Blending tech-savvy science fiction with military action that soars, Holden (author of the Future War series, among others) launches this series-starter with the intergalactic adventures of Linus Vespasius, a former deep-sea fishing captain turned reluctant soldier. Facing life in prison for murder, Linus opts for service in the Red Army—as in, the army of Mars—enticed by the promise of freedom after completing his combat hours, a mere 99. But nothing is what it seems on Mars, with those hours exceedingly hard to accumulate, a brutal “Reducation process,” and the shocking revelation that the presumably alien enemy, the Lilin, with bodies “not made from elements known to humankind,” can pass themselves off as human. Demotions relegate Linus to the junior-most rank in Legion Praeda, or Legion of the Prey, infamous for its low survival rate. What follows this seeming death sentence is a surprise: the transformation of a self-interested man thrust into the harrowing Red War and a series of vividly drawn combat situations.

For all its action, described with both vigor and rigor, and its cool revelations about the enigmatic Lilin—a seemingly immortal species whose motives and methods defy comprehension—Red Legion at its heart explores human hubris, especially the lengths to which those in power will go to perpetuate their control. But it also offers hope, as Linus’s fight to survive reveals much about himself, the enemy, and a new future for humanity. The ground-level realities of this war, told through Linus’s journal entries, are deftly juxtaposed against the duplicitous “official history” of the conflict fed to Earth’s population to sustain public support.

Lovers of military SF will sign right up, though the military jargon might pose a challenge to some readers. Still, Holden’s meticulous world-building and well-honed action compellingly conjure the unforgiving realities (and imaginative possibilities) of future war, setting the stage for a sprawling, morally complex universe and more high-stakes, thought-provoking storytelling.

Takeaway: Gripping action-packed sci-fi thriller set around an intergalactic high-stakes war.

Comparable Titles: James S.A. Corey, Paul McAuley.

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

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NBA star John Vallely shares his belief in the Pyramid of Success, a motivational model given to him by UCLA coach John Wooden, during his early days playing college basketball. When Vallely first hears his coach’s inspiring words—“the only one who will ever know if you’ve achieved your personal best is you”—he’s perplexed but curious. But once he jumps headfirst into Wooden’s material, he’s sold; throughout the rest of his basketball career, into his marriage, parenting, and Christian faith, he returns to Wooden’s principles to navigate a life beset by hardship—his nine-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnosis, his own subsequent diagnosis later in life, legal battles, and more.

“A worthy opponent brings out the best in me,” Vallely writes, and this emotive book takes that wisdom to heart. As he faces challenges both on and off the court, Vallely remains faithful to the tenants of Wooden’s pyramid, ultimately realizing that it led him to God, and that the "search for competitive greatness would lead us to faith.” He breaks the pyramid’s principles down step-by-step for readers, alongside intimate glimpses into how they played out in his own life, always with an uplifting, encouraging tone regardless of the crises he confronts. "When you’re facing the severity of the termination of your life, every affirmation of your survival is invigorating,” he pens—sentiment that will stir in readers a renewed sense of purpose for their own lives.

Whether coming up against a seven-foot-tall basketball opponent or a major corporation like the Bank of America, Vallely highlights the importance of maintaining his faith and fighting for just outcomes. His writing is infused with a striking balance of vulnerability and courage, a winning combination that lays the foundation for valuable life lessons, and his inclusion of personal photographs gives the book a close, familiar feel. This moving debut story of endurance, faith, and resilience will inspire.

Takeaway: NBA star shares life lessons passed down from a college coach.

Comparable Titles: David Grunfeld's By the Grace of the Game, David Hollander's How Basketball Can Save the World.

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

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This spiritually charged debut collection provokes and illuminates humanity's ceaseless search for meaning with a fierce commitment to healing ancestral wounds. Through four elemental sections—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—Iyamu grounds her vision for social change, believing that transformation must germinate from within: "We are the portal / To the Earth and the land we walk on" [13]. Her reverence for nature—"God chose me to birth this tree!"—becomes a powerful allegory for movement, urging readers to "Take back your life!" and break free from a passive acceptance that leads to spiritual dormancy.

Iyamu’s verse adopts a rhythmic, trance-like cadence that at times obscures meaning but nevertheless amplifies the voices of those she seeks to champion: the marginalized, the oppressed, and even the voiceless flora and fauna whose fates remain mere collateral damage. Her poems, both a plea and a protest, demand equality in a world "first built so only the privileged could rise." Freedom, or the lack thereof, underpins much of Iyamu's work. In painful, contemplative lines—“What does it give to be at peace? / Your house, your home, your walls, your fears”—she gently exposes the irony of maintaining "peace" through walls and weapons that divide rather than unite. Her regard for God as "God," "Allah," or "Jah" subtly critiques the senseless competition between cultures and nations for supremacy.

For all its occasional ambiguities, *Poetry in Eden* confronts, with passion and empathy, the destructive energy humans impose on the world: "But the very root / I cannot compute / What we have done to / The lands we say we love." This same energy, Iyamu suggests, shatters identity and a sense of belonging. At its core, this collection aims to dismantle self-constructed walls, urging readers to rediscover their roots, reclaim their faith, and let the "voices of a shared plight...of a shared right to live" finally be upheld.

Takeaway: Tender, empowering poetry of identity, peace, and collective healing

Comparable Titles: Joy Harjo’s An American Sunrise, Kwame Alexander’s Light for the World to See.

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

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In this urgent, ultimately healing memoir of resilience, the tragic passing of author Lariviere-Traub's beloved husband, Daniel, triggers repressed memories from her harrowing childhood in the Canadian foster care system, “echoing the abandonment and the feeling of not belonging.” The Silent Echo of My Childhood explores her experience entering the system after a series of tragedies: her mother’s institutionalization with a rare bone disease and her father’s abandonment. Lariviere-Traub's time under government guardianship becomes like a prison sentence as she floats from home to home and eventually different institutions "every two to three weeks,” enduring heartbreak, betrayals, and abuse from those meant to care for and protect her. From 14 to 16, she writes, her life was “whittled down to a series of locked doors and hushed whispers.” Eventually, inevitably, she became a runaway.

Through emotive prose, Lariviere-Traub tells and examines her story, drawing links between experiences in a full-circle narrative. She reflects warmly on the love she shared with Daniel while taking stock of the traumas of her childhood and her first marriage to a man who became physically abusive after the birth of their daughter, Melanie. She writes with welcome frankness about the “belief that my love could change him,” a conviction she now recognizes as rooted in the “power of an abusive man” skilled at “creeping into your mind, making you believe … that you deserve the pain.” Eventually, she managed again to run away.

The result is an impactful story of resilience and growth, forgiveness and love, and finding the strength—and, in women’s shelters and other crucial sources, the support—to break cycles of abuse. Reminding readers that "healing is not a destination, but a journey,” The Silent Echo of My Childhood finds “glimmers of hope and new beginnings” in new connections, the act of writing, and, above all, in the strength of the human spirit and the healing power of love.

Takeaway: Poignant memoir of love, grief, foster care, and ending cycles of abuse..

Comparable Titles: Kathleen Glasgow's Girl in Pieces, Beverly Engel's Raising Myself.

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

Click here for more about The Silent Echo of My Childhood

Scriptwriter Nar builds a complicated epic adventure of self-discovery about a sick young woman who finds salvation and purpose in a troubled future. Afflicted with premature aging, marked by wrinkled skin and failing organs, sixteen-year-old April has just months to live when Lord Kolbein from the North messages her phone, claiming he can help her. He tells her that a cure for her illness can be found on an iceberg—but he requires her aid in return. She accompanies him on the long trek, where he reveals his noble lineage of warriors from eleven regional territories that participate in symbolic fights intended to prevent war. These fights are initiated by the bearer of each lineage’s insignia, called the insignia’er, a woman with great authority. Kolbein reveals that April is a descendant of an insignia’er and a candidate to become one herself.

This fast-paced tale takes April through encounters with deadly animals, tense border crossings, a literal harbinger of death, and, above all else, a secretive, high-stakes world of politics and traditions, power and gamesmanship. Here, she must master the formalities of the insignia’er and contend with the jealousies of a princess commanding 200 archers. Much of this is energetic and inventive, especially April’s recovery from early aging. However, the pacing is uneven, diminishing the excitement of classic training sequences, while the convoluted rules surrounding insignia fighting slow down momentum and detract from the development of a promising relationship.

April is an engaging protagonist, embodying perseverance and honor, and wittily quizzing Kolbein on why he can’t live a normal life. She remains relatable even as she experiences the fantasy of finding a handsome savior who sees value in her despite her ostracization. Her story would shine brighter, though, with another round of polish. The text is often repetitive, told in blunt sentences that often feel wordy despite their brevity. Fundamentals such as the presentation and punctuation of dialogue occasionally falter, getting lost as the story gushes forward.

Takeaway: Teenage hero fulfills her destiny as an overseer of war games.

Comparable Titles: Charlie N. Holmberg’s The Paper Magician, Jeff Wheeler’s The Queen’s Poisoner.

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

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Thalasinos (author of Fly by Night) explores touching and enlightening aspects of the bond between humans and animals with twinned stories of two women, separated by centuries and a continent, maneuvering through lives shaped by their love and commitment to horses. It’s through this passion that Evie, a young single mother whom we first meet near Flagstaff in the 1970s, and Belle MacLeod, the daughter of a wealthy Scottish landowner in 1700s Nova Scotia, face and survive the challenges of their eras. Each discovers, in her own time, what truly matters, as they relish “the scent of animal fur, and the feel of … mane under her hands” and perform edifying work like getting “yearlings ready to encounter the everyday things of life.” Complicating matters, though, are the men in their lives.

Horse lovers who admire stories of independent women will be moved by Evie’s immediate, intuitive bond with a wild mustang that turns up out of the blue—a charming scene that warms the heart and changes the course of Evie’s life. Almost 200 years earlier, Belle, the youngest daughter of “Mr. Mac,” also finds in her love of horses the courage to embark on her own journey toward what she believes will be a new life of freedom. Would that life were so easy, as both women face societies eager to dictate how they should live. A lyrical early description of wild Arizona horses seizes the heart and connects to both protagonists: “Freedom was her fuel, propelling her tirelessly until she reached the tall green mesas that marked the start of the high desert.”

The split narrative and fleetly lyrical prose inspire contemplation of perennial needs like safety, compassion, and connection. As the narrative crosses centuries, Thalasinos occasionally leaps ahead over courtships and other human developments without significant dramatization. Instead, the focus remains on the hearts of Evie, Belle, and their horses—and the many subtle and surprising ways these women are linked.

Takeaway: Vital, nourishing story of two women, centuries apart, finding freedom in horses.

Comparable Titles: Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races, Elizabeth Letts’s The Ride of Her Life.

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

Click here for more about The Loneliness of Horses

This sweeping love story by Martin (Tangled Violets) spans decades in its examination of family, first love, and mental illness. Jamie Murphy has seen his share of heartbreak and crushing family deaths, but that doesn’t stop him from the whimsy of love at first sight when he meets Katie Houlihan. After a whirlwind courtship, the two are married and comfortably settled in the Murphy household with Jamie’s mother and siblings—a home infused with warm affection and Christian values. But when Katie starts to exhibit signs of a mental breakdown after the birth of her second daughter, Jamie’s idyllic world comes crashing down.

Martin perceptively catches life’s tragic ups and downs in this layered saga, as the Murphys’ fight for a life-changing miracle takes center stage against a historically memorable backdrop. From the end of World War I through the Great Depression in New York and a later move to California, Jamie and Katie compel in their battle to overcome devastating odds and restore Katie to her former self. When Katie’s illness leads to a hospitalization at the Harlem Valley State Hospital to be treated for dementia praecox—commonly known as schizophrenia—the couple face the unjust treatment of those diagnosed with mental illness, along with the bureaucracy and power struggles that plague hospital corruption. Soon, they must confront a lifetime of institutionalization for Katie—and what that means for her loving, grieving family.

Katie is a well-crafted, tragic figure in Martin’s writing, but Jamie also emerges as an evocative portrayal of a loving husband and father who works hard to raise his daughters while balancing his abiding love for a wife who is essentially lost to him in all ways—but still very much alive. Martin keeps the pace humming with heart-breaking plot twists and resonant emotional moments, transforming the narrative into a powerful rendering of the “true meaning of love.”

Takeaway: Moving narrative of love, mental illness, and unbreakable hope.

Comparable Titles: Millen Brand's The Outward Room, Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Take My Hand.

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

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This suspenseful standalone mystery centers on pastry chef Laura Harris, who reluctantly leaves her family’s California restaurant to support her parents in Texas. When Laura’s mother dies from cancer not long after the move, Laura is left reeling—and seeks comfort from her long-time mentor, the wealthy Hattie Stenburg, who resides in a sprawling estate and now defunct vineyard in her family’s namesake Texas town. Laura and Hattie quickly catch up after years of only writing letters to each other, but when Laura, who suspects something’s off about Hattie’s caregiver, Nicole, doubles back after their visit to check on Hattie, she’s shocked to find her dead.

From this initial puzzle, Bells builds layers of intrigue that steadily deepen, as Laura encounters eccentric and vindictive townsfolk, police who seem reluctant to investigate Hattie’s death as a murder, and shocking personal news: Laura has been named as Hattie’s sole heir, propelling her to the top of the suspect list. To clear her name, she sleuths her way among the town’s mysterious figures, including her ex-boyfriend Lucas, Hattie’s disappearing groundskeeper Jordan Woods, and neighbors who seek Hattie’s inheritance for themselves. The mystery’s small-town aura—where secrets separate and invisible lines are drawn—adds suspense, and Bell throws in a dash of romance to spice the mix, in the form of Hattie’s handsome attorney, Brent Hill, whose heart is as warm as his flashy yellow Maserati. Also endearing is the resident irascible corgi, Moon Pie, who functions as both protector and comforter for Laura.

Bell (author of the Annalisse series) capably builds tension with Laura’s back and forth decision-making, where intentions collide and suspicion mounts amid themes of jealousy, revenge, and shifting loyalties. Mystery fans will find the narrative’s dark twists and intricate relationships especially satisfying, particularly when paired with the sinister secrets hiding in plain sight.

Takeaway: Sole heir to a murdered woman’s estate transforms into sleuth to clear her name.

Comparable Titles: Madison Score’s Say Yes to the Death, Steve Higgs’s Pork Pie Pandemonium.

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

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Making the case that “the love of the different will make the world reborn,” Tapu (author of Psychology: Everybody’s Science) shares his philosophy of life in a series of loosely connected aphorisms and reflections. His philosophy is broad, wide enough to “harmonize belief and unbelief” and remind readers that “differences of opinion can only enrich knowledge” without coming to a muddled compromise. One of Tapu’s major concerns is death and how to deal with the concept of an end to life. He argues that the proper way to approach this is to fully appreciate the illusion of time when one is experiencing life, and thus death is an end that does not erase what came before. His thinking blends big ideas with practical implications as he considers topics ranging from abortion (from a human-rights perspective) to the coming “obsolescence” of privacy. He shares advice, predictions (“Age and gender differences in human values … will be narrowed by sharing values”), and poetry in a complex web.

Tapu emphasizes the difficulty of truly knowing anything—all his teachings are rooted in belief, as, he argues, are all ways in which people operate in the world. While he encourages openness to diverse opinions, that overarching conviction may leave readers uncertain about how deeply to engage with Tapu’s individual arguments, as they are ultimately a matter of faith. Although Tapu includes some references to external sources, the work would benefit from deeper engagement with other spiritual literature and a reference list for readers who wish to explore further.

Teachings on Being could also benefit from clearer structure to organize its wide-ranging advice. Tapu is an enigma within the text, laying out his ethics and philosophy but revealing little of himself as a person. Still, these fresh, humane, open-minded reflections are worth consideration. A dedicated reader exploring big questions of life and death will find much here to contemplate.

Takeaway: Original thinking on big questions of life, death, and the future.

Comparable Titles: J.M.E. McTaggart’s The Unreality of Time, James Tarpey’s The Meaning of Life.

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

Click here for more about Teachings on Being

In the first of the Rock 'n' Romance Legends series from Merrill (author of Hurricane Reese, among others), Boone Collins and Shane Butler, both frontmen for some of today’s most popular rock bands, confront their past as they discover each other. Grandsons of the rock legends who founded one of the biggest bands of the 1970s, California, they each seem to have it all—good looks, incredible talent, adoring fans, an upward trajectory pointing to even greater fame, and a contentious relationship that the press just loves. At California’s Hall of Fame induction, these fractious not-quite-brothers are jolted by a surprise romance between Shane’s grandfather and Boone’s grandmother. As sparks fly, circumstances force Boone and Shane to spend time together, and they discover that perhaps they’re not rivals after all… and that maybe there’s something more if they let their guards down.

Merrill conjures a sweet romance with lots of heart, some spice, and a convincing portrayal of contemporary rock stardom as a demanding job rather than a hedonistic holiday, all while exploring the leads’ lives as musicians, friends, caretakers, and lovers. Boone is publicly beloved yet feels that his grandmother, an Oscar-winning actress, is the only person who truly cares for him. Boone also harbors secrets and doubts, feeling a little lost as he faces a health crisis.

Merrill proves adept at laying bare the wounded souls of creative men in the entertainment world as the story touches on touring, producing, the interpersonal dynamics of being in a band, and the persistent problem of imposter syndrome. The romance between Boone and Shane develops quickly, but not so quickly that the pieces don’t fit together. The chaos and conflict around them is engaging, though it never overshadows these men’s touching exploration of new feelings. Lovers of smart, media-savvy m/m romances will cheer.

Takeaway: Sweet romance of two male rock rivals’ unexpected connection.

Comparable Titles: Tammy Subia’s Heartbreak Honey, Christie Gordon’s On a Different Mission.

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

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Perone (author of Danger Peak) collects six prankish, horrific stories/provocations that feature TV, ghosts, and characters pushed past their breaking points in a world gone mad. Mostly written when he was in high school in the 1990s, when that world was only heading toward madness, the stories have the over-the-top energy of adolescence, as things quickly get extreme for the protagonists. A smirking satiric impulse powers some entries, reflecting the perspective of a young person (rightly) outraged about the way things are going. That's certainly true for the title story, in which small-town teen Teddy is jolted by the TV obsession all around him. (His mother demands he kiss the screen.) Teddy's doom is telegraphed from the start, but the glee that Perone takes—imagining townsfolk with screens strapped to their heads, his mother's self-mutilation, and more—sets it apart.

"How To Save A Drowning Butterfly" centers on a young man of apparently reduced mental capacity who endures constant abuse. Through a series of pointedly extreme coincidences and bad decisions, he's framed for murder, sent to prison, and abused, with Perone playing his misfortune largely for laughs, like some sort of grotesque comedy of errors. The inventive "Paper Language" finds a writer inspired by a cursed ream of paper, while in "Investigating the Future's End,” the most complex story in the collection, a future cop/reporter realizes that an apocalyptic cult is haunting him with his past cruelties and causing increasingly widespread damage. The identity of the cult's messianic leader is a grisly surprise.

As readers might expect of a smart, media-saturated young writer from an era that prized extremity of expression, the collection at times has a vicious edge, indulging in adolescent power fantasy and exploring revenge, cruelty, and misery. But the closing story, perhaps inevitably titled "School Spirit," surprises with a small note of hope—even redemption—in an otherwise bleak and snarky collection of horror stories that revel in Doom Generation nihilism.

Takeaway: Grisly, satiric 1990s horror stories of young men in a world going mad.

Comparable Titles: Rebecca Rowland’s Generation X-Ed, Adiran Ludens’s The Tension of a Coming Storm.

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

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Schneer launches this well-balanced guide to making sense of qualitative research with a chilling narrative of his own severe spinal injury—suffered on Christmas Eve in 2015—that led to years of pain, surgeries, and tentative recovery. The “grit” he develops through that process serves as a metaphor not just for his personal resilience, but his professional resolve as well, with his “spirit to drive qualitative research to its zenith” forming Backbone’s structure. That passion for qualitative market analysis—born out of Schneer’s sharp interpersonal observation skills and early work in theology, where he learned to “synthesize” abstract topics—propels his development of seven principal qualitative research traits, outlined here in easy-to-grasp, clearly-defined terms.

Often viewed as the polar opposite of data-driven quantitative research, qualitative analysis is, Schneer argues, just as crucial to the business world, particularly in its recognition of the nonverbal intelligence and emotions that power decisions. He dedicates much space to his seven different qualitative researcher characteristics—curiosity, on preparedness, extroversion, synthesizing complexity, listening with your eyes, grit, on being venturous—and sprinkles in discerning snippets, such as curiosity being the spark that fuels qualitative research, or the need to be a “people person” for a successful research career, while drawing on personal and professional examples for further clarity.

Schneer tackles the role of Artificial Intelligence in qualitative research as well, deviating from similar resources to expound on how AI can “help identify changes in emotion based on stimuli”; research accuracy, he asserts, can be improved by “combining qualitative research with body language and backed up by Artificial Intelligence.” Schneer’s friendly tone infuses this quest to enhance personal communication with warmth, something sorely needed in an age of nonpersonal, machine-driven interaction, and he motivates readers to leave their professional field better than they found it, writing that “there is no giving up, only getting up.”

Takeaway: Inviting, easy-to-grasp study on qualitative research, with contemporary insights.

Comparable Titles: Annette Lareau’s Listening to People, John W. Creswell and Johanna Creswell Báez’s 30 Essential Skills for the Qualitative Researcher.

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

Click here for more about BACKBONE

O’Donovan (author of Making Organizational Change Stick) pens a real-life horror movie with this chilling memoir of mistaken identity. When Border Force officer Dave Callaway uncovers contraband cigarettes shipped to his cargo terminal at London’s Heathrow Airport, the address listed as their destination matches O’Donovan’s rented house, though she has no ties to Callaway’s discovery. That seemingly small mistake launches O’Donovan into a devastating cat-and-mouse, as His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) promptly names her as a tax defaulter smuggling illegal goods into the country, embroiling her in a nightmare of debt and criminal charges that threaten to be her undoing.

O'Donovan’s penetrating first-person point of view reflects on her harrowing journey to clear her name—and the mistaken debt—in suspenseful tones as the HMRC intensifies its pursuit, and readers will experience mounting irritation and escalating fear right alongside her. What starts as a possible scam quickly swells to an all-out fight for survival, and O’Donovan candidly lays out the emotions that accompany that battle, sharing the hate mail she received after HMRC named her "a criminal and massive tax defaulter," the dead ends she hit when trying to get to the bottom of the claims, and her demoralizing treatment as “guilty until proven innocent.” Her experiences drive her resolve to uphold “our human right to be presumed innocent… [and] fix the foundations of our democracy and protect our way of life.”

That crusade to fully protect innocence in a system that sometimes falls short propels the memoir, as O’Donovan peels back layers of a shocking nightmare that has the potential to happen to anyone. Her uphill battle to gain justice makes for a riveting tale, one she recounts with grace and a relatable, living narrative. She closes with an analysis of “the cost of HMRC getting it wrong” and a taste of the legal documentation she navigated throughout the process.

Takeaway: Chilling story of one woman’s battle against mistaken identity.

Comparable Titles: Anthony Ray Hinton's The Sun Does Shine, Yusef Salaam's Better, Not Bitter.

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

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A chance remark from a grandmother sparks an enchanting story-within-a-story one morning as she helps young Lisbeth detangle her hair. “The ladybugs must have thrown a grand gala in your hair last night,” the grandmother says. When Lisbeth asks, “What ladybugs?” her grandmother happily improvises, telling Lisbeth a funny, lively tale of an insect party on Lisbeth’s head, complete with refreshments, music, and dancing. (One ladybug uses his six legs to play the cello, guitar, and violin.) Young Lisbeth deduces that the tangles in her hair must be leftover party streamers, prompting her to ask, “Grandma, why didn’t the ladybugs clean up after themselves?” As readers imagine a ladybug frolic and get lost in hair that playfully stretches across page spreads, Lisbeth’s grandmother enjoys the opportunity to make a point about being a good helper and cleaning up even the messes one didn’t create.

Shadrick’s amusingly alliterative storytelling surveys the planning, the fiesta itself, and the messy-haired aftermath, as ladybugs Lana, Lola, and Laney come up with the idea to throw a party to distract themselves from the scary weather. They enlist the help of their friends—including artistic types like Lorelai, who has an eye for fashion and whips up creative costumes—but don’t think ahead to the most important part: that having fun also comes with some responsibilities.

Vibrant paintings from Maya Penzlik bring rich, unruly life to this charming tale of a grandmother and granddaughter bonding while performing a tedious task. Buoyant detail and a sense of warmth distinguish both of the book’s realities: the everyday family relationship with its PJs and smiles, and the gorgeous imaginative world of the ladybugs, who dance, sew, and show off fancy-funny costumes against a backdrop of sun-kissed flowers. These are pages to soak up and get lost in. This adorable children's story will delight elementary-aged kids but also parents and teachers.

Takeaway: Charming children's story of hair-tangling lady bugs and one glorious party.

Comparable Titles: Audrey Wood's Silly Sally, Ed Heck's Many Marvelous Monsters.

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

Click here for more about Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs

Blending the gothic and the romantic with a light touch, Page’s debut kicks off a duology centered on Estelle, a young woman in the kingdom of Eventide whose indentured service to a meat-pie seller is abruptly ended when she catches the eye of Dirk, a blind wizard who shuns daylight, grants wishes for a living, and clearly harbors dark secrets. Uncertain whether she’s a guest, servant, or captive, Estelle is brought to swank Nightingale Manor, where the staff proves welcoming—"Well, my dear, the best cure for a worried mind is a caring ear,” declares the lovable Berry. Readers won’t be too surprised to learn that beneath his (literally) frigid exterior, Dirk is both hurting and capable of love … or that in Estelle’s starlit aura, he sees something rare: hope.

While the novel is episodic and hefty in length, Page establishes all of this with brisk, chipper aplomb, quickly getting to the heart of the matter—the curse that Dirk has been suffering under ever since dabbling in necromancy to restore life to his beloved sister. Estelle quickly begins to find her place in the labyrinthine manor, studying herbs with the gardener and soon developing skills in magic, guided by Dirk himself. Unlike many romantasies that luxuriate in dark held-captive scenarios, Page eschews provocations as the leads lower their walls and discover each other. This choice, plus a disinterest in graphic spiciness, diminishes the tension somewhat but will please readers who prefer their fairy-tale fantasies upbeat and healthy.

The broader plot involves the machinations of wizards beneath the town of Bulbrook, plus Estelle and Dirk’s efforts to remove his curse and unlock the mysteries of Estelle’s soul. Characterization is lively and consistent, with antagonist wizard Fiorenza a particular delight. While the pacing flags somewhat in a second half involving Dirk’s alma mater and a wizards’ council, Estelle’s development into a confident woman, wielding magic and innovating new healing techniques, is a pleasure to witness.

Takeaway: Warmly romantic fantasy debut of a servant bought by a mysterious cursed wizard.

Comparable Titles: Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us, Lauren Blackwood’s Within These Wicked Walls.

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

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Ritter offers a practical and insightful roadmap to help readers conquer fears and move toward self-mastery. This self-help guide is thoughtfully organized into two main sections—Personal and Professional—each packed with actionable strategies for improving both life and career. Ritter opens with the essential idea that fear is not a fixed reality but instead a perception shaped by our thoughts and beliefs. He encourages readers to confront their fears head-on by stepping into uncertainty. Strategies like “conquer your fears” and “feel your feelings” urge readers to reframe their mindsets—to “shift from victim to creator”—and fully embrace their emotions, rather than avoid them.

The text is simple and sharp, with an emphasis on practical tips and results. Themes introduced through introspective questioning allow readers to initiate a dialogue from within. Ritter adopts a warmly didactic tone, evoking the feeling of a personal guru instructing you through every step. In the Personal section, Ritter delves into cultivating a positive mindset, nurturing relationships, and finding purpose. He advises readers to “[c]reate a life that helps you feel good,” suggesting the importance of removing negativity and focusing on uplifting experiences. Ritter also stresses self-belief and encourages readers to share successes openly as a way to build confidence and foster recognition.

The Professional section tackles job satisfaction, leadership, and career advancement. Ritter’s recommendation to “control your job satisfaction” by creating a meaningful work environment and “increase your visibility” through strategic networking is especially useful for career progression. He also emphasizes building trust and respect within the workplace, underscoring the value of a collaborative and supportive environment. Becoming Fearless is an empowering and accessible guide, providing readers with tangible steps to reshape their approach to fear and actively pursue personal and professional growth. Ritter’s direct, clear style and the book’s actionable strategies make it an invaluable tool for anyone on the path to self-improvement.

Takeaway: Empowering guide to facing fear and uncertainty to build confidence.

Comparable Titles: Brianna Wiest’s The Mountain Is You, Ethan Kross’s Chatter.

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

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