Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
This is the third post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword catagories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I am challenging myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previsously that would also fufill it within these posts. The theme for March was “locations / attractions,” which I had to think about for a bit but at the end of the day I’m really happy with the book I chose to read for this prompt.
Book read in March: The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
Syd works as a baker at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. And the morning after Syd is broken up with, Syd may have accidentally made a batch of break up brownies. And anyone who eats Syd’s brownies… may break up with their significant other(s). This includes Vin and Alec, Proud Muffin’s owners, and their split has the ability to take the whole bakery down with it. Syd has to fix things, but doesn’t think anyone will believe a story about magic baking. Except maybe Harley, the adorable bike delivery person who’s been flirting with Syd for a while. He [today] believes Syd about the break up brownies, and also has a feeling Syd can bring people together with magical baking just as easily, one recipe at a time.
*In the story, Syd is agender and does not feel like any pronouns fit well, so anytime I reference the character I will use the name Syd. It will be often, as evident in the description, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable using any pronouns when that is a prominent part of Syd’s identity in the story
This was such a heartwarming story that I desperately needed in the month of March. I loved that the Proud Muffin was a place where everyone felt like they belonged, and that at the first sign of trouble the community came together to make sure that place was not taken away. I didn’t expect the magical baking aspect to actually be, well, magical, but I really liked how Syd realizes this ability and tries to hone it by trying out so many recipes (some with rather disasterous results). There was so much diversity whether it be a poly relationship, deaf students (and teachers at a deaf school), an agender MC (who start the books off in a [perceived] “same sex” relationship), a love interest whose pronouns change (just look at the pronoun badge, it’s usually on the messenger bag), and so much more. Since Syd is trying to undo the work of the break-up brownies, Syd and Harley play the part of investigators, and they both learn a lot about love and different kinds of relationships. Throughout the book, while Syd starts to realize that Harley’s banter is more on the flirty side than previously thought, Syd also begins to dissect Syd’s previous relationship and notices that things may not have been all sunshine up until its last legs. The lighthearted tone sprinkled with important conversations and emotional moments made me so attached to the characters and the story until the very end. I will admit, I’ve started to forget some of what’s happened, as I read it more towards the beginning of the month, I would still highly recommend picking it up, and I’ll definitely be doing a reread at some point later this year.
I also wanted to highlight that throughout the course of the book, Syd struggles to decide whether or not to come out as agender. Syd, assigned female at birth, is still addressed with she/her pronouns by family members and close friends, partially because Syd doesn’t want to have the long explanatory conversation about “what agender means,” but also because Syd doesn’t quite know what pronouns to use or fully why none of them feel right. Harley seems to grasp the complexity of this struggle, and navigates around not using pronouns at all when referring to Syd and giving space for Syd to decide when, how, and if it feels right to breech that conversation with those close. I really appreciated this aspect because it’s really such a personal decision whether or not to come out, even if it’s to your family or close friends, and there’s no easy answer on whether or not you should or when. And it can be even tougher if your identity is more fluid than most. No one should make you feel bad about feeling as though it would be easier to stay in the closet. Your identity is still valid, no matter if you’ve told another soul.
In conclusion, that’s three months down. I won’t say I haven’t already struggled a bit for far this year, but I’m still working towards getting these out every month.
Where to find The Heartbreak Bakery:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
A.R. Capetta’s author page
Additional Book Recommendations:
–Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green (YA Contemporary)
–Beach Read by Emily Henry (Adult Romance)
–Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas (Adult Contemporary)
–Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (YA Fantasy) – review
-Lighthouse Bay series by Amy Aislin (Adult Romance) – Christmas Lane and Gingerbread Mistletoe (plus new third book releasing in 2022)
–The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz (Sci-fi short story)
–The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede (Non-fiction)
–Didn’t Stay in Vegas by Chelsea M. Cameron (Adult Romance)
–The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (YA Sci-fi dystopian) – review
–Keep My Heart in San Francisco by Amelia Diane Coombs (YA Contemporary)
–Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron (YA Contemporary Fantasy)
-When in Rome series by Marina Adair (Adult Romance) – RomeAntically Challenged (review) and Hopeless Romantic (review)
Thoughts About Things 