
Jones spins this heady story in smart, engaging prose, attuned to her casts’ individual perspectives, alive to the surprising details of an increasingly automated American future. The science is clear and persuasive—Jones is a biomedical researcher—but presented with an emphasis on its application. For all its family drama and on-the-run suspense, this is a novel about where we’re headed—and how we might not be able to control what changes. It’s a thriller but anchored in the literary wing of science fiction, driven by character, given to colloquies, and often evocative in its descriptions of diners and the mushrooms that, in a well-plotted jolt, prove essential to both the development of the story and our species.
Through it all, Jones is committed to capturing what this future feels like—and to dramatizing the evolutionary imperative with both exciting scenes and grand revelations of the sort readers of serious science fiction will find thrilling. The novel’s long, and its ambitions sometimes come at the expense of narrative momentum, but it’s also rousing, moving, and rewarding.
Takeaway: This superb science fiction novel finds a family on the run—and on the cusp of an evolutionary leap.
Great for fans of: Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife, Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Right from the start, Greene has a firm grasp over the dual plotline, as each chapter shifts between Joe and George’s point of view. The suspense works, and readers find themselves guessing and theorizing about possible connections. Greene does a great job building characters, imbuing each with intriguing peculiarities and relatable emotions. She also deftly handles scenes of action that stir tension, shock, and that trickiest of narrative qualities: an immediate sense of what-next? momentum.
The ending, though, doesn’t quite live up to the beautifully assured buildup, as the final pages offer much summarizing and moralizing. Still, the novel has a gripping plot, twists that will keep readers intrigued, and a chilling glimpse of a possible future where “Sometimes, only the children get to eat. Most days everyone gets water.” Lovers of futuristic novels and climate fiction will enjoy this book, which is as thrilling as it is frighteningly relevant.
Takeaway: A time-crossed climate fiction story as thrilling as it is urgently relevant.
Great for fans of: Pitchaya Sudbanthad’s Bangkok Wakes to Rain, Kate Mascarenhas’s Psychology Of Time Travel.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
The mode here is Rabelaisian overkill, penned in prose so sharp it cuts. As a loyal employee and friend of Beatrice, Charles often engages in the affairs of her family, though the novel’s energy is in its feverish asides, plunges into hell, “sibilant hind blast”s, Charles’s preening knowledge of literature and history, his cohort’s assessment of the politics of Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo, and his insistence that, despite being a “confirmed Royalist” and claiming responsibility for the firing of the founder of Old Navy, he sees himself as of the proletariat, as life has pushed him into hardships.
In spite of it all, he still believes “in the existent secular national religion known as The American Dream,” while he prides himself for turning “The Art of Bargain Shopping into Science.” The satire is often wicked and unpredictable, targeting beliefs and figures across the political spectrum, while digging into the dehumanizing complexities of consumer culture. Readers who love a rant will find much to laugh over.
Takeaway: Rabelasian satire of the pandemic age, written with wit and giddy overkill.
Great for fans of: Paul Beatty, Gary Shteyngart's Our Country Friends.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Jenn’s quest for meaning will resonate with any woman looking back on her life—or wondering what the future may hold. Her struggle to come to grips with a lack of purpose is powerful, as is the dissonance when she recalls past flings and compares them to her safe, predictable marriage. After deciding to reconnect with Tripp, her steamy summer hookup after her senior year of high school, Jenn unlocks the door to her past and sets off a series of explosive moments, between herself and Tripp as well as with Mark, who’s trying his best to rekindle what may have never truly existed. Suddenly Jenn’s faced with more passion than she ever imagined, balanced by an equal share of heartache, and in the midst, she wonders how to find “the freedom to be okay to experiment and explore the world again.”
The idea of finding yourself by losing yourself is intriguing here, and Jenn’s willingness to sacrifice comfort for intensity is equally courageous and risky. Ultimately that gamble pays off, and she’s granted a second chance at unrestrained love, but the overriding message that wholeness can be formed from imperfection is the essence that will stick with readers.
Takeaway: A reflective story of self-discovery, second chances, and daring to take a chance.
Great for fans of: Robyn Carr’s Never Too Late, Lucy Score’s The Last Second Chance.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
"Marley's Mom" is the story of a young boy who only wants to sit on the couch and watch reruns with his mother, but she's too busy to spend quality time with him—and his wish finally comes true with a certain finality. In "Mr. Lewis & the Lucky Zebra," a young gambler who knows his math tries his luck gambling at the Lucky Zebra. After crapping out and owing the casino a large debt, he makes a deal with the owner to settle by "operating" one of the machines. Adrian quickly learns to never bet against the house. Highly entertaining and creative, these stories will pull readers in with clear, suspenseful situations that resonate.
Pierre-Louis writes crisp, clear prose that wastes few words. Dialogue is sharp, and the sense of place in a story like “Lake Shore Drive” is poignantly tangible: “The cars with the biggest rims, flashiest lights, and curviest curves slowly rolled past. The machines seduced and called out like they were in heat.” This character-driven, idea-rich collection exploring complex conceptions of love is a quick, engaging read despite its thoughtful seriousness, and a few stories that end abruptly.
Takeaway: An imaginative anthology that explores love while incorporating elements of science fiction.
Great for fans of: N.K. Jemisin’s How Long ‘Til Black Future Month, Dahlia Adler’s His Hideous Heart.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

In Juliet, Butler has crafted a compelling, independent-minded protagonist who’s adept at tradecraft and ready for bold action, as the genre demands, but also possessed of unusual depth. She agonizes over having to keep her job and the danger she faces from the man she loves, and she’s quick to push back against the nasty xenophobia of seasoned intelligence salts, asking one, after dressing him down for his anti-Muslim invective, “Why is it that women are ball-busters and men are just doing their jobs?” Mariam, too, is a standout creation, a woman eager to see “an end to the cycle of death” but whose loyalties get questioned.
The richness that Butler brings to character also distinguishes The Syndicate Spy’s portrayal of a new global order—and the new threats that come with it. The geopolitics are convincingly complex, with antagonists who feel refreshingly human, but Butler still conjures a grabber of a thriller plot centered on a formula for “synthetic oil” that many interested parties will kill for. Pulsing throughout is the persistent question of who Juliet can trust. Action is exciting and never punishing, though occasionally wordy; the dash of romance feels natural, a welcome respite from the tension. Readers who favor smart, twisty spy thrillers with a sense of hope and humanity will love this.
Takeaway: This smart near-future espionage thriller introduces a heroine readers will love.
Great for fans of: Rosalie Knecht, Dana Haynes.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The dichotomy of Joss’s jobs creates a compelling dynamic. On the one hand, she’s tasked with killing, yet at her core, she desires nothing more than a simple calm life working her land and helping people. Her softness balances the cruelty of her duties as executioner, which allows readers to connect with her vulnerability. Equally compelling is Aric, who also is employed as a killer. On the surface, he appears confident and suave, but Joss’s kindness chips away at his outward persona and finds within him the desire to become a better man. The two complement each other in an endearing fashion as a sweet romance blooms.
Readers get a heavy dose of Joss’s backstory told through dialogue which may make some conversations between her and Aric seem a bit dense; however, the story building and character development lay a solid foundation for future adventures within the series. Dark fantasy fans who enjoy romance and action will find this to be a pleasurable read.
Takeaway: A female executioner and a male assassin cross paths in a romantic dark fantasy filled with action.
Great for fans of: Laura Kat Young’sThe Butcher, Donna Fletcher’s The King’s Executioner.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
In smooth and polished prose, Angel A compellingly examines the myriad and sometimes opposing ways in which humans deal with the challenges of life and faith, questioning our over reliance on science and scientific methods and our doubt and distrust about more traditional streams of knowledge, especially those of non-European origin. Leo is the skeptical man of science, a “sucker for certainty” always looking for proof. In contrast is Robin, the mystic whose mind is attuned to the mysterious and unfathomable, searching for a religion that will bring all believers together. In between is Maria, sweet, innocent and trusting with wells of strength and power she never knew she possessed.
Angel A achieves the tricky feat of exploring the clash of different belief systems through an engaging plotline and the thoughtful interactions of an agreeable cast. The plot moves forward at a brisk pace, despite the heady questions, and the characters are well-etched and entirely believable. The premise might sound fantastical, but each twist of the story proves plausible and revealing, while several burning questions—such as the identity of the father of Maria’s child—simmer strongly enough to keep the pages turning.
Takeaway: Readers fascinated by questions of faith and belief will enjoy this probing novel.
Great for fans of: Diane Schoemperlen’s Our Lady of the Lost and Found, Anne Ostby’s Pieces of Happiness.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Barber centers the story on the contributions, philosophy, and organizational skills of Mark Masselli, who founded CHC at age 22 and eventually saw it flourish, but he also describes the many other people who have contributed to the success of the institution over the years, from Lillian Reba Moses, a leader in the Middletown community and long-time board member to Margaret Flinter, a nurse practitioner who joined CHC in 1980 and transformed its clinical care. Peace & Health is rich in illustrations, providing strong visual appeal to go along with the compelling story.
The story of the CHC is, in many ways, the story of the free clinic movement in America – from its founding as one of a wave of clinics to the Community Development Block Grant program and its eventual status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (and FQHC Look-Alike). Barber does an excellent job sharing the CHC’s history—and its vision of health care as a right. A reader interested in the history of free clinics, or health care in general, will find Peace & Health fascinating and inspiring.
Takeaway: The fascinating story of Connecticut’s Community Health Center, a visionary free clinic.
Great for fans of: Gregory L. Weiss’s Grassroots Medicine, Catherine Mas’s Culture in the Clinic.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Melton’s affinity for atmospheric and poetic words lends another layer of depth to the narrative, allowing for a rich reading aloud experience and conjuring something of the buzz of a grassy Kansas summer. Those same words, as they appear on the page, could cause confusion for younger readers still getting used to letter shapes and recognition, due to the fanciful and colorful font choices for the main text. In contrast, the font is simple and staid for the facts shared on the bottom half of the pages, making it clear these are not part of the narrative, but also helping with legibility and clarity.
The real strength of the book is in the details rendered of Joe’s world. Readers feel fully immersed, both through text and illustrations, into the hills of Kansas, especially when looking at the full page watercolor illustrations. Even when Joe isn’t easily visible, such as when a Meadowlark lands on a branch near Joe, text and illustrations work together to put the reader in Joe’s place, depicting rolling hills with faint text that indicates the presence of Joe, and others. Melton’s world is rich with sound, texture, color, and information, providing opportunities for readers to connect with nature.
Takeaway: Nature lovers will feel at home among the hills of Kansas in this look at grasshopper life.
Great for fans of:Tatiana Ukhova’s Grasshopper, Lucinda J. Miller’s The Arrowhead.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Graziano draws on her more than 20 years of experience to pen this detailed guide on how to navigate as a leader in this post-pandemic era. Ignite Culture features anecdotes from successful companies with well-oiled cultures and companies who had to make fixes to produce maximum results throughout the workforce. This guide pushes the company leaders to make the first move in creating change and rectifying systems that may have broken, as company culture is "shaped and determined by the behavioral norms of the leadership team.” The emphasis is on the practical, the creation of “Liberating Structures” and the practice of open communication, with each chapter ending with clear takeaways, pressing follow-up questions, and an exercise in adjusting one's mindset.
Practical advice for managers and others covers active listening, developing and following through with a vision, mastering “generative, future-based language,” and other crucial skills. This engaging, interactive self-help book will benefit leaders with its humanizing approach to changing the way companies do business, while employees will find edification in its persuasive examination of how a healthy work environment should function and how to evaluate if a company is a strong fit for their needs. Here’s a clear-eyed tool-kit for businesses eager to ace the new standards.
Takeaway: Clear-eyed advice for business leaders on creating strong company cultures.
Great for fans of: Ben Horowitz’s What You Do Is Who You Are, Christine Kane’s The Soul Sourced Entrepreneur.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Manchee, an attorney himself, has a wonderful gift for describing the minutiae of practice in a small law firm, and he makes it riveting when, for example, the lawyers carefully go over Amanda's civil and criminal cases, describing the practical and legal implications. Detailed scenes like this ground the book and make it very real, showing law is more than stirring courtroom speeches. Equally good are the specifics of Stan's undercover operations, with enough tradecraft descriptions to keep any spy thriller aficionado happy. Sometimes, with these two convoluted plotlines, readers will have to work to keep track of all the players and double-crosses, but the story does move along at a nice clip.
Although the focus is heavily on plot, Manchee does work in some personal relationships that lend welcome warmth to the dual legal proceedings. Especially strong is Stan's unusual partnership with Rosa, an unwilling ally of the cartel, purportedly being used to spy on Stan. What starts as a convenience for their mutual safety turns into something more, giving an emotional heft to the story. Manchee also does a good job with Amanda, neatly describing the plight of the working poor and lending her a lot of sympathy. Fortunately, Manchee brings the multiple plots and large cast to a satisfying conclusion.
Takeaway: Attorneys battle for a poor victim—and against a cartel—in this fast-moving legal thriller.
Great for fans of: Scott Turow, Scott Pratt.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
With an eye for surprising detail, Harrell conjures a charged and vivid milieu, even as the story she tells is often painful. She recounts time and again striving to salvage her marriage and rescue her husband from his addictions and secure treatment for his mental illness, as she travels to Morocco, Switzerland, New York and her home state of North Carolina. Her continued friendship with Klonsky provides an ongoing wellspring of inspiration, and she persuasively evangelizes for his essay collection A Discourse on Hip and corrects misapprehensions about him from Romulus Linney’s play Klonsky and Schwartz. Through it all, Harrell, a seeker, experiments with and endorses an idiosyncratic mix of religions, new age beliefs, and science.
These spiritual and metaphysical excursions, while essential to her story and a key element of the Beat ethos, at times distract from her abundant enticing experiences and insights, and her relationships with her subjects. Still, readers fascinated by these men, her world, and numerology and transcendentalism will find themselves on a journey with grand destinations throughout the globe and within the author’s consciousness.
Takeaway: A seeker’s memoir of life with poets, spirituality, and Hunter S. Thompson.
Great for fans of: Peter Richardson’s Savage Journey, Diane di Prima’s Memoirs of a Beatnik.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Laid out in a raw yet readable style suggesting disorder, this mixed-media offering is a moving, quick read that gives readers an insight into the aftermath of strokes, sharing hard truths—“The truth is recovery from a stroke is a long and winding road. And it's one that you'll have to travel alone, for the most part”—along with heartening encouragement, for caretakers too, to keep moving forward and stay positive even in the face of adversity.
While much of the collection centers the stories of survivors or the suggestions of experts, Ang also shares his own hard-won advice, personal thoughts, and struggles through reflective diary entries and poetic declarations, some showcased in edgy black-and-white layouts that have the feel of hand-chalked graffiti. This approach imbues frank statements like “It takes a lot of effort to smile every day” with urgency, presenting a positive message–never give up on yourself–in a format that suggests dark, unwanted thoughts. The result is a collection that shines rare light on the complex emotions of survivors, while offering caretakers and loved ones welcome insight.
Takeaway: An inspiring, often rawly emotional collection of reflections from stroke survivors.
Great for fans of: Debra Meyerson’s Identity Theft, Letisha Living’s Finding Yourself After Stroke.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

The plot focuses on the supernatural, with ghosts, possession, Lovecraft’s “Dreamlands,” and long-dead miners in an intriguing mix. Still, Cottrell does wonders giving Ellen a natural, up-to-date voice, freshening up the familiar mythos. Unlike doom-and-gloom heroes of many works in the Lovecraftian vein, Ellen is quick to disbelief and ready to stand up for herself, even going so far to call her art history professor (one of several characters who seem to be related to Lovercraft’s a own) a “prick” to his face. Confident in her actions yet uncertain of her past, she ventures into the unknown with a gusto rare for those facing cosmic horror.
With a faculty advisor to Miskatonic’s psychic student organization, and her doting Uncle Joshua (who harbors mysteries of his own), Darkness Below shows that “light can be dark. Unclean.” But it also demonstrates, as Ellen and Professor Carter hunt down lost tomes, face unspeakable dangers, and investigate weird rituals, that darkness need not be overwhelming. Ellen’s an arresting guide, and readers who relish this milieu will be eager for the promised followup.
Takeaway: A college student faces Lovecraftian horrors and mysteries in this winning series starter.
Great for fans of: Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, Ruthanna Emrys’s Winter Tide.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

The author’s fanciful and intricately wrought world will spark readers’ imaginations immediately, and her well-drawn characters will immediately draw their loyalty and attention. Zee’s mother Verena has spent years trying to fly under the proverbial radar, knowing (but not sharing with her daughter) that they are both in danger from a malevolent person from Verena’s past. Hayes skillfully elevates the stakes and plants engaging mysteries: When Zee, Paxton, and Verena are caught and kidnapped by a power-mad ruler, they are placed in grave danger with seemingly no way out, while an unexpected wolf shifter plays a shocking yet integral part in Zemira’s journey. Is the king as cruel as he seems? Or the queen as benevolent as she seems? Hayes keeps the surprises coming, up until the final page is turned—including a shocking reveal about Diwa’s life journey.
Hayes excels in proving that people aren’t just black and white—instead, everyone is various shades of gray. Lyrical prose leaps off the page, ending in a gentle tease that will have readers eager for more. Readers who have a love of powerful world-building and multi-layered characters will be eager for more.
Takeaway: This masterfully told post-apocalyptic tale will captivate lovers of YA fantasy.
Great for fans of: Ann Aguirre’s Razorland Trilogy, Kresley Cole’s The Arcana Chronicles.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
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