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Okay, some can argue that he’s more post-hardcore than punk, but Geoff Rickly’s debut novel, Someone Who Isn’t Me, hums with musical prose that rivals the best lyrical writers of literary fiction.

A heroin addict and lead singer, the protagonist, Geoff, seeks sobriety through the psychedelic drug Ibogaine. His trip sends him on a psychic spiral through his guilt-laden past, forcing him to contend with the person he has become. Rickly depicts Geoff’s wild tour across the United States, not holding back on the bickering or the drugs. It’s a dirty novel in the way that addiction can be dirty. But it also breaks the trend of stories about addiction. Refusing to pause on the fallout, Rickly writes beyond into recovery and hope.

2. No Names

Author: Greg Hewett

Publisher: Coffee House Press (April 2025)

Print Length: 352 pages

ISBN: 9781566897259

Greg Hewett’s No Names is by far the slowest moving of the works of literary fiction in this list. Think Sleep’s Dopesmoker. Okay, maybe it’s doom metal. Whatever the case, punk is the root.

As Hewett skips around from POV to POV, a large focus is a punk band called, of course, The No Names, and the sketchy European tour that ended the band. But there’s also quite a bit of classical music in the background, as well as a long exploration of friendships entangled with sexual experimentation. Maybe the end drags on a bit longer than expected, but the prose holds up, a song that slowly diminishes rather than ending with a crash.

Looking for more literary fiction recommendations? Check out our best books of 2024!

3. Earth Angel

Author: Madeline Cash

Publisher: CLASH Books (April 18, 2023)

Print Length: 152 pages

ISBN: 9781955904698

Easy to read cover-to-cover in a single sitting, Earth Angel is all power chords, heavy and fast. Cash’s sentences are short and piercing and her endings cut to nothing rather than attempting a summation or even a meaning. Because everything is meaningless, right?

Think Biblical plagues, Isis recruits, childless millennials and millennials with children that they’re not quite sure what to do with. Think designer drugs, broke city dwellers, homicidal fantasies, porn. Maybe Earth Angel is too modern to hold to the ‘80s DIY ethos, but it’s still counterculture AF. It still questions authority, culture, and god. It’s a witty collection for confused kids who definitely don’t want to grow up.

4. Scumbag Summer

Author: Jillian Luft

Publisher: House of Vlad Press (June 2024)

Print Length: 192 pages

ISBN: 9798320644059

More sex, more drugs, more blood and fallout, Scumbag Summer explores smoky bowling alleys and dive bars, the crass scenery of Orlando. Though she’s a college grad, the protagonist seems intent on continuing her nihilistic young-adulthood, refusing to settle into any kind of square, middle class grind.

Orlando for her is No Doz and 7 layer burritos, and as she lodges herself more deeply into the dumpster fire, she spots the pages with social commentary, a distrust of wealth and power and an understanding of “trash culture,” of those stuck in on the lower rungs of the social hierarchy who sometimes can’t even imagine the climb. Scumbag Summer also contains one of the most punk lines I’ve ever read: “Love is a friendly butcher.”

5. Ghosts of East Baltimore

Author: David Simmons

Publisher: Broken River Books (2022)

Print Length: 202 pages

ISBN: 9781940885544

A Baltimore native with a deep understanding of the underground, David Simmons shrugs off the rules in his debut literary crime thriller. As with the other books on this list, there’s a unique and manic music behind Simmons’ prose. It’s rough music, blasted loud. I mean what’s more punk than a protagonist named Worm who gets out of prison to find that he’s the only one who can take out a drug ring smuggling dangerous chemicals into his community?

Simmons raises the bar for punk AF literature with his cutting social commentary, including “crack epidemic” history lessons and a deep understanding of Baltimore’s crime and corruption-ridden past.

6. Hellions

Author: Julia Elliott

Publisher: Tin House Books (April 15, 2025)

Print Length: 272 pages

ISBN: 9781963108064

Witches, Cryptids, Ghosts, and other supernatural entities plague the pages of Julia Elliott’s strange collection of longer short fiction. No flash stories here. But just like when you enter a DIY venue and feel surrounded by like minds, the pages of Hellions is a comforting place for those who have normalized the weird.

In “The Maiden,” a community trampoline allows a witchy girl to show up the popular kids with her otherworldly acrobatics before disappearing to her woodland squat. And in “Hellion,” a tough twelve-year-old tames an alligator. Elliott’s stories are filled with loners and weirdos outperforming their normative peers and youngsters challenging their parents’ conservative ideals. What’s more punk than that?

7. Hey You Assholes

Author: Kyle Seibel

Publisher: CLASH Books (March 25, 2025)

Print Length: 272 pages

ISBN: 9781960988393

Seibel’s story of trying to publish this debut book of short literary fiction, Hey You Assholes is filled with almost as many bizarre twists as the book itself. It reminds me of a 21st century reenactment of ‘80s punk bands banging down doors to book a studio or distro a record. He couldn’t have found a better home for his book than Clash Books, a publisher of some of the strangest and most energetic fiction on the market. Energetic is the word, because even the longer stories don’t stop driving. ThinkLandowner Plays Dopesmoker 666% Faster and with No Distortion.

Hey You Assholes is a deep dive into the lives of unpopular people: soft-hearted alcoholics, wiley factory workers, and Navy veterans who feel forever lost at sea. None of Seibel’s characters have money or power and they definitely don’t have any respect for The Man.

Want some thrills in your bookshelf? Check out the best indie thrillers!

About the Author

Nick Gardner is a writer, teacher, and critic who has worked as a winemaker, chef, painter, shoe salesman, and addiction counselor. His latest collection of stories from the Rust Belt, Delinquents And Other Escape Attempts, is out now from Madrona Books. He lives in Ohio and Washington, DC and works as a beer and wine monger in Maryland.

Thank you for reading Nick Gardner’s “Literary Fiction Books That Are Punk AF!” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Literary Fiction Books That Are Punk AF appeared first on Independent Book Review.

8 of the Best Book Series of the Last Few Years

IndieBookView — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

8 of the Best Book Series of the Last Few Years

by Joe Walters & the IBR Staff

Read a series, experience a world.

Some stories can’t be told in one book. Some need time to develop. Some need context. Some characters are just too good to say goodbye to.

Writing a great fictional book series is its own dedicated art form. You’ve got to enthrall readers so much that they don’t want to leave for 1,000 pages. Even if you’re Leo Tolstoy, that’s a tough thing to convince a modern reader.

My team and I have reviewed over 2,000 indie books since 2018, so at this point, we know what you want.

We know it’s these books.

Here are some of the best book series of the last few years!

1. The Pinter P.I. Series

Author: Lisa Boyle

Subgenre: Crime

Series Length: 3 Books

Reviewed by: Erin Britton

A rip-roaring crime series with complex, evolving characters and even better plot twists and curveballs

This series ticks all the boxes for modern crime fiction. It’s got unlikely heroes solving genuinely surprising mysteries with enough well-paced action to make the thriller aspects come to life. The Navajo setting also adds cultural richness to the storyline.

Both of the first two books received starred reviews at Independent Book Review, and good news for all involved: the third book is on its way out in July. So read the first two stars now, so you’re ready for The Pusher Man.

2. Moonshiner Mysteries

Author: Sherilyn Decter

Subgenre: Historical Fiction / Women’s

Series Length: 4 Books

Reviewed by: Joelene Pynnonen

A historical mystery series that just keeps getting better

Set in Montana’s gold fields during prohibition, the Moonshiner Mysteries series follows Delores Bailey, a resilient young woman who flees a dangerous, abusive, crime-infested family in Philadelphia to make a home (and a moonshine still) in the middle of the Big Sky state.

Every single book in this series has been named to our best of the year book list in the year it was published. Decter’s recipe for this moonshining series is infused with sweetness, charm, good friends, historical clout, and backstabbing enemies.

If you’re looking for an authentic historical atmosphere and a lovable leading lady, you’ve struck gold with the Moonshiners Mysteries.

Here are my tips on how to develop a healthy reading habit!

3. Detective Hiroshi Series

Author: Michael Pronko

Subgenre: Crime / Japan

Series Length: 6 books

Reviewed by: Joe Walters & Peggy Kurkowski

First-rate detective fiction; non-stop mystery

I was blown away by Azabu Getaway, the first novel we reviewed of Pronko’s. It’s not every day I encounter a thriller with as many mysteries as that one. It keeps you constantly asking questions, zipping around from perspective to perspective to complicate each situation and to develop the chase-down, but it always makes sure you don’t skip a beat at the same time.

Peggy Kurkowski says that Shitamachi Scam, the series’ most recent novel is, “a superb and timely plot with old school sleuthing and witty, compelling characters.”

It takes a deft writer to pull off prose and mysteries like these. Luckily there are 6!

4. The Lykanos Chronicles

Author: Joseph Stone

Subgenre: Dark Fantasy

Series Length: 3 books

Reviewed by: Joe Walters & Alexandria Ducksworth

Addictive dark fantasy where the author always remains one step ahead

Werewolves traipse down the dark streets of 1920s France in The Lykanos Chronicles. It begins with Criminal Beware, “a dark web of paranormal mystery… that’ll give you more than you bargained for.”

Stone’s wolves are smart, sophisticated, and insanely powerful. Like reading Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire—but with werewolves—the world of this series is beyond intriguing. Alexandria Ducksworth says, “Stone has the magical touch with worldbuilding.”

Review 3

5. The Phoenix Elite

Author: C.T. Clark

Subgenre: Science Fiction / Action & Adventure

Series Length: 2 books

Reviewed by: Chelsey Tucker

Fascinating technology, crazy schemes, a bit of freaky science, and a spectacular collision of historical people

Each one of The Phoenix Elite, a technically discontinued experiment made up of seven individuals from around the world, is 99.5% related to a prominent historical figure. A creative, eccentric genius; a devoutly religious teenager of the 15th century; a ground-breaking leader from Ancient Egypt; and a controversial revolutionary guerilla.

Cloning historical figures to create a super team to save the world against nuclear destruction is wild and worth the ride.

6. Just In Time

Author: Howard Wetsman

Subgenre: Science Fiction / Time Travel

Series Length: 2 books

Reviewed by: Joelene Pynnonen

Time traveling with a Roman Emperor gets even better as this enthralling series goes on.

When Joe Schwartz, a Late Roman and Byzantine professor at Tulane University, is approached by a young man after one of his lectures, he’s not prepared for how drastically his worldview will change.

It turns out—this man, Jules, is actually Flavius Claudius Julianus, the eventual emperor of Rome. The Jules that Joe meets is a much younger man, nowhere near the age where he will take the crown and the realm. And he needs help.

This series explores time travel through a contemplative, thoughtful lens, which gives the distinct feeling of burrowing down for a bit of cozy sci-fi when you settle in to read it.

Many of the aspects that made the first book, House on Constantinople, such a phenomenal read return in Just in Time Service, only bigger and better. The fusion of real history and fiction is just as vital, and as more time travelers are introduced, we’re exposed to a far wider range of historical events and periods.

Get yourself one of the best e-readers for reading at night and on the go!

7. The Ferren Trilogy

Author: Richard Harland

Subgenre: Fantasy / Angels & Demons

Series Length: 3 books

Reviewed by: Alexandria Ducksworth

Science and religion battle it out in this fast-paced dystopian fantasy with loads of fascinating lore.

In Richard Harland’s hands, the future contains humans, angels, wandering spirits, and technological monstrosities. And they’re constantly fighting for dominance of our post-apocalyptic world.

One of the most rewarding parts of this series is that you get to watch Ferren, a young man who watches an angel fall from Heaven, transform from a humdrum follower to a brave leader just as the conversation about science and religion really comes to a head.

This series is a non-stop thrill-ride that takes place in a cleverly crafted world where you can bet the characters will get their rightful endings.

Review 3

8. The Adventures of the Flash Gang

Author: M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh

Subgenre: Middle Grade Fiction / Historical

Series Length: 3 books

Reviewed by: Warren Maxwell

A rollicking series of crooked schemes and youthful hijinks set in the gritty underworld of Depression-era Pittsburgh

Book one, Exploding Experiment, is a gripping story of two young children who foil a vast international conspiracy. Book two, Treasonous Tycoon, is an emotional, noir-tinged sequel that has street orphans investigating a Nazi plot, and it’s all splashed with humor and playful dialogue. The third…well, we can’t wait for that one either!

This middle grade series is a special one. It has a deep sense of history, especially in book two, and its characters are alive and vital and stand in the way of being young and overlooked. They are important; our younger ones are too.

What are your favorite book series of all time? Let us know in the comments!

Thank you for reading “8 of the Best Book Series of the Last Few Years!” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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The Best Books We Read in 2024

IndieBookView — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:31:13 +0000

The Best Books We Read in 2024

by Joe Walters & the IBR Staff

“Unforgettable!” “Perfect!” The best books we read in 2024.

We do things a little differently here at Independent Book Review.

We review indie books only, and we throw publication date out of the window. This best of the year book list ranges from 1899 to 2025, because what matters most is quality. Relevance is wrapped up in that, regardless of release date.

In previous years, we’ve asked our reviewers to include 3-5 of their best books of the year, but we’re bigger now. Our reviewer list has grown, and we’ve got all the more reason to zero in on the best of the best.

21 reviewers, only 2 books to choose as their best reads of 2024 (with some honorable mentions thrown in for good measure). Did your favorite indie make the cut?

Here are the best books we read in 2024.

1. Fire Exit

Author: Morgan Talty

Genre: Literary Fiction / Native American & Aboriginal Fiction

ISBN: 9781959030553

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Tin House Books

In which a life can transform in the quiet

Charles Lamosway watches his daughter live a better life across the river from him. One where she fits in. Where she doesn’t know she’s half-white, half-unwelcome. Should Charles tell her he’s her father, or does not knowing what runs through her blood provide more for her than the truth would?

Fire Exit is one of those novels that comes across as quiet, but in the context of these people’s lives, it is earth-shattering. What is more powerful than blood? I left this novel knowing real people, ones I was sad to say goodbye to. This is an exquisite gem and one I’m proud to place at #1 on my list.

2. Nothing Left to Lose, or How Not to Start a Commune

Author: Jeff Richards

Genre: Memoir

ISBN: 9781953639202

Print Length: 268 pages

Publisher: Circuit Breaker Books

All your favorite 70s stereotypes come to life in this laugh out loud hippie memoir

Memoirs can be about nothing and everything. Or they can be Nothing Left to Lose, one person’s story that represents so many people’s stories.

How could author Jeff Richards possibly have done all of what we imagine the 70s counterculture movement to do? Drugs, sex, road trips, communes, you name it. Jeff Richards has done it. Some memoirs are about the content; some about the prose. This is both.

I didn’t want to put a book with a 2025 release date in my best reading of 2024 list, but once I finished Nothing Left to Lose, I had no choice. Put this on your radar now before it floors it out of town.

Honorable Mentions:

My Father Once Told Me by Blas Telleria (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
A Mouthful of Air by Amy Koppelman (Bookshop | Amazon)
The Jellyfish by Boum (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Ohmigod!

Author: Aaron Asadi

Genre: Literary Fiction / Humor

ISBN: 9781399985819

Print Length: 234 pages

A funny, inventive story about a man with anxiety and the return of god

How many people have thought about what life would be like if their god came back to Earth as he’s promised? What would you say? What would you wear? Aaron Asadi takes the return to places you’ve never imagined (and won’t expect) in Ohmigod!

I’m still debating what I think everything means in this story—the mark of a damn good, thought-provoking novel. A couple times, my mouth hung wide open. I gasped. Laughed. And yet, the writing style is so casual that things feel calm right before they explode. It makes big reveals feel even bigger.

I read Ohmigod! with haste and excitement. Asadi takes what could be a common or simple idea and transforms it into something creative and digestible and funny and kinda scary but also somehow super chill. I could talk about this book for a long time. Someone ask me!

2. Until the Streetlights Come On

Author: Ginny Yurich, M.E.d.

Genre: Nonfiction / Parenting

ISBN: 9781540903402

Print Length: 224 pages

Publisher: Baker Book House

The PERFECT read for parents looking to simplify their lives with the outdoors.

Slow down and enhance your natural rhythm from being outside more! There are so many parenting books to read as a new parent, but this has been far and away the most impactful one for me. Your kids need to go outside at any age. Matter of fact, I do too. Learn how and why in this supremely important, accessible book.

Give to yourself this holiday season! Here are the BEST gifts for book lovers.

1. Apocalypsing

Author: Jason Anderson

Genre: Science Fiction / Satire

ISBN: 9798990230972

Print Length: 308 pages

Publisher: Roadside Press

Death and the apocalypse is as good a time as any to take charge of your life.

Domestic foibles. Impending armageddon. Aliens in the transdimensional afterlife. Jason Anderson’s Apocalypsing is a quick-witted, pop-culture savvy, sci-fi satire that is equal parts absurd and introspective.

The apocalypse will not simply be a tragedy to live through, but an active verb of what the people will do to save each other’s souls in the end times. This book is hilarious, current, and—at times—tender. An excellent choice for fans of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Good Omens.

2. The Peril of Remembering Nice Things

Author: Jeffrey Wade Gibbs

Genre: Memoir

ISBN: 9781953932297

Print Length: 284 pages

Publisher: April Gloaming Publishing

A powerful memoir reminding us to find the truth in our stories when both history and memory fail us

History is rarely captured in its nuanced entirety; the full truth often lies in the shadows of the stories left untold. Jeffrey Wade Gibbs’s memoir shines a light on repressed memories and warped histories through an investigation guided by the heart.

Well researched & beautifully written, this memoir is as much an ode to the American South as it is an indictment of it. Here, readers will come to see that to truly love something is to also be critical of its failings.

Honorable Mentions:

Somebody’s Someone by Linda Oatman High (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Where When It Rains

Author: John F. Duffy

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9798218456955

Print Length: 302 pages

Hedonism meets consequences in this sumptuously devastating literary novel.

Where When It Rains is a devastating study of the consequences of living as though the world and everything in it is meaningless. While the characters are a lost, numbed, and nihilistic lot, there’s an underlying thoughtfulness to them that makes them feel incredibly authentic. These are people who have been disappointed by life time and time again, who don’t have the language for the emotions they’re feeling. So they brush them away with drugs and alcohol and the companionship of others who care as little as themselves.

While other novels explore this sort of hard-nosed cynicism, few show the raw vulnerability and deep humanity lying under the façade. As painful as it can be at times, Where When It Rains is lovely. Dark, bleak, and hopeless, but lovely nonetheless.

2. Whiskey Wars

Author: Sherilyn Decter

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Historical

ISBN: 9781777515171

Print Length: 358 pages

The stakes just keep climbing in this satisfying prohibition-era mystery series.

The thing I’ve admired in every one of the Moonshiner Mysteries so far is the fact that the formula changes so drastically. The characters grow in each novel; there’s no systematic paint-by-numbers plot line. The story follows whatever trajectory it needs to reach a satisfying conclusion.

This latest installment has all the charm and excitement that fans will expect and enough historical clout and action to hook new readers. It’s about a moonshiner in Montana whose moonshine still is destroyed, and she turns to prohibition icon Mickey Duffy for help.

Honorable Mentions:

The House on Constantinople by Howard Wetsman (Amazon | Review)

1. Glitches of Gods

Author: Jurgen “Jojo” Appelo

Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy

ISBN: 9789083423616

Print Length: 524 pages

A genius engineer cultivates the next big thing in AI and keeps rebooting himself into different realities

Julien may be my favorite fictional character of the year. I remain in awe of him like a professor whose work I just discovered, and I also really want to be his friend. Julien is laugh-out-loud funny even when he’s having miserable banter with his AI assistant. He’s just doing his best in an impossible situation.

I can’t thank the author enough for Glitches of Gods existing as a reminder there’s always human-made art out there for those who seek it; that there are still people who care about humanity and who care about creating clever stories that convey a powerful message. I could not recommend this story more, especially if you love sci-fi and imaginative future-tech, but are feeling overwhelmed or disheartened by the current mainstream conversation around AI and how it has permeated the zeitgeist.

2. A Bitter Pill (The Bookshop Mysteries, 1)

Author: S.A. Reeves

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Cozy

ISBN: 9781068720932

Print Length: 306 pages

A charming, bookish modern mystery

Bitter Pill never loses focus from its charming setting and instantly adorable leading ladies: bookshop employees chasing leads and questioning potential suspects, while trying to brim up sales for their beloved Bookworm.

I feel as though I’ve found my new favorite bookshop. Only caveat is that I’ll have to open Bitter Pill to visit it again and again. Fans of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building are a perfect match for this novel, as t is brewed with an intergenerational detective duo and a balanced blend of time-honored wisdom and considered insight from its older characters.

Honorable Mentions:

Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
Jigsaw of Light by J.C. Button (Amazon | Review)

1. The Wood Sprite

Author: James Dobie

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Paranormal

ISBN: 9798987133835

Print Length: 358 pages

About as wild as thrillers get

The Wood Sprite by James Dobie is filled with surprises. It drips with murder, horror, and strange family secrets straight out of a V.C. Andrews novel.

Each chapter in this alluringly dark novel is a cliffhanger. You’ll struggle to catch your breath, just as Dobie’s characters do. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but you won’t stop reading despite the heart-pounding trepidation. Paranormal thriller fans should definitely pick this up.

2. Mimic

Author: T. Kolodziej

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Supernatural

ISBN: 9781738779758

Print Length: 320 pages

An exciting paranormal adventure with a swirl of the macabre, mystery, and some downright creepiness

Content creator Damion Beck is last seen on a livestream playing with a spirit board. His whereabouts are unknown from the moment his camera malfunctions. Initially, people believe the culprit behind Damion’s death is an ordinary human criminal, but the more that psychic Dee King dives into the case, the more she realizes the murder suspect might be a multi-dimensional monstrosity.

Mimic’s mystery and plot twists are its sparkling stand-out features, and this mystical creature makes it a real page-turner, especially once you venture through the puzzle of its purpose.

A fun, fast-paced joyride. Mimic has it all.

Honorable Mentions:

The Passenger by Joie Lesin (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. A Sense for Memory

Author: R.H. Stevens

Genre: Science Fiction / Illustrated

ISBN: 9780645922424

Print Length: 371 pages

An unforgettable immersion—smart science fiction at its very best

Immersive details yield a great narrative experience for the reader in this collection of two novellas. The book’s worldbuilding is impressive, exquisitely detailed in every aspect from geography to biology to cultural norms. The individuals and societies portrayed would be called “alien” by humans, but we’re not there. While the conflicts are relatable to planet Earth, there are no Sol system explorers to weigh in with opinions.

A Sense for Memory raises important political and ecofiction themes too: How does society balance individual rights with society’s needs? What is cruel punishment? What are sentient beings’ responsibilities to the land and “lower” animal and plant life?

This book is a real pleasure to read.

2. Deluge

Author: Carolyn Watson Dubisch

Genre: Middle Grade / Graphic Novel

ISBN: 9781312369603

Print Length: 50 pages

Laura’s new town is cursed in ways both obvious and hidden.

In Deluge: The People That Melt in the Rain, a stranger comes to town. Yet it’s the town itself that’s strange; the new girl, Laura, appears to be perfectly normal. Laura and her mom move to Deluge for a new, perhaps too-good-to-be true, job. But they are immediately confronted by a frog-infested rain shower, a wonderful opening scene for the graphic novel.

Deluge’s illustrations are phenomenal. The drawings are realistic, with palettes ranging from muted to colorful, depending on the needs of the narrative. Deluge will appeal to readers young and old, both for its interesting story, appealing characters with real problems, supernatural and mysterious aspects, and beautiful graphics.

Honorable Mentions:

Who Killed Leeanne? by Mira Gibson (Bookshop | Amazon)
Alien Nation by Raymond King (Amazon | Review)

Bookify your wardrobe with some of our favorite book shirts!

1. The Tower of Love

Author: Rachilde

Translator: Jennifer Higgins

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9781962728003

Print Length: 176 pages

Publisher: Wakefield Press

Gothic, gorgeous, thrilling, unnerving, and deliriously ahead of its time

The Tower of Love is a strange, 125-year old book by a transgressive French author who was known for cross-dressing (illegal in France at the time), spent two years in prison for the publication of one of her novels, and otherwise broke every imaginable rule. Given Rachilde’s undertakings, I was floored by the simple narrative force of this novel about two men locked in a lighthouse together.

There are echoes of Melville’s Ishmael in the shifting naivety of the lighthouse-keeping narrator Jean Maleux. But behind his naivety are reverberations of a knowledge he won’t share, histories we don’t have access to. Frankly, the book is as deep as a well and the definition of a must read.

2. Tap Dancing on Everest

Author: Mimi Zieman, MD

Genre: Memoir / Climbing

ISBN: 9781493078431

Print Length: 244 pages

A riveting memoir about the travails of growing up, the trauma of mountain climbing, and the elation of being in the great outdoors

Beginning at the dramatic climax of a years-in-the-making expedition to climb Everest’s east face without oxygen for the first time, Zieman’s memoir doubles back to trace the bumpy path that led her to become the team medical officer as a twenty-five year old medical school student.

What materializes is a deep portrait of Mimi’s youth and milieu in New York as the ambitious daughter of two Holocaust survivors.

The overall quality of the writing in this book is exceptional. The memoir’s many large and small vignettes, its minor characters and central ones all leap into focus. Whether Zieman’s haunted, psychotherapist father or a boy that she rescues in a climbing accident, personality and life abound. A beautiful, wrenching story about the trials that we endure and the rewards we reap.

Honorable Mention:

The Thinking-About-Gladys-Machine by Mario Levrero (Bookshop | Amazon)
The Hidden Power of Rising Dividends by Greg Donaldson (Amazon | Review)

1. No One Left

Author: Lisa Boyle

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Crime

ISBN: 9781736607794

Print Length: 348 pages

Deception and discrimination threaten life and liberty on a Navajo reservation in this stellar crime thriller.

No One Left is an intricately plotted and action-packed sequel to In the Silence of Decay. As the first book makes clear, life in New Mexico in the late 1970s is far from paradise, especially for the Native American community living on the reservation near Sanostee.

The murder mystery at the heart of No One Left proves to be even more complex and convoluted than it initially appears, giving way for a number of twists and turns as the story progresses. The story imparts with some keen social commentary and historical insight along with its compelling thriller aspects.

A rip-roaring and conspiracy-filled crime novel with good characters and even better curveballs.

2. Blood and Mascara

Author: Colin Krainin

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Detective

ISBN: 9798989986804

Print Length: 292 pages

A hard-boiled detective story set in the late 1990s but with more than a hint of classic noir like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon

Colin Krainin’s Blood and Mascara traverses the seamier side of Washington, DC and exposes all the blood, gore, and corruption to be found there. Through pitch-perfect PI dialogue and a plot packed with political duplicity, sleaze, and casual violence, Krainin presents a fiendish murder mystery that shines a light on both the best and worst of humanity.

An old-school detective novel with modern sensibilities and a healthy dose of nastiness, Blood and Mascara pairs an engagingly flawed PI with an eclectic supporting cast and pits them against both a complex plot and a host of nefarious villains.

Honorable Mention:

Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Patterns

Author: H.L. Gaydos

Genre: Memoir / Art

ISBN: 9798891321861

Print Length: 198 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A beautiful take on how the moments that make up the story of a life can only be fully revealed with the perspective of time

In Patterns: The Mystical Journey of an Ordinary Life, visual artist, professor, and long-time psychiatric nurse Honey Lee Gaydos combines memories and collage art in a look back at pivotal moments in her life.

Though to outsiders these moments would seem mostly unremarkable, they are laden with a rush of feeling for the author, and they lead to changes in her life that are at times small and at times large, from adjusting her outlook to uprooting her life and moving to another state.

Patterns is an exquisite combination of powerful art and evocative prose. It’s a journey into beauty and emotion by embracing one’s own complicated nature and the confounding forces of the world we inhabit.

2. The Last Whaler

Author: Cynthia Reeves

Genre: Historical Fiction / Literary

ISBN: 9781646035083

Print Length: 326 pages

Publisher: Regal House Publishing

A dark, emotional tale about facing the harshness of grief while living through a brutal, sunless Arctic winter

Astrid thought she could do it. She thought she could accompany her husband, Tor, to his beluga whaling station for the hunting season. In some ways, she was right. In others, not quite.

Just as they think their trials in the harsh north are over, one miscalculation leaves them stranded, facing the long cold period of 24-hour darkness, when the sun doesn’t rise for months.

The Last Whaler touches on themes of isolation, faith, and storytelling to process life’s darker moments. It meditates on the effect humans have when engaged in large-scale hunting in delicate ecosystems. It’s about these big themes, but it’s also about the struggle of a single person to stay alive despite overwhelming grief. Then to stay alive despite overwhelming odds. It’s about how the dangers that lurk within us are as terrifying as those to be found without. And the dogged impulse of the living to keep on living.

Honorable Mention:

The Insistence of Memory by Susan Quilty (Amazon | Review)
But I Digretch by Gretchen Astro Turner (Bookshop | Amazon | Revie w)

Got enough room for all these new books? Check out these cheap bookshelves!

1. Bad Foundations

Author: Brian Allen Carr

Genre: Literary Fiction / Absurdist

ISBN: 9781955904865

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Clash Books

**A working-class White Noise, a story about family, crap jobs, paranoia, and an uncertain future**

Cook works in crawl spaces, inspecting them for rot, but even when he emerges from the claustrophobic confines, driving across Indiana to the next client, the crawl follows him.

From the canon of working-class literature and literary family stories comes Bad Foundations, an unputdownable dive into the crawlspace sludge of a working man’s life and the inevitable rebirth that comes when he emerges to see his family in a not-so-blindingly-fluorescent light.

2. The Body Is a Temporary Gathering Place

Author: Andrew Bertaina

Genre: Essays

ISBN: 9781957392301

Print Length: 184 pages

Publisher: Autofocus Books

Bertaina is at his best in this collection of meditative essays on fatherhood, marriage, and self

Each essay is incredibly personal, holding nothing back, bearing all. It’s funny. It’s deep. It will glue you to your seat pondering your own life, finding those strange connections between the internal and external worlds that make up a life.

Honorable Mentions:

Of Fathers and Gods by Jim Roberts (Bookshop | Amazon)
You Could Be That Kind of Girl by Téa Franco (Booksho p | Amazo n)
Leasing by D.T. Robbins (Amazo n)

1. 1986

Author: Will Stepp

Genre: Literary Fiction / Short Stories

ISBN: 9798991503600

Print Length: 164 pages

Atmospheric & real—a recollective mood on childhood, family, and friends in the 1980s, coated with the nostalgia of times gone by

1986 is a collection of interlinked short stories following an unnamed boy—turned teen, turned man—and his ever-so-relatable childhood, filled with Nintendos, G.I. Joe’s, Garbage Pail Kid cards, and all the things they could get in trouble for when they’re bored and have friends they want to impress.

This book is about the feeling. The atmosphere. The time. The things we can’t forget, well into adulthood. We can learn so much from kids, as long as we’re willing enough to listen. This is the only childhood they’ve got, and they’re doing things you’re too afraid to do. Jump back in time with your old self in this knife-sharp story collection.

2. What We Tried to Bury Grows Here

Author: Julian Zabalbeascoa

Genre: Literary Fiction / Historical

ISBN: 9781953387530

Print Length: 300 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

A dynamic tale built of different voices and the comprehensive struggles of war

In 1936, Isidro Elejalde leaves his Basque village in Northern Spain to join the combat against the fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War. While Isidro serves as the story’s central figure, his journey unfolds through a web of compelling voices, all telling of his life and simultaneously exposing the larger story.

Zabalbeascoa’s debut is a sharply compelling exploration of complex war-time themes, featuring a propulsive narrative structure and a story that challenges readers to consider the need for human empathy in the most difficult times.

“I want this war to end,” I said, “but I want to preserve life. Are both things possible?”

Honorable Mentions:

Fathers and Fugitives by S.J. Naudé (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
Writing for Money & Meaning by Julie Anne Eason (Amazo n | Review)

1. Children of Madness

Author: Jarrett Brandon Early

Genre: Fantasy / Epic

ISBN: 9781734231489

Print Length: 684 pages

Stranger Things meets Lord of the Rings in a new generation’s classic fantasy epic.

Children of Madness is an epic adventure led by a new group of heroes that will capture even the coldest of hearts. Readers will fall in love with the Sour Flower Gang almost instantly. As a group, they’re whip-smart and skilled. They vote for things as a group, swear profusely, and often are filled with joy despite considerable circumstances.

Early manages to balance light and dark throughout an immense journey, not only by including scenes where kids can be kids, but also by infusing supporting characters with some measure of both good and evil.

With winning characters and fantastic creatures and locations, Children of Madness feels like it could be read straight from a leather-bound book with gold leaf edges and all. Timeless.

2. Bomb Island

Author: Stephen Hundley

Genre: Literary Fiction / Coming of Age

ISBN: 9798885740258

Print Length: 224 pages

Publisher: Hub City Press

A tense coming-of-age tale about a boy’s last few weeks in a commune off the coast of Georgia

Fish lives on an island with his found family: Whistle, his “sage-mother;” Reef, the “young man;” Nutzo, “the old man;” and Sugar, a full-grown white tiger. But Sugar’s behavior becomes more predatory, and Nutzo goes missing. When Fish meets a girl on the mainland, he finds himself stuck between vastly different worlds.

Bomb Island is packed with evocative symbolism and big-hearted character dynamics, making for a cataclysmic, fast-paced story that kept me reading through the night.

Honorable Mentions:

A Professional Lola by E.P. Tuazon (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Our Daughter Who Art In America

Editor: Mukana Press

Genre: Short Story Anthology / African

ISBN: 9798989694617

Print Length: 144 pages

Publisher: Mukana Press

Smart, heartfelt stories that challenge norms and spark important conversations

From the bustling and chaotic atmosphere of Lagos markets to the dark shorelines of South Africa to the hot territory of Kenya, Our Daughter, Who Art In America is a diverse, poignant, and engaging anthology that transcends borders and invites readers into the heart of human experience and African culture.

The book—collectively authored by eleven talented African writers from different parts of the world—navigates the theme of grief with a nuanced and multifaceted approach. Across the anthology, grief is explored not merely as a standalone emotion but as an intricate part of the human experience, intertwined with other themes like motherhood, resilience, cultural identity, and societal norms. It’s a thought-provoking kaleidoscopic view of the human experience.

2. The Significance of Curly Hair

Author: Kara L. Zajac

Genre: Memoir / Grief & Loss

ISBN: 9798891322868

Print Length: 364 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A poignant story about the bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother

The Significance of Curly Hair is a heartwarming and enlightening memoir that reminds us to cherish our time with our loved ones. Through a six-day account, author Kara L. Zajac takes us on a journey of grief, healing, family bonding, and hope.

The Significance of Curly Hair is more than a memoir of loss; it is a celebration of life, love, and family. It serves as a special reminder to appreciate the present and hold our loved ones close.

1. A Thousand Tiny Stitches

Author: Stephanie Claypool

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9798891324183

Print Length: 314 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A tender tale about making a late daughter’s dreams come true

After a tragedy takes the lives of her daughter Amanda and her son-in-law Matt, Lily Wolfe becomes the caretaker of her heartbroken eight-year-old granddaughter Emma. Lily is left to deal with Amanda’s estate, including the house she dreamed of turning into a quilt shop.

A Thousand Tiny Stitches takes the mentality of “it takes a village to raise a child” and applies it to a bigger picture concept: it takes a village to make dreams happen. Throughout the novel, the compassion and aid from others is endless. I loved the emotion and interpersonal lives of her cast of characters, and I’m confident you will too. Stephanie Claypool pens a masterful story of grief, love, and hard work with this one.

2. Not the Same River

Author: W.A. Polf

Genre: Short Story Collection

ISBN: 9798891323056

Print Length: 316 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Discover the profound within the ordinary with this impactful collection.

W. A. Polf’s Not The Same River explores the timelessness of the ordinary experiences that make life extraordinary. Polf’s stories traverse the terrain of turmoil and triumph, even when triumph looks a little more commonplace than you might expect.

Not the Same River exemplifies what depth of character and emotion can look like on the page. Each story will give you something real & genuine to think about. There’s something absolutely wonderful and haunting about these stories and how they make you look at life.

Honorable Mentions:

Nice Try, A.I by Lisa George Abraham (Amazon | Review)

1. Strings

Author: Joseph Edwin Haeger

Genre: Literary Fiction / Speculative

ISBN: 9798325616952

Print Length: 295 pages

An intricately woven exploration of one man’s journey through the splintered possibilities of fatherhood

Fatherhood is redefined through speculative glimpses of love, fear, and uncertain futures in Joseph Edwin Haeger’s Strings. In the aftermath of an explosion, William, our protagonist, is consumed by an overwhelming fear for his unborn child, a fear that unravels his mind across three distinct narratives.

Despite the fear and uncertainty, despite the heartbreak that inevitably comes with bringing a new life into the world, William’s love for his child is the one constant across every reality. It’s a love that transcends the narrative and consumes and defines him, even as he struggles to reconcile it with his own sense of self.

Haeger’s portrayal of William’s fragmented realities offers readers a glimpse into the universal fear of parenthood—the fear of failing, of losing control, of not being enough. And yet, within this fear lies a quiet hope, a recognition that, while we may not be able to control the world around us, we can still choose to love fiercely, even when the future remains uncertain.

2. Angry Daughter

Author: Nanci Lamborn

Genre: Memoir / Religious

ISBN: 9798218372965

Print Length: 216 pages

A remarkable memoir where the path from resentment to redemption unfolds with stark honesty and unwavering faith

Nanci Lamborn’s debut is an introspective exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the transformative power of faith from a Christian perspective. Through her raw and poignant narrative, Lamborn invites readers into the tumultuous landscape of her past, where buried wounds of shame, rejection, and abandonment festered beneath the surface.

Lamborn’s narrative serves as a testament to the transformative potential of compassion and empathy, offering readers a glimpse into the profound beauty that can emerge from the depths of pain and suffering. In the end, Lamborn’s journey toward forgiveness is an inspiring reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless capacity for healing and reconciliation.

Honorable Mentions:

The Water Stricken by Rina Olsen (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
Sabine & Vincent Van Gogh (The Dream Collectors) by R.W. Meek (Amazon)
180 Days by Alfred Bottello (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Flicker

Author: Matthew J. McKee

Genre: Literary Fiction / Mystery

ISBN: 9798891321854

Print Length: 254 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Flicker ignites thrill and excitement while examining humanity’s chaos and despair.

The Northern District has an arsonist who is consistently burning down houses in the middle of the night. This arsonist is Flicker‘s narrator and protagonist, Heat Agaki, a teenage girl who dreams of setting everything aflame.

The passion for fire lives within Heat, and soon that drive to burn it all down begins to take on a mind of its own. When the fireball within her takes more control, Heat continues to self-ignite and spin out of control. Her emotional turmoil feels intimate and raw, especially when she talks directly to the reader.

Flicker adeptly explores the human psyche—an additive thought-provoking layer to the novel. One thing’s for sure: It will leave you with a burning desire for the sequel.

2. Sacred Blood

Author: C.T. Clark

Genre: Science Fiction / Action & Adventure

ISBN: 9781962600002

Print Length: 367 pages

Fascinating technology, crazy schemes, and a bit of freaky science

Adam is part of a technically discontinued experiment: The Phoenix Elite Initiative. It is made up of seven individuals cloned from historical figures who are tasked with saving the world against nuclear destruction.

Lovers of of history, science, and military strategy will be floored at all of what this fast-paced, action-packed story does.

Honorable Mentions:

The Rookie Spellslinger by Patricia Harrington Duff (Amazon | Review)

1. No Good Deed

Author: Jack Wallace

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Crime

ISBN: 9798891320529

Print Length: 268 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A novel with a soul that entertains as it educates about sex trafficking and the individuals sucked into its diabolical orbit

Inspired by true events, Wallace’s impressive sophomore novel No Good Deed examines the seedy criminal underworld of sex trafficking in the American South. It’s a compulsive story of everyday people selflessly sacrificing to help those in need among us.

His protagonists are good people facing unspeakable brutality and evil; they are ordinary people thrust into becoming the heroes they never knew they were. No Good Deed is a superbly written and propulsive story with an unforgettable climax.

2. Half the World

Author: Leissa Shahrak

Genre: Historical Fiction

ISBN: 9798891323803

Print Length: 292 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

An enchanting historical novel set in a deeply suspicious society ripe for rebellion

In 1977, newlyweds Angela and Doug Weston arrive in Iran for an opportunity to build a nest egg and enjoy the beauty of Persian culture, but they are not prepared for awaits them in Half the World.

This is an authentic story, lushly told, perhaps because Shahrak experienced the Iranian Revolution firsthand. Her depictions of pre-Revolution Iran with its walled gardens, majestic mosques, and the squalid living conditions of the have-nots of Esfahani society are well-drawn and compelling, painting a portrait of an oppressed society on the cusp of overthrowing the shackles of one regime, only to choose the shackles of another.

What makes Half the World so enchanting is not only Shahrak’s fertile prose and convincing characters, but her obvious love of Persian society and culture that blooms on every page, leaving a whiff of bittersweet nostalgia for a world that no longer exists.

Honorable Mentions:

Punch Line by Richard A. Danzig (Amazon | Review)

1. Chained Birds

Author: Carla Conti

Genre: Memoir / True Crime

ISBN: 9781964730066

Print Length: 436 pages

A compelling true crime exposé of a corrupt prison program and the lives forever changed when it was brought to light

Carla Conti is a true crime journalist and staunch prison reform advocate. In Chained Birds, Conti becomes part of the story herself.

It all started with a snowball, and it would, pardon the pun, snowball into something more. One inmate launched a snowball at a corrections officer before assaulting him—the officer’s revenge led to an orchestrated rec cage assault that involved Conti’s subject, Kevin Sanders, through no fault of his own. This is the event that brought him to Conti’s attention, as well as the prison’s Special Management Unit, which turned out to be rife with abuse, corruption, and violence.

Conti writes with an endearing balance of humor and passion, and she is a driven and intelligent advocate for those without a voice. Without her assistance on Sanders’s case, he might have disappeared into the system and the SMU program may have gone unnoticed.

Chained Birds is like two great books in one: a captivating true crime story that exposes a deplorable prison program and an engrossing memoir of a journalist making a difference.

2. The Reverse Tower

Author: Fay Lanark

Genre: Fantasy / Dark

ISBN: 9798871588307

Print Length: 381 pages

A dark fantasy with lyrical prose, vibrant characters, and a harrowing mystery

The world of Asp is one of wonder, magic, and violence where mages can command bones, blood, and gore to their bidding. But as dark and ominous as Asp is, there is another land that pulls people into a hellscape. An endless desert stretching beyond the horizon and nothing in sight save a singular tower. A tower that hangs in the sky pointed downward with no apparent end. And all are drawn to it.

The worldbuilding is intense, deep, and engrossing. The world of Asp has a fantastic but familiar feel to it, almost as if it were Earth but centuries beyond some apocalypse. The Reverse Tower is dark and fascinating, a building that’s part community and part otherworldly being.

For every touch of normalcy, there’s a pool of unreal magic and wonder. It’s a dark tale of mystery and violence with broken people driven to survive under the watchful eye of a sentient tower hanging impossibly in the sky.

Honorable Mentions:

Heavy Weight of Darkness by J.M. Erickson (Bookshop | Amazon)
In Pursuit of the Giant Sable Antelope by John Manuel (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Taxonomic Vignettes

Author: Alan Cohen

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9798891324237

Print Length: 192 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A powerful, well-crafted, and intelligent collection reflecting the realities of life and relationships

Taxonomic Vignettes dissects life and loss with genuineness.

This poetry collection’s mastery is most evident in the portraits it paints of all the people who come and go in our lives. Peppered with pop culture and literature references, every stanza is smart and vulnerable simultaneously. Not only is it enjoyable to pick out all the references you’re familiar with, but the reference always adds a layer of deeper understanding to the surrounding stanzas.

There’s such heartbreaking brilliance, vulnerability, and relatability in these poems.

2. Kat Girl

Author: Sarah Lahey

Genre: Literary / Romance

ISBN: 9780645835854

Print Length: 380 pages

A sexy romance that celebrates the power of second chances

Kat Girl gives all the romantic scenes you could hope for from the genre—from sweet to steamy—inviting us in on the action of a budding relationship.

Still, it might be the focus on internal conflicts that attracted me the most. Kat’s still reeling from three failed marriages and an unspeakable loss. She’s trying to trust something good in her life while she’s facing her grief and baggage from her past to get the future she’s always wanted.

On the Bridgerton scale of steamy, this one is definitely season three—except maybe a little steamier. Reach for Kat Girl if you’re looking for something hot to rev your power drill.

1. Tennis Players As Works of Art

Author: David Linebarger

Genre: Nonfiction / Sports

ISBN: 9798891324671

Print Length: 284 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Like a museum exhibit in a book—an impressive collection of art and prose celebrating tennis.

It took seven years for David Linebarger to assemble this collection of nearly seventy artworks by over forty artists, all directly connected to the sport of tennis. Each one is augmented by a brief page or two of original writing, with some quotes and excerpts creatively sprinkled in.

This book packs in a lot. Facts and biographical information mix comfortably with emotions spanning joy, anger, sadness, frustration, and even pathos. The common thread is a reverence for a sport anyone can play that comes across as genuine, not sentimental.

Tennis Players as Works of Art is as rewarding as an absorbing museum exhibit, without having to leave your sofa or armchair. And not just for tennis aficionados.

2. The Sum of All Things

Author: Seb Doubinsky

Genre: Science Fiction / Satire

ISBN: 9781946154392

Print Length: 200 pages

Publisher: Meerkat Press

An intricately woven plot about saving Earth’s freedom with disparate, personable characters

In a not too distant future (the Internet and Google Translate are still current), Earth is on its way to yielding its freedoms to the Subliminal Empire. Other planets have already done this, and Vita is determined to not let Earth suffer her planet’s fate.

The poetic economy of often very brief chapters amps up tension and propels the conflicts forward. Their symmetry brings cohesiveness in a prose showcase of the author’s apparent poetic talents.

This is a deftly packed & poetic novel that you’ll be glad you picked up.

Honorable Mentions:

Blood and Mascara by Colin Krainin (Bookshop | Amazon)

What were the best books you read this year? Let us know in the comments!

About the Company

Independent Book Review is a celebration of indie press & self-published books. Founded in 2018, IBR now has over 30 readers with their noses constantly buried in badass indie books. Meet the Team | Get Your Book Reviewed | Instagram.

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13 Witchy Books Perfect for Fall Reading

IndieBookView — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:10:00 +0000

13 Witchy Books Perfect for Fall Reading

by Carley Carver

Ring in the spooky season with these magical fall reads.

Autumn is here! Halloween is nipping at its heels. It’s time for witches, ghosts, and all manner of spooky creatures to arrive in our homes, on our screens, and in our books.

Some believe the supernatural veil is thinner this time of year. They go looking for inspiration. I’ve got it. If you just want a happy haunt to get into the spirit of the season, I’ve got that too. No matter your motivations, here are some spooky, witchy books I’d be glad to recommend.

And best of all, they’re all indie books!

Here are 13 witchy books to bask in Fall vibes.

1. Yew Hallow

Author: Alexandria Clarke

Subgenre: Paranormal / Romance

Print Length: 300 pages

ISBN: 9798339593270

Yew Hollow is a cozy mystery with a magical twist. Paranormal detective Morgan Summers hates working with ghosts, but she is tasked to work with one. When she gets entangled in the secrets behind the ghost’s untimely death, she herself is considered a suspect. And she’s going to have to work against town gossip to solve it. This book is quippy with just the right amount of mystery and romance woven in.

2. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Author: HP Mallory

Subgenre: Witches & Vampires / Romance

Print Length: 245 pages

ISBN: 9798509712531

The first book of H.P. Mallory’s 39 part collection of magical romances, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, feels like you’re hearing a story from your witchy best friend. Jolie, a witch living in Los Angeles, is hired by a handsome warlock to help a ghost. As they work together, they create more chaos when they accidentally raise the ghost from the dead.

This book has all the feels of a cozy romance with a generous amount of laughs along the way.

What do you want for Christmas? Get these gifts for book lovers!

3. Fat Witch Summer

Author: Lizzy Ives

Subgenre: Witches / Friendship

Print Length: 318 pages

ISBN: 9780996232456

Publisher: Sounds True

Osmarra is a plus-sized witch about to come of age and receive her magical gifts, chosen by her mother. The only problem is that her mother is a slim glamor witch convinced that gifting Osmarra with the glamor gift will solve all their familial issues. Osmarra sets out on a summer road trip with other young witches on a mission to set their own destinies.

This is a light-hearted, comical book with body-positive messages and unexpected lessons.

4. The Forgotten Witch

Author: Jessica Dodge

Subgenre: Romance

Print Length: 434 pages

ISBN: 9781737696650

Helen is burned out and tired of living in the city, so she makes a knee-jerk purchase and finds herself the new owner of a 500-year-old cottage in Scotland. In the cottage, she is introduced to a world of magic that she never knew was there. With the help of her handsome neighbor, she works to solve the mystery of this curious new home.

This book will keep you riveted! It’s got the right balance of genuine mystery and romance, and it’ll check all of your autumnal boxes.

5. Dead Witch On a Bridge

Author: Gretchen Galway

Subgenre: Urban Fantasy

Print Length: 3388 pages

ISBN: 9781939872418

Another supernatural murder mystery to add to your reading list! Alma is a demon-hunting witch who finds herself at the center of a murder investigation thanks to some meddling fairies. In order to save herself, Alma must solve the murder and challenge a slew of unsavory (and dangerous) magical characters.

6. The Last Witch of Scotland

Author: Philip Paris

Subgenre: Historical / World Lit

Print Length: 352 pages

ISBN: 9781785305245

Publisher: Black and White Publishing

This one is excellent for those always seeking more about real life witch hunts, as it follows the true story of the last person executed in the witch trials of Britain. Alia and her mother are left in pieces after a fire takes the life of her father. In an attempt to start over, they move to the small community of Loth. When a mysterious troupe of entertainers arrive, Alia is quickly drawn to them, churning up gossip from the people of Loth.

Bedtime reading is the best time reading. Get yourself one of the best e-readers for the job.

7. The Sapling Cage

Author: Margaret Killjoy

Subgenre: Adventure / LGBTQ

Print Length: 321 pages

ISBN: 9781558613317

Publisher: Feminist Press

When a disease begins to kill trees in the forest, Lorel is keen to join up with the witches to find out why and how to stop it. But witches are all women, and Lorel was born a boy. Sapling Cage follows Lorel on her journey of identity, witchcraft, and covens in a novel Audrey Davis called, “a delight for anyone with a love of magical stories and high fantasy” [Review].

8. Burned: A Daughters of Salem Novel

Author: Kellie O’Neill

Subgenre: Historical / Salem

Print Length: 520 pages

ISBN: 9798989244348

A newly anointed witch, Eleanor, is balancing her normal life with witch lessons in the famed witchy town of Salem. When some of her fellow coven witches go missing, Eleanor teams up with her familiar to solve the mystery and in turn unearths a story that dates back to Salem’s infamous 17th century witch trials. Fans of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will love this story.

9. The Good Witch of the South

Author: T.C. Bartlett

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

Print Length: 354 pages

ISBN: 9781733908627

Publisher: Sandhill Publishers

Set in L. Frank Baum’s magical land of Oz, this story focuses on Samantha, daughter of Glinda the Good Witch. Samantha sets out on her own adventure to save the Land of Oz from a dark force rumored to be building an army to overthrow Oz. This book is great for any middle grade reader who is left wanting more from the world of Oz after Dorothy saves the day.

10. I Escaped the Salem Witch Trials

Authors: Juliet Fry & Scott Peters

Subgenre: Historical / Adventure / Ages 8-12

Print Length: 118 pages

ISBN: 9781951019174

Another installment from the popular, “I Escaped” series, this 3rd grade level chapter book tells the story of Hannah, a young orphan who finds herself at the center of the suspicion and frenzy of her village’s witch hunt. Hannah, who is most certainly not a witch, must use her might and brains to escape her own witch trial.

Surprise your kids with some of the best gifts for kids who love to read.

11. The Pomegranate Witch

Author: Denise Doyen

Subgenre: Spooky

Print Length: 40 pages / 4-8 year olds

ISBN: 9781452145891

Publisher: Chronicle Books

When a spooky tree begins to bloom juicy pomegranates on the property of the neighborhood witch, a group of children are tempted to harvest a few for themselves. By doing so, they invoke the great pomegranate war against their witchy neighbor. This story is silly and fun and perfect for readers looking for tricks and treats this Halloween season.

12. Witchy Paths

Author: Cecily Ravenwood

Genre: Mysticism / Magic

Print Length: 52 pages

ISBN: 9798840474105

Half educational, half bedtime story magic, Witchy Paths introduces different types of witches to children in a fun and enlightening way. This quick read-aloud transports young readers into the world of magic and gently exposes them to all the ways of practicing their own magic. In addition to the storytelling, the watercolor art work is whimsical and breathtaking.

13. The Witch’s Cat

Authors: Kirstie Watson & Magdalena Sawko

Genre: Picture Book / Ages 2-6

Print Length: 38 pages

ISBN: 9781914937064

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Sure-fire witchy fun for the littlest readers you know. This is a lighthearted rhyming story about a house cat who lives as a witch’s familiar and loves to stir up magic and mischief. A read-aloud story with quirky illustrations and fun imagery, you can bet any reader will be excited for Halloween after this one.

What are your favorite witchy books of all time? Let us know in the comments!

Author Bio

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Carley Carver is an editorial lifestyle writer and aspiring novelist. She is based in North Carolina where she resides with her husband and their puppy, Daisy, and is a proud graduate of University of South Carolina. Carley is a lifelong bookworm who enjoys reading everything from the classics to modern romances. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling, getting outside and trying new recipes at home.

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13+ Kids’ Books to Get Your Children Excited About Reading

IndieBookView — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 11:26:00 +0000

13+ Kids’ Books to Get Your Children Excited About Reading

by Toni Woodruff, Joe Walters, and Jaylynn Korrell

Kids’ books are like windows to a new world.

These little people are just trying to figure out this life on earth thing. They know only what they know, and we see why they know what they know, even how it differs or connects with our own understanding of the world.

That’s only one of the reasons why it’s so important to read kids’ books.

Sometimes it can be difficult to talk about certain subjects. Other times, they just never arise naturally enough for our little one to grow curious about it. Some books include topics we don’t even want to talk about to our kids yet, like death or brattiness, so which books are the ones you should get for your little one and the little ones around you?

This list includes picture books and board books, some suitable from ages 2-9. Some are nonfiction while others are about as fantastical as they come (I’m looking at you, Rainbow Goblins!).

If you’re looking to expand your little library or give an awesome kids’ book for your best friend’s baby shower, this list has you covered. And in true IBR fashion, they’re all indie books!

Here are 13 kids’ books that little ones love.

1. The Rainbow Goblins

Gorgeous paintings, creepy goblins, and a story of nature fighting back

Author: Ul de Rico

Subgenre: Fantasy & Magic

Print Length: 32 pages

ISBN: 9780500277591

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Recommended by: Joe Walters

Welcome to my absolute favorite purchase of 2024!

My daughter picked up The Rainbow Goblins in the Odyssey Bookstore in Ithaca, NY, and I was amazed with her quality control. And once you pick this thing up, you’ll see why.

The paintings are breathtaking, and it tells an oddly creepy (but not scary!) story about goblins who are trying to drink up all the colors of the rainbow until there’s nothing left. Everyone lives in fear of them, except for the Valley of the Rainbow. But when the goblins gather up their lassoes and set their sights on that, the roots of the trees and plants communicate to the nature around them that it’s time to fight back. And how!

Watch in absolutely gorgeous color as nature fights back against the rainbow goblins and ensures that rainbows are safe from their wrath once and for all.

It’s creative and long but not too long, and the pictures are a wonder to look at. A particularly good choice for book-loving, imaginative 3-year-olds all the way up to 9-year-olds.

–Joe Walters

2. My Father Once Told Me

Stellar! A Native Nations creation myth told with poetic language, magical illustrations, and love passed down

Author: Blas Telleria

Subgenre: Native American

Print Length: 54 pages

ISBN: 9798218417253

Recommended by: Joe Walters

Not often do I encounter kids’ books quite as beautiful as this one. I don’t want to exaggerate; don’t want to overdo it, make you think I’m being untrue for the sake of hyperbole. I just really want you and your kids to read this book.

It’s a creation story that’s passed down from father to son about how the Great Spirit reached into the nothing of the universe and turned it into a Something. A big blue ball that his children—the animals of the sky—are enamored of. Oh, please, please, can we go in?

Salmon and Whale are the first to dive into the unknown blue. They are followed by Eagle and Crow taking to the skies, Tortoise and Turtle carrying mud on their backs from the ocean to build land to stand on. Moose, Water Snake, Wolf, beyond—the animals play and form the land in ways that are natural to them. Who else but Water Snake would form the rivers; who else but Beaver would create lakes and waterfalls?

My Father Once Told Me is poetic but not in the sing-song way you’ve come to expect of children’s books. There are no rhymes here. But the story that the unnamed narrator father tells uses poetic techniques like repetition—“little” on the first page to contrast the one human against the big world—and personified language that floats through fire and air, up to sky, and moves stars around.

The illustrations are equally magical. The animals and the land are freely flowing, like fluid movements akin to moving water, and the trees rise high and tall. Imprints of the animals’ bodies are even long like the trees. The water and the land and the lifeforms all flow together in soft palettes and pleasing tones of blue and green. And on the off-chance it’s not blue or green, orange and reds pop in eye-catching, still-fluid contrasts.

ut this isn’t all. It’s also got a deep conversation going on about myth as history. This story is passed down like all important stories are. It’s a father talking to a son like his father talked to him. Kids can gain access—maybe with a little help from their mom or dad—to the understanding of how history works.

–Joe Walters

3. Fly High, Baby Dragon

A brave baby dragon and an encouraging yet patient mother star in Fly High, Baby Dragon—an easy choice for all-the-time reading.

Author: David Klochko

Subgenre: Dragons

Print Length: 26 pages

ISBN: 9798989991013

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Fly High, Baby Dragon checks all the boxes. It has a good story, good kids, good parenting, a good moral, great eye-popping illustrations, and, most importantly, it has actually captivated my little one. She wants to read it, and I’ll gladly open it again, knowing she’ll be learning about something relevant and encouraging while getting pulled in by the story.

A baby dragon emerges from his shell excited to learn that he will soon be able to fly. But not before a little practice and a lot of patience after flying doesn’t come easily. Baby Dragon jumps off a cliff and falls and kerplunks and splats. He’s frustrated—he wants to give up—but he’s got one cool mom on his side, cheering him on when he gets back up again and taking him away to give him space and distract him from the problem at hand. She’s wonderfully patient, dances with him, feeds him delicious, big-bellied breakfasts, and allows him to make the decision to get back out there. To keep trying.

Riding a bike. Steering a scooter. Jumping at the trampoline park. Climbing the rock wall at the playground. My kid experiences failure at first attempt all the time. All I’ve ever wanted to communicate with her is in this book. Yes, you’re going to fall. Yes, it hurts to get hurt. But also yes, it can be worth it if you keep trying. And yet at the same time, it’s not worth panicking over. If you’re not ready to conquer it, try something else. Dance, eat. But don’t be afraid to try again when you feel ready.

–Toni Woodruff

Need more space for kids’ books? Here are our favorite kids’ bookshelf ideas!

4. Alphabreaths

A calming, fun tool to teach young’ins the power of breathwork

Author: Christopher Willard

Subgenre: Mindfulness / Alphabet

Print Length: 32 pages

ISBN: 9781683641971

Publisher: Sounds True

Recommended by: Joe Walters

It’s easy to take breathing for granted. It comes naturally and happens without us even thinking about it. But what about our little ones?

Breathing is one of my favorite parenting techniques: showing my babies that I’m focusing on breathing while they’re crying. This book brings the physical activity of breathing to the forefront and makes an alphabet game out of it.

Open your arms like an alligator on the in-breath, snap those jaws shut on the exhale. Flap your wings like a butterfly and breathe your way around the room. Envision you’re blowing out your birthday cake.

A great book to start your day with, one or two or three breathing and imagination activities to remind us that we are here on this earth and capable of conquering anything as long as we just keep breathing.

–Joe Walters

5. A Very Chilling Mystery

A creative and fun story that tests the limits of our imagination

Author: Steve A. Erickson

Subgenre: Cooking & Food

Print Length: 52 pages

ISBN: 9781639882519

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Recommended by: Jaylynn Korrell

There’s a party going on in the fridge, and Erickson lets you in on it. It starts with an illustration of a little girl eyeing up the fridge from afar as the narrator invites us on a journey of confirmation that those delectables aren’t just lying around waiting to be enjoyed in there.

Soon we’re taken through the shelves as foods and beverages go about their daily business, which includes things like playing baseball with a carrot bat, potatoes watching tv on a meatloaf couch, and beets rocking out on a drum set. In fact they’re doing everything but the nothing most people assume, and it’s awesome!

The illustrations are what truly bring the book to life. As it takes place predominantly in the fridge, readers can look forward to a colorful display of fruits, vegetables, leftover dinners, and mysterious forgotten foods on each page. The illustrations are so inviting and professional but also look as if they’ve been done with crayon or colored pencil, giving them a youthful touch that matches the reading level perfectly.

Children will enjoy Erickson’s rhythm and rhyme style of storytelling while adults will appreciate some of the more detailed aspects of the vegetable characters, like the half and half who can’t make up their mind or the beet who plays in a band called “The Beets,” written in the same font as “The Beatles.”

–Jaylynn Korrell

6. Over and Under the Pond

Take a dip beneath the boat in this calming and informative book on aquatic life.

Author: Kate Messner

Subgenre: Nature

Print Length: 48 pages

ISBN: 9781452145426

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Part of a wonderful series, Over and Under the Pond follows a boy and his mother as they kayak over the water and talk about the life going on underneath them.

Talking about frogs, turtles, fish, beavers and even the animals who visit the water to get their meals and wash up (like moose!), this book is a trove of helpful information for kids who like to kayak and swim in natural waters.

While it can be enjoyed by younger audiences like 3 year olds, it can stay relevant in your bookshelves for years to come, maybe even as old as 12. Since it follows a mom and her son, it gives your story-loving little one something to cling to as they learn the nature lessons of the book.

–Toni Woodruff

7. The Boogie Barn Band

A fun, instructive tale about the impact that music has on people

Author: William Nephew and Natalie Neal

Subgenre: Music & Instruments

Print Length: 28 pages

ISBN: 9798989779727

Recommended by: Jaylynn Korrell

To me, the best kids’ books are the ones that entertain and teach. The Boogie Barn Band does both. On top of that, it gives kids the opportunity to be vocal and active. It’s a positive, upbeat story about musical barn animals and how they bring their community together.

In the beginning, music beckons animals from all around town to a local farm. Soon the Boogie Barn has quite an audience on their hands—all excited to jam out.

To get the concert underway, readers are introduced to each member of the band and the instruments they play. Each character has their own flare, and they do a great job explaining the role they play and the sounds each instrument makes.

The vibe is upbeat, exciting, and fun, and it’s reflected well in vivid illustrations and an array of your kids’ favorite animals. The happiness exudes off each character so the positive experience can be had by all. You won’t be able to resist smiling after witnessing how much fun they’re having and the audience is having. Backed by a beautiful barn on a bright sunny day, this book seems the epitome of positivity.

The authors of The Boogie Barn Band do an excellent job of adding in informative bits about the technical pieces of each instrument as well as its role in the music-making process. The drummer of the band, Reggie the dog, is described as the one in charge of keeping the beat with his instrument. From guitar to piano to bass, we learn about how the instruments are played and are given examples of the sounds they make. It inspires an activity too—I can just imagine how many kids will be laughing as they try to sound out how the instruments are supposed to sound.

–Jaylynn Korrell

Celebrate your kids’ love of reading with some of the best gifts for kids who love to read.

8. Blink and Glow

A shining & bright kids’ book about the natural magic of real-life glowing animals

Author: Raven Howell & Ann Pilicer

Subgenre: Nature

Print Length: 36 pages

ISBN: 9781738219377

Publisher: Tielmour Press

Recommended by: Joe Walters

Leo and Lilly have show-and-tell at school tomorrow, and they want to have the best things to show off. And what better items than living ones!

Leo bottles up a firefly. While Lilly can’t catch her own, she spots another glowing creature—a salamander—near the pond! If you didn’t know that salamanders can glow in the dark, you do now.

But their light starts to diffuse the longer they’re kept in the jar. With the help of their grandmother, they learn that these animals, including the lunar moth flapping nearby, need to be free in order to shine their brightest light.

So while it feels special to have their own little bottled-up magic, they discover how important it is to let them live their own lives out in nature. Grandma keeps the fun going by showing them how they can make art inspired by these amazing critters. The book even lets you in on the fun by walking your kids through the steps of making their very own firefly suncatcher with tissue paper and a picture frame.

The art is lovely, natural, and magical. Parents who like to pair their books with art activities will relish what Blink and Glow has to offer.

–Joe Walters

9. Purple Ina

Myth, magic, culture, and color, Purple Ina is a sparkling gem of a picture book.

Author: Rafael Arzuaga

Subgenre: Fantasy / Culture

Print Length: 30 pages

ISBN: 9780692270516

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Ina lives on a beautiful purple island. It’s all she knows, until a fierce gust of wind sends her flying to new islands, all splashed in their own color. And along with the new colors, she meets new people, all appreciative of the way they do things on their island and sharing some of the magic with Ina before she takes off for the next.

Each page is clean with a minimal art, and yet there’s still so much beauty to look at. It entertains with just enough magic and fully-fleshed characters in a short amount of time. Experience a forever summer with Adonis on the pink island, shine bright at night with Light on the orange island, and play music with Esteban on a land draped in color.

It’s a subtle story of the lives of other people and other cultures, and it doesn’t state any morals overtly. Just shares the truth that there are other people and other places out there to love.

–Toni Woodruff

10. Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll

A caring, warmhearted book about supporting your friends no matter what obstacle stands in their way

Author: Mr. Jay

Subgenre: Rocks / Disabilities

Print Length: 28 pages

ISBN: 9780578198033

Recommended by: Joe Walters

I don’t know how you make being a rock look so fun, but this rhyming picture book does it in droves. Author Mr. Jay and illustrator Erin Wozniak team up to turn this group of rocks into personality-rich critical thinkers who see a friend being left out for the make-up of his body and do something about it.

While all his friends are rolling up and down a hill, Ricky can’t join in on the fun because one of his sides is flat. I absolutely love the parallels being discussed in this book of a rock and kids with disabilities of any kind.

This book is a stellar introduction to showing kids what they can do to help their friends, and it’s a warmhearted reminder to those with disabilities that people care about them and that they can achieve their goals.

–Joe Walters

Surprise your kids’ teachers with this handy list of great gifts for English teachers.

11. Immune Heroes

An entertaining, useful book to help kids learn about cuts, scrapes, and the healing process

Author: Namita Gandhi, PhD

Subgenre: Science

Print Length: 36 pages

ISBN: 9781917095211

Recommended by: Jaylynn Korrell

In Immune Heroes, siblings Mayu and Nimi are out riding bikes and enjoying the day when Mayu suddenly hits a rock and tumbles to the ground. His sister runs to comfort him while reminding him that the pain he’s currently feeling is a good thing, as it signifies the beginning of the healing process. And the beginning of the healing process couldn’t be cooler than the way that Gandhi tells it.

This book packs in a lot of action in its 30 or so pages, as the process of healing isn’t always completed on the first try. Bacteria find their way in despite the tacky platelets creating a protective seal. Macrophages are called in to devour said bacteria as new intruders find other ways to wreak havoc. Gandhi’s story transforms healing into an epic battle that is sure to entertain.

Parents who want to introduce big concepts like immunology to their kids in a way that they’ll understand will love this book. Gandhi writes about the experience in such a fun way that kids may not even realize they’re being taught a valuable, relatable science lesson. She explains things in an accessible way and pairs the prose with beautiful graphics that will keep little eyes glued to the page. I loved watching each new group of characters rush to the scene whether it be to attack or defend Mayu’s wound.

–Jaylynn Korrell

12. Baby Loves Science (The Five Senses)

5 brightly colored, easy to understand kids’ science books in one neat package

Author: Ruth Spiro

Genre: Board Books / Science

Print Length: 110 pages

ISBN: 9781632890580

Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Bombarding your kids with fun stories is a good thing. But no children’s library is complete without this resourceful & relevant 5-book series.

The five senses—hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste—are a wonderful kid-friendly science topic. Not only can they count the senses on one tiny hand, but they have experience with each of them, whether they’re equipped with it or not.

This series does an excellent job of including those kids without the ability to see or hear in addition to discussing the science of how each of them work. From tiny molecules to their big, developing brains, this series could stick with your little one for years. Even by the time they hit school-age, they’ll be able to return to these educational resources in their bookshelf.

–Toni Woodruff

13. Hummingbird

A touching little story of familial connection over the wonder of hummingbirds

Author: Nicola Davies

Genre: Picture Book / Birds

Print Length: 32 pages

ISBN: 9781536205381

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Any parent in love with the beauty and magic of hummingbirds will adore this children’s book. The lush green, natural surroundings of each page make for an eye-popping viewing experience, but it’s the sheer number of unique hummingbirds flying around that make it stand out most.

It’s about a young girl who hand-feeds hummingbirds with her grandmother in Central America, but she soon departs for New York City. And while she believes she leaves the magnificent little creatures behind, Granny tells her to keep an eye out. That they travel north too. Maybe even to Central Park for the very first time.

Hummingbirds emit a special type of magic. Bring the wonderment to your bookshelf with this gorgeously illustrated, moving story of connecting through generations by way of these amazing migratory birds.

–Toni Woodruff

What are your favorite kids’ books of all time? Let us know in the comments!

About IBR

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15 of the Best Mystery Thriller Books to Satisfy Your Inner Detective

IndieBookView — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:38:45 +0000

15 of the Best Mystery Thriller Books to Satisfy Your Inner Detective

Chosen by the IBR Staff

These mystery thrillers are to die for.

What is it with us and our interest in murder?

It’s in us to gaze through the fog, to look over our shoulder, to piece together the unknown. You’re telling me I can’t find out the truth? Challenge accepted.

Mystery thrillers are among our most popular reviews at IBR. We review tons of them. Why? Because the people who like them…they really, really like them. It’s one of those genres that can keep a reader for their entire life. Sure they might dabble in other spaces sometimes, but they always make their way back home…to murder.

Compiled by our mystery thriller team, this list includes murder mysteries, detective stories, psychological thrillers, paranormal mysteries, and beyond. And they’re all indie books!

Here are 15 mystery thrillers that’ll satisfy your inner crime solver.

1. Blood and Mascara

Infidelity, corruption, and murder on the mean streets of Washington, DC.

Author: Colin Krainin

Subgenre: Detective Fiction

Print Length: 292 pages

ISBN: 9798989986804

Recommended by: Erin Britton

What it’s about:

Former investigative journalist Bronze Goldberg is now a private eye who makes his living from seedy cases…Sufficiently shaken to take a modicum of action, Bronze reluctantly hits the streets to find out more about what happened to Billy Kopes, the “congressman who washed up on the banks of the Potomac.”

Given that Roger Haake, a political consultant, is “one of the most powerful unelected men in DC,” only someone incredibly brave or exceptionally foolish would consider having an affair with his wife. So which one was Kopes? And how much did Haake really know before he hired Bronze to tail Carolyn and find proof of her infidelity?

Unfortunately, in addition to being downright despicable, Haake is murdered before Bronze can find out more from him, which makes for two bodies dropping in less than 24 hours. Clearly, something is seriously amiss.

Why you should read it:

A hard-boiled detective story set in the late 1990s but with more than a hint of classic noir like The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon, Colin Krainin’s Blood and Mascara traverses the seamier side of Washington, DC and exposes all the blood, gore, and corruption to be found there.

Through pitch-perfect PI dialogue and a plot packed with political duplicity, sleaze, and casual violence, Krainin presents a fiendish murder mystery that shines a light on both the best and worst of humanity.

Luckily, despite being such a deeply flawed human being, Bronze is actually a top-notch private investigator, likely due to a combination of his journalistic training and his plain orneriness. And given the twisted, complicated murder mystery that Krainin has crafted for him to solve, he’s going to need all his skill and experience to stay alive long enough to discover who is trying to kill him. The answer to the puzzle is wrapped up in layers of sleaze, scandal, and corruption, and Bronze has to survive through a fair bit of bloody violence as he attempts to unravel the Kopes/Haake conundrum.

–Erin Britton

2. An Unclean Place

Real people, a compelling mystery, and damn good writing

Author: Barbara Barrow

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Print Length: 308 pages

ISBN: 9781941360736

Publisher: Lanternfish Press

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

What it’s about:

Ms. Ella is a renegade teacher at Stillwater School, an experimental academy in Atlanta. Some students, like best friends Amber and Dawn, flock to her, and others are hurt by her. After she’s arrested and the school is closed due to scandal, Dawn stays on Ms. Ella’s trail.

But Dawn dies mysteriously years later. So Amber is the one who has to pursue the missing Ms. Ella, only to find more than she’s bargained for.

Why you should read it:

The writing is what pulled me in first. The third-person plural is a tough perspective to pull off, but Barrow does it with a flourish in the first section of this book, leaving an intriguing mythical feel to Ms. Ella’s impact on the students at the school.

The novel’s mysteries float through decades, and like the best of the psychological thriller genre, characters are complex and have agency. We find out who they really are only through sharp, subtle prose, and the mystery is well worth the wait.

–Toni Woodruff

3. Shitamachi Scam

Detective Hiroshi has to unmask scammers before the elderly in the city lose everything…including their lives.

Author: Michael Pronko

Subgenre: Detective Fiction

Print Length: 348 pages

ISBN: 9781942410317

Recommended by: Peggy Kurkowski

What it’s about:

Detective Hiroshi and his eclectic team of investigators are in the narrow lanes of shitamachi (“lower town”) Tokyo to unravel a devilishly complex scam scheme, where real estate has become the richest commodity and tradition just a stumbling block to “beautification” and progress. This is where thieving rings zero in on the most vulnerable—elderly women who are often widowed or retired.

When a scooter zooms through the street and kills their informant, whilst her scammer barely flees the scene, police officers are left with a bag full of blank paper, wondering what went wrong and why.

The next day, a young, reclusive tenant is found dead in his room. Are the two deaths connected? Hiroshi and his crack colleagues begin to peel back the layers of this mystery as break-ins and violence increase.Pronko aces the granular gumshoe work necessary as the scam becomes the lesser of two evils—ruthless land developers may have a larger scam of their own, one that isn’t afraid of murder to achieve its aims.

Why you should read it:

Shitamachi Scam is first-rate detective fiction that delivers a superb and timely plot with old school sleuthing and witty, compelling characters. Readers will want to see more of Hiroshi after this one.

The plot is intelligent and well-researched, reflecting as it does a current crime plague upon the elderly. For a crime disguising itself in white-collar clothing, Pronko dutifully approaches the narrative in a more cerebral manner, which makes the action sequences even more propulsive.

As Hiroshi and his colleagues—and Takuya and his—converge on the primary scammer(s) behind the deaths and mayhem, the climax is a cinematic set piece that rewards the readers’ patience in spades.

–Peggy Kurkowski

4. From Sweetgrass Bridge

An enthralling prairie mystery with humor, heart, and an ingenious plot

Author: Anthony Bidulka

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / LGBTQ

Print Length: 280 pages

ISBN: 9781988754543

Publisher: Stonehouse Publishing

Recommended by: Melissa Suggitt

What it’s about:

Set in the small town of Livingsky, Saskatchewan, the novel captures the essence of prairie life while unraveling the mysterious disappearance of a local hero, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Dustin Thomson. The disappearance of Dustin, a beloved figure and role model for Indigenous youth, is a devastating reality for their community.

At the heart of the story is Merry Bell, a private investigator who has been back in her hometown for six months with little to show for it. Her business is floundering, her finances are strained, and she’s grappling with a sense of isolation. Just when Merry’s hope is nearly extinguished, Dustin’s cousin walks into her office, seeking her help to find the missing quarterback. If something bad happened to him out at the secluded Sweetgrass Bridge, she knows he didn’t do it to himself.

Merry’s investigation is anything but straightforward. As she delves deeper, she uncovers startling truths that add layers of complexity to the case.

Why you should read it:

From Sweetgrass Bridge proves to be a multifaceted mystery that adeptly balances its tension, humor, and emotionally charged moments.

Merry’s experience as a trans woman is depicted with care, insight, and understanding—an enrichment to the mystery… The setting of Livingsky, with its close-knit community and prairie backdrop, adds a nostalgic charm to the story. As a prairie girl myself, I found the depiction of the landscape and community life to be authentic and heartwarming. Bidulka’s pacing is impeccable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while allowing the characters’ emotional journeys to unfold naturally.

–Melissa Suggitt

Are you a Kindle person? Do you want to be? Check out the best e-reader to buy this year.

5. The Apologist

A taut non-linear thriller with satisfying twists and an array of complex characters

Author: A.A. Weiss

Genre: Spy Thriller

Print Length: 193 pages

Publisher: The Agency Books (Sunbury Press)

Recommended by: Joseph Haeger

What it’s about:

Patrick Allred has the best of intentions. He wants to use his English education for good, helping people who need it most. After graduation, he walks into the Peace Corps recruiting office before learning he doesn’t actually have any applicable skills. He pivots to teaching English abroad and is soon Beijing bound. Little does he know he’s actively getting pulled into a twisted web of espionage and Chinese politics.

Then, he suddenly drops off the map.

His disappearance prompts freshman congressmember King to put together an under-the-radar mission led by assassins who don’t want to kill anymore. Two disillusioned hit men team up to locate and retrieve the missing American, ideally without any bloodshed, and this makes us wonder: do these killers have what it takes, or will they revert to their old ways to complete the mission?

Why you should read it:

The structure of The Apologist is reminiscent of a Christopher Nolan film. It’s a jigsaw puzzle of sorts, where different moments in time are running concurrently and it’s up to us to pull hints from the chapters to build a larger linear timeline in our heads. I love this tactic because it further engages the reader with the mystery of the story, expecting us to participate in a small way.

But even then, you don’t have to piece the timeline together to have a great time. All the characters are written effortlessly as their own individuals. Their dialogue wouldn’t even need to be attributed because through the cadence and language we already know whose voice is speaking.

Throughout the book, we don’t know who to root for. At any moment, any one of the characters could be the bad guy and any could be the good guy. The effect this creates is that we’re kind of rooting for every single one of them at all times. This means regardless of the thread we’re following, we have an emotional investment in that specific part of the story.

This is a rare novel that balances both plot and characters with equal fervor. Had the characters been lesser, the plot would have made up for it; and conversely, if the plot would have been weakened, the characters could have carried me through. In the end, it’s a one-two punch that makes me giddy even thinking about.

–Joseph Haeger

6. You’ve Been Summoned

An immersive, interactive mystery that keeps you on your toes

Author: Lindsey Lamar

Genre: Murder Mystery / Interactive

Print Length: 378 pages

Recommended by: Kristine Eckart

What it’s about:

Combining a modern-day mystery with an unsolved case from the 1940s, this book establishes a glamorous but secretive atmosphere and storyline to delight the likes of a millennial Agatha Christie.

You’ve Been Summoned revolves around two sets of sisters. Jane and Sillian Parks, the present-day set of twins, are at the center of an eerie visit to Sophomore Manor with their circle of friends. However, as arguments arise between the visitors and a man with an axe makes a startling appearance, the event turns from a costume party to an unsettling stay at a mansion with a past.

To make matters worse, Sillian goes missing and Jane’s twin senses are telling her that her sister is in danger. Will Jane be able to save Sillian from a terrible fate? And why did Sillian insist on having her party at Sophomore Manor?

Mary and Macie Sophomore, Hollywood’s darling twins from the 1940s, are focused on their careers. When teaming up with jazz icons Josh and James to gain publicity brings attention to the rising stars, the couples decide to get married and make this business arrangement permanent. But when their honeymoon period turns into a horror story, will Mary and Macie be able to escape?

Why you should read it:

Using diary entries from Mary Sophomore and a verbal account from Jane Parks, the novel transitions back and forth between the present day and the 1940s…. It brings a sense of old Hollywood glamor to the present-day action in a wonderful nod to the iconic Golden Age of Detective Fiction.

The creative details are what truly shine. Everything from the list of liars and the list of case files that replace a traditional table of contents to the newspaper clippings to the character drawings, letters, and diagrams all serve as evidence to create an immersive and interactive experience for the reader. Complete with ink splotches, different handwriting, and torn pages, the reader is offered a variety of puzzle pieces to put together to solve the intriguing mystery. It will make you feel like you’re at a murder mystery party.

–Kristine Eckart

7. The Mill House Murders

A chilling locked-room mystery that unfolds within the ominous walls of a setting shrouded in secrecy and tragedy

Author: Yukito Ayatsuji

Genre: Locked-Room Mystery / Japanese

Print Length: 288 pages

ISBN: 9781782278337

Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo

Recommended by: Erin Britton

What it’s about:

When a killer strikes, brilliant amateur sleuth Kiyoshi Shimada sets about unravelling the complex web of secrets and lies that led to the perplexing crime.

Why you should read it:

Ayatsuji builds a compelling tale of intrigue around the eccentric Fujinuma Kiichi, the consequences of his accidental disfigurement, and his annual house party for a very select group of guests….Ayatsuji is a master at combining the macabre with the mysterious, creating a tense work of crime fiction that is packed with alarming events, red herrings, and psychological insights.

–Erin Britton

8. Midsummer Mysteries

An eclectic story anthology with some of the best mystery writers you’ll find

Edited: Martin Edwards

Genre: Short Story Anthology

Print Length: 416 pages

ISBN: 9781804177266

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing

19 compelling thrillers all wrapped up in one beautiful hardcover book. SJ Butler, William Burton McCormick, SJ Bennett, Judith Cutler–this anthology is chock-full of some of the best mystery writers I’ve ever read, fiction or nonfiction. A perfect gift for mystery-thriller & crime fiction lovers with names they know and stories they’ll die for.

–Toni Woodruff

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9. Lying in Judgment

A propulsive, easy, entertaining audio journey with an unforgettable premise

Author: Gary Corbin

Genre: Audiobook / Crime / Legal

Listening Length: 9 hrs 25 mins

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

What it’s about:

In a jealous fit of rage, Peter Robinson tracks down his wife’s lover and beats him to death. Only problem is: he’s killed the wrong man.

And now, he’s being summoned to be on the jury of the case where he is the killer. Because he knows who really did it, he wants to get the accused off, but he’s got a tough motive to beat. We worry that Peter might be too close to the situation to let the wrong man go.

Why you should read it:

I listened to this audiobook years ago and haven’t forgotten a twist in it. The narration by the author is smooth and compelling, but it’s the premise that makes it so propulsive. A sure-fire “What would you do if this happened to you?” thriller with never-ending curiosity to find out what will come of the flawed protagonist.

–Toni Woodruff

10. Murder Under Redwood Moon

An energetic and suspenseful witchcraft-filled murder mystery

Author: Sherri L. Dodd

Genre: Supernatural Mystery

Print Length: 290 pages

ISBN: 9781685133887

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Recommended by: Chelsey Tucker

What it’s about:

In the small mountain town of Boulder Creek, beautiful young girls begin to go missing. Even worse: they show up in the river.

The entire town is on edge, but for Arista and her friends, it hits closer to home; they knew some of the victims. As a serial killer lurks in the shadows, danger continues to ramp up with snakes and upside down pentagrams signaling dark times.

A family relic that her Great-Aunt Bethie shows her may be the key they need to help solve these murders. “Our Ouija is rich with a past of providing details about serial killers—which is coming, my dear, you watch!” It soon comes to light that she may be in more danger than most, and her great-aunt knows why. Family is supposed to protect and care for one another, so how could they hurt you instead?

Why you should read it:

Murder Under Redwood Moon’s story structure provides the perfect pacing to nail the suspense factor. The author handles multiple viewpoints well and provides a macro-picture with micro-details—an essential piece to telling a captivating murder mystery. The reader is led to believe that they know more than they do, and just when they start piecing some things together, the point of view switches and we venture off in a new, enticing direction.

Murder Under Redwood Moon is going to be a fun read for mystery junkies as much as for fans of modern fantasy fiction and witchcraft. Dodd provides a refreshing tale while still including some staple lore conventions like the witch’s cat and broomsticks. The pages really fly by.

–Chelsey Tucker

13. Lost Grove (Part 1)

Strong paranormal elements really make this mystery pop.

Author: Charlotte Zang & Alex Knudsen

Genre: Paranormal / Mystery

Print Length: 357 pages

ISBN: 9798989796212

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

When the corpse of Sarah Elizabeth Grahams winds up on shore, it throws the entire town of Lost Grove into a frenzy. Secrets long kept under wraps are slowly reaching their tipping point.

As they attempt to solve the mystery of Sarah’s death, sergeants Seth Wolfe and Bill Richards fall deeper and deeper down a rabbit hole that gets more shocking with each step they take.

Meanwhile in town, two psychic siblings attempt to start anew in a new high school to escape their past. A group of teenagers attempt to figure out if changelings truly exist. This mix of the paranormal into our recognized reality fits so well in this creepy atmosphere. There’s a whole world to uncover in this first book of the Lost Grove series.

Why you should read it:

Readers start Lost Grove by discovering Sarah Elizabeth Grahams washed up on the beach. It’s a common opener for an mystery until readers soon discover this is set in a place with witches and strange, bloodthirsty creatures. Lost Grove is what would have happened if the TV show Twin Peaks (1990) had taken a more supernatural path.

What makes Lost Grove such a compelling read is the town’s secrets. Many events are happening in Lost Grove besides the Grahams’ case. For instance, one of the townspeople, Mary Germaine, becomes obsessed with eating raw meat and drinking blood after a strange creature bites her. One coffee shop owner believes a ghost haunts her business. And even more.

Because of the unraveling threads, this book can get addictive quickly. The city’s lore will grip any reader’s attention, and there is so much alluring strangeness going on.

–Alexandria Ducksworth

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11. Blame It on the Moon

A mysterious haunted house story with plenty of heart

Author: Lou Pugliese

Genre: Haunted House

Print Length: 278 pages

ISBN: 9798990072602

Recommended by: Kristine Eckart

What it’s about:

Richard Craft, a widower in North Arlington, Virginia, moves into a spacious home passed down from generation to generation in his family. Still, his family is present in more ways than one. Mysterious sounds, appearances, and occurrences soon reveal the house is haunted—and Richard is determined to find out why.

As Richard digs into the lives of the house’s previous residents, including his deceased wife and child, his brother Bob, and more dating back to the Civil War era, Richard starts to discover secrets that have remained hidden for years. With each new discovery, Richard is one step closer to putting all the puzzle pieces together, but he also may be in more danger. Will he be able to help the spirits of the house find peace before it’s too late?

Why you should read it:

This is not your typical haunted house story. Blame It On The Moon by Lou Pugliese is a ghost story, murder mystery, steamy romance, and Indiana Jones archeology mission all rolled into one. These little twists are pleasant surprises that add a lot of nuance (& fun!) to the reading experience.

There’s a believable world in this novel with real-feeling characters who, like many readers, have reservations about believing in ghost stories, even if they enjoy them. From scientific equipment and experienced academic teams to Ouija boards and opal amulets, there’s a little something for every reader in this book.

–Kristine Eckart

12. Simon’s Dream

An inspiringly fresh take on the traditional crime thriller with coming of age romance and supernatural twists

Author: Jeremy Howe

Genre: Supernatural / Noir

Print Length: 256 pages

ISBN: 9798218222574

Recommended by: Warren Maxwell

What it’s about:

Ever since his step-father, former police chief Doug Lewis, threw him out of the house, Simon Verner has been forced to fend for himself, working his way into a tiny apartment through a strict routine and a job collecting golf balls at the local golf course. Regular therapy, a goldfish named Hank (rhymes with tank), and two loyal friends keep Simon content as he slowly discovers himself inside the parameters of his newly stable existence.

However, everything is turned upside down when uncanny dreams of a cop’s decade old murder begin visiting Simon. Thrust by these visions into Chicago’s corrupt underworld, Simon finds himself compelled to investigate a cold case that no one wants reopened.

Why you should read it:

The novel pushes boundaries with its exploration of the supernatural, but remains settled in the distinct realm of crime fiction. Simon’s quest to understand himself and the meaning behind his dreams is aided by Loretta, a fortune teller. Indeed, the dreams are windows into the past, giving Simon access to memories of his previous lives. From an African tribesman to an English queen, his life is indelibly linked to lives already lived, all of which are tainted by a millennium’s old curse. This heady theory of the soul deepens as the central mystery unfolds, adding exciting new dimensions to the straight-forward pleasures of mystery fiction. The writing is workman-like and entertaining, with sweeping descriptions and blow-by-blow action sequences frequently tipping into the cinematic. Shifts between dreams, reality, and the distant past are united by a tactile specificity that readers will be eager to visualize.

The thrilling story of a golf-ball fetcher who reinvents himself as a dogged agent of justice, Simon’s Dream abandons worn-out tropes in order to create a fresh new take on noir fiction.

–Warren Maxwell

14. The Mystery Next Door

Whatever kind of literary magic Michael Rodney Moore has conjured up, it’s working.

Author: Michael Rodney Moore

Genre: Middle Grade / Historical

Print Length: 259 pages

ISBN: 9798393679699

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

Moore’s book begins with young Zoey Morganton as she moves into a small town with her mother in North Carolina. It isn’t long until she learns about the mysterious plantation not too far from her home: Oak Harbor. The house is covered with many secrets, ranging from a crazed slaveowner to a secret pirate treasure. Zoey can’t help her growing curiosity as she finds herself exploring Oak Harbor. There’s more to the plantation and the original owner’s history than she realizes.

Why you should read it:

The Mystery Next Door becomes addictive when Moore brings out old tales of piracy and long-lost treasure. It’s the type of adventure one would recognize from movies such as The Goonies (1985) and Tom & Huck (1995). Whose inner child didn’t wish they could find secret treasure in their own backyard?

One of the most captivating aspects of The Mystery Next Door is its exploration of Oak Harbor’s history. Moore delves into the complex dynamics of the 19th-century South, addressing topics such as slavery and the Civil War without it being too much for younger readers.

The Mystery Next Door is a fun & delightful read. Middle school readers who are exploring the American South in other classes and those who relish in satisfying mysteries and adventure are going to love this story.

–Alexandria Ducksworth

15. Assassins Are Us

Action, heart, and laughs in equal measure.

Author: Kimberly van Sickle

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Humor

Print Length: 164 pages

ISBN: 9781639889433

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Recommended by: Melissa Suggitt

What it’s about:

Hedy isn’t your average teenager. She’s next in line to inherit her family’s centuries-old legacy as secret assassins. Picture this: deadly skills, killer charm, and a hint of rom-com magic. With Hedy and her family at the helm, you’ll want to prepare yourself for this unique combination of snort-inducing laughter and heart-pounding action.

Balancing a budding romance with Dave, a student in her class and the weight of her family’s destiny, Hedy’s journey is quite the complicated one. Is she meant to carry on her family legacy? Will pursuing Dave affect her focus and put herself, her family, and Dave in danger, potentially exposing their family’s sordid past? Assassins Are Us is a seamless blend of high school drama and covert ops, served with a side of chaotic family dinners that’ll make you grateful for every mundane gathering.

Why you should read it:

Buckle up for a wildly entertaining ride through family secrets, flirtatious encounters, and dangerous missions in uproariously captivating ways. Hedy Hinterschott is a protagonist you’ll wish was your best friend.

Don’t be fooled by the laughs; author Kimberly Van Sickle has a knack for tugging at heartstrings too. The bonds formed among Hedy and her quirky crew ooze authenticity, adding warmth to the story’s action-packed and slightly outlandish core. This book doesn’t just capture the essence of being a teenager; it catapults you into a world where family, romance, and thrilling twists intertwine constantly.

Hedy’s quick thinking, intelligence, and sassiness will win you over faster than you can say “undercover operation.” Just when you think you’ve cracked the code, Van Sickle throws curveballs that leave you gasping and grinning simultaneously.

–Melissa Suggitt

What are the best mystery thrillers you’ve read? Let us know in the comments!

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The Must-Read Books from the First Half of 2024

IndieBookView — Tue, 28 May 2024 11:33:00 +0000

The Must-Read Books from the First Half of 2024

Chosen by the IBR Staff

What constitutes a must-read book?

Book recommendations are undeniably personal. Each reader is different and comes to each book with their own set of experiences and reading histories. One person could think a book is the best thing they’ve ever read, and their best friend could say, “Meh.”

So there’s got to be a way to differentiate, right? This isn’t just a good book. This is a YOU-HAVE-TO-READ-THIS-RIGHT-NOW book. This is a must-read book.

These things can be thrillers, thought-provoking literary tomes, escapist fantasy adventures, time-travel romances, self-help books, you name it. What matters most is that someone you trust read this thing, loved it, and thinks (if you like books similar to this), you HAVE to check it out.

Replete with genres all over the map, this collaborative list from the experts at IBR is populated by brand new indie books that so many readers are going to love. Some may call it some of the best books from the first half of 2024. We wouldn’t disagree.

Here are our 15 must-read books from the first half of 2024.

1. Mother Doll

A brilliantly layered novel of connection and disconnection, of life and afterlife

Author: Katya Apekina

Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Life

Print Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Recommended by: Toni Woodruff

What it’s about:

Enter, the novel’s opening line: “It was ironic that Zhenia and Ben would come home from spending time with people who had kids and be so giddy with relief and self-righteousness over their decision not to have any that it would make them want to fuck.”

And then Zhenia gets pregnant. Mother Doll is a breathtaking dual-timeline story of motherhood, daughterhood, grandmotherhood, and the links of past and future. It’s a funny and deeply moving story about generations and the things we do that shape us and our bloodlines.

Is this her grandmother reincarnated in her womb? Is it the prospect of a future with this child the thing she’s been missing, or is it the past that she couldn’t do without? Something has made her like this. It couldn’t just be her.

Paul, a journalist medium who receives a message from Zhenia’s great-grandmother, is the one who breaks this story open. The ghost of Irina (her great-grandmother, who abandoned her beloved grandmother) needs to tell Zhenia the story of her surprising, wild, revolutionary life. Mother Doll intricately weaves three stories into one funny, unforgettable novel.

Why you should read it:

How do you follow up a novel as good as The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish? That novel broke me, stitched me up, left me in satisfied pieces. So I had high hopes for Mother Doll. And usually that spells a fumble.

But not for Katya Apekina.

Mother Doll is so spectacularly different from her first novel, and yet it’s just as memorable, textured, and surprising. I didn’t know Apekina had such humor in her repertoire! But here comes one of the funniest books I’ve read this year. And in such a tragic package.

Irina and Zhenia make Mother Doll the hit it is, but it’s the connection of the past, present, and future that brings its deepest satisfaction. Irina’s story of Russian revolution is unpredictable and vast, while Zhenia’s story is unpredictable and slight. I loved them both.

This is a masterclass of a sophomore novel.

–Toni Woodruff

2. Marco Polo Mother & Son

Exceptional writing [steeped in] missed opportunities

Author: Thoreau Lovell

Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Life

Print Length: 232 pages

Publisher: Wet Cement Press

Recommended by: Lauren Hayataka

What it’s about:

Thoreau Lovell’s Marco Polo Mother & Son is a poignant exploration of the intricate relationship between the recently deceased Georgiana and her grieving son George.

On the surface, Georgiana and George appear as different as chalk and cheese and have a distant relationship. Georgiana is a realist—pragmatic, proud, and private—who acknowledges that she is dying from congestive heart failure. Georgiana’s dream is to pass peacefully away in her sleep in her home in Fresno. In contrast, George is a dreamer whose mind is perpetually occupied with thoughts of abandoning his partner Paula and their daughter Lily to focus on his writing. Only the one that understands George the most is the one that he thinks understands him the least: his mother.

Why you should read it:

Lovell crafts a masterful portrayal of an intimate yet distant relationship between mother and son, one filled with unspoken words and unshared memories. Georgiana and George resemble trains on parallel tracks, journeying together yet never intersecting, despite the reader’s yearning for their connection.

His exploration of grief is raw, realistic, and simultaneously ugly, shameful, and beautiful. The portrayal exudes a profound sense of understanding. Every scene and every word serve a purpose, and as the reader experiences the loss alongside George, who surrounds himself with his mother’s belongings, the realization dawns that he never truly knew her at all.

Only an exceptional writer could immerse readers in such profound pain, leaving them reluctant to accept the conclusion of the story. Lovell’s novel adds layers of authenticity and devastation that are undeniably worth cherishing. In creating Marco Polo Mother & Son, Lovell has crafted something extraordinary.

–Lauren Hayataka (Full Review)

3. Bad Foundations

A working-class White Noise, a story about family, crap jobs, paranoia, and an uncertain future

Author: Brian Allen Carr

Genre: Literary Fiction / Absurdism

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Clash Books

Recommended by: Nick Rees Gardner

What it’s about:

Cook works in crawl spaces, inspecting them for rot, but even when he emerges from the claustrophobic confines, driving across Indiana to the next client, the crawl follows him. The damp basement smell of his coveralls permeates his Prius as his daughter argues that his sales slump is due to a curse. And basement walls crumble around him, a metaphor for his depression and his predicament-prone misadventures in Ohio, Indiana, and beyond.

However, as Cook’s family life, work-life, and mental health erode, rather than turning to Jack Gladney’s preference for academia and, eventually, revenge, Cook fries his brain on legal weed and finds his answers in strange and surprising working class strangers. While the petty arguments and slightly askew realities Cook faces are reminiscent of White Noise, Carr’s characters turn away from academia, from teachers and students. With all of its banter, wit, and pure, unabashed heart, Bad Foundations is a hilarious and fresh drama about the crumbling crawlspaces Cook has built his life on and how he can scramble out of the rubble.

Why you should read it:

The writer of Motherfucking Sharks, Opioid Indiana, and several other surreal and unabashed books, Carr is at his best in Bad Foundations. The dialogue, often occurring as petty arguments that span subjects from Taylor Swift, to telepathy, to the earth being a computer program, is vibrant and often revealing of the contemporary worlds’ real life predicaments.

Carr’s characters are self-acknowledged “white trash,” day-drinking and discussing flat-earth theories with over-educated coworkers, trying to drum up a living in an inhospitable corporate social structure. While the ideas discussed in the book are intelligent, there is nothing too high-brow about Bad Foundations. The immaculate prose is fortified with excerpts from text message threads, drawings, and illustrations. While Bad Foundations reaches for depth and clarity in the midst of personal and social collapse, the prose is easily accessible for readers of all backgrounds and reading levels. It is a book that even a nonreader would enjoy.

-Nick Rees Gardner (Full Review)

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4. No Good Deed

One man’s act of kindness triggers an explosive sequence of events that threatens everything and everyone he loves.

Author: Jack Wallace

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Crime

Print Length: 268 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Recommended by: Peggy Kurkowski

What it’s about:

Christopher Jones is a divorced father working two jobs to make ends meet in Nashville, Tennessee, when his headlights shine across the huddled frame of a young Korean woman in a darkened business doorway along his morning newspaper route. Offering her a ride, he soon realizes that the woman, Kim, is running from trouble. Big trouble. Little does he know his “one good deed” to help a stranger will soon ripple into concentric rings of violence for himself, Kim, and those they care about.

Wallace thoughtfully transitions between Christopher’s and Kim’s backstories—both marked by loss, betrayal, loneliness, but also a stubborn hope for a better future.

Why you should read it:

Wallace’s pacing is pitch perfect as Christopher begins to take back his power in protecting Kim…The thrills are explosive and the cat-and-mouse game increasingly personal.

Wallace effectively teases out the moral complexities of fighting fire with fire. His protagonists are good people facing unspeakable brutality and evil; they are ordinary people thrust into becoming the heroes they never knew they were.

No Good Deed is a superbly written and propulsive story with an unforgettable climax, a novel with a soul that entertains as it educates about sex trafficking and the individuals sucked into its diabolical orbit. Do not miss this one.

-Peggy Kurkowski (Full Review)

5. Still Alive

The mesmerizing life journey of a woman just trying to find peace

Author: L.J. Pemberton

Genre: Literary Fiction / LGBTQ

Print Length: 290 pages

Publisher: Malarkey Books

Recommended by: Erica Ball

What it’s about:

Always reckoning with the consequences of her formative years, V experiments with different ways of living: trying out different buildings, neighborhoods, and even cities. She falls in love with different partners, some men, some women, and, ultimately, with her beloved Lex, and they try multiple times to see if now is the time they can make it work.

Because of her many moves, and, because she has so much to work through, V consistently flashes back to her family’s dysfunction and how that was passed along to her. As such, the narrative jumps from the Portland of her childhood in the 1980s to New York City in the 2010s to the beaches of Los Angeles and onward.

V is actively rejecting the life so many others seem to want with a wry and sarcastic take on the hypocrisies and phoniness she sees around her. Instead, she is seeking the real, the gritty, and the true. She looks for novel and especially sensory experiences, whether through underground punk shows, time spent in the depths of the woods, or falling head-over-heels in love at first sight.

Why you should read it:

Poetic and philosophical, she dips into and out of these different lived experiences, at times throwing herself into them, and other times watching society from a distance.

V is a fascinating and complex character who doesn’t seek to overly define her relationships or sexuality. With its beautiful prose and applicable commentary, Still Alive has broad appeal. It will be especially effective for fans of coming-of-age stories, underground culture and art communities, bisexual or pan-sexual relationships, and lesbian or sapphic fiction.

It’s a coming of age story, and there’s some love in there as well, but in the end, it’s really a story of self-love, a story of craving freedom and finding it within instead of without, and a story of coming home to yourself.

-Erica Ball (Full Review)

6. Changes In the Land

An enthralling piece of fiction that seamlessly blends horror and mystery in an enigmatic, earthy New Hampshire setting

Author: Matthew Cheney

Genre: Horror / Dark Fantasy

Print Length: 90 pages

Publisher: Lethe Press

Recommended by: Melissa Suggitt

What it’s about:

Adams Park: one family’s curse, another family’s burden.

Elias Thornton, along with his children Josiah and Drusilla, carry the weight of responsibility for their family’s purpose. Passed down from generation to generation, they are the caretakers and the protectors of the nature preserve known as Adams Park. Its thousands of acres of land, its animals, its estate’s human inhabitant (Valeria Adams), and its secrets.

The heiress of the estate, Valeria, is somehow ageless, and she believes she knows all the secrets of her family’s curse; it has been bestowed upon her decades ago when she came across a strange cave and it changed her life forever. She is a viper in sheep’s clothing. The further we delve into her history, the more vile she becomes, however justified she believes she is in the actions of her past.

Dr. Steven A. Baird is a history professor, collecting research on the history of Adams Park and of its owners’ genealogy. As he’s drawn closer to the heart of the mystery and begins to unravel the truth of his connection to Valeria, the greater the peril he faces.

As these three characters, their families, and their destinies intertwine, a gruesome and wholly terrifying prophecy is set in motion.

Why you should read it:

Author Matthew Cheney delivers a hauntingly powerful tale with Changes in the Land. This book offers a potent lesson in karma and a stark reminder of the importance of respecting our land and each other.

The background of Adams Park and the heinous events that took place on its land over generations is an aspect of the narrative that helps create an atmosphere of palpable tension building tantalizingly through the story. Cheney weaves a compelling supernatural element and adeptly explores the way our actions leave an imprint on the earth—whether ethereal or concrete. You’ll find yourself almost rooting for the land to take its revenge on the Adams family by the end of this.

Cheney has crafted a succinct and efficient plot in a short amount of pages, leaving just enough room for mystery and well-rounded character development. Who knew nature could be so terrifying? Horror fans with a healthy respect for our environment are going to love this novella.

–Melissa Suggitt (Full Review)

7. Time Is Heartless

A profound adventure exploring the limits of AI and the possibilities of post-climate-collapse technology

Author: Sarah Lahey

Genre: Science Fiction / Romance

Print Length: 348 pages

Recommended by: Andrea Marks-Joseph

What it’s about:

Readers are placed on a ship with Quinn, who is not happy to be there. She feels trapped at sea, where she is parenting her toddler without her husband Tig. Quinn loves Tig, but he keeps disappearing on secret missions for much longer than he ever stays.

Quinn is lonely: unheard and unfulfilled. She’s married to a cyborg who won’t take his mood-regulating medication, and she’s missing her friend who disappeared from her cryo-sleeping tank.

There is so much at stake at all times in this novel; action, plot-twists, and reveals come from every angle. But there is also so much joy in the way Lahey tells this story. These characters feel so real. The novel captures the stress, the worry, and the pain of being human—but also the ridiculousness of everyday life.

Why you should read it:

Author Sarah Lahey and her eclectic ensemble of characters found their way into my heart, keeping me spellbound and energized with a constantly surprising narrative—In fact, I read this book in one sitting, twice.

Readers who follow the advancements of future tech and are confronting the ethics of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives (but who also love a great love story and mystery) should run, not walk, to pick up this near-future sci-fi novel.

If the topic of what the world will look like post-climate-collapse—biologically, reproductively, technologically, politically, and even fashionably—intrigues you, know that what this book delivers is nothing you expect and everything you want.

Equal parts thought-provoking and riotously joyful, Time is Heartless is a book I’ll be thinking about for months—maybe years.

–Andrea Marks-Joseph (Full Review)

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8. Fire Exit

A quiet and original novel about an outcast, a loner, who clings to hope even when the world is pitted against him

Author: Morgan Talty

Genre: Literary Fiction / Native American & Aboriginal

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Tin House Books

Recommended by: Nick Rees Gardner

What it’s about:

Lamosway’s is a story about blood quantum, the controversial measure of how much “Indian blood” a body contains as a way to determine whether or not someone belongs as a member of their tribe. Because of blood quantum, Lamosway is booted off the Penobscot Reservation when he turns 18, and now, as a middle-aged man, he watches his estranged daughter Elizabeth who is being raised by a Penobscot stepfather and her mother across the river.

Charles observes the life he almost had unfolding across the river, wondering which parts of himself flow through his daughter’s veins, knowing what she doesn’t: that his blood is not legally native, that according to blood quantum, she doesn’t belong. When, as an adult, Elizabeth returns to her parents’ reservation home, Charles considers whether now is the right time to tell her the truth.

Lamosway, as a protagonist, isn’t necessarily driven by anything. He feels the need to tell his biological daughter the truth but is prohibited from doing so by his daughter’s mother. He wants to belong to the tribal community but is prohibited by arbitrary laws. He wants to drink, but he knows his tendency toward alcoholism and refrains. While Lamosway holds down a job “clearing the land,” all of his drive has been tempered by forces outside of his control. But as the family and community he surrounds himself with struggles and falls apart, he does his best to hold the world around him together.

Why you should read it:

Creating quiet stories requires exceptional talent. In order to pull a novel like this off, the writer needs a memorable protagonist too: a Jay Gatsby or Anna Karenina or Ignatious J. Reily type who lodges in the reader’s mind like an old friend. Think Dennis Johnson’s “Fuckhead,” from Jesus’ Son, a character who readers would recognize from any Iowa dive bar, but whose depth, whose insights about life, ask the reader to reconsider what they know.

Now we can add Charles Lamosway to this list.

Lamosway’s character growth, though minimal, is depicted quite brilliantly; each shift in personality, each flash of irrational anger sloshes out of a deep well. And Talty uses this backstory of injustice as a rising tension; to read Fire Exit is to wait either for Lamosway to get a break or for him to be broken.

While Talty’s narrative is already irresistible, especially for readers who enjoyed Night of the Living Rez, it is also filled with Charles Lamosway’s wisdom, a philosophical depth that lingers beyond the page…Fire Exit is one of those books that will become more meaningful with the days, weeks, and months after closing the cover.

–Nick Rees Gardner (Full Review)

9. Next Time

A time-travel novel exceptionally worthy of a binge-read

Author: Randy Brown

Genre: Time Travel / Romance

Print Length: 332 pages

Recommended by: Kristine Eckart

What it’s about:

When William extends a helping hand to Miriam, who seems to have appeared from nowhere, he gets more than he bargained for. But Miriam’s ignorance of the current date, modern culture, and her surroundings raise some red flags. That’s when she reveals her secret: she can travel through time. Working on his master’s degree in history, William is intrigued and offers to be a resource for the next time Miriam appears. But as William continues his life, studying and spending time with his girlfriend, he still can’t get Miriam out of his mind.

Miriam appears more in William’s life over the years, and their relationship turns from friendship to romance. They must navigate the complexities of dating while existing in different dimensions of time. However, as the police start to take a particular interest in tracking down and questioning Miriam and William’s struggles with Miriam’s absence, complications arise. They must figure out how to deal with the investigations and how far they’re willing to go to save their relationship.

Why you should read it:

Of the many time-travel novels I’ve read, this is undeniably among my favorites. The novel’s pacing is spot-on, never spending too much time in between Miriam’s appearances and always keeping the plot moving with action sequences of police interrogations and disagreements between family and friends. These scenes keep the reader invested, especially when one of the main characters is missing. Traversing through its spot-on pacing and the scenes that don’t miss, you too will be fervently flipping pages to find the answer of Miriam and William’s fate.

I also appreciated the balance of realism and escapism present throughout the novel. Time-travel books can often feel like they create a world that’s completely different from our own, which provides plenty of entertainment and an escape from the worries we face on a daily basis.

If you love time-travel stories complete with action and romance, Next Time would be the best choice you’ve made in a while.

–Kristine Eckart

10. Everywhere I Look

A riveting look at the impact of dark family secrets

Author: Ona Gritz

Genre: Memoir / Family

Print Length: 250 pages

Publisher: Apprentice House Press

Recommended by: Elizabeth Reiser

What it’s about:

When Ona’s adopted older sister Angie disappears during Ona’s visit to San Francisco, she finds herself conflicted between being concerned and feeling indifferent. Ona is no stranger to Angie’s disappearing acts, so she is hesitant to worry.

This all changes when her brother-in-law’s body is discovered, shot execution-style. Soon after, a pregnant Angie and her infant son are found murdered as well. Ona finds herself struggling with grief, but in some ways Angie’s terrible end is not ultimately shocking. As Ona explores her feelings surrounding the loss of her sister, she realizes how many aspects of Angie’s life she misunderstood and is led on a long journey of uncovering secrets she chose to ignore.

Why you should read it:

There are a number of fascinating twists and turns in this story, but nothing is salacious. At its core, this is more of a reflection on a misunderstood life than a true crime story, and it is clear how important it is to Ona that she respects her sister’s memory.

Ona is also refreshingly honest about herself and does not sugarcoat her actions growing up. Rather than falling into the trap of portraying herself as the put-upon “good” sister, she instead shows how her flaws were simply more easily forgiven by her family. The guilt she feels over being the favored and nurtured child is palpable; it’s a heartbreaking realization the author goes through as she comes to terms with her culpability in Angie’s feelings of being unwanted.

At its core, Everywhere I Look is a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and wildly fascinating story about families and the secrets that destroy them. It is sure to stick with you.

-Elizabeth Reiser (Full Review)

11. Overthink

Successfully transform your overwhelming thoughts with this valuable self-help book.

Author: Lyndsey Getty

Genre: Self-Help

Print Length: 150 pages

Recommended by: Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD

What it’s about:

This book asks the reader to identify their thinking difficulties and to apply the most effective techniques to consistently improve them. It walks you through the basics of becoming more aware of your thoughts and how to accurately label unhelpful thinking as it occurs.

The author’s detailed and well-articulated guidance helps us distinguish between unproductive and productive thoughts. The principles of productive thinking are discussed in detail for readers to try in real time, and detailed worksheets are given to help each person track their progress and build success.

Moved to help others find relief quicker than she did, Getty has shared a vital and practical manual that blends psychological wisdom, proven strategies, and personal triumph.

Why you should read it:

Part memoir, part straight-talking guidebook, this resource can help create lasting positive change. Overthink is like having a highly trained expert by your side, guiding you to stop negative self-talk and think productively.

Overthink shines the way forward out of mental torment. Lyndsey Getty maintains a compassionate understanding of the daunting anguish connected to unproductive thinking. She encourages us to become our best selves and shares her own truths & agonies to show us it’s okay to have them.

I have been geeking out a bit in response to Lyndsey Getty’s Overthink. It is utterly remarkable that a lay person wrote such a technically sound and effective self-help book while also appropriately sharing her own struggles and successes. I hold a really high standard for self-help books so my praise in this area is hard won. Overthink sidesteps the technical jargon dominating the mental health/self-help fields. She has created an impeccably streamlined guide that can be applied broadly to a whole host of unproductive thinking difficulties.

–Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD (Full Review)

12. Tap Dancing on Everest

A riveting memoir about the travails of growing up, the trauma of mountain climbing, and the elation of being in the great outdoors

Author: Mimi Zieman

Genre: Memoir / Adventure

Print Length: 244 pages

Recommended by: Warren Maxwell

What it’s about:

What materializes is a deep portrait of Mimi’s youth and milieu in New York as the ambitious daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Her father’s entire family was killed in Latvia while her maternal grandmother fled Germany for Palestine with her young daughter, Mimi’s mother. Living with the legacy of such a brutal and incomprehensible past reverberates in Zieman, triggering eating disorders, an unrequited love of dance, and an ultimate turn toward medicine.

While plagued by her family’s expectations and rules, mountains and trekking become an early source of independence. Through a series of split decisions and journeys, Zieman ends up alone in the Nepali Himalayas, hiking for weeks on end and forging relationships with fellow hikers that take her all the way to the feet of Everest.

Why you should read it:

The overall quality of the writing in this book is exceptional. The memoir’s many large and small vignettes, its minor characters and central ones all leap into focus. Whether Zieman’s haunted, psychotherapist father or a braggadocios boy that she rescues in a climbing accident, personality and life abound.

One of the things that’s wonderful about this uncommon approach to writing the mountain climbing narrative—the very fact that Zieman is present as a doctor, not a climber, and doesn’t herself climb Everest—is that we see a different side to the climbing story…This is a tale about the experience of living on mountains, beside mountains, under mountains, and hoping that the people climbing them will survive. The depth of psychology and detail that go into Zieman’s descriptions are mesmerizing.

In short, this memoir travels widely. It brings a large swath of territory into its purview that, while seemingly diffuse, builds to a triumphant peak. It is a beautiful, wrenching story about the trials that we endure and the rewards we reap.

–Warren Maxwell

13. Nola Face

A memoir that explores the contradictions of language with boldness, nuance, and playfulness.

Author: Brooke Champagne

Genre: Memoir / Essays

Print Length: 192 pages

Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Recommended by: Elizabeth Reiser

What it’s about:

The essays in Nola Face recount Brooke Champagne’s upbringing in an Ecuadorian family in New Orleans, her marriage and motherhood, and her path as a writer. But narrating a memory is, we soon learn, never as easy as putting facts on the page.

Instead, the essays in the collection play cleverly with the fallibility of writing itself, never letting the reader forget the way language mediates the relationship between the author penning each essay and the author who lives as a character on the page.

Why you should read it:

A memoir as thoughtful as it is creative, Nola Face would be an excellent choice for readers in love with the craft of writing.

These essays let the reader behind the curtain, reflecting explicitly on the impossibility of describing an event precisely as it happened without the distorting force of language.

Champagne is a master of the art of the opening sentence…These deft opening lines draw the reader in to each new essay, in search of elaboration, explanation, and another thrilling turn of phrase.

It’s not only the opening lines that delight in this collection. Long, complex sentences stuffed with recollections and reconsiderations abound in Nola Face…. At their best, they read like pirouettes, swinging the reader through a remarkable range of images, ideas, and linguistic moves to land with grace.

–Elena Bellaart

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14. Secrets Ever Green

The exquisite, emotional adventure of a young woman pushing through grief to uncover magical secrets

Author: Sara Knightly

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

Print Length: 268 pages

Recommended by: Andrea Marks-Joseph

What it’s about:

Ivy Rune is not the natural Arborist talent everyone believes she is. Every year, in the town of Windermere, students are allocated a career and, in Ivy’s case, permanent accommodation, depending on their results in the final practical exam.

If Ivy fails her final exams, she will not have a job in the industry she’s trained for, and most importantly, she won’t be able to live in her childhood home, which holds her final memories of her father and has been left empty waiting for her in the decade since his presumed death.

A mysterious man approaches Ivy with instructions (ostensibly from her father, ten years ago, specifically for Ivy) that lead her to discover a magic underworld hiding in plain sight, unlocking the secrets to where her father spent his time before he disappeared. Suddenly, in the middle of the most crucial week of her life, where studying in the library will secure her future, Ivy is exploring the forest, following handwritten clues from her dead father.

Why you should read it:

Author Sara Knightly has created a wondrous and charming hometown for Ivy. Windermere is filled with lore and whispered, near-forgotten myths so naturally woven into the story that it felt as though I had grown up in the community with Ivy and her best friend York, understanding their fears, ambitions, and curiosity on a cellular level.

This natural, almost effortless sense of being surrounded by Secrets Ever Green’s world applies to its characters, too: I felt the complexity of Ivy wanting guidance and support from the adults in her life, and I felt in my veins the betrayal and shame she experienced when they treated her in a way that made it clear, through unintentional twists in their phrasing, that she was not loved unconditionally, nor was she theirs to care for indefinitely.

The way grief is written into Ivy’s story is remarkable. Often it’s just one line that hits at the heart of her pain, and then the story continues. Knightly has mastered the art of pulling back the protagonist’s layers to their most vulnerable truth and then moving the story along in light of that knowledge. Ivy has tangled herself up in grief, moving forward because it’s all she knows, but the story is weighed down by her heartache. In fact, even in Ivy’s darkest moments, though we are barely holding back tears in sympathy, we feel the story surge forward because what could possibly happen next?!

–Andrea Marks-Joseph (Full Review)

15. Terra Solaris (Gods & Monsters)

A formidable tale of power and creation

Author: Jaiden Baynes

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Myth

Print Length: 374 pages

Publisher: BayMar Publishing

Recommended by: Audrey Davis

What it’s about:

In a very distant past, but a universe quite similar to our own, Gods, Titans, and Monsters roam the planets amongst the humans.

When the human Typhon’s greed and desire for power overtakes him, he aims to conquer the Kosmos and all its inhabitants, leaving a scarred, torn world in his wake. The goddess Terra, in an effort to restore stability, agrees to help her brother Jupiter rise to power to defeat Typhon and re-unite the planets.

Unfortunately, it does not last. As Jupiter is swept into his own corruption, Terra is left to grapple with her own thoughts and feelings while finding the strength to do so and seeks to restore a balance to the universe once more.

Why you should read it:

Jaiden Baynes’ newest young adult fantasy series Gods and Monsters gives a fresh face to creationism and ancient Greek mythos as we commonly know them. The same names remain, but their bearers and stories are very different. This story captivates as Baynes gives readers a new set of rules to play with for these characters, including new beasts and horrible foes, miraculous unseen powers, gods and new universes, and even a little bit of romance.

If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, this story would be great for you. I would happily recommend this series to fellow action/adventure and fantasy fans. Readers will appreciate the dry humor and well-paced action as they follow new and powerful characters through their trials in saving the universe from capture and ruin.

–Audrey Davis (Full Review)

What are your must read books of 2024 so far? Let us know in the comments!

About the IBR Staff

Thank you for reading “The Must-Read Books from the First Half of 2024!” If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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17 Kindle Unlimited Fantasy Books You Should Read RIGHT NOW

IndieBookView — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:16:00 +0000

17 Kindle Unlimited Fantasy Books You Should Read RIGHT NOW (2024)

Chosen by the IBR Staff

Nobody reads like fantasy readers read.

Send me to new worlds. Mystify my current one. Short novellas or door-stopping tomes—doesn’t matter. If it’s not this world I’m living in, I’d gladly spend time in it.

The fantasy reader stereotype has changed a little bit, hasn’t it? We’re not carrying around those fat serial paperbacks with dragons in our back pockets anymore. Now we’ve got the dragon books in our Kindles.

If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you have a library in your pocket, filled with thousands of fantasy novels. Ready to know which ones you should read? (Bonus points: they’re all indie!)

Have you used your KU free trial yet?

Here are 17 Kindle Unlimited fantasy books you’re going to love.

1. Winterset Hollow

Welcome to Barley Day. Eat, drink, and be merry—for tomorrow you will die.

Author: Jonathan Edward Durham

Subgenre: Dark Fantasy

Print Length: 326 pages

Recommended by: Joelene Pynnonen

What it’s about:

When the chance comes up to visit the former home of the late legendary (fictional) writer Edward Addington, Eamon Buckley jumps at it. Passing up the possibility of seeing the island that inspired Addington’s novel Winterset Hollow is impossible. And what better day to go than Barley Day? The one day in the year that all the characters in the book celebrate with their loved ones?

Once Eamon and his closest friends, Caroline and Mark, arrive on Addington Isle they realize that the truth of Edward Addington’s life might be stranger than his fiction. And, too late, they find that coming to the island might have been a mistake—and it might just cost them their lives.

Why you should read it:

Winterset Hollow by Jonathan Edward Durham is the kind of whirlwind story that spirits you off in one direction and, just as you’re comfortably settling in for the ride, buffets you wildly into a different tale. A mix of quirky, wholesome, and horrific. This novel crosses genres in a way I’ve seldom seen before. And each of the genres is handled superbly.

The horror aspects of the novel are fantastic. The fact that the relationships are built on such solid foundations cements the horror in place. All of the characters are stuck in their trauma: working through it, giving in to it, or just going with the path of least resistance in the hopes of avoiding any more pain. It’s awful and confronting and terrifying because it uses fiction as a mirror of reality.

–Joelene Pynnonen

2. Dio in the Dark

A cinematic Toronto adventure depicting the ancient Greek gods as flawed eternal beings living in a modern world

Author: Rizwan Asad

Subgenre: Mythology

Print Length: 170 pages

Recommended by: Andrea Marks-Joseph

What it’s about:

This is the story of a father—Zeus, king of the gods—and the complicated relationship he has with his two sons Dionysus and Apollo. While they’re languishing in the pleasures of contemporary life, mistrust and betrayal burns bright between them. When impending doom hangs over them, the gods are left feeling as though they’re grasping at straws to stop it. They’ve navigated the modern world with mortals for so long that their powers are not as strong.

When Zeus suddenly goes missing, Dio discovers that his father is being held hostage as part of an overwhelming darkness that’s festering because the mortals are forgetting about the gods. “Zeus was bound not by steel, enchanted or other wise, but by the dismissal of his legend, the failure of the modern scribes to engrave his deeds into the tablets of modern men.” The gods work to revive the mortals’ knowledge of the pantheon.

Dio encounters various primordial deities and mythological monsters as he embarks on the quest to find and rescue his father—and the entire mortal world. The author (Rizwan Asad) takes this story to The Underworld, secret underground parties, and to the powerful depths of Instagram.

Why you should read it:

Dio in the Dark is a delightful reimagined future for Olympian gods. An ode to Greek mythology, this adventure offers something fresh and unique to their stories, and it proves to be an excellent choice for fans of both legends and urban fantasy.

It’s a story as delicious and full-bodied as the ancient Greek wine Dio adores.

While set in modern Toronto, Dio in the Dark turns the city radiant with all the possibilities of ancient magic. The visuals are colorful and stylized, with gorgeous landscapes and stunning locations. Asad’s writing is vivid and descriptive—making it impossible not to feel as if you have climbed through a vibrantly drawn storybook, or crept right into the scene in the middle of a cinematic otherworldly battle.

–Andrea Marks-Joseph

3. Fated Sworn

A royal fantasy adventure with a universe-transcending fated love

Author: Kristin L. Hamblin

Subgenre: Romantasy

Print Length: 527 pages

Recommended by: Andrea Marks-Joseph

What it’s about:

Fated Sworn is a story of loyalty and leadership, strategy and sacrifice; of a generous queen and a warm-hearted thief who are fated to find each other and fall in love.

Queen Faelyn—“‘Fae,’ they called her, with pointed ears, limitless magic, and a kingdom regaining its power in the world”—is a badass leader and passionate custodian of her kingdom. Her personal life and her people have faced so much hardship in the past, but by the time we meet her in this book she has successfully built her kingdom into a place where people are genuinely taken care of.

While she’s making plans to marry a prince from a kingdom that will ensure this safety and abundance is secure for another generation, she begins to feel a mystical connection with a mysterious young man. “The echo of a familiar pain lanced through her, as if she’d been here before, losing him to an unknown future all over again. But none of that made any sense. She’d only just met him.”

Why you should read it:

Fated Sworn’s magic systems are fascinating and cinematic, simultaneously intimate and intense. Those with magic in this novel have the ability to sense proximity to each other, to feel the exact emotional state of others, and to manipulate natural elements with magnificent implications. For this reason, the action scenes are especially vivid.

If you’re in the mood for exhilarating combat scenes, entrancing magical training montages, high-powered elemental magic battles, desperate street crime and ruthless gang dynamics—with the shining thread of destined soulmates sparkling throughout—this is the book for you.

This would make an equally sensational, heart-wrenching, sexy TV or film adaptation as both Outlander and Beautiful Creatures series have had, especially with its visually enthralling magic systems.

-Andrea Marks-Joseph

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4. A Moonserpent Tale

Danger, adventure, magic, and romance: what else could you want?

Author: Rosemarie Montefusco

Subgenre: Fairy Tale / Romance

Print Length: 354 pages

Recommended by: Kathy L. Brown

What it’s about:

A Moonserpent Tale tracks a young witch, her guide, an elf, and a pigeon on a quest through a barren, peril-fraught land.

Each has their own reasons for heading out on the journey, from Sol’s duty as a soldier to Araina’s mixed bag of grief and low self-esteem.

While delivering some spell books and a magical artifact to a friend at a nearby witch community, Araina’s latent magical ability manifests. She is the best choice for an important mission the coven needs to staff. A militaristic force seeks seven magical artifacts, hidden throughout the land, to wield even greater power. And something is wrong with nature itself, the land and its plants blighted. Are these events connected in some way?

Why you should read it:

A Moonserpent Tale’s sweet, slow-burn romance is perfect for these characters in this situation.

The book’s worldbuilding is thorough and thoughtful, and the description is immersive. The voice of the story has a wonderful, folkloric tone perfect for the material.

Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy fiction such as the fantasy novels of Lois McMaster Bujold will be impressed with A Moonserpent Tale. This is a tale both thoughtful and entertaining, a true pleasure to read.

-Kathy L. Brown

5. The Wolf Esprit

Captivating historical fantasy in a dark mood

Author: Joseph Stone

Subgenre: Dark Fantasy / Historical

Print Length: 538 pages

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

Young Esprit Lenoir follows his traveling family of performers around the French countryside. Even though they’re not Romani, they are still frowned upon for their peculiar lifestyle. Esprit does his best as an actor, always seeking his father’s approval, but his sexual orientation marks him as a sinner. His father wants him to as a heterosexual man, while Esprit just wants to be himself, even if locals ridicule him for it.

One day, Esprit spots a handsome gentleman during one of his performances. This encounter leads him to a hidden world of powerful werewolf clans and centuries-old secrets. It will take him across countries, helping him understand the wolf inside him.

Why you should read it:

Reading Wolf Esprit is like reading Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire—but with werewolves. Any werewolf fans (or general paranormal fans) will savor anything in the Lykanos Chronicles (Criminal Beware, Wolf Omega), but this is a terrific standalone.

The werewolves in Stone’s book are not the typical ferocious hairy mongrels running the woods attacking innocents at random. Stone’s wolves are smart, sophisticated, and insanely powerful. Just another reason why the author’s world is so intriguing.

Stone has the magical touch with his worldbuilding. I loved traveling with Esprit through rural France and in the lavish masquerade parties in Italy. Stone’s historical knowledge brings the world to life, while the fantasy enthralls.

-Alexandria Ducksworth

6. Dagny

A whirlwind expedition of mystery and discovery

Author: Matt Luedke

Subgenre: Myth / Historical

Print Length: 58 pages

What it’s about:

Left behind to tend their family’s cabin and reindeer as her father and brother are summoned to war, Dagny awakens one morning to find the herd under attack. Using every tool she has available, including Elvish rune magic, she ventures into the dangerous forest to rescue the stolen deer—where she discovers she must confront more intense obstacles than just a monstrous thief.

Why you should read it:

This fantasy exposes Luedke’s clear ability for robust and creative storytelling in just a few pages. The author has created a new world, somewhere between ours and a fantasy realm, where a lot of our legends and fairy tales come true, like trolls, magic, ghosts, and more. The plot is fast-paced; the story itself isn’t very wordy, but it is immersive and engaging regardless.

–Audrey Davis

7. Veil ONLINE

A captivating, heartstring-pulling role-player fantasy

Author: John Elijah Cressman

Subgenre: LitRPG

Print Length: 467 pages

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

The journey of VEIL Online begins in the real-life world with protagonist Jace Burton. Jace is a programmer for the behemoth gaming company WorldCog, the company behind VEIL. Players enter the game through their virtual reality gaming pods, but this is beyond your typical gaming console. When you play in VEIL, you’re literally in it—able to transfer both your money and consciousness into the game after you die.

When you’re alive, you can log off whenever you want to.

So when Jace gets off from work to find himself stuck in VEIL, he’s got some questions to ask. There’s only one conclusion: Jace is dead in real life. But how did he die? Did somebody kill him? Is WorldCog behind it? As Jace progresses through VEIL, readers will uncover the game’s secrets and meet helpful and entertaining characters along the way.

Why you should read it:

If you combined Ready Player One with Dungeons and Dragons, you might get pretty darn close to VEIL Online. This book is a must for adventurous readers who love journeys with dragons, mages, rogues, and trolls.

One thing is for sure: Cressman definitely knows how to write a page-turner. He guides readers through twists and turns, surprises, and constant danger. Like in every good fantasy RPG, there is never a dull moment. Every time Jace succeeds in a quest, a new problem arises. When Jace finally transfers his way to another human body, it’s a level one—no magic, no advanced skills. Jace has to start from scratch.

Gamers will be all over VEIL Online. The air of mystery surrounding Jace’s permanent place inside the game will really get readers flipping pages.

–Alexandria Ducksworth

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8. The Song of the Fae

A sizzling love story with a shocking secret

Author: E.H. Jahr

Subgenre: Romantasy

Print Length: 299 pages

Recommended by: Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD

What it’s about:

Kiera is compelled to heal others with her magic despite the threat of punishment if she is discovered. Only the fae may safely possess magic in their lands. But as hard as she tries to escape detection, her magical gifts attract the attention of the young fae prince Dorian.

Instead of punishing Kiera for healing a farmer’s wife, he offers her the chance to hone her magic under his tutelage at his palace in the land of the fae. Kiera is instantly attracted to Dorian despite being suspicious of his motives. Kiera must decide whether or not she can trust Dorian as she embarks on a journey to discover the true potential of her own magic.

As Dorian and Kiera work to strengthen her magical capabilities, their attraction deepens and evolves. Kiera soon discovers that Dorian is harboring secrets that threaten to upend her world. She also discovers that some of her friends and foes are not necessarily who they seem, so she must determine the truth and choose her allegiances to claim the full force of her magic and save her world from the throes of dark magic.

Why you should read it:

With sizzling sex scenes, a compelling romance, and vivid fantasy elements, E. H. Jahr delivers a delightful debut novel. Strong, outspoken, and intelligent, Kiera is an engaging heroine with an irresistible passion to heal and protect others. In spite of her efforts to blend into everyday life in Cresea, Kiera is propelled into a suspenseful mystery as she encounters the young prince Dorian. His offer to train her in fae magic is alluring, as is the instant chemistry between them.

Vivid descriptions paint the fae world into brilliant detail. Fast-paced action propels us along the twists and turns of Kiera’s adventures in magical training and in romance. Kiera’s evolving passion for Dorian is masterfully spun too. Some scenes, however, do spend some time telling us information rather than offering its usually engaging dialogue and action.

–Lisa Parker Hayreh, PhD

9. The Scales of Balance (A Vengeful Realm)

A captivating fantasy with strong characters and even stronger combat scenes

Author: Tim Facciola

Subgenre: Action & Adventure

Print Length: 530 pages

Recommended by: Timothy Thomas

What it’s about:

A fantasy novel replete with spilled blood in the name of a peace that every faction defines differently. Gods, judges, kings, mages, gladiators, slaves, all vying for position in a life that demands the deaths of one’s enemies to be achieved.

New Rheynia is on the brink of another civil war. As King Varros stands before his kingdom, Queen Danella plots his assassination should he not heed her request. With the kingdom in the balance and the rebellious Revivalists’ in the shadows, Prince Laeden takes it upon himself to protect his father by bringing down the insurgents, unaware that the blood he seeks spilled is his stepmother’s.

And somehow, Zephyrus finds himself in the middle of all of this. Having awakened with no memories and the only indications of who he is foretelling opposing paths for him, he is made a pawn in the Prince’s game and enters gladiatorial slavery for his exceptional fighting abilities to be a spy on Laeden’s behalf. To establish his future, he must secure his past, for therein lies the key to his freedom from the arena, and toward his destiny.

Why you should read it:

It is difficult to overstate the storytelling prowess of author Tim Facciola. As if representative of the balance the title speaks of, his writing rarely finds a scene that is not appropriately captured in tone, pacing, and dialogue. The rich catalogue of characters all have a greater depth than what may initially be perceived, and all have their own mostly sympathetic motivations. Perhaps most noteworthy of all is the vividly illustrative way in which the combat scenes are written.

This book is impressive. Readers of fantasy with a penchant for middle-aged settings will applaud its intricate storytelling and thoughtful worldbuilding.

–Timothy Thomas

10. Wizard’s Masquerade

Dramatic, romantic, and an absolute pleasure to read.

Author: Jay Pellegrin

Subgenre: Sword & Sorcery / Romantasy

Print Length: 550 pages

Recommended by: Andrea Marks-Joseph

What it’s about:

When we meet Leyna, she’s in the middle of a magical battle that counts for her final exams to graduate school with a wizarding qualification. Working toward a life of stability and independence, Leyna is twenty-two years old, ambitious, hardworking, and aware of the privileges that allowed her to get has far as she has.

She has one major goal: “As far as she was concerned, so long as her dream of becoming a wizard of His Majesty’s Royal Guard came true, the rest of the world could simply fall away.”

Wizard’s Masquerade instead leads her to a palace that is plagued by regicide, a monumental conspiracy against the monarchy as well as secret societies who are willing to do anything to further their agendas.

When tragedy strikes the kingdom, Leyna is assigned to investigate the traitorous crimes. Leyna’s investigation takes her on emotional twists and turns relating to who she can and can’t trust and leads her to discover that she doesn’t really know the people she loves.

Why you should read it:

The magic system that author Jay Pellegrin has built in this novel is fascinating and unique in its approach—familiar enough to understand immediately, but different in a way that feels fresh and necessary. Wizard’s Masquerade’s fantasy world features shapeshifting creatures, demon summonings gone wrong, levitation and lifesaving spells, vicious demon attacks, and mysterious magical spies.

The novel has more mystery than romance, though the frequent appearance of suitors and intriguing potential love interests will definitely appeal to romance readers who prefer the pull of a potential fling to carry them through a story.

With thrilling reveals to each new question, even the most clever mystery readers will find themselves surprised and delighted by the plot twists.

Leyna finds love and reunites with family in a novel that creatively connects scenes filled with crushing grief, sheer terror, sexual tension, fierce loyalty and longing.

–Andrea Marks-Joseph

11. Soulstealer Origins

A bewitching tale weaving fact and fiction in spellbinding fashion to both horror and delight

Author: Reed Logan Westgate

Subgenre: Historical Fantasy

Print Length: 341 pages

Recommended by: Timothy Thomas

What it’s about:

It is the Lord’s year 1303, and the famed holy crusaders known as the Knight’s Templar have fallen from the height of their power. Two knights, Lucious de Montfort and Marcus, lead a company of men into the mountains of Matra, outside the town of Eger, in search of a fabled weapon powerful enough to turn the tide of the war that threatens to consume their holy order.

They find that the weapon they seek, imprisoned in the mountain for centuries, is not an item to be wielded by man, but an instrument of God who is a harbinger of the end of days: the horseman of death. The knights free him from his prison on condition that he aid them in their war.

As they settle into the town of Eger, intent on waiting out the rest of the winter, they quickly learn that the front lines have fallen, the Pope has been killed, and there is no one left they can trust.

Lucious, reportedly in possession of the weapon they found, leaves Eger for Paris to take focus off of Marcus and the horseman, whom they’ve named Oxivius, as they remain in town. With their relationship growing each passing month, and tensions rising in both Eger and Paris, Oxivius and Marcus find their friendship, faith, and destiny are tested as nothing is what it seems.

Why you should read it:

Soulstealer Origins is a well-executed blend of history, religious dogma, and fictional elements. It tells a heartfelt story that asserts the humanity of a monster while affirming the monstrousness of humanity.

This book is really well-balanced for all that it contains, and it maintains that balance by keeping its focus on Oxivius and Marcus. Oxivius is an integral part of the plot, but he is fascinating on his own. Having lived, and destined to live, far longer than any of his companions, he has a unique perspective on life and humankind.

Reed Logan Westgate has delivered something truly unique in this novel.

-Timothy Thomas

12. The Monsters In Our Shadows

A hair-raising story about the struggle to accept your monstrous side, lest it consume you

Author: Edward J. Cembal

Subgenre: Horror / Dark Fantasy

Print Length: 398 pages

Recommended by: Jadidsa Perez

What it’s about:

Edward J. Cembal’s debut novel, The Monsters in Our Shadows, details a dystopian world filled with the “afflicted:” humans who have parasitic, amorphous monsters tethered to them.

As time goes on, the monsters—called “Shivers”—become so malnourished that they devour their human host and anyone around. Humanity is nearly extinct, the last of them all living in the city of Atlas. It’s our protagonist’s job, Anthem, to ensure these Shivers are disposed of day in and day out.

But tensions begin to rise amongst the afflicted and non-afflicted, forcing Anthem to go out and look for a cure for the monsters that have plagued his life.

Why you should read it:

The Monsters in Our Shadows is one of the most riveting books I’ve ever read. The book begins in the best, most gut-wrenching way, and it only continues this high threshold. It’s always hard to predict what will happen next, as there is a constant air of mystery and bog.

The pacing moves along swiftly and naturally, and it’s easy to get acquainted with the world of the story. The characters’ ways of life are established well, and somehow, even the concept of Shivers does not feel outlandish. The Monsters in our Shadows is able to live up to its hot start because of how much care Cembal utilizes in cultivating this world.

–Jadidsa Perez

13. The Yawning Gap

For anybody who loves epic fantasy lore, Vobh serves the perfect dish.

Author: C.V. Vobh

Subgenre: Epic

Print Length: 508 pages

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

The world outside of Cor Volucre’s homeland is falling apart. The divided lands, called Boundaries, have been using sacred energy as their own. It all stems from the dying Elementals. If they all perish, the world Cor knows, including his beloved home, will cease to exist. Cor gathers a special stone helping him step through Boundary lines, gathering new companions along the way, and coming closer to his goal of saving the world.

Why you should read it:

The Elementals in Cor’s world are deeply respected gods. The idea of these otherworldly beings dying would cause anyone great distress. The world wouldn’t be much without them. The deeper you dive into this novel, the more you get the chance to truly discover the Elementals, like the “Fossils” they leave behind. Vobh shares so many intricate details that you’ll forget they’re not real.

One of the best traits of The Yawning Gap is the developing friendships of Cor, farmer girl Brayleigh, royal orator Celeste, and the famed Knight-Lord Deliad. Each character comes from distinctly different backgrounds, and some even had conflicts with each other. But with the weight of a dying world on their shoulders, they know their friendship can make a greater difference. The companionship closely resembles the bond of the Fellowship from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Their bond grows the closer they get to Mt. Doom.

At last, one can’t read an epic fantasy without epic action scenes. Vobh has written so much action that it’ll keep readers flipping the pages like nobody’s business. There are some parts in The Yawning Gap where everything gets weighed down and a tad slow though, too. The prose can get repetitive in these moments. As soon as your eyes drift from the pages, Vobh has this magic of snapping your attention back to life with swords clashing and magic colliding.

The Yawning Gap is a fantasy deserving of much attention. Vobh’s world is inspiring and the characters more than memorable.

–Alexandria Ducksworth

Find more fantasy (& other) books in our hidden gem books on KU.

14. Children of the Night

A dreadfully delightful homage to Gothic classics that offers something entirely of its own

Author: Zan Safra

Subgenre: YA / Gothic / Vampires & Monsters

Print Length: 356 pages

Recommended by: Samantha Hui

What it’s about:

Ayanda Draculesti navigates a world of “Naturals” and “Unnaturals,” a world dividing humans from those who have been tested on, mutilated, and reconstructed by alchemists who prey upon helpless children. A common enemy for the Naturals and Unnaturals, however, are the Risen Dead: vampires.

After five centuries of inactivity from these Dead, the cool and calculating vampire Isadora comes to Venice to wreak havoc, feeding on the Naturals and turning the Unnaturals against them. Ayanda’s particular set of skills, similar to those of vampires, may make her the perfect hero to fight against these killing things.

Ayanda does not have to fight this evil herself. The resurfacing of a familiar evil will connect Ayanda with other Unnaturals such as Jette Jekyll, Belle Frankenstein, and Yurei. Each character comes with their own set of skills and abilities as well as their own set of demons they must reconcile with.

While Ayanda is determined to take down the evil that is Isadora and her lackies, the other Unnaturals are hesitant to fight against such a lethal creature. They must also wrangle with the understanding that in fighting against the human-eating vampire, they would also be fighting for these Naturals who have forced an unbearable existence upon the Unnaturals.

Why you should read it:

Combining science fiction technology with Gothic and grotesque fantasy, this novel feels timeless yet futuristic, an anachronism well-juxtaposed.

For centuries, monsters and Gothic fiction have been utilized as representations of the cultural anxieties that took hold of the populations during the corresponding time periods. Safra has done an excellent job of implementing this storytelling tradition. Times have become more complex and convoluted, requiring more characters to represent a wider array of anxieties and identities that exist in today’s society.

I would highly recommend this book to those with a penchant for steampunk fiction and Gothic tropes. Safra’s storytelling is grotesque and captivating, both repulsing and intriguing us to keep on listening.

–Samantha Hui

15. The Indigo

Reading The Indigo will make you question your beliefs on reality altogether.

Author: Heather Siegel

Subgenre: YA / Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Print Length: 284 pages

Recommended by: Alexandria Ducksworth

What it’s about:

In The Indigo, a teen travels through dimensions to retrieve the soul of her unconscious mother. Despite what her family has concluded, 16-year-old Jett doesn’t believe it is the end of her mother’s life. Jett’s mom has been in the hospital for a long time. The hospital bills have been piling up, and Jett’s aunt Margaret is thinking about pulling the plug.

One night, Jett catches a glimpse of her mother in an alternate dimension, realizing she’s still alive. But how can she bring her back to physical reality? Jett bands together with Quantum club member Farold and dives into the mystical world of the astral realm. Getting into this strange new world is one thing, but battling the dangers waiting for her is another.

Why you should read it:

The most captivating theme Siegel presents in this book is the idea of astral projection. Astral travelers can go anywhere and do anything they want during their out-of-body experiences until their spiritual cord takes them back to their physical bodies. I love this metaphysical subject since it’s not mentioned often in mainstream fiction.

Author Heather Siegel plays with the idea that there is more to our lives than our three-dimensional reality, something human civilization has pondered since the beginning of time…Highly recommended.

–Alexandria Ducksworth

16. The Lord of Long Shadows

The perfect storm of Game of Thrones meets Alice in Wonderland.

Author: M. Anderson

Subgenre: YA / Action & Adventure

Print Length: 328 pages

Recommended by: Jaylynn Korrell

What it’s about:

20-year old Alex Winters is an orphan and a waitress. She lives in a trailer and does everything she can to live a quiet, reclusive life, but one night, she saves a man from being beaten up. And the next day? She is transported to the sea of a completely new world: Aquillon. There, she starts the first of many battles to survive; in this world, lowly humans are abused, thieved, and treated like pests. In order to free humanity (and herself), she must embark on a journey with a few friends and discover her true role in this life.

Why you should read it:

The Lord of Long Shadows is the Young Adult book you’ll wish you had as a kid—but the one you’re happy to return to at any age. With magic, loss, bravery, and epic battles, this first book in the Knights of the Fallen Realm series comes out swinging—and hits.

M. Anderson creates a vivid world in Aquillon, offering a swift reminder to readers of how fun it is to imagine. There are no slow chapters in this novel, and no chapters lacking in absorbing detail. Fascinating animals like upright lions, goat warriors, and imaginative hybrids stand in the way of our main character’s goal and keep the reader enthralled with each next step.

–Jaylynn Korrell

17. The Brothers Dragon

Two young brothers travel from World War 2 ravaged London to a dangerous world of dragons, pirates, and family secrets.

Author: J.F. Baker

Subgenre: Middle Grade / Dragons

Print Length: 231 pages

Recommended by: Warren Maxwell

What it’s about:

Hidden on an island in the Atlantic, dragons, mermen, gargoyles, and witches have maintained a peaceful existence for centuries. When a malevolent force begins threatening this bucolic existence, it falls on Luke and Nick—the youngest members of an ancient, dragon-blooded family—to protect the island.

With Germany’s bombardment of London picking up, and their father away at war, eleven-year-old Luke and seven-year-old Nick are sent west to stay with an uncle they’ve never met. But when they discover strange maps, references to a land called Draksmore, and a tree house built of stone in the forbidden forest they find that their Uncle Bilok’s home is not the haven they had expected. Together, they quickly break their Uncle Bilok’s rules and find themselves in a world where the fantasy’s from Nick’s favorite books are real.

Why you should read it:

From the very beginning, an electric pace and compassionate understanding of character makes this story utterly captivating. Baker expertly leads Luke and Nick through their journey, delicately matching their burgeoning inner growth with its outward narrative display.

Readers of all ages will be swept up in by the captivating prose, gripping plot, and the easy way that each of Baker’s character appears fully formed and relatable from the start. Each chapter smoothly shades into the next with an almost inexorable sense of fate leading the whole book forwards… Extraordinarily fun and readable.

-Warren Maxwell

What are the best Kindle Unlimited fantasy books you’ve read? Let us know in the comments!

About the IBR Staff

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The Best Books We Read in 2023

IndieBookView — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:21:33 +0000

The Best Books We Read in 2023

by Joe Walters & the IBR Staff

What are the best books you read in 2023?

My picks are different than yours. Different than Jaylynn’s, than Tucker’s, than Joelene’s, than Andrea’s, than the New York Times.

I love that about books. We couldn’t possibly read them all, and media outlets couldn’t either. Every list is different because reading is subjective, specific, dependent on real-life availability, experience, past interests, current interests, future goals, you name it. There is no one best book.

And yet, one book is the best book someone has ever read.

There’s so much singularity in this. And so much honesty. Only that person in that circumstance who has read those books before this one can have their specific opinion on their best one ever. And still, some books are chosen by multiple people. Both can exist at the same time.

Want to see our picks for the best books we read in 2023?

The IBR team is awesome and so uniquely them. They love books, they’re smart as hell, and when they tell me that this is the book that wrecked them, I listen. And I love to listen. They read so many books this year, both the ones that contributed to the 400+ reviews we’ve published this year and the ones they choose to read on their own time. If you’re going to listen to anybody’s recommendations this year, let it be this team.

Another plus here is that these are ALL indie books.

While a majority of most bookstores are filled with books published by the same five publishing companies, IBR reviews the digital masses: the indie press & self-published books. If you know an author or publisher in real life, there’s a pretty good chance they published indie. Those are the people we review.

So read indie!

Not only are they the little guy that feels good to support–your neighbor or friend or family member–they publish damn good books. And books that these reviewers have chosen to be among the the best books they’ve ever read.

Here are the best books we read in 2023!

1. Monstrilio

Author: Gerardo Sámano Córdova

Genre: Literary Fiction / Magical Realism

ISBN: 9781638930365

Print Length: 336 pages

Publisher: Zando

If the lung of your favorite person became a monster, could you love it the same?

Magos removes a piece of her son’s lung after he dies, and she keeps it in the closet. And from that point on, her grief exists in the physical world. Not only for Magos but also for Joseph, her now ex-husband.

It stays close to Magos, until it doesn’t. Until it grows. Transforms. Starts wrapping its tail around the bar in the closet and swings. It becomes hungry. Ravenous. And turning into Santiago, their dead son.

The grief is real: monstrous but real. Maybe if they love it, they’ll be able to tame it.

I couldn’t believe this book. How could something with such a heavy topic like a child’s death be so beautiful to experience? I started this thing on vacation with a toddler and finished within DAYS. And let me tell you, I miss it!

It’s so smart and easy at the same time. The analogy for this grief is so fascinating. Not only is it fun to watch new Santiago swing and develop, but we always know he has the power to destroy absolutely everything.

2. I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself

Author: Marisa Crane

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia

ISBN: 9781646221295

Print Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Catapult

Shame is a shadow: visible, connected, following or leading you.

In you do something the state considers wrong in this sci-fi dystopia, you are given an extra shadow so you can be ridiculed, outcast, and feared in society.

Or, in Kris’s case, you are given two shadows.

Kris has recently been widowed and is now the single parent of a child she has no idea how to raise. Especially alone. But here she is doing it and in turn, following the kid’s lead.

This book is inventive and realistic and personal and global and important and even visibly appealing. But on top of it, it’s written lyrically, creatively, intimately; it’s even capable of being read quickly. Kris writes the book directly to Beau (her dead wife) and includes love letters, memories, and lists. It feels like a collection of notes to a loved one: heartbreaking, surprisingly plot-happy, and deeply affecting notes.

Any literary sci-fi reader would be thrilled to find this one. As a new parent at the time I was reading this, I got a lot from it. It’s got relatable parenting content in droves.

3. Weather and Beasts and Growing Things

Author: Charlotte Suttee

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia

ISBN: 9781590217580

Print Length: 210 pages

Publisher: Lethe Press

Inventive & important. Stylish and bare. An eco-fever-dream.

This dystopian sci-fi meets us in a state of climate disaster at the end of this century. Stevven and Eli are just a couple of growing things trying to take care of a garden at the top of an abandoned apartment building, but they’re not allowed to do that.

When a drone finds them, they are chased out of their home in search of another one, but they’re forced across a bare, dangerous landscape. They hear Sewanee’s got the answer, but who in the world knows for sure where is safe. Stevven doesn’t, that’s for sure.

Weather and Beasts and Growing Things is a stylish dystopia in concept and form. Words are conjoined, like “Stevvenarm,” and articles (like “the” and “a”) are hard to come by. It makes for strong, sharp, needle-like one-sentence paragraphs that give you an image but ask for you to conjure the rest yourself. It makes the violence, the world seem more abrupt, more in-time, and more disorienting.

When I read books about climate & weather, I want to encounter nature writing. And I’m fulfilled here! The nature writing is spare—those one-word, three-word descriptions—but full in specificity, knowledge, and appreciation for our world. For a book to place such importance on keeping a plant alive and to follow it up with good nature writing gave me just what I came here for.

Honorable Mentions:

Hashtag Good Guy With a Gun by Jeff Chon (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
The Museum of Human History by Rebekah Bergman (Booksho p | Amazon)

1. The Tenement Nurse

Author: Kate Gemma

Genre: Historical Fiction

ISBN: 9798393246679

Print Length: 280 pages

The time period, the setting, the characters, the storylines: they’re all sure to enrapture you.

This enthralling novel set in NYC during the roaring 20s follows Millie, who devotes herself to her chaotic job as a nurse in a tenement building made up mostly of immigrants. But things take a turn when one of her pregnant patients dies at the hands of her alcoholic husband. That’s when Millie creates her own idea of justice. It’s up to her to decide what a woman should and should not do.

This book is fantastic: I was constantly engaged, constantly questioning what was going to happen next. Millie finds herself in increasingly dangerous situations, and her circumstances are always changing. I was pulled along by the freshness of each succeeding chapter. She always has the option to disappear into the life of a housewife, and each avenue we take along the way ends up being as entertaining as the last. There’s not one paragraph I wanted to skip.

2. At the Edge of the Woods

Author: Kathryn Bromwich

Genre: Literary Fiction / Thriller

ISBN: 9781953387318

Print Length: 220 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

A spellbinding debut set in a lush natural world

Laura lives in a remote cabin in the Italian Alps. Her days consist of exploring the woods behind her home, tutoring young children from the nearby town, and translating documents for money. It’s all quite cozy, until someone from her past knocks on her door, shattering the illusion that Laura is simply a person who needed a change in life.

The reality of her situation is a bit darker, and as it catches up with her, our understanding of her present situation begins to untangle. And with it comes chaos and freedom.

Survival in the natural world, isolation, not having children–I love so much of what Bromwich is able to do with this novel. But my infatuation all starts with her protagonist Laura, a woman after my own heart. Just when we get comfortable with her, the narrative flips our understanding on its head. I never knew what was going to happen.

Still, it’s Browmwich’s effortless nature writing that may shine brightest here. The natural world is captured in gorgeous description. It brings a sense of calm to the reading experience even when situations are tense. About as close to a walk through the real world as a book can be, these descriptions simultaneously communicate the beauty of nature while never over-glorifying the reality of her way of living.

If you read this book, you’ll feel the underlying fear for a woman alone in the woods just as you’ll admire her constant ability to overcome it. This is a book to be remembered.

Give to yourself this holiday season! Here are the BEST gifts for book lovers.

1. To Refrain from Embracing

Author: Jeffrey Luscombe

Genre: Historical Fiction / Coming of Age

ISBN: 9781590217481

Print Length: 438 pages

Publisher: Lethe Press

A smartly indelicate fiction exploring every aspect of a boy’s weird trauma

At first, this story seems to be about Ted Moore, who’d enlisted at 17, became a UN Peacekeeper in the Congo, and recently self-injured in front of his 10-year-old son. “I don’t consider it my best hour,” he admits of his suicide attempt, “but that’s what happened and that’s that.”

As the novel leads us into the woods, the drama recenters onto Ted’s son, Josh. For him, the way to impress an older neighborhood boy is to divulge a really good secret. Fortunately (or not), Josh has a few of those.

A big achievement of this novel is how it investigates overlapping strands of identity. Josh’s mother grew up on a reservation in Minnesota, and his Aunt Doris in particular values her Indian heritage. On his father’s side, his aunts are fanatical born-again Christians. So who might Josh grow up to become?

It’s a twisted tale with touching moments that are meant to feel awkward. To Refrain From Embracing is an apt title insofar as the novel is about people who spend more time trying to control themselves and each other than to listen and connect.

Luscombe keeps piquing our curiosity into this weird kid born into an even weirder family, and he weaves an elaborately detailed world that’s ultimately left open-ended. He gives us an extended peepshow of Josh’s formative—perhaps de-formative—year.

2. Opening to Darkness

Author: Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Genre: Nonfiction / Spiritualism

ISBN: 9781683648611

Print Length: 240 pages

Publisher: Sounds True

An ordained Zen priest delivers a sensitive, compelling exploration of a slippery philosophical topic: the vast amount we don’t know or can’t know.

In a dark place, we may feel stuck or in pain, but we may still find support and gain insight there. It’s the most fertile ground, and we can encourage our mutual work there. Manuel says she writes especially for those whose skin, like hers, is racialized as “dark,” and she also says her message is for everyone. Darkness doesn’t destroy light; it’s an essential part of our existence, and it shows us what light is.

3. La Syrena

Author: Banah el Ghadbanah

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9781950539444

Print Length: 160 pages

Publisher: Dzanc Books

An impressive debut poetry collection that will give you a new way of seeing

Spoken word poet & scholar of Syrian women’s creative work, Banah el Ghadbanah addresses war, ecological crisis, and revolution. Just as the title plays on words for “mermaid” and “Syrian,” so do the poems consistently weave layers of mythic consciousness: ancient Babylonian goddesses, modern refugees, linguistic shift, playfulness with gender, and the fluidity of all identity. La Syrena is sensual, visually inventive, and inspirational.

1. A Seat for the Rabble

Author: Ryan Schuette

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN: 9798988598602

Print Length: 468 pages

Masterful storytelling and epic worldbuilding make this a must-read for fans of political fantasy.

Ryan Schuette weaves a complex world of political intrigue, class conflict, and the pursuit of power in this enthralling epic fantasy.

Set in the richly imagined world of the Kingdom of Loran, the story begins with the death of King Hexar, throwing the realm into a tumultuous struggle for succession.

At the heart of the narrative is Jason Warchild, the illegitimate son of the late king. Despite his uncertain origins, Jason is driven by a noble purpose: to bring equality to the people of Loran.

One of the many strengths of A Seat for the Rabble is the relevant themes reflecting modern day issues. The intricate political landscape, mirroring our own challenging political systems, reflects the power struggles seen in today’s world. Furthermore, the novel delves into the pressing issues of class conflict and social inequality, drawing parallels with contemporary societal challenges.

Ryan Schuette’s writing style is rich and immersive, drawing readers into the vividly detailed world of the Kingdom of Loran with its knights, magic, and powerful griffons. As the narrative unfolds, the book mixes in plenty of action and suspense too, reminding me of the Game of Thrones series.

2. The Mystery Next Door

Author: Michael Rodney Moore

Genre: Middle Grade / Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

ISBN: 9798393679699

Print Length: 259 pages

There’s something about southern mystery that brings out a childlike wonder.

As Zoey Morganton delves deeper into the history of Oak Harbor, readers are treated to an alluring journey through time. Readers become engaged with the golden age of piracy and life in the South (before and after the Civil War). Although the characters in these times are fictional, it does provoke educational interest as Moore’s research shines through the pages.

Middle school readers who are exploring the American South in other classes and those who relish in satisfying mysteries and adventure are going to love this story.

3. Ferren and the Angel

Author: Richard Harland

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN: 9781922856296

Print Length: 242 pages

A fast-paced and engaging dystopian fantasy with loads of fascinating lore

What will happen in the next thousand years? Some people believe there will be significant alterations, some that it will be eerily similar, and others think there will be no Earth at all.

Author Richard Harland has some other ideas. The future depicted in Ferren and the Angel shows angels and humans in an epic never-ending battle for dominance.

The worldbuilding here is addictive. You won’t want to miss any developing details about what the world will look like in this future.

What will break young Ferren out of his humdrum life at the start of this book? Watching an angel fall from Heaven. Miriael, the Fourth Angel of Observance, has no way of returning to her ethereal realm. Her powers have faltered since she arrived in the material world, but she cultivates a new friendship in Ferren. Unfortunately, it has to be kept secret, and it doesn’t stay that way for long.

Honorable Mentions:

Oversight by Dennis Batchelder (Books hop | Ama zon | Review)
The White by Matt Micheli (Amazon | Review)

1. To the Woman in the Pink Hat

Author: LaToya Jordan

Genre: Science Fiction / Feminist

ISBN: 9781619762367

Print Length: 100 pages

A powerful exploration of racial inequality through the lens of feminist sci-fi

In the near future, a horrifying organization has risen. Posing as a health center that conducts birth control studies, it instead steals the uteruses of young women of color who seek its services and transplants them into women who are willing to pay.

Jada Morris had been leading the SU’s, a resistance movement against the company, until she was incarcerated for a violent crime. Now she has been transferred to The Center, a rehabilitation program aimed at helping her confront her past and getting her back into society.

Speculative fiction has long been a vehicle for exploring cultural and social issues in the world, and Jordan uses it to its full potential here. Echoes of Marge Piercy’s feminist masterpiece, Woman on the Edge of Time, flicker within these pages.

This novella packs a powerful punch for something so succinct. It doesn’t flinch from the dark places science will go if left unchecked, but there is also warm compassion and, above all, hope. To the Woman in the Pink Hat is a heavy and often confronting read with lovely sparkles of light scattered throughout, a wonderful addition to the shelf of anyone with an interest in social politics, race theory, or feminism.

2. Montecito

Author: Michael Cox

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Crime

ISBN: 9798987960264

Print Length: 340 pages

Dark secrets lurk beneath the glittering veneer of this slow-burn thriller.

Moving to wealthy Montecito seemed like a fantastic idea to Hollis Crawford and his wife Cricket. When an obscenely rich family moves to the area, they bring with them Hollis’s last hope in the form of a spectacular job offer. Not everything is as it seems in this luxurious, glittering world, however.

Montecito is difficult to categorize into a particular genre. It could fit under psychological thriller or domestic mystery; it even has aspects of family drama. Whatever the genre, it is an astoundingly good read.

How could this be a debut? The execution is too deft and confident. Nothing is over-explained or hammed up. In fact, there’s a rare degree of subtlety to the writing. Everything in this story unfolds at its own pace, revealing secrets upon secrets until the final page.

Montecito is like an exquisite little machine where all the moving parts slot impeccably together. The story couldn’t stand without the setting or characters, and Hollis’s specific flaws are the force that drives the narrative.

3. Soiled Dove Murder

Author: Sherilyn Decter

Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

ISBN: 9781777515140

Print Length: 479 pages

Clever, nuanced, entertaining, and fun all at once.

School is out for the summer. Schoolteacher Lucie Santoro and Delores Bailey, her incongruous moonshiner companion, are using the break to help one of Lucie’s old pupils.

The once-impoverished student is now running a bordello of prostitutes in Virginia City. When one of her so-called “soiled doves” goes missing in suspicious circumstances and law enforcement doesn’t care, Ruth turns to Lucie, the one person she knows will help.

As a teacher in the 1920s, life is a delicate balancing act for Lucie. Being seen with the owner of a bordello would be enough to shatter her reputation and destroy her career. Little does Lucie know that losing her career may be the least of her worries. On this holiday, she’ll be in danger of losing her life.

As with all of the books I’ve read from Sherilyn Decter, the historical attention to detail is remarkable. From the very first bumpy, exhausting bus ride to the portrayal of Chinese immigration in 1920s USA, it’s clear how well Decter understands the world she’s writing.

What I love about these novels is that the protagonists aren’t immune to the values of their time. They judge and misstep, but they are fully rounded empathetic characters and the more they experience, the wider their understanding becomes.

Honorable Mentions:

Echo from a Bayou by J. Luke Bennecke (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. Cursebreakers

Author: Madeleine Nakamura

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN: 9781939096128

Print Length: 284 pages

Publisher: Canis Major Books

Cursebreakers is nonstop action, pierced with so much heart and heightened emotion on both ends of the scale.

The book follows Professor Adrien Desfourneaux, who finds himself entangled in the life-threatening position of preventing a magical coup linked to a rapidly increasing number of comatose victims—while he is experiencing a significant flare-up of his bipolar disorder symptoms. The book’s characters come alive off the page in a way that is rare and precious and will no doubt fuel the rise of a powerful fandom.

Cursebreakers is outrageously good—phenomenal, even. This is a novel as electric as the lightning-bolt magic its protagonist wields, filled with curses, destruction, and piercing heartache. It’s an ode to true, enduring friendship and a call to believe in our capacity for good.

2. Just Wide Enough for Two

Editors: Kacey M. Martin

Genre: Historical Fiction / LGBTQ

ISBN: 9798218116293

Print Length: 328 pages

A love story between childhood best friends Emily Dickinson and Susan Gilbert, spanning years of complicated life changes and passionate connection

Emily Dickinson is wild and offbeat, more comfortable running around outdoors and speaking out of turn than she is in any stereotypical “ladylike” capacity.

Between vivid descriptions of the ever-changing natural landscapes, seductive descriptions when looking at each other, and the secret-coded letters slipped between breasts before sneaking off to rendezvous, open-hearted Emily and Susan always take center stage.

Just Wide Enough for Two feels like a classic romantic comedy filled with grand gestures of love in a charming historical setting. There’s a powerful sense of longing and suspense while reading, as we cannot imagine how the women may achieve their happily ever after under these circumstances, but trust that they will.

A long-lasting romance with steady beats of delicious sapphic sexual tension, this book makes sure that even readers who are unfamiliar with the story of Emily Dickinson’s life will be pulled in by the beautiful, sincere, and poetic love depicted.

3. I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself

Author: Marisa Crane

Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia

ISBN: 9781646221295

Print Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Catapult

Like paging through a beautifully rendered therapy exercise that was designed to remain in the closed-door confines of the psychiatrist’s room.

It’s easy to imagine, when reading Crane’s gorgeous, heartbreaking prose, that Kris is sitting amongst the cluttered dishes and take-out wrappers, writing her heart out to the person she loves and misses more than it seems her body was built to hold.

You’ll need an assortment of colored pens when reading I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself. This novel is so full of sharply observed gut-punches and painfully human truths (about love, loss, desire, bureaucracy, fear mongering in the media, loneliness, kink, queerness, and new motherhood) that you’ll be thinking about Crane’s magnificent, evocative phrases for a while.

I highlighted and underlined more in this book than I ever have before, often pausing to really let the words sink in before I continued reading. Writing about inequality with a clarity and creativity this rich is always going to feel relevant and important.

Equal parts queer, devastating, precious, and thought-provoking, I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself is an unforgettable experience, exploring what it means to be human and illuminating the healing significance of finding community in the depths of your despair.

Honorable Mentions:

Smash the World’s Shell by Daniel Fliederbaum (Bookshop | Am azon | Review)
Fated Sworn by Kristin L Hamblin (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)

1. A Boring Book

Author: Seth McDonough

Genre: Humor Fiction

ISBN: 9781777092528

Print Length: 500 pages

A charming read about taking on the dull challenges of life with good will, grace, and a keen eye for inscrutable human behavior

A Boring Book presents itself as the ghostwritten autobiography of Canadian John Smith, growing up in the not-so-distance past, from childhood through young adulthood.

Written as a first-person account, John frequently interjects comments on the “ghostwriter’s” prose as well as third-wall-breaking direct address to the reader. These devices, along with the engaging voice, are intriguing and pull the reader into this everyman’s tale. With a dry, subtle wit and spot-on characterizations of the various actors in John’s mundane life, the tale is both amusing and compelling.

I was impressed by this “boring” story’s ability to infuse the mundane situations of life with tension and conflict. The stakes matter to the protagonist, and so the reader is engaged. We identify with the protagonist, and the mundane is made interesting. I found this book a real page-turner, actually, without any car chases and fires.

Readers who enjoy a unique take on narrative and characterization will be glad to spend some time with Mr. John Smith. There’s plenty of nostalgia here, as we relive the common, everyday experiences of growing up seen from a gently humorous perspective.

2. A Moonserpent Tale

Author: Rosemarie Montefusco

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN: 9798766900832

Print Length: 352 pages

Danger, adventure, magic, and romance: What else could you want out of a high fantasy?

A Moonserpent Tale tracks a young witch (Araina), her guide (Sol), an elf, and a pigeon on a quest through a barren, peril-fraught land.

Along the way, the characters grow, change, and develop through a number of challenges. They bond as a team and then must deal with the heartache of misunderstanding and betrayal. The book’s worldbuilding is thorough and thoughtful, and the description is immersive. A Moonserpent Tale’s sweet, slow-burn romance is perfect for these characters in this situation.

3. Making Comics

Author: Lynda Barry

ISBN: 9781770463691

Print Length: 200 pages

Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly

Much more than the curriculum for a comics class

Making Comics digs up and examines the roots of childhood creativity: that time and mental space where the line is the story, no matter if it represents an image, a letter, a numeral, or simply the joy of mark making.

Through a series of fun, accessible exercises and assignments, Making Comics breaks down the barriers that adults tend to put up between ourselves and storytelling through visual art.

Much of this head-and-heart work is applicable to any creative endeavor. Our authentic art must sprout from self-confidence and trust in the message rather than our technical skills.

Honorable Mentions:

Heliophobia by Christopher X. Ryan (Bookshop | Amazon)
Swedish Cults by Anders Fager (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky

Author: Nadine Bjursten

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9789198861617

Print Length: 402 pages

Publisher: Alder House Books

A sweeping story of Iranian people, poetry, and politics, spanning three decades

Nadine Bjursten’s debut novel Half a Cup of Sand and Sky follows Amineh, a young Iranian woman who has moved to Tehran for university from the small village of Qamsar. An aspiring novelist, Amineh longs to tell her parents’ story as rural rose farmers, even as she is caught up in the air of revolution surrounding the death of a classmate which is sparking protests against the Shah.

Amineh is pulled between the traditional and the revolutionary as she survives through turbulent times. She struggles between realizing her dreams of a novel, coming to terms with what it means to be a wife and partner to her husband, and mothering her children in a country fraught with war and loss, all while nurturing her independent spirit. Her emotional intelligence and strength through the various seasons of her life make Amineh a well-developed narrator that readers will root for through her highest and lowest moments.

Half a Cup of Sand and Sky was a finalist for the PEN/Bellweather Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction in 2016, and it’s easy to see why. From beautiful images of Iran, Sweden, and the UK, to heavily researched historical events, and to characters that are deeply human in their joys, mistakes, and dreams, Nadine Bjursten has written an exceptional book. This is a necessary story of maturity and resilience told from a perspective that is often overlooked by Western readers. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky will captivate folks of all genres and ages with its craft, vitality, and wisdom.

2. Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City

Author: Jane Wong

Genre: Nonfiction / Memoir

ISBN: 9781953534675

Print Length: 288 pages

Publisher: Tin House Books

A book of rage and nourishment, action and healing, of celebrating chosen and blood family

Jane Wong’s verdant, nonlinear memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City tells the story of a Toisanese-American girl coming of age in New Jersey. The fragments of this memoir-in-essays are held together by Wong’s abundant and tender relationship with her mother. (Excerpted from a print review at Rain Taxi).

3. Obit

Author: Victoria Chang

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9781556595745

Print Length: 120 pages

Publisher: Copper Canyon Press

A book shaped by grief, unforgettable in its stark lines and the way it encapsulates the death of one’s parents

It took me almost two years to get through this book, because it is meant to be digested very slowly, to be sat with. The speaker’s depth of love and pain is rendered so artfully, so precisely, so rightly. This is a handbook for loss like no other.

Honorable Mentions:

The Tiny Journalist by Naomi Shihab (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. Gone to Ground

Author: Morgan Hatch

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

ISBN: N/A

Print Length: 321 pages

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A suspense novel like an ornate mirror, reflecting what needs to be changed

Gone to Ground follows Javier Jimenez, a smart, young kid on the brink of graduating high school. Javier’s struggles are echoed in his community of Horseshoe Barrio; many are stuck in an unforgiving poverty loop. To make ends meet, Javier often works with his sister Betzaida, towing cars and trucks. During one of their jobs, Javier innocuously pockets a phone found in one of the cars. Without realizing it, Javier becomes entangled in a gentrifying bloodbath scheme to devour his community and regurgitate a tech community. He’s determined to put an end to it, but the cost could be fatal.

The writing is bewitching from the first page. After this explosive beginning, the book switches to Javier pondering his future. One of the many things that Hatch does well is make Javier’s mind a fascinating hub of observation and emotion.

Gone to Ground delivers in all aspects of suspense too. Jones, the antagonist, is calculating, threatening, and yet scarily familiar. He is nearly omnipresent, representing the greedy, lecherous system that prioritizes quick profit well.

I was quite amazed by Gone to Ground. It’s a suspense book that captivates while it brings forth an important conversation about shelter, community, and commodity.

2. Word Petals

Author: Carla L. Ibanzo

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9791220128827

Print Length: 114 pages

A lovely collection that serves as a portal to many different worlds

From life in Japan to life back home in Jamaica to reflections on tradition, this book is expansive yet succinct, thought-provoking and surprising.

Like petals on a flower, the words beautify the narrative and color it. There are poems centered around religion while others ruminate on growing older and enjoying the present. A lot of the poetry is also meant to be inspirational and to push the reader to take risks despite hesitations. There’s a nugget of wisdom in each poem that will leave a lasting impact.

3. Please Write

Author: Lynne M. Kolze

Genre: Nonfiction / Writing

ISBN: 9781643436739

Print Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press

Like an intricate wax seal, concealing a wonderful surprise inside

Please Write by Lynne Kolze is an impassioned plea to get you to return to writing letters. It is evidence of just how meaningful the act can be—for writer and recipient. This book can inspire readers to become more compassionate through their own words, and there’s supplementary material, like real letters that were preserved in Kolze’s family, along with pictures and stories. Each chapter spearheads a separate but vital aspect of letter writing to make it special and accessible in this new wave of technology.

The premise of this book excited me. I thought of writing letters as a bit dusted over, didn’t you? But as I read on, I found myself resonating deeply with Kolze’s purpose and narrative. The writing, when centered around Kolze’s personal reasons for loving letter writing, is emotionally pulling to the point where I found myself replicating those emotions.

Please Write also includes a lot of fascinating history regarding letters. The “Dear John” letters call to me especially. Receiving a letter can be a touching event, but other times it can be heartbreaking. The wide scope of letters covered in this book make it that much more engaging; like an unopened box, whatever is inside can contain so much.

Honorable Mention:

Monsters in Our Shadows by Edward J. Cembal (Boo kshop | Amazon)

1. The Joy of Costco

Author: David & Susan Schwartz

Genre: Nonfiction / Coffee Table Book

ISBN: 9781959505006

Print Length: 272 pages

Beautifully illustrated and just bizarre enough to adorn your coffee table

The Joy of Costco won’t just sit pretty in your living room. It will have you enraptured with fun facts and inspire you to leave right now to buy a wholesale box of cashews.

Costco enthusiasts David and Susan Schwartz, sparked by their love for the versatile superstore, spent seven years researching the history and fun facts of Costco. They did this by traveling to at least one Costco in each of the 46 states that housed a facility and multiple Costcos outside of the U.S.

The book is in a fun A to Z format, but the alphabetization of the topics is playfully organized, ultimately giving readers the experience of the structured chaos that Costco attendees often feel when roaming the store themselves.

The Joy of Costco is engaging for Costco fans and intriguing for those who have never stepped foot in the store.

2. Landscapes

Author: Christine Lai

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9781953387387

Print Length: 230 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

Lai captures the intersectionality of art, feminism, and environmentalism in this moving debut novel

A major focus of this novel is destruction and what it means to create anew; destruction often is not the end but a site for rebirth. Though Penelope has devoted so much of her life to the preservation of [an art archive], in its demolition, she is able to transition into a new future… Landscapes is beautiful, provocative, and accessible. It will remind you that destruction is rarely the end and that we all must continue forward.

3. Dreaming in Chinese

Author: William Tsung

Genre: Nonfiction / Memoir

ISBN: 9798987452707

Print Length: 248 pages

An act of resistance and self-preservation; an ode to the resilient human spirit.

One can tell a lot about a country from the way it treats its most affluent citizens; one can tell a whole lot more from the way it treats its lower class citizens. William Tsung’s memoir goes on the offensive, toe-to-toe with the Taiwanese penal system. The memoir captures the grim reality that Taiwanese prisoners experience day-to-day for multiple years and for some, even decades. Tsung took the challenge of making sympathetic characters out of criminals and felons and thoroughly succeeds in his endeavor. Dreaming in Chinese challenges the reader’s understanding of fair punishment by highlighting the corruption of a system that benefits from prisoners’ forced labor.

Dreaming in Chinese is a condemnation of a system designed to see and even benefit from under-resourced people failing. In Tsung’s experience with Taiwan’s prisons, this book also calls into question America’s penal system. I highly recommend this book to those dedicated to social justice.

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1. Second Best

Author: David Foenkinos

Genre: Literary Fiction / Humor

ISBN: 9781913547592

Print Length: 240 pages

Publisher: Gallic Books

What does it take for one to decide to live differently?

Martin Hill is the 10-year-old boy who wasn’t chosen to be Harry Potter. This slim novel is the story of his life, tracing his crippling anxiety alongside the chance encounters and happenstances that shape his world. I was utterly swept up in the book’s short, poignant chapters. Each have a distinct melody and sensibility that is unexpectedly joyful to read.

2. Hate Hunters

Author: Mari Georgeson

Genre: Literary Fiction / Satire

ISBN: 9798987204900

Print Length: 364 pages

Combining biting satire with deep insight into the human condition—a timely novel of ideas about tolerance and the folly of extremism

In a not-so-distant future where the United States has been divided into the Virtuous Federation and the Patriot States, Hate Hunters follows a large cast of characters struggling to live in accordance with the Virtuous Federation’s exacting moral standards.

Ambitious and multi-voiced, individual narratives and fictional texts are woven into an immersive tapestry-like world that is at once unsettling and extremely recognizable.

Impressive in ambition and philosophical scope, Hate Hunters stands out for its expert plotting, beautiful writing, and an intricately designed structure. This is an exceptional book that enrages, enlightens, and above all, affirms the humanity of every individual regardless of their beliefs.

3. The Moon and the Bonfires

Author: Cesare Pavese

Genre: Literary / Historical

ISBN: 9781590170212

Print Length: 176 pages

Publisher: NYRB Books

A devastating, gorgeous, pensive look at the country’s postwar politics and identity

After making a fortune in America during WWII, a man is drawn back to his impoverished childhood town in Piedmont to reflect on his brutal childhood as an orphan and search for what he has missed while being in America. A sense of loss and dislocation animates the book. Lyric and philosophical musings conjure the bucolic landscape in its harsh beauty. Intense hardly does the book justice, it dives headlong into the battered psychology of its unnamed narrator and that of the country at large.

Honorable Mention:

Pay As You Go by Eskor David Johnson (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Mill House Murders

Author: Yukito Ayatsuji

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

ISBN: 9781782278337

Print Length: 288 pages

Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo

A chilling locked-room mystery that unfolds within the ominous walls of the remote Mill House, a setting shrouded in both secrecy and tragedy

Ayatsuji builds a compelling tale of intrigue around the eccentric Fujinuma Kiichi, the consequences of his accidental disfigurement, and his annual house party for a very select group of guests. When a killer strikes, brilliant amateur sleuth Kiyoshi Shimada sets about unravelling the complex web of secrets and lies that led to the perplexing crime. Ayatsuji is a master at combining the macabre with the mysterious, creating a tense work of crime fiction that is packed with alarming events, red herrings, and psychological insights.

2. Beasts of England

Author: Adam Biles

Genre: Literary / Satire

ISBN: 9781913111458

Print Length: 288 pages

Publisher: Galley Beggar Press

**Adam Biles’s modern reimagining of Animal Farm chronicles disturbing if all too believable events at a version of the farm restyled as the country’s premiere petting zoo.**

Rather than being raised and ultimately sacrificed as farm animals, the residents of this zoo are subjected to being gawped at, poked, and prodded by visitors seeking an amusing distraction from real life.

Mirroring the tumultuous landscape of contemporary politics, as if being put on display to the general public isn’t bad enough, the animals also face rigged elections, factional strife, societal chaos, and a mysterious epidemic that threatens to kill them all.

Satire at its best, Biles’s work presents by turns distressing and amusing glimpses into a world that is not different from reality, even if it can serve as a warning of things that might be to come.

3. Mild Vertigo

Author: Mieko Kanai

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9781646033492

Print Length: 192 pages

Publisher: New Directions

An unrestrained exploration of the human condition

Meiko Kanai’s captivating storytelling renders this an engrossing account of the unexpected depth of housewife Natsumi’s outwardly ordinary life. Kanai uses elegant prose and a rich portrayal of Natsumi’s inner world to reveal surprising conflicts with the outer world she must interact with and conform to. And this ensures that her protagonist’s musings and reflections are always rewarding and sometimes disturbing. Kanai’s ability to evoke emotions and provoke thought about even the most seemingly insignificant detail is a marvel. The book as a whole provides an introspective account that delves deep into the complexities of human emotions.

Honorable Mentions:

In the Silence of Decay by Lisa Boyle (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
The Molossus of Old Man Moyer by Joe Lyon (Booksho p | Am azon | Review)

1. Rearranged

Author: Kathleen Watt

Genre: Nonfiction / Memoir

ISBN: 9781956474343

Print Length: 384 pages

Publisher: Heliotrope Books

A lyrical memoir chronicling the life-altering vicissitudes of cancer

Kathleen Watt pulls back the curtain on the Metropolitan Opera, giving readers an inside look at the competition, the backstage behaviors, and the culture of the opulent and expansive productions at the famous New York City Opera House. With her pursuit of being in the Extra Chorus finally realized, Kathleen looks forward to celebrating with her partner, Evie, on their ski vacation, but a bump on her gumline brings up the concern that’s usually coupled with any new bump or pain: What is this? Am I overthinking this? Should I be worried? After trips to several dentists and then a few doctors, she learns of her shocking prognosis: cancer.

Her journey to find not just her singing voice, but her voice in her world and the world at large is a testament to the difficulty of putting one’s life back together after a trauma like battling a chronic illness.

Rearranged is a bel canto of a book, full of lyrical language, the crescendo and decrescendo of cancer, and the universal search for one’s voice.

2. How to Monetize Despair

Author: Lisa Mottolo

Genre: Poetry

ISBN: 9781956692785

Print Length: 102 pages

Publisher: Unsolicited Press

A reverie of memory and the existential wonderings on life and loss that make us human

In How To Monetize Despair, Lisa Motollo captures the intricate and sometimes random thoughts and feelings that arise when dealing with life’s most difficult chapters: trauma, grief, loss, and the mundane.

This collection beautifully balances the vulnerabilities and agonies of grief with the dark humor and odd realizations that come with experiencing trauma. But it also muses on the anxieties a person can feel attending a party or during everyday activities like making a sandwich.

Life is full of many experiences that we either don’t want to discuss or even know how to discuss, but How To Monetize Despair is a beautiful example of how to start and navigate those conversations.

Honorable Mention:

The Seven Month Itch by Tanvier Peart (Book shop | Am azon | Review)

1. No God Like the Mother

Author: Kesha Ajọsẹ-Fisher

Genre: Literary / Short Stories

ISBN: 9781942436553

Print Length: 168 pages

Publisher: Forest Avenue Press

A raw look at those crucial moments when the realities of life are laid bare

No God Like the Mother by Kesha Ajọsẹ-Fisher is a story collection that explores pivotal moments in the lives of women and girls. Though the settings and details of the stories vary widely, from naive young girls in Nigeria to grieving mothers in Portland, each one functions as a glimpse of the defining moment of a person’s life story.

In all, No God Like the Mother is a quietly devastating and frank look at the interplay between hope and grief that is experienced by someone whose body can produce life. It is also about the way others throughout the world have historically reacted to that ability with fear, desire, shame, or a combination of those and more.

2. Invitation to a Hanging

Author: Karin Rathert

Genre: Historical Fiction / Western

ISBN: 9781639887262

Print Length: 318 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

A meditation on the life and death of a lawless town in the waning days of the Wild West

When Adam’s parents moved to Mondak early in the 19th century, it was a frontier boom town and a symbol of unlimited potential. Now, with both his parents long dead, the town is nothing more than a reminder of things that had been. People are moving away or dying, and businesses are closing. All that is left are those with no place else to go and the town bosses who oversaw its fall, presiding over a place with more dead than living.

The author does a stellar job of evoking the atmosphere of the Wild West and the forces at work in the country at large at that time. There are rumors of coming war and the upheaval that comes with train tracks being laid. There are remnants of forts and graveyards of soldiers and civilians. There’s reckoning with the ongoing unimaginable treatment of the people forcibly removed from their land when settlers moved in, and that is still going on with their incarceration in “hospitals” that are worse than prisons.

Invitation to a Hanging is an artful portrait of a young man discovering the magic of self-determination. The people it depicts strive to carve a life out of whatever circumstances they might find themselves in. It is about quiet persistence in the face of greed and evil intentions, of choosing when to fight and when to walk away.

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1. Pure Cosmos Club

Author: Matthew Binder

Genre: Literary / Absurdist

ISBN: 9781736912812

Print Length: 272 pages

Publisher: Stalking Horse Press

A hallucinogenic satire of the worlds of art, fashion, and cults.

Penned with the wisdom of a philosopher and laugh-out-loud wit, this novel follows Paul, a struggling artist and his best friend, a dog named Blanche, as they hop from parties to art and fashion shows, maneuvering through a directionless life. Paul finally finds meaning in a new age cult called The Pure Cosmos Club, but the cost of admission becomes more than he can handle.

Binder’s prose sings all throughout Pure Cosmos Club, parrying anxiety with hilarity and the bizarre with a touch of the sober and sane.

2. The Red-Headed Pilgrim

Author: Kevin Maloney

Genre: Literary / Humor

ISBN: 9781953387288

Print Length: 242 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

Review originally published in Cleveland Review of Books

**Heartbreakingly witty, Kevin Maloney’s The Red-Headed Pilgrim captures the coming of age of an idealistic man-child as he tours the united states in search of meaning.**

While it’s difficult to argue that a true “Western”—whether it be prefixed by “Acid” or “Anti”—can be limned outside of the setting of the Wild West, Maloney’s revisionist treatment of Western themes make The Red-Headed Pilgrim at least the offspring (dare I say red-headed step-child?) of the Acid Western genre. And I don’t believe it’s overly generous to say that The Red-Headed Pilgrim is the next iteration of the Western, one with enough music and heart to propel the genre into the twenty-first century and beyond.

3. The Nature Book

Author: Tom Comitta

Genre: Literary / Nature Writing

ISBN: 9781566896634

Print Length: 272 pages

Publisher: Coffee House Press

A bold exploratory work; a canonical collage of the natural world

In The Nature Book, Tom Comitta compiles descriptions of the natural world from 300 canonical English texts into a vibrant literary collage. In the foreword, Comitta tells the reader that the following text is “closer to a YouTube supercut than a Burroughsian collage novel.” They categorize the excerpted texts into four sections, The Four Seasons, The Deep Blue Sea, The Void, and The Endless Summer, each of which features language poached from the pages of writers from Charles Dickens to Cormac McCarthy and beyond. With surgical precision, Comitta lifts phrases from Louisa May Alcott, Zora Neal Hurston, and Stephen King, and combines them into a single sweeping tale, often ruminative, but with its share of conflict and tension.

Though no human characters disturb the natural world of The Nature Book, Comitta reminds the reader that nature isn’t tranquil. Storms rage. Lightning strikes. One such storm leaves several pheasants slaughtered. Nature fears for its life, whether it is “the river’s babbling (which) sounded like the call of a liquid throat waiting, just waiting for the world to end,” or the beaver that seeks escape from the otter.

The language often tends toward the apocalyptic; the end of the world is mentioned at least five times in the novel. But beginnings also proliferate, such as the river which was “like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings.” In short, the language reflects the scope of the novel, which is epic, spanning from the lowest depths of the ocean to the outer reaches of the universe, from darkness to darkness, creation to apocalypse.

Honorable Mentions:

Bardo by Joseph Edwin Haeger (Bookshop | Amazon | Review)
Other Minds and Other Stories by Bennett Sims (Bookshop | Amazon)

1. The Cabinet

Author: Un-Su Kim

Genre: Science Fiction

ISBN: 9780857669179

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher: Angry Robot

Definitely the strangest, most surreal, and most innovative book I’ve read in 2023

The titular filing cabinet, which is watched over by harried Seoul-based office worker Kong Deok-Geun, contains files on all the known “symptomers,” that is, all those people who exhibit peculiar powers and report experiencing preternatural phenomena. As Kong’s work brings him into contact with an eclectic cast of oddballs, he finds himself engaged in a mind-bending catalogue of events and recollections that pokes fun at the delightfully absurd occurrences that can be found hiding behind the mundane elements of modern life.

2. Golden Age Detective Stories

Editor: Otto Penzler

Genre: Mystery / Anthology

ISBN: 9781613162163

Print Length: 312 pages

Publisher: Penzler Publishers

Top-notch examples of the various non-official folks who have been called upon to solve crimes that have perplexed the police, including a magician, a publisher, a nun, and more.

Featuring stories by Golden Age greats such as Ellery Queen, Erle Stanley Gardner, Clayton Rawson, and Mary Roberts Rinehart, Golden Age Detective Stories is a very welcome addition to the sublime American Mystery Classics series. The crimes are generally not gory, although they’re certainly far from cozy, and the puzzles involved are sufficiently complex to get your little gray cells going as you attempt to identify the culprit before the relevant amateur detective does.

1. The Catch of a Lifetime

Author: Alexandra Neville

Genre: Romance

ISBN: 9798857020920

Print Length: 210 pages

Sparks fly in this endearing romance about a once in a lifetime love

The Catch of a Lifetime offers an intoxicating blend of passionate romance, relatable characters, and heartwarming moments that will leave romance aficionados enchanted.

When Becca Linton decides to give Colt Mason—her best friend’s twin brother—a chance, she doesn’t expect things to move as quickly or as intensely as they do. With her budding career as a yoga instructor and Colt’s commitment to hiking mountains in different continents, Becca doesn’t think of it as a serious relationship or that long distance would affect her much.

Alexandra Neville really brings the heat in this one! Colt and Becca are such a heartwarming, relatable couple. I love how both of them, despite the other commitments or past trauma they had, try so hard to make their relationship work. Through Colt and Becca’s relationship, we get to see the amount of effort, trust, and open communication that goes into a long-lasting relationship.

However, Colt and Becca’s love story isn’t the only awe-worthy relationship within these pages. The Mason family radiates genuine warmth and affection, effortlessly endearing themselves to readers. What makes their family remarkable is not just their closeness but their welcoming and inclusive nature, extending warmth and kindness to all—be it friends, employees, or strangers.

2. The Violence of Reason

Author: Pete Planisek

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Historical

ISBN: 9780985098285

Print Length: 202 pages

Publisher: Enceladus Literary

Fate plays a cruel, twisted game in this compelling historical thriller.

A beguiling mystery with a web of secrets and shocking twists, The Violence of Reason is first a tale of freedom and survival. The novel delves into the intricate nature of trust and loyalty during a time of war. It shows that battles aren’t just fought on the frontlines but also in our neighborhoods, homes, and workplaces, where our friends suddenly become our foes and trust becomes a deadly commodity.

The Violence of Reason follows Norill Haugen, a Norwegian spy during the Nazi occupation of Norway. Norill joined the Milorg, the Norwegian resistance, as a way to help liberate and free her country. She works as a translator and courier for the resistance with other members of her resistance cell. Things were going as normal as they could be in a time of such uncertainty and turmoil.

But when Nazi soldiers show up to schedule piano lessons with Norill’s teacher—the house of Vinni Nases, which serves as their resistance cell—things take a turn. Has Norill’s cover been compromised? Are they here to arrest Norill and the other members of the resistance? Has someone betrayed them?

1. The Baron’s Ghost

Author: Kyro Dean

Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy / Thriller

ISBN: 9781957475134

Print Length: 244 pages

**Pirates, spires, treason—The Baron’s Ghost is an escapade to remember.**

Christina Rushing has had her fair share of adventure, and that was before she became a spy. Forced to marry a horrible baron and left with nothing upon his death, she finds herself taking on deadly missions to make ends meet.

When her latest mission provides evidence that her late husband might not be dead after all, Christie is set on a far different path—and is there really a big difference between espionage and piracy anyway?

The characterization is impeccable. I couldn’t help but fall in love with their snark and passion. The mystery is satisfying and successful too, filled with plenty of little twists and turns. And if pirates, spies, and adventures aren’t enough, the Victorian and steampunk vibes are there to help this book overflow with things to enjoy.

For all you romantics out there, Dean includes a bit of a love triangle with Christina caught in the middle. Christina’s desire for independence after a checkered past and her inherent need for a sense of security is something that resonates and adds greatly to the romantic payoff.

2. Curse of the Anito

Author: Isabelle R. Duffy

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

ISBN: 9780645854916

Print Length: 204 pages

A thought-provoking novel of ancient evils buried just beneath the surface

Angela has spent the summer with her family in the Philippines, learning about her culture and seeking some sort of belonging. When her grandmother says that she will help Angela learn the family’s healing practices, she is overjoyed.

However, a dark and ancient power has a far different plan for Angela. She wakes in the night to find the Anito, an old God, at the foot of her bed, telling her she has been chosen, that she has a destiny to fulfill.

This is the first of a number of terrifying encounters for Angela, ones she cannot escape even when she flies back home to Australia. If given the chance to learn more about where you came from, would you take it? Would you take it even if it meant accidentally awakening an ancient deity? Isabella R Duffy sends readers on a captivating adventure alongside Angela in Ancestral Shadow: Curse of the Anito.

Duffy’s novel is full of self-discovery, familial love, and the need for cultural connection. In Angela’s storyline, readers feel the push and pull of what is modern and what is tradition.

This journey of self-discovery will have young adult readers thankful for its nuance and ever-looming danger.

1. Geographies

Author: Carmelinda Blagg

Genre: Short Stories

ISBN: 9798891320253

Print Length: 212 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Through fleeting encounters and lasting impressions, these stories capture the essence of places as ephemeral homes, where the heart finds refuge in unexpected corners.

Carmelinda Blagg’s short story collection, Geographies, explores the enduring impact of places, and our feelings and relationships with the people within them. Tucked away in our hearts are the memories of everywhere that we have been before, and may never truly escape from; regardless of whether they represent a blissful sanctuary or a place crumbling with regret.

Blagg has an exceptional ability to create characters that are more than words on a page; they truly leap from the pages as if they are living, breathing souls made from flesh and blood. Each and every character is searching for the place inside them that they recognize as home. This search, intertwined with grief and nostalgia, forms a poignant undercurrent, echoing the constant in their lives—change, inevitable and heart-wrenching. This theme of change, depicted through various lenses—a fall leading to assisted living, the transformation of a childhood monster into a frail old man—emerges from every story, wrapped in grief; an emotion that Blagg expresses in ways that others never have.

Reading Geographies is more than a literary experience; it is an introspective journey, one that invites you to look to the hidden places within your heart. This collection of stories doesn’t just evoke ache and wonder; it is unrelenting in its bold—almost brutal—sentiment and intentions. Yet, every probing question Blagg asks finds its answer within her narrative, steadfast in its unwavering pursuit to explore the uncharted territories within her characters. What lingers is the unexplored place within you, tethered to your heart and your lungs, patiently waiting to be acknowledged and understood.

2. Numamushi

Author: Mina Ikemoto Ghosh

Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale

ISBN: 9781941360774

Print Length: 112 pages

Publisher: Lanternfish Press

Step into a realm of vivid characters, haunting realities, and the legacy that words leave behind.

Mina Ikemoto Ghosh’s fairytale, Numamushi, beckons readers into a mesmerizing realm where reality and enchantment intertwine seamlessly. Set in post-World War II Japan, Numamushi, a child marked by the scars of napalm, becomes an unlikely protagonist, raised by the guardian spirit of a river, blurring the boundaries between humanity and nature.

Numamushi stands out as a precocious and delightful main character, bridging the gap between a world of wonder and hate, one dominated by both man and beast. Many authors struggle to create a child protagonist that resonates with mature audiences while maintaining authenticity and sincerity. However, Ghosh deftly navigates this challenge, portraying Numamushi with a personality that never loses its charm.

The story blurs the line between the world of beast and man, but it does not question or compare the nature of each and make the reader consider which is more brutal. Instead, Ghosh allows the story to breathe and intertwine around the themes of love, forgiveness, and pain: raw and unforgiving pain. And with pain comes healing, as Numamushi reflects: “If snakes had venom to fill and protect the stomachs that made them snakes, then humans had tears to protect and clean the hearts that made them humans.”

hosh’s ability to blend enchantment with stark reality, coupled with their skillful characterization and thoughtful prose, creates a world that lingers in the reader’s mind. With its rich thematic depth and compelling storytelling, Numamushi stands as a testament to Ghosh’s literary prowess, offering readers an incredibly lovely yet bittersweet escape.

1. Between the Mountains

Author: Jeremy Campbell

Genre: General Fiction / Animals

ISBN: 9798986645728

Print Length: 322 pages

A heartwarming tale that underscores the important bond between animals and humans while exploring themes of friendship, forgiveness, and community

Between the Mountains is a compelling read for those who adore dogs, but it also delves into the themes of second chances, healing, love, and loss.

The prose flows beautifully, maintaining a consistent and suspenseful tone throughout. Each sentence effortlessly transitions into the next, drawing readers in with unexpected perspectives, such as that of a dog. “Scars of the past and worries of the future sit out of mind, like spectators on the riverbank, while a canine’s present needs race through his head as fast as water gushes through Morgan’s Cove after a summer rain.” The result is an emotionally charged tale that keeps readers hanging on to every word, even when exploring typically mundane moments.

2. In the Name of Family

Author: Cynthia Coppola

Genre: Historical Fiction / Family

Print Length: 285 pages

An authentic exploration of love, devotion, and unconventional family dynamics during an era of conformity

In the Name of Family delves into the lives of two central characters: Ruth, a conservatively-raised Jewish woman, and Tony, an Italian Catholic. Their journey begins when Tony musters up the courage to ask Ruth out on a date one day while at work at The Hoffman Shoe Factory in the year 1950. Over the next few months, the more time spent together, the deeper their bond grows. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Ruth becomes pregnant and they both must reveal long-held secrets from their pasts.

This narrative successfully explores the intricate tapestry of love and life. It unfolds against the backdrop of a conformist era. In the face of societal norms, Ruth and Tony defy conventions to discover love, happiness, and joy while trying to create an environment where family comes first. In the Name of Family vividly illustrates how children within the same families can lead radically different lives based on how the people around them navigate pivotal life moments and family conflicts.

In the Name of Family beautifully illustrates that even amidst the most tumultuous and challenging lives, happiness can flourish. The story stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and family bonds, offering a resounding message of hope and resilience.

3. Invisible Sun

Author: Andrew H. Housley

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9798891320260

Print Length: 172 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

An intense, raw, and quite beautiful exploration of trauma and grief

Invisible Sun opens with Ian revisiting the traumatic scene where he discovered his brother Hugo, who had taken his own life. The room is still stained with blood, and Ian is engulfed by a torrent of emotions—pain, guilt, anger, and sorrow. In addition to grappling with this emotional turmoil, Ian is burdened with the practical responsibilities of arranging for cleaners, claiming Hugo’s body at the morgue, and packing up the family home. Amid this chaos, he is haunted by the relentless question of why this tragedy occurred.

Beneath the surface, the novel delves into the intricate dynamics among three brothers, shaped by a shared history of abuse and control imposed by their tyrannical father.

Invisible Sun unflinchingly navigates the complexities of loss, guilt, and despair, which could prove emotionally taxing for some individuals in certain situations. Nonetheless, these weighty themes provide valuable insights into the multifaceted personalities of the characters within the narrative. The novel skillfully observes the convergence of philosophy, emotions, and the human psyche when confronted with death, encapsulated in the haunting notion that, “The dead have it easy; they don’t have to live with the guilt.”

What were the best books you read this year? Let us know in the comments!

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35 of the Best Book Club Books You’ll Read This Year

IndieBookView — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 13:03:44 +0000

35 of the Best Book Club Books You’ll Read This Year

by Toni Woodruff & the IBR Staff

How do you pick which books to read for your book club?

Every book club is different. When you Google “book club books,” you’re hit with a ton of options. Buzzworthy new releases. Popular “it” books of the season. Literary fiction, romance, mystery, the list goes on. While they may be wide-ranging, they all have on goal in common: to get your members talking.

Are you looking for something new for your next book club meeting?

Sometimes the best way to have a conversation is to broaden the conversation with unexpected book club books. That’s where indies come in!

Indie presses and indie authors publish amazing books for book clubs every year, but you may not hear about them. They don’t have the same marketing opportunities (budget especially). When you go into your local bookstore, you’re seeing mostly the books from the same five publishers or their imprints.

So let’s step outside the big five business model, shall we?

For your next book club meeting, read indie!

Support an indie author by having everyone in your book club buy a copy or request it from your library. Because these indie authors aren’t usually inundated with Good Morning America requests, I’d say there’s a pretty good chance you could have a Zoom meeting with the author too, if that’s your thing.

It’s important to pick a well-balanced reading diet for your book club books. Because of this, I’ve separated this post into my 5 favorite genres to read in with book clubs: Romance, literary fiction, nonfiction, mystery thrillers, and historical fiction. Pick one, pick multiple, pick them all. You’ll have a plethora of book club questions to discuss with this all-indie book list.

Now introducing: the best book club books you’ll read this year!

1. These Wicked Deeds

The spicy one

Author: Sophia Luxe

Genre: Romance / Billionaire

ISBN: 9798394839719

Print Length: 285

I can think of no better place to start than the sexiest book on this list. I don’t know you and your group, but I know mine. And we LOVE the sexy ones. There’s something so fun about being able to talk about stuff like this in person. This romance will go over well with those who liked 50 Shades: a rich guy who gets kinky.

In her STARRED review, IBR’s Melissa Suggitt calls it, “A wickedly sensual and tantalizing tale of danger, destruction, domination, and desire.”

2. Mid-Flight

The one that feels real

Author: Lisa Wilkes

Genre: Science Fiction / Romance

ISBN: 9781487436506

Print Length: 286 pages

Publisher: Extasy Books

Looking for something with a ton of great discussion topics AND a realistic romance?

Mid-Flight is set in the near future, shortly after a meteor landed and brought a dangerous pathogen. The president is going power-crazy and catering to antidote-resistant citizens, and it’s all enraging.

In her STARRED review, Andrea Marks-Joseph says, “These are difficult topics, but Wilkes handles them with grace and wisdom, and a visceral, true understanding of human nature.

“And the romance is top notch! Lexi and Jason’s relationship is one of my all-time favorites. It doesn’t feel made up for pure daydream fiction (though I am a huge fan of that type of love story, too!), but instead reads like a real, living romance. They feel like a couple I know and would love taking down the establishment with.”

3. Lady August

The steamy Regency one

Author: Becky Michaels

Genre: Historical / Romance

Print Length: 310 pages

ISBN: 9781735140131

Are you & your members still swooning over Bridgerton season one? Lady August brings back all the sexy feels you missed in season two ().

“[Becky Michaels] throws August and Brooks into the titillating misunderstandings and blunders of first love, taking us on a ride of many ups and downs. Michaels knows why we’ve come, and she doesn’t disappoint.” – Madeline Barbush, Independent Book Review.

4. The Sweet Shrub Inn

The sweet one

Author: Hilah Roscoe

Genre: Romance / Southern

ISBN: 9781639882045

Print Length: 312 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

“The Sweet Shrub Inn is the kind of story every Hallmark fan could get into,” starts Alexandria Ducksworth’s glowing review of this charming small-town romance.

Our female lead returns home, takes over her father’s inn, and who shows up? Her old crush! A sweet Southern setting, a wholesome romance: “Readers who follow Debbie Macomber and Susan Mallery should get to know Hilah Roscoe.”

5. Native Love Jams

The foodie one

Author: Tashia Hart

Genre: Romance / Multicultural

ISBN: 9781735345307

Print Length: 155 pages

This short enemies-to-lovers romance is great for groups who like talking about love and pairing their discussion with food. Lighthearted, spicy, AND sweet! It’s a delectable treat that takes place around a first Indigenous Food Days festival.

6. Pearls on a String

The heartwarming one

Author: Jane Merling

Genre: Historical / Romance

ISBN: 9781778088780

Print Length: 266 pages

Publisher: BayMar Press

Voted as the best book she read in 2022, IBR reviewer Tomi Alo calls Pearls on a String, “a sweet and exciting historical fiction filled with love, strength, courage, tragedy, and humor.” It features a romance, but it also does a great job of immersing us in the progressive 1980s and talking about family.

7. The Song of the Fae

The fantasy one

Author: E.H. Jahr

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

ISBN: 9781952897313

Print Length: 278 pages

It really is important to keep your book club members on their toes. That’s why I like switching up genres and expanding horizons. One way to do that? With “a sizzling love story with a shocking secret” in a fantasy world! – Lisa Parker Hayreh, Independent Book Review

What’s the key to a great book club meeting? Ask the best book club questions!

8. The Deeper The Water The Uglier the Fish

“The best one I’ve ever read.”

Author: Katya Apekina

Genre: Literary / Family Fiction

ISBN: 9781937512750

Print Length: 353 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

Literary fiction books are the ones that show you the world and make you think. From small intimate stories to wide-sweeping global ones, they offer excellent fodder for book club conversations. And what better place to start than this absolute STUNNER?

“I have never read a book better than The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish. My head was in a tizzy from the fast-paced, snippet style of storytelling and the whirlwind of a story surrounding a manipulative father and the sisters and mother wrapped up in his toxic magnetic field.” – Joe Walters, Independent Book Review

9. You’ll Be Fine

The drama one

Author: Jen Michalski

Genre: Contemporary / LGBTQ

ISBN: 9781648903106

Print Length: 344 pages

Publisher: NineStar Press

Family stories make for such great talk! There are so many opportunities for group members to step into the shoes of the characters and live a different life for a while. This “gay dramedy” is “amusing and heartwarming, and while the characters might be failures, their redeeming qualities shine bright and loud. The reader leaves the novel loving them all, and genuinely wishing the best for them.” – Alexandra Barbush, Independent Book Review

10. Hashtag Good Guy With a Gun

The hot-topic one

Author: Jeff Chon

Genre: Literary / Political

ISBN: 9781952386022

Print Length: 258 pages

Publisher: Sagging Meniscus Press

Is your group ready to talk about gun violence in America? You’ve got options, but none quite as mindbending as this one. It tackles conspiracy theories, masculinity, the news cycle, and it does it with humor and rapid-fire storytelling. If your group is political and down to talk about the 2016 election (again), take a chance on this hauntingly real fever-dream of a story. More from our STARRED REVIEW.

11. I Will Die in a Foreign Land

The one about Ukraine & Russia

Author: Kalani Pickhart

Genre: Literary / War

ISBN: 9781953387301

Print Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

When people gather, they talk about what’s going on in their lives, in the world, on the news, and the internet. But the news can only cover so much. Immerse yourself in this “raw and emotional” novel about the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2014, and you’ll have fodder for conversation about the impacts of today.

“Pickhart does what the media couldn’t: she puts names and faces to the stories of violent conflict. She reminds the reader that every journalist who disappeared is your friend who loudly states their opinion, that every mother is a woman with a backstory of love and life and pain before she moved into her new role.” – Alexandra Barbush, Independent Book Review

12. What Storm, What Thunder

The one with the beautiful prose

Author: Myriam J.A. Chancy

Genre: Literary / Natural Disaster

Print Length: 336 pages

ISBN: 9781953534385

Publisher: Tin House Books

Call me a nerd, but I’m an absolute sucker for beautiful sentences. And this one has it in droves! If your group also loves the little intricacies of storytelling, What Storm, What Thunder is an awesome choice. It’s about a very real (& recent) earthquake in Haiti, and IBR founder Joe Walters chose it as one of the best books he read in 2021.

13. Mothers of Pine Way

The gossipy one

Author: Corrine Ardoin

Genre: Contemporary / Small Town

Print Length: 230 pages

ISBN: 9781684336838

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

“Reading Corrine Ardoin’s work is like peering inside a box that’s been locked and hidden away: both curious and hesitant to learn what it might disclose.”

Book clubs and small town fiction go well together. There’s something so real in talking about the lives of more than one person. In this case, it’s a collection of mothers.

In this review, Samantha Hui says, “Sometimes feeling engagingly invasive, this novel is about gossip and family history told in the style of gossip and family history. Corrine Ardoin’s storytelling displays a complicated love for small towns, one that has us leaning in, anxious to hear more.”

14. Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go

The one about the modern world

Author: Cleo Qian

Genre: Short Stories / Asian & Asian American

ISBN: 9781953534927

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Tin House Books

Cleo Qian is a scintillating new voice in modern fiction. Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go breaks through the digital void with surrealism and supernatural karaoke machines to spark an abundance of book club conversations that center around our world and its intriguing protagonists.

15. No God Like the Mother

The one about womanhood

Author: Kesha Ajọsẹ-Fisher

Genre: Short Stories / Black & African American

ISBN: 9781942436553

Print Length: 168 pages

Publisher: Forest Avenue Press

-Erica Ball, Independent Book Review (STARRED)

16. Peach Pit

The unsavory one

Editors: Molly Llewellyn & Kristel Buckley

Genre: Short Stories / Women

ISBN: 9781942436553

Print Length: 168 pages

Publisher: Dzanc Books

This short story anthology is about badass women doing badass things, and it offers a number of great conversations about being a woman in the world, from a variety of perspectives. You’ll be hard-pressed to find book club members who didn’t have a strong visceral reaction to multiple stories.

Hey, wait! Have you seen our list of great book club gifts yet?

17. The Unfurling Frond

The one about becoming

Author: Rebecca Beardsall

Genre: Memoir

ISBN: 9781639889556

Print Length: 254 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Sometimes real-life stories require some inventive structuring. The Unfurling Frond is “composed of essays, vignettes, poems, photographs, and other experimental forms. It explores a central theme of seeking (for someone, something, somewhere)…”

In her STARRED review, Erin Britton says, “Rich in love for both people and place, The Unfurling Frond is an insightful exploration of the self, with Beardsall elucidating both the formation of her own self and the impacts she has had on the selves of others. Whether describing major events or minor details, she does so with verse and insight, ultimately forming a memoir of unusual format and exceptional impact.”

18. The Reluctant RV Wife

The traveling one

Author: Gerri Almand

Genre: Memoir / Travel

ISBN: 9781620061473

Print Length: 244 pages

Publisher: Brown Posey Press (Sunbury Press)

Get ready to hit the road with laughter and a charming wife for two years of reluctant RV travel. Gerri Almand’s excited husband has been looking forward to spending their retirement on the road, while she’d rather tend to her garden at home. And yet…

I love this book club book for the humor and relatable nature alone. I dare you to get out of this book club meeting without laughing at your own spouses and feeling inspired to travel more.

19. Unsinkable

The inspirational one

Author: Alan Corcoran

ISBN: 9781838365028

Print Length: 316 pages

Sometimes we need a reminder that we can do amazing things. After losing his father to cancer, Alan Corcoran raises money for charity by swimming the length of Ireland. Unsinkable is a funny, inspirational, and uplifting book club book for anyone struggling with grief or just looking for a pick-me-up after reading a few sad stories in a row.

20. Forgiveness

The loving one

Author: M. Lori Torok

Genre: Self-Help / Spirituality

Print Length: 274 pages

ISBN: 9798988105701

I love talking about stories in book clubs, but I love intermixing self-help and practical nonfiction even more. What’s more relatable than the topic of forgiveness? I haven’t yet met a person who is always willing to forgive. Get talking about real issues and real solutions with M. Lori Torok’s Forgiveness.

“It can take years to heal and grow from their emotional & spiritual wounds. Forgiveness is one of those books that put newfound knowledge and strategies to the test with exercises. With action, the real healing process begins.” – Alexandria Ducksworth, Independent Book Review

21. Wife | Daughter | Self

The artful one

Author: Beth Kephart

Genre: Essays / Women

Print Length: 274 pages

ISBN: 9781942436447

Publisher: Forest Avenue Press

I flew through this artful memoir in a matter of days. Kephart uses such lovely language and is precise and evocative when she talks about the various stages of womanhood. Chosen as one of our Impressive Indie Press Books of 2021!

22. The Comfort of Crows

The nature one

Author: Margaret Renkl

Genre: Essays / Nature

Print Length: 288 pages

ISBN: 9781954118461

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

If you haven’t read Margaret Renkl’s nature writing yet, don’t even read the rest of this description. Buy this book!

I was blown away by Late Migrations, one of her previous indie bestsellers. She tells intimate, engaging little stories (often only a couple pages long) about the nature around her and us in such poetic, personal ways. My favorite parts about that book surrounded the wildlife in her backyard (especially birds!), so imagine my excitement when I first saw this cover & subtitle.

Her brother even does the art & illustrations, so there’s another topic of conversation right there: how incredible is this brother-sister duo!?

Give your members an activity with this book! Tell them to sit outside to read it. (In the right season of course!) Reading this would be an excellent way for all of you to develop a deeper connection with the world around you together.

23. Dreaming in Chinese

The one about resilience

Author: William Tsung

Genre: Asian & Asian American / Prison

Print Length: 248 pages

ISBN: 9798987452707

For those book clubs drawn to conversations about social justice, Dreaming in Chinese is a real conversation starter. There is a LOT to talk about with this book.

Read about a Taiwanese prison and “challenge [your] understanding of fair punishment [in a ] corrupt system that benefits from prisoners’ forced labor… It’s a condemnation of a system designed to see and even benefit from under-resourced people failing.” – Samantha Hui, Independent Book Review (STARRED)

24. Laugh Cry Rewind

The funny, sad one

Author: Judy Haveson

Genre: Memoir / Family Life

Print Length: 298 pages

ISBN: 9798986624914

Break out the tissues! This one’s a heartbreaker. But it’s also overflowing with love, humor, and family. The author loses her sister to cancer at just 19, and you feel every bit of the emotion of the loss, but surprisingly, the author leans more toward uplifting than miserable. It’s fascinating to see Haveson’s ability to tell a sad story with such poignant care.

“I haven’t read a memoir that explores existence in quite the same way as this one… The Havesons are the type of people who would be inspiring simply by being themselves.” – Joelene Pynnonen, Independent Book Review

Have too many books and not enough space? Check out these cheap bookshelves and small bookshelves!

25. What Happens In…

The sexy one

Author: Steffanie Moyers

Genre: Thriller / Serial Killer

Print Length: 274 pages

ISBN: 9798433557956

Not all sexy books belong in the romance section!

This white-hot thriller is on the trail of a serial killer in seedy Las Vegas. It features multiple lust-interests, an abundance of hot sex scenes, and so many thrills. Get ready to blush and feel goosebumps in that order, because What Happens In… is “one of the best books I have read in a while.” – Jaylynn Korrell, Independent Book Review

26. Like & Subscribe for Murder

The one on vacation

Author: Elle Kleos

Genre: Detective Fiction / LGBTQ+

Print Length: 356 pages

ISBN: 9798422173631

Andrea Marks-Joseph, in her Best Books of 2022 round-up, says, “Imagine HBO’s The White Lotus as more focused on the murder, just as horny but way more queer, heavier on the ‘eat the rich’ energy, and depicting actual solidarity with its local hotel staff…Elle Kleos nails the absurdity of wealth and the traditions of the rich, alongside the ridiculously serious business of an influencer’s lifestyle.”

Take a trip to a beautiful location with a book club book like this one. And maybe watch White Lotus as a companion piece (I vote season two!).

27. With One Stone

The debut one

Author: Mark Jenkins

Genre: Thriller / Psychological

Print Length: 324 pages

ISBN: 9798391809234

Nina Travers was once a bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Now she finds herself living in one. When her competitors start succumbing to “accidental” deaths, Nina begins to worry that she is to blame…or that she is next.

Lindsay Crandall of IBR calls this, “A fantastic debut…[Jenkins’] attention to detail is remarkable.” There are so many secrets to unfold in this book that your members’ heads will be spinning by the time they get to your house.

28. Echo from a Bayou

The what-would-you-do one

Author: J. Luke Bennecke

Genre: Thriller / Paranormal

Print Length: 418 pages

ISBN: 9780965771559

I love putting my book club members in the shoes of the protagonist! And this one is a little paranormal, super fun, and amazingly paced. It’s not every day you get a second chance to live AND a first chance to catch the person who killed you.

In her STARRED review, Joelene Pynnonen calls it, “Thoroughly entertaining! Murder, mayhem, adventure, and another chance at stolen love. Echo From a Bayou starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. There are a number of unanswered questions introduced right from the outset, and from there, the pages just breeze by.”

29. Witch Window

The snowy one

Author: Phil Bayly

Genre: Murder Mystery

Print Length: 336 pages

ISBN: 9781605716343

We’ve already been to the beach. Why not hit the slopes?

Witch Window is “a gripping mystery set in a stunning Vermont landscape.” Murder mysteries are always a big hit as book club books, and this one keeps shifting focus when you think have the mystery solved. Lindsay Crandall highly recommends Witch Window to any nature-loving mystery enthusiast in her review.

30. Ghosts of You

The inventive one

Author: Cathy Ulrich

Genre: Short Stories / Crime

Print Length: 200 pages

ISBN: 9781733244107

Publisher: Okay Donkey Books

I couldn’t get out of this section without mentioning Ghosts of You! This book flips crime fiction on its head and investigates the murder mystery genre by starting each story in the collection with a variation of, ““The thing about being the murdered [woman] is you set the plot in motion.” The word “woman” here is substituted with the nickname that you might find as the headline on your local newspaper: “The Murdered Lover,” “The Murdered Homecoming Queen,” “The Murdered Detective.”

But they don’t ever mention the killer! Each story belongs to the murdered woman. It’s about life, not death. And it’s beautiful! In his review, Joe Walters says, “fans of literary fiction and murder mysteries have met their match.”

31. The Living Is Easy

The one with the antihero

Author: Dorothy West

Genre: Historical / Black & African American

Print Length: 368 pages

ISBN: 9781936932979

Publisher: Feminist Press

The Living is Easy is an intimate, witty account of a shockingly unlikeable protagonist, Cleo, and her very lovable but victimized family. Cleo is a stunning, egotistical young woman who grew up in the countryside, but is sent to Boston when she is old enough because her mother worries her voraciousness is too much for the countryside. Cleo plots and plans until she can get all her sisters and their children, without their husbands, living under her roof.

Cleo is a fascinating character study and a gateway to talk about our own shortcomings, privileges, and interactions with the world. She’s an unforgettable antihero in 1940s Boston, and although we don’t have to like her, we still should try to understand her.

-Rosa Kumar, Independent Book Review

32. 1836: A Year of Escape

The adventurous one

Author: Rose Osterman Kleidon

Genre: Historical Fiction / Family

Print Length: 308 pages

ISBN: 9781632996107

Publisher: River Grove Books (Greenleaf Book Group)

While an entertaining adventure all in its own right, 1836 is also inspired by the author’s very own genealogical research into her own family. Talk about a good excuse to get your ancestry DNA done while reading a damn good book!

“It describes the Kästner family’s travels from Prussia to the Port of New Orleans [and] includes everything you could want in historical fiction—engaging characters, brisk action, compelling drama, and historical facts that are totally integrated into the narrative.” – Kathy L. Brown, Independent Book Review

33. Signed, a Paddy

The Irish one

Author: Lisa Boyle

Genre: Historical / Women’s

ISBN: 9781736607718

Print Length: 410 pages

After surviving the potato famine in Ireland, Rosaleen MacNamara leaves for the United States to start a new life. In addition to utilizing real events and historical figures from the mid-1800s, author Lisa Boyle tells this moving tale in a modern light.

Having experienced injustice in her own country, she follows her burning desire to make a change; this change, she believes, is in The Land of the Free. But soon, she finds out America has its own injustices, and, after becoming quite close to one woman of color in particular, she decides she has to take action to fight against what she knows to be unjust.

-Madeline Barbush, Independent Book Review

34. The Boy in the Rain

The English one

Author: Stephanie Cowell

Genre: Historical / LGBTQ

ISBN: 9781646033492

Print Length: 310 pages

Publisher: Regal House Publishing

From the English countryside to a vivid London art world, this historically rich LGBTQ novel tells a captivating story set in the Edwardian era, where homosexual acts get men sent to prison. But Robbie and Anton keep getting closer…

35. Gathering Storm

The moonshining one

Author: Sherilyn Decter

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Crime

ISBN: 9781777127718

Print Length: 432 pages

This series is so good! This first book follows an incredible leading lady who, after the death of her moonshine-king husband, takes up the family business by traveling down to Florida to start her own speakeasy.

“This is not just a story of prohibition in America, it’s a story of womanhood and strength. The feeling one is left with when closing A Gathering Storm is one of steely determination and hope. Those who are looking for a female-led historical fiction with a backbone of steel, this book is for you.” – Steph Huddleston, Independent Book Review

Which books have sparked the best discussions for your group? Let me know in the comments!

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s 35 of the Best Book Club Books You’ll Read This Year! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.