Anderson is a gritty yet tender writer who fashions touching moments just as easily as he does the harshest of circumstances, juxtaposing images like the “picturesque tapestry” of England’s verdant farmlands with his despair at discovering Sarah locked in an embrace with the couple’s Israeli friend. His reflections take the form of a diary, visiting the depths of his emotions as he muses on the people they meet along the way, all of which trigger a coming-to-terms awakening with the many wrong turns of both his journey and his life. Ultimately, he decides those risks are worth taking, as he writes, “I think I’m more afraid of not living.”
Anderson’s memoir is in turns amusing and poignant; when delays force him to set up camp in Jungle Junction just outside Nairobi, he muses on the similarities he shares with strangers from myriad backgrounds, while, when driving near the Dead Sea, he works to “escape [his] dark thoughts” after his “decade of devotion” with his wife comes to a screeching halt. Those moments will cause readers to pause and reflect on the twists in their own lives as well, to consider the power of not knowing what lies ahead against the painful awareness of what’s been left behind. This is a journey worth taking.
Takeaway: Epic motorcycle trip upends—and rebuilds—a man’s life.
Comparable Titles: Kathleen Terner’s Living at Full Throttle, Todd Lawson’s Inside the Belly of an Elephant.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Martel sets up an intriguing world that is both divided by the strict rules driving career assignments and banded together by the collective fear and uncertainty plaguing its citizens. Noa and Tali initially have nothing in common, but, as the tension in the story builds, their paths inevitably cross—and bring to light a society that functions on mystery and secrets, from the enigmatic Pastor (described as a “nobody, or everybody”) who delivers broadcasts for the controlling Variety to attempts to suppress the unusual gifts some citizens possess. Those citizens include Noa, who, believing herself to be some type of prophet, soon finds out she’s not the only one experiencing visions—and the government is on to her.
That realization drives the story’s quest to expose the truth—and potentially overthrow the government. Martel supplements the action with touchstone themes of friendship, loyalty, and, of course, an unexpected romance, in the shape of Noa’s crush on her trainer, Amar. The story muddles somewhat as the Cavalry recruits confront the artificial intelligence at the heart of the Variety, but, still, dystopian fans will relish Martel’s uneven heroine and cold, controlling society.
Takeaway: Dystopian society is fractured by rigid rules and dark underlying secrets.
Comparable Titles: Dave Eggers’s The Circle, Jeff VanderMeer’s Borne.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Young readers will learn hard truths about the era, including the Nazis’ genocide against Jews and others, as well as the shame of having a collaborator in the family. Still, despite the authors’ deft handling of the real-world stakes of the historical conflict, readers will cheer as the good guys come ever closer to winning the day—not only Lewis and Pearl but also eccentric old Lillian Whitford, Pearl, and some other unexpected heroes. Tense close calls keep the pages turning, including hiding in a secret room in Berlin as Nazis search the building and outsmarting a henchman trying to kill them. A cruel steel magnate, a villain from earlier in the series, makes an exciting reappearance with further nefarious deeds; here, too, the blend of history and adventure is skillfully handled, as his henchmen are disposed of in satisfying fashion.
While the story ends on yet another cliffhanger as the team focuses on its next case, readers will forgive the authors, who ably demonstrate what heroic preteens can do with a “flash”—a remarkably effective diversion tactic that their enemies are determined to capture. This spirited tale will attract readers both old and new. Middle-grade readers will devour the latest installment of the Flash Gang and eagerly anticipate the next.
Takeaway: Rip-roaring middle-grade thriller blending history and adventure before World War II.
Comparable Titles: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War that Saved My Life, Joan Hiatt Harlow’s The Watcher.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Potter, as in his prior novel Farsighted, weaves strands of the supernatural with common, everyday occurrences of a very real world. When Zack finds himself caught in a deadly trap, he turns to memories of high school witchcraft to escape, though those efforts prove futile; they do lead to a slew of new discoveries however, upending Zack’s suspicions and creating an entirely shocking outcome. Potter unfolds that journey in straightforward, conversational tones that feel biographical at times, evoking a distinctive character who is trying his best to navigate dangerous mysteries in 1980s Florida.
Those old-fashioned times and sensibilities of Zack and co. give this novel a vintage pulp feel, and Potter’s sequence-of-events writing style makes the story easy to follow, though readers may find it lacking in dramatic tension. Potter takes his fair share of detours from the central plot, diving into stories from Zack’s past and an excess of background information on the main players’ motives, but by the story’s end readers will be sufficiently convinced that Zack has a hidden knack for solving the stickiest of mysteries. Those seeking a slim-spined comfort read that will remind them of the eagerness of youth will enjoy slipping into this sweet thriller.
Takeaway: Spirited mystery that weaves past and present intrigue.
Comparable Titles: Kate Racculia’s Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, Mark Mills’s The Savage Garden.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
Burrill’s behind-the-scenes vignettes will mesmerize readers, as he writes with an easy charm and infuses his stories with inside jokes and firsthand details from Hollywood fan favorites. Robin Williams, with his “piercing bright eyes [and] gentle smile” is “always performing,” flashing a razor-edged wit and nervous energy, Waylon Jennings affectionately refers to Burrill as “Hoss” in nearly every conversation, and Bill Withers derails a deposition by claiming his professional role is to “think up stuff.” Playful quips like that—sprinkled among Burrill’s recollections of big-league events and personal friendships—steal the spotlight. His chance meetings with stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Suzanne Somers are recounted as well, where he writes of Taylor: “She literally lit up the room… and yes, her eyes were a captivating violet hue.”
Hollywood fans will pour over Burrill’s personal photographs of the stars he served, as well as his references to hot-button entertainment topics, like the shocking ease with which people exploit music. His comedic timing never misses a beat, and his passion for developing meaningful relationships with his clients inspires his writing, making this good-natured tell-all a captivating reflection of surreal encounters with some of Hollywood’s most beloved.
Takeaway: Entertaining and memorable stories from a high profile Hollywood attorney.
Comparable Titles: Paul Tweed's From Hollywood to Hollywood, Nell Scovell's Just the Funny Parts.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Carr serves huge slices of entertainment with that perfect small-town setup, crafting eccentric characters who immediately win over readers. Loner Crystal has a strange compulsion for reading the local obituaries and dabbling in imaginary matchmaking between the deceased and the living, when she’s not worrying about her elderly grandmother Leonora; devoted and grateful family woman Coraline delights in completing crossword puzzles with her husband and watching over her nephew; and Sheila deeply mourns the loss of her beloved Ralph, sticking to a prescribed routine that includes dinner every Friday at Denny’s. Such relatable backdrops make for a likable cast, and Carr smartly revolves the book’s developments around these appealing ladies and their provincial goings-on.
Readers will fall in love with these unconventional heroines, who all march to the beat of their own drummers; even the memo-sending Gordon adds a certain zip to the story. Carr has a talent for spinning imaginative prose and injecting healthy doses of dry wit, though that doesn’t mean the story is lacking in deeper moments. Some of those play out in the central ladies’ coming-to-terms with “tak[ing] charge of [their] own lives,” others in the quiet rage of a painful goodbye. Readers who love nostalgic small-town tales will devour Carr’s debut.
Takeaway: A tale of quirky lunch ladies that will draw readers into the nostalgic past.
Comparable Titles: Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge, Billie Letts’s Where the Heart Is.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Walter weaves a layered and complex science-fiction debut, flashing back to Morgan's childhood and upbringing in the foster care system after his mother was fatally shot while trying to save children from a gunman. In a world still recovering from the Solimões Plague—a sickness that wiped out three billion people, nearly half the human population—Morgan spent his youth among over 5,000 orphans in Sec 17, honing his advanced intellect and computer skills as an unofficial assistant to the self-serving Sister Darwin. Walter’s alternating timelines flash between present and past, crafting an intricate puzzle of betrayal that Morgan must contend with as he works to solve the mystery of his death.
Doppelgänger’s world is richly imaginative—a thought-through future where robots perform most of the work, and there are literally no limits to what science and medicine can achieve together. Tensions build as Morgan works to solve his own murder, creating a palpable suspense that explodes when he learns those closest to him had a hand in his death. With plot twists and revelations rooted in its speculative themes, plus a complex protagonist, Walter’s narrative vividly explores the meaning of humanity and the potential fallout of what happens when technology becomes too advanced.
Takeaway: Action-packed SF mystery exploring a high-tech quest for immortality.
Comparable Titles: Lincoln Michel’s The Body Scout, Christian Yeasted's The Final Invention.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Tennis Players as Works of Art
Tennis Players as Works of Art is also a tribute, of sorts, to Linebarger himself, who uses each oft-succinct paean as an excuse to exhibit the breadth of his talent—or at least his ambition. Each entry boasts a fresh approach. Sometimes Linebarger contextualizes a player in history, writing of Serena Williams that she “wields her racquet like Muhammad Ali his mouth and fists, Charlie Parker his lightning sax.” Other times, Linebarger simply admires the way they move or their features, as when he gushes about Leslie Turner’s beautiful “hand sculptures” or Vitas Gerulaitis’ messy mass of “lion locks.”
Perhaps inevitably, Linebarger can overdose on poetic waxing, as when he describes Suzanne Lenglen’s every tennis stroke as a “musician’s glissando or dancer’s glissade guided and placed as if on a handkerchief on her opponent’s side of the court.” But at its best, his compendium invites the reader to think of tennis as all-encompassing, finding creative connections across the arts and beyond. Who else, when writing about a sport that’s produced John McEnroe and Roger Federer, might rope in postmodernist writer Donald Barthelme or abstract painters Wassily Kandinsky and Mark Rothko? This is for the select audience whose hearts are lifted at a chapter title like “Rafael Nadal and the Lascaux Cave Paintings.”
Takeaway: Madly ambitious, stubbornly experimental ode to the gods of tennis.
Comparable Titles: Jay Jennings’s Tennis and the Meaning of Life, Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
In Smith’s world, “cats are allowed to live [their] own lives and come and go as [they] please.” Chico has her share of freedom, for a house pet, but she faces plenty of uphill battles this time. Her clever commentary and the well-edited prose unfurl the tale of new kitten addition Lemonbear, who is searching for her runaway brother Mochi. Meanwhile, on the home front, Page—Chico’s human mom—and Chico team up to help Page’s daughters find their footing in their rapidly changing lives. As Chico types out the latest installment of her family’s adventures, readers will be swept into a harrowing ride that forces them to reckon with weighty issues like childhood trauma, depression, and loss.
What really buoys the tale are Lisa Ciccone’s illustrations. The expressive graphics—bright palettes with comical depictions of the story’s stars—bring to life a world of journal-typing, stand-up joke-cracking, gang-joining cats and their people, making this offering a true visual treat. And while readers may struggle with chapters that jump between Lemonbear and Chico’s storylines, they’ll find an anchor in these endearing illustrations. Written for both teens and their families to enjoy together, Chico and her friends’ tales will stick with readers long after the last page.
Takeaway: Comical diary of a pet cat, with weighty themes.
Comparable Titles: Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s Real Friends, Gary D. Schmidt et al.’s A Little Bit Super.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Collins combines deeply personal stories of horrific loss with a surprising resilience that nudges readers to learn how to “metabolize” their grief. She draws on her past experience with the performing arts as a way of harnessing emotions “to make the life lessons inherent in grief available to us in our future lives.” Breaking down the many different causes of grief—from chronic illness and death to prolonged absences and the devastation of war—she offers unique healing strategies, such as using dance as a way to mourn or transforming places of trauma with installed art. She writes with wisdom and practicality, pushing back on Western cultural norms like grieving quietly, being “sorry” when waves of grief hit, and keeping a “stiff upper lip.”
In channeling art as a conduit in the healing process, Collins hits on a coping skill that nearly anyone can use, framing the inevitability of grief as a practice—not something to be swept under the rug. That down-to-earth approach—and the guide’s myriad reflection prompts and hands-on resources—makes this a valuable tool for anyone seeking a more holistic relationship with their grief.
Takeaway: Engaging grief resource that embeds the arts into the healing process.
Comparable Titles: Shelby Forsythia’s Your Grief, Your Way, Alessandra Olanow’s Hello Grief.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Money Therapy: How to start a love affair with money and transform your life
After suffering a “messy, Jerry Springer-style financial crisis,” Renee came to realize her “relationship with money looked a lot like the messed-up relationships my clients came in with.” That made her think about how she’d “helped them turn it all around by teaching them to be kind and respectful, love up on each other, and make the relationship a priority.” Renee offers fun yet practical ways to treat one’s cash, such as going on “money dates”: taking it on shopping sprees, dreaming about what you want to do with it, or simply pausing to appreciate all it does for you—“because, like it or not, you need money.” She implores against negative thinking, like dwelling on past financial mistakes or even declaring money the “root of all evil.” She also reminds readers that just as there are no “happily ever after”s in romantic relationships, dealing with money also demands work and commitment.
Renee’s advice is endearingly playful, though she can sometimes go a bit overboard, such as a section where she instructs readers to draft a prenuptial agreement for their “money marriage.” Meanwhile, her claim that if you “you really, really, really want something, you’ll find the money for it,” sounds tone-deaf in an era of economic hardship. Still, this is not a book about becoming the next billionaire. It’s about making financial choices that are realistic. Best of all, she reminds readers that giving money to those in need, she preaches, feels even better than making it.
Takeaway: Fun, practical financial guide for improving both bank accounts and mental health.
Comparable Titles: Kara Stevens’s Heal Your Relationship with Money, Yanely Espinal’s Mind Your Money.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Tower of Light is something of an extended epilogue, starring tested heroes who now hold positions of power, undertaking an elective mission of rebellion. To that end, Badzey centers young Brandi, still training as a Grey Rider, worried about her Daemonic rages, and facing a classic fantasy hero dilemma: concentrate on honing her skills, or race off to help her people as they “suffer under the oppression of the Dark Faiths.” Soon, a delegation of heroes, royalty, and heroic Grey Riders soar south to inspire a rebellion and free kingdoms still gripped by that darkness.
The geopolitics are complex enough to be interesting but not needlessly complicated, and Badzey is generous with the pegasii, dragons, vampires, and characters with histories intimately connected to earlier books, including the offspring of heroes. The elegiac feel and sense of reunion mean that, at times, narrative momentum is slowed for emotional payoffs, though fans of the series will relish these moments. The surprise is that Badzey still conjures such spirited action, missions, and fun, demonstrating by the end that the fate of a single village can feel every bit as pressing as that of realms.
Takeaway: Spirited fantasy finale in a classic vein, alive with adventure and faith.
Comparable Titles: Patrick W. Carr, S.D. Grimm.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Despite the unexpected ways their lives touch, the parallel histories of Delilah Neustat, a posh socialite, and Deborah Seevers, a brothel owner, highlight stark contrasts in worldviews and principles. However, Delilah’s and Deborah’s stories serve as cautionary tales about the choices women face, the enduring impact of trauma, and the costs and challenges of love. Desrosiers weaves threads of resilience and self-discovery into both narratives, exploring Delilah’s tragic past and subsequent rise in social status, as well as Deborah’s resilience in the face of abuse and adversity. The heirs, grappling with their own struggles and aspirations, must decide how to honor Mrs. Neustat’s legacy while forging their own paths.
Amid striking historical detail, sensitive to both extraordinary events and everyday textures, Desrosiers boldly explores issues of abuse—both physical and emotional—plus sex work, female desire and agency, and themes of love, betrayal, loss, and redemption. The prose is brisk and direct, attentive to feelings, though an abundance of characters and subplots sometimes diminishes the narrative pace. The Three Heirs leaves readers contemplating the power of resilience and self-introspection, the importance of compassion, and the enduring bonds of family.
Takeaway: Vivid novel of choices and inheritance for 19th century American women.
Comparable Titles: Shana Abe’s An American Beauty, Sheri Holman’s The Dress Lodger,
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: =A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-
What Lucy doesn’t know is that Malcolm is quietly working the very same case she’s got her sights set on, and their on-again, off-again romance adds nicely to the story’s tension. In spite of their growing friendship, the pair don’t trust each other, each doubting the other’s motives and reluctant to share information. That makes these central characters entirely relatable, adding depth and nuance both to their relationship and to the chief mystery. Flynn’s cast in general holds interest, with some characters—notably the Holland couple, as a study in contrasts—more memorable than others, all set against the secrets and mysteries of a small town eager to believe a false story simply because the powers-that-be created it.
Flynn (author of the Like No Other series) keeps the clues coming at regular intervals, ensuring the taut pacing sharpens readers’ curiosity, and the final reveal, though not entirely unexpected, is nonetheless gratifying. The importance Lucy gives to clearing her father’s name—and ensuring that he is remembered as an honest police officer who died in the line of duty—is touching, and Flynn capably ties up the story’s loose ends, providing satisfying closure for this neatly woven combination of sunny romance and murder mystery.
Takeaway: A daughter investigates her father’s murder in this romance/mystery combo.
Comparable Titles: Kendra Elliot’s A Merciful Silence, Karin Slaughter’s Fallen
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
A longtime music industry player who’s worked at Sony and Universal—and helped discover icons such as Madonna in the early 1980s—Barbone knows that pop stardom is far from a one-person deal. “Talent, while occurring naturally in certain individuals,” she writes, “must be developed, nurtured, packaged, and marketed through the untiring and unwavering efforts of this team of experts.” In outlining specific industry roles, she covers topics like the cost of vocal coaches, contract particulars for booking agencies, the importance of legal counsel, and why sound and light technicians (“sound wizards,” as she calls them) are so crucial to success. The guide also touches on contemporary developments changing the industry, including how the digital age—virtual events, streaming, and more—is transforming the marketplace.
Industry readers may wish for more personal anecdotes from such a longtime entertainment professional, though Barbone’s general tips—studios with open schedules are more likely to invest in new artists, detailed marketing plans can attract investors, and artists must be holistically prepared for the arduous work ahead of them—are both interesting and helpful. At its heart, this brief rendering functions as a survivor’s guide of sorts for artists in an industry filled with people who could “literally and figuratively” rob them blind.
Takeaway: Compact, inviting look at how entertainment stars can navigate a treacherous industry.
Comparable Titles: Ebonie Caldwell’s DIY Fame, Art Linson’s A Pound of Flesh.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+
Mink’s storytelling is immersive, blending vivid descriptions with emotional depth to capture the inner turmoil of her characters. Kees’s psychological struggle as he faces the moral weight of his actions is both raw and unsettling, and, as The Bone Sculptor explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the erosion of innocence, Mink offers a poignant glimpse of how war reshapes human connections and identities. The novel’s nuanced portrayal of Nazi ideology’s horrifying impact on individuals and families adds further complexity; even as Kees readies to fight for the Germans, he reflects on the shock of neighbors informing on neighbors in exchange for money, on “kind and generous people becoming monsters.”
The use of multiple perspectives enriches the story, providing a layered understanding of the characters’ conflicts, and, just as she juxtaposes the horrors of World War II with the resilience of everyday people trying to survive it, Mink (author of A History of Love and Now) also uses vivid descriptions of Kees’s front-line experiences to reveal his urge to stay alive “in a war alien to him” amid desperate thoughts of the people he’s left behind. The Bone Sculptor is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of war, family, and morality, with meticulous historical research and an emotionally resonant narrative that will captivate historical fiction fans.
Takeaway: Haunting novel of love, morality, and World War II.
Comparable Titles: Michael Reit’s Beyond the Tracks, Hans Fallada’s Alone in Berlin.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
