Guian Andrea still hasn't recovered from this gross book I recommended

I asked my bookstagram friend about the books she loves, the authors she doesn’t, and the one scene she'd like to permanently delete from her mind

May 08, 2025

Welcome back to Read Your Darlings, a series where I interview readers, writers and creatives about the books that made them who they are. From the popular titles that let them down to the childhood series they still revisit, this is a space where book lovers get candid about their private literary worlds.

As I was putting this interview together, I scrolled back through the chat Guian and I share on Instagram to find that we first bonded over the prevalent David Lynchness in Mona Awad’s work, which is to say I knew Guian was cool right away.

Her content only confirmed it: among impeccable thrifted outfits (I love her bewk n’ lew videos!), sweet snapshots of her life in South Central LA and sexy book recommendations, she quickly became one of my favorite creators and one of the few voices I trust to shape my own reading decisions. If Guian reads it and loves it, it’s going straight to my TBR.

Aside from reading and styling outfits, she also enjoys doing embroidery pieces and making floral arrangements. Guian does a lot of volunteer work surrounding literacy—she currently volunteers for the Los Angeles Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program, where she helps people read, write and speak in English—because she believes in giving back to the community that raised her and helped cultivate her love for reading.

As you can imagine, it was a no-brainer to interview this fellow weird lit lover and dear bookstagram friend for the series. We talked about the books she loves but doesn’t often recommend, the authors she’ll never read (again), and her top tips for thrifting like a pro.

What are you reading right now?

I’m currently reading Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. I have read Rooney before! This has definitely been a highly anticipated read for me. The storyline was what really drew me in.

What kind of books are you usually drawn to?

I’m usually into literary fiction. It was the oversaturated sub-genre of “unhinged women” up until recently. I’ve slowly been gravitating towards books about yearning.

Is there a book that everyone seems to love, but you secretly disliked?

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I’ll never understand the hype. I’ll also never forget the sobbing videos people posted about reading this behemoth of a novel. The book read to me like someone who was weaving this grand story that progressively got worse and worse. Not to mention the author’s lack of research about topics she decided to write about. Overall an awful book by an awful (oops) author.

A book you loved but are hesitant to recommend.

Chlorine by Jade Song! This was a very wild ride of a book. Song’s debut (omg) novel packed a punch! There is a lot of body gore and other triggers readers should read in the author’s note before deciding to dive in (no pun intended lol).

Is there a popular book or author that you have absolutely no intention of reading?

Hanya Yanagihara, one book was enough for me. Colleen Hoover. I will never understand the hype nor do I care to.

I know you're a fellow lover of weird lit, so is there a specific scene you wish you could permanently delete from your mind?

The very detailed statutory rape scenes written in My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell and the sexual scenes written in Marian Engel’s Bear. I’ll never recover!!!

Author’s note: I was the one who recommended Bear to Guian. Sorry Guian!

I know you love thrifting clothes; do you have any tips for readers looking to find second-hand gems of the literary kind?

I do love thrifting! I have thrifted books as well! I would recommend folks to go during a day where you’ll have ample time to peruse the book section. Also go through every title! Check the spine’s condition. A personal favorite of mine is when the book has a personal message written inside of the book for the person they were gifting it to. I have a book that has a note written in it in the 90’s and I thought it was so special!

Thank you for reading the fourth instalment of Read Your Darlings! You can find Guian on Instagram.