Troublemaker (234 pgs.) begins with Remini's confession of being a liar, cheater and occasional horrible person while being married to a serial cheater, who she met and fell in love with while he was still married. Whew, now that we've gotten that out of the way... If you've ever doubted that the author, Leah Remini, was funny, even after seeing her long standing sitcom King of Queens, this read will put all doubts to rest. The pages are sprinkled with Remini's brand of laugh out loud humor, sarcasm and curse words. Yet, she also presents her full vulnerable self. The writing style and rhythm is authentic, inclusive of grammatical faux pas. Any craving the reader may have for Scientology gossip and celebrity drama is very much satisfied in this book. Details include full names of all involved parties, dates, timestamps, police report copies, total payment amounts and pictures. "The reason for their blind faith lies in their core belief that they alone have the answers to eradicate the ills of humanity...all those years applying [Scientology] didn't make me any less flawed, hurt, aggressive, or insecure." ~Leah Remini Chapter Synopsis: (Chapter Title/ROTR digest) One/ The family's journey to Scientology, learning policy and efforts to "clear" the planet. Two/ Spending time in the Sea Org, a special level in Scientology where the most dedicated participants are invited and held to the highest standard of the organization. Three/ Exiting the Sea Org with a bang, or because of one. Four/ The family moves to California with hopes of finding a new Scientology church home. Five/ Early acting woes of booking the first job. Six/ First time experience working on a series: Living Dolls with Halle Berry. Seven/ Moving up the church ranks aka the Bridge. Eight/ Falling love with a married man. Nine/ The King of Queens journey. Ten/ Knowledge Reports and a baby on the way. Eleven/ Recruiting new members and losing friends, both for the church. Twelve/ Being a celebrity Scientologist and meeting Tom Cruise. Thirteen/ The wedding of the century. Fourteen/ Things start going downhill. Fifteen/ Leaving King of Queens and enduring the first season of The Talk. Sixteen/ The divorce of the century, requesting a refund from the church (big transgression!) and a friend goes missing. Seventeen/ Giving up a lifelong belief system is just so hard to do. Eighteen/ Public feud with Scientology and Dancing with the Stars. Nineteen/ Learning to think independently and being ok not knowing all the answers. Whether or not any of the claims, accusations and/or validity of this organization are true, this book is wildly entertaining, informative and inspiring in the sense that no matter what one believes, as Remini writes, "living with a core set of beliefs that completely unravel is unsettling" to say the least. Happy Reading my Friends, Xoxoxoxoxo ROTR

Have you ever wanted to read your best friend's journal? Well here is your chance. Send It On (paperback, 112 pgs.) is a collection of fictional short stories that offers the reader the feeling of entering the private world of a young woman's mind. It's easy to read and filled with young adult love experiences: romantic, platonic and familial. Intuitively, if familiar with Jouelzy's brand the reader will associate the experiences of Solana, the main character, with true stories from Jouelzy herself. This is the first self-publication from author, Jouelzy, an internet personality and self-professed pre-doctoral student studying African American History. Jouelzy's interest in current social norms as it relates to the coming of age African American woman, allows for authentic character creation. Solana, better known as Soli B , is young, vibrant, curious and in love with a man that already has a family. With a loving father, a mother that finds few reasons to smile and ambitions too large for her to handle, Soli B navigates the devastation of unrequited love. With quite impressive cover art, the book is only available in paperback. If ordered directly from the website the author will send a signed copy (however, it may take more than a few weeks to arrive). It is also available on Amazon. Send It On is a collection of "short stories told through the eyes of Solana, a young woman going through the evolutions of womanhood." Chapter Synopsis: (Chapter Title/ROTR digest) Dear Mommy/ A dedication to the struggle that came prior. I Don't Know/ A broken promise to Solana's 6-year-old self sets the stage for future decisions. Black Carrie/ The (Black) Carrie Bradshaw complex, faking happiness. Peach Cobbler/ A hand written letter and a recipe for Peach Cobbler from Dad. Zumunda/ Dinner with an African Escort. Umbrella/ He won't share his umbrella, he loves me not. Friday Night Lights/ A broken heart in the club. October 11th/ Sinking and no one cares. Press Delete/ Deleting the messages will hopefully delete the feelings. Perpendicular Contradictions/ Drunken does not equal consensual. Send It On/ Giving in to the desire. 21 Days/ Twenty One days on cloud nine. Over That/ Greeting him in public. A Woo Woo Woo/ A Google Chat convo for the win? PMS September/ Depression. i./ Self defining realities. A Long Ass Note/ He's got mail. Good Night.../ Am I the fool? Good Day,/ Why I now smile. An obvious intellectual underlies the robust internet character known as @Jouelzy, who has built an untraditional Youtube brand (#smartbrowngirl), engaging women of color into complex cultural discussions drawing them in with pop-culture references and snarky attitude. I look forward to reading her next, more maturely developed book. I would recommend this book for a short interesting read. Happy reading my friends, Xoxoxoxox RTOR

Short Story Sunday is a ReadingOnTheRun writing challenge which offers a different writing prompt each week. Participants are challenged to writing a complete story with a maximum of 1500 words pertaining to a unique prompt each week. Prompts of the week are released on our Twitter page every Monday. Want your writing to be considered for a feature on a future Short Story Sunday? Email us your writing entry on or before Thursday of each week! Happy Reading (and Writing) my Friends, xoxoxoxoxox RTOR

Every true book lover knows that grabbing a warm cup of comfort and cozying up with a new book is one of the best moments after a long challenging week of responsibility. Satisfying the anticipation of getting lost in a new story, meeting new characters or learning new tools on a journey to ones best self is unmatched. Using the local library is a great way to satisfy the craving for new discoveries. Supporting your local library resources community programs and helps ease the pain of your book addiction on your bank account! On the other hand, purchasing a new book has its perks also! Here are five reasons to buy new books! Happy reading friends, xoxooxoxox ROTR 1. Gift giving: A good book is the perfect gift for any occasion. With the vast subject matter options, they are easy to personalize, ship and share. To personalize even further, add a thoughtful message inside so the sentiment will always be just a reach away on the bookshelf. 2. Support for your favorite authors: Book sales matter! 3. Get it hot off the press: Usually a hot read will arrive at your local library a few months or even years after its original release date. Also, once it's there, you'll be required to wait your turn in the book request line to get it. 4. Add a new addition to the bookshelf: What? Is there a such situation of having too many books...ever? 5. New book smell and new crisp page turns: Am I the only one who enjoys this...? Looking to purchase a new book? If you like our content please consider purchasing from our very own bookstore. Your purchase may be associated with an affiliate partnership which helps us earn funds and continue providing an awesome service to you, our valued and loved readers! Thank you for your purchase!

Author Chanel Miller has an open, honest, sarcastic, humorous, down-to-earth writing style that brings a unique voice to not only her story, but the many stories shared by sexual assault victims who may not have the words to express their experiences. Her's is a literary voice we didn't even know we were missing, but we are sure glad it is now here. Formerly referred to as Emily Doe, Know My Name details her life during the four years after her assault by Brock Turner, a first year Stanford student with a promising professional swimming career. Though the case was followed closely by the media, the public had very little, if any, knowledge about the victim. "You will find society asking you for the happy ending, saying come back when you're better, when what you say can make us feel good, when you have something more uplifting, affirming. This ugliness was something I never asked for, it was dropped on me, and for a long time I worried it made me ugly too... But when I wrote the ugly and painful parts into a statement, an incredible thing happened. The world did not plug up its ears, it opened itself to me." -Chanel Miller In fourteen well written, deeply moving and highly entertaining chapters, Miller chronicles both the journey of Emily Doe, her public facing alter ego and her true self following the assault. We the readers get a glimpse of what her life was like before this defining life event any why, unlike some sexual assault victims, the privilege of having a loving familial support system helped face her attacker through, and even beyond prosecution. Fair Warning: Those that have experienced sexual assault take a risk of being either triggered or absolved by reading some of the experiences described in this book. Happy Reading my Friends, xoxoxoxoxoxox ROTR

In true #readingontherun fashion, while in the mood to spend a few hours with new characters and a competent storyline, I picked up this novel at the airport in a hurry. The soft cover jacket boasted a quote from Stephen King, the New York Time Best Seller seal and described an unreliable main character...sold! The main character, Anna Fox suffers from Agoraphobia due to past traumas leaving her unable to leave her home in New York City. She passes the time by spying on her neighbors, playing chess online and helping others suffering from the same disorder via an internet chatroom. All of these conditions set a perfect scene for entertaining suspense, right?! This novel is expected to make its big screen debut featuring Amy Adams in October 2020. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape. These situations can include open spaces, public transit, shopping centers, or simply being outside their home. -Wikipedia The author, A.J. Finn, drops a murder right in the middle of all these shenanigans which takes the readers (us!) on a whirlwind of surprise plots with mildly developed supporting characters. There are very few subplots here though. Finn spends most of the book helping us get to know Anna, an unreliable main character, perfect for a typical "who dun it" plot. She drinks heavily while on multiple prescribed medications, so when she witnesses her neighbor get murdered while peeping through the window, we begin to question if any of Anna's experiences are actually true. We get to know Anna really well. Finn does a wonderful job getting us close to Anna's feelings of anger, joy, sadness, confusion and hope. However, I found myself wanting get to know some of the other characters a bit more. There are a few surprises, one of which caught me off-guard. Overall this was a good read I am sure you'll want to see through to the end. Next, we'll patiently wait to see if the movie does Finn's writing any justice. Of course, us true book lovers know that the movie is never as good as the book. Until next time, keep reading my friends! xoxoxoxoxox, ReadingontheRun

I picked up this book at the airport on the way back from a leisure beach trip due to an immediate desire to be entertained by a good 'ol fictional story. When I came across this novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer a mental note that I had previously tucked away surfaced. I noticed the author several weeks earlier in a review by the New York Times and wanted to support her work. This was the perfect chance! "Scorpion-Tailed...Leaves a response, and a sting, you will remember." -The New York Times The storyline centers around two sisters protecting each other from the world that surrounds them while trying to find love. It just so happens that Ayoola, the younger sister, can't keep any of her love interests alive. Korede is older, responsible, protective and tired of cleaning up her sister's mess. However, her devotion to family won't let her break free and pursue the life she desires with an unrequited love. "Braithwaite writes with fearlessness...about family, race, class, and the monstrosity of high expectations, making My Sister, The Serial Killer a wicked, joyous wonder." -BuzzFeed Click Here to Purchase this book on Amazon! The chapters are short, witty and subversive into the cultural dynamic in which the characters live. It's an easy, entertaining read that is sure to provoke emotion. Though labeled a fictional comedy, I found more wit than laugh-out-loud moments however Braithwaite does a good job with strategic placements of cliff hangers. I finished the novel within two days in between chores and found myself thinking about what will happen next when I wasn't reading. The ending will satisfy depending on the moral compass of the reader, either way you'll find yourself wanting more. "Taut, rapidly paced...pleasurably subverts serial killer and sisterhood tropes for a guaranteed fun afternoon." -HuffPost Happy Reading my Friends! xoxoxoxoxoxo, ROTR

Starbucks, empanadas and Broadway, oh my! If you have been following the ROTR blog for a while you already know that New York City is a favorite travel destination. There are so many things to experience and no matter how many times a person visits, no two trips will ever be the same. With its five boroughs and over 8 million people, NYC is never a bore. Admittedly most of my experience to date has been in the Manhattan borough, however each one has its own history, museums, culture and lore to offer. After reading about the highlights of my most recent trip below, tell me what your favorite spots are in #NYC by connecting with me on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube! This trip I had the opportunity to visit a Starbucks Reserve located in Chelsea, an area within the Manhattan borough. There are only 5 #Starbucks Reserve locations that exists today: Seattle, Shanghai, Milano, NYC and Tokyo. A sixth and, as I was told, final location is underway in Chicago. Each location manufactures and processes raw coffee beans from all over the world however is unique, and sure not to disappoint. The NYC location showboats what Starbucks does best (besides produce a good cup of coffee), an atmosphere that the customer never wants to leave. For example, it has three bar areas: 1. The Main bar serves all of the traditional drinks and treats in which you are accustomed. The coffee beans are fed to the bar area in stylish vats through a transparent tube system that runs along the ceiling of the facility. This feature adds an industrial ambiance to the experience. 2. The Arriviamo bar is restaurant style which allows for social time, date night or just a nice spot to enjoy a luxurious cup of coffee. This bar boasts a happy hour that offers free pizza with the purchase of a drink. That's a sure fire way to sell a cup of coffee, job well done Starbucks! 3. The Experience Bar is located downstairs from the entrance displaying the namesake: a large area for customers to experience how the beans are roasted, complete with a Master Roaster to teach all the tricks of the trade. Check out the short video on our Youtube page to get a quick tour of the NYC Starbucks Reserve location! What to eat: Empanada Mama is located in an area of NYC called Hell's Kitchen. This area is adjacent to the Theater District. The empanadas were flavorful, fresh, and filled with quality ingredients. The staff members were fun, friendly and attentive. This place is perfect for a low key night out after a Broadway show, after a drunken night at the bars or a midnight hunger run. If you are a seafood fan, be sure to try the "Viagra" empanada! P.S. My life motto: see any show on Broadway whenever you can! This time around Hamilton left me speechless. Happy Travels! xoxoxoxox, ROTR

Memphis Tennessee is a charming city full of soulful art, good food, great green spaces and a lively nightlife. While its sister city Nashville, Tennessee (212 miles west of Memphis) boasts an unmatched country music scene, Memphis equally boasts origins of the Blues. Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs a distance of approximately 1.8 miles. It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of the blues (reference). Its name sake is the muse of the infamous essay If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin which went on the become a multi-Oscar nominated movie. Visit our previous post on James Baldwin to learn more (click here). Memphis is also the home of America's first Civil Right Museum located at the assassination place of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an African American civil rights leader most famous for his I have a dream speech. This endearing city is also home of the Graceland Mansion: the former home of Elvis Presley, an American singer, musician and actor some times referenced as "The King of Rock. With its rich, impactful American History and welcoming people there is something for everyone to enjoy. Add this one to the travel itinerary! See below for a peek at our itinerary and future recommendations. I am currently having a bit of trouble uploading my photos so I added links below. I will update the photos as soo as I can! xoxoxoxoxo, RTOR Where to stay: Peabody Hotel: (Historical landmark) Hotel Napoleon What to eat: Sunrise Memphis Gray Canary The Cheesecake Corner : Best damn cheesecake in the southern region. The owner is a unique character that performs all job functions of the establishment (cashier, waiter, kitchen crew, etc.) so be prepared for long lines. It's worth it though! Central BBQ Gus's Fried Chicken Grilling Jensen What to do: National Civil Rights Museum Beale Street Graceland Shelby Farms

ReadingOnTheRun had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Essence Music Festival and walked away very much inspired. Below check out a few of the many inspirational quotes from the celebrity panel discussions. Also see our review post about the festival experience here! xoxoxox, RTOR "Don't just give money to charity, give your time and hands as well." ~David Mann, Gospel Singer "Many people consider things such as vacation and/or a bubble bath as self-care however I consider self care as a percentage of my day. I ask myself what percentage of the day am I happy? [Therefore, my work is self=care because I am happy when I work on my craft.]" ~Ava DuVernay, Film Producer "A career transition doesn't have to happen all at once. Take baby steps, a little each day. I didn't pickup a camera until I was age 32." ~Ava DuVernay, Film Producer {Singing} "I wanna do you after school like some homework...I'm a little too old to be singing this song..." ~Tevin Campbell, Singer (now age 42) [Life lesson: Keep the past in the past...] "...change the narrative a little bit and actually see ourselves in places we hope and dream to be..." ~Marsai Martin, Actress/Producer (on depicting African American women in film)

The Essence Festival is a music festival that was started in 1995 and is currently the largest event celebrating African-American culture and music in the United States (reference). The festival is held in New Orleans, Louisiana each year over the American Independence Day weekend and offers concerts, celebrity guest speaker segments, unique merchandise and much more. Events are spread across the entire city from the infamous football stadium better known as the SuperDome to the Convention Center with various smaller events in local retail establishments. With all of the options offered each attendee has the opportunity to make their experience unique! I concluded the weekend with so much appreciation for the artistic expression showcased, uplifting speaker segments and the spirit (& cuisine) of #NewOrleans and would recommend adding this experience to your bucket list! During your festival experience it will be almost impossible not to witness celebrity sightings. Upon arrival we passed comedian/actor Anthony Anderson effortlessly making the crowds laugh and endlessly taking photos with fans as he tried to make it into his hotel. We sat next to gospel singers/actors Tamela and David Mann at dinner and then, at breakfast the next day, comedian/The Real host Loni Love . Endeared musical talent Biz Marquis rocked the DJ booth during nightlife activities alongside up and coming disc jockeys such as @mrjaywoods1. After that nightlife session be sure to stop by Kenny's Cajun & Creole Food Truck for their Chicken Philly Steak sandwich with shrimp atop...yes it's as tasty as it sounds! We had an awesome experience with them. In addition to the SuperDome concert lineup each year, large brands such as Coca-cola and Walmart sponsor celebrity speaker segments and even musical shows such as Tevin Campbell, Ava DuVernay, Tamela and David Mann, Michelle Williams and Marsai Martin. Check out my blog post on inspiring quotes from the 2019 Essence Music Festival Celebrity Panel Discussions and our YouTube channel for more videos! Until next time friends -Happy Traveling! xoxoxoxoxox, RTOR

Trevor Noah manages to relay warm and fuzzy feelings to the reader while discussing one of the largest civil rights atrocities of the world, Apartheid. While explaining the origins of the strategic racial suppression of Africans in what is now known today as South Africa, better known as Apartheid, Noah parallels touching stories of the relationship he shared with his mother, father and his first love -a small dog named Fufi. Born under this rule of law to an African mother and a father from Switzerland, Noah was essentially, as the title appropriate describes, Born A Crime. It was forbidden for Races to "mix" however Trevor's mother, as she so often does throughout this book, defies the illogical and inhumane rule and follows her heart. She desires a child, someone to love unconditionally, so she plans an independent pregnancy and life with a child conceived by a forbidden love. This book is funny, informative and immersive. Mama Noah is a hero with wisdom beyond her years. Her religious grounding served as an anchor as she raises Noah to navigate a world that rejects him. When stripped down to bare bones, this book is an ode to Noah's mother, not really an memoir about him. He affectionately praises his mother's love and direction through their, at times, tremulousness relationship during each stage of his life. In early chapters Noah precedes a small insight to the ill fate of his mother being shot in the back of the head by his step-dad. With this, the reader saviors the stories of his child- and young adulthood, only in a futile effort to stall the details of the daunting moment when he shares the full story. Spoiler Alert: She survives! I promise you will laugh out loud at least once while reading this book. Every person inclusive of the African diaspora will relate to attending "Black Church" and "White Church". And as Noah so eloquently put it during his monologue about shitting - yes, shitting-, we all can relate to stories about shit -well because "we all shit. Beyonce shits, the Pope shits...I think God made humans shit the way that they do because it keeps us all humble. No matter how successful you are, you shit." I have one thing to say to Mr. Noah: Job well done Sir. Your talent is undeniable. Keep on shitting my friend. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an unexpectedly delightful, fun, read -especially as we near Mother's Day weekend. See below for a few (there were many) of my favorite quotes from this work (in no particular order). I am looking forward to hearing what you all think! As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? Visit Our Bookstore xoxoxoxoxox -Happy reading my friends, RTOR "A knowledgeable man is a free man, or a man that thirsts for freedom." "Even if he never leaves the ghetto, he will know that the ghetto is not the world." "If you think too much about [whopping] that Mom gave you, or [the one] that life gave you, you'll be too afraid to push the boundaries." "You do not own the think that you love..." "Relationships are built in the silences." "We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection, but regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer, reject is an answer, regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to...What if?"