Tense, surprising, and powered by grand surges of feeling, Ares’s hefty follow-up to Love and Other Sins finds her Los Angeles young couple, Mina and Oliver, relishing a few moments of happiness after having helped each other, in the first book, put the past in the past and face what’s coming, together. What’s coming, though, is something neither anticipated. While Oliver tries to stay on the right side of the law despite his involvement in a somewhat shady electronics resale hustle, Mina faces sudden, savage danger: her father has earned the enmity of Russian gangsters, who burst into her home, guns blazing. Mina’s mother is shot in the encounter, and soon is hospitalized and comatose, while Mina reels with fresh trauma—to save herself and her mother, she had to kill.

Ares favors steely protagonists who, in spite of past trauma, make hard choices, and what her heroes go through here is wrenching but exciting, especially in the propulsive first half. After a consultation with a mysterious lawyer, Mina is forced to make two unthinkable choices: first, to allow herself to be kidnapped by this RBOC (Russia-Based Organized Crime Group.) Second: to push Oliver away, for his protection. Of course, after some lushly romantic stolen moments, Oliver is on the case despite her protestations, even as Mina is captured and jetted off to parts unknown, where she endures torture, attempted sexual assault, and the pain of not knowing how her mother’s doing. Ares brings real power and fear to these scenes.

Mina’s resilience and savvy gamesmanship in her captivity scenes offer thriller thrills, and Ares keeps the pages turning with brisk dialogue, frequent twists, and a smart dual-perspective structure, switching from Mina to Oliver. The novel is long, though, and in its second half it feels that way, especially as the story edges into a different thriller subgenre with an expanded cast, milieu, and spy tech, all introduced late in the game. The urgency returns, though, in a strong climax.

Takeaway: Sprawling romantic thriller of a young couple, hard choices, and Russian gangsters.

Comparable Titles: Mia Sheridan; Karin Slaughter’s Pieces of Her.

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

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Everyone has something that makes them special, even if it’s not immediately apparent. In Emerson’s encouraging picture book for young kids, a little girl named Haley considers what makes her unique. When Haley’s teacher asks her class to write down what they think makes them stand out, her diverse group of peers gets excited and starts naming their favorite attributes—one boy celebrates the fact that he speaks both English and Spanish, while other classmates joyfully point out that they wear colorful glasses, have red hair, are originally from Nigeria, or have a twin. Haley, meanwhile, can’t think of anything unique about herself, which causes her to become dejected and retreat into her beloved sketchbook.

Finally, Haley realizes that the smudges always covering her hand after she draws or writes a story are the key to her distinctive quality. She gains this new point of view when one of her classmates comments on her artwork and says the smudges look cool, which Haley has never considered before—she’s always seen them as messy. Unlike most of her classmates, Haley is left-handed, which means the side of her hand drags over the pencil marks she makes in her notebook. Watching Haley’s perspective shift from frustration to pride will help kids reconsider how their own challenges and differences can also be strengths.

Kim Soderberg’s expressive illustrations follow Haley on her journey from discouragement to enthusiasm, with her emotions clearly visible on her face in each scene. Wearing a purple striped sweater, Haley appears most relaxed and happy when she’s doodling, writing jokes, or imagining stories in her favorite notebook. The smudges in Haley’s drawings seem to lovingly enhance her colorful sketches of unicorns, butterflies, and bees, which will give kids and adults the opportunity to discuss and celebrate their own one-of-a-kind qualities.

Takeaway: A little girl named Haley considers what makes her unique.

Comparable Titles: Cale Atkinson’s Where Oliver Fits, Laura Gehl’s Except When They Don’t.

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

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Amaya Montgomery seemingly has it all—a life of luxury, elegant dinners, a stunning home, and a devoted husband. Her heart aches to have children of her own, unlikely given her endometriosis, but Amaya nurtures that loss by searching through adoption websites and dedicating her time to people less fortunate. Despite her superficially perfect life, Amaya struggles with anxiety and a deep, abiding sense that she’s never truly been accepted by others—as well as a tenuous relationship with her addiction-ridden parents. Lurking beneath her facade is a web of dark secrets and shocking revelations that eventually turn Amaya’s world—and all she holds dear—inside out.

Shavers’s debut is more than a chilling story of love gone wrong; it’s one woman’s therapeutic journey to overcome traumatic events, in scenes that feel as if they were ripped from a horror movie. Readers will suspect early on that Amaya’s husband, Quentin, is harboring ulterior motives closely tied to her immense fortune, though the true depth of his greed is revealed gradually. Shavers places a strong emphasis on personal relationships, particularly those surrounding Amaya’s grandparents' legacy—extending beyond the mere material inheritance she receives from them. Dialogue is filled with glimpses of Amaya’s relationship dynamics, offering insight into her naive nature, but as the plot thickens, these exchanges take a darker turn, revealing the complexities of the characters.

In a nod to her life experiences, Shavers acknowledges Amaya’s story was born out of her desire to heal from her own past trauma, and, in many ways, the narrative feels as if it’s delivered by an omnipresent observer, weaving through the lives and minds of each character. Readers will piece together crucial information ahead of Amaya, who eventually must harness her inner strength, with the help of unexpected friends, to escape, making this an intriguing, character-driven study on the healing power of telling your story.

Takeaway: Twisty psychological thriller with character revelations around every corner.

Comparable Titles: Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid Is Watching, Leila Slimani’s The Perfect Nanny.

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

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​​In this charming, emotional story of best friends and healing after loss, George, a young duckling, and Jack, a fluffy white pup with a “great big WOOF,” enjoy playing under the massive oak tree on their farm, picking and eating blackberries, and rolling around in muddy puddles. But one winter day tragedy strikes, and George is forced to cope with the loss of his best friend, confidant, and protector. George discovers, as he faces grief, that some days he is very sad about Jack's absence, and some days he can find happiness in the memories of fun they shared together. A compassionate story about the healing effects of time and new friendships, this a moving introduction for young readers to bereavement and finding the heart to carry on.

With warmth and welcome delicacy, Cook, a grief coach and counselor, introduces these topics to young readers through the endearing central friendship, showing how George navigates stages of grief and the heavy emotions that come with them. Anastasia Merzlaya’s touching illustrations suggest life’s passages with clarity and everyday understatement, capturing the animals’ connection, George’s loneliness, and at last—after a simple but resonant spread charting the turn of the seasons through the silhouette of that oak–—healing and a rousing embrace of life. “He would want you to be happy and find another friend,” a human says to George, who at first just shakes his head.

Eventually, though, George learns how to work through his pain from his human companions who loved Jack just as much as he did. George the Duck and His Day of Big Grief is an impactful story that is equal parts moving and endearing, centered on animal friends whose relationship shines through on every page. Perfect for young readers struggling with grief or loss, or parents wanting to expose their children to the heavy subject of death, George's story is informative and a sensitive exploration of an uncomfortable topic.

Takeaway: Touching story of friendship and loss, introducing young readers to handling grief.

Comparable Titles: Patrice Karst's The Invisible String, Debi Gliori's No Matter What.

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

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The thought-provoking climax to Brennan’s climate-thriller trilogy offers a nuanced exploration of human resilience and societal challenges in a post-catastrophe world. As the title suggests, the series has centered on frozen islands, specifically “thirty ice-covered islands that were once Ireland” after the tsunamis of 2061 and the melting of polar and Greenland ice caps drastically raised sea levels. At a time when “young people are a minority,” this final entry finds hope in the third generation of survivors to be born since that “Eriador event,” as they grapple with the complexities of a changing environment, the pressures of external migration, and all that it takes to survive.

Brennan's world-building continues to impress, painting a vivid picture of an Iceapelago slowly recovering from climatic upheaval. The author skillfully balances the optimism of improving conditions with the underlying tensions of a world forever altered. The contrast between the recovering Iceapelago and the losses endured in less fortunate regions adds depth to the global context of the story, and Brennan creates a compelling conflict involving climate refugees from the Principality of Ria Formosa, in Portugal, and elsewhere. While always emphasizing the lived human experience, Brennan explores territorial rights, resource scarcity, and the moral implications of exclusion in a world reshaped by climate change. The character of Rory, the Iceapelago Commander, serves as a practical focal point for these ethical dilemmas.

While the novel's pacing may be slower than traditional post-apocalyptic thrillers, this allows for a more considered, empathetic examination of long-term societal adaptation, with an incisive emphasis on how each generation faces the future. Brennan's prose is clear and descriptive, effectively conveying his characters' physical landscape and emotional terrain. Brennan generally provides enough information to make the story accessible to newcomers—though for full context they are advised to start with the first entry—while satisfying long-time readers with continuity, character development, and a strong sense of how people and societies adapt over time.

Takeaway: Humane climate novel prioritizing societal questions in a ravaged future.

Comparable Titles: Kim Stanley Robinson's New York, 2140, Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy.

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

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Risse’s tense but thrilling cli-fi debut scrutinizes communication and connection during climate collapse. When the government bans smartphones, Billy’s mother Juliet, skeptical of the ban, hides his smartphone in the basement, allowing the teenager to secretly use it. While Juliet is visiting her mother in Florida, Billy emerges from a trip to the basement to find his Boston home deluged by a sudden flood. With his father and brother missing, Billy’s only connection to the world is through frantic text messages with his mother on their illicit phones. Despite the worsening chaos, Juliet is determined to make her way back to her son, and Billy is determined to survive.

Risse’s attention to detail vividly captures the devastation the massive flood brings to the Eastern seaboard. As Juliet searches desperately for a way home through submerged towns and broken infrastructure, Billy—forced to retreat to the upper floors of the house to escape the waters—sees his neighborhood turn into a “brown-green stew” of floating cars, swirling debris, and rotting corpses. Though often disturbing, the haunting descriptions of the flood’s fallout will keep readers on edge as they follow Juliet and Billy’s attempts to navigate the cataclysmic aftermath of a major environmental disaster.

The fractured texts between mother and son, frequently stalled by the failing telecommunications network, underscore their deep bond and heighten their sense of alienation. Though the banned phones provide their only tenuous connection, they also tempt those around them: tensions within the complex relationship between Juliet and her impromptu traveling companion Martin are heightened when he tries to use her phone for his own ends. The nuanced complexity of the relationships among characters shines even against the tumultuous backdrop of the environmental catastrophe. The story’s relentless intensity can be emotionally exhausting, but the characters’ resilience in the face of disaster offers a sobering but hopeful vision of the future.

Takeaway: Powerful story of survival and connection amid climate catastrophe.

Comparable Titles: Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, Stephen Markley’s The Deluge.

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

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The gripping second installment of Sebastian’s Brisco family saga (following Lost Seeds: The Beginning) finds the lives of the Brisco family—especially estranged brothers Dub and Tim, both born at the dawn of the century and now facing the upheavals of the 1960s. Dub and Tim, two of Tuttle and Betsey Brisco’s fourteen children, embody the struggle to reconcile the brutal past of slavery and segregation with the harsh realities of their present. A now-retired mine supervisor, Dub has managed to carve out a stable life, building a home and community for his large family, while Tim lives in a shack on Dub’s property. Tim, though, has long seemed mired in drink and joblessness, watching life from the outside. Neither is comfortable with changing times. “I’m a realist about the current state of Blacks,” Dub declares to impassioned Civil Rights Movement change-makers, after worrying out loud about Civil Rights leaders “stirring things up in the South.”

This poignant exploration of historical trauma, resilience, and tragedy quickly upends the brothers’ pained dynamic as Tim cleans himself up, fixing up 1946 Renault, and seems to engage with the world again. Tensions reach a boiling point when Dub’s daughter, Loretta, and her husband, Waylon, challenge local segregation by enrolling their three children in a swimming class in the nearby town of Hickory Hill. Their defiance sparks an explosive confrontation and a harrowing crime.

Sebastian paints a detailed, vivid picture of a family trying to reconcile with a history that continues to haunt them, with an emphasis on the mental and emotional scars—and what it takes to dare to make change. Lost Seeds has a wide array of characters, which adds to the richness of feeling, culture, and history, though that at times comes at the expense of narrative momentum. However, the novel pulses with love, family, and hard-won wisdom.

Takeaway: Urgent historical saga of a Black American family in the shadows of racism.

Comparable Titles: Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half, Ayana Mathis’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.

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

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Arussy (author of Next Is Now) challenges readers to take charge of their own lives, by “taking the facts that were sometimes not according to your plan and transforming them,” crafting a narrative that never glosses over mistakes or painful moments, but instead celebrates them as a springboard for “future strength, resilience, and elevated performance.” Throughout, he pays homage to the power of stories as catalysts for revamping life’s more volatile moments, reminding readers that “authoring your life challenges is the one power you have control over, no matter what.” The result, he urges, will be more than therapeutic—and possibly life changing.

Acknowledging how painful it can be to revisit childhood memories, Arussy encourages readers to always err on the side of honesty, concede their shortcomings, and avoid blame, a toxic force that, he writes in a chapter rebuking the pitfalls of “blame culture,” can destroy relationships as much as damage personal wellbeing—“life starts when we stop blaming others” he asserts. Each chapter concludes with simple, direct questions that echo Arussy’s steady, pragmatic advice, a friendly yet professional tone that reliably guides readers and candidly clears a path towards personal improvement, while not falling prey to criticism or harsh judgments.

That warm but direct tone is arguably the book’s strongest asset, and Arussy is at his best when he urges readers to “move on and focus on your ownership and lessons… on the power you have within the situation and own it.” His smart, uncompromising style forms the backbone of the guidance here, but that savvy is elevated by the book’s refreshing ideas, like avoiding the pitfalls of “living life under the constant scrutiny of strangers” on social media, facing fears head on, or transforming envy into a motivation instead of a roadblock. Telling your story is the ultimate accomplishment, Arussy argues—it’s “a choice to love the life you have.”

Takeaway: Refreshing, candid look at how personal stories can fuel success.

Comparable Titles: Leslie Leyland Fields’s Your Story Matters, Matthew Dicks’s Storyworthy.

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

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This sweeping historical fiction debut finds Roman gladiator Cassius, known as the Golden Warrior, undefeated and unmatched, "renowned in the public as a gladiator and… a jewel of Rome.” When he begins to have dreams that foreshadow prophetic messages from his deceased father, he seeks counsel from the Priestess, who whispers that his gifts are greater than just those he has honed as a fighter. As those gifts begin to manifest more fully, Cassius realizes that he is destined for renown, outside of the arena and servitude he has always known.

Rose's writing is enveloping and entertaining, from graphic fight sequences between the gladiators to the arcing character development of the unflinching Cassius, who exudes heroic traits—he is a capable fighter, a loyal friend, and shrouded with the humble beginnings of hidden talents. Through triumphant performances, Cassius earns his freedom, but as his time in the ludus (gladiator home base) comes to an end, his prophetic dreams alert him to duplicity—and his mistrust of his master, Dominus, starts to grow. With the aid of new friends harboring special gifts of their own, Cassius begins to understand his talents, find his purpose, and trust his instincts. His story unfolds through a journey of self-discovery and stark realizations about the world, and the people, he has known all his life, immersing readers in an ancient saga of empires, politics, and social orders.

Rose’s narrative brims with suspense and action-packed violence, juxtaposed with the poignant emotional depth and exploration of Cassius as a warrior, a slave, and a man, lending a sense of humanity and complexity to the grueling brutality of his station in life. This stark story of slavery, oppression, the cost of freedom, and the suffering that often accompanies power exchanges will resonate with fans of Roman history and classic hero tales.

Takeaway: Gladiator gifted with prophetic sight fights a cause much larger than himself.

Comparable Titles: Natalie Haynes's The Children of Jocasta, Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles.

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

Click here for more about The Golden Warrior

“To attain health, happiness, abundance—or anything else you desire—you must turn within” writes Collins in this simple road map to finding balance amid life’s challenges. She first delves into trauma and its lasting impacts on the body and psyche, drawing from her own childhood experiences to help readers “remove and release [their] trauma.” Once trauma is worked through, Collins urges readers to “be. love.”—an abbreviated reminder to “[embody] love in all aspects of one’s life”—in supportive tones that hint at the inner strength and knowledge we all harbor as answers to “find[ing] our way back to self.”

Collins (Her Phoenix Rising) explores complex topics throughout this thought-provoking guide, including how generational transference can hinder healing but also serves as a reminder that we are interconnected to our ancestral history: “It underscores the importance of understanding our lineage, not just as a source of pride or identity but as a reservoir of potential healing” she writes. To heighten self-awareness, Collins provides readers with her “be.love. GPS,” a mnemonic—breathe, emotions, pause, let go, open heart, visualize, energize, prioritize—she uses to seek personal wholeness. She highlights key points of that GPS, such as why focused breathing can help readers stay present, how emotions convey whether “thoughts and actions are in alignment with our true desires and well-being,” and the ways that neuroplasticity reshapes the brain, reinforcing “positive emotions, resilience, and compassion.”

Receiving love is always more difficult than giving it, Collins writes, and she beseeches readers to make self-love a priority—to improve mental health, reduce burnout, and build self-esteem. She offers easy steps to implement that guidance, such as beginning each day with meditation or practicing gratitude, and refers readers to her website to access online exercises from the text. That concise approach makes this imminently relatable, a valuable resource for that “sacred union of self-discovery, compassion, and conscious living.”

Takeaway: User-friendly guidance on how to make love the framework of life.

Comparable Titles: Shannon Kaiser’s The Self-Love Experiment, Cindi Buckley’s Love Awakens You.

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

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Niami seamlessly transitions from her first memoir, Kissing Asphalt, in this continuation of her ResilientAF series, recounting her journey into young adulthood with a “raw, unvarnished truth of my ongoing battles.” Her brutal honesty about sexual abuse, being out as a lesbian in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, and a damaging relationship with a father who once kidnapped and then later abandoned her—and her siblings—is an inspiring testament to the unshakeable essence of the human spirit, a moving narrative of a young girl attempting to find her place in the world—and learning that home is where you can be true to yourself.

From graduating high school to moving into her first apartment, Niami chronicles a rollercoaster life in sunny California, as she makes lifelong friends and tastes the LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. Her foray into drugs and alcohol use is painful to watch, as are the tragic losses and startling family revelations that threaten her “inner fortitude and wisdom,” as she must learn to cope with—and heal from—the most heartbreaking betrayals and violations from people she once believed in—“trustworthy monster[s],” as she calls them. A true icon of resilience, Niami continues to push forward, working through her pain, mistreatment, and the complex relationships she endures with her abusers, all while echoing a resounding message for anyone who has suffered from sexual abuse: “You are never alone, and it's not your fault.”

"Through this journey, I discovered healing was not always about complete eradication of pain, but rather about finding moments of respite, small victories that punctuated the struggle,” Niami wisely observes. Her razor-sharp prose is both transparent and vulnerable, much like the author herself, and her willingness to hold nothing back empowers—and gives voice to the deep wounds abuse can cause. This will resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Takeaway: Razor-sharp memoir of resilience and self-love in the face of trauma.

Comparable Titles: Sarafina Bianco's The House on Sunset, Gemma Carey's No Matter Our Wreckage.

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

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In Dennstedt’s first pages, decommissioned robot One Shot “awaken[s] to the aftermath of war,” half-broken and unable to reconnect to Mother Grid, or “Mama G,” the supercomputer that once served as his guide. With barely functioning weapons and a hobbling gait, One Shot ventures into a ruined city and finds the last thing he expects—a human girl named Amy. Following his “prime directives,” One Shot immediately offers himself into Amy’s service as her protector. Soon, the curious, snarky, and headstrong Amy wants to learn what lies outside the ruins of her home, kicking off a post-apocalyptic road-trip to discover both the wider world and what it means to be human.

Though it soon becomes obvious that Amy and One Shot are in incredible danger—stalked by invisible murder machines that Amy dubs “wolfhounds”—the question of survival quickly gives way to musings on humanity and what constitutes happiness. One Shot struggles to balance his protective programming with his newfound desire to help Amy become independent, as Amy develops from a frightened orphan into a fearless lover of wild animals and a brave fighter. One Shot can only be who he is, making him the perfect foil for a growing girl—“I’m not sure how much of this protection I can take,” she says at one point. Their adventure, narrated through a robot’s eyes, offers a uniquely empathetic perspective on what it means to grow up.

Dennstedt (author of When Dolls Talk) allows Amy’s whims to drive the plot, which perfectly mimics the touch-and-go feel of her mission, though the arc of her quest to find surviving humans and reclaim the city from evil robots falls somewhat flat in its conclusion. Dennstedt’s AI-generated illustrations strip some of the novel’s emotional impact, but overall, readers will find I, Robot Soldier an enjoyable, albeit highly untraditional, father-daughter adventure story full of searching, heartwarming moments.

Takeaway: A tender, post-apocalyptic road novel of finding family and fulfillment.

Comparable Titles: Andrew Krivak's The Bear, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun.

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

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In this second-chance romance by Goldson (author of Joy Comes in the Morning), a broken woman learns to save herself by helping others. Gabby McBay used to have it all—a successful career as a juvenile defense attorney, a husband and son, and the house of her dreams—until a drunk driver stole everyone she loved in one night. Still reeling from that loss, Gabby’s just focused on surviving, staying in a women’s shelter while she tries to make sense of why she’s still alive—until 16-year-old Caleb and his mentor/teacher, Devin Ramos, pop into her life unexpectedly, turning her world inside out and giving her a purpose once again.

Goldson hits all the marks for a feel-good romance brimming with Christian undertones. Gabby’s shelter director, Ms. Baptiste, is a gentle reminder that miracles still happen and never loses hope for Gabby’s life to turn around, even when Gabby’s given up on herself. Gabby’s pain over the loss of her family drives her every waking moment, but she’s reluctant to share it with Devin, despite the sparks that fly almost immediately between them. “As long as no one knew much, they couldn’t ask me questions about it,” she reflects, “I could go on living a semi-safe existence, masking my pain and accepting my pseudo reality.” That reality falls apart once Gabby realizes she’s needed again, this time to save Caleb from a crime he didn’t commit—and find her own redemption in the process.

Christian readers will appreciate the biblical messages Goldson infuses into this sweet narrative, and the theme of redemption carries serious weight throughout, cropping up not just for Gabby, but also for Devin, harboring hurt from his ex-fiancée, and Gabby’s father—an alcoholic who finally has an awakening late in the book. The happy ending is almost too neat, but readers will still fall for this refreshing couple.

Takeaway: Second-chance romance brimming with Christian messages of hope.

Comparable Titles: T.I. Lowe’s Lulu’s Cafe, DiAnn Mills’s Trace of Doubt.

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

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Power is scrutinized, manipulated, and venerated in Nuri’s uplifting debut collection, which offers stories where women turn their strength inside out and probe their own shades of vulnerability and delicacy. In the titular story, Jess, born to a drug addicted mother, navigates the mine fields of an abusive, terrifying childhood, punctuated by trauma, loss, and instability, before she’s adopted by a woman who grows to hate her. Though she’s harassed, mistreated, and eventually abandoned, Jess retains a gentle softness—and a resolute determination—that allows her to come full circle, breaking the chain of trauma for her own children.

That theme reverberates throughout Nuri’s collection, delivering a welcome thematic complexity when the prose and characters tend toward simplicity. Nuri digs into the intricacies of power and control, whether it’s the shallow musings of Ellen, who claims enjoyment from repeating vicious gossip, or the cunning Veta, a woman who “destroy[s] other people's lives without the slightest scruple.” In response, Nuri offers up a study on the persistent archetypes that drive sociocultural subtleties. “Hate” finds married couple Kira and Kim maneuvering their roles around societal expectations, later fragmented by shocking revelations that rock Kira’s very identity, forcing her to find strength in her own self-confidence and allowing her to feel “needed, valuable and useful” once again.

Nuri shapes these tales with an undercurrent of Christian faith, especially as a wellspring of empowerment for the collection’s women to survive and overcome their challenges, as in “The Story,” where “beacon of light” Sonya, devastated by her mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment options, receives a last-minute miracle and a new beginning of her own. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction paired with darker, contemplative themes on power, destiny, and self-reliance will be intrigued.

Takeaway: Intriguing collection that digs into the complexity of power and control.

Comparable Titles: Halle Hill’s Good Women, Julie Orringer.

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

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Laurie knows nothing is promised in Silicon Valley. An admin at a startup dating a pretty boy techie, she tolerates disrespect to keep her job secure, her rent affordable, and her boyfriend on track to propose. Just when success seems within reach, Mal, a bold Indian woman on the run from her family’s attempts to arrange her marriage, sweeps into her world, dislodging Laurie’s tenuously balanced life. Laurie can’t help but be drawn to her, and when the precarious housing market forces the two to become roommates, Laurie must suddenly confront her contradicting desires for security and passion.

Deracine (author of Driving by Starlight) charts a tender and complex sapphic romance across the ever-shifting landscape of San Francisco. With an insider’s keen eye, she paints the thrills and anxieties of tech startups in the early 2000s, filled with extravagant parties and abrupt layoffs. Laurie and Mal’s love story is further shaped by seismic shifts in American politics, from the financial crisis and Obama’s election to the DREAM Act. Her Golden Coast gives voice to the queer women who came of age before gay marriage was legalized—and fought for their place in male-dominated industries.

Deracine’s prose is graceful, comparing love to art—“the smell of it, the complexity and uncertainty of hue and the ache in her wrist”—and musing on the power of being “in the world but free of it.” Though the plot centers on Laurie’s self-actualization, the novel is at its finest when it turns to Mal, who continually renegotiates family loyalties while refusing the marriage expected of her. Mal singlehandedly demonstrates what Laurie gradually learns: that women can create lives for themselves and each other beyond what can be imagined. This fast-paced, sensitive novel is perfect for readers itching to see the heroine get the girl—those who realize that no, nothing is promised, but anything might be possible.

Takeaway: Two women create a life together in early 2000s Silicon Valley.

Comparable Titles: Taleen Voskuni’s Lavash at First Sight, Jeanette Winterson’s Written on the Body.

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

Click here for more about Her Golden Coast

Shelton Keyes is a man set to die, yet destined to live, in Heasley’s ambitious first installment in his Merge series. Sentenced to death for murdering a cop, Keyes is ready to face the music, until a mysterious priest arrives with members of the International Office of Special Science to offer him a chance at a new life. That means Keyes must travel deep under the Atlantic, joining fellow convicts on an experimental journey through the mysterious moonshock, to bridge the gaps between a dying Earth and the uninhabited worlds beyond—with a mission to save humanity, of course.

What unfolds from there is an odyssey of genesis, destruction, and discovery on a biblical scale, as the inmates fight to survive a world in the throes of creation. There is a fascinating, grandiose concept at work within Heasley’s tale, from a post-apocalypse Earth whose moon has altered into a “sphere of dark matter” to the uninhabited, ever-changing Lapis Elpis, where the action largely takes place. Keyes—a salvager before his downfall, who, in his new world muses “It’s like they’re half treating us like animals and half like kings”—and his cohort of ragtag prisoners-turned-colonizers can be difficult to connect with, but Heasley does offer a compelling study on the rituals of human nature through their eyes.

Heasley (author of Within a Wakening Earth) infuses this story with a biblical sense of scale while still framing some interesting, nuanced conversations around belief and the nature of God. That conceptual gravity comes at the expense, at times, of narrative momentum, but Heasley’s exploration of the meaning to life and death is provocative. Far beyond the buzz of a new chance for Earth, built on the last chances for the planet’s most unsavory characters, Heasley’s skill manifests in the story’s speculative atmosphere, granting this novel a largely universal approachability.

Takeaway: Mind-bending SF adventure of prisoners, a dying Earth, and an experimental journey.

Comparable Titles: Hannu Rajaniemi’s The Quantum Thief, Alastair Reynolds’s Pushing Ice.

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

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