IndieReader Discovery Awards 2026 Entrants
Added as our reviewers read them, find the latest verdicts for the 2026 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June!
SECOND POCKET FIRST is an amusing and meaningful novel that follows a gentleman burglar whose optimistic, habitual worldview is shaped and transformed by loss and experience. Gregory Grosvenor writes with confidence and originality, using humor not merely for effect but to explore themes that reach beyond simple comedy. The novel’s distinctive voice and highly unusual characters make it engaging and entertaining from beginning to end. SECOND POCKET FIRST will appeal to literary fiction readers looking for a character-driven story with warmth, originality, and a touch of wit.
Joanna Wolford’s I KEPT A PIECE OF YOU amalgamates long-beloved elements of traditional horror with the fast-paced exhilaration of a crime thriller. The writing is tender and immersive, with an indelible cast of well-rounded characters. Honest, original, and thoroughly engaging from start to finish, it is a panoramic exploration of love, loss, and the darkest corners of the human mind.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY is a must-read for anyone looking to feel all the feels in a story. Noah is a woman who focuses on her music, meets her partner, Derek, and feels, that as long as Derek is by her side, life will be perfect. Until it isn't. Noah is a strong woman who overcomes great tragedy when she moves in with her grandmother and learns how to heal and rebuild her life and, for that reason, it's worth reading!
Because of the Waffle Barn’s great coffee and conversation, undercover alien spy Anton-7, alias Roy McDonald, fails to reach the extraction point for his home planet, Xylodon. Stranded in small-town Mississippi, he begins to violate Xylodon's non-interference code by forming close human relationships. However, when he witnesses a shocking incident involving his friend, Ezra, Anton/Roy completely breaks protocol and uses Xylodon’s advanced technology to intervene in Earth’s problems.
Playful and provocative, LEFT by Paul McGrath is not only an amusingly satirical sci-fi romp boasting an array of surreal sidelines and creative twists, but it also offers a sobering commentary on socio-political issues. McGrath writes with humor and a light touch as he unfolds his entertaining story in this readable debut novel.
Heartfelt, brutal, and thoroughly engaging, THE BOOK OF JACK brings mental health and suicide to the fore in ways few memoirs can. Service writes a strikingly real account of depression that’s sure to resonate with those who have felt the loss of a loved one. THE BOOK OF JACK is a powerful memoir that highlights the ugly realities of suicide, and Service does not hold back on the emotional detail.
Jonathan Ezer's THE EDGE OF LAND depicts a high-stakes open-water swim with precise, compelling storytelling and a strong emotional underpinning. Fans of endurance sports memoirs and motivating real stories will like its blend of adventure, a smart coming-of-age arc, and a vibrant Hawaiian background.
TO CONQUER DEATH by Richard H. Moon is a worthwhile historical fantasy novel that ultimately rewards readers who enjoy ancient spiritual quests and mystical mysteries exploring the often-thin line between the dead and the living. Set in ancient Egypt—plagued by an infectious evil turning the living into a growing army of the dead, and centered on a journey to understand the source of these monstrous transformations—the novel explores ideas like an unconditional love for family, an inevitable sacrifice for one's people, and an ever-evolving comprehension of human resolve in the face of death and terror of the unknown. Overall, TO CONQUER DEATH is a treat for fans of historical fantasies, eager to devour philosophical, myth-infused mysteries.
LAKE CRESCENT AND OTHER SPIRITS by Pamela Gullard is a compilation of romantic short stories that focus on all aspects of love, from getting married, writing the will, and mourning with grief at funerals. The realism that the author expressed in each story made this book stand out from others. Even though uncertainty, lack of fluidity, and shocking realism dabbled into uncharted territory, Gullard’s tone and characters provided the spark needed to pique readers’ interest.
For readers looking for a book that will inspire, astound, and move them, BECAUSE I KNEW YOU: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul by Robert Macauley will hit all the right marks. Written with love, care, and all the tenderness a paediatric palliative care patient would need, Macauley vividly recounts his young patients over his 15-year career—patients who he believes are the reason he chose such a career. BECAUSE I KNEW YOU is a moving tale that reads like a collection of individual stories of remarkable lives, and it’s guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and at times, bring a sense of childish wonder.
THE CAGE AND THE MIRROR by engineer Jerry McEntire tries to solve how to make an overly rigid company ("the Cage") into a more resilient one ("the Mirror"). He populates his text with great product launch failures and autopsies: Boeing’s 737 MAX, Apple Intelligence, Google Glass. Yet no real remedies—except ‘excellence demands variances’—are offered. A critical business issue for many that’s still unconquered.
WILD AND BEYOND by Celina Belotti is a fun, enjoyable, and offbeat YA coming-of-age LGBTQA+ novel driven by an engaging cast and a fresh, intriguing story with a sprinkling of sweet romance. Told from the likably candid Charlie's perspective, Berlotti’s narrative zips along with humor and whip-smart observations while tackling complex issues in a smooth, entertaining style.
Rich Agnello’s ADORING ANDY feels very personal and quietly emotional. The story follows Andy as he moves through grief and confusion, trying to make sense of his faith, his feelings, and the changes happening inside him after loss. Much of the book lives in Andy’s everyday moments: his thoughts, his relationships, and the small interactions that slowly shape how he sees himself and the world. What makes it work is how gentle and honest the writing feels; nothing is rushed or exaggerated. It’s a calm, reflective story about love, belief, and learning to sit with emotions that don’t have easy answers.
L.M. Sypher’s JORDEN CASILLAS AND THE AGE OF MONSTERS: The Serpent's Rise is a middle-grade fantasy novel, teeming with vibrant characters—comprising mythical creatures, monsters, humans, animals and hybrids—as well as intriguing twists and turns in its fast-paced plot. The story follows thirteen-year-old Jorden Casillas, who finds himself an orphan, alone and penniless in a big city at a tender age, compelled to fight dark mythical and human forces in order to save his home, Los Angeles, and his friends he comes to cherish during their multiple battles against sinister monsters trying to wreak havoc on earth. What truly sets this page-turning adventure apart is Sypher's unique take on Spanish mythos and the varying clan systems of monsters lurking in Los Angeles’s Underworld, making it an exciting, imaginative read for not only young readers but adults too!
Few books radicalize the leadership process like THE EXCEPTION CODE: How to Make Culture, Retention, and Customer Loyalty Profitable by Leading Like No One Else by Johnathan Johannes. Drawing on years of experience, Johannes rethinks how leaders should act and remodels readers’ approach towards leadership. This read is perfect for CEOs, politicians, and any aspiring leaders who understand that old systems of thinking are broken, and are ready to make a dent in their own unique way.
NOW WHAT?: How to Ride the Tsunami of Change by Dr. Mark van Rijmenam’s is a practical and positive approach to dealing with rapid disruption. The WAVE framework provides specific, actionable methods for transforming uncertainty into an ethical opportunity. Ideally suited for leaders and professionals seeking confidence in a changing world.
Soaked in retro-futuristic aesthetic and war-based technological evolution, D. K. Kristof’s emotionally ambitious and richly illustrated graphic novel, SWANBLADE: Year Zero, lays the groundwork for the series. Following in the footsteps of her decorated war hero dad, Kayla (Swanblade), a masked vigilante with enhanced parts and abilities, launches a high-profile assault against Krosschek, a massive cybernetically enhanced gangster, to keep the technologically advanced coastal city, New Radion Bay, safe. Through emotionally grounded flashbacks and moments of quiet vulnerability, Kristof establishes Kayla as a disciplined hero wrestling with rage and grief, rather than as a reckless avenger.
In A COUNTRY CALLED BROOKLYN, Hane Selmani provides a compelling narrative that integrates intimate family history with cultural insight, revealing how tradition, honor, and silence influenced her sister’s life and death. Told with emotional clarity and compelling momentum, the book will appeal to readers interested in immigrant stories, true crime, and the tenacity of women.
Christopher Walker’s THE ASCENT maintains strong momentum through vivid danger, escalating tension, and a resilient lead in John Atwater. It will most appeal to adult readers who enjoy action-driven fantasy adventures with a tough, determined tone.