bibliokyra's reviews
1111 reviews

Sister Snake is a brilliant retelling of the Chinese folktale “The Legend of the White Snake.” The story follows two ancient shapeshifting snake “sisters” that transform into humans. Suzhen lives a comfortably wealthy life in Singapore and is married to a politician while Emerald is the uninhibited, unapologetically queer sister in NYC. After many years apart, the two are reunited again and Su’s carefully curated life begins to crack. I loved following Su and Emerald across centuries and continents and seeing how their sisterly bond transcended time. An entertaining and thought-provoking read about the complexities of sisterhood, identity, and conformity. Highly recommend. 

We Could Be Rats is the story of two sisters, Sigrid and Margit, who lead very different lives but have more in common than they realize. Through these relatable and memorable characters, we explore the hard truths that come with growing older, creating safety through imagination, and what it’s like when you don’t fit neatly into your family or society’s expectations. With humor and care, Austin has crafted a deeply moving portrayal of mental illness, suicide, addiction, and complex family dynamics. A must-read for 2025 that is poignant, funny, and insightful.

I’ll Come to You is a beautifully written glimpse into the lives of one family over the course of 1995. The story follows Ellen, a woman struggling after divorce, her son Paul and daughter-in-law Corinne, who are dealing with fertility issues, Corinne’s parents as they grapple with aging and dementia, and Corinne’s brother, Rob, who recently lost custody of his sons. Kauffman’s characters are so richly developed and complex, you feel like you know some version of them in your own life. Their stories all come together to create a chaotic, sad, joyful, and darkly funny family drama that perfectly captures the nuances of humanity.