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
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-
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-
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-
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-
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 Bells 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
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+
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
"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
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
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+
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
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+
Readers will fall headfirst into this frightening near-future vision of a country torn apart by extreme weather, corporate greed, and ecofascism; where activists fight clandestine battles, enigmatic Awakened wield Earth’s gifts to protect the planet, and the rich lord over a common caste scraping to get by. Bartles explores his rich world via crisp prose and a roster of nuanced characters alive with complexity and heart—and always capable of surprise. This attention to drifts of mind and the textures of everyday living brings the world to life, though at times it diminishes narrative momentum and can feel at odds with some superhero-coded action. Still, A Valley to Harness mostly maintains consistent balance and flow, and despite the excitement of supernatural powers and a fight for freedom, Bartles’s scenes pulse with humanity and strange, striking detail.
Bartles’s focus on a well-drawn, predominantly queer cast offers an honest, tender, and beautifully knotty forecast of possible futures for a community too often “othered” by society, and the simmering romance between Henry and Colson is a delightful reminder that even in the darkest era there’s room for love. Fans of genre-defying spec-fic with thought-provoking worldbuilding and deceptively complex characters will relish this.
Takeaway: Smart, humane novel of revolution and Earth-derived superpowers in a climate-ravaged future.
Comparable Titles: Graham Masterton’s Drought, Emmi Itäranta’s The Weaver.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Considering American history and the roots of division, Fragoules acknowledges the brutality of history, slavery, and the “wanton destruction and the massive death” that followed Columbus in the New World. The Founders, she argues, were imperfect, but the Constitution transcends that—nothing in it “limited the application of American ideals by race or sex.” She likewise surveys millennia of the Catholic Church’s harsh enforcement of its doctrines, linking the punishment of heretics to the cancellation or treatment of conservatives in the sciences today. She quotes at length, often hundreds of words at a time with little context or explication, from popes, presidents, historical thinkers, and contemporary firebrands like Dinesh D’Souza (approvingly) and Bill Maher (not so much).
The project is sprawling and deeply felt—Fragoules’s account of her family’s immigrant success story is rousing, and a passion for liberty shines throughout. But for all the history and first principles investigated here, many of Fragoules’s arguments feel like the product of their heated moment. Readers not already on board with her opinions about Trump, climate change, the science of conception, and more will likely find little to persuade them. Fragoules decries how leftist “elitists,” the “woke,” and a vague “they” demonize and presume the worst of the right, especially the 2008 Tea Party movement, even as she compares Democrats to Hitler and insists, “The left is not opposed to racism; they just think it’s justified when directed at the right people.”
Takeaway: Searching study of the founders’ beliefs mixed with red-meat outrage at the contemporary left.
Comparable Titles: Glenn Beck; Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B
The lives of Huff’s well-drawn but damaged characters quickly collapse into desperate actions. Isobel has three weeks to find Aeter before she’s forced into conversion therapy and an arranged marriage, and Fisherman—whose outer layer that enables them to shapeshift was removed by Isobel to ensure their compliance—is equally frenzied and enraged that their skin has been stolen. The story unfolds from Fisherman’s tortured perspective, delving into issues of control, sexual autonomy, and distorted views of cultural conformity, all against the background of a frantic race to find a god who can grant both freedom and destruction.
Huff (author of Free Burn) incorporates erotic sexual descriptions and subtle elements of retribution into the storyline, as Isobel is as much a shapeshifter as Fisherman in many ways, a prisoner of a culture forcing her to give up her identity. Still, her treatment of Fisherman—who assumes the form of a female human to please Isobel and keep her sexually satisfied—echoes her own subjugation at the hands of others. As the plot morphs into a weighty examination of humanity’s greed and brutal disregard for divergence of any kind, Huff’s characters undergo their own transformations, leaving readers with a profound reflection on what truly defines a monster.
Takeaway: Stirring tale of the depths of love in an unforgiving alien world.
Comparable Titles: C.L. Clark’s The Unbroken, Kameron Hurley’s The Worldbreaker Saga.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A