Hello,

So excited for next years books! Can't wait to read them together! If you aren't in the bookclub yet, simply join the Discord to join in the fun.

every year around november the goodreads choice awards nominees are announced and every year the online book community is outraged by the lack of diversity1 within the picks, by the trend based changes to categories, and by the arbitrary way that books are slotted into “genre” categories where they clearly do not fit.

most readers are aware that the nominees are based off reader scores on the platform like star ratings and number of “shelves,” and the quickest and easiest argument people turn to is that goodreads is bad and racist and owned by Amazon, and that everyone should move to Storygraph because it’s Black-owned.

but things aren’t quite that simple. especially if you’re actually interested in fighting for diversity in traditionally published books and supporting marginalized authors.

goodreads demographics

first, let’s talk about the platform’s demographics and stats. much of the following is pulled from the brilliant article on Book Riot called “The Unbearable Whiteness of the Goodreads Choice Awards” by Kelly Jensen and I highly recommend you go give it a full read because it has further insights that I won’t be covering fully.

the stats breakdown

• Amazon bought Goodreads in 2013 when it was at roughly 16 million users

• Goodreads now has over 150 million users, and roughly 6.2 million users voted in the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

• 48% of users are in the United States

• United Kingdom (7%), Canada (6%), Australia (4%), India (3%)

• ~60% of users identify as female

• ~30% of all users are between the ages of 25 and 34

• ~21% of all users are between the ages of 18 and 24

• ~18% of all users are between the ages of 35 and 44

• “Goodreads users are 77% Caucasian, 9% Hispanic, 7% African American, 6% Asian, and 1% other. In other words, just over 7.5 out of every 10 users on the site are white. In 2022, the United States as a whole had roughly 59% of its population identified as white.” (Book Riot, Jensen, 2025)

from these stats we can glean some very clear conclusions—(1) the awards are so extremely American focused because the nearly half of the user base is from the U.S. and therefore is likely reading books published and marketed in the U.S. (2) with a 77% Caucasian user base, it is no wonder that the most popular titles on the platform are by white authors and that the stats on the platform work in the favour of white authors when it comes down to the choice awards.

these stats are also fairly reflective of the publishing industry itself as evidenced by the below stats from the Lee and Low Diversity Baseline Survey 3.0, where 72.5% of the publishing industry is made up of White/Caucasian employees.

Lee and Low Diversity Baseline Survey 3.0

now, despite this—the goodreads choice awards have had a fluctuating number of authors of colour honoured year-to-year. the most notable spikes are of course 2017-2018 and 2020 when protests and political movement around race in the U.S. was at a high. 2017 was the year of the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally and it was also the year The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was published. 2020 was the year of performatively buying antiracism books in the U.S. spurred by the murder of George Floyd, and the surge in Black Lives Matter protests.

In other words, when white readers aren’t motivated by guilt and performative activism, they default to their regular reading habit of picking up mostly books by white authors.

Book Riot, “The Unbearable Whiteness of the Goodreads Choice Awards”

storygraph isn’t quite the solution you think

now the argument that we should all move to Storygraph is a fairly weak one—first, because the stats on Storygraph tell a similar story to that of goodreads users’ behaviour.

In her Patreon article “The Goodreads awards are our imperfect reflection,” Silvia Moreno-Garcia outlines how in many cases, if Storygraph were to have similar awards based on user scores, the books by white authors would still win. The common denominator being that reader/user scores and behaviour on these platforms still systemically favours white authors.

the argument in favour of storygraph is also based on the idea of a fairly simplistic boycott—”if we leave goodreads and go to something seemingly more ethical then problem solved!” actually, problem not solved.

Storygraph is built more like a personal reading tracking app versus a social platform the way goodreads is built. on goodreads, many readers discover new books simply by coming across other people’s activity on the platform.

but even beyond that, since its inception goodreads has uniquely positioned itself as a tool for publishers to market their books to a dedicated audience of readers without any other noise. it’s very simply at its core a social platform for readers. and for publishers, who are already aiming at a niche target audience, having something like goodreads is huge.

the chokehold goodreads has on the publishing industry

it’s no surprise then that publishers place far too much weight on how a title performs on the platform to discern its success in the real world. much like how publishers like to look at preorders as an indicator of the success of a book prior to its release, they also look at the number of “want-to-read shelves” on goodreads. it’s the perfect piece of data that publishers can use in sales meetings and pitches to prove interest in a book. it helps them sell more copies into retailers, and allows them to go for bigger print runs.

in recent years, goodreads has also upped it’s editorial game with frequent round up recommendation articles much like any other media outlet. it has also implemented several advertising possibilities on the platform. publishers can pay for banner ad placements or sponsored feed posts. they can pay to run giveaways on the platform which always include a requirement to add a book to your “want-to-read” shelf, and can often sky-rocket a book into popularity on the platform.

and i’ve had people argue with me that they’ve never paid attention to these aspects of the platform—and to that i say, just because it didn’t work on you doesn’t mean it didn’t work on thousands of other people.

i remember when I worked in publishing as a marketer several years back, my senior colleagues often talked about how they used to have so many options for advertising in print and online media. however, now with dwindling traditional media industry in this economy, goodreads remains one of the few places to reach readers directly with extremely low effort.

let’s not abandon marginalized authors on the biggest tool of the industry

all of this context brings me to the point that regardless of your views on goodreads, i do encourage you to look at it from a strategic point of view to support marginalized authors…. at least, for now.

BIPOC authors still receive absolute garbage ratings and reviews from white readers on goodreads and on retailer sites. when the publishing industry is looking to this platform to determine the success of a book, and when that platform is overwhelmingly white and systemically set up against BIPOC and marginalized authors, then we are doing marginalized authors a disservice by not showing up on the platform to support them and counteract the systemic racism within the industry at large.

these days i track my reading in my own personal notion database that i created that no one gets to see but me. however, i do go on goodreads every few weeks and add books by marginalized authors to my want-to-read shelves, and leave honest reviews.

because ultimately, the system is rigged against BIPOC and marginalized authors and any little bit we can do to support them in this industry is huge.

we can still push for better

i do believe in the idealistic value of decentering goodreads within the industry and separating ourselves from Amazon. however, in practice abandoning goodreads is a slippery slope much like how abandoning twitter ultimately did irretrievable harm to marginalized authors’ careers and connections. i want to believe we can build a better alternative that can fulfill the same functions that goodreads does today. there are in fact several on the rise like Storygraph, Fable, and Pagebound (to name a few).

however, i also believe that we can ask for more from goodreads in the meantime.

beyond just being aware of our behaviours as users on goodreads, i also think we can push against things like the choice awards. yes, the nominees are based on user data but the categories and methodology are still created by actual humans.

just the other day goodreads posted a reel on their instagram of their editorial team who “analyzes” the reader data on the platform to create the choice awards. there are real humans behind the creation of these awards and they can be swayed and pushed to do better.

award criteria can always be changed. methodologies for choosing nominees can always be changed. using the excuse of “they go by what’s popular” is simply a fatalist take. we can ask for better than lumping all of nonfiction into two categories, we can ask for better than having absolutely zero childrens’ categories, we can ask for better than have the same author repeated 3 times in the same category.

at the end of the day, i think how you approach this problem is entirely up to you and how you see change, but i hope that you reconsider the ramifications of our actions on marginalized authors’ careers.

aaaand if you’ve made it this far, then please consider supporting my small independent publishing imprint, Boundless Press, by preordering our second book — BURN THE SEA by Mona Tewari, which is the first in a fantasy duology following the life of one of India’s historical queens as she goes up against the colonizing snake monsters known as the Porcugi. It’s ultimately a story of incredible women who refuse to bow to their oppressors and I cannot wait for it to be out April 2026. ❤️

Goodreads | Storygraph | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

1@pedroparo2 on threads did a really great breakdown of the diversity within this years choice awards which you can check out HERE

⚙️The Tinkerers Book Club Discussion Guide

🌟Key Themes for Discussion

The Nature of Mistakes: Peter desperately wants to use the not-a-clock to erase his mistakes. How does the novel redefine what a mistake is? Does the story suggest that some mistakes are necessary for growth?

The Magic of Stargazers Valley: The magical aurora the Skeins and the starstuff are central to the story. What does the starstuff symbolize? Why is its power regulated only to the astromancers, and how does this regulation relate to the Tinkerers' desire for free invention?

Invention vs. Academics: Discuss the difference between the Tinkerers' practical, messy, and secretive approach to invention versus the Imperial College's formal, controlled astromancy. Which method does the book seem to favor, and why?

Family and Friendship: Peter's family and his friendship with the Tinkerers are crucial. How does his acceptance of these relationships help him gain self-confidence, even before he accepts the list of his mistakes?

Dealing with Fear and Authority: The Outbounder Task Force maintains order through strict rules and stealth. How do fear and authority both external (OTF) and internal Peter's list of mistakes shape the characters' actions?

💬Specific Questions

The Not-A-Clock: The device can only turn back time for a few minutes. Why is this specific limitation important to the story? How would the plot change if the clock could reverse years instead of minutes?

The Power of Narrative: Peter keeps a literal list of his ten worst mistakes. How does the act of listing, categorizing, and obsessing over these moments impact his ability to live and invent?

The Tinkerers Kitt and Jonas: What makes them appealing to Peter? How do their personalities reflect the freedom and chaos of true invention?

The Role of the Inn: Peter’s Inn is a place where people and starstuff land. How does the setting of the inn contrast with the Imperial College, and what does it represent for Peter?

🌠Themed Refreshments

🌌The Drink: The Skeins Sparkling Cosmos

A visually stunning, fizzy drink inspired by the magical, flowing aurora in the Stargazers Valley sky.

Ingredients

▫️Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Tea brewed and chilled: Provides a natural blue base that changes color with acid.

▫️Lemonade or Lime Juice: The acid needed for the color change.

▫️Ginger Ale or Sparkling Water: Adds the necessary fizz.

▫️Edible Glitter or Silver Sprinkles: To mimic starstuff floating in the wake of the Skeins.

▫️Assembly: Fill glasses with ice. Add a shot of lemon juice/lemonade. Pour the butterfly pea tea over the top and it should turn from blue to purple/pink. Top with sparkling water and a pinch of edible glitter.

🍪The Snack: Starstuff Sugar Cookies: Simple cookies that look like the flaky, wispy starstuff mentioned in the book.

Ingredients

▫️Simple sugar cookie dough, white icing, and flaked coconut.

▫️Assembly: Bake classic round sugar cookies. Once cool, spread a thin layer of white icing. While the icing is still wet, sprinkle the cookies heavily with flaked coconut.

▫️Why it Fits: The coconut flakes mimic the fluff from a seed pod description of the starstuff.

🛠️Themed Activities

My Top Ten Mistakes: This activity is a direct, fun take on Peter's flaw.

▫️Activity: Have members write down their Top Three Tiniest, Most Insignificant Mistakes from the past week! Example: Put the milk in the cupboard! Then, prompt them to write one small, positive thing that resulted from that mistake. Example: which meant I had to open the fridge again and found the leftover cake.

▫️Tie-in: It encourages the group to see mistakes as neutral events that sometimes lead to unexpected good outcomes, mirroring the novel's central lesson.

The Tinkerers' Workshop Challenge: A simple, silly challenge to tap into the improvisational spirit of the Tinkerers.

▫️Setup: Give each member or small team a handful of random, simple supplies e.g. paper clips, rubber bands, straws, tape, sticky notes.

▫️Challenge: Give them 5 minutes to invent a "not-a-device" designed to solve a mundane problem e.g. a not-a-cup for holding only crumbs, or a not-a-shoe for walking on clouds.

▫️Tie-in: This celebrates the fun, messy, and impractical side of invention.

✨Themed Door Prizes: The door prizes should encourage curiosity and creativity.

📝Tinkerers' Journal: A blank, sturdy notebook, preferably with a leather or canvas cover and a good quality pen.

▫️Why it Fits: For recording ideas, inventions, and hopefully not a list of mistakes!

🔭Mini Telescope or Star Chart: A small, simple, portable telescope, or a folding pocket star chart.

▫️Why it Fits: A direct connection to the astromancers and the Stargazers Valley setting.

✨️Imperial College Approval Stamp: A fun, simple rubber stamp that says "APPROVED" or "BRILLIANT IDEA" to encourage their future creativity and self-confidence.

▫️Why it Fits: It humorously subverts the strict authority of the Imperial College and the OTF.

➡️Tap link to download the kit! https://tinyurl.com/2nxsupsv

❗️Don't forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went and if there anything else you would like us to add to our book club kits!

Happy reading!

Our book club just finished The Tinkerers by Caroline Carlson and let me tell you we spent half the meeting laughing, half gasping, and the other half yes, math is optional in Stargazers Valley wishing we had our own not-a-clock to undo a few questionable life choices.

Caroline Carlson has created the coziest, quirkiest fantasy world, full of glowing auroras, mischievous starstuff, and enough chaotic energy to make even a time-loop feel charming. And at the heart of it all is Peter, a kid who has made a few mistakes. Okay, ten. And honestly? The list is iconic. Stepping on a star-eating newt? Boots eaten by falcons? I would simply pass away from embarrassment.

The moment Peter discovers that the two Tinkerers he escorted to his family’s inn aren’t harmless astromancers-in-training but rogue inventors with a very illegal time-bending gizmo well, we all knew things were about to get deliciously messy. And oh, they do.

Watching Peter use the not-a-clock to fix his mistakes and then watching those fixes spiral in increasingly hilarious and heartfelt ways turned out to be the perfect reminder of every book club member’s favorite truth: sometimes the things we wish we could erase are exactly the things that lead us where we need to be.

Between the outlaw astromancers, the glowing skeins of magical light, the swooping falcons rude, and Peter’s gentle journey toward confidence, this story is warm, whimsical, and quietly wise. It’s the kind of book that feels like sipping hot cocoa under a sky full of impossible stars.

✨Final verdict: Charming, clever, and full of wonder. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, found family feelings, and time-twisty hijinks that make you question every tiny moment you’ve ever labeled a mistake.

✨Get The Full Tinkerers Book Club Package!

Join The First Editions to unlock the COMPLETE Guide:

📚In-Depth Discussion Guide! Questions on mistakes, destiny, and invention.

🍹Themed Menu & Activities! Including the recipe for our Skeins Sparkling Cosmos!

🛠️Tinkerer's Workshop Activity Guide!

❗️Themed Door Prize Ideas and more!

We just finished The Tinkerers by Caroline Carlson, and we need to talk about Peter’s list of ten worst mistakes specifically, the star-eating newt and the falcon-eaten boots.

This book is a perfectly cozy, quirky fantasy, set in a world lit by the magical Skeins and ruled by the fear of illegal starstuff. When Peter meets two eccentric Tinkerers with a very illegal, time-bending not-a-clock, he thinks he has the power to fix his life. Spoiler: Things get messy, hilarious, and deeply heartwarming.

Final Verdict: Charming, clever, and full of wonder. It’s the perfect reminder that sometimes your biggest mistakes are the ones that save you.

❗️Want to host your own Tinkerers night?

➡️Join The Prequels for the FULL Review! We'll break down all the genius plot twists, the secret power structures, and Peter's journey toward self-acceptance.

➡️Join The First Editions to Get the Exclusive Guide! Our members receive the complete book club package, including:

📚20+ Specific Discussion Questions

🍹Themed Menu & Activities Hello, Skeins Sparkling Cosmos!

🎁Tinkerer's Workshop Activity Guide

Hi hi! Little bit of post holiday catch up but for December we are reading hemlock and silver by t. Kingfisher! We will be starting it Friday so you still have some time to snag a copy before we dive in.

Good morning, mis internet amigxs!

I must first apologize for being late with the newsletter for my Lectores and Libritos members, as my mom went to the emergency room on Sunday and we were there late into the night, with some follow-ups yesterday. Simultaneously, I'd had a lingering migraine that became a full-blown one last night that slowed me down quite a bit all day until it completely shut me down. It's receding now as I type this and I hope it goes away altogether soon.

I can't believe we're entering the last month of 2025. This was both the longest year of my life as well as the shortest. I'm so happy you're here and grateful for your support. This has been a year of tremendous change and your support has meant the absolute world to me. Thank you so much for being here.

For Lectores and Libritos supporters, this is the "late" version of your usual newsletter. I'm sharing all the December releases with all levels of support today in hopes of enticing those who may have been wanting to financially support Bien Leidos Bindery with the full newsletter I usually write-up for paid subscribers. There are 2 levels of paid support for this channel--$5 and $12. Please consider supporting your favorite Latine creator this holiday season or upping your support. I have several projects I'm working on simultaneously for 2026: podcast, youtube, and finally working to finalize the website where I hope to have a permanent repository of Latine book recs. These projects require tremendous amounts of time and resources aside from my usual social media posts that I could really use your help with. The first to know will always be my Lectores members (be on the lookout for some podcast guest updates soon!).

For anyone who's read this far, thank you for letting me pitch myself! Here are a few more things I'd like to remind you of:

Omar is building the first library in Gaza after the genocide and he needs your support. Donate to his fundraiser and/or amplify. You can amplify my message on Tik Tok here.

LibroFM's Shop Small Sale continues with many best selling audiobooks for $5.99 or less. You can gift these audiobooks as well, which make great stocking stuffers!

Bookshop's 25% off sale and free shipping continue through December 10th!

And now, on to all December Latine releases on my radar!

DECEMBER 2nd

Sea Salt and Coffee Beans by Grace Santamaria: Miami-set women's fiction following a Latinx woman whose navigating her career, immigration troubles, and unexpected romance.

TRANSLATED FICTION

Galapagos! by Fatima Velez and translated by Hannah Kauders: Colombian author, Fatima Velez, debut novel following a group of bohemian artists who are dying of AIDS as they embark on a surreal final voyage through the Galapagos Islands, their bodies cloaked in the skins of the dead.

The Jaguar's Roar by Micheliny Verunschk and translated by Juliana Barbassa (audiobook) The story of an Indigenous girl’s kidnapping during a colonial expedition intertwines with a young woman’s modern-day search for identity and ancestral truths. In 1817, 2 German scientists travel across Brazil and the Amazon gathering flora and fauna to bring back to Bavaria. They also brough 2 Indigenous children back with them. In this novel, Micheliny writes the fictional perspective of the Miranha girl, of the jaguar she conjures for protection, of the German scientists who determine her fate, and of the two rivers that frame her life. Intertwined in this narrative is a story of Brazil's suppression of its Indigenous history, and of a young woman named Josefa, a newcomer unmoored in the megacity of São Paulo, who identifies with the girl after seeing her image in an exhibit and tries to recover the child's voice and story.

ROMANCE

Sparks Fly by Zakiya Jamal (audiobook) An Afro-Cuban late bloomer thinks a visit to a sex club will help jump start her life, but ends up making an instant connection. When she shows up to work the next day, she discovers he's the brother of the CEO of the AI company that's trying to take over her job--things heat up in the workplace.

ANTHOLOGY

We Will Rise Again: Speculative Stories and Essays on Protest, Resistance, and Hope edited by Karen Lord, Malka Older, et. al (audiobook) imaginative pieces from writers such as NK Jemisin, Charlie Jane Anders, Alejandro Heredia, Sam J. Miller, Nisi Shawl, and Sabrina Vourvoulias center solidarity, empathy, hope, joy, and creativity.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber (audiobook) Pride and Prejudice x Crave. Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire instead!

Crowdtide by Alex Aster (Audiobook) Fourth installment in the Lightlark Saga.

DECEMBER 15th

Marayrasu by Edgardo Rivera Martinez and translated by Amy Olen: First English-language short story collection from Peruvian author.

Ni De Aqui No De Allaby Jorge Xolapla-Vazquez: Memoir of filmmaker Jorge Xolapla-Vazquez, who comes to the US as a young boy and whose life is shaped by his immigration and DACA status. An ode to the power of storytelling.

xoxo,

Carmen

Hi all and welcome to my monthly wrap up! With November over--and man did it fly--it's time to talk about what I read and how I liked each book. I read a total of ten books this month! How many did you read?

Strange Houses by Uketsu-- I really enjoyed Strange Pictures by this author. Strange Houses involves a mystery that unfolds around a house's odd floor plan. What started as house hunting turns into investigating cults and murder. This one was fun! I was instantly sucked into Uketsu's mystery once again!

My Name Isn't Paul by Drew Huff-- Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers but gory and hornier. This book is weird and full of insects. It's quick, fast-paced, and honestly a good time. Huff does weird fiction so well. I read their other book Divine Flesh earlier this year and enjoyed it as well.

The Library At Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw--A dark academia book full of death, gore, and monsters. Do not eat while you're reading this book... Khaw's work is lyrical and poetically written. Just goes to show that there is beauty in terror. Dark academia is not my favorite subgenre so this one was okay for me. But I know many people who read and loved it.

The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt-- I have to admit this one was not my favorite. It had so many elements working in it's favor. A haunted farmhouse. Rural life. Humor. CHICKENs named after the Golden Girls. But for 400 pages I really don't feel like I was captivated. This is not a bad book. Just not for me--but may be for you. I MEAN CHICKENS AND GOLDEN GIRLS...

On The Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel--Ugh... this book had no right to rip my heart out and trample it. This book is beautiful but oh so brutal. It's not for everyone. It covers so many difficult subjects--drugs, addiction, sex work, murder, neglectful parents, rape...Oh and did I mention it's inspired by the real life unsolved crime of Chillicothe Six.

In Darkness by Alan Risi--If you are a fan of investigating the supernatural and a fun, quirky main character, you should pick this one up. Think Supernatural, The Conjuring, and The Exorcist in terms of vibes. Alex belongs to an old order that investigates and eradicate ancient creatures. He is tasked with helping a family that is being hunted by a creature targeting a young girl.

Moon Of The Crusted Snow by Waubgheshig Rice--This one left me with so many questions and I loved every second of it. Winter looms and a small northern Anishinaabe tribe loses communication with the outside world. From there, things escalate. It really goes to show how quickly the world can go to crap when structure and order are taken away.

The Me You Love In The Dark by Skottie Young--A beautiful comic that follows a struggling artist who decides to rent a haunted house to get inspired. I loved the artwork in this one. It was so colorful and vivid. And the story was quite fun!

The Long Low Whistle by Laurel Hightower--A chilling novella that deals with grief and obsession. It's perfect for fans of The Descent. It follows a woman who lost her father at a young age in a mine accident. Eighteen years later she finds a way in the mine to try and tries to figure out what really happened down there. She teams up with a group of cryptid hunters who believe there may be a beast down in the mine.I loooooved this one ! It's so tense and claustraphobic.