Sarhn, a sensei herself, uses karate as a unifying thread in Olive’s disjointed new life—a life that mirrors her already shaky feelings of belonging, even in her own family: Olive was adopted as a baby, and she’s harbored a sense of being out of place for years. The move to Buxton exacerbates that feeling, until she stumbles onto the dojo, where she uncovers a haven, of sorts, alongside a group of people who quickly become her found family, particularly the kind, strong Sensei Matthew and his adopted son, Boyan.
Just as Olive finally starts to feel like she belongs, Sarhn throws in an unexpected twist in the form of a painful truth from Olive’s past, transforming Olive’s greatest fight not into a karate match against a formidable opponent, but into a metaphorical battle of self-discovery. Sarhn compels Olive to rely on the emotional strength and discipline she’s learned in karate to finally come to terms with who she is and who she can become, a sweet moment of victory that readers will relish being part of. Osu not only captures the struggles of adolescence—both silly and monumental—but also celebrates the victory of forging one's path.
Takeaway: Adopted teen finds karate a catalyst for self-discovery and belonging.
Comparable Titles: Cynthia Hand’s The How & the Why, Jay McInerney’s Ransom.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The Gut Revolution: Your roadmap to lasting immune health, improved mental health and weight control
A clear, engaging writer, Bishara keeps the focus throughout on what, for readers, is likely the bottom line: a practical, up-to-date survey of what everyday people should know about the biome in their GI tract. Every surprising gut fact (“the actual surface area of the gut, if completely unfolded” is “as big as a standard-size tennis court”!) is presented in the service of illustrating how the microbes that live there, both beneficial and not, affect health, moods, and more. In short, to-the-point chapters that end with bulleted takeaways, she both examines the problems that a lack of bacterial diversity can lead to or exacerbate: leaky gut syndrome; IBS; skin conditions; cancer development; even the cortisol production that convinces the body it must store fat.
Bishara’s guidance is presented with equal clarity and power. She calls for “a varied diet with an abundance of plant-based, fiber-rich foods that support the growth of beneficial gut strains.” Later, she walks readers through targeted diets and approaches to eating, like controlled fasting, that promotes weight loss, gut health, and other concerns. “Be patient and consistent,” she advises, and a list of Do’s and Don’ts (“Don’t jump off the bandwagon just because you have 1 or 2 bad days”) is smart and encouraging.
Takeaway: Illuminating guide to gut health, packed with practical advice and insights.
Comparable Titles: Kate Scarlata and Megan Riehl’s Mind Your Gut, Ada J. Peters’s My Gut.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Years-long studies of Dharma and philosophy clearly shape Laakso’s writing, which takes the form of a gently meandering study on suffering, meaning, and passion. He firmly believes in the communal work humankind must do to achieve happiness, and draws from his home country, Finland, to sift the ideas behind social democracy, reminding readers that “what we collectively believe in has never been unanimous”—but the end goal must be peace, “without the need for violent displays of power.”
Laakso's musings and reflective thoughts will prompt readers to turn within and examine their own fears—of the unknown, the past, and “of ourselves”—while intentionally finding and expressing love. Though asides into his own developed equations for “individual sustainable happiness” distract from the book’s broader themes, his writing is passionate, touching on topics that range from justice to social responsibility, and he urges readers to seek wisdom, lavishly bestow forgiveness, and nurture compassion. The future will be unpredictable, he asserts, but hope, not fear, is the antidote—“together [we] must do all we can to alleviate and dispel [fear] with courage to create hope” he advises. These tranquil introspections on our shared experiences are a soothing reminder of “how rare and fortunate it is to have been born human.”
Takeaway: Philosophical contemplations on the keys to finding happiness.
Comparable Titles: Charles P. Nemeth's Finding Happiness in a Complex World, Shawn Achor's The Happiness Advantage.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
Martin includes both tender and humorous moments that transform this memoir into a warm, intimate encounter, such as when he announces over the intercom in his new practice, “I’m about to take out someone’s IUD, and I have no clamps… how am I supposed to get this thing out, with my teeth?” Even among the barrage of devastating hospital politics that derail his work, Martin is careful to highlight the human side of his career, tackling the most delicate—but weighty—of topics, like his ever-present astonishment at “the miracle of life,” or the many cases of abuse and domestic violence he encountered throughout his years as an OB-GYN.
Martin’s Christian faith plays a foundational role in his work, and he notes the spiritual framework of not just his beliefs, but also his professional decisions, writing that he discovered “peace in the fact that God was in control… [that] being a servant to others was how I wanted to build my practice.” That compassionate perspective serves as his rudder in a challenging field, as he and his nurse-midwife colleagues go on to fight the battle for birth rights on a national level. This is a beautiful tribute to natural childbirth and patient-centered care.
Takeaway: Powerful tribute to natural childbirth and patient-centered care.
Comparable Titles: Ina May Gaskin’s Spiritual Midwifery, Peggy Vincent’s Baby Catcher.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
A filmmaker himself, Shay excels at twisty plotting, characters who reveal themselves through action and biting dialogue, and scenes that build to hairpin turns, keeping readers on constant edge. The story gets wilder as it goes, especially after Lacey discovers her father was secretly wealthy—and a possible connection between his work for a tech company and reports of a “severe and transmissible atypical neuro-virus” sweeping Hong Kong and apparently pushing people into acts of self-harm. Lacey will team up with Hugo, the son of a cruel star of the Communist party, as they face a secret plot involving mind control.
Shay creates unexpected, button-pushing suspense scenes involving the loss of agency over one’s body, but Lacey’s dark adventure never is especially graphic. The novel’s pleasures come from its relentless invention, the way the conspiracy gets ever bigger, involving AI and the secret history of Hong Kong, with frequent revelations, jolts, and betrayals. The ending satisfies, though readers hooked by the of-the-moment TikTok detective hero should know Lacey isn’t posting much as the people she loves get targeted.
Takeaway: Swift thriller pitting a Tiktok detective against mind control in Hong Kong.
Comparable Titles: Olivia Blacke’s Killer Content, Chan Ho-Kei’s Second Sister.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Ryan opens Downing's story at its end, with the narrator’s death at the hands of a Lakota fighter. The story that follows is deeply humane and sympathetic for both the rank-and-file soldier and the variety of oppressed peoples encounters. Downing’s narrative covers his birth in the village of Adare in 1856, the reasons behind his family’s emigration, the grueling journey to their new home in Georgia, and how Downing was raised to hate slavery, in part because of the Irish’s treatment by the English. Ryan examines tension and poverty in Savannah during the Civil War era, including a lynching, and young Downing witnesses a speech in which Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens confirms a truth too often obscured: that slavery was the chief reason for secession.
Downing ultimately lies about his age to join the army and is subsequently assigned, among other missions, to rein in Kentucky’s Ku Klux Klan. But when land and gold led the federal government to war against Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and other Native Americans who refused to leave ancestral lands, Downing faces serious doubt about the justice of the cause. This humanizes Downing, especially as readers will understand he will die in a conflict that was largely the fault of greed, poor intelligence, and stubborn leaders. An engrossing historical narrative.
Takeaway: Convincing, compelling narrative of real Irish at Little Big Horn.
Comparable Titles: Sebastian Barry's Days Without End, John Hough, Jr.’s Little Big Horn.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
With insight and an eye for telling detail (playing in a bluegrass band; a performance as a singing telegram), Sohn recounts his adventures, career shifts, many homes, and establishment of his own family. His youth pulses with Boomer touchstones—parking on dates, “distrust of anyone over thirty,” 1970s hitchhiking, the father who declares, over shoulder-length hair, “Go get it cut or move out.” What startles, as Sohn builds a life of purpose and consequence, is how his abbreviated period of wanderlust continues to haunt him, even as it has become a truism, in the U.S., that young men often take a few years to find a path.
Sohn shares hard-won insight into his times (hippies, he notes, were “people of all sorts with the same flaws shared by ‘straight’ society”) and choices, and later, the opioid crisis and challenges facing physicians, though the amiable telling lacks the narrative tension or momentum of top memoirs. Still, Sohn writes strong, incisive scenes, inspiring moments of self-discovery on mountain peaks and in life itself, and memorable portraits of patients, professors, friends, and more.
Takeaway: Thoughtful account of a shiftless Boomer kid finding himself and becoming a doctor.
Comparable Titles: Luissa Kiprono’s Push, Then Breathe, Jim Merkel’s Growing Up St. Louis.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
With war brewing in the past and a mysterious serial killer fixated on Sophie in the present, the Maclean clan faces dire threats—and Brian may be the key to changing everyone's future. This third entry in MacKinnon’s Echoes in Time series weaves a captivating mystery rich with romance and historical detail. Told from the perspectives of Brian and Crísdean and the two women, Sophie and Kenna, affected by their comings and goings, Seven is an intricate tale of second chances, love, and the devastating effects of violence. The what-if element has suspenseful power: as Crísdean maintains his loyalty to his clan chief and his family, he must put duty and honor before himself and his potential love, but Brian, having the advantage of being able to figure out what is to come for Crísdean, has the rare opportunity to choose a different course for his doomed ancestor.
While rich in Gaelic language and Scottish culture, the narrative is fast-paced, offering plot twists, urgent mysteries, and romance that transcends centuries. This genre-blending tale will intrigue readers who enjoy a little bit of everything in their books from history to romance and sweeping action-packed adventure in between.
Takeaway: Captivating time-crossed Highlands historical adventure, with romance.
Comparable Titles: Susanna Kearsley, Diana Gabaldon.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Cole’s vivid novel sheds light on a little-known chapter of American history, highlighting the contributions of indentured servants alongside enslaved individuals in the building of the nation’s very foundations, both physical and otherwise. As the War of Independence looms, Thomas embarks on a perilous journey, driven by his burning desire for liberty. Yet, in Cole’s swift and spirited telling, the path to freedom is fraught with danger. With overseers and hunting hounds on their heels, years of brutal military service ahead, and the relentless threat of death on the battlefield, survival is anything but certain. Cole deftly captures the tension, asking: who among them will break the chains that bind them?
Her nuanced portrayal of the courage and resilience of these forgotten laborers, especially the younger ones, offers a fresh perspective on the human cost of America’s early infrastructure. Alive with striking period detail, like what goes into a cooper’s work, and lots of heart, Chains of Fate is a powerful reminder of the indomitable will to survive—and to be free.
Takeaway: Resilience, grit, and honor pave the way to freedom in this spirited historical novel..
Comparable Titles: Amy Belding Brown’s Flight of the Sparrow, Amy Harmon’s A Girl Called Samson
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Fitting for a story of legendary creatures and nightscapes where it feels like something eerie may happen, the authors take a mythic, somewhat fabulistic approach, emphasizing the girls’ smallness and the vastness of skies, mountains, and the NOLOs themselves. Jake’s fearsome-yet-cuddly appearance helps maintain tension and mystery for some pages, as the authors cue readers to wonder whether he’s fiend or foe, and the illustrations emphasize, with striking composition, the sheer impossible scale of him. The suspense ebbs, in the second half, building to a sweet, upbeat resolution that will most please younger readers—those who favor the earlier, gently spooky feel may find the climax underwhelming. A guide to other NOLO species, though, in the final pages is good monster fun.
Astute readers may also notice some inconsistent plot elements involving an injury and Jake’s daily grooming and eating habits. But there’s much to love in the engaging, evocative art, depicting monsters, mountains, night skies, and the horizon-wide head of a NOLO peering over a hilltop at tiny humans, an image of significant imaginative power.
Takeaway: A monster saves lost campers in this mythic, gorgeous adventure.
Comparable Titles: Chris Wormell’s The Sea Monster, Sue Ganz-Schmitt’s The Monster on the Block.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Alcibiades, Mon Amour shares with Maxwell’s other pointedly unpredictable novels (like Rafael Jerome) confident and nimble prose, themes of self discovery and intellectual longing, incisive exploration of sexual mores and American culture, an ethos of formal daring and surprise, and a smart blending of humanity and tension. What begins as the story of one obsession unravels into many, charting the complex boundaries between bodies and minds. At the novel’s heart is Plato’s Symposium, whose chorus of voices rings through the pages. Readers familiar with Greek philosophy—and how young people’s encounters with it can be transformative—will delight in this contemporary exploration, while readers fascinated by contemporary minds facing the past will find these explorations of love, sex, mentorship, and more electric.
Together, Alan and Alcibiades explore urgent questions: “Wouldn’t it be nice if wisdom could flow into fools simply by the act of touching?” For both, though, touch—and wisdom—may be all too dangerous. Culminating in personal reckonings with marriage, queerness, and the search for knowledge, Alcibiades, Mon Amour is a fast-paced drama that will both startle and satisfy.
Takeaway: Smart, time-crossed novel of a student, a professor, ancient Greece, and obsession.
Comparable Titles: Michelle Hart’s We Do What We Do in the Dark, Susan Choi’s My Education.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
The feeling is warm and congenial as Guest shares stories of a young group teetering on the edge of stardom, trying to balance personal lives and professional ambitions, all with vivid memories of mid-century Atlanta and Motown-era Detroit, great performers like Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and BB King (who gave the Pips prime performance slots at concerts because they weren’t “show spoilers”), shifting styles from gospel to disco, and show-business triumphs and setbacks.
The history, covering both the art and business of music, will fascinate fans. Once formed, Gladys Knight and the Pips knew they needed a record label to offer distributions and a route to get their songs on radio. Their first recording came under the auspices of testing audio equipment in the club owned by Clifford Hunter, where the band had a regular gig. To their surprise, Hunter pressed records without so much as telling the band. “No one was making money,” Guest laments, but that “started the fire that jump-started our career.” Duplicitous record labels are a recurring theme—the group would sue Motown for unpaid royalties—as Guest bears personal witness to personnel changes, health and legal troubles, dangerous road encounters, the thrill of the group’s 1970s successes, and above all the joy and challenges of creation and commerce with family. Love of music, God, and family shines throughout.
Takeaway: Fascinating life of a founding member of Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Comparable Titles: Gladys Knight’s Between Each Line of Pain and Glory, Alan Leeds’s There Was a Time.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
The first two stages of the “journey” Simpsons lays out focus on internal reflection. Readers are introduced to tools like meditation and affirmations to help identify and navigate limiting beliefs. Simpson simplifies these concepts through relatable anecdotes, and she writes in an engaging, conversational tone (“Change often feels daunting, like standing at the base of a huge mountain with it looming over you”), creating the atmosphere of a therapeutic dialogue. Relevant and important questions stud each chapter, nudging the reader to navigate tangled emotions and realign their value compass. At its heart, Breathe’s prompts create a space for deep introspection, led by a coach who understands the challenge of facing internal struggles with clarity and confidence.
The latter two stages shift the focus outward, exploring relationships with friends, family, and the broader community. Simpson guides readers on setting boundaries and cultivating gratitude through reflective, thought-provoking exercises. The interactive format (questions, fill-ins, checkboxes, lists, and visual tools) sets Simpson’s approach apart, blending a soothing workbook approach with more traditional self-help. QR codes and links are provided to assist readers who may need further clarification.
Takeaway: Interactive guidebook to facing internal struggles with confidence and self-compassion.
Comparable Titles: Elaine Beaumont and Chris Irons’s The Compassionate Mind Workbook, Alexandra H. Solomon’s Love Every Day.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
As he explores the deep-rooted nature of human tendencies like insecurity, “the distorted imitations that trap us and put words in our mouth,” and the need for affirmation, Replogle breaks down instances where Jesus faced such challenges within the inner circle, and even with Mary herself. Replogle highlights thinkers like C. S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot, and many others on the nature of offense, digging into the very nature of the term and questions of biblical translation—especially revealing is how, in ancient Greek, offense is rooted in a term for stone or obstacle, with translators seeing in “stumbling over a hidden obstacle the similar experience of stumbling over an offense.”
That gets to the heart of this depiction of a Jesus who caused offense in a compassionate way, to elicit change. Replogle makes the case that everyone can benefit from exploring the sources of their offended feelings—and can find revelation and healing in the process.
Takeaway: Encouraging guide to Jesus’s compassionate use of offense to spur change.
Comparable Titles: Kevin DeYoung’s The Hole in Our Holiness, Anita McCall's Overcoming the Spirit of Offense.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
A God of Moonlight and Stardust
Complicating an already fraught situation, Renna is visited in dreams by Sethos, a beautiful fae who reveals himself to be her protector and guardian. Her attraction and connection to both Sethos and Khellios leaves her conflicted. In a galaxy of chaos and fear, where Renna feels “like a prisoner in my own body when I cannot wield my magic in times of fear or any other emotion,” the hero’s fight to survive and discover her place comes spiced with love, sex, and the complexities of the heart.
Bower has crafted both engaging characters it’s easy to feel for and fresh but resonantly familiar worlds, societies, and political situations for them to navigate. The storylines move at a brisk pace and aren't bogged down by the somewhat complex worldbuilding. Instead, the tale, like Renna’s magic, is driven by great swells of feeling. The hopes and losses of this cast, good and evil, compel and surprise, right up to climactic revelations and cliffhangers that will have romantasy fans eager for more.
Takeaway: Rousing romantasy debut of a grad student, a god, and the magic burning inside.
Comparable Titles: Meredith Mooring’s Redsight, Alexis Menard’s Order and Chaos series.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
City at My Feet is conceptually riveting, built on an intensely creative world that still harbors remnants of contemporary life. New York as we know it, termed the “Land Below” here, is considered “primitive” and houses those humans beset by greed, corruption, and an overdependence on fossil fuels—leading them to a conflictual relationship with “Kahèsëna Hàki”—Mother Earth. The Lenape people, on the other hand, maintain a synergy with the land, bolstered by their impressive technology that includes bioengineered weapons and animals, referred to as “mech-predators” in the forest near Sakima’s home.
Sakima’s commitment to achieving warrior status drives her character and her quest, leading her to the Land Below and a host of run-ins with colorful characters. She undergoes her own share of trials on her path, many of which are instituted by Machto and his endless desire to conquer her spirit—and he comes dangerously close to winning that battle. It’s clear that More has a deep respect for the Lenape and Indigenous peoples of America, though underdeveloped characters and stiff prose get in the way of the story’s appeal. Still, this is an intriguing take on a hero’s journey, and Sakima’s motto—“why live, if you can’t be who you were meant to be”—rings true.
Takeaway: Futuristic Indigenous warrior seeks to prove herself in this multiverse adventure.
Comparable Titles: Christoffer V. Junros’s Origin Andromeda, Jessica Lee Sheppard’s Descending Into Darkness.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
