The tenderness between Rhys and Maree, and Smith’s crisp descriptions of their attraction, are highlights of this novel. Lots of kissing, but nothing more despite several instances of temptation, keep this romance squarely on the side of clean. Side characters, like Maree’s protective older brother, pro football player Max and Rhys’s charismatic coworker Davis, add the crucial extra pressure for the two leads to accept their feelings. Smith can fold in backstory and rationales without losing the thrust of her story, and Rhys’s worry over opening himself up seems genuine.
The shifting perspectives between Rhys and Maree start off a little rocky, but the pacing improves as the story moves on. Smith sometimes pairs unusual sets of descriptors, but the writing flows smoothly and the stops and starts to the relationship never feel overly contrived. The subplot of an arsonist in town could have been more developed, but Smith seems to be laying strong, viable possibilities for future installments set in Green Hills. Small town charms and real pain add heft to this cozy romance.
Takeaway: This small-town story between a competent woman and an emotionally wounded newcomer will comfort fans of clean romances.
Great for fans of: Catherine Anderson’s Mystic Creek series, Shanna Hatfield’s Summer Creek series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Riemer explains how core elements of drama also apply to a good product story. Broken into three acts, Get Your Startup Story Straight covers the basics of business storytelling, such as developing a strong narrative structure with an emphasis on techniques like using storyboards. The second act takes up the bulk of the guide as Riemer lays out various approaches to storytelling and how successful product innovators use these strategies to persuade and influence potential customers and investors. Practical examples with cogent explanations abound, as Riemer offers clear-eyed advice for setting a clear, compelling narrative. Story archetypes are introduced in the third section, where Riemer expertly employs his own advanced storytelling skills to illustrate common themes found in innovation narratives and how these tropes can assist in polishing a product’s story.
Riemer uses a number of personal and professional experiences to reinforce his main message– “you can’t tell a great story unless you have a great story to tell.” The most notable example walks readers through the development of Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story franchise and how even a skillfully crafted product story is never truly finished. Although written for entrepreneurs and product innovators, aspiring authors and blocked writers alike will appreciate the information presented in this creative business guide.
Takeaway: Entrepreneurs, startup companies, and fiction writers will appreciate the relatable way storytelling techniques and strategies are presented in this guide.
Great for fans of: Seth Godin’s All Marketers are Liars, Paul Smith’s Sell with a Story.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Santorini Setup is a romantic suspense story that reimagines Bohan’s earlier Sinister Paradise. Britt, who has faced recent struggles with romance and voices a determination to stay single, experiences immediate sparks with excavation contractor Cassie Burkhardt, a development that could put them both in danger as Britt puts together the clues that get her closer to the truth. The narrative balances the intrigue and the romance, though the novel’s short length serves to make the suspense element feel underdeveloped, and the romance escalates quickly. Readers tuned into details will catch the clear opportunity for a future book digging deeper into some elements, especially with Nicki and her godfather Mikos Zerakis.
The setting of Santorini is atmospheric and enjoyable, and Bohan has clearly done extensive research to make the archeological and classical literature references accurate. Despite readers learning of several characters involved in suspicious island activities relatively early in the story, Bohan provides a red herring and a nice, unexpected twist that helps generate interest. The combination of passion, thrills, and a surprise ending make this a satisfying adventure.
Takeaway: Mystery, danger, and romance abound for a professor searching for a life change in Santorini.
Great for fans of: Cat Sebastian, Kristen Lepionka’s Roxane Weary series.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Readers will immediately grasp the story’s moral when Yellow learns what his environment would look like without his vital shade. Faced with a bleached-out world, Yellow “is struck speechless at what he sees around” and quickly regrets his wish for a yellow-less Kraylos. Beyond the moral of self-acceptance, which echoes Dickens, classic fairy tales, and It’s a Wonderful Life, Williamson sneaks in lessons on the color spectrum that illuminates how urgently a well-balanced, harmonious world needs Yellow to shine.
Young readers who enjoy rhyming schemes, fantasy, and silliness will find the whimsical and picturesque world of Kraylos enchanting. Some images may seem frenzied, but their intricate details and heightened activity will deliver hours of enjoyment for fans who revel in games like “I Spy,”, and Williamson’s hand-drawn illustrations, crafted with colored pencils, express and inspire intense creativity. Readers who are beginning to explore their value and place in existence will find the story resonant, and Williamson’s pick-me-up messages, painted in the sky (“develop your talent and you will find happiness within yourself”), offer hope and inspiration. The author’s biography sheds touching light on his own search for meaning.
Takeaway: A whimsical fantasy of crayons and colors that teaches the importance of self-acceptance.
Great for fans of: Patty Lovell’s Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, Dan Bar-el’s Not Your Typical Dragon.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
The idea of tackling painful memories to be freed from the past is intriguing. The main players spend the majority of the novel reliving distressing moments through “neuroflashing,” a distinctive method of time travel that pits them against Bloody Mary and her phantoms in the hopes of preserving their memories and escaping her traps. Still, with so many complex and mysterious supernatural elements, the plotting can be a challenge to keep up with, and some elements of Farmer’s ambitious tale prove hazy, such as Bloody Mary’s connection to neuroflashing, or that between Erica and Macy, described as a spirit from the 1800s trapped in the “Interstate”—a place of “nothingness between the stars.”
Readers who crave twisted storylines rich with paranormal angst will appreciate Farmer’s writing, as he adds depth through his focus on the family dynamics behind his characters’ actions: Erica’s attempt to mend her broken relationship with Dianne through otherworldly battles and sacrifice helps ground an otherwise nebulous plot. For all of this thriller’s fantastical elements, which can at times prove overwhelming, the humanity of the characters is clear and engaging. Lovers of paranormal legends will be rewarded by this complex, inventive debut.
Takeaway: Bloody Mary, time travel, and the realm between life and death power this inventive paranormal debut.
Great for fans of: Holly Black’s Book of Night, Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Making Make Believe stand out from others in the awakening-from-cynicism genre is its light touch and the convincing internal thoughts of its screenwriter protagonist, which prove almost meta in their analysis of his own life, as this storyteller proves an engaging stand-in for readers who are just as cynical or well-read (take your pick) when it comes to stories of romance or thoughts about how life imitates art imitates life. It’s all bundled together in Prewitt’s telling, which boasts crisp, engaging dialogue, insider Hollywood detail (“It’s always an ominous moment for your script when someone says he has some notes”), and a story that finds him building toward change–maybe even happiness.
The stakes get gradually higher and higher through each section of the novel, culminating with the reserved and logical narrator achieving an epiphany in surroundings he’d never have anticipated: maybe sometimes happy endings aren’t just for the rom-coms he occasionally writes, and that sappiness and cynicism are both just states of minds. Readers of upbeat commercial fiction who believe the same–and are tired of rom-com formula–will find a protagonist to root for and a story to savor.
Takeaway: This accomplished, upbeat novel finds a screenwriter facing his cynicism and maybe feeling his way toward love and happiness.
Great for fans of: Bridget Morrissey’s Love Scenes, Rachel Winters’s Would Like to Meet.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Varon’s passion for raising awareness around substance abuse is clear and ultimately guides the story. Crafted to educate and soothe younger readers, Varon’s narrative is straightforward but also oversimplified, moving quickly to make its encouraging points but not developing dramatically. The narrative takes off immediately and is soon resolved: readers are introduced to the characters, given one spread of when Joey was a caring brother, and then hit with a dramatic twist that is wrapped up just a few short pages later. The remainder is filled with mental health resources for kids and parents.
Varon’s great care and thoroughness distinguish the end resources. She includes multiple journaling and reflection prompts for kids about emergency responses, coping methods, and self-esteem, as well as lists of organizations to help all family members involved in the recovery process. This story is best suited for younger children or those readers new to the concept of substance abuse and recovery. Despite the abbreviated storytelling, the empathetic My Brother Is Not a Monster is an opportunity to help a highly targeted audience of readers.
Takeaway: A story of one family’s journey through substance abuse, paired with welcome mental health resources for kids and their parents.
Great for fans of: Claudia Black’s My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease, Jill M. Hastings and Marion H. Typpo’s An Elephant in the Living Room; Anthony Curcio’s Critters Cry Too.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B
Soon, a wintry meteorological miracle enchants the residents of Candela–until the ceaseless snowfall slowly smothers the town. Kindall ties this disaster to the history of Tim’s family, once devoted (and impoverished) ornithologists who built their fortune on luxurious, feather-covered clothing, resulting in the near extinction of an exquisite, nigh-unto mystical bird called the Ocular Sparrow. Like his other middle-grade fantasy novels (Blue Sky and Pearl), Sparrow focuses on a young, isolated protagonist exploring beyond their boundaries, but Tim is also a classic dystopian hero, carrying the burden of his guilt-ridden, frozen-in-place community while striving to change their future.
Delightful names (The Worldwide League of Exhaustive Investigations into Feathered Beings) and ornate dialogue (“a barometric boondoggle of the most exaggerated enormity”) are sprinkled throughout, but what makes Sparrow soar is the way Kindall constructs the narrative as a process of discovery. Interjections like “Now, as we already know…” serve as guideposts for young readers, who experience revelations alongside Tim and Morris (in flashback), whose comforting layers of naiveté are methodically peeled away. Self-awareness means looking beyond yourself, Kindall asserts in this adventure of identity, and understanding his place in the world allows Sparrow to take flight.
Takeaway: Budding birders will embrace this imaginative historical fantasy, which deftly blends exploration and introspection.
Great for fans of: Meindert DeJong’s The Wheel on the School, Cory Leonardo’s The Simple Art of Flying, and Sandy Stark-McGinnis’ Extraordinary Birds.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
That’s when she meets Keela, who makes Blue feel safe enough to reveal her true nature. Together they soar off into the sky, “twirl[ing] through tons of sparkly shooting stars and wing[ing] over the man in the moon.” Their bond may be the crux of the story, but there’s also much more going on. Blue gets flying lessons from a blue jay, trades insults with a gang of donkeys, and learns magic from a plucky illusionist named Lieutenant Luk. Titus has packed a lot into such a short tale, which is exciting but at times makes some aspects feel rushed.
Throughout the story, colorful and stylized illustrations show Blue interacting with people and magical beings while she spreads her glittering wings in front of mountains, waterfalls, and a starry sky. The fun doesn’t stop with the last page, either–Titus has included a glossary of “Celtic Lore & Legend,” interesting recipes like “Evergreen Tea,” and detailed information about different horse breeds and their temperaments. School-aged children will find the extras at the end absorbing—and possibly a bit overwhelming—but the most dazzling part of the story is the relationship between Blue and Keela, which will give kids the chance to recognize the qualities they appreciate in their own friends.
Takeaway: A charming fantasy adventure where a unicorn named Blue is on a mission to learn the true meaning of friendship.
Great for fans of: Maddy Mara’s Dragon Girls series, Dan Santat’s The Adventures of Beekle.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B
The most stunning pages in the book are the full-bleed illustrations from John Snyder, who imbues the pages with a dusty sun-baked look of golds and brownish oranges. His attention to detail and almost photo-realistic depictions of the animals (emus, wombats, wallabies) other than the crocodiles really make the book shine. The crocodiles, by contrast, are more cartoonish and anthropomorphized, creating a discord in the scenes where both Koa and the other animals appear on the same page, which matches the sometimes awkward syntax of the text.
Even so, Koa is such a friendly and funny character whose charm carries the narrative and is sure to become a new favorite of anyone who reads his story. The themes of finding oneself, staying true to yourself, and not giving up are all tried and true themes in children’s literature, but they’re classic themes for a reason, and Koa offers an appealingly fresh face for them. The unique setting of Australia certainly helps this tale feel new. Ultimately a heartfelt and uplifting ode to being unique and following your heart, Koa the Crocodile is a delightful debut from Mellis.
Takeaway: A moving tribute to all who feel like the odd one out, Koa the Crocodile is a balm and inspiration for young readers.
Great for fans of: Rachel Bright’s The Koala Who Could, Karl Newson’s The Same But Different Too.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Besides the mysteries of the cosmos and a fury at our mistreatment of the Earth, themes of change and time power Inhabitant, as its narrator marvels at humanity’s small-scale memory, which finds “descendants slowly forgetting / about each and every one who came before.” The Inhabitant has time for such contemplation, because space travel, we learn, is all about waiting; as the Inhabitant pushes ahead, searching for a new home, reflecting on the lesson that our relationship with a planet should be one of cohabitation. These pained thoughts (“never planted what i ate, never returned the trail how i found it”) resonate as the narrator floats, adrift, in the collection’s searching middle section.
Despite the cosmic subject matter Crittenden’s free verse is concrete and direct, its imagery and metaphor always clear, even inviting. The interstellar reaches and the planets the Inhabitant searches may be bleak, but a potent sense of hope warms the void, as the Inhabitant presses ahead in the face of disaster, acknowledging the worst of what our species has done while searching tirelessly for a chance to get it right the next time. This engaging meditation on humanity’s end—and possible new beginning—will move readers with a love of the cosmic.
Takeaway: A moving journey in verse into deep space in search of humanity’s future.
Great for fans of: David C. Kopaska-Merkel and Kendall Evans’s Night Ship to Never, Tracy K. Smith’s Life on Mars.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

The novel is named for the “Big Empty” of the West Texas landscape that at times oppresses its inhabitants with its “immeasurable flatness” and “all-pervasive nothingness.” Steffy is adept at evoking this singular place and its accompanying lifestyles, and readers will often find themselves completely taken in by physical descriptions of sunsets and cowboying that proliferate the narrative. Steffy’s journalistic sensibility provides the book with a healthy dose of technical detail, which renders accounts of silicon wafers and stock market upheavals convincingly vivid. Taken as a whole, the novel conveys a panoramic perspective that acknowledges, and does justice to, disparate characters who are often worlds apart.
Some readers might find the technical details a bit overwhelming. But Steffy is always quick to draw back to the narrative thread. The story hurls forward with a steady momentum, culminating in a heady—yet still persuasively realistic—climax. At the end, what lingers are the characters themselves, whom Steffy peers into with such love and empathy that readers can’t help but root for them. Lovers of journalistic nonfiction and of local stories of the challenges of change will find much to enjoy in The Big Empty, which proves as illuminating as it is heartwarming.
Takeaway: A perceptive, empathetic novel for readers fascinated with the changes and challenges of rural America.
Great for fans of: Glen Dromgoole’s A Small Town in Texas, Kent Haruf’s Plainsong.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

The fractured relationship between Hyosun and Jason is masterfully developed. From hints of her childhood and what drove her to be a distant, at times cruel, maternal figure to achingly intense scenes that plumb the depths of buried emotion, one is quickly able to get an idea of who she is–but that foundation is carefully layered and nuanced. Carrie’s viewpoint comes across in a strong, distinctive voice, filled with hope and horror as she dissects her own relationship with Jason and also her almost overwhelming desire for a mother figure. Carrie’s journal entries and first-person reminiscing pair beautifully with scenes from Hyosun’s viewpoint.
At times, the shifting viewpoints–mainly between Hyosun and Carrie, though others, like the private investigator Hyosun hires to find Carrie, make an appearance–can blend without clear delineation where one ends and the next begins. But rich symbolism draws readers in, inviting them to share in the joys and sorrows of the women, and the leads’ spirit will keep readers engaged. Less a traditional romance and more a contemporary journey of discovery, each character is lovingly brought to life and the novel is a love-letter to mothers, lovers, and the celebration of culture.
Takeaway: A striking, soulful novel of cultural differences, motherhood, and making the difficult choices in life.
Great for fans of: Patty Yumi Cottrell, Steph Cha.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Wong’s work is shrewdly, invitingly organized and takes the reader through thoughtful and deliberate markers of how to choose to lead a purposeful life. Focused on “five extraordinary choices that, separately and together, will guide you to the life you were uniquely born to live,” Living on Purpose patiently keeps readers engaged in their own journey while encouraging them to “fearlessly [transform] uncharted territory into an adventure of your own design.” Wong acknowledges throughout that there is no singularly correct life formula—she writes that individuals should find purpose tailored to their needs and urges readers to “try to do better” when they “genuinely know better.”
Wong shares both personal and professional insight, detailing what she has learned from clients and clarifying her advice with illuminating metaphors. Noting she is not a therapist, Wong encourages readers instead to focus on implementing their own new practices rather than dictating what precisely change should look like. Her prose is straightforward and welcoming, her tone that of a coach merged with a motivational speaker, making it clear that she’s rooting for her audience while still exuding the professionalism and gravitas of a high-powered executive. General self-help readers will enjoy Wong’s encouraging demeanor and her gentle prompting to live a life filled with purpose.
Takeaway: An encouraging guide that prompts readers to live a purpose-filled life rooted in deliberate decisions.
Great for fans of: Michael J. Losier’s Your Life’s Purpose, Manis Friedman and Rivka Goldstein’s Creating a Life that Matters.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

One of the guide’s strengths is its crispness: Kaufman and Hiland get to the point quickly, aligning readers with their goal of “framing the important questions and pointing you in helpful directions” while delivering motivation for their audience to take authority in creating a retirement that nourishes body, brain, heart, and soul. They offer reflective prompts throughout, instruments to probe individual readers’ needs, and specific counsel on the different stages of retirement as well as the importance of thinking through its timing, locale, leisure activities, and impact on relationships. The advice can be frank: “If you stay in your pajamas, you die,” one authority they quote declares. Still, Kaufman and Hiland acknowledge there is no perfect formula for those facing this phase of life–and they recommend viewing it as an “extraordinarily important journey” as opposed to a final destination.
Operating from the assumption that readers have already achieved financial stability affords the authors ample space to address many other measures of living well that can get overlooked in other guides. They offer plenty of external resources as well. Readers who are considering their own retirement transition or assisting someone else in preparing will benefit from this direct and highly useful guide.
Takeaway: A succinct guide on retirement planning that goes beyond finances to offer readers new perspectives on laying the groundwork.
Great for fans of: Fritz Gilbert’s Keys to a Successful Retirement, The Retirement Challenge: A Non-financial Guide From Top Retirement Experts.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
During their time on the Thresher, Hughes, DaVinci, and his cohorts—along with an unwitting McCoy—impact significant events of mid-century history, as Compton transforms what could sound like an outlandish storyline into a coherent, believable plot. Not only are the characters in the right place at the right time, but their motivations and beliefs give them credible reasons for the choices they end up making—including choices that will shake the world. Compton digs into the intricate and realistic details of his characters’ actions, and readers will be intrigued by the events after one historical shock, when an American martyr becomes their biggest experiment.
Compton’s skillfully weaves the era’s medical knowledge with hints of magic, and readers may find themselves reveling in–maybe even giving credence to–the story’s daring revision of the past, right up to the existence of a flower that can bring the dead back, or surgery that attaches a human head to another body. Fans of alternate histories touched with the uncanny will be entertained by Compton’s “what-ifs,” and may wonder how to tease reality from fiction in this action-packed affair.
Takeaway: Medicine and magic unite in this vivid alternate-history thriller that reshapes the 1960s.
Great for fans of: Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle, Jeff Greenfield’s Then Everything Changed.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: C