Reading between the lines
I read popular fiction on the assumption that it's doing something serious, and then check whether it is. The load-bearing scene, the third act that requires everyone to get stupid at once, the line where you hear the author instead of the character. If you want a rating, Goodreads is faster.
Bossman by Vi Keeland
A deep-dive review of Vi Keeland’s "Bossman," exploring the thin line between romantic devotion and toxic surveillance, trauma-bonding, and the savior complex.
EndLand by F.P. Adriani
A deep-dive review of F.P. Adriani’s "EndLand" from a writer's perspective, exploring space-zombie survival, the mechanics of "science" in fiction, and the limits of human objectivity.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Is Ali Hazelwood’s "The Love Hypothesis" worth the hype? A deep-dive review from a writer's perspective on fake-dating tropes, STEM representation, and pacing.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
The 98% was faked. So what did the rerun actually say? A close read of what the text implies about Jess and River's real DNADuo score — and why River wouldn't say the number out loud.