Izetta is a declamatory poety, and her poems don’t so much preserve specific moments or images as advocate for positions. The beginning poems assert that “we want freedom,” order readers to “Open your eyes,” and—in line with the theme of journeys—state that “ we come from a place/ incomprehensible.” Such bold pronouncements are appealing for their naked confidence, but they lack specificity and imagery. When the poems do narrow their focus from the cosmic, such as in “Sadness Fairies of Love,” they are more memorable and idiosyncratic.
Izetta’s range of inquiry and aspiration will appeal to readers seeking poems that mine the fantastical from everyday life. Inherent mysticism is illuminated in “Shower Thoughts,” a poem focused on allowing one’s thoughts to be free to “whisper secrets to our conscious minds.” Izetta cultivates an open and meditative atmosphere of “infinite possibilities/ of experiences” that accumulate during the course of the journey, and any readers willing to follow Izetta to her destination will be rewarded with a new and liberated feeling.
Takeaway: This collection of free-spirited and psychonautic poems will appeal to readers with an interest in connectivity, spiritual journeys, and questioning reality.
Great for fans of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl and Other Poems, Alice Notley’s For the Ride, CAConrad’s ECODEVIANCE: (Soma)tics for the Future Wilderness.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: –
Editing: A+
Marketing copy: A
The layout is plain, and some readers will crave more sophistication. Lacking an overarching narrative, Roper’s text becomes repetitive and tepid for older readers but will entertain children in pre-K and kindergarten. Roper touches on a variety of school topics (including science, art, reading, and math) and cleverly emphasizes the importance of positive social behaviors for children’s school success through several pages aimed at practicing good manners. Her premise that all youth are capable will gratify parents and teachers.
Roper’s condensed offering is well-intentioned and broadly appealing, though its minimalism makes it easy to overlook in a saturated market. Despite an absence of attention-grabbing illustrations and exciting narratives, its emphasis on sleeping to recharge “superpowers” and the reinforcement of educational values still make this picture book a sweet read. For both kids who naturally excel in school and those needing more time and assistance, Roper delivers a commanding sense of reassurance and inspiration with portraits of happy and energized children empowered by the achievement that comes from working hard at school.
Takeaway: Early elementary whiz kids and struggling students alike will benefit from this cheerful and affirming book about working hard in school.
Great for fans of Andrea Beaty’s Questioneers series, Adam Rex’s School’s First Day of School.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: –
Fans of revolutionary history will find much to love in this adventure, including cameos by figures such as Pierre Beaumarchais, Marie Antoinette, and Pierre Cabanis. Though clearly a work of fiction, the novel captures a real-life event: Benjamin Franklin’s commission from Louis XIV to determine the science behind Mesmer’s theory of “animal magnetism.” Franklin’s reputation as a lover is equally historically accurate, though readers may have a hard time separating the historical image of Franklin as a wise, corpulent, goutish statesman from Gnatz’s characterization of a well-muscled and sexually vigorous grandfather. This dissonance is increased by occasional use of modern terms, such as Marianne and Marie Antoinette discussing how to “contract and relax your pelvic muscles” to encourage a lover.
With a bit of imagination, Gnatz keeps his audience hooked on this fast-paced quest that takes place at the dawn of two revolutions. A helpful bibliography and brief biographical sketches of major characters are sure to please history buffs. The narrative mixes historical drama with romantic fantasy and a heavy dash of occult intrigue that will whet readers’ appetites for the next entry in the series.
Takeaway: Romance and mystery fans will enjoy this exciting reimagining of Benjamin Franklin diving into Parisian love triangles, political machinations, and psychic powers.
Great for fans of Jeff Shaara, Bernard Cornwell.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: –
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-

Leia and Tarquin’s chemistry sizzles from their meet-cute during a blackout in a London IKEA store on New Year’s Eve. Although the plot centers on their budding romance, Middleton smoothly blends aspects of their personal lives into beautifully interwoven subplots set against the backdrop of life in London and New York. The playful and racy banter between Leia and Tarquin is delightful. The heavy internal monologue and British slang may give some readers pause, but others will appreciate the insight it sheds on the characters’ motivations and actions.
Middleton elegantly balances the romance and sensuality by exploring challenges such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. While readers swoon over Tarquin’s wealth, good looks, and love of Star Wars, they also get to see a strong man’s perspective on struggling with mental illness. Leia’s gratitude journal entries throughout the story add depth to her character and plot, simultaneously highlighting an effective coping mechanism for depression and anxiety. The heaviness in certain scenes is quickly lightened by the characters’ quirks and heightened sexual tension. This sultry, yet sweetly heartfelt romance is a winner.
Takeaway: Fans of contemporary romance will rejoice in this story of falling in love through and despite mental illness.
Great for fans of Candace Bushnell, Alexa Martin.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A+
Illustrations: –
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Stradford’s experience as an artist and architect aids in the design of this intimate paean to female power. Simple but poignant line drawings illustrate women in varied stances, including crying, falling, transforming into a tree, or caught amid an inferno. Though some titles (“Gestures”) boast occasional instances of third-person perspectives, most are written in the first person, balancing stark claims like “I am an original creation / a colorful masterpiece” with a humorous acknowledgement that the speaker is “Not for Everyone.” The collection is successful in its presentation of a contradictory self and in illustrating its central thesis that “There is healing / in facing our pain.”
This penetrating compilation will particularly appeal to women looking for inspirational and powerful reading. With titles like “She Is Invaluable,” “Believe a Woman,” and “Superwoman,” Stradford makes it clear she’s setting out to inspire women. The poems are more explicitly therapeutic and empowering than most, and Stradford’s distinctive style, marrying minimal uncertainty with plentiful exhortation, challenges her audience to delve into self-exploration. Readers will love the book’s encouragement to exercise “the capacity we all possess to transform and rise to be an unstoppable force.” This collection of poems about female self-empowerment will appeal to readers seeking psychic fortification in dark times.
Takeaway: This collection of intimate poems about female empowerment will appeal to readers seeking psychic fortification in dark times.
Great for fans of: Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey, S.M. Keat’s The Stardust and Her Magic, Alexandra Vasiliu’s Blooming.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The most exhilarating elements of Randall’s novel are the imaginative plot and evocative charcoal illustrations, which convey a wonderful sense of motion and vibrancy. Though the writing is unpolished and the dialogue repetitive, the captivating suspense of Sandy’s situation entices the reader to continue on. Sandy’s positive, can-do attitude and his meaningful relationship with Mr. Tweed somewhat redeem the verbal awkwardness. Other than Kat, the characters are not well developed, including Sandy’s younger sister, Rose, and his nameless parents, as well as the kidnappers, Killian and Helmut, and Sandy’s newfound policeman friend, Officer Miller.
In making two children the most developed characters, Randall creates a world where kids reign supreme. This is made literal in Knight School, where children are in charge. The author’s expertise in the psychology of sleep and dreaming is visible in this notion of a fantastical place that can only be accessed in slumber. Knight School allows children to collaboratively solve real-life problems through dream sequences, giving Sandy and Kat the chance to explore their imaginations and creativity. Younger readers will revel in the motivated, can-do attitude of Sandy and Mr. Tweed, particularly the problem-solving inspiration it provides.
Takeaway: Young fantasy and adventure readers will be inspired by the optimistic, positive attitude of two children and a clever dog, even in the face of danger.
Great for fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Because of Winn-Dixie, Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: C
Marketing copy: C
Lee’s collected work shares elements of intensity and raw human experiences, from the powerful imagery of fixating on breast cancer scars during lovemaking in “Backrub,” to the merciless hard labor sentences of immigrants in “The Way Home.” He divulges his discovery of “how blood waters the earth/ how flesh is food and death” and reveals penetrating feelings of isolation and loneliness, making the selected writings read like a fragmented biography told through scenes of the author’s life. “Homecoming” presents as an homage to finding purpose through love - “I am caught in the hall of mirrors husband and wife become/ bound to the urban streetweb where only earthquakes/ remind us the world is real... here is my ocean, fog, light; my stone, my earth, my self/ my flight.”
Though the sheer amount of work presented causes feelings of repetition, Lee’s stunning writing about the natural world and bold descriptions of collective and fundamental experiences is enough to keep readers returning for more. Occasional black-and-white illustrations contextualize the works. Both returning and new readers will savor Lee’s compilation of work in various formats. This compendium will appeal to those who enjoy classic literature as well as poetry about archetypal themes.
Takeaway: This impressive collection organically mixes poetry, prose, and nonfiction and will appeal to thoughtful readers of classic literature and 20th-century verse.
Great for fans of Walt Whitman, Robert Lowell.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
Like its literary influences, this satire is first and foremost a tragedy. Readers should prepare for mature themes and graphic depictions of violence, such as in the wildly popular propaganda show Rape! Murder! Execution! Powers's unedited prose is challenging to read; some plot points are repeated near-verbatim throughout the text, and the dialogue lacks traditional formatting, making it difficult to follow. These issues and some technical errors undermine John's paeans to the purity of the English language, which he feels his fellow millennials have destroyed.
Fans of political and dystopian fiction will find much to hold their interest. Powers’s vision of the Conover administration and its legacy are bleak. America has shifted from a democracy to an oligarchy, and the American people are hopeless and helpless, numbly buying into the new system and cheering on the latest cyberwar with PanAsia. This allegory begs readers to fight propaganda and consumerism like the future depends on it.
Takeaway: This grim reimagining of the fallout from the 2016 election will appeal to readers of political satire and apocalyptic fiction.
Great for fans of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: –
Editing: C
Marketing copy: C+

By using pronouns such as "we" and "us," McCambry builds a sense of camaraderie with the reader. His tone is inviting and encouraging, rather than preachy. The well-organized chapters, accessible explanations of concepts, and clear prose make this book approachable and appealing.
While McCambry writes approvingly of Malcolm X and the authors of the 8 to Abolition platform, ultimately he’s focused in this volume on practical changes related to parenting, voting, financial literacy, and so on. This isn’t aimed at radical readers or calling to burn it all down; McCambry clearly wants his readers to be safe and thriving. While his focus on business and money may not initially appeal to all readers, McCambry’s love for Black people and sincere desire to help others shine through on every page of this book.
Takeaway: McCambry’s approachable guide lovingly encourages Black Americans to seek the justice, power, and prosperity they deserve.
Great for fans of: Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, Adrienne Maree Brown.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The plot careens between spy thriller, family drama, and American nationalism at full tilt. Readers will sometimes be tripped up by editing oversights like incomprehensible sentences (“Zen soon turns ruffled at the thought that his impulsive craving may leave an undesirable outcome”), confusing diction (“admirably” used for “admiringly”), and a conflation of ancient Greece and Rome, two distinct cultures treated interchangeably. And this book is for mature audiences only, given its graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault—and even the good guys use homophobic slurs, which may put off some readers.
Yet Lujan provides plenty of heart-pounding twists and turns throughout, and makes family history clear enough that new readers can dive in without having read the previous volume. The Atropos team takes on high-stakes situations both professional and personal (generational tensions, revelations of family secrets, conflicts between love and work), kicking ass all the while. Thriller fans who don’t mind graphic scenes or the book’s politics, and can overlook the language issues, will find this a fun ride.
Takeaway: Though at times confusing and jingoistic, this intense thriller delivers an action-packed punch.
Great for fans of: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, Joel C. Rosenberg’s JB Collins novels.
Production grades
Cover: C+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: B-
Occasionally, ideas are repeated within paragraphs and from different characters’ perspectives, and sometimes conflicts are more told than shown, but these lapses are offset by the appeal of characters who openly acknowledge their seemingly “soap opera existence.” The romance and drama are complicated by each character’s complex relationship to their sexuality: some can be fully “out,” but some must keep their sexuality hidden for the sake of job security and comfort.
Shekleton shifts perspectives frequently, providing a look into each character’s inner thoughts and motivations. Readers may struggle to keep track of the many characters at first, but the author successfully differentiates their voices. Shekleton also provides positive depictions of healthy, safe sexual relationships between people living with HIV. By the novel’s delicious climax, it’s unclear who will end up with whom, but readers can be certain that this sunny novel is a treat.
Takeaway: Romance fans will love this tender, fun look into gay life in Palm Springs.
Great for fans of: Victor J. Banis’s C.A.M.P. series, George M. Johnson, Mathew Rodriguez.
Production grades
Cover: A+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Durbin’s occasionally repetitive phrases and situations, particularly in character descriptions, could pull readers away from the story. The broadly sketched characters transcend stereotypical historical romance tropes, delving into little-discussed elements of the time and place. Readers will catch an intriguing glimpse into some of the effects of British colonialism and the power wielded by the wealthy through Charles and Julia’s respective histories and scandals.
Durbin’s strong focus on the effects of domestic violence, the plight of women during the period, and Julia’s celebration of her sexuality without being constrained by societal mores breathes new life into the usual fare, adding depth and novelty to what might otherwise be a boilerplate tale. Julia and Charles have passions other than each other: hers is for helping women in difficult circumstances and his, as a man of the cloth, is tending to his flock of faithful despite the sins of his own past. The complex and nuanced interplay between these two characters makes for a powerful love story.
Takeaway: This richly described love story focuses on passion and second chances, offering a refreshing take on the traditional historical romance.
Great for fans of: Georgette Heyer, Courtney Milan.
Production grades
Cover: A+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Edwards does not shy away from tough or dark subjects in his poetry, but there are also lighthearted, playful pieces. Fans of Greek mythology will enjoy poems referencing myths and well-known heroes of those stories, like "Prometheus," which delves into the Titan's desire to aid in mankind's creativity and development.
The collection is formally varied. Some entries are prose poems; in some poems Edwards incorporates somewhat formal, archaic language, like “oft” and “’tis”; in others, readers will find mentions of JC Penney and colloquial generalizations like “aargh!”. This skillfully written collection is accessible to novice poetry readers and avid fans alike. The wide range of topics, tones, and forms means at least some of its entries will resonate with a wide variety of readers.
Takeaway: This vast, varied poetry collection has something for everybody.
Great for fans of: Robert Frost, Walt Whitman.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
In the late 1990s, Master Oblivion’s immortal team enlists power brokers to fake the computer “crisis” of Y2K so they can hack into the world’s computers. They’re also credited with the shootings at Columbine High School and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, among other events. Humanity’s best chance at restoring hope is a young boy from Seattle named Chris, who is revealed at a Shaolin Temple to be “the Shining One,” foretold in legend, part Dalai Lama and part Doctor Strange. Chris’s destiny, he’s told, is to remind humanity to “use our potentials to what they were supposed to be.”
As an adult, Chris achieves some of his destiny through (non-explicit) transcendental sex that leaves an eternal mark on a tech pioneer named Lori Muse. Colón doesn’t reveal much about what characters are thinking, so readers might find themselves, like Lori, unclear about Chris’s plan and her own role in the future; they’ll have to wait for future installments to find out. Readers interested in the machinations of power brokers will enjoy the panoply of angels, demons, CEOs, socialites, and monks battling for the fate of the universe in this fast-moving metaphysical epic.
Takeaway: This apocalyptic epic will appeal to readers who love a juicy conspiracy.
Great for fans of: L. Ron Hubbard’s Mission Earth series, S. M. Stirling’s Emberverse series.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: B+

Zezima's nonstop puns and self-deprecating tone are balanced by his warmth and humanity. His grandchildren own a large part of the stage, and his witty recounting of their adorable antics brims with the loving devotion of retired grandparents. His natural penchant for hamming it up while storytelling is evident when he breathes life into mundane topics like needing a new fridge or applying for Social Security. The chapter of interviews about retirement with friends and former colleagues is surprisingly introspective and informative, highlighting Zezima’s reporter's instinct and knack for comedy.
Zezima deflects darker emotions with satire and deliberately keeps the tone light, even when discussing things like the coronavirus and its effect on his marriage. Gratitude for life is palpable on every page. Zezima’s childlike curiosity about the world around him, particularly the histories of people he meets, forms the basis of entertaining quips and reminiscences (“I am proud, happy, and really fatigued to say that I took a six-hour safe driving course sponsored by AARP”). Zezima has seriously elevated his shtick in this hilarious and heartwarming chronicle of grandparents gone wild.
Takeaway: Readers will chuckle at Zezima's propensity for puns and appreciate his outpouring of genuine warmth and love for family.
Great for fans of: Graham Harrop's Living Together After Retirement, Clive Whichelow's Retirement For Beginners.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The story is at its most successful when exploring Heddy’s loss of innocence as she comes of age during a period of intense turmoil. She is precocious and observant, and glimpsing a father’s predicament through the eyes of a child is noteworthy. While the dehumanizing treatment Oscar faces will deeply affect readers, the pursuit of wealth-based reparations can feel cold in the context of such widespread suffering.
This bold narrative is remarkably different from typical novels and novelizations of World War II. The bureaucratic villains are respected real-life political figures (Charles de Gaulle, Raoul Nordling), and, rather than focusing on the cruelty of the Nazis, the horrors of the Holocaust, or the war itself, Frosell da Ponte explores how greed and self-preservation can corrupt anyone. Though the historical accuracy of the story is largely unknown (the records of this affair are not readily available), this provocative work illuminates an atypical battle against oppression and intimidation.
Takeaway: This challenging, original historical dramatization is perfect for those interested in moral grey areas and corrupt bureaucracy.
Great for fans of: Amor Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow, John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
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