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Streitz dives into an impressive and expansive range of topics, tackling them head-on rather than tiptoeing around them as most normally do. In the process, audiences get to reflect on how they interact with their own lives and the stimuli they are constantly surrounded by. Above all else, however, it is the poet’s ability to use language, particularly metaphor, imagery, and satire, to create a remarkably relatable and universal connection with his readers. ... (read more)

Award-winning author Baltazzi has constructed an energizing treatise focused on the search for and acquisition of the experience of happiness, extracting it from what may sometimes seem like an impossibly complex morass of personal and societal restraints through her well-considered methodology. Based on her background as a noted television producer and director with the long-running and highly successful series Survivor , and drawing from perceptions of a multitude of realms—spiritual, social, and practical—she postulates eight core values needed for the process of attaining happiness: faith, love, health, gratitude, forgiveness, peace, detachment, and abundance. Each of these qualities, referred to collectively as “Happiness Essentials,” is explored using certain terms derived from the author’s background in cinematography. ... (read more)

Personal Dram a

Ella and her husband, Cole, buy a few properties in Kansas City's inner city, including an apartment building. They have a dream to fix up run-down neighborhoods and provide comfortable, affordable housing to both Caucasians and African Americans. Ella does most of the management of the properties as Cole is often away. This gives her the opportunity to relate to a variety of people in the area, from crooks to cops, druggies to housewives. She makes some friends, but not everyone in the area is happy with the new residents. During their time in Kansas City, the couple see their friend in the police department arrest a serial rapist and cross paths with a mobster running a gambling ring. Ella’s vision of an inner-city utopia is much more difficult than she imagined. ... (read more)

Children Thinking

Most children adore a good animal story. This one will likely be fought over if there is only one copy on the home, school, or public library shelf. This true tale of a rescued baby otter shares concepts of kindness, hope, healing, and the life cycle. ... (read more)

Daily Trials

While the book begins with the murder of Professor Johnny Wharton, the murder itself is almost superfluous to this brilliantly written novel of intrigue that is primarily set in the mid-1980s. It explores the lives of five women. Four of the women are connected to Wharton, while the fifth becomes an integral part of the book later in the story. These four women include the following: Wharton's wife, Liz, who is an accountant and who volunteers at a dog rescue; their estranged and troubled daughter, Jenny; his grad student Jane (with whom he’s having an affair); and his closeted lesbian coworker, Maddie, who he holds in disdain, and who is the lover of Roz, the fifth woman. The book takes readers through the lives of these women, from the joy and beauty of existence to the trials and tribulations of daily life. ... (read more)

Transcendent Tone

Divided into three movements to mimic an actual concerto, this book’s poems create a representation of the human emotional experience that makes its complexities accessible. Poems like “Early in Morning in Bethesda” examine a relationship’s tenderest moments. “Little Box” embraces an experimental form that is both peaceful and chaotic. “Grief at Full Moon” captures where loss compounds one’s interactions with not only the physical world but also the emotional one, and the memory of a loved one becomes a haunting force that controls one’s being. In other poems, the sanctity of nature becomes a healing, cleansing entity, while “the first grace of snow” offers a turning point in the speaker’s grief cycle. Fueling the musicality inherent in these poems are the experimental structures of lines and stanzas that form a concerto unlike any other. ... (read more)

Masterful Storyteller

This third book in Cannon’s enjoyable fantasy series continues the saga of Sillik. Having returned home to Illicia, “the most powerful and wealthy city in the land,” to learn of his father’s death, he becomes king. With his wife, Renee, by his side, Sillik surrounds himself with trusted advisors. The city is attacked by dragons and the horrible Schula—“green-skinned, long-tusked creatures.” As it becomes clear that the dragons and Schula are attacking other cities, war seems imminent. The Seven Gods and Illicia are pitted against the nine dark forces, which include the formidable gods Mind Breaker and Soulcrusher. As the two factions move toward war, it becomes clear that Sillik and his people will need to harness all their magical powers if they are to defeat the Nine. Will they succeed, or will all be lost in the final battle? ... (read more)

Kind-Hearted Soul

Young Emmeline dreams of becoming a veterinarian or a biologist in the future. She is inspired by her father, who works as a naturalist and travels all over the world. When she convinces him to let her meet up with him on an expedition to the Falkland Islands, Emmeline travels on the Maria Christina , where she becomes friends with a crew member’s son named Demetrio. Disaster strikes when the boat comes under attack and sinks, leaving Emmeline alone when she washes up in the strange land of Pletonia. But she soon makes friends with many of its inhabitants, learning it is natural for them to get reincarnated as various animals. Further, during her journey to visit its rulers, Emmeline discovers that she has personal ties to this fantastical land. However, Pletonia comes under attack by the exiled Valdrimos Pish, who unleashes creatures that kill and stop the reincarnation process. Emmeline and her new friends must work together to find solutions to the crisis. ... (read more)

Mesmeric Drama

Set amid the rustic landscape of Iceland, this tale explores our humanity and the ever-lingering mysteries that confound us with matters of life and death. Sixty-seven-year-old billionaire Daniel “Big Deal Dan” Pallson returns to his native homeland to promote his new proposed luxury hotel and fishing resort. Daniel’s younger brother, Jon, is among the protesters of the resort, with their differences pitting brother against brother in an icy confrontation. Shortly afterward, Daniel suffers a cardiac arrest that nearly kills him. As a result, Daniel is sent to stay with Jon at their 1940s farm, where they both grew up and where Jon now lives with his wife, Anna. The already rocky familial relationships stir up old resentments, especially when Daniel’s ex-wife, Doris, arrives and agrees to stay with them, too, trapping Daniel into an uncomfortable and inescapable situation. ... (read more)

Myths & Magic

Prince Khael Stratton is a mystic who seeks to deepen his knowledge of such arts to help those in need. Following a mission, he reports to the city of Cambridge—ruled over by his brother—and has a close encounter with a pickpocket who steals his signet ring. Alongside his bodyguard, Grant, the prince manages to track down the young woman, Vixen, who suffers from a foggy memory while demonstrating a great talent for skills associated with assassins. Prince Khael finds it an odd happenstance in a time when a terrorist group known as the Chelevkori are making active attempts to eliminate the royal family for a perceived wrongdoing by his grandfather, Loren, and it is further compounded by reports that tyrannical rule has seized the city of Skemmelsham over which he rules. Prince Khael forges a contract with Vixen, and with Grant, they go on a journey to liberate the city. ... (read more)

Cast of Characters

The relationships between instructors working in a dysfunctional sociology department at a fictional Florida university in the late 1980s are realistically explored in this novella by educator McNeill. While many workplaces, whether in government, the private for-profit sector, or even non-profit organizations, have these ego-driven, ideological clashes that create a hostile environment for some employees but provide unfair advantages to others, this story reveals the particular problems that arise in academic settings, and in this case, with dramatic, destructive results. The drama is also a cautionary tale determined by various departmental cliques that disregard the warning signs of trouble ahead for not only department faculty but for the entire university and the outside community as well. ... (read more)

Everlasting Soul

Stories harbor the potential to stand the test of time, carrying over from generation to generation. In Harry’s work, themes of scripture are transposed onto a fictional canvas that gives audiences a unique vantage point of many biblical elements, with a particular emphasis on the end times. The Lord’s sacrifices for mankind, despite the darkest of sins committed unto him, are brought into the light through this narrative. More importantly, the work is about restoring peace, balance, and love, shattering the subverted agendas of humans who wear the guise of peacekeepers while only looking out for themselves. ... (read more)

The book opens with a bold declaration that all forms of perfectionism are unhealthy. Collins and Molitor denounce the concept of “normal” perfectionists who are more productive and achieve greater success. As perfection is inherently unattainable, its pursuit is an inevitable path to frustration, which adversely affects mental and physical health, relationships, creativity, and productivity. Inspired by Kintsugi—the Japanese art and philosophy of “golden repair”—the authors advocate rejecting perfectionism and adopting the “Flawsomism” mindset of celebrating imperfection, striving for excellence, and embracing failure as an opportunity for growth. ... (read more)

Juhani Murros made an unexpected discovery during his visits to art galleries when he worked for an organization in Ho Chi Minh City in 1990. A small still life in an unobtrusive gallery commanded the Finnish physician’s attention. “It was an unpretentious oil painting, yet its dark, mysterious colors and the emotional tension of its disciplined composition set it apart.” Thus began a long journey of discovering the art and life of Van Den, a frugal and kind Buddhist of mixed Chinese and Vietnamese ancestry who studied in Paris for less than two years during 1950-52, a volatile period during the first French Indochina War. ... (read more)

Clear Philosophy

The free will debate has raged for over 2,000 years. Do individuals have control over their own actions and decisions, or are these actions and decisions predetermined by the gods, logic, nature or nurture, or many other forms of determinism? In this new work by Kral, he takes the reader on an intellectual journey that attempts to provide an alternative to the free will question. Upon initial inspection, the question, at its heart, seems to imply either a yes or no with explanations while excluding other answers. However, Kral manages to create a compelling third option, which posits that the question itself is flawed. He argues that “will” cannot be considered free or not free. His reasoning breaks down what the word means in the context of this question, and his results lead him to create an additional theory about the source of human behavior. which he has titled procirclism. ... (read more)

Jazzy & Gritty

This collection by Streitz is the first of four Bar Bibles of Poetry authored by him. In this volume, his attention falls on subjects ranging from bartenders to civil rights leaders, E.D. to selfies. Several poems deal with sex and love, from the lofty heights of romanticism to the street level of strippers and masturbation. He spends time on drunk writers hiding in their homes, dancers who should have been writers, beetles rolling balls of dung, and fathers who find themselves protective and uncomfortable. ... (read more)

Delightful Read

This work is an experience unto itself, one that takes traditional elements of fantasy and plants them into the modern world with supremely original results. Character-driven at its core, Carr’s work follows Trista, an orphan tunnel dweller who calls the depths of the New York subway tunnels her home. In every way, this is a classic coming-of-age story. The book revolves around a protagonist who recognizes that she is different but refuses the call and seeks to conform, to be ordinary, and to fit in. However, she must throw caution to the wind and erupt from her comfort zone or risk losing everything she holds dear. ... (read more)

Vivid Imagery

Caroline (CiCi) Marcum grew up in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, a fishing village on Cape Cod. She graduated high school, attended college, became a teacher, and married. But a tragic accident forever changed the course of CiCi’s life, and she fled to Chicago. Six years later, Caroline finds herself back in Wellfleet carrying for her ailing mother. Lonely and grieving, she reconnects with fellow Cape native Ridley Neal, a fourth-generation fisherman who inherited his father’s sea farm. While Rid is sympathetic to Caroline’s plight, he is embroiled in a legal battle to save his livelihood and cannot provide the emotional support CiCi so desperately needs. ... (read more)

Transformation

Fred counts on his dad when his inability to keep a job and keep his weight in check causes conflict with his mom and sister. When Fredق│└s dad dies and his sister (his primary income buffer) moves away, Fred and his mom are on their own until Fredق│└s wrestling champion girlfriend, Mary Ellen, arrives, giving Fred the boost he needs to defend himself, literally and figuratively. ... (read more)

Within this poetry collection, Australian writer Rodden has arranged forty-one contemporary poems reflecting both urban and rural experiences. Within the first selection, the poem’s speaker is driven to “make for the trees,” an attempt to avoid indoor offices where everyone else seems to be. There arise suddenly throughout these poems vivacious, invigorating lines, such as “In the library I try and try / to cram in all the poets and storytellers ….” Other poems tell of the writer’s experiences working among crews fighting bushfires in the wild. And some selections—such as the slightly eccentric, dry-humored “dead chicken-meat day”—paint a rather zany picture in which “the sign says / two skinned chickens for 6 dollars” as the speaker finds herself panting past KFC en route to work. In “The Loaded Dog,” a rustic pub sporting “Depression swaggy” photographs of “romantic gold miners / in classic beards” offers Devil’s Choice beer—with raspberries. ... (read more)

Textured & Memorable

A jilted lover kills herself after learning that she can’t have the man she desires most. A target of bullies is granted magical powers to seek revenge from a strange, otherworldly entity. The angel of death watches in the wings, taking interest in order to stop a terrible and inevitable fate. An invading force known as The Loons is coming to consume and extinguish the Earth across all dimensions. All of these happenings intertwine and knot together to create an action-packed story of death, rebirth, identity, and destiny, with all of humanity hanging in the balance. ... (read more)

History Alive

Even before stories were written, they were passed along from generation to generation, standing the test of time. Story is central to Romanowski’s memoir, one that delves deep into her Italian roots, how they’ve intersected and fused with American life, and the indelible impact family has had on her own life—and she on theirs. Through prose and poetry, the author meticulously and gracefully guides readers through her family genealogy, zeroing in on one particular figure, her grandfather, who unquestionably has the most profound impact on her worldview. ... (read more)

Cross-Country

If it takes twenty-one days to break a habit, then it certainly takes thirty-four to change a life. In Mortensen’s memoir, he simultaneously dazzles with his wit and inspires with an authentic portrayal of his journey biking from Minnesota to California. This isn’t a ride to glory by any stretch. On the contrary, it is one that provokes the human spirit, impelling both Mortensen and those who read it to dig into the innermost recesses of their being and pull out an unquenchable fire for life. ... (read more)

Compromising Situations

The assignment a rich man gives private investigator Brig Ellis is straightforward enough: intercept the last of a set of twelve historic palomino horse sculptures that he’s collecting during a prearranged hand-off. The apparent ease, though, understates the challenges Ellis encounters, such as the rich man’s sexy daughter, a string of deaths in San Diego and Mexico, and the rich man’s cagey employee. Beyond obtaining the miniature statue, the real test is of Ellis’ character. ... (read more)

Wide-Ranging

At our root, we are all derivatives of atoms, part and parcel of a universal, cosmic story formulated by all the stories that make mankind what it is today. No one is left behind as remnants of the past are fused into the present and the present to the future, an intricate tapestry of atomic history that came to define Earth as a “star-crossed planet,” in the author’s words. In Toliver’s collection of tales, a profound sentiment is expressed with refreshing simplicity: from sunrise and sunsets to the moon hanging over a mountain, all things, even the most minute and seemingly meaningless, are energy-driven reminders of “the place of our species.” ... (read more)

Brevity & Reflection

In Ireland’s latest collection of poems, thoughts and emotions are expressed by location. Leaves both falling and underfoot on a path in the woods place the narrator between life and death. A green and brown leaf located side by side characterize the tired narrator and his old but spry mother walking next to one another. The woods are described by the perspicacious narrator as a metropolis that is bustling and, at times, overwhelming. ... (read more)

Finding Truth

Long-time friends Thomas Pettigrew and Flinders Petrie run a detective agency together. Lately, their business has not thrived, so they have taken on second jobs to supplement their income. Pettigrew works as a physician, while Flinders is a curator at the British Museum. E.A. Wallis Budge, the head curator of the British Museum, hires Pettigrew and Flinders to find a small statue of Aphrodite that has been stolen from the Elgin Collection. Normally, Budge would have sought out the missing artifact, but he is swamped and wants the duo to take on the task. Pettigrew and Flinders accept the job, but as they delve deeper into the investigation, the case becomes increasingly dangerous. ... (read more)

Cohesion & Conflict

Readers enter this tale on the cusp of deep change in Montauk as the traditional fisherman’s life is in jeopardy, and many residents contemplate the hard choices they must make to create balanced new lives. Clancy, a New Yorker who once enjoyed Montauk during his family-deprived childhood, revisits the peninsula. He rediscovers Otto, the man who mentored him in a program for disadvantaged orphans. This places Clancy in conflict with Theresa, Otto’s estranged daughter, who resented the boy during her childhood. She feels doubly betrayed in adulthood by her father after he cheated on and divorced her mother. Unfortunately, Otto is ill and soon passes away, leaving his legacy to Clancy because Theresa refuses to reconcile with her father or to receive any property. Clancy must balance sorting out Otto’s wishes and gaining Theresa’s trust while navigating Montauk’s social order and the community’s challenges with climate, housing, and open space. ... (read more)

Suffer the Child

Actress, playwright, and composer Marylee Martin examines the hidden, long-term effects of childhood covert sexual abuse in this award-winning themed memoir. Covert abuse, while solely verbal and mental rather than physical, is a less dramatic but equally damaging form of sexual abuse and is sadly common in all cultures and at every level of society. Children who escape ongoing sexual molestation or more violent forms of physical abuse still struggle in their adult lives and experience similar symptoms of confusion, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression—reactions familiar to victims of overt, hands-on sexual abuse. ... (read more)

Polarizing Issues

While Cossette acknowledges from the outset that his work is rooted in his opinion of the United States’ impending political downfall, it is undeniably an impassioned plea for the nation to examine itself, look in the mirror, and see the swift transformation of the country’s politics for what it is. Though the author’s stance is unquestionable, the intrigue and validity of his thoughts lie in his ability to emphasize the importance of setting aside differences and focusing on the greater good. He suggests that the very integrity of the U.S. Constitution is at stake, being threatened unceasingly by radical beliefs that are determined to uproot the values, morals, and ambitions that have become the bedrock of the American way. ... (read more)

A Christian Apologist

Author Hakanson explores in depth the many rational paths to religious belief, specifically focusing on the wisdom of the Holy Bible. Many people question scripture and God’s very existence and role in the creation of the universe, the earth, and all contained therein. One of the many analogies presented here concerns “the wind”: one can feel it and even predict its results, but one can never see it. Using such lively imagery combined with much erudite material, the treatise seeks to offer Christians a sense of the rightness of defending their beliefs. ... (read more)

Set against the backdrop of Vladimir Putin’s grab for power in Russia and a rash of global terrorist attacks in the late twentieth century, the novel delves into the complex world of covert counterterrorism. At the age of six, Maxym (Max) Mikhailovich Ivanov suffers an unbearable loss when his parents are killed and ten-year-old sister brutally raped and murdered by religious extremists. Escaping the cruel fate of his family, Max hides in a cupboard. He is rescued by the Russian army after being discovered by a Russian soldier, Leonid. The desire for revenge ignites in young Max after seeing the brutalized bodies of his family. Vowing to his rescuers to kill as many of these terrorists as possible, Max, at the young age of six, begins with those who murdered his family. Praised for his execution of the captured terrorists, Max is admired by the soldiers and given a home with Leonid. ... (read more)

Engaging & Thoughtful

In this unique piece of graphic literature, readers embark on a journey to find a solution that ultimately leads to world peace in a chaotic world. The group of superheroes that young Alice and Professor Sorgho pursues has the potential to solve issues like world hunger, soil depletion, and environmental disasters caused by climate change. Readers learn that the solution may very well lie in “climate-smart grains called sorghum.” Nonetheless, Alice and Professor Sorgho encounter a complex problem: no one has seen the Sorgho Squad in a number of centuries, but the team pursues a set of complex clues that lead them and readers on a journey across the globe. ... (read more)

Like many children his age, young Nick loses a tooth while eating his dinner and places it under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy. Overjoyed to discover six dollars under his pillow, he shares the discovery with his friends at school, only to be presented with the question of what he thinks the Tooth Fairy does with all the teeth she collects from the children who lose them. The inquisitive Nick decides to get to the bottom of what the Tooth Fairy is all about and comes up with a foolproof plan. ... (read more)

The Creature

When Bob sees on the local news that a young woman has been found murdered in a parking lot with numerous cuts, he knows in his gut that the killer who murdered his wife and six others five years ago is back. Bob’s best friend, Archie—a detective on the Livingston, Texas, police force—confirms his suspicions. The two men are determined to catch the killer this time. ... (read more)

Unwavering Hope

Paul Davidson has been deeply concerned about his father, Big Rich, who is battling terminal brain cancer. During a recent visit to Des Moines, an unexpected conflict has arisen between Paul and his brother, Richard J. Davidson Jr., resulting in Paul being prohibited from seeing their father. Richard, who has been given his parent's power of attorney, has informed medical staff of visitation restrictions for their father. This has weighed heavily on Paul's mind, especially as his other brother, Joe, is also present with their father. In a separate context, Paul and Luke, Joe's son, have organized a trip with their church to aid a shelter in Chicago. Despite recent tragic events in Chicago, they remain resolute in their commitment to embark on this mission. ... (read more)

Financial Hope

Before Black Friday, there was Black Tuesday, a devastating stock market event that not only sent the market plummeting and in chaos but also ushered in the Great Depression. Then, there is the more recent Black Monday, on October 19, 1987, that rattled investors and, once again, brought the market to its knees. It is this 1987 event that becomes the backdrop of Donaldson’s book, one that is less of a preachy self-help book and more one that will provide readers with immense insight and understanding through direct, first-hand experiences, all minus the added fluff and conceptual conundrums that often plague books on investing. ... (read more)

Vital Scripture

Author Luddeke examines in diligent detail the portions of the Holy Bible that set forth the determination of Satan to make all humanity subject to his evil plans and the ever-watchful wisdom and benevolence of God and Jesus Christ. Luddeke asserts that one need only read the Bible to understand all of history, as, over a fifteen-hundred-year period, all earthly fact was predicted and transcribed therein. Before God created the earth, He existed with a band of angels, among whom was Lucifer, who was God’s favorite. But Lucifer gradually embraced evil—pride and selfishness—based around envy of God’s power. He craved absolute dominion over God’s creations, beginning with Adam and Eve. ... (read more)

Saving Scripture

Citing a material world of nonstop temptation and sin spearheaded by Satan, Luddeke provides the ultimate antidote—the light of Jesus Christ—as the eternal battle between light and dark and good and evil reaches tumultuous levels. To all alike, believer or not, the author speaks to each individual’s destiny, one made possible by Christ’s self-sacrifice and depicted further through the efforts of biblical figures like Peter. On the whole, the work is a fusion of scripture references and the author’s commentary, providing clear and concise insight that even the layman can understand. ... (read more)

Lost Innocence

Lilly wasn’t merely apprehensive about her first appointment with the therapist; she dreaded it. As a mother of a three-year-old boy, she knew perfection wasn’t a necessity. However, she also knew the only way forward was to face her past. Lilly was the third of four children born to Gwen and Vincent. Gwen and Vincent doted on young Lilly, but Gwen’s sister Millie fawned over Lilly and wished she was hers. Millie’s husband, Frank, took a shine to Lilly as well, but his intentions were sinister. As Lilly got older, she came to fear Frank and loathed when Frank and Millie were welcomed into her parent’s home. Lilly didn’t tell her parents but confided in a select few as she began a rebellion that lasted from adolescence through college. ... (read more)

Growing up in a Denver suburb in the sixties and seventies, Spitzer experienced a normal American life. Full of ambition and energy, she was a robust athlete who enjoyed tennis and other sports. An intelligent and curious girl, she liked learning and worked hard in school. Her good grades and proficiency in sports were proof of her early work ethic and ability. “As a child, I had endless amounts of energy and enthusiasm. I loved learning new things and was willing to try anything and everything.” At the age of twelve, her life changed forever when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immediately admitted to the hospital, she underwent a series of blood and platelet transfusions and tests. As her blood levels rose, she began a three-year regimen of chemotherapy and, when in remission, a three-to-five-week series of radiation therapy on her head. As this was 1975, the treatment for childhood leukemia was uncertain. “I know the doctors had said that I had less than a 10 percent chance of living six months because they just didn’t know how to treat this type of disease.” This memoir tells of her experiences before, during, and after her life-changing diagnosis. ... (read more)

Fascinating Account

The narrative begins with the author arriving in Guam, along with her military husband and three children. She is immediately struck by the beauty of the island despite the “strange admixture of emergent country squalor with the suave sophistication of world-class resorts.” What follows is a recounting of her adventures (and misadventures) in her new home. The reader follows her as she forges new friendships, steadily collecting a circle of neighbors and avid gamers into her community. She also recounts a myriad of events while living on the island, from the excitement of surviving typhoons to the relatable experience of setting up a home and starting a new job in a different country. She describes day-to-day challenges in beginning her job, raising her family, and navigating new friendships. ... (read more)

Fun & Crazy

When eleven-year-old AJ’s mom gets called into her flight attendant job and picks him up from school, little does the young protagonist know that during his weekend stay with Grandpa, things are about to get fishy. Through imaginative, quirky, immersive storytelling on a grand scale, Mazzucato transports AJ and his eccentric friend Livvy to a terrifically tantalizing adventure on the high seas with Grandpa, captain of the Ponce de Leon , and fellow shipmates—all in a quest to capture a humongous fish, elusive and mythic, which is awesomely revered and curiously referred to as Old Gussie. ... (read more)

Good Memories

A fifth-generation Southern California native, Haas, the author of this children’s book, offers up a delightful celebratory ode to all things Huntington Beach, known colloquially as Surf City. Capturing in words and bright, colorful illustrations the sights, sounds, and plentiful sunshine always in store for adventurers to the famous sand-and-surf locale, specifics of the seaside destination are explored and commemorated. These include, among other aspects, the famed Pacific Coast Highway, the International Surfing Museum, Pacific City with its multitude of ice cream selections, evening dusk falling on Main St., moonlit “thrills and spills” at the local skate park, Huntington Beach Pier, Central Park, and the nearby wetlands, which are home to abundant wildlife. Dedicated to the author’s grandchildren, Haas’ book recognizes many favorite spots and activities enjoyed during the children’s regular visits with the author and illustrator at Huntington Beach. ... (read more)

Authentic Voice

Hogan was an early "boomer.” He was born in the late 1940s to young parents and was one of three siblings. The family's religious backgrounds and beliefs were mixed but were in other ways similar to many middle-class families of that era. Grandparents and cousins were on hand, and security, love, and some diversity in numbers were in abundance. Two "coincidences" had profound impacts on Hogan's early life. First, he felt he should move some boards with protruding nails/spikes in them, so he did. As he fell to the ground later on—right at the place where the boards had been—he reflected on what might have happened had he not obeyed his warning. Another interesting occurrence was his agreeing to a "blind date," which led to his meeting his future wife, Georgia. ... (read more)

Opportunities

The author was one of three children born to an unorthodox British couple in 1942. Her mom’s parents were landed gentry, while her father’s were working class. Her parents shared an artistic and adventurous bent, though, and the family lived outside of many societal norms, such as in caravans, a circus, and farmhouses, among other places. When she grew up, Rains lived with her own family in Hong Kong, Scotland, California, and England. Organized around moves and composed of short narratives, the book is almost a linear plotline, digressing to give people’s backgrounds. The majority of the moves happen at the beginning, and the pace of the book here is the swiftest. Rains’ mother’s many projects, her bad cooking, and creative knitting add levity to these chapters. Letters from friends attest to the brightness the author brings to her communities and to the text. ... (read more)

Understanding People

This concise and informative book examines the important principles needed for a company to be effective in its management processes. The text begins by focusing on five management problems: ranking performers, incentive systems, management by objectives, numeric goals, and management by results. It explores dysfunctional companies and the need for increased organizational effectiveness through behavioral changes. In exploring problems, the book then analyzes solutions to a variety of such situations, including rewards and punishment, competition, mistrust, and other issues that cause problems in systems. The focus is on practices based on differing beliefs, increased well-being in teams, separating compensation from work, building a culture of trust, understanding variations in practice, avoiding attachments, being mindful, choosing thoughts and behaviors, letting go of the negative, using affirmations, and a transformation to an “enlightened leadership model.” ... (read more)

Family Secrets

From his frenetic entrance into the world, where he found himself with a cord wrapped around his neck—a “blue baby”—David was exposed to an unfathomable dimension of life, a gut punch to the meaning of humanity. Nevertheless, his resilience became his calling card as he navigated through one mind-boggling circumstance after another. Worthy of commendation for his raw and authentic portrayal, David uses his work as a platform to demonstrate what happens when a child is raised in the ultimate dysfunctional family system. ... (read more)

Complexities & Content

In Toliver’s work, the role of myths and the devastating influence they can have on human history are integral. Throughout this comprehensively researched piece, the author focuses on debunking misconceptions throughout world history. In the process, contending schools of thought, from philosophical to literary traditions, come together to help audiences better understand historical events and, at their core, human behavior. ... (read more)

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15 Of The Best Book Recommendation Sites To Find Your Next Book

If you have run out of books you're interested in reading, look through these fifteen book recommendation sites for your next pick.

Abigail Clarkin

Abigail can often be found holding a book in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. When she is not devouring stories (or dessert), Abigail trains for marathons and writes poetry about growing up with eight brothers and sisters. She enjoys working in marketing for a real estate developer and creating Instagram content for fun (@marathonandmunch) about all the tasty eats found in Providence, RI.

View All posts by Abigail Clarkin

At some point, you’ve likely encountered a long, bleak patch when your reserve of recommended books ran dry. A few years ago, there was a stretch when I didn’t have people in my life who understood my taste in books. I’d finish a fantastic series and then be disappointed when I realized that there was no rebound read to help me recover from the last series. Thankfully for the readers like us who are still nursing book hangovers, there are personalized book recommendation websites across the internet to save us.

If you have run out of books you’re interested in reading, look through these fifteen book recommendation sites.

Subscriptions

Book Riot has its very own subscription service called Tailored Book Recommendations . TBR is made up of staff who dedicate their time to carefully tailoring book recommendations for readers based on what they like to read personally. Sign up for either a recommendations-only level subscription or a hardcover level subscription (which includes having three books mailed to you).

Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. By signing up you agree to our terms of use

If you’d like free and discounted reading deals sent straight to your email, sign up for BookBub. Based on the genres you choose when signing up, BookBub will send personalized recommendations of ebooks that can be purchased for a reasonable rate. Themed lists are also available on their site.

22 Books Coming in 2018 Recommended by Librarians https://t.co/Sil3Wvs6Lh @tarawestover @thuglibrarian @CommerceLibrary @randyribay @alicewriterland @anglophilelibr pic.twitter.com/Uu6cIJuuxx — BookBub (@BookBub) March 2, 2018

3. Library-Specific Sites

If you’re a patron at a large library, there’s a chance that your library offers personalized book recommendation services delivered via email. A few libraries currently offering this service include New York Public Library , Denver Public Library , and Sacramento Public Library . Ask your librarians to see if this is a resource for you as well.

Themed Lists

4. epic reads.

Epic Reads is one of the largest young adult fiction communities online. Along with their endless energy and passion for YA, one reason for their popularity is their interactive quizzes, lengthy lists, and colorful book charts that point readers towards their next favorite read. A few years ago when I met a reading slump, I worked my way through much of their amazing Young Adult Retelling Chart . Many of my favorites were found through this resource.

5. Penguin Teen

The Penguin Teen website features book lists, news about young adult authors, and a helpful book suggestions tool that focuses on genre specific book recommendations.

6. Reading Rockets

If you’re looking for children’s books for the kids in your life (or for the child in you), check out Reading Rockets. Reading Rockets provides specific, lengthy themed lists for young readers. With list topics ranging from “Books About Kids Who Find Reading Hard” to “That’s So Gross,” you are sure to find a book for any occasion. This site can be a wonderful resource for teachers, librarians, and educators.

Tor is the online hub for fantasy and science fiction. Check out their many lists to find stories that will transport you to fictional lands.

A project from Netgalley, Bookish offers a wide range of book lists, including fiction, audiobook, and young adult. What makes this site stand out is these are all brand new releases or forthcoming titles, so you can get your library holds or preorders in early.

All of the recommendations on Olmenta are submitted by passionate readers. The site allows you to peruse titles by genre or category, and it’s a fun way to let someone else pick a book for you (without needing to do any real work on your end). You can submit your own suggestions, too.

10. Shepherd

Who could offer better recommendation lists than authors, experts, and passionate readers of books on aa topic? Shepherd offers a wide range of book lists, including everything from best YA books about immigration to novels where something queer’s afoot. In the near future, Shepherd will make it possible to sort lists by genre, as well, so you could find books set in China that are romance, nonfiction, YA, or otherwise.

Made-For-You on the Spot

11. whichbook.

On Whichbook, book recommendations are calculated by one out of two categories: 1. Mood, or 2. Character, setting, and plot. The reader has the choice to use sliders on the “Mood” section to rate what they’re looking for in a book. Do you want a book that is completely happy? Or on the border between safe and disturbing? There is also the option to select your desired character characteristics, the story setting, and/or plot points that you’d like included in the recommendation.

Maybe AI knows the perfect book for you. Readow starts by asking you some simple questions about recent reads and uses technology to pair you with your next great book.

13. What Should I Read Next

14. readgeek.

Registering is optional when using Readgeek to receive book recommendations. In order to get ahold of book suggestions, simply rate a few books that you’ve read on a 1–10 scale. After you finish rating as many as you’d like, Readgeek calculates which books you’d most likely enjoy based on your previous ratings.

15. Literature Map

At Literature Map, you can type in an author’s name and then view similar authors that other readers are enjoying. The site generates a map that displays author names in relative states of closeness. The closer the authors, the more likely other readers enjoyed both.

Another simple but fun AI-driven recommendation site is Gnooks. Pop in your three favorite writers and you’ll get a recommended author to try. It doesn’t end there, though: you can rate whether or not you like the author suggested for even more recommendations.

17. Goodreads

Goodreads provides a space for people to track their reading, write reviews, and view books, lists, and authors that align with their interests. When creating an account on Goodreads, the reader has the opportunity to create original book lists. One of my favorites is the “Want to Read” option: every time you view a book description that sounds interesting, you can save the book to a list that is dedicated to books you plan to tackle later. For those of you who are looking to build a never ending To-Be-Read list, Goodreads is a perfect place to start.

18. Narrative Muse

Are you interested in reading books specifically written by underrepresented voices? Narrative Muse serves as a recommendation site for those who are looking for both films and books created by women and nonbinary writers. Create an account to be matched with books that fall under these categories.

19. The Storygraph

Billed as an alternative to Goodreads, The StoryGraph is a book tracking site, a community making site, and offers book recommendations. You can import your Goodreads information to The StoryGraph, and both the website and app have clean but visually appealing interfaces. Here’s our full StoryGraph review .

20. r/books

Numbering at almost 21 million subscribers, Reddit’s main book subreddit is a haven for book discussion and recommendations. Want to know what Reddit users across the massive site are reading? There’s Reddit Reads for that.

Still looking for more ways to find your next favorite book? Take this quiz on what you should read next to receive an immediate recommendation. If you’re willing to look for suggestions in places off of the internet, check out 31 Ways to Find the Best Book Recommendations .

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7 Book Review Sites That Put Your Book in Front of Readers

May 13, 2021 | Book Marketing | 10 comments

Now that you finally published your book , it’s time to gather book reviews. With so many options to promote your book and get it in front of readers, it’s hard to choose which one(s) will help sell this book and the ones that follow. Book review sites are one way to use your advertising dollars to promote reviews and, potentially, book sales.

Why are book reviews so important?

Book reviews are the social proof for your book. It lets other readers know your book is worthy of their time and money. Just like you wouldn’t go to a restaurant without reviews, most readers, unless they know you, have seen you, or a friend recommends your book, won’t pick up your book without reviews. Your first goal is to get to 25 reviews as quickly as possible. Once you reach that goal, keep pushing for more. There is no such thing as too many reviews.

When should you spend money on book review sites?

When you have a small email list or small following on social media and can’t generate the number of desired book reviews organically, you may consider turning to book review sites. It is against Amazon rules to have your mother and friends stuff your book page with reviews. So, it may be advantageous to engage readers out of your own ecosystem.

What to expect from book review sites

The most important thing to understand about engaging with book review sites is that you aren’t paying for reviews. You are paying to have your book in front of readers who may select your book and leave a review. Readers are under no obligation to leave a review, although most will, and they are under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Most reviewers sign up for the sites’ free and nearly free ebooks email list and/or social media feeds. They choose books in genres they like or will go off their normal reading patterns and choose something new because there is little to no risk if the book is free or cheap.

Who can expect the greatest return?

Not all books are created equal. Genre fiction (romance, mystery, etc.) will get consumed at a ravenous rate compared to nonfiction. You increase your chance of success with review sites using the same elements as you will selling them: a professional cover, an engaging description, and a well-written, well-edited book. Make sure you put your best book forward to entice readers.

Why give away your book?

Why would you give away your book for free? Isn’t the point to make money? Long-term, the goal is to generate income. In the short term, it may be more advantageous to expose your book to more readers and build a following. More reviews or more Amazon (or another platform) traffic may mean higher sales after you’ve run your book review promotion. Especially if you have more than one book, book review promotions can help with sales of all of your books. Your goal is to turn readers into fans. Giving your book away is one way to start.

Book review sites

The style, competition, and offerings vary from site to site. While there are free review sites available, the ones listed here are all paid sites. Except for Book Marketing Tools, all are run out of their own site using their list of reviewers. You can also sign up to become a reviewer and receive free and discounted book offers. You’ll help other authors and read some great books!

Most free book review sites won’t evaluate your book. Their Twitter lists may not be vetted either. This is one instance that you get what you pay for. Read the details of each program to understand what you are getting.

Book Marketing Tools

Book Marketing Tools has been around for a number of years, giving sound book marketing advice to its readers. More recently, they built a tool to easily add your information once and use it to be listed on 31+ free book promotion sites. While it isn’t a book review platform in itself, it does ease your efforts. And, of course, time is money. At the time of this blog post, it cost $29 to access this feature.

Readers Favorite

Readers Favorite offers free and paid book review opportunities. According to their site, 50% of the books listed for free receive a review within 3 months. For guaranteed, expedited reviews, there are three options for one, three, and five reviews. Readers Favorite only publishes four- and five-star reviews and with enough depth to allow you to pull out several shorter quotes for use on social media and other avenues.  Their pricing model includes free, $59, $129, and $199 offerings.

Reedsy Discovery

With Reedsy Discovery , you first pick your launch date and are matched with readers who give reviews in your category. You receive a book landing page and are added to their Discovery feed. The best books get featured in their catalog. For $50, you are eligible for one review. If your book is not reviewed, you can resubmit it three times at no charge. They require that you submit your book within six months of publication and must submit a copy of your ebook and front cover.

NetGalley is a way to reach a growing community of influential readers (media, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, bloggers, and educators) who can read, review and recommend your book(s). You can enroll in 3-6 month packages individually or through partners like Books Go Social (below) or Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for $199-$399 (partner prices). Reviewers request pre-publication digital copies of your book and publish reviews to their profile and to share with their audiences.

Book Raid is another high-quality book review site. The benefit to promoting your title with this site, besides its popularity with readers, is that you only pay per click on your book, and your maximum spend is capped at $60. While they don’t take everyone, they do have a few requirements including minimum page count, recently discounted or free, and not promoted on their site within the last eight weeks, among other things.

Written Word Media

Written Word Media is another popular site hosting a variety of book promotion options. Among their offerings are Free Booksy for free books, Bargain Booksy for discounted books usually between $.99 and $2.99, Red Feather Romance, New Releases for books released within four months, and a Facebook/Instagram ad option called Reader Reach. Their tiered pricing levels the field with more popular genres promoted for a higher cost. Your book gets the attention it deserves with a growing reader list of well over 300,000 to date.

Books Go Social

Books Go Social offers a variety of book review opportunities as well as ad programs through Facebook and Amazon. Their package pricing varies depending on the service, and many packages offer tiered pricing options. They offer launch packages with ads, a book trailer, cover, description, and subtitle reviews, tweets, and email placements to their legions of followers, along with NetGalley membership. They also offer 4-8 week memberships to boost book sales and reviews. Packages start at $99.

BookBub earns its title as the coveted spot for book marketing. Books are vetted, and authors compete for featured deals due to the prestige and effect on sales that accompany it. There are many factors in getting your book accepted or denied. Some of those are required, like page count (differs between categories), or not discounted enough or already discounted within a month. You must offer at least a 50% discount on your ebook, preferably at a price between $.99-1.99. Most others are subjective. You are competing with other books. A great cover and description, wide distribution, well-edited, and plenty of reviews put you in the running. While they don’t have a requirement for the number of reviews, it is clear that under 25 positive reviews won’t cut it.

BookBub’s pricing reflects the high demand for the service. Costs for the Featured Deal vary by the popularity of the book category and the price you charge for the book. At the time of this writing, a featured deal could be as low as $92 or as high as $3066. Pricing changes regularly based on several factors. Here is more information about boosting your chances to get a BookBub featured deal.

Ok. That’s eight but who’s counting?

These are just a few of the book review sites available. As with many advertising programs, success will vary based on the platform and its ability to connect your book with the right readers. Once the promotion ends, use your online presence to turn readers into fans. They will be poised and ready for your next book or another product or service.

Do you need help navigating the book marketing path? Find your guide here .

10 Comments

But these reviews are not verified purchases–so does Amazon still use them in the rankings?

Thanks for your comment. Amazon uses purchases in their rankings and not reviews. They will post reviews, although some are removed if they think they aren’t actually readers.

This comment makes me very hesitant to use most of these sites which do not provide verified reviews.

Hi Regina, If reviewers are receiving their books from Amazon, they are verified. However, you can have reviews that aren’t verified that are still valid reviews wherever they purchased or received the book.

HOPE TO START A NEW CHAPTER IN MY LIFE

We’re always writing new chapters. That’s what makes life exciting!

What do you think of pubby book review site?

Betsy, I’ve heard that Amazon has been rejecting many of the reviews generated from that site. Amazon’s review policy disallows reciprocal reviews and that seems to happen a lot on the Pubby site, according to some anecdotal evidence.

I found a $49 lifetime deal on BookMuffin, which works in a similar way to Pubby but is smaller. I think it is worthwhile is it doesn’t matter if it takes a week or more for people to review my books because I am not paying a monthly fee.

BookMuffin sounds interesting. Any others not listed above that you recommend? Pubby is not for me as I learned from experience; don’t go there. It’s way overpriced and it takes much time to get in touch with a person; it’s all botted out and the bots just aren’t up for the job ad nauseam.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Email Marketing for Writers - Happy Self-Publisher - […] and build enthusiasts and evangelists. Your list will likely become your first readers, first reviewers, and first to recommend…
• Build Credibility Through Writing - Happy Self-Publisher - […] are a few ways to build credibility. Customer reviews and referrals are powerful drivers of sales in your business.…
• Write a Book Description that Sells - Happy Self-Publisher - […] blogs (guest blogs), and interviews. You can also use it to pre-sell books and garner pre-launch book reviews. As…
• How to price your self-published book - Happy Self-Publisher - […] Life, or other publishing back office, you can change the price at any time. You may do so for…
• How to Get More Book Reviews - Happy Self-Publisher - […] Book review sites are a form of advertising specifically designed to encourage new readers to find and experience your…

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Best Book Review Blogs in 2024

Showing 223 blogs that match your search.

Fantasy Book Critic

http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/

Please keep in mind Fantasy Book Critic receives dozens of review requests every week, so it is not always possible to respond immediately. If you do not hear from someone after 21 days, then feel free to send a follow-up query. Should your request interest one of our reviewers, you will be contacted regarding coverage on Fantasy Book Critic. Thank you for your interest in Fantasy Book Critic.

Blogger : The FBC Team

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💌 Preferred contact method: Email

⭐️ Accepts indie books? Yes

Ana's Attic Book Blog

http://anasattic.com

Started at the beginning of 2012, Ana's Attic brings honest romance book and audiobook reviews, as well as new releases, sales, freebies and preorders. We continue to post at least 4 times a week.

Blogger : Ana

Genres : Romance

🌐 Domain authority: 35

👀 Average monthly visits: 34,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Mail

Kids Lit Book Cafe

https://kidslitbookcafe.com/

KLBC writes professional captivating reviews for children’s books of all ages and all genres.

Blogger : Kids Lit Book Cafe

Genres : Children's, Graphic Novel, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 8

👀 Average monthly visits: 100 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Website contact form

Pithy Summary

https://www.pithysummary.com

Pithy Summary provides a free Weekly Bulletin that includes: an outline of a compelling non-fiction book + a review of a related book in a different genre + a review of a related product (when possible). This way, busy people can learn about new, engrossing concepts in a simple format.

Blogger : Carlen Zhang-D'Souza

Genres : Non-Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 5

👀 Average monthly visits: 400 p/mo

Cozy Mystery

http://www.cozymysterybookreviews.blogspot.com/

Cozy Mystery Book Reviews is a site dedicated to cozy mysteries. We review cozy mysteries only. Requests for other genres will be ignored. We also only post positive reviews. If you don't see your review on the book blog, either our reviewer decided to pass on reviewing, or hasn't gotten to reviewing your book yet.

Blogger : Missi

Genres : Mystery/Thriller

🌐 Domain authority: 11

👀 Average monthly visits: 5,000 p/mo

Likely Story

https://likelystory.blog/

I started Likely Story to share my love of books with the world. I have been known to stay up until 3am, lost in a book and I decided I wanted to spread the word and share as many of them as I could with other readers. Happy reading!

Blogger : Alex

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Romance, and Science Fiction

The Eclectic Review

https://eclecticreview.wordpress.com/

My name is Sharon (sherton on LibraryThing) from Iowa and I am an avid reader of just about every genre. Of course, I have my favorites, but I'll let you try to guess what they are. If I'm not working in my garden, I'm writing reviews here, for Amazon, LibraryThing, GoodReads and others as requested.

Blogger : Sharon

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, and Non-Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 16

Luke's Blog

https://www.lukeharkness.com/

Luke runs a book blog with over 120 book reviews covering a range of genres and tips for aspiring bloggers on how to get started and what works best.

Blogger : Luke Harkness

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 4

👀 Average monthly visits: 2,300 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Social media

Chapter In My Life

https://chapterinmylife.wordpress.com/

Here at Chapterinmylife I am always happy to accept books for review. Any reviews I provide are only my opinion and are always constructive. I will try my best to explain what it was I enjoyed about the book or why it was not to my taste.

Blogger : Sharon Bairden

Genres : Crime and Mystery/Thriller

🌐 Domain authority: 27

Books And Pals

http://www.booksandpals.blogspot.com/

Please read the instructions carefully. Failure to follow them will result in your submission being ignored with no acknowledgement. All reviews are final. Prior to submission, we would advise reading this post and the Guide to Reviews, as well as getting a general feel for the book review blog.

Blogger : Al & Pals

Genres : YA, Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction, Paranormal, New Adult, Children's, LGBT, Humor, Horror, and Urban Fantasy

🌐 Domain authority: 43

👀 Average monthly visits: 18,600 p/mo

Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Book reviews and recommendations from the most trusted voice in book discovery. We've reviewed the nation's top publishers' books since 1933. Our coverage includes the big 5 houses, small presses, genre publishers & more.

Blogger : Kirkus Reviews Team

🌐 Domain authority: 79

👀 Average monthly visits: 880,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Submission manager

The Lesbian Review

http://www.thelesbianreview.com/

The Lesbian Review is the home of book reviews done by women who absolutely LOVE lesbian fiction and who are not just going to read and enjoy every lesbian novel out there. We read a lot and are a tough crowd to please. But that is great news for you because it means this book blog only showcases lesbian fiction books that are really good. If we don't like it, we don't review it.

Blogger : The Lesbian Review

Genres : Crime, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Paranormal, New Adult, Erotica, Children's, Non-Fiction, LGBT, Humor, and Horror

🌐 Domain authority: 37

👀 Average monthly visits: 10,200 p/mo

Fictionophile

https://fictionophile.com/

I have been a reviewer member of NetGalley since October 2013. A retired public library cataloguer, I now blog about all things bookish and share book reviews, author interviews, cover love, etc.

Blogger : Lynne LeGrow

Genres : Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Mystery/Thriller

🌐 Domain authority: 18

👀 Average monthly visits: 3,000 p/mo

⭐️ Accepts indie books? No

Long and Short Reviews

http://www.longandshortreviews.com

We accept requests from both traditionally published authors, self-published authors and publishers. We do not guarantee all books received will be reviewed. NOTE: Please do not email us after submitting your story for review to find out if it's been selected for review. If it's reviewed, you'll be notified.

Blogger : The LAS Team

Genres : YA, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, and Science Fiction

🌐 Domain authority: 39

The Page Unbound

http://www.thepageunbound.com/

We typically read Young Adult, New Adult (relatively clean please, some explicit content is okay), and some fantasy or thriller/mystery novels. We may branch out and consider other novels, but it just depends on if it seems like something we might enjoy.

Blogger : Haley and Becca

Genres : Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery/Thriller, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, and YA

🌐 Domain authority: 32

So you want to find a book blog?

If you’re a voracious reader, you might think of a book blog as an oasis in the middle of the desert: a place on the Internet that brims with talk about books, books, and more books.

Well, good news — we built this directory of the 200 of the best book blogs  to satiate your thirst. Take a walk around, use the filters to narrow down your search to blogs in your preferred genre, and feel free to bookmark this page and come back, as we do update it regularly with more of the best book blogs out there. 

If you’re an aspiring author, you might see a book blog more as a book review blog: a place where you can get your yet-to-be published book reviewed. In that case, you’ll be glad to know that most of the book blogs in our directory are open to review requests and accept indie books! We expressly designed this page (and our book marketing platform, Reedsy Discovery ) to be useful to indie book authors who need book reviews. If you’re wondering how to approach a book blog for a review request, please read on. 

You’ve found a book blog. Now what? 

Let’s say that you’re an author, and you’ve found a couple of book blogs that would be perfect fits to review your book. What now? Here are some tips as you go about getting your book reviews:

• Be sure to read the review policy. First, check that the book blog you’re querying is open to review requests. If that’s the fortunate case, carefully read the blog’s review policy and make sure that you follow the directions to a T.  
• Individualize your pitches. Book bloggers will be able to immediately tell apart the bulk pitches, which simply come across as thoughtless and indifferent. If you didn’t take the time to craft a good pitch, why should the blogger take the time to read your book? Personalize each pitch to up your chances of getting a response. 
• Format your book in a professional manner before sending it out. Ensure that your manuscript isn’t presented sloppily. If the book blogger asks for a digital ARC, you might want to check out apps such as Instafreebie or Bookfunnel. 
• Create a spreadsheet to track your progress. Wading through so many book blogs can be troublesome — not to mention trying to remember which ones you’ve already contacted. To save yourself the time and trouble, use a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of your progress (and results). 

Looking to learn even more about the process? Awesome 👍 For a detailed guide, check out this post that’s all about getting book reviews. 

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Advertisement

Can You Find the 12 Thrillers Hidden Within This Text?

By J. D. Biersdorfer Sept. 3, 2024

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The 20th-century Cold War era of geopolitical tension between the United States, the Soviet Union and their allies also produced some gripping thrillers. This week’s Title Search puzzle is focused on novels set during that period, which ran from 1947 to 1991, and your challenge is to uncover the names of a dozen such books hidden below within an unrelated text passage. As you read along, tap or click the words when you think you’ve found a title. Correct answers stay highlighted. When you uncover each title, the answer section at the bottom of the screen grows to create a reading list with more information and links to the books.

A new literary quiz lands on the Books page each week and you can match wits with previous puzzles in the Book Review Quiz Bowl archive .

“When we left Cuba after that disastrous operation on the beach, our team should have left more than one agent in place,” said White. “Our man in Havana lost the Soviet agent.”

“Thankfully, our woman in Moscow is keeping us on our game,” replied Black. “One of her people got intel from an American spy when they met up today at the Higgins funeral in Berlin. Saw the Russki coming out of one of their safe houses near The Last Frontier nightclub and followed along.”

“That Soviet agent, a most clever girl, is on a train to Moscow right now and will be collected at the Minsk stop.”

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Briefly Noted

The Secret Life of the Universe , by Nathalie A. Cabrol (Scribner) . This compact and often astonishing overview of the current state of astrobiology, by a director at the SETI Institute, explores the scientific advances of the past few decades, many of which have radically altered our understanding of the universe and, Cabrol argues, brought us close to finding extraterrestrial life. Space telescopes—most notably the Kepler, launched in 2009—have revealed a cosmos “populated by more planets than stars,” and infrared surveys of those planets’ atmospheres will yield vast amounts of data in the coming years. Cabrol, an assured and accessible guide, notes that interpreting that data poses a great challenge: because we still lack a consensus on the definition of life, we may not know it when we see it.

Playing with Reality , by Kelly Clancy (Riverhead) . Games may be a diversion, but, as Clancy, a neuroscientist, writes, they also can provide useful models of the real world. In this comprehensive study, which fuses science, world history, and politics, she documents the role that games have played in medicine, economic thought, moral philosophy, A.I., and more. Although knowledge acquired from gaming has had worthwhile practical applications, from text translation to advances in cancer treatment, games don’t necessarily reflect reality, and players don’t always act rationally. In detailed chapters on topics like modern war-game simulations and the misapplication of game theory in justifying mass privatization, Clancy warns of the societal risks of allowing mathematical models to govern political decisions.

What We’re Reading

Discover notable new fiction and nonfiction.

The Coin , by Yasmin Zaher (Catapult) . In this début novel, a wealthy, fashionable Palestinian middle-school teacher living in Brooklyn wrestles with feelings of alienation. Seeing dirt everywhere, she begins to wash herself compulsively. Her lessons become strange and her relationships with her students blurry. After a dalliance with a man, she gets swept up in a scheme involving reselling luxury handbags. In a moment of winking symbolism, she comes to believe that a coin she swallowed as a child is living in her body, altering her personality. Somewhat surreal, and willing to risk a little provocation, Zaher’s book plays with overlapping ideas of privilege, asking complex questions about what past suffering means in the face of a desire for today’s luxuries.

The Divorce , by Moa Herngren, translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies (HarperVia) . The collapse of a thirty-two-year marriage is depicted with an even hand in this book, which amounts to two parallel novels: one about a woman “feverish with confusion,” who feels that she was abandoned without warning, and another about a man who has been grappling with the end of his relationship for months. The two-sided account starts at the beginning of the end, when the husband hasn’t come home and isn’t answering his wife’s texts. As Herngren stitches together the couple’s perspectives, she writes with a sharp neutrality, never overplaying the book’s many tense moments of discovery or languishing in the wife’s despair.

New Yorker Favorites

An Oscar-winning filmmaker takes on the Church of Scientology .

Wendy Wasserstein on the baby who arrived too soon .

The young stowaways thrown overboard at sea .

As he rose in politics, Robert Moses discovered that decisions about New York City’s future would not be based on democracy .

The Muslim tamale king of the Old West .

Fiction by Jamaica Kincaid: “ Girl .”

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More From Forbes

What upworthy’s new book ‘good people’ teaches about trust and connection.

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Upworthy's new book, Good People, shares that seeing good translates into doing good.

“Trust is like the air we breathe – when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices.” Warren Buffett

When you think of Warren Buffett, you probably first think of his stellar record of investments. Yet, the legendary ‘Oracle of Omaha’ investor is as likely to share his wisdom about trust as he is about picking stocks. Why is trust so essential? Trust creates a safe environment where employees feel valued and respected. It fosters open and honest communication, allowing team members to take risks and ask for help. When trust is present, employees are more likely to engage fully in their work, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and productivity. In the case of publicly traded companies, greater engagement and productivity leads to higher share prices.

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful organization. Without it, teams falter, productivity declines, and morale plummets. According to a recent study by PwC, 71% of employees strongly agree that they would leave a company if their trust was broken. And, given that 51% of U.S employees are currently open to leaving their organization, the risks of eroding trust are very real.

A culture of trust fosters a culture of connection and engagement. A connected workforce is one where employees feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Strong connection in the workplace leads to significant business outcomes. For example, a study by Enboarder found that 94% of employees report feeling more productive when they feel connected to their colleagues, and they are four times more likely to be excited to work and excited to be at their jobs.

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“When it comes to building trust, leaders go first.” Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner

How can leaders build trust and connection? One powerful way is by facilitating the conversations we have in the workplace. Specifically, leaders can highlight stories of values in action: positive, inspiring, and ethical stories. These are known as ‘stories of good’. According to Harvard University ’s Annie Brewster, MD, people who hear stories of good have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone linked to empathy and social connectedness.

Two experts about stories of human goodness are Upworthy’s Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell. Reilich serves as Upworthy’s head of content and innovation, and Knell is vice president of brand. They are also the co-editors of Upworthy’s new book Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity .

Upworthy is a digital media company, is one of the most trusted brands on the internet. Founded in 2012, Upworthy reaches 100 million people a month through various channels across social media, web, and email. Upworthy's Instagram presence has grown in the last four years from 600K followers to 5M followers today, and reaches over 1 million people per day on that platform alone. Its website has seen a 388% year over year increase in unique visitors from 2023 to 2024.

This growth is not by accident. As Knell explains, “People view us more as a friend online than a corporate entity. We’ve built this incredible level of trust with millions of people where they feel comfortable commenting on our posts.” Reilich continues, “We pride ourselves in being the kindest comment section on the Internet. That may seem counterintuitive, since often website comment sections are referred to as ‘the place where faith in humanity goes to die.’ But it’s different here- 99% of the time people are interacting with others in a genuinely beautiful way.”

Upworthy’s growth is living proof that kindness is contagious. And when leaders curate that kindness, its impact multiplies. Upon reading a post, Upworthy followers would often organically share personal stories with each other in the comments section, which would garner a ripple effect of interaction, rooted in connection and trust.

Reilich and Knell began to encourage this openness and connection with questions like:

• What’s the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
• Who’s that teacher who changed your life for the better?
• What's a little thing someone did for you that stayed with you forever?

Good People, published September 3, 2024

They poured over thousands of their responses in their comment section, reached out to folks to conduct interviews and developed meaningful relationships with the people who wrote them. The results of that process are the 101 handpicked stories from the community that make up the pages of Good People.

How does feeling good translate into doing good? In an Upworthy audience survey with 6,000 respondents, 98% felt better after looking at Upworthy’s posts, 90% felt more optimistic about the world and most importantly, 95% felt motivated to engage with people in a kinder, more understanding way. Knell refers to this as “See the good, be the good.” Stories of human goodness provide more than fleeting, feel-good moments; they affect positive behavior change.

Reilich was quick to point out the parallels between the experience of Upworthy’s followers and Upworthy’s employees. He shares, “With the people I manage, I strive to create a culture for them to be real, to tell me what's actually going on and not be worried about keeping up a façade of appearances. Because if you don’t have that level of honesty, you’re never going to get honest feedback about what’s happening. Then, when you don't get feedback, that's when blind spots start developing that can really harm your business and really harm the company culture.”

Reilich made a point to explain how sharing good is quite different from oversharing. “What we learned is that when folks open up about the human decency that they see in the world, it doesn't necessarily mean sharing a really intimate story about when you were at your lowest and you were pulled out from the depths. It can be as simple as sharing something funny or cute or a moment of connection that you had and sharing that with others. When you share that humanity, it brings people closer together.”

Knell explains that intentionally sharing stories of good at work “positions our employees and our teammates as whole nuanced human beings, as opposed to just showing up and clocking in and clocking out. It enables us to create a much richer experience for ourselves and for our employees. We get to view each other through a lens of compassion and empathy, and sit down for a second and really listen to each other, rather than always being in ‘Go’ mode all the time.”

Sharing the good can be as simple as asking a thoughtful question, and then taking time to genuinely listen to the response. Great leaders understand that taking the time to listen in this way is an investment, rather than a cost. It pays dividends of trust, connection, engagement, and productivity.

Great stories don’t just engage or entertain. They inspire people to action. Upworthy’s Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity serves as a reminder that while we can’t change everything that needs changing within our organizations (or our world), we do have areas that we can influence. As Reilich shares, “The closer something is, the more agency we have. The most agency that we have over is how we interact with the individuals that we come across every day.” For an employee, how their leader interacts with them is the greatest influence on their daily experience of work-for better or worse. What experience do you want to create?

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