Friends, the goodies are here!

Our preorder campaign kicks off now!

I selected What Feeds Below as our first book because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Once you pick this book up, it’s almost impossible to put down. We’ve already hit over 200 reviews on Netgalley and still have a 5⭐️ rating, which is no easy feat! A recent review said WFB is like “a dark Indiana Jones!” If you’ve read it early on Netgalley and reviewed, thank you! Each and every one of you are responsible for this book’s success! Your support has meant everything!

There are well over 2,000 of you here now! 2,000 of you who support this imprint, our mission to publish diverse and underrepresented voices, our authors. If each and every one of you pre-ordered What Feeds Below right now, not only would you unlock ALL of the goodies (and Tatiana would get her pen!) but this book could get media attention (hype can lead to TV or Movie deals, video games!) , this book could hit a bestseller list! (And it deserves to!) Imagine, a book that was passed on by trad, hitting the list because readers banded together and were responsible for an indie published book hitting a bestseller list!

I know that asking people to spend money right now is a big ask, but if you can afford the $16, your early support could change the entire trajectory of this book, and in turn Tatiana’s career. I haven’t met anyone(outside of me lol) who hustles harder than Tatiana, and early support could impact her financial future.

Pre-ordering books is another way to be a good literary citizen.

Our short term goal is 1,000 preorders. We have a long way to go. Let’s work together to make What Feeds Below a huge success!

My bookshop link is support ling Quiet Quail Books this month, an Indigenous owned bookstore.

Every few months, a new conservative book influencer circulates the claim that romance novels, especially the “spicy” ones, are to blame for unrealistic expectations, dissatisfaction, and even the slow erosion of real relationships.

It sounds convincing. They pull information for a study here and a doctor there. They show a book in their post that looks like a valuable resource. But … it also falls apart under scrutiny.

There is no strong body of empirical research showing that reading erotic or sexually explicit romance harms relationships, and there is no strong body of evidence to show that pornography is an actual addiction. What does exist tells a different story, one grounded in therapy, sexual health research, and decades of work in bibliotherapy.

The panic says one thing, but the evidence says another.

There Is No Evidence That Romance Novels Damage Relationships

If erotic romance were actively harmful, you would expect to see consistent, peer-reviewed findings linking it to decreased relationship satisfaction or dysfunction.

That research does NOT exist.

Instead, what we have are cultural assumptions. Critics often rely on anecdotal claims or borrow concerns from adjacent research on pornography. Even in those areas, findings are mixed and shaped by context, communication, and individual biases.

Romance novels, specifically, remain largely unstudied in terms of harm. That absence matters. In research, lack of evidence is not proof of harm. It signals that a claim has not been demonstrated.

What the Research Actually Shows About Reading and Sexual Health

When researchers have studied reading in the context of sexual functioning, the results point in a different direction.

Bibliotherapy, the use of reading as a therapeutic tool, is already an established intervention in psychology. It is low-cost, accessible, and often used in sexual health treatment.

In a controlled study published in Sexual and Relationship Therapy, researchers compared erotic fiction to sexual self-help reading for women experiencing low desire. Both groups showed measurable improvement.

Participants experienced “statistically significant gains” in desire, arousal, satisfaction, orgasm, and overall sexual functioning.

The findings weren't short-lived. Follow-up data showed that improvements were maintained over time, including increases in satisfaction and reductions in pain. 

Another study on bibliotherapy found that women who engaged in structured reading interventions showed “greater gains over time” in sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction compared to control groups. 

This isn't fringe research. It reflects a growing body of work showing that reading, including erotic material, can function as a legitimate intervention for sexual concerns.

Erotic Fiction Is Already Used in Clinical Practice

Therapists have been using erotic material for decades as part of treatment. I’ve been using it since I started private practice.

In fact, clinical literature notes that when addressing low sexual desire, “a significant number of clinicians include exercises designed to stimulate the erotic imagination,” often through reading. And in real therapy spaces, I have on occasion recommended a round or two of solo or partnered sex to my clients as “homework”.

That detail matters, not the homework, the other parts.

Erotic romance is not an outlier behavior that needs to be corrected. It's a tool already embedded in evidence-based approaches to sexual health.

Why This Works, From a Therapy Lens

When you look at this through a clinical framework, the benefits make sense.

Reading erotic romance creates space for exploration without pressure. It allows you to engage with desire privately, at your own pace, without performance anxiety.

It also gives language to something many people were never taught how to articulate.

Sexual script theory explains that people learn what sex is supposed to look like through narratives. For many, those narratives are limited, shame-based, or nonexistent. Erotic romance expands that range.

It introduces variation. It models communication. It normalizes desire.

For clients who struggle with shame, this matters. Shame reduction is strongly linked to improved sexual satisfaction and relational connection.

Reading also supports what therapists call arousal literacy. It helps people recognize what they respond to, what they enjoy, and what they want to communicate to a partner.

That kind of clarity strengthens relationships. It doesn’t weaken them.

The Relationship Impact Is Often Positive

The idea that erotic romance replaces real connection misinterprets how desire works.

Desire isn’t diminished by imagination. It’s often activated by it.

Research shows that sexual well-being is tied to overall relationship satisfaction. When desire, communication, and comfort increase, relationships tend to improve alongside them. 

Erotic reading supports that process in practical ways:

It gives couples something to talk about. It provides a shared reference point for fantasies and preferences. It reduces avoidance around sexual topics. It encourages curiosity rather than routine.

These are all markers of healthier relational dynamics, not signs of damage.

So, Why Does the Panic Persist?

The backlash against romance, especially romance written for and consumed by women, is not new.

Media that centers female desire often gets framed as excessive, unrealistic, or dangerous. The same concerns rarely appear with male-centered sexual media in the same way.

There’s also discomfort with the distinction between fantasy and expectation. Reading about something doesn’t mean demanding it in real life. People engage with fiction across genres without assuming it sets a standard for their lived experience. I mean, we aren’t jacking off minotaurs in real life, nor do any of us actually want to.

No one argues that crime novels create criminals. Romance, however, is treated differently.

That difference isn't rooted in evidence. It’s rooted in misogyny, patriarchy, and white supremacy.

What Actually Harms Relationships?

In therapy, the drivers of relationship strain are consistent.

• Communication breakdown.

• Unresolved conflict.

• Avoidance.

• Shame.

• Trauma.

Reading habits rarely show up on that list.

More often, reading becomes a resource. It helps clients reconnect with desire, understand themselves, and approach conversations with more clarity.

Erotic romance is not a threat to relationships. It is a tool. Like any tool, its impact depends on how it is used.

When approached with reflection, curiosity, and communication, it supports self-exploration and relational growth.

The research doesn't support the claim that it causes harm.

It does suggest that, for many people, it does the opposite.

Sickos, my request for the new deluxe hardcover edition of Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman just came through in the mail, which means I now have an extra copy to giveaway to y'all! This is a top notch standalone historical fantasy horror genre mash-up that I've hyped up dozens of times, so I'm thrilled to be able to get a copy to one of you lucky weirdos.

All of these have been US only lately (for unfortunate and obvious reasons) but I'm gonna throw Canada in the mix this time and just eat the shipping if somebody from there wins. Don't be thrown off by the "skill-testing" question, it's an oddball Canadian requirement and is just going to be a super basic math question.

To enter the giveaway, be a "Kist Reads" Follower, Sicko, Mega Sicko or Sicko Society tier in the US or Canada and leave a comment on this post (it can be a single emoji or whatever, it's just so we can make the winner selection & shipping as quick as possible). I'll throw all the terms & conditions* at the bottom. Here's what it looks like:

I'll randomly draw the winner on 4/12 and reach out via email if you've won. Good luck!

DELUXE EDITION―a beautiful hardcover edition featuring black sprayed edges, designed endpapers, and a brand new foreword from New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.

The unmissable BookTok sensation! Enter a darker age with USA Today bestselling author Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires, a medieval horror adventure unlike anything on the shelf.

And Lucifer said: “Let us rise against Him now in all our numbers, and pull the walls of Heaven down…”

The year is 1348.

Thomas, a disgraced knight, has found a young girl alone in a dead Norman village. An orphan of the Black Death, and an almost unnerving picture of innocence, she tells Thomas that plague is only part of a larger cataclysm―that the fallen angels under Lucifer are rising in a second war on heaven, and that the world of men has become their battleground. Is it delirium or is it faith?

Now she has convinced the faithless Thomas to shepherd her across a depraved landscape to Avignon. There, she tells Thomas, she will fulfill her mission: to confront the evil that has devastated the earth, and give him―blood-stained and wretched as he is―a chance at redemption he long thought lost.

As hell unleashes its wrath, and as the true nature of the girl is revealed, Thomas will find himself on a macabre battleground of angels and demons, saints and the risen dead, and in the midst of a desperate struggle for nothing less than the soul of man.

*No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada, 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited by law.

How to enter:
Open to all “Kist Reads” Bindery members – any tier (including free “Follower” members). Comment to enter (limit 1 entry per person).

Prize Value: $29.99

Timing: Runs 4/8/26 – 4/11/26

Winner Selection & Notification:
Winner will be selected at random and notified via email within 3 days of the giveaway’s end. The winner must respond within 3 days to claim their prize.

Canadian Requirement:
If the selected winner is a Canadian resident, they must correctly answer a time-limited skill-testing question to claim the prize.

Other Details:
By entering, you agree to these rules and all applicable federal, state/provincial, and local laws. No cash substitute. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries or for delivery issues. Any applicable taxes, duties, or customs fees are the responsibility of the winner.

Sponsor:
Kist Reads, Sun City Center, FL
Kistreadsbooks@gmail.com

Help me choose which book I feature next for my Director’s Cut Review

Hi friends! It's time to begin populating our monthly newsletter with all the creative joy. This month's theme is: Around the Table.

Spring seems to pair beautifully with "gathering". The weather is nice, so we all begin the slow, careful tiptoe toward the outdoors. Festivals abound, grill out invitations arrive. I even like to move my reading to a local park or a friends backyard.

That's why this month I wanted to feature all the different ways we gather, whether it be virtually or in person, and why it feels so meaningful.

If you'd like to add something to our newsletter this month, here's a list of what I'd love to include:

• A recipe that feels meaningful and the story behind it.

• Anything that reflects what “gathering” looks like in your life right now, in big or small ways.

• A book, show, or piece of writing you’ve “shared at the table” with others, or that feels connective to you.

• A photo of a meal, table setting, kitchen moment, or anything that shows how you gather.

• A moment of generosity or care, like something you made, shared, or offered to someone else recently.

Ready to submit? CLICK HERE to send in your piece by April 29th and I'll do my best to include it.

I can't wait to see how you gather!
Meg

Our April 2026 Book Club Pick is The Perfect Neighbors by Jordan Cannon!

I've heard great things about this book circulating around BookTok, so I'm excited to dive into my first-ever indie thriller read!

P.S. It's available on Kindle Unlimited, in case you need even more of a reason to join 😊 Weekly reading updates and discussion questions to come soon!

Happy pub day! This week's new releases were a mix of hits, almost-hits, and one that genuinely stuck with me in a way I didn’t expect.

Let’s get into it.

🖋️ The Ending Writes Itself

Read or skip: Read, but the ending might make you mad

Rating: 4 stars

“Secrets don’t stay secret for long in publishing.”

This setup? Absolutely catnip for book lovers.

A group of authors invited to a private salon hosted by a famous writer… on an isolated Scottish island? Say less. I was in immediately. It gave me similar vibes to You Are Fatally Invited, and honestly, I didn’t mind the overlap because I love that kind of closed-circle, literary suspense.

The beginning is a bit slow, but I actually enjoyed that. Watching writers from different genres interact (the egos, the insecurities, the subtle competitiveness) was one of the strongest parts of the book. It felt very insider baseball in the best way.

But the reveal?
A little underwhelming.

And the ending… rushed. Like we sprinted to the finish line without fully earning it.

There’s a line in the book:

“Writers rarely deal in accidents. Readers don’t like them.”

And ironically, that’s kind of how the ending felt, like it didn’t fully stick the landing.

Final thought: Loved the concept and character dynamics, but I wanted a sharper, more deliberate ending.

🐺 Wolvers

Read or skip: READ!

Rating: 5 stars

This one? This one stayed with me.

An environmental thriller that somehow made me deeply emotional about a pack of wolves, which I did not have on my 2026 bingo card.

What makes this book stand out is the decision to give us the POV of the wolf pack itself. It’s such an unexpected, brilliant choice because it builds this quiet, powerful connection between reader and animal. You’re not just observing; you’re inside their world.

It immediately brought me back to my trip to Yellowstone, watching wolf packs, learning how rare and misunderstood they are. This book captures that tension perfectly: the beauty of the wolves and the very real concerns of the people living alongside them.

There’s no clear villain here. Just conflict, survival, and perspective.

Final thought: A deeply affecting, immersive read that balances heart and tension. This is the kind of book that leaves a mark.

🗡️ The Bloody and the Damned

Read or skip: Read, but be ready to be confused at the end

Rating: 4 stars

I talked about this one yesterday, but I need to expand on the ending because… it changed everything for me.

This had all the makings of a five-star read:

• brutal, morally gray MC

• oppressive, desert dystopian setting

• religious power structures + archangels

• high stakes from page one

The world-building? Incredible. The atmosphere? Heavy, immersive, and consistent.

But the ending…

Confusing. Rushed. And honestly, a little disorienting.

It felt like the story suddenly accelerated without giving key moments the space they needed to land. This easily could have been a duology (or at least a longer final act) to fully flesh out what was happening.

And that’s what makes it frustrating. Because the potential here was so high.

Final thought: A gripping, standout dystopian fantasy with an ending that didn’t quite match the strength of everything before it.

⚖️ The Concrete Alibi (audio)

Read or skip: Read if you like legal thrillers

Rating: 3.75 stars

*availble on Kindle Unlimited

First things first: the audio narration? Phenomenal.

This is a very straightforward, no-frills legal thriller. If you’re expecting the wit or humor of something like the Eddie Flynn series, this isn’t that. It leans much more grounded and procedural.

There’s a heavy focus on construction and technical details, which actually adds a layer of realism I appreciated. And I loved that our main lawyer is completely green; this is his first big case, and you feel that pressure throughout.

The characters are well-developed, the stakes are clear, and the pacing keeps things moving without unnecessary fluff.

Final thought: A solid, well-executed legal thriller, especially strong on audio.

🍋 La Dolce Veto

Read or skip: Read

Rating: 4 stars

This was such a fun, escapist romance, the kind immediately sink into.

The banter? So cute. The romance itself felt light, easy, and genuinely charming without losing emotional depth. It does have a couple of open-door scenes, but they never overshadow the story, they just add to the chemistry.

The setting really made this one for me. The rural Italian countryside felt lush, warm, and transportive in a way that made this the perfect spring/summer read. And yes… I wanted pasta the entire time.

I also loved the FMC. A woman navigating politics in a male-dominated space could have felt heavy-handed, but this struck such a good balance; it made its point without ever feeling like it was trying too hard. It just worked.

And the side characters? So well done. I especially appreciated that Izzy had a strong female friendship with another woman in politics. That added so much depth and realism to her world.

Final thought: A charming, atmospheric romance with just enough substance to ground the escapism.

✨ Overall Thoughts

This week really came down to execution.

• Strong concepts across the board

• Multiple books with incredible setups

• But a couple that didn’t quite stick the landing

And then there’s Wolvers, quietly sitting in a category of its own, reminding me that sometimes the most unexpected stories are the ones that hit the hardest.

If you’ve read any of these (or have one on your radar) tell me everything. I’m always curious what worked (or didn’t) for you 👀

Welcome to New Release Tuesday, where I round up the sci-fi (and occasional graphic novel) releases dropping this week that I think you should know about. I'm Zee, I run Tattooed Bibliophiles, and my whole thing is diversity in sci-fi — meaning if it's queer, BIPOC-authored, indie, or just something the Big 5 didn't bother to tell you about, it belongs here. New around here? Poke around. I have Harrow worthy good soup. Returning? You know the drill — let's see what dropped.

Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois (Left Unread Books of BINDERY!!!, Michael LaBorn) — This is a queer swashbuckling Caribbean fantasy by a Haitian immigrant author. This is a piratey Little Mermaid retelling where Ariel is treated as the child she actually is, and the romance is between the adults. And some of the adults are sexy bossy pirates. I read this before it was picked up by Michael's publishing house, and I loved it then. But with an absolutely STUNNING cover and the press it deserves? This is the exact kind of book that would never find you through an algorithm, would not get a Big 5 marketing push, but will probably be the one you tell everyone about in five years. This is why I'm here. This is the whole point. Is it sci-fi? Well, not really, but it's the kind of high fantasy with rich world building that sci-fi readers love, so I'm putting it here, because this is my page and I WANT TO.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu (Macmillan/Tor) — You may have heard me mention this one approximately forty seven times over the last month because I have the ARC and I cannot shut up about it. John Chu has been winning Hugos and Nebulas for short fiction for years and this is his debut novel, which means the short fiction world has been hoarding him and I am choosing to be normal about it. (I am not being normal about it.) This is actually the way of most sci-fi, and there are entire publications dedicated to publishing short sci-fi in an effort to expose the world to more of these amazing authors (check out Clarkesworld if you're interested.) So there's this mechanic who fixes the literal nuts and bolts holding the universe together, and she has a comatose mother, a sister who is literally, actively, and viciously trying to kill her, a secretive group attempting to hijack the fabric of reality, and a himbo sidekick whose cooking is described in ways that made me pause the audiobook to stare into the middle distance and think about food. Generational trauma wrapped in quantum physics with a side of dim sum. This one is worth picking up.

What We Are Seeking by Cameron Reed (Macmillan/Tor) — (Can we take a moment to admire how fucking BIG this image is? Listen, I am having formatting issues today, and those are the LEAST of my issues so I'm gonna roll with it.) A doctor from a world that abolished marriage gets stranded on an alien planet where marriage is not only practiced but aggressively enforced by powerful religious authorities (sound familiar?), accompanied by a distressingly handsome translator (the word "distressingly" is doing a lot of work in that description and I respect it.) Queer MCs, absurd alien biology, completely backwards gender politics, and a plot that is essentially "what if - and hear me out - first contact - but make it a deeply personal reckoning with everything you thought you knew about how people are supposed to love each other." Described as perfect for readers of Ann Leckie and Amal El-Mohtar. I am a reader of Ann Leckie and Amal El-Mohtar. It's me. Hi. (And I'm always a problem.)

Year of the Mer by L.D. Lewis (Simon & Schuster) — (Mer as in merMAID, not murDER. Judas NOOOO!) Also that is one sexy special editon. I love this place, I can say "sexy" and "murder" and "kill" without the algorithm shadow banning me...

L.D. Lewis co-founded FIYAH Literary Magazine (another of those short story publications I was talking about.) She helped build the Ignyte Awards, which are one of the most diverse and interesting genre awards in sci-fi. She has been doing the work for years while the industry did whatever the industry does (you know what it does - I mean, you're here, on Bindery, doing the work yourself just by reading this. You go bestie!) This is her debut novel and it is a bloody Little Mermaid reimagining — not the Disney version, not the one where everything is fine, but the OG one where Arielle's granddaughter Yemaya has to crawl to Ursula for help after a coup kills her entire family, accompanied by her bodyguard/fiancée. Sapphic. Dark. Debut. I'm going to go preorder this immediately and I won't be taking questions. (I also want to take a moment to point out that she is using L.D. as a pseudonym because this genre is still WHACKED. Since it's predominantly read by men, it's predominantly written by men. White men. Cishet white men. I swear to Octavia Butler if you don't go pick up some sci-fi written by some girls gays and theys I'm going to come through this screen and throw hands. (And if you are a girl/gay/they you should really be reading more sci-fi.))

Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness (PRH) — A return to the world of Chaos Walking, which if you read with your kids is either very exciting or a war crime depending on how attached they got to that series. If you haven't heard of it, it seems to have some very The Hatchet-like vibes. I've seen a ton of boys who thought they weren't into reading get very into The Hatchet, so if you have one of those (or three like me, Jod help you) it may be worth looking into. And if your household already has a Chaos Walking person in it (not the neurodivergent kind of Chaos Walking™ but the book series called Chaos Walking) well then, obviously. BTdubs, if you do have one of those Hatchet people in your house, also check out Sovereign by Jeff Hirsch, which is basically The Hatchet in Space™ (yes I'm trademarking in Space, if I had to completely rebrand I would probably "Zee in Space" and that has absolutely zero ring to it. And if you're wondering, yes I'm mutuals with the other girl on Tiktok who grabbed @tattooedbibliophile before I could, which is why I have a zero at the end on that app and none of the others. Literally, all the others. I have this screen name on every social media app there is, except Twitter, which I deleted ages ago and it was too long for them anyway.)

The Heart of the Nhaga by Lee Youngdo, translated by Anton Hur (Simon & Schuster) — First English translation of a popular Korean fantasy series, translated by Anton Hur who is himself a sci-fi author (and if you've read Babel you KNOW why that's important. And if you haven't read Babel...why bestie?) A vengeful anti-hero with a giant sword, flying manta rays with ruined cities on their backs, and corrupt society of immortal psychic reptiles....oh my. Then again, who knows. Translations can go really, really wrong. That cover though? Oh so right.

What did I miss? What's coming out this week?

See you next week. You know, if we're still surviving late stage capitalism/oligarchy.

— Zee

If you liked this and want more of whatever THIS is (unhinged book analysis, barely contained rage at the state of the world, and occasional Tamsyn Muir references and em dashes that I will never apologize for) consider subscribing for $5/month. Every cent goes to people who actually need it, because I have a day job and a cause, not a brand deal. This is my middle finger to Big 5 publishing, dressed up as a book blog. Come hold it up with me.

Today is publication day of Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois.

What I love about this book is how it talks about deconstruction. But it's also queer and has pirates and mermaids!

I was given a copy in a PR box so I now have an extra that I'd like to share with one of you!

If you would like to enter you only have to do 2 things:

• Be a member of this Ronnica Reads Bindery (at any level)

• Comment on this post with your most-recent 5-star read (or one that you really enjoyed!)

If you share this post on social media (tag me or message me so I see it!), you'll get an extra entry for each place you share it.

I'll leave this open until 10 PM Mountain on Friday, April 10th and then I'll pick a winner. Open to US residents only (hopefully I can expand where I can ship to in future giveaways!).

Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs,

Before I start with book news, I wanted to make sure you've all seen the terrible library news coming from this administration: 125,000 libraries have been defunded AGAIN by the Trump administration and it's up to you to take action. Also, while you're calling your reps, make sure to tell them to vote NO on HR 7661, the national book ban.

We had such a lovely chat with Alvaro last night. For those that missed it, it was recorded and will be up soon.

We're currently reading The House of the Spirits this month. It's not too late to join us on Discord ahead of the Amazon Prime series premier on April 29th.

Everyone Who Is Gone is Here is our nonfiction pick that we're finishing up this month. You can check out our most recent update of book club selections in this post.

But for now, on to this week's Latine releases...

ROMANCE

How To Fake A Southern Gentleman by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt (Audiobook)

More Like Enemigas by Stephanie Hope (Audiobook)

PICTURE BOOK

Lucia's Goals by Angela Quezada Padron and illustrated by Christina Barragan Forshay

POETRY: April is National Poetry Month

Against Breaking: On The Power Of Poetry by Ada Limon (Audiobook)

Visitations by Julia Alvarez (Audiobook)

xoxo,

Carmen