EyeRolling Demigod -aka Dusty-

Tori Dunlap’s Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love was a thought provoking and entertaining listen that details why financial independence is so important for women and gives some actionable steps on how to get there. I really enjoyed listening to the author narrate the book, as it felt like more of a conversation with her rather than a lecture or a ‘how-to’ book. It's a feminist book that focuses on money rather than a financial book that has feminist influences, but that doesn’t detract from its educational value. While many financial books offer the same tips (i.e. how to budget, how to save, etc.), I thought the most impactful of the tips that Tori shared was the money diary. Instead of just keeping track of what you’re spending to figure out where your money is going, her suggestion is to include how you’re feeling when you spend money so you can also delve into the why. The author also delves into the culture and policy that have created the patriarchal biases that keep women and people of color struggling compared to straight cis white men. She doesn’t provide only her perspective though; she also invites other figures of authority to share their perspective and experiences on money imbalances. I appreciate how direct she was in encouraging women and people of color to take; financial education and voting with your dollars are two of the best ways to help improve your circumstances going forward. While it’s not going to be perfect for everyone (as she says personal finance is personal), I think it’s a great choice for those looking to improve their financial literacy and gain greater insight on how the Western system of investing and finance works.

I was first introduced to Morgan Matson's Promchanted after watching her "Putting a Spin on the Recipe" panel at YallWest 2025, and I had to read it because it sounded like so much fun. Main characters Stella and Reece (who have been dealing with their own frustrations and heartbreak) are thrown into the story of Sleeping Beauty together after visiting Disneyland the night of prom. It's a little Back to the Future-esque and zany, as Stella and Reece quickly realize their presence is messing with the original story and they have to make sure things go right (otherwise they won't get home). The two of them have very different experiences (with Reece staying with Phil, aka the prince, and Stella staying with Rose and her aunts the fairies). I really enjoyed watching them both grow and become invested in the story. I felt for Stella's heartbreak after getting dumped a short time before prom, and struggling to believe in love and happily ever afters from fairy tales anymore. While Reece isn't dealing with heartbreak, he has his own familoy issues at home to contend with. Overall, this was a great modern rom-com mixed with fairy tale. I was really impresed with all the research the author did to make things feel more real. Audiobook narrator Shaina Summerville did a great job bringing the emotion and action of the story to life with her peformance. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy humorous heartfelt romance reads with a little bit of Disney magic thrown in.