 at some point! #ewgc 📚💙

The cover of Cold Dark Deep depicts a woman's silhouette in red against a deep blue background. Westminster Bridge is visible in the distance.

THE DIVINE SHADOW By Lyndsay Ely was definitely a worthy sequel to The Lost Reliquary, though I have some mixed feelings about the ending. Wish I knew if a Book 3 is on the way! #ewgc 📚💙

The cover of The Divine Shadow depicts a young woman clad in red striding forward in front of a shadowy figure with its arms outstretched behind her.

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THE BIG BET by Michael Auerbach was a great non-fiction read that gave me a much better understanding of the threat that prediction markets pose to democracy. A sobering but informative read that also clearly outlines what steps we should take before it's too late. #ewgc 💙📚

The cover of The Big Bet depicts the title in giant letters against a background of one green rectangle and one red rectangle.

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Mara @mrlzbth.bsky.social · 19h

I absolutely loved BACKSTITCH by Idrissa Simmonds-Nastili--a young Haitian American girl goes missing and her family's history is key to discovering her fate. Compelling characters and a real page-turner of a plot. Also, ghosts! #ewgc 💙📚

The cover of Backstitch depicts a Black woman's head and neck in silhouette repeated three times and seemingly cut out of different colors of fabric.

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Hello, Galley Chatters! I didn't read as many ARCs as usual this month (spent a long time engrossed in the new Marlon James instead) but am excited to chat about upcoming releases with all of you! #ewgc

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Micah @rincewind.run · 30/09/2026

we have an emotional support government at this point and now the rest of us need an emotional support midterm wipeout

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 30/09/2026

America has faced challenges like AI before — we survived by building a system of federal oversight and regulation as well as international agreements. President Trump and Speaker Johnson, the world is watching. March us toward the summit, not the chasm.

contrariannews.org

March Us Toward the Summit, Not the Chasm

By Governor JB Pritzker

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LibraryReads @libraryreads.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Here's the October 2026 LibraryReads Top Ten collage. Head to our website for the full list, including annotations! 📚💙

LibraryReads October 2026 Top Ten list. See libraryreads.org for screen-readable PDF

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LibraryReads @libraryreads.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The October 2026 Notable Nonfiction Pick is TYRANT LIZARD QUEEN by Riley Black! 🦖 📚💙

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MISSING MOLLY by Natalie Barelli was a fun quick thriller read about a woman put in an awkward position when her workplace launches a true crime podcast series focusing on locating a long-lost crime victim...who just happens to be her. #ewgc

The cover of Missing Molly has a news article peeking through an apparent rip in a dark blue image of shadowy trees. The article has the lower part of a girl's face and a headline ending with "gone missing."

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I really loved SAVAGE LAKE by Nick Medina, which blends excellent "creepiness in the woods" vibes with a really moving story of grief and loss. A true page-turner! #ewgc

The cover of Savage Lake depicts a canoe on fire on a dark and eerie looking lake.

I picked up PUBLIC ACCESS AFTERWORLD by Jane Schoenbrun after seeing quite a few of you rave about it, and I'm glad I did! A surreal, addictive trip to a world where strange TV programming sparks obsession in viewers...I never knew quite where this was headed but I relished the ride. #ewgc

The cover of Public Access Afterworld depicts a bank of TV screens showing static with images faintly coming through, including a hand and a face.

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THE HOUSEKEEPER by Rose Tremain imagines a secret affair between Daphne Du Maurier and a brooding housekeeper...who is then shocked to recognize a bizarre version of herself within the pages of Du Maurier's Rebecca. Truly compelling characters who kept me 100% invested. #ewgc

The cover of The Housekeeper depicts a woman in a long dark dress looking out a window. Her face is hidden from the viewer.

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OUR CUT OF SALT by Deena Helm was an emotional story of a Palestinian family haunted by generational trauma. The weaving together of different generations' stories was my favorite part of this one. #ewgc

The cover of Our Cut of Salt depicts a hand peeling back dark green wallpaper from a wall. A light yellow floral pattern peeks through.

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Hello, Galley Chatters! Sliding in just in time to discuss lots of fun upcoming books! #ewgc

shauna @goldengateblond.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

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yall are gonna hear me say this a lot so here goes again: make plans to vote in person, and do it as early as possible. literally make turnout this election too big to steal.

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 26/08/2026

They are lowering US flags to half-mast for a week, but if the government really wants to pay tribute to Dolly, they should fund education, the arts, and medical research instead of trying to eradicate them.

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Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

It’s been interesting to see whose mind immediately went to Rocky Horror and whose mind immediately went to Muppets and whose mind immediately went to Clue and whose mind immediately went to SPAAAACE and on and on and on because no matter what age you are he’s iconic and very special to you

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Em, midly @lefttheprairie.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Just a reminder you too can be a weird little freak and a positive presence in your community. Nothing is stopping you but you

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Jennie Kermode @jenniekermode.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I know it's hard for a lot of younger people to understand. I've seen some react to 'Rocky Horror' with revulsion, taking it very literally in a way that was never intended, but I understand that they inhabit a different cultural space. I just wish they could appreciate how that space was built.

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

One way you know Dolly Parton lived life the right way: I don’t think anyone’s going to get fired for accurately quoting Dolly Parton today.

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Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton, among a thousand other amazing things she did in her life, gifted over 330 million books to kids through her Imagination Library program. Her passing is a tremendous loss to the world, but you can support the program today to keep it going imaginationlibrary.com

imaginationlibrary.com

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | USA, UK, IE, CA, AU

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.

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Jeremy Whitley @jeremywhitley.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Well, there's another Texas book ban and this time The Dog Knight is on the list. If you ever had a doubt what these bans are about, this should tell you. There is nothing sexual in this book, not even anything political. This is about a non-binary kid finding their place with help from talking dogs

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Shane Hawk @shanehawk.com · 20/08/2026

People Magazine requested @tvayyyy.bsky.social and me to highlight some Indigenous Horror novels for folks to check out in celebration of the release of our new anthology, NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT, PART II: BACK FOR BLOOD, which is now available wherever books are sold. people.com/terrifying-n...

people.com

9 Terrifying Native American and Indigenous Horro Books to Welcome Spooky Season (Exclusive)

‘Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II’ editors Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. share their favorite Indigenous horror novels to mark the book’s release.

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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

"how dare you attack a professional woman" you appointed a secdef who doesn't think moms should serve and is blocking women officers from being promoted because they are women

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Sophie Beer @sophiebeerdraws.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Any other millennial parents out there confused about how to approach a certain wizard you once loved with your kids, like me????? I made a handy guide! #harrypotter

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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

How many stories have you read in the last month about how radical & extreme Francesca Hong & Abdul El-Sayed are, & how the Democrats are veering far left? How many stories have you read in the last month about how radical & extreme Tom Tiffany & Ken Paxton are, & how the GOP is veering far right?

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Robin @galleychatter.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

November books I hope to get to soon: TAKE MY WORD FOR IT by Levar Burton, THERE USED TO BE PEOPLE HERE by Kennedy Cole, THE TRIAL OF MAGDALENE OVERMORROW by Caitriona Moran, THE DIVINE SHADOW by Lyndsay Ely. #ewgc 💙 📚

The cover of The Divine Shadow depicts a woman in red walking forward with smoke or vapor rising from each outstretched hand. Just behind her appears a shadowy figure with red eyes and a similar posture.

The cover of Take My Word For It depicts Levar Burton looking at a camera with a thoughtful expression.

The cover of There Used to be People Here depicts a red streak of light shooting towards the ground on an otherwise dark night. A pair of headlights flash nearby.

The cover of The Trial of Magdalena Overmorrow depicts a woman in plain brown robes riding a black horse through a rocky blue landscape. The words "Scholar, healer, harlot" appear just below the title.

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I want to give thanks to those who are keeping #ewgc alive. Special thanks to volunteers who are compiling every month's titles into an Edelweiss catalog. If anyone else is interested in helping, we need help for the months after November. Feel free to DM me at galleychatter at gmail dot com.

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October reads high on my TBR: TYRANT LIZARD QUEEN by Riley Black, THE HOUSEKEEPER by Rose Tremain, UNSPEAKABLE THINGS by Elizabeth Hand, WINTERSET HOLLOW by Jonathan Edward Durham. #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of The Housekeeper depicts a woman in black looking out the window of a house. She is seen from behind and next to her is a door leading into darkness.

The cover of Tyrant Lizard Queen depicts a T-Rex looking up towards the sky. The subtitle reads; "The Love, Life and Terror of Earth's Greatest Carnivore."

The cover of Unspeakable Things depicts a woman's hand holding a lit cigarette with smoke wafting upwards and to the side.

The cover of Winterset Hollow depicts what looks like an illustration from a children's book of a rabbit dressed as a human and holding a basket of fruit. Claw-like marks slash across the cover with red dripping from the largest one. A closer look reveals that the rabbit itself is wearing a bloody apron.

SOLACE HOUSE by Will McLean is a mind-bending dark academia read about a group of students clearing out an old house over the summer...a house hiding all sorts of sinister secrets. A bit slow at times but intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of Solace House depicts a large house floating in the sky with human faces peeking out from behind and within in, all melting together like a Salvador Dali painting.

THE CURSE OF FEATHERS by Kimberly Bea is a creative fairy tale retelling about a woman who must break the curse when her brothers are turned into swans by their evil stepmother. Really liked the determined heroine in this one and the historical setting. #ewgc 💙 📚

The cover of The Curse of Feathers depicts a human hand stretching upward towards a group of swans. A wooden hand appears just beside it, reaching out toward the human one.

I also really enjoyed A WALL IS ALSO A ROAD by Annalee Newitz, which sees an alien graduate student traveling to pre-eruption Pompeii to research the life forms there. Ethical quandaries quickly abound! A creative and ultimately heartwarming read. #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of A Wall is Also a Road depicts gray tentacles popping out from behind a circle where a woman is depicting looking upward in Roman-style mosaic art. The background is a deep red with yellow sparkles, planets and galaxies suggesting a nighttime sky.

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MONSTERA by Delilah S. Dawson was a fast vibes-heavy horror/romance read about a woman with an unusual background who moves into an apartment and quickly befriends her downstairs neighbor, who's hiding a few secrets of her own. #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of Monstera depicts a bloody hand holding a garden fork along with a vibrant plant with green leaves and red and white flowers.

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I raced through YOUR BELOVED REMAINS by Quinn Connor, which has all the Gothic dark academia vibes you could possibly want. Two professors team up to "recreate" a long lost work and things get real weird, real fast. I loved it! #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of Your Beloved Remains depicts the torso and arms of a woman in a green dress holding an animal skull.

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I was intrigued by PLY by Hernan Diaz given how much I liked Trust, and it was definitely an interesting, thought-provoking read. Maybe a little physics heavy for me at times, though! #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of Ply depicts a narrow strip of peach-colored paper twisted and folded across a dark green background.

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As soon I saw AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION by Isabela Livino was Gothic horror set in 19th century Brazil I knew I had to read it! Madalena wakes up after a carriage accident in a home where she seems to be lovingly tended to by her fiancé and his doctor...but nothing is quite as it should be. #ewgc 💙 📚

The cover of An Immaculate Deception shows a woman in red with her back to the camera. In the distance a large white house sits beneath a stormy sky. It's very Gothic!

KISS SLAY REPLAY by Rachel Harrison was so much fun! As if having to seeing your ex at a friend's wedding isn't awful enough, poor Willa gets stuck in a nightmarish, bloody time loop where her heartache is usually the least of the wedding's problems. #ewgc 📚 💙

The cover of Kiss Slay Replay depicts a wedding cake with pink roses that's been stabbed by a kitchen knife. A red blood-like substance runs down the cake. The image is repeated faintly behind the original two more times.

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Nothing better at the lake than reading a thriller set at a lake! This year I went with BURIED IN THE WOODS BELOW by Daniel G. Miller. Charlotte goes back to Big Island, Minnesota to help the family of her childhood best friend, but strange things start happening as soon as she arrives. #ewgc 💙 📚

The cover of Buried in the Woods Below depicts a lake house with the upper windows lit and a red reflection in the water below.

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SAID THE DEAD by Doireann Ní Ghríofa is such a hard book to describe, but had me absolutely rapt from start to end. A memoir/history blend that constantly blurs the boundaries between the real and imagined as "the Reader" explores the history of a 19th century mental hospital in Cork, Ireland. #ewgc

The cover of Said The Dead is mostly water with a black and white city skyline in the distance and a feather-like pattern in the sky above.

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