january reading list

nothing beats the feeling of browsing through bookstore shelves, looking for a title that catches your eye

with the current lens with which i see the world – anything involving community, love, education, politics, art, and culture inspire me to add more tools to my toolbox in the form of brain food

below are the books i’ve recently added to my collection. to my fellow book worms, isn’t it amazing to dedicate time to your day to learn something new? to put yourself into someone else’s world in the way of writing? it just excites me so much and i’m excited to have a space to share and explore my thoughts on the books i read

if you’re reading any of these, let’s chat about them, or let me know what’s holding your attention recently

january 2026 reading list:

love in a fucked up world by dean spade

dean spade’s love in a fucked up world goes into depth on the intersection of love and politics. For anyone (such as myself) finding themselves in political organizations with a whole lot of #woke cuties – this is the read for you. it’s also for those wanted to get an understanding of the current dating practices taking place in our society. Im halfway through this book and im genuinely incredibly captivated by the author’s way of turning complex topics into a fun read. it makes me feel less alone

punks by john keene

john keene’s punks is a collection of his best poems – surrounding queer love, loss, black history. grazing themes of AIDS, grief, oppression, etc. i flipped through the pages while visiting a rare book bookshop and was immediately captivated by his way of writing. i simply cannot wait to savor every single piece and share the best finds with you

paper cadavers by kirsten weld

kirsten weld’s paper cadavers: the archives of dictatorship in guatemala (ok isn’t that title insane!) dives into the secret archives of police in guatemala. uncovering many truths hidden following the Cold War and 30 year civil war. friends, once i read at least 25% of this book – i will share with you the most fascinating parts. i’m afraid of what i will read but also incredibly interested. that’s all i have to say for now

all the best,

yani

here’s a picture i’ve been loving