Reading Worm

  In a world that often demands we hide our true selves, Jacob Anthony Rose's debut memoir Stillness and Survival: A Life Between Trauma, Glitter, and the Echo of My Own Voice (releasing January 6, 2026) offers a powerful testament to resilience and reclamation. As a gay child growing up in a home shadowed by fear, Rose learned early that silence was survival. He vanished into quietude, burying his voice and dreams. But then came the transformative escape: drag, music, and the glittering stage as Sheena Rose, a beloved icon in San Francisco's queer nightlife for over two decades. For years, performance brought joy and freedom—house anthems, applause, and self-expression. Yet trauma doesn't fade quietly. During the isolation of the COVID years, old wounds resurfaced, plunging Rose into depression and a renewed loss of voice. This isn't just a story of pain; it's one of repeated rebirth. As reviewer Kathryn Dare notes, it's a "raw, luminous memoir of resilie...

There’s something irresistibly comforting about a good fake-dating romance—especially when it’s wrapped in small-town charm. The Pop Star Next Door by Bella Young leans into this beloved trope with warmth, humor, and a slow-burn romance that feels genuine from the start. Maisie Lang is a first-grade teacher just trying to keep her dignity intact when her past resurfaces in the most awkward way possible. A harmless lie about having a boyfriend snowballs into an unexpected arrangement with Logan Humphries—her new neighbor and a world-famous pop star hiding from the spotlight. What begins as a simple favor soon blurs into something deeper. The story shines in its quiet moments: shared glances, gentle banter, and emotional restraint that makes every interaction feel earned. Clean, cozy, and heartfelt, this is a romance that proves sometimes pretending can lead to the most honest kind of love. 👉 You can find The Pop Star Next Door on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXVGG6BW

Some memoirs are loud with drama. Stillness and Survival by Jacob Anthony Rose is powerful for the opposite reason—it tells the truth quietly and clearly. The book begins with a painful childhood shaped by physical and sexual abuse, fear, and the belief that love had to be earned. Rose doesn’t soften these experiences or ask for sympathy. He simply explains how they shaped him, and how those beliefs followed him into adulthood. What makes this memoir stand out is how healing arrives in unexpected ways. For Rose, drag became a lifeline. Through performance, music, and community, he found a voice that had been taken from him early in life. The stages of San Francisco’s queer nightlife became places of safety, expression, and self-worth. Stillness and Survival is ultimately about learning that survival isn’t just about getting through the pain—it’s about reclaiming your voice and choosing yourself. Read the full review here: https://www.bookbelow.com/book-review/stillness-and-survi...

Many people believe their money problems would disappear if they simply earned more. But in reality, financial stress is often rooted not in income, but in emotions. Money carries stories. Guilt, fear, comparison, and self-worth all attach themselves to how we earn, spend, and save. That’s why someone can feel anxious even with a stable salary, while another feels calm with far less. The difference lies in their relationship with money. In Manage Your Finances with Serenity by Lewis Yoshida, the focus shifts away from numbers and toward awareness. The book explains how upbringing, family beliefs, and social pressure silently shape our financial behavior. Avoiding bank statements, feeling ashamed of spending on joy, or judging wealth—these are emotional patterns, not budgeting failures. When we recognize these patterns, we regain control. Financial peace begins when money stops being a source of fear and becomes a conscious choice. Sometimes, clarity is worth more than an extra zero...

What happens when the need for online attention crosses every moral line? Detective Bishop Flamme: Case of the Serial Assaulter explores this unsettling question through Ragnar Aland, a social media influencer who turns to random violence just to stay visible. The idea feels disturbingly believable in today’s fame-driven internet culture. The story moves quickly, filled with high-energy chases across Miami, the Everglades, and even Florida’s coastline. Detective Bishop Flamme remains a steady presence throughout—persistent and driven, even when others lose hope. The book works best when it leans into this cat-and-mouse dynamic and its commentary on viral obsession. While the sudden supernatural twist may surprise some readers, the novel’s core idea—how far someone might go for attention—sticks with you long after the action scenes fade. Read the full review here: https://www.bookbelow.com/book-review/detective-bishop-flamme

Dystopian novels often exaggerate the future—but the best ones feel uncomfortably close to our present. Syncing Back: Act 1 by W. Lawrence is one of those stories. Set in a near-future shaped by fear, advanced technology, and moral compromise, the novel follows Amara James, a new recruit to the Department of Homeland Defense. Her mission isn’t just about stopping terrorists—it’s about saving her father, even if it means trusting the very group that destroyed her family. What makes the story stand out is how it blends fast-paced action with deeper questions. How far is too far when the stakes are personal? Can justice exist without sacrifice? The world of Syncing Back doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s what makes it compelling. For readers who enjoy dark futures grounded in emotional reality, this book delivers a gripping and thought-provoking experience. 👉 Read Syncing Back: Act 1 on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHV4VVG7