Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Absurd enough to laugh at and accurate enough to sting. Daniel J. Thorp is confident he is winning at being president, but America has lost patience with the overgrown man-child. The Apprentice’s Bankruptcy opens with a delusional Thorp hunkered in the bunker beneath the East Wing’s new ballroom. His ruthless lawyer, Rawl Cline, informs him
A bright, good‑natured adventure with a surprising amount of heart. Good help can be hard to find, especially if you’re a notorious supervillain recruiting new minions. Hence, the well-attended evil job fair in the Supreme Empire of Eternal Darkness. Here, minions of varying skill levels might find employment with villains of any rank. For Agent
Wonderfully whimsical and gently profound. Most people would say Jonah Hutchins lets his imagination run wild. Being described as a weird kid isn’t entirely inaccurate, but Jonah would argue that he is simply better at seeing the unseen. The spicy neighborhood harpy he knows by name? As real as a librarian with supersonic hearing. His
Told with rich insight into the human condition. Linda Griffin’s Reckless Disregard & Other Stories is a snappy collection of 15 short stories, each one proof that brevity doesn’t have to diminish emotional impact. The stories range from sad reckonings and loss to silly battles with weeds, but all grip audiences from their opening lines,
A mystery’s clever rhythm, a thriller’s propulsive momentum, and a stylish literary voice. The Petrarca name is basically synonymous with the northern Italian city of Parma, so when a Petrarca calls, you answer. Family patriarch Ettore, with his billionaire bank account and relentless pursuit of immortality, is known more for his financial prowess and family
Opinionated, brash, insensitive, crude, and quite possibly the kind of voice people need now more than ever. Question: Markx – Perspectives in Philosophy is a provocative collection of essays that touts curiosity over arrogance and inquiry over dogmatism. Without sanding down a single edge, Lawrence Q. Markx tackles 33 questions ranging from the “isms” that
At the tail end of a lackluster high school career, Calvin McShane is stumbling toward college with more questions than confidence. He’s a competent athlete, but rarely the star. He has friends, but often feels out of place. His family isn’t broken, but it’s far from the glossy picture of 90s domestic bliss. And his
A big-hearted tribute to small towns and enduring love. Breakups are seldom easy, but for Morgan, this one stings more than most. As if getting dumped by a man the world idolizes weren’t enough, Morgan is basically evicted from his fancy NYC apartment with zero fanfare, zero notice, and zero options but to head back
A heartfelt tribute to the craft of storytelling, the faces that inspire it, and the communities that nurture it. Weaving together flash fiction, memoir pieces, essays, and stories rooted in everyday encounters, The Long Red Hair and Other Short Stories by Nancy Martin is a fast-moving collection that peels back the curtain on ordinary events and
Warm, witty, and filled with magical charm. Sophie Spellman Brownlee, a grumpy faerie with shaky magic, is stunned to learn she has inherited her Aunt Dragonfly’s beloved bakery, the Rhyme ’N Riddle Bakeshop. Running it feels like the perfect opportunity to pursue her passion—until she discovers the infuriating clause in her aunt’s will. For a
A lovable underdog whose antics carry surprising depth. Billy 9F by David Finley spins a darkly hilarious dystopian tale where humor is forbidden and laughter itself becomes a dangerous act of rebellion. In a world dominated by schools that control every facet of life, fifteen-year-old Billy 9F is a menace: a natural class clown whose
A fresh, funny, and unexpectedly moving fable. The Extraordinary Life of Riz: A Praying Mantis’ Quest for a Happy Ending by Nida Farid, with illustrations by Sama Izhar, spins a witty and tender tale about defying fate and discovering the power of connection. Riz, a quick-witted young mantis with more attitude than patience, believes he
Fast-paced, sharply humorous prose skewers the hardboiled PI genre. The Vain Curse by Ryan Morgan Miller is an irreverent detective romp that blends mystery, comedy, and the downright bizarre. Private investigator Tracer Spence has been haunted for a year by Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” hearing it everywhere he goes. When he’s hired by a man suffering from the
A fierce, funny, and fearless novel. Penny might be withdrawn, but she is not oblivious. She arrives in Ann Arbor hoping for a typical college experience, but is unexpectedly drawn into the glittering orbit of a charismatic but deeply troubled sorority girl with cutting wit and a pharmacy’s worth of pills at her disposal. Stella
A delightful, multicultural celebration of community, kindness, and summer fun. At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak is a charming, whimsical picture book introducing young readers to Dallas Dingo, the ever-helpful “jack of all trades” at the Ragtag Hotel. On a steaming hot day, Dallas cheerfully operates the hotel’s elevator, ferrying an
A deeply relatable, never preachy guide that’s rich with real-life context. Mothers of Boys Survival Guide by Suzy Shaw is a non-fiction work that offers a heartwarming, candid, and delightfully humorous memoir-meets-manual on raising boys in the modern age. Everything here is taken from her real-life experiences raising two Gen Z sons, nicknamed “Earnest” and “Exuberance”.
An anthem for those navigating intimacy and mid-life change. In the 1800s, Abraham Lincoln famously reminded audiences, “And this, too, shall pass away.” It seems Lincoln’s speech wasn’t a memorable part of the Catholic school curriculum for Nika Stewart. Instead, she drags suffocating expectations into adulthood, including an ominous conjugal debt and the relentless chaos
A blunt of social commentary, tossed with tobacco, and rolled up with biting sarcasm. Today’s world isn’t ready for Danny McAllister. Then again, Danny McAllister isn’t ready for the world, either. What rubs people the wrong way isn’t his songwriting talent, his international name recognition, or his ability to charm any woman. No, it’s more
A satisfying blend of humorous interactions, human connections, historical comeuppance, and heartfelt moments. Vivienne Rose and Rex Redondo have built something special, an unlikely relationship that extends beyond neighborliness. Where independent Viv thrives in order, Rex lives for chaos. She would be content to live out her later years enjoying a healthy, predictable, and productive
A tantalizing treat and an epic escape. Glorious Aeron, a magnanimous soul and slayer of dragons! At least, that’s how he’ll be remembered if Slyvaine Abelan has anything to say about it. And for anyone who knows Syl, this loquacious elf has a lot to say about everyone and everything. In fact, the only thing
Humanity has been reduced to little more than atoms and impulses ricocheting through space and time with only carnal urges to guide them in I, No Other: Narrations & Exaltations by Yarrow Paisley. Readers will have to decide for themselves if this collection is more titillating or toxic, scintillating or sadistic, intelligent or immature, tightly
Kenny Loui is back for more plushy liberation in Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher: An Autobiographical Manga – Vol. 2. With advice that hints at cosmic plotline destiny, Gerry’s rebrands Gerry’s Game Zone as Games R Us. Dr. Gerry is quick to accept change, but not everyone moves forward with such ease. He offers
A delight to read and a sumptuous gala for the heart. Dad vs. The World (Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher: An Autobiographical Manga) is a witty and intriguing autobiographical manga and the latest offering by award-winning author, Kenny Loui. This graphic novel sheds light on the person who shaped much of Kenny’s formative years,
A hopeful, life-affirming novel that can impart the courage needed to tackle old age. Riding off into the sunset isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for Barry Swanson. Scoring an apartment at the exclusive Blue Loon Village might be a great opportunity for senior living, but it means giving up the home he shared
