There’s a joke that goes like this: How do I know if someone exhibits wisdom and discernment? When they agree with me.
With that in mind, I would like to highlight a book blogger with exceptional wisdom and discernment. Shawn, whose book blog She’s Reading Now dates back to 2018, recently wrote a very positive review of my first two novels, Beautiful and Beautifully Made. I don’t know Shawn, except for exchanging a handful of brief emails. I don’t even agree with absolutely every word she wrote about my books, but on reflection, I like that. To me, it makes her review more real than if she had waxed too poetic about my writing prowess.
A while back, I spent a couple of hours reading many of her blog posts. She’s honest and not hesitant to call out poorly executed works. As best I can tell, Shawn is not a professional critic; she’s just an intelligent person who enjoys reading.
Anyway, it’s a darned good feeling when someone with such a clear love of books says nice things about my work.
Published on July 17, 2025 19:07