In a future that “may be just around the corner,” the vehicle of choice is a Snoodlemobile, which runs on noodles. When the eccentric family responsible for Snoodles and their predecessor, the Krautmobile, get wrapped up in an intergalactic emergency that may leave the planet devoid of all noodles, only siblings Briana Brainy Broodle and Ricky Rockadoodle can save the family and the planet through the power of teamwork and following your passion. Focused more on whimsy and wordplay than coherent plotting, Snoodles in Space is sure to delight young readers who relish the absurd—and perhaps get a chuckle from the adults as well.

The NoodleVerse, first introduced in Joseph’s Snoodles, Kidoodles, Poodles and Lots and Lots of Noodles, has many quirks that Joseph trusts readers to discover without exposition, such as the naming conventions, wherein siblings and family members all have completely different last names. The series creates a sense of just-roll-with-it silliness: the logic behind the Kidoodles’ choice to abduct Norman Noodle and Sally Stroodle for their “knowledge of brain surgery and rocket science” simply from the observation that they use idioms relevant to those professions gets funnier the more readers think about it. And of course the “brain surgery” and “rocket science” in this world are unconventional, to say the least.

Those willing to embrace such flights of goofiness will find much to giggle over in the wordplay, daft storytelling, and occasional fart joke. Andy Case’s detailed digital illustrations provide additional world-building and ground the reader through the silliness of the narrative. Back matter includes a game and a guide to the characters and technology of the NoodleVerse. Best suited for those looking for nonsensical escapism, a dose of whimsy with their sci-fi, and rhyming names in spades, Snoodles in Space delivers a laugh with its originality.

Takeaway: Absurdism reigns in this wacky space adventure for fans of wordplay.

Great for fans of: Jason Carter Eaton’s Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians!, Deborah Underwood’s XO, Exoplanet.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Snoodles in Space

Lloyd (author of the Legacy of Lancaster series) plumbs aching questions about forgiveness in a family drama that centers on love and infidelity. Ruth Ann Templeton awakes from an accident with a failing marriage to face, a rebellious daughter to tame, and a mentally deteriorating father needing her care. The concern for her well-being expressed by Ruthie's “soon-to-be ex-husband” Drew seems questionable, at best, so his decision to move back home to attend to his daughters and just-about-divorced wife seems likely to do more harm than good. Ruthie's emotions have never been more distressed, and she fears, in the upheaval, she might lose her younger daughter's favor forever.

While the novel is ultimately uplifting, Ruthie's internal rage against her cheating husband powers the story, as she strives to be understood. She fears, understandably, that freely expressing her grief and anguish might take its toll on her relationship with her children, who might judge her as the root of all destruction—especially as the kids would prefer she somehow hold the marriage together. The storytelling is somewhat slow at first, establishing the challenges Ruthie faces, but picks up agreeably when, on an escape, Ruthie makes the acquaintance of Dr. Victor Huff, ruggedly handsome and not wearing a ring.

Lloyd thoughtfully explores Ruthie’s inclination to seek solace outside her home, her gradual recovery from her lowest moments of hurt and anger, and her considerations of the repercussions of a divorce that she may eventually regret. These hard choices prove gripping, and the diverse set of characters are both appealing and sometimes frustrating, as Ruthie feels relatable annoyance at their behaviors and expectations. The tale’s told with welcome empathy, and Ruthie's ultimate answer to how much a spouse can forgive leads her to the discovery of what might be a better road to a more dignified life. Readers of uplifting domestic fiction will be moved.

Takeaway: The touching story of a woman facing divorce and questions of forgiveness.

Comparable Titles: Caroline Roberts’s The Torn Up Marriage, Catherine Anderson’s Always in My Heart.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Reinventing Ruthie

The deadly treasure hunts continue in Burlake’s third Amy Prowers adventure (after The Last Request), as Amy and her cousin Alfred (Ace) Prowers, whose family controls an oil and natural gas empire, hunt stolen gold the Nazis hid towards the end of World War II. As always, in the Prowers-verse, the mission comes with a family connection. This time, Amy’s first husband, the deceased Vince, had found a map and journal while hunting for the gold, and Amy feels she owes it to him to complete his search. But they’ll need help interpreting both—and they’re not alone, as the murder of an early contact attests. Among hundreds of others on a hunt that will cross Europe is Bazyli Czartoryski, the leader of the neo-Nazi group the Grey Eagles.

The search will take them through picturesque German towns, abandoned castles and crypts, emptied graveyards, and ancient monasteries that have now become breweries. Amy’s aunt Sonora, who runs a powerful international Committee whose members include many world leaders, wants to keep the money out of the hands of right-wing radicals, and once the apolitical Amy learns that those groups are targeting refugees and plotting a Fourth Reich, she, too, is moved to the cause. At the mission’s start, though, Amy’s motives are more caught up in the past, as she strives to finish what Vince started—and get something back to descendants of the Nazi’s victims.

The novel’s first half features much discussion of the missing gold’s possible fate, and thoughtful consideration of what that gold represents—“the souls of those who died in World War II—civilians, military, the people in the camps.” The pace picks up as the stakes grow higher and, true to the novel’s subtitle, past and present collide. Burlake takes history more seriously than most treasure-hunt thriller authors, and favors shoe-leather investigation over relentless action, but a light touch and engaging hero keep this entry lively.

Takeaway: The hunt for Nazi gold powers this humane, history-minded thriller.

Comparable Titles: A. Jay Collins’s Nazi Gold, Steve Berry’s The Amber Room.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Hunt for Raubgold

Knightly weaves a genre blending middle-grade adventure that’s certain to entertain, boasting a planetary scope and a unique protagonist. Courageous 12-year-old Trinket Moonrise isn’t sure if she’s “a robot with life-like traits or a living being with robot parts.” Either way, she finds herself at the center of an epic quest. She’s desperate to escape her planet for a better life, but her compassion and loyalty to a young orphan boy complicates her departure. Unwilling to leave without him, she postpones her plans, comes face-to-face with a devious villain, and must lean on new friends to survive.

Knightly ensures young readers a thrilling escapade with this delightful protagonist. Trinket is more than a “piece of scrap” as she struggles to find a sense of self in a world without a family to guide her. Her prosthetic leg, affectionately nicknamed “Champion,” is desperately in need of repairs, something that can be fixed on a different planet, but she isn’t about to jump a shuttle and jet away. Her personal challenges carve a deep well of empathy within herself—and in readers—and she harnesses that emotion to save an orphan boy from a life of misery. Escaping to a better world proves challenging when alien oppressors hunt Trinket for mysterious purposes, but her bravery shines bright and exemplifies a deep-seeded courage that readers will find inspiring.

Other unique and eccentric characters bring welcome life to the narrative, such as furry fighter Woolver Talandrin and an alien named “ƪƆƳƥƎƼǤ,” who goes by Tulo for short. Some of the story’s momentum and surprises slows in the book’s middle, but Knightly sprinkles nail-biting action throughout. Many pivotal questions remain intentionally unanswered, enticing young readers to return for future adventures within the series. Middle-grade fans of fantasy and sci fi will delight in this creative and imaginative quest.

Takeaway: Nail-biting action and a courageous robot girl power this middle grade SF thriller.

Great for fans of: Yoon Ha Lee’s Dragon Pearl, M.H. Woodscourt.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Exostar (The Lost Space Treasure Series, Book 1)

Professional scuba diver Ricky Yamamoto returns for a third adventure in Grogan’s Divemaster Ricky series (following Derelict), this time tasked by mysterious clients with collecting samples in the waters off southeast Asia. On the boat with her are old friend Captain Rich and the couple who hired them, Lonnie and Margo, lottery winners who are funding an environmental study. (Their boat’s name? Powerballer.) The expedition soon draws the scrutiny of pirates, the Thai navy, and the Myanmar authorities. As the situation sinks from bad to worse, Ricky finds her clients have been hiding things from her—and that she now must solve multiple mysteries and use her wits to save her life.

Ricky narrates, her observations powered with a lively humor, and Captain Rich is a great foil, with their ongoing love-hate relationship a highlight. The plot takes some time to really get moving, and then has so many twists (including a surprising personal connection) that readers will have to work some to keep up, but the snappy dialog, larger-than-life cast, and fascinating milieu keep the pages turning. “Give me warm, gin-clear water and colorful reefs,” Ricky declares, and her love for the sea sets her and the series apart, with this entry finding time for her thoughts on orca, threats to coral, and our changing oceans.

Also enlivening the book are some terrific diving scenes. Grogan delivers almost poetic descriptions of sea life and does a great job with the beauty of southeast Asia: a delta alive with tributaries and side-channels "was like a massive, shimmering fractal." Readers interested in diving technology will find much detail here, though Ricky & co. also find themselves in a number of action scenes, some of them on a Clive Cussler level of inventiveness. Through it all, Ricky shows a remarkable talent for both cool fatalism and self-preservation—she finds “a certain satisfaction” in kicking one adversary in the head—leaving readers to eagerly await what she'll get into next.

Takeaway: This scuba thriller series dives into danger with an agreeably light touch.

Great for fans of: Micki Browning’s Beached, Andrew Mayne’s The Girl Beneath the Sea.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+

Click here for more about JETSAM

Saddle up for a wild ride (pun intended). The third title in Cox’s series finds United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Nick Tanner dispatched to the swamps of Mississippi on a job that entails trading 243 endangered turtles with a wild reptile dealer named Johnny Chang. When the deal doesn't go down as planned, Tanner—and another undercover agent already in place— team up to shut Chang's operation down. Cold-Blooded Trade is an assured crime thriller alive with vivid characters, wicked plot twists, and jolts of action, set against a deadly, evocative milieu that finds Tanner “belly-deep in swamp water, boots sucked hard into the muck, all the while keeping a wary eye for cottonmouths and leeches.”

Cox does a stellar job at penning intriguing characters that readers will connect to. Tanner leaps off the page,a doting father and a proud pet owner with a job that brings excitement at every turn. That pet is a highlight—a blind bobcat named Ray (as in Charles)— as is Tanner’s unique beat, which gives Cox the chance to plot out a thriller that mixes a smart procedural with The Crocodile Hunter. The hero’s personal life is engaging, too, with him balancing wildlife trafficking busts gone wrong with trying to get to his daughter’s gymnastics meet.

While it’s best to start with book one in the series for full clarity on Tanner's backstory, new readers will be able to dive right into the “slimy, green-black muck” of this entry’s gator-holes. Full of witty banter, the wildest of wildlife, and action-packed encounters, Cold-Blooded Trade is a polished, sharply written thriller that never stops until its satisfying conclusion. Animal lovers especially will find themselves invested in Tanner's investigation and turning the pages to find out how it all ends.

Takeaway: This standout procedural sends a wildlife agent into the Mississippi muck.

Great for fans of: C.J. Box, Pamela Beason’s Endangered.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Cold-Blooded Trade

This compact devotional debut offers Christian readers an appealing balance of biblical study and self-exploration as Sexton analyzes the “misinformation, myths, and flat-out lies surrounding who God is.” Each chapter examines common misconceptions related to Christian beliefs—ranging from understanding the personality of God to more weighty topics such as suicide and abuse—and Sexton offers contemplative activities to help readers “fight [their] battles and thoughts with God’s truth.” Sexton’s focus on self-compassion while teasing out the underlying factors driving certain behaviors is particularly helpful, as is her willingness to broach some challenging topics that many devotionals avoid.

Despite the guide’s brevity, readers will find it overflowing with useful information and exercises. Sexton urges transparency, using her own experience of sexual abuse as inspiration for readers to explore the traumas impacting their ability to lead a meaningful life, and she is careful to allow readers the space to individualize biblical concepts for their own needs. Those struggling with depression—including suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors—will find Sexton’s welcoming attitude refreshing, and her acknowledgement that “life is hard, it is messy, and it hurts, but it is worth living” is comforting. She’s frank about the lies we often tell ourselves, such as “things will never be better” or “judging others is harmless,” and above all, she emphasizes the need for personal grace and empathy—alongside a solid sense of God’s love as unconditional and restorative.

Sexton’s journal prompts and guided learning questions—all accompanied by corresponding biblical verses and themes—will spark deep thought for readers, and there’s ample space to jot down notes and reflections. Backmatter is both practical and informative: Sexton lists potential alternatives to self-harm, several national resources (the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, among others), and recommendations for further study on setting healthy boundaries. This is a well-rounded, practical devotional that takes on critical issues in an inviting way.

Takeaway: This Christian devotional offers meaningful inspiration for real-life problems.

Great for fans of: Tanya Rad and Raquelle Stevens’s The Sunshine Mind, Priscilla Shirer’s Awaken.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Destroying the Lies

Orr (The Executive Suite) crafts a cozy mystery that offers a fresh spin on the lengths we’ll go to for true love. A neighborhood dog digging up a human jawbone in idyllic Jensen Beach, Florida, gives the neighbors something to talk about—and sets off a disturbing series of events for Charlotte, whose Aunt Adeline just happens to own the bone-filled yard responsible for all the fuss. When Adeline goes missing, local law enforcement rings up Charlotte to fill her in on the investigation, and she’s shocked to discover there’s a whole host of human remains buried in her aunt’s yard.

The mystery’s standard fare here, but that doesn’t take away from the fun of unraveling Adeline’s past, particularly when Charlotte stumbles onto a cryptic poem and video log of her aunt’s seeming confession. While she’s deciphering her aunt’s clues, Charlotte gets caught up with local cop Derek—but just as things start to heat up between the two, Charlotte gets an ominous warning that there’s more to Derek than meets the eye. That suggestion sets up the novel for an unconventional twist in the end (some readers may be discomfited by revelations that keep it all in the family), but Orr keeps readers spinning with some considerable things-are-not-as-they-seem unveilings throughout.

The She Shed’s draw is undoubtedly Orr’s quirky characters. Adeline’s closest friends—“old-school Grateful Dead hippie” Randall, gal pal Millie, and the enigmatic, angry Betty—add plenty of fuel to the small-town fire, as does the questionable mayor, who’s formed his own vigilante squad to “protect women” but seems desperate to cover up the town’s slaveholding secrets at the same time. Readers will appreciate Orr’s tidy wrap-up of the murders, and most of the characters earn the happy ending they deserve; the town, however, turns out to be “full of skeletons—literally.” Backmatter includes entertaining recipes from one of the story’s main players.

Takeaway: A small-town mystery full of quirky characters and plenty of plot twists.

Great for fans of: Tracy Rees’s Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church, Sheila Connolly’s Many a Twist.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The She Shed

Aly’s A Third Option spins a marriage-of-convenience love story around Amy, a New York City professional in awkward circumstances when she finds herself pregnant and her boyfriend is uninterested in being a father. Knowing that she will never be promoted to partner as a single mother, she’s left choosing between her career and her future child until Reggie, a new associate, offers a third option— marry him until the child is born, and then the pair can go their own separate ways. Amy takes him up on his offer, but this convenient marriage is quickly beset with inconveniences, as Amy’s ex Tom publicly claims the child as his, and Reggie’s ex Isabella isn’t ready to let him go.

Despite that classic romance setup, A Third Option is poised between the romance and general fiction genres, as it focuses heavily on being a woman in a high-powered and traditional world. Much of the story is centered around the slightly anxious comedy of the pair getting to know each other and dealing with their exes. This is handled with an empathetic sense of comedy, even when questions of paternity get heated, as when Tom levels a sexist slur at Amy in Bryant Park.

Soon Amy’s learning to make it work with Reggie despite their differences—she reads the Times, he reads the Post—and even feels a pang of jealousy toward Isabella. Reggie has his own reasons for proposing the marriage plan to Amy, and both characters’ perspectives drive the tale, which develops into a legal battle over parental rights to Amy’s fetus, a case that this often sprightly novel presents with welcome seriousness. True to its title, A Third Option is about making bold new choices from apparently limited alternatives, and the story, as it builds to a satisfying ending, continually finds ways to do just that. Lovers of grown-up love stories about characters who break the mold will find much to enjoy.

Takeaway: A grown-up marriage-of-convenience story that surprises.

Great for fans of: Lauren Asher’s Terms and Conditions, Suzanne Wright’s The Favor.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B

Click here for more about A Third Option

Hammy struggles with sharing toys with their younger sibling Oinkers, but when Mom steps in to mediate the situation she finds herself having to take her own advice in this humorous twist on books about sharing. Tempted by the alluring smell of truffles—every pig’s favorite treat—Hammy takes Oinkers along on a quest for justice, sniffing out Mom’s truffle stash and her own struggle to share. Jhon Ortiz’s expressive and sometimes lush digital illustrations add to the humor, focusing on characters’ faces and their outsized reaction to match the text. Kids and parents alike will appreciate the charm of this ironic lesson.

Trouble with Truffles showcases an unorthodox method of getting siblings to bond and get along, but does so with heart and humor the whole way, from Hammy going “hog wild” while refusing to share, to much boisterous oinking, to the smears on the pigs’ faces after digging into their truffle feast. For those unfamiliar with truffles or pigs’ connection to them, Richey uses the plot to introduce the connection, while those already familiar with pigs’ affinity for these prized fungi will likely already be laughing. Richey notes the visual similarities between chocolate truffles and mushroom truffles on a “Did you know?” page, writing that she thinks “the truffles Hammy’s mom loves…are really chocolate truffles and not the mushroom kind.” Further information about pigs and truffles can be found there, too, as well as a map of some locations where truffles can be found globally.

Readers will notice subtle nods to Sherlock Holmes in the illustrations, furthering the visual humor. Well-suited to self-deprecating or at least good-humored parents and the kids that love them, as well as folks looking to learn more about pigs or getting siblings to share, Trouble with Truffles has plenty to offer and is sure to elicit more than a few giggles.

Takeaway: Mom is forced to follow her own advice in this playful tale of pigs learning to share.

Great for fans of: Rachel Bright’s The Squirrels Who Squabbled, Jory John’s Something’s Wrong.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Trouble With Truffles

Set in Earth’s next century, Shokeir’s debut sci fi thriller, the first in a series, features a ragtag, shifting group of teens and eccentrics on a mission to stop the terrorists who slaughtered a military training base called the Bunker, which was full of teenage cadets. When a mysterious superpowered man wearing an unremoveable helmet is dug up alive in the desert, a young heiress named Victoria Zaidi soon appears at the semi-secret military base to confront him, convinced that he’s somehow involved in the death of her father. A group of mercenaries aren’t far behind, slaughtering everyone in their path except for a small group including a mad general and his loyal aide, Victoria and her bodyguard, a couple of lucky cadets, and the helmeted mystery man, who goes by Slate and can’t resist wisecracks like “I’ll go punch the kangaroo turd who’s responsible for this right in the wombats.”

That captures the tone of the adventure that follows. As the group flees through the desert toward Cairo, Shokeir pits them against a host of dangers: terrorists, attack drones, giant robotic spider creatures, and more, in action-heavy encounters. They escape largely through Slate’s lightning-blasting heroics, though not without sustaining casualties, and make their way to Cairo, where they learn that a criminal organization known as Cloak, possibly run by other superpowered beings, may be plotting a massive terrorist attack.

The constantly escalating action and stakes are the main draw of this story, though those stakes are undercut by a tendency to gloss over potentially resonant emotional beats—like the deaths of various members of the party—with one-liners. But readers who relish inventive, playful action and worldbuilding (a trip to a movie theater showing a jingoistic action fantasy memorably sells this future) and also relentless Deadpool-esque quipping will enjoy the ride.

Takeaway: This SF adventure mixes relentless quips with over-the-top action.

Great for fans of: Darius Brasher’s Seraph Rising, Jeremy Eaton’s Preparing for the Future.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Silver Prison

Kaufer’s epic debut is a fantasy, the kickoff to a series, but readers might forget that in the first 150 or so pages as, Ana, a contemporary woman with a deep fear of intimacy after experiencing abuse, gets caught up in a slow-burn romance with Rafe, the out-of-nowhere protector who saves her from a mugger and then refuses to leave her side as she’s rushed to the hospital with a bullet wound. He’s still there for her when she’s discharged, tending to her, helping her handle the police detectives who insist her story doesn’t quite add up. He’s dashing but gentle, helping her heal, in every sense.

Readers will recognize plenty of warning signs about Rafe’s potential deeper motives, of course, as does Ana’s reporter roommate and only friend, Kara. Kara doesn’t trust Rafe but when called away on an assignment must ask him to watch over Ana, who has a history of self-harm. Kaufer drops hints about what might really be going on, but she immerses readers in uncertainty as Rafe and Ana explore a chaste but romantic intimacy. Perhaps to preserve the mystery, Kaufer writes from a brisk but distant third-person perspective, offering little interiority, so readers rarely are privy to what these characters are thinking.

That makes for fast reading, sometimes too fast, as confrontations with the cops, that mugger, and others pass too quickly to build tension. Eventually, Kaufer reveals the answers. It would be churlish to spell them out here, but readers should remember that, yes, this is a fantasy, with magic, questions of royal lineage, high stakes palace intrigue, a jeerable villain, and a dash of tragedy as the Maristellar Kingdom faces tumult and the story builds to a resonant cliffhanger. The choice to delay the introduction of these elements throws the book’s genre balance toward romance, but readers who love the blend will find much here that intrigues and engages.

Takeaway: A woman’s surprise romance with the man who saves her blooms into epic fantasy.

Great for fans of: Elsie Winters’s Leviathan’s Song, Sarah Zettel’s A Sorcerer’s Treason.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Courting Fate

Papagni’s debut blends romance and mystery with rich worldbuilding. Charles and Alex are one of those couples that boasts a great origin story: they met at a Boston diner in a chance encounter and enjoyed an instant connection, with Alex afterwards feeling she owes him a minor debt. Charles is a self-made investment banker with a teenage son, Charlie, while Alex is a gorgeous, considerate kindergarten teacher from a posh background. Things seem poised for the two of them to share an idyllic relationship, but life is not that simple: Charles’ work life is full of murky dealings, and before long, Alex and Charlie get dragged into it. Are their lives headed straight towards tragedy?

The novel’s first half is squarely a romance, showing how the leads came together: when Alex phones Charles after their first meeting, a mixup has him expecting a business contact on the line, so he answers “Hello you nasty, SOB”! This upbeat courtship is offset by a cast of eclectic, well-rounded characters—Papagni has done a great job of building a robust world and ecosystem around her leads that supports them and lends their lives credibility. Deeper in, though, the plot thickens and the mystery and suspense elements become prominent, involving the SEC, a stalker, a break-in, and a murder. Meanwhile, Charles faces temptation—and this hard declaration from Alex: “I need to know if you have broken the law and what other shoe is going to drop.”

Readers, too, will be anticipating the drop of those shoes, and some of the plot twists strain credulity. But overall, there’s a lot to enjoy in this novel full of conversations, friendships, and a mystery, all of which are dealt with an airy touch, imbuing the material with an inviting lightness despite some darker themes. Lovers of romance and family dramas will enjoy this book which is both endearing and easy to read.

Takeaway: An endearing, fast paced romance with a Boston businessman turns suspenseful.

Great for fans of: Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Forever, Interrupted.

Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about And Then I Met Charles

Graham’s debut novella offers the haunting tale of a young woman reentering society and grappling with reality after experiencing wrenching trauma and loss as a girl. In Lancashire, England, Elise Rose's life is upended at the age of seven when she witnesses her mother's murder at the hands of a gentleman caller. Then, at the age of twenty, Elise is released into the custody of her grandfather, Emmett, at the end of a two year stay in a psychiatric unit after an episode of psychosis. When she stumbles upon a quaint house on Darcy Lane one day, with a bold red door and a pond out back, Elise becomes fixated with what the house symbolizes and the future she envisions.

Darcy Lane’s emotionally charged story pulses with themes of loss, redemption, and growth. While taking on weighty themes, Graham draws intriguing parallels between Elise's life and her mother's, from their strong resemblance to their decisions to trust the wrong people, creating suspense as the story progresses. The characters are both complex and relatable, their motivations, as in life, sometimes enigmatic. The prose, though, is pared down and brick-blunt: ”Stood at his bedroom window was Emmett. The two of them held stare for a moment.” Those sturdy sentences, though, can be at tense odds with the view of the world through Elise's eyes, as readers will at times wonder whether what she perceives is what’s truly happening. Graham also allows himself to change perspective within a chapter or even paragraph, which demands readers stay alert to keep up.

Those who do will find themselves rooting for the protagonist to break a generational cycle of mistakes and overcome the tragic setbacks of her childhood. The plot moves at a steady pace toward a conclusion that, in hindsight, feels inevitable and will please fans of humane, realistic fiction in which characters face traumatic pasts.

Takeaway: A moving novella of a young woman facing the lingering effects of childhood trauma.

Great for fans of: Amber McBride’s Me: Moth, Kathleen Glasgow’s Girl in Pieces.

Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Darcy Lane

Read, seasoned author of Turning Points at Trial and other persuasion guides for attorneys, offers welcome expertise to anyone eager to improve their speaking skills, even the many who harbor fear at the very thought of giving a presentation. “Being true to yourself is the starting and ending point of this book,” he declares early on in this polished and practical guide, and he breaks that easier-said-than-done goal down into actionable, achievable steps that will give even the most anxious speakers a path to being their best at the podium or on the Zoom call. Public speaking is less a talent than a skill, Read argues, one that anyone can learn and hone with enough willingness, practice, and honest effort.

Demonstrating the kind of confident organizational clarity he urges readers to master, Read arranges the material into three sections— how to persuade, how to deliver your presentation, and how the masters persuade. He packs each with encouraging advice covering a host of topics (how to present without notes; what persuasive speakers need to understand about the brain; visual guides related to PowerPoint best practices) plus abundant sources, quotations, links to talks to study, and fresh, fascinating case studies from attorneys in the courtroom that illustrate the implementation of his methodology.

As the subtitle suggests, Read blends his own hard-won, up-to-date insights with tried-and-true techniques, from the Rule of Three to the “memory palace,” and he explores tools used by great orators throughout. His clear, engaging prose style and emphasis on the pragmatic makes this guide accessible to readers new to the art but also a resource for seasoned speakers, who will likely find illumination in advice on video meetings or his reconsideration of the importance of listening. Chapter-summarizing road maps and checklists and a thorough index and table of contents increase the book’s utility.

Takeaway: A courtroom persuasion expert’s illuminating guide to persuasive public speaking.

Great for fans of: Carmine Gallo’s Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds, Mike Acker’s Speak With No Fear.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Winning at Public Speaking

Zellgert (The Adventures of Randy trilogy) draws on personal experience with loneliness and depression to craft an emblematic and relatable science fiction journey. The story centers on Stewart, a man who lived in a world without color. Everything was white, with only the black outlines showing edges and corners that were anything other than white. That was until a little girl, running from a policewoman, slipped an orb into Stewart’s pocket. It wasn’t until he was home and pulled the orb out of his pocket that he found it lit up the world in color. Thus begins Stewart’s mission of keeping color in his life and fighting off the frightening forces eager to see everything vibrant drained away.

Stewart floats through outer space in a space suit, facing scary and dangerous figures who want him to fail and give up on himself. Zellgert introduces evils like “Iniquitous” and “Dr. Despondency,” who assail Stewart with the kind of thoughts that come with depression, like “nobody likes you” and “you don’t deserve to live.” Yet these negative figures are regularly scared away by those like The Four Artists, who show Stewart light and color and where to go to escape the darkness. Equally important, Stewart meets friends in space who make him feel less alone, and need his help fighting too.

Although abstract in presentation, Zellgert never pushes the symbolic nature of the story to the point where it’s confusing to follow. Readers who can relate to the challenges Stewart faces will find wisdom and encouragement in this treatment of the hurdles created by depression, anxiety, and loneliness, especially as Zellgert shows how those hurdles can be overcome—and, crucially, that sometimes Stewart has to try more than once. When he falls off the path of light, he gets the help he needs to find his way back. Both science fiction and full of heart, this will be a relatable journey many will find inspiring.

Takeaway: A relatable, even inspiring science fiction depiction of depression and loneliness.

Great for fans of: Emma Newman’s Planetfall, Victor LaValle’s The Devil in Silver.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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