THE DESTINATION BIRTH
Genre: Parenting
IR Verdict: Alex Bisset’s THE DESTINATION BIRTH, an account of one couple’s unexpected childbirth, is a funny, feel-good tale.
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BLUE SPELL
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: John Harvey’s BLUE SPELL is an action-packed, multi-layered story that excels at merging hard science fiction, mystery, and YA romance into a page-turning futuristic thriller.
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HALF AGONY, HALF HOPE
Genres: Poetry/Fiction
IR Verdict: Full of feeling and enamored with wordplay, Hannah Wilkinson’s poems in HALF AGONY, HALF HOPE are sure to make an impact on every reader.
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ALL BODYBAGS AND NO KNICKERS
Genres: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: With memorable characters, immersive descriptions, and astonishingly clever sleights of hand, Shawe Ruckus’s ALL BODYBAGS AND NO KNICKERS is a literary mystery, a travel guide, and a delicious thriller standing on each other’s shoulders in a trench coat. This book will send readers straight to the bookstore, looking for its prequels.
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HALF A CUP OF SAND AND SKY
Genre: Women’s Fiction
IR Verdict: Nadine Bjursten’s HALF A CUP OF SAND AND SKY beautifully balances global risks with the stakes of a single woman’s heart, imbuing both with compelling urgency.
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BLOOD PROMISES
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: In BLOOD PROMISES (Book Three), Abby Reilly adds nuance to returning family members—retaining all of their foibles and charms while further revealing their true characters. New readers will soon get up to speed, and the well-paced plot is a rewarding read as a stand-alone mystery thriller.
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LUCY’S PEOPLE: An Ethiopian Memoir
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: LUCY’S PEOPLE is Mesfin Tadesse’s fascinating love letter to Ethiopia and looks at the turbulent history of the birthplace of humanity and how multiple leadership changes have resulted in little progress.
BIG MAN JUDAS
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Dense with action and propelled along by strong pacing and a compelling sense of urgency, BIG MAN JUDAS by James and Jonathan Maas is an engaging, colorful novel that will leave readers hungry for another tall tale.
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THE LEGEND OF TRIQUETRA
Genre: Action/Adventure
IR Verdict: Author Tara Rewa delights new readers with a fascinating, fresh take on Hindu myths with THE LEGEND OF TRIQUETRA, a captivating YA debut. Inventive, dense world building, fun characters, and high stakes make for an exciting fantasy adventure.
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DANISH CONNECTION
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Keith Thye’s historical novel DANISH CONNECTION is a fascinating and ultimately moving family chronicle, rendered with clean, straightforward prose and a deep affection for its characters.
AND
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: An essential read for children and caregivers everywhere, AND, written by Kerri Monnerat and Olivia Chalkley and illustrated by Saige Hopkins, is an excellent tool to help navigate difficult emotions during challenging times.
YOURS, MINE & OURS
Genre: Finances
IR Verdict: L. Paul Hood Jr.’s YOURS, MINE & OURS is a comprehensive guide to estate planning for blended and step-families, but readers will also learn a lot about human nature from the author’s insightful observations throughout his three and a half decades in this field.
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THE PENNY MANSIONS
Genre: Popular Fiction
IR Verdict: Full of heart, humor, and suspense, Steven Mayfield’s THE PENNY MANSIONS is a beautiful and multifaceted piece of fiction that is expertly rendered at every turn.
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HALF-CASTE
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: HALF-CASTE (Decidedly Brown in a Black or White World) is Jerome Cranston’s unflinching and riveting memoir about growing up in difficult circumstances. In addition, it is an insightful look into the challenges of racial identity in a modern-day world.
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THE PECULIAR AFFLICTION OF THOMAS WADE DUNCAN
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
IR Verdict: Kip Koelsch’s THE PECULIAR AFFLICTION OF THOMAS WADE DUNCAN is a tightly written supernatural tale that brings to mind the mystery adventures of yesteryear, blending supernatural chills and haunting atmosphere.
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BADGER AND TURTLE: Face the Storm
Genre: Children’s (Early to intermediate readers)
IR Verdict: Daniel McMillan’s BADGER AND TURTLE: Face the Storm is an invaluable educational tool, offering kids and parents a way to turn stressful situations into opportunities for emotional growth and deeper understanding between family members.
AILA’S JOURNAL
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: Thoughtfully crafted and genuinely heartrending, Charles M. Clemmons’s AILA’S JOURNAL (A Tale of Southern Reconstruction) is a powerful exploration of race, identity, and human connection that is both painful and inspiring to read.
SOMEWHERE FOUND
Genre: Travel
IR Verdict: Kyle Battisti’s SOMEWHERE FOUND (Travels in Obscurity) is vividly written and delivers a true sense of life-affirming joy, blending history and culture from inaccessible corners of the world.
SAD PAPAW’S HERITAGE
Genre: History
IR Verdict: A fascinating history of a German-descended American family, from their 19th-century arrival in the United States to the present, Kenny Harmon’s SAD PAPAW’S HERITAGE provides deep insight into the lives of Americans in rural 19th-century America through the minutiae of their daily routines.
BLACK BOX
Genre: Memoir
IR Verdict: Written with the precision of a surgeon and laying out every dirty little secret under a harsh and sterile light, Chelsey Glasson’s BLACK BOX (A Pregnancy Discrimination Memoir) is a much-needed examination of the inner workings of the tech world and how companies deliberately foster toxic environments.
ALMOST PERFECT
Genre: Romance
IR Verdict: E.F. Dodd’s ALMOST PERFECT is a feel-good, swoony romance full of blush-worthy moments paired with important themes of self-love and the idea that “almost perfect” moments of happiness are still perfect.
THE SANTA BOOK
Genre: Gift/Holiday/Specialty
IR Verdict: In a sea of holiday books that tread the same, well-worn paths, THE SANTA BOOK’s innovative approach to the Santa Claus mythos is nothing short of groundbreaking—blending emotional depth with intellectual engagement. Erin Eby and Madison Harper’s collaboration elevates the genre, offering not just a whimsical story but a life lesson wrapped in stunning illustrations and a poignant narrative.
NOT MY FAULT
Genre: Young Adult
IR Verdict: A unique and endearing teen protagonist drives S.B. Frasca’s NOT MY FAULT, a feel-good coming-of-age novel about loneliness, relationships, and accountability.
VALE
Genre: Historical Fiction
IR Verdict: An assured and inventive debut by Tess Bentley, VALE is an modern update of the classic Victorian romances with a neat twist that adds a freshness to this Brontësque tale.
MADHOUSE
Genre: Horror
IR Verdict: Stephen Ball’s MADHOUSE takes readers on a 16-tale journey through haunts and horrors. Strong characters and a playful narrative tone make these stories endlessly engaging.
STAKED: A Vampire’s Tale
Genre: Fantasy
IR Verdict: For a vampire story, Kim Catanzarite’s STAKED is a startlingly warm and wholesome tale of love, found friendship, strength of will, and purity of heart—with enough horror to make the war between light and dark come to life.