Photo by Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash

Hi there, and welcome (or, perhaps, welcome back!) The blog formerly known as Amanda Reads is BACK!

I rebranded because, well, it felt like time for a book blog name that was a little less, well… about me.

This continues to be a home for casual, conversational book reviews and recommendations. If you’re looking for your next read or curious if those “see it everywhere” titles are worth your time, this is the place for you. If you’re a Medium reader, you can also find Your Book Friend over there!

You won’t find book bashing here. I don’t review books I hate because, well, I don’t finish books I hate. Life’s too short for that! You’ll find everything from the pretty good to the knock my socks off phenomenal reads here, along with plenty of context.

Instead of a star rating system, I offer recommendations based on what kind of reader would enjoy a book — even if that reader isn’t 100% me (I’m looking at you, Untamed).

For those of you who are new around here, or those who might not know what’s new since the early heydays of Amanda Reads, a little bit about your bookish pal & reviewer extraordinaire!

My name is Amanda Kay, and I’ve been a reader since I first memorized the contents of Green Eggs and Ham and got busted for holding the book upside down while “reading” to my mom.

I’ve also got two degrees in words — a BFA in Creative Writing / BA in Literature plus an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. In theory, I guess that makes me pretty qualified to write things about stuff. At the very least, it means I’ve dedicated many years and many dollars to studying and reading books.

My personal tastes tend towards the funny, relatable, and fun. I read a lot of romantic comedy, Reese Book Club picks, and memoir. I also make it a point to reach outside my bookish comfort zone and read unexpected titles to craft a well-rounded, meaningful reading life.

So, if you want to talk about books, follow along. Let’s talk about books!

And if you’d like to keep me in books and in coffee, consider supporting my writing endeavors on Buy Me A Coffee.. You’ll even get a personalized book recommendation out of it!