Hoping to illuminate the pathway to enrichment for business savvy readers, Brown dives into his experience in the corporate field, alongside the personal events that shaped him into a person “who, once I decided what I wanted to do, relentlessly pursued the goal.” He starts in childhood, with a brief overview of his formative years, before wading into deeper waters—including his Air Force service as a medic, years as a Taco Bell franchise owner, and later transformation from scuba diving enthusiast to an international luxury travel executive. Swirling among those rich life experiences are pockets of blunt but practical advice on achieving success, “disrupt[ing] as a positive force,” and more.

Brown tends to jettison business norms in a surprising detour from similar titles that lends this debut a lively, dynamic feel. In a section baldly titled “Bullshit,” he cautions readers that “there’s a lot of it out there and it’s important that you detect it before you step in it,” urging the need for trust to shore up relationships and solid lie-detecting skills for business leaders. That candid, no-holds-barred attitude permeates Brown’s writing, sometimes leading to advice that may jolt contemporary readers, such as his belief that “having an HR department is the biggest waste of money a company can spend.” His reasoning—that HR can slow the process of letting under-performers go—makes sense, though his stark advice for handling workplace complaints and personnel problems somewhat limits the guide’s potential audience.

Punchy chapter titles, combined with Brown’s down-to-earth logic behind either embracing business standards or bucking them, make this an entertaining read, placing the responsibility for redefining success squarely on readers’ shoulders: “What matters is that you come up with your own definition of success,” he writes, “and then live up to it.” He closes with a reminder that fact-based decision making—along with old-fashioned hard work—is the key to true achievement.

Takeaway: No-holds-barred advice for getting ahead in the world.

Comparable Titles: Laura Fredricks’s Hard Asks Made Easy, Dave Wong’s Magnetic Millionaire.

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

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There’s no rest for the successful, argues tech innovator Hanna, with Christy Petrosso, in this comprehensive debut. The guide is organized around lessons and analogies drawn from popular media, sports, and philosophy, as Hanna posits that businesses must “pivot” to their next major move rather than focusing solely on product-market fit (a notion he labels as outdated and illusionary). To that end, he details his proprietary model, the Pivoting Life Operating Model (PLOM)—a method that draws from several different frameworks and metrics while viewing “business growth as an ongoing journey,” as opposed to rigid milestones.

Pivoting as a Way of Life is easily digestible, even for those in the startup phase. Hanna uses clever metaphors to explain each facet of his PLOM model, such as the “Master and Commander” chapter that sees readers envisioning product strategy and development as akin to sailing, using lay lines and tacking to reach a predetermined destination, much like staying within set boundaries during product development can cut unnecessary inertia and costs. Similarly, Hanna uses the example of television series Schitt’s Creek to illustrate basic steps of pivoting that can, and should, be implemented in business practices, drawing parallels between the Schitt’s Creek storyline—a family forced to adapt to shocking economic problems—and the need for businesses to “adapt to their new circumstances and ultimately find ways to thrive.” Through such vivid examples, Hanna reminds readers that successful professionals start to change direction before they get off course.

Hanna packs his guide with useful and well-designed visual aids, tying up chapters with reflection and summary points to drive home his themes. Though some of the math theory behind his metrics—and the slew of acronyms driving his advice—require careful attention, readers will find Pivoting as a Way of Life an actionable, common-sense approach for real-life business practice.

Takeaway: Engaging paradigm on the need to be adaptable in business.

Comparable Titles: Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, John Doerr’s Measure What Matters.

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

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In this slim volume, writing coach Janzer (author of The Writer’s Voice) aims to mindfully match readers to non-fiction works. “Nonfiction doesn’t get enough respect,” she writes, asserting that “we idolize storytellers, but take for granted those people who can make dull topics come to life, or who write books that change the way we think.” Janzer classifies her work as a field guide, and she covers a host of topics—from the skill of crafting sensory-driven details to how quality writing builds trust with audiences—to help readers recognize and assign meaning to foundational writing elements.

Janzer’s guide stands out with smart examples of writing devices that readers might not consciously notice but ultimately expect, such as illustrative metaphors, purposeful repetition to drive home concepts, and thought experiments (as a sample, she replays the classic philosophy trolley problem that presents a choice between killing one person or five). Urging readers to explore what appeals to them in writing, Janzer sifts clickbait from genuinely snappy headlines and addresses how the internet has changed reading styles, resulting in more skimming due to the sheer amount of available content, which can make it difficult to emotionally connect with books.

Especially valuable are the down-to-earth homework assignments encased in Janzer’s “field notes”—end-of-chapter sections that bring her advice to life. In them, she examines how interest is piqued by catchy book titles, offers outlines to recognize various story elements in nonfiction reading, and teaches readers to detect abstract writing that can diminish their reading experience. Janzer also tosses out an intriguing challenge for die-hard literature fans: list the top 5 nonfiction books that would “make the cut” if your home had only one bookshelf. The level of detail Janzer provides is noteworthy, and those seeking to “sharpen [their] reading lens” will find it worthwhile.

Takeaway: Thoughtful study of nonfiction writing that will engage hardcore readers.

Comparable Titles: Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones.

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

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A young teenage girl finds herself a step closer to growing up and finding herself in this must-read middle grade debut. Vicki and her younger siblings Dylan and Judith have to start over once again when her burnout mom loses another job and apartment, moving them back to their grandmother’s apartment on Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. Vicki has few things she can hold onto in her unstable young life, which makes her dream of finding her absent father all the more important to her. In the meantime, she again begins the slow process of establishing tentative roots, trying to make friends and build a life, this time with chores and structure from her grandmother. As those new responsibilities help her feel grown up and useful, she soon becomes close with Rosa, the daughter of the building’s superintendent—her heart does “a little flip” when Rosa refers to her as a “friend”—and also James, the neighborhood bad boy.

With their help, Vicki decides to try to uncover the secrets that may lead her to her father. The children’s search takes them on a small adventure that brings Vicki, for the first time, into Manhattan, a trip that Lally captures with striking detail and buoyant energy. Along the way, amid much funny and believable chatter, the new friends learn what really matters: to rely on each other, that sometimes the truth hurts, and that it’s okay to count on others to do the things we can’t do for ourselves.

Vicki is a convincing and relatable heroine, one who makes mistakes and sees the world through a sometimes hurt, vulnerable lens. Her mother is an imperfect woman who tries her best even though she frequently falls short, and the supporting cast is complex, lively, and endearing. This is a moving, empathetic read that will resonate with young readers who have ever felt alone, misunderstood, or that if one thing were somehow different the world might finally make sense.

Takeaway: Moving, empathetic must-read of growing up and discovering what matters.

Comparable Titles: Nina LaCour’s We Are Okay, Jeff Zentner’s The Serpent King.

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

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The fun second entry in Gillmann’s Guinness the Good Girl series sees lovable Dalmatian Guinness headed to Tune Town School with her owner, Dottie. Only top students are allowed to take part in Doggie Day at school, and Dottie just happens to be the sole top student who owns a dog—making Guinness just about as lucky as can be. Her day in class starts out a little rough when she races in and runs smack into the teacher’s presentation board, but before long Guinness is winning hearts and making the best of friends.

Young pet lovers will relish Guinness’s chance to experience school just like a human, and Penny Weber’s entertaining illustrations showcase her doing just that: from raising her paw in class to donning a swim cap for water ballet in the pool, Guinness’s facial expressions and lively actions perfectly mimic a dog’s personality. Her antics throughout the day are larger-than-life, but Dottie takes it all in stride, allowing Guinness the chance to stay true to her Dalmatian self while the pair revel in their school playtime together. When Chilean exchange student Maximo informs Dottie he’s here to “wrestle as many Americans as I can,” Guinness promptly accepts the challenge, pinning a laughing Maximo to the ground. Later, school football star Coltrane gets his own help from Guinness to score a touchdown during the evening’s game.

Such amusing action abounds, keeping Guinness—and readers—primed for the next adventure. Guinness’s overeager, playful temperament may get her into trouble from time to time (especially when she tries to join Dottie’s friend’s cheerleading squad on the field), but she somehow always ends up on top, even in the most dire of situations. As Guinness learns, “the show [must] go on,” and there’s no better way to spend the day than rollicking with your furry best friend.

Takeaway: High-spirited Dalmatian upends her owner’s school during Doggie Day.

Comparable Titles: Nina Laden’s The Night I Followed the Dog, Maia Haag’s If My Dog Baxter Could Talk!.

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

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In this penetrating debut, Taylor breaks down the ongoing competition between the People’s Republic of China and the United States, one she describes as “capitalism and democracy against state capitalism and digitally managed authoritarianism”—a seemingly endless tangle of cultural, political, and military dynamics. Starting with an in-depth study on Chinese history, she digs into its formation as a Communist country and return to a strongman leadership model, with the ultimate goal of being “number one in the world,” while examining the “Chinese Dream” of a return to nationalism—and what that means for American companies doing business with China.

Taylor’s China is built on the rule of Xi Jinping, forged against the tapestry of a “cult of personality” that works to ensure international dominance while avoiding foreign exploitation. Western companies walk a tightrope, according to Taylor, in part due to China’s opaque business practices, “national collective will,” and centrally controlled economy. To illustrate the challenges that can surface from those circumstances, Taylor includes several case studies, notably a particularly thorny situation concerning the National Basketball Association, which had great success in China and earned hundreds of millions in annual revenue from their market, only to suffer when NBA personnel began speaking out amid 2019’s Hong Kong protests.

Occasional tangents distract from Taylor’s main themes, but, overall, this is a comprehensive account of what external and internal forces helped shape China into the country it is today—and how it plans to become a paramount economic and military superpower. Taylor sharply examines that future vision—one that is “reliant on self-sufficiency and pride of country”—and teases apart the generational differences within China that impact the country’s economy, social stability, and international commerce. “The US and China have reached a tipping point,” she writes, one that will determine which country will be “the leader of the twenty-first century.”

Takeaway: Penetrating scrutiny of the forces driving competition between the U.S. and China.

Comparable Titles: Michael Pillsbury’s The Hundred-Year Marathon, Paolo Urio’s America and the China Threat.

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

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Ferdosy’s thoughtful and expansive debut thriller sets a traumatized young Iranian woman on a quest for justice against the powerful men who wronged her. Neda Ghaderi, the headstrong daughter of a wealthy business magnate, finds her whole life destroyed when her parents are killed and her fiance executed for the act. But, Neda knows the truth. Using friend and foe alike, she scales the rungs of corruption, from glassy-towered Dubai to her hometown of Tehran, all while contending with the traumas of her past and a system perhaps more broken than she is.

There’s an immediacy to Thirteen as the jolts strike fast and effectively, dropping the reader into Neda’s world at a run. It is in these earliest moments, as layers are peeled back organically, that the book shines most as a thriller, as an undercover Neda, in charged narration, declares her intention to “complete my mission before I have to share a bed with Sami,” a sheik she compares to a “horny ape.” The tension is potent, and the storytelling propulsive, but the tale’s boldest twist is the author’s grander ambitions. Once the story eventually shifts into the past—detailing how Neda got to this point, plus much teary family melodrama involving weddings, financial crises, vicious crimes, court proceedings, and a host of betrayals—narrative richness comes at the expense of momentum.

The challenges and traumas Neda faces grow ever-more vicious, including rape and the murder of people she loves. Her rage has power, and Ferdosy builds to a resonant climax. The author also has taken care to represent Iran, Dubai, and their people without relying on tired or harmful tropes. Ferdosy strives for a full-circle view of trauma and how it can consume not only the sufferer, but those around them, as highlighted in the plights of Neda’s closest friends, who are drawn with vivid empathy. Thirteen blends the revenge thriller with a wider journey, urging readers to evaluate the toll of cruelty and obsession.

Takeaway: A young Iranian woman seeks revenge in this thoughtful, expansive thriller.

Comparable Titles: Hovav Heth’s Just Once, Nilesha Chauvet’s The Revenge of Rita Marsh.

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

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Kelly’s spellbinding fantasy explores what it means to languish unseen, literally, as it follows Sabine Gillesella, a young woman cursed with invisibility—she gives “the impression of a ghost pacing the streets.” As she searches for a cure, revealing deeper truths about her own power and the land’s decaying magic, Sabine navigates magic, oppression, and rebellion in the kingdom of Illyamor, where the Awhye people are subjugated by the Halwardians. The stakes are high, but she’s not alone. Alongside her brother Rafi and eventually the enigmatic Brannon, who is prone to peak-fantasy declarations like “I run deeper than the skin you see,” Sabine faces the malevolent Duke Aurich and the mysterious Lady of the Forest in a bid to restore balance to their fractured world.

Kelly excels at intricate, inviting world-building and magic that has some logic but still feels magical. Crisp prose and an eye for what’s most compelling in a scene will draw readers into the heart of Illyamor. Scenes pulse with striking detail and urgent emotions, and Sabine is a standout protagonist, growing from desperate thief to formidable sorceress in a way that feels both authentic and inspiring. Her struggle with the curse underscores themes of identity, resistance, and empowerment without slowing narrative momentum. The narrative also examines the price of power and the weight of sacrifice.

The novel is packed with danger and adventure, from Sabine’s audacious market heists to her perilous trek through the ominous Dikisi Forest. Each setting is vividly realized, drawing readers into tombs and menacing woods, while Kelly deftly explores the socio-political forces driving the conflict. Mythical creatures like the Ielzrie and Vargas intrigue and surprise, while the tragic backstory of the Lady of the Forest adds emotional depth and highlights the story’s darker undertones. For all the magic and a touch of romance, Kelly doesn’t shy away from grim realities of rebellion or the experience of grief, imbuing The Sibyl and the Thief with welcome gravity.

Takeaway: Stellar fantasy of a young woman facing a curse and daring to rebel.

Comparable Titles: Ashley Poston’s Among the Beasts & Briars, Lori M. Lee’s Forest of Souls.

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

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Meeting the niche of budget-friendly travel, Ritzel delves into tourist hot spot Orlando, offering readers a slew of low-cost activities in Orlando and nearby areas. The leisure pursuits she covers are both inclusive and wide-ranging, providing readers with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, taste local culture, and even partake in some financially savvy shopping. From the start, Ritzel introduces readers to “places people of all ages and phases of life would appreciate and enjoy,” as she tours farmers markets, festivals, fun on the water, and more.

Ritzel’s passion for all things Orlando beats a steady rhythm throughout this accessible guide, as she spotlights both high profile and lesser-known activities for locals and tourists. Readers interested in museums will delight in the Morse Museum—with a featured collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s stunning stained-glass lamps—or the Orange County Regional History Center, a noteworthy foray into the region’s early settlement cultures. Fitting for the Sunshine State, Ritzel features a feast of outdoor activities that range from biking trails to golf to produce picking (a side note into aquaponics farming as “a beautiful way to grow organic nutrient-rich produce in a sustainable manner” stands out), and she sprinkles handy links to maps and money-saving hints on nearly every page. Golf aficionados on a budget will appreciate Ritzel’s courses offering discounted rates, as will foodies looking to sample local cuisine, as Ritzel discusses Orlando’s “Magical Dining” program in lieu of in-depth exploration of individual restaurants.

What’s most entertaining about this brief guide is the well-rounded advice. Ritzel teases out hidden gems (the “World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s & PlayPlace” is fun for families with younger kiddos) alongside more conventional tourist opportunities, such as professional soccer league stadium INTER&CO, where fans can watch up-and-coming international players test their skills. Anyone eager to explore all Florida has to offer will find this debut appealing.

Takeaway: Handy, off-the-beaten-path guide to Florida’s lesser-known attractions.

Comparable Titles: April Lorenzi’s Travel Like a Local Orlando, Mike Miller’s Florida Day Trips by Theme.

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

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Alive with warmth, wit, and faith, Ellis’s charming debut covers centuries and generations in this sphere and beyond, as a pair of souls errantly released from Heaven seek each other across lifetimes in ours as the angel-in-training responsible for the errors strives, with the help of his family and the archangels themselves, to put things right. The stakes are high but Ellis’s approach is cozily engaging, concerned with the everyday travails of humans and the souls and angels in Heaven. Ellis structures the tale in three novella-length sections, the first opening with the ascent to Heaven of a 9th century monk. He’s eventually promoted from imbuing microbiota with souls to working on humans, which is where the trouble begins, as young Janie, in our era, is born with talents beyond the prodigious—she’s connected to something beyond us, brilliant at languages, music, art, and more.

Janie is lonely, though, and after her somewhat distracted parents get her a fancy teddy bear rather than a pet, Janie does something miraculous: she reaches through a “soul portal” and imbues T-Bear with a stray soul. That’s not Janie’s only miracle, and as she develops a reputation as a healer she snags one more soul, too, to inhabit a doll, Suzie, as a companion for T-Bear. That sets Heaven scrambling, and the second two novellas follow the fallout, as the souls of Suzie and T-Bear come to Earth for fresh go-arounds, this time as humans. In playful, polished prose, Ellis writes lives of great promise and all-too-human hardships—her souls witness illness and loneliness, the everyday lot of humans.

Despite the book’s hefty length, Ellis keeps this all light and lively, even passages about cancer or tragic deaths, and she sketches out the history of each soul’s Earth family with brisk, engaging authority. Readers shouldn’t expect romantic longing or battles with demons from this uplifting story of lost souls, Earthly ambitions, and divine bureaucracy, but they will find buoyant good humor, touching miracles, and bursts of wisdom.

Takeaway:Warm, witty novel of a heavenly error and lost souls on Earth.

Comparable Titles: Graham Downs’s Memoirs of a Guardian Angel, Joan Fennell Carringer.

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

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Oliver Mc’Neil is a typical teen in 2085: he eats his prescribed food and medication, completes daily tasks through simulations, and never leaves his house—until he wakes up tangled in barbed wire, being rescued by Autumn, a serious red-headed girl living in the woods. Their lifestyles are a study in contrasts—Autumn and her family live off the land, untraced by outsiders, while Oliver’s sterile existence leaves him “clutching at reality but feeling nothing but emptiness”—but that doesn’t stop their immediate connection. As Autumn helps Oliver adjust to surviving outside the city, he slowly comes to realize his presence may put Autumn—and the new lifestyle he’s starting to treasure—at risk.

Moore's coming-of-age dystopian tale (after Ballad of the Dead) has many intriguing ideas at its core, and Oliver's found family is incredibly charming, each playing their own part as they forage, hide, and, above all, value the land that supports them. Their motto—“we need everyone to take care of themselves”—plays out in the background as Oliver learns to work within their team while coming to grips with the pseudo-reality he’s been living back home. Moore’s depiction of the cave-cities Autumn and her family navigate—with their own printing press, markets, and self-sufficient processes—is brilliantly lifelike, a stark contrast to Oliver’s world, where the only available news is propaganda and fear keeps everyone locked inside their houses.

The story’s action ratchets up when the government Autumn and co. have been avoiding for years comes knocking, prompting Moore’s not-so-subtle message on the dangers of bureaucratic oversight. As Oliver’s resurfacing memories torment him with worries about his true nature—and Autumn’s history emerges bit by bit—the two are thrust into a heady battle of survival, where reality is uncertain and “everyone deserves a chance to put their old life behind them and start again.”

Takeaway: Intense dystopian tale pitting teens against an intrusive, near-future government.

Comparable Titles: London Shah’s The Light at the Bottom of the World, Michael Grant’s Gone.

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

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In his third poetry collection, following “Boy Kant You Read!” and “Eating ‘Round the Toilet Stool,” Drummond’s muse is the world at its worst, the mind most tainted, and humanity’s horrors in the absence of hope. “Mother, // I’ve been bad before // but never this bad,” he writes in “Final Goodbye,” which explores the speaker’s suicidal mental state, but also the role society has in creating toxic conditions: “You wonder who it was // who stuck the gun in my hand // and showed me how to wave.” Though Drummond’s poems speak to narratives of separate individuals, like the “Down Home Girl” too young to know the connection between her spirited dancing and what the “‘Men-folk’ crave,” they together illuminate a broader shared experience.

While the provocative cover suggests content of a fantastical evil, Drummond’s poetry is rooted in the sociological issues that continue to roil our world, like toxic masculinity, misogyny, racism, and poverty. “Down Home Girl” and “Lady Dee” for example, express the loss of sanity and innocence women experience as a result of sexual violence, while “Cotton Snow Flying” and “Black Lines” offer insightful commentary on the damaging effects of racism: “Black marks filling // White paper // no meaning, really [...] The meaningless dance of dark charcoal // on cotton fields.”

Besides the various forms of social oppression, making art is also a source of pain, both existential and personal. The collection’s first poem questions poetry’s validity as a form of art, and in “Foggy,” the speaker remarks “the corners of my mind // folds upon itself and // drifts away // and the world spins on.” Though despairing, Drummond’s verses also offer comfort and catharsis. The injustices, violence, and grief he identifies are those various readers suffer from, and many readers will recognize the pain on the page as their own—or learn from them. Though many of these selections sting, Drummond also offers the relief and freedom of urgent truthtelling.

Takeaway: Pained yet inspired collection that finds catharsis in misery and injustice.

Comparable Titles: Lucille Clifton’s “my dream about the second coming”; Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool”

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

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This encouraging debut from Liu, former COO and current Master Executive Coach, offers both a practical guidance to finding one’s own voice and pursuing one’s dreams without compromising one’s integrity, and a sort of spiritual biography of a self-described introvert’s journey through hardship toward no longer feeling “lost, stuck, anxious,” and “frustrated.” Liu offers short lessons and reflections on subjects like patience, visualization, the “life-long practice” of learning resilience and more, detailing how she (quietly) triumphed over hindrances—which were legion given her background and upbringing—and found personal and financial success despite discovering that she desired a life "beyond the one I had with big corporate employers.” Through reflective prompts and lessons mined from her own challenges, Liu warmly nudges readers toward self knowledge and positive change.

Liu shares stories from her childhood, lessons imparted by a controlling father who grew up in a Communist regime and could never express his love and pride in her. That powers one of her major breakthroughs: her desire to create “an environment in which those around me can share, grow and learn together.” Liu is frank in relating her father’s severe, authoritarian behavior, some of which could be considered abuse, and the teachings she learned for good or ill. But she is also a generous daughter, acknowledging that “My parents did the best they could, based on what they knew at the time.”

Each chapter represents a theme followed by descriptions of her father’s use (or abuse) of those attributes. She explores some painful material, describing bosses whose behavior ranges from disrespectful to racist to threatening to harassing, describing the techniques she developed to handle predators—and those she still employs in the ongoing work of healing. Chapters end with thought-provoking questions the reader can apply to their own struggles, like “How can you befriend this part of you, so you can be kinder to yourself?” This is a helpful chronicle and also a work of courage, determination, and empathy.

Takeaway: Heartening guidance for living at one’s best, derived from a life of lessons.

Comparable Titles: Ryuho Okawa’s The Unshakable Mind, Suzanne Rocha’s The Joyful New Me.

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

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“They were a sorry lot,” Mason quips in a sharp yet emphatic introduction of 24-year-old German soldier, Bernhardt, fighting for survival in war-torn Tunisia. Watching his comrades die, Bernhardt begins questioning the Nazi ideals he had been indoctrinated with as his disillusioned sense of duty dawns on him: his life has always been dictated—by family, military hierarchy, and “the faceless old men” driving the war. Ironically, his capture by British and American forces ultimately offers him a sense of relief—though his future as a prisoner is uncertain. Mason fast forwards from there to 12-year-old Joseph Holliman, abused by his tyrannical father, who, through an act of resistance, marks a pivotal encounter with Frank, a gruff but compassionate man offering him a different life.

Mason (author of EO-N) weaponizes profound symbolism and poignant prose to unite Joseph and Bernhardt’s struggles of being trapped in oppressive systems that deny them autonomy and their quest to reclaim some sense of identity. The pacing, patient but never sluggish, excels in its visceral depiction of violence—“the fractured, the burnt, the crushed and torn”—but its focal point is the endearing characters’ existential battles within. Bernhardt epitomizes the collective loss of faith in a cause for which dehumanized soldiers had been willing to risk their lives, while Joseph represents societal neglect of the most vulnerable. The narrative picks up when both attempt to carve a new life for themselves.

The tone, often gritty and grounded—“things people die from aren’t necessarily the things that kill ‘em” a character muses—softens in moments of reflection and human connection. "Sometimes you gotta be where you don’t wanna be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leave whenever you want,” Frank says, inspiring hope in an otherwise bleak world. Lovers of historical fiction rich with wisdom will find this book haunting but healing.

Takeaway: Captivating study of the futility of war and the emotional toll of violence.

Comparable Titles: Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

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

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Redvale's polished debut thriller offers high stakes, desperate action, and memorable twists as a former Navy SEAL teams up with a most-wanted criminal for an unsanctioned mission that’s both globe-shaking and intimately personal. As a former Navy Seal, Captain John Mitcham has survived death and loss, in both his professional and in his personal life. While on the outs with his wife, Claire, due to the strain and grief after their daughter’s death by suicide, John yearns to mend his marriage. When Claire is kidnapped, John launches into action to discover what happened and bring her home alive. He learns that the CIA has involved Claire in a life-threatening conspiracy involving a bleeding edge computer project called the Quantum Grail that, in the hands of the Russian FSB, could mean world dominance. Enlisting the help of notorious super hacker Nia Banks, John must navigate the minefields of government secrets and high-profile Russian criminals, pushing himself to the limits in a race involving every intelligence agency and his own past.

Powered by a hard-edged, highly trained, but engagingly human protagonist facing a host of competing military and government agendas, The Quantum Grail moves fast, with tense scenarios, crisp chases and confrontations, and surges of page-turning adrenaline. Both banter and violence hit hard, but the uneasy alliance between John and Nia—blasting AC/DC and TLC—gives the material heart, especially as John uncovers dark, intimate secrets about his own marriage. The plotting is somewhat convoluted, revealed through flashbacks and character relationships, but Redvale makes the puzzle pieces clear, matching the intensity of the threat to John’s intensity of feeling.

Fans of conspiracy-inspired thrillers and no-nonsense heroes will be captivated by this involved mystery and its leading man. Redvale knows his genre and what readers want. Technical detail is convincing but not belabored, smartly blending thriller elements—government agencies, covert ops, terrifying tech, the rigors of SEAL training—into a strong debut.

Takeaway: Riveting thriller debut of a SEAL, conspiracies, and deadly new tech.

Comparable Titles: David Baldacci's Absolute Power, John Connolly's The Dirty South.

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

Click here for more about The Quantum Grail

This powerful memoir chronicles Lewis's remarkable journey from a challenging childhood in 1970s Washington, DC, to becoming a transformative corporate leader and advocate for social change. With unflinching honesty and compelling narrative skills, Lewis weaves together accounts of personal struggles, professional triumphs, and breakdowns of hard-won convictions to create an inspiring roadmap for achieving success without compromising one's values or identity.
 The book surprises—it’s much more emotionally impactful than most business memoirs, and Lewis plays smartly with readers’ expectations, as in the way the expression of blunt toughness on the cover contrasts with the humanity and tenderness within, especially when it comes to pushing for racial and gender equity in the business world or frankly addressing abuse in his childhood.

Striking detail abounds as Lewis describes his beginnings, struggling to feed his family, investing himself in his wife’s place of work, Taco Bell, both to support her and to master the logistics of the business as he began his ascent up the ladder at Pepsi Co. Branding himself the “enterprise go-to guy,” he made a name for himself as he earned his MBA, refusing to be intimidated by the corporate world. Lewis covers his rise with heart and insight about losses, setbacks, monetary struggles, and some harder travails, too. Readers will feel the impact of witnessing his mother, during his childhood, defend him and his siblings from abuse. Through it all, Lewis’s determination and resilience pulse on every page.

Some formatting issues and attention paid to niche experiences diminish narrative momentum that could have been more personable. Readers not invested in the life lessons one can derive from golf may find themselves impatient on occasion, though the story of having to participate in a charity golf tournament despite never having swung a club proves rousing: “Watch, learn, socialize, and, most importantly, have fun,” Lewis told himself. This empowering memoir serves as a testament to personal resilience and a blueprint for achieving success while holding firm to what matters.

Takeaway: Inspiring memoir of business and personal growth and a commitment to justice.

Comparable Titles: John Daymond’s Rise and Grind, Aurora James’s Wildflower.

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

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