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The Kiss Quotient

Helen Hoang

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From the author of The Bride Test comes a romance novel hailed as one of The Washington Post’s 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2018 and one of Amazon’s Top 100 Books of 2018!

“This is such a fun read and it's also quite original and sexy and sensitive.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author.

“Hoang's writing bursts from the page.”—Buzzfeed.

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.

The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan—from foreplay to more-than-missionary position....

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

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Posts about this title from Boundless Press

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Dec 31 2022

every book i read in 2022 rated & reviewed in 1 sentence

join as a channel member to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join

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faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!


63 books

Boundless Press\ \ Jananie\ \ • Jul 6 2022

The Best + Worst books I've read this year | Mid Year Book Freakout 2022

What are your favourite books of 2022 so far?

🤍 timestamps ↳ 0:00 intro ↳ 1:07 Best book you’ve read so far in 2021. ↳ 6:02 Best sequel you've read so far in 2021. ↳ 7:38 Favourite reread ↳ 9:59 Genre you've been loving/reading the most. (booksandlala) ↳ 11:14 New release you haven't read yet, but want to. ↳ 13:39 New release you wanted to read but aren’t sure about anymore* ↳ 16:30 Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. ↳ 18:01 Biggest disappointment. ↳ 20:02 Biggest surprise. ↳ 24:03 Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) ↳ 25:44 Newest fictional crush. ↳ 26:35 Newest favourite character. ↳ 28:36 Book that made you cry. ↳ 29:12 Book that made you happy. ↳ 29:45 Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) ↳ 30:34 What books do you need to read by the end of the year? ↳ 32:17 outro

📚 join my book club 📚 read books by BIPOC each month and join me during monthly liveshows to discuss! 🤍 announcement Video: https://youtu.be/u-aI8tD1RcQ 🤍 discuss on Fable: https://l.fable.co/readincolour 🤍 discuss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readincolourbookclub/ 🤍 discuss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadinColorClub

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discount codes 🤍 get one month FREE on Skillshare using my link: https://skl.sh/MKR96 🤍 use my code STORY to get your first Book of the Month box for only $9.99 https://www.bookofthemonth.com/?utm\_source=youtube&utm\_medium=video&utm\_campaign=This\_Story\_Ain%27t\_Over

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com 💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs 🤍 how do you pronounce your name? - my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc? - both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job? - aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!


29 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\ \ Alex (he/him/his)\ \ • Apr 14

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Spring Seasonal Readathon This Weekend (April 17 - April 21st) | Bingo Card, Recommendations, & More!

I'm hosting another seasonal readathon this weekend! Enclosed are recommendations, the reading sprint schedule, and access to the bingo card.


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chronicallybookish\ \ Kaley\ \ • Feb 21

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Hi friends!\ \ March is just around the quarter which means it’s time for a quick recap on March’s Read Disabled 2026 challenge as well as bring you some recommendations for books to read! All of these books are by disabled authors.\ \ Also! Before I get into it, I just wanted to give you all a heads-up that voting for our March book club picks is open in the Discord, and many of the options fit one or both of these prompts!\ \ Without further ado–let’s get into prompts and book recs!\ \ Main Prompt: A Book by a Female Author\ \ What I’m Planning to Read: That’s a Great Question, Thank You for Asking by Elyse Myers (Autism and ADHD representation)\ \ March is Women’s History Month here in America, and to celebrate, our main prompt this month is a book by a female author (read: any book by an author who identifies as a woman), and I’m planning on going the non-fiction route with That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers.\ \ I’ve been following Elyse Myers for a few years now. I find her content at turns very relatable and absolutely hilarious, and I was even able to meet her at Shelves and the City last March (she was so kind!) where she revealed the cover for this book! This is part memoir, part essay collection, and part poetry, talking about her life in a similar way to her video content, but a bit longer form. I’ve heard audio is the way to go for this one, so I’m hoping my library hold will come in by the end of the month for a tandem read, but if not I’ll settle for the physical copy.\ \ My Recommendations:\ \ A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz (autism representation)\ \ This YA fantasy follows Milo, a devout, autistic temple steward who accidentally awakens a girl who was cursed to become a statue a thousand years before. Now awoken after a millennia trapped in stone, Gia is on a mission to kill the corrupt religious leader who cursed her–and she will kill anyone who gets in her way, even Milo.\ \ What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella (glioblastoma, memory loss, and aphasia representation)\ \ Sophie Kinsella’s final book, a novella fictionalizing her own experience with Glioblastoma is beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. It follows Eve, a renowned novelist and mother of six who wakes up in a hospital bed with no memories, and must come to terms with a terminal diagnosis and fight to remember what is important to her.\ \ The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado (PCOS representation)\ \ When Whit Rivera is forced to plan her school’s Fall Formal with her nemesis, Zay, she knows it’s going to be a disaster–and she’s right. But what she wasn’t expecting was the sparks that begin to fly between the two of them.\ \ Bonus Recommendation:\ \ Fairest: A Memoir by Meredith Talusan (albinism representation)\ \ This is a bonus recommendation because I haven’t read it. It’s another that is on my March TBR, but I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, and don’t know if I’ll 100% manage to get this one read as well as the other two (which I’m prioritizing because they’re on my physical TBR, whereas this one i’d have to get from the library). It’s a memoir following the author’s experience  growing up albino in the Philippines, immigrating to America, and coming out as a transwoman.\ \ Bonus Prompt: A Book Featuring a Developmentally Disabled Main Character\ \ What I’m Planning to Read: Happy Ending by Chloe Liese (ADHD representation)\ \ March is also Developmental Disability Awareness Month! Developmental disability is a broad category of disabilities including things like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and more. It’s defined as categorizing disabilities that arise early in life and cause difficulties with communication, knowledge/skill acquisition, social interaction, and/or mobility. I’m planning to read Happy Ending by Chloe Liese for this prompt!\ \ Chloe Liese is one of my favorite authors when it comes to disability representation, and I was under the impression that her upcoming release did not have any, but a few of my friends read early copies and have informed me that one of the main characters has ADHD. I was already excited to see Chloe Liese edge into a more women’s fiction bent in her romance (I’ve heard Emily Henry comped!) but with the added rep I’m doubly excited. This one isn’t out in the world until April, but I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy from Gallery Books.\ \ My Recommendations:\ \ King of the Neuro Verse by Idris Goodwin (ADHD representation)\ \ This feels a little like cheating because I talked about it last month so it was already on your radar, but I just read it and it was phenomenal, so I need to scream about it. This follows Pernell, a 17 year old Black boy as he finds himself back in summer school for the third summer in a row and struggles to catch up with his peers. This book is stuffed full of Black disabled joy, and I love how the author knew exactly who his target audience was and wrote a story just for them. There were some really interesting (read: cool!) decisions made in story structure, pacing, and prioritization of different story elements to make this book more accessible and easier to connect with for teens with ADHD–escpecially those who struggle with reading. Cannot recommend this one more.\ \ What Stars Are Made Of by Sarah Allen (Turner Syndrome representation)\ \ When twelve year old Libby’s sister tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled–and also worried. She knows her sister is struggling financially and that not all babies are born healthy. So Libby strikes up a deal with the universe: she’ll enter a science competition, and if she wins the grand prize, she’ll give that money to her sister and the baby will be perfect.\ \ Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest (cerebral palsy and wheelchair user representation)\ \ As Effie starts her senior year, all of her focus is on college applications. She can’t wait for college, and she already knows the perfect place: a college in NYC with her dream program. But Effie is a wheelchair user, which means there’s a lot more to consider when choosing a college, and as senior year progresses she learns that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of.\ \ Books That Fit Both Prompts: A Book by a Female Author with a Developmentally Disabled Main Character\ \ For anyone who isn’t able to read two separate books, but wants to fit each prompt nonetheless–here are three books that are both by a woman and feature a developmentally disabled MC!\ \ The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (autism representation)\ \ When Stella decides that she needs to practice dating, she does the only thing that makes sense: She hires a male escort to teach her all about dating and intimacy. Before long, Stella finds their no-nonsense partnership to make a strange sort of sense, and maybe is becoming something more than she planned for.\ \ Second Chance Summer by Sarah Kapit (dyspraxia representation)\ \ Maddie and Chloe are ready to move on after the dissolution of their best friendship, but when they end up at the same theater summer camp and find themselves repeatedly forced together, they discover that maybe the universe isn’t ready for their friendship to end.\ \ Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman (autism representation)\ \ This YA fantasy follows autistic Changeling Seelie in the aftermath of a heist-gone-wrong as she’s forced on the run with her twin sister and unexpected allies. As they flee a murderous sorceress intent on retrieving what they’ve stolen, Seelie and her friends begin to unravel a mystery with its roots in both human and fae history.\ \ Happy reading!\ \ ~Kaley\ \ Join for free or login

March Read Disabled Prompts & Recommendations!


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Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Aug 13 2025

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[You definitely aren’t alone, I’m also navigating the wild, winding road of self-discovery—and let me tell you, it’s not a one-and-done kind of deal. For many of us, “coming of age” happened in adolescence—awkward braces, bad haircuts, and maybe a few embarrassing crushes. But honestly? That was just the opening act. The real, adult coming of age happens when you realize that life, love, and even your own desires are way more complicated (and way more exciting) than a teen rom-com.\ \ A Second Coming of Age—Because Who Says It’s Over?\ \ If you’re anything like me, you've spent years unpacking some pretty heavy stuff—religious upbringing, conservative values, judgments about your body, your sexuality, your worth. Maybe you’re still peeling back those layers, questioning everything you once believed. That’s what I call the second coming of age. And surprise: it’s just as messy, honest, and life-changing as the first.\ \ This second round is about re discovering yourself—your desires, your boundaries, and your capacity to love and be loved. It’s about deconstructing old narratives and rebuilding a version of yourself that’s more aligned with who you really are. And let’s be real: navigating this while unlearning a lot of shame—especially around sex and intimacy—can feel like trying to do a puzzle in the dark. But here’s the thing: you’re allowed to stumble, fumble, and laugh at yourself along the way.\ \ As a therapist, I see so many clients (myself included) who are just unraveling the layers of what society, religion, or family told us about our bodies and feelings. It’s often uncomfortable, sometimes heartbreaking, but also incredibly empowering. One thing I’ve learned: exploring our sexuality and love is a profoundly human experience. It’s about curiosity, honesty, and damn, a lot of patience with ourselves.\ \ Romance Novels: Your Secret Weapon (And Yes, They’re Actually Good for You)\ \ Now, here’s a little secret I tell my clients: romancelandia is more than escapism—it's a safe space to learn about desire, consent, emotional intimacy, and even—let’s be honest—how to flirt without dying of embarrassment. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, validation, or just a good laugh, romance books can be a tool for understanding your own wants and needs.\ \ They give us permission to explore love in all its messy, imperfect glory. Plus, reading about people falling in love might just inspire you to do the same—without the heartbreak of bad dates or awkward moments (well, mostly). It’s like practice for real life, but with less risk and more happily-ever-afters.\ \ Books That Might Help You Level Up in Love and Self-Discovery\ \ Coming of Age in Youth:\ \

The Second Coming of Age: Self-Discovery, Love, and a Little Rebellion


11 books

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Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Aug 8 2025

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[Want to feel more confident in your relationships? I think this one is actually just for me. Great communication is the foundation of any healthy connection, whether it’s a date, a casual fling, or a long-term partnership. Talking openly about boundaries and desires isn’t just for ‘big’ moments — it’s an everyday practice that builds trust and safety. I literally just did it like 10 minutes ago.\ \ Here’s my beige flag: I don’t like small talk, and small talk while dating is inevitable. So the “good morning” text, the “what are you up to today” text…I HATE THEM. Tell me the things and I’ll tell you the things. Like, when I have something to tell you, I’ll text you, but please, for the love of god, don’t ask me how my day is. But really, I used my healthy communication skills to let this woman I’m seeing know that I get overwhelmed with daily texts. Let’s just save it for the dates right now. And she responded wonderfully.\ \ Consent is more than just for sexy times. It’s a broader concept that applies to pretty much every interaction. It’s about ensuring everyone involved feels safe, respected, and comfortable. \ \ Here’s what consent is about beyond the sex stuff: \ \

Book recommendation:\\
"Come as You Are" by the GOAT, Emily Nagoski — A supportive guide to understanding your body and mind, and communicating effectively about your desires and boundaries. It helps you build confidence that your needs are valid.\\
"That Prince is Mine" by Jayci Lee: I love that Michel’s character openly understands how the power of his station might create issues around consent, and as a result, he’s hypersensitive about making sure Emma calls the shots. It could so easily tip into irritatingly patronizing territory, but Jayci Lee handles it deftly so that the pair’s love story can unfold with all the sweetness (and a good deal of spiciness) it deserves.\\
\\
“The Truth According to Ember” by Danica Nava: The novel highlights Dan's patience and support, particularly during their growing intimacy, where he consistently seeks Ember's verbal consent.\\
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“The Charm Offensive” by Alison Cochrun: Dev's sensitivity to Charlie's physical triggers and consistent consent-seeking make their romance a refreshing exploration of communication and boundaries. Charlie also learns to articulate his own desires, creating a beautiful dynamic.\\
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“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang: Stella struggles with dating and physical intimacy due to her logic based brain and being on the autism spectrum. Her journey to explore intimacy and dating includes navigating consent and communication in a unique and important way.\\
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“Never Loved” by Charlotte Stein: Beatrix,, after escaping an abusive environment, learns to navigate a healthy relationship where consent is respected and valued. \\
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“Swift and Saddled” by Lyla Sage: The second book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, this  is chock full of sexy consent. Ada, recovering from an emotionally abusive marriage, and Wes, dealing with middle child syndrome, approach their relationship with tentativeness. Wes respects Ada's initial desire for no romance or intimacy, showing the strength of his commitment to her boundaries before their relationship develops further.\\
\\
“By the Book” by Jasmine Guillory: This modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast has a huge focus on consent. It is a prime example of positive consent in romance.\\
\\
“Her Best Friend's Sister” by Meghan O'Brien: Claire has a long-standing crush and is navigating a relationship where consent and clear communication are key.\\
\\
"Take the Lead" by Alexis Daria: This romance focuses on a professional dance competition setting and is noted for its integration of enthusiastic consent during intimate scenes.\\
```\\
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Join for free or login](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/qxArHIH2oDk3TI8TNEVC/)

[Consent & Communication — The Power Duo](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/qxArHIH2oDk3TI8TNEVC/)

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10 books

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[chronicallybookish\\
\\
Kaley\\
\\
• Jun 27 2025](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/)

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[Book Recs With Disability Rep p1](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/item/wze0S1Mlmizm5xkmymGq/)

If you have more must read recs—leave them in the comments!! #booktok #disabilitybooks #disabilityrepresentation #disabilitypride #fantasybookrecs #romancebookrecs #yabookrecs

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10 books

[Bookish AfroLatina's Library\\
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Gabby\\
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• Apr 2 2025](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/)

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\\
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I took a little break from posting & now I'm back to celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day! This is the very first for this virtual celebration so I'm kicking it off with 36 amazing book recs for y'all.\\
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Learn more about this celebration here: https://www.diversebooks.org/celebrate-we-need-diverse-books-day\\
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As my og followers know, I started my bookstagram in order to promote diverse books back in 2021. So I'm gonna give y'all a ton of book recs (old & new) by and about BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent folks. I hope y'all find something that interests you!\\
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Books shown:\\
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- The Hero's Equinox by Antoine Bandele\\
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- Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle\\
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- The Emperor & the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang\\
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- One for All by Lillie Lainoff\\
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- The Deep by Rivers Solomon\\
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- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna\\
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- The Pretty One by Keah Brown\\
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- The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.\\
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- An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera\\
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- The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa\\
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- Across a Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti\\
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- Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas\\
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Books shown:\\
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- Minor Detail by Adania Shibli\\
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- This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm & more\\
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- The Broposal by Sonora Reyes\\
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- The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V\\
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- Sex, Lies, & Sensibility by Nikki Payne\\
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- Iron Widow by Ziran Jay Zhao\\
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- Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir\\
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- Daydreamer by Rob Cameron\\
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- A Girl Called Echo, Vol. 1 by Katherena Vermette\\
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- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang\\
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- Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias\\
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- Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma\\
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Books shown:\\
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- Jade City by Fonda Lee\\
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- Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon\\
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- Plantains & Our Becoming by Melania Luisa Marte\\
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- She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan\\
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- Transgender History by Susan Stryker\\
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- Puerto Rico by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo\\
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- The Name Bearer by Natalia Hernandez\\
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- Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana\\
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- The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi\\
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- The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera\\
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- To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose\\
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- A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow\\
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Comment a diverse book you're reading or have read below and follow #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay on IG!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/pv1KFYmuFNEWdAp3AjVL/)

[36 Amazing Book Recs to celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/pv1KFYmuFNEWdAp3AjVL/)

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36 books

3

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Dec 31 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[every book i read in 2022 rated & reviewed in 1 sentence](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/WBhUl5IlPHXRfIZkr8VB/)

join as a channel member to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJn0v3OAEAX3-V4crjcHtRA/join

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

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63 books

[Boundless Press\\
\\
Jananie\\
\\
• Jul 6 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/)

[The Best + Worst books I've read this year \| Mid Year Book Freakout 2022](https://boundless.binderybooks.com/item/CPwQ0YOXn2rIGuawYXp6/)

What are your favourite books of 2022 so far?

other places to find me
🤍 my website: https://www.jananiekvelu.com/
🤍 my series # EpicBookRecs on the Epic Reads Channel: https://bit.ly/2XziOfz

💌 for business/sponsorship inquiries please contact eric@smallscreenmarketing.com
💌 for all other inquiries please contact me at thisstoryaintover@gmail.com

faqs
🤍 how do you pronounce your name?
\- my name is Jananie—pronounced JEN-nah-nee (like a knee!)

🤍 what's your background/ethnicity/etc?
\- both my parents are Sri Lankan Tamil, and I was born and raised in Canada!

🤍 what is your job?
\- aside from youtube I also work in product marketing!

* * *

29 books