Booked & Busy: Book Reviews by Katie
Welcome to Booked & Busy!
Hello! My name is Katie Lipoma, and I’m one of the Fall 2025 editors of The River. To learn more about me, check out “The Editors” tab!
With over 1,700 books on my growing TBR list, I’m always booked and busy! As a reader and writer, I always have something to say about the literature I consume. Join me every Thursday as I sort through my list one book at a time and share my thoughts on a recent read (the positive, negative, and everything in between)! I believe that the best books hold a mirror to the lives of readers. If drawn to, I’ll share how a work resonates with my lived experiences. Happy reading!
For more book content from Katie: https://www.goodreads.com/katielipoma
Mrs Rosie and the Priest (final review!)
Review by Katie Lipoma *Spoilers ahead & content warning for murder, rape, and abuse* My final Booked & Busy read was Mrs Rosie and the Priest by Giovanni Boccaccio, one of the many books that make up the Penguin Classics collection. I’ve never naturally gravitated toward classics and often find that I don’t enjoy them…
Illness Interlude
Dear Booked & Busy Readers, It seems that the winter weather has gotten the best of me as I’m sick. Therefore, there is no review this week, but stay tuned to read my final post which will be uploaded next Thursday (I promise!). It has been a privilege sharing my thoughts here and I’m disappointed…
Thanksgiving Interlude
Dear Booked & Busy Readers, Happy Thanksgiving! In observance of the holiday, there is no review this week. Check back for a review next Thursday! Wishing you relaxation and good times with loved ones. Thank you for your engagement and support—I’m thankful for you! Yours, Katie
Maine in Four Seasons: 20 Poets Celebrate the Turning Year
Review by Katie Lipoma I’ve been on a poetry kick as of late and discovered Maine in Four Seasons: 20 Poets Celebrate the Turning Year (edited by Wesley McNair and illustrated by Jan Owen) tucked into the quiet back shelves of the Farmington Library. This tiny but mighty collection featuring various Maine poets seeks to…
Upheavals
Review by Katie Lipoma Every now and then, I find myself in the mood to read something short and sweet. I decided on Upheavals by Zackary Lavoie—a short poetry collection that touches on some not so sweet topics (death, loss, abuse, suicide, etc.). Through glimpses of natural imagery and distinct word choice, readers are invited…
Time After Time
Review by Katie Lipoma *Minor spoilers ahead* Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry is the sweet sapphic romance pick-me-up I needed this week. Victorian houses and queer romance…two of my favorite things! I’m 74% through this book (thank you, Goodreads for the stat), and from what I’ve read, I really like it. I’ve never been…
Your Perfectionism Will Not Save You.
Commentary by Katie Lipoma Once again, working on midterms and unsuccessfully attempting to recover from them has largely consumed my time and energy. I miss reading novels, but I decided to select another article to examine and comment on in the spirit of slowing down and tuning into my needs as dissected in last week’s…
Things We Forget Are Normal in Our Twenties
Commentary by Katie Lipoma This week, I had midterms for all my classes and sadly didn’t have time to read a book. So instead, I’m mixing things up with a reflection and commentary on an article: “things we forget are normal in our twenties” by Kelly from the blog, Kelly Today. Lately, I’ve been seeing…
The Dead Zone
Review by Katie Lipoma *Spoilers ahead & content warning for murder, rape, and religious mania* This past weekend, I embarked on a trip to Boothbay Harbor, where I found The Dead Zone by Stephen King curiously on sale at a bookstore called Sherman’s (I wish there was a Sherman’s in Farmington!), and decided to raise…
Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better
Review by Katie Lipoma I finished Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better by Woo-Kyoung Ahn this week. This was required reading for my psychology Professional Seminar class. Although required reading often takes the fun out of it for me, I’m glad that I got the chance to read this one, as it…
The Raven and Other Favorite Poems
Review by Katie Lipoma This week’s read was The Raven and Other Favorite Poems by Edgar Allan Poe (published by Dover Publications). This seemed like the perfect option as someone who’s wanted to read Poe’s The Raven for quite some time…and loves ravens and crows. I’m not feeling too rambly today, so let’s jump right…
The Secret Language of Love
Review by Katie Lipoma I had so much fun reading The Secret Language of Love by Megan Tresidder this week. Fortunately, contrary to the title, there aren’t so many secrets and unanswered questions to mull over in this read, unlike last week’s book, The Secret History. This was a much-needed lighthearted pick-me-up that jumped out…
The Secret History
Review by Katie Lipoma *Spoilers ahead & content warning for murder, suicide, and incest* Okay, so I know I said that this week’s review would hopefully be more uplifting. That’s not the case, but I suggest you keep reading anyway. There’s some praise and glimpses of good in here! What a beautiful, bewildering whirlwind of…
Milk and Honey (first review!)
Review by Katie Lipoma I was lucky enough to stumble upon a gently loved copy (I believe stains and rips add necessary character) of a popular yet polarizing poetry collection that was originally published in 2014. If you’re a reader—especially if you’re a poetry connoisseur—I can almost guarantee that you’ve seen this minimalist book with…
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