It’s no surprise that in her funny, new fourth novel, Oakland writer Renee Swindle continues to write lovingly about her characters and their foibles. In “Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn” (Tiny Reparations Books, 320 pages, $19, April 15, 2025), Swindle introduces the funny yet messed-up Francine Stephenson, reeling from the death of her charismatic but […]