Dear Reese,
At 5:47 am, I wake up to you and a notification from Libro.fm that Linden’s book Devils Like Us is available for download. It’s pub day for a book I’ve heard about for a long time, but it’s been years since I’ve read a draft, and frankly, I’m just really flipping excited for some YA queer historical fantasy . . . who doesn’t want some found family at sea?
I have the day off from work to have meetings about our future home (our cabinets will be blue, I’m very excited), but it means I’m in the car for nearly three hours as I go up and down the peninsula, perfect for audiobook listening. There’s a scene where one of the characters cuts their hair that made me cry when I read the draft back in 2022, and it still makes me cry now.
In the day’s travel, I swing by Novel Bay Bookstore in Sturgeon Bay and pick up my preorder hardcopy as well. I had planned to read it that way, but I’m appreciating this audiobook narrator so far. I brag to the bookseller that it’s my best friend’s book. I am inordinately proud. Everyone should read this. Someday you can read it too.
I’m only 36% through the book — on the way home, I make the call to put on the Hairspray soundtrack for us to jam out to. You are patient with my podcasts and books . . . sometimes. As you nap less during our commute, music seems to be the way to go.
Love,
Mama