2027 ENTRANTS
Added as our first-round reviewers read them, find the latest verdict blurbs for the 2027 IndieReader Discovery Award entrants, leading up to the big winner announcement in June 2028!
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.
STATE OF GEORGIA VERSUS CLEVON JAMEL JENKINS by Robert Michael Kelly is a true crime novel at its finest, reflecting a case where hearsay remained supreme and a swarm of prosecutors, lawyers, judges, and officers got caught up in all the stories sending an innocent black man to prison for life. Robert Michael Kelly, Esq. supports his arguments by thorough well-researched evidence endorsing his credentials. This is the true crime book that all readers will appreciate for the exhilarating story, the grit and passion in the author’s tone, and of course the ultimate whodunit.
The dozen stories in Elizabeth Searle’s THE DRAMA ROOM explores 20th and 21st century events: COVID-19, the Kerrigan-Harding ice skating fiasco, politician’s families, school shooters, unwanted pregnancies, IVF trials. Yet all differ in tone and style: stream of consciousness, film/theater scripts, quiet memoirs, punk dialogue. A potpourri approach well suited for readers who appreciate writing’s infinite variety.
Finding life’s balance between drama and joy can be a daily struggle. KINDLING HOPE: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light by Zhen-Ru reminds readers that there is light—whether it’s dim or bright—at the end of every dark tunnel, and that “this too shall pass.” This collection, simply presented by Buddhist teacher Zhen-Ru (and translated by the Amrita Translation Foundation), features easy-to-read passages meant to bring out the true power in all of us. Changing the way we think doesn’t happen overnight, but one page a day from KINDLING HOPE is a start to one’s new personal mantra.
ACROSS THE BRIDGE by Michael Simones is a story of exploring sexuality, and for Ryder it was living life as a LGBTQ teenager. The emotion, passion, and raw heartbreak made this story come alive regarding awareness and acceptance. The colorful story and graphics will draw attention not only to the story, but to LGBTQ+ awareness regarding living in this world just as we are.
David James’s ESCALA’S WISH blends personal longing with a sense of quiet wonder. The novel centers on Escala, whose wish sets off a journey that is less about grand spectacle and more about internal change: grief, hope, and the cost of wanting something badly enough to reshape a life. The narrative takes its time, letting Escala’s inner thoughts and relationships guide the story and shape her growth. The focus stays firmly on character, allowing relationships and small, meaningful choices to carry the weight of the narrative. What ultimately makes Escala’s Wish resonate is how it treats wishing not as magic alone, but as a mirror for our human vulnerability and desire.
Whilst the pace of THE SECRET may leave some readers mildly frustrated and the choice of wording at times somewhat jarring, the reader will be compelled to continue in order to discover the protagonist’s "secret" past and their future. This love story is for the real romantic with a fastidious attention to detail.
THE RESCUES, Jordan’s Standridge third book in the Women of Strength, Courage, and Hope series, is a tough, determined love story. Ripley Capilano meets Morgan (book one’s heroine) by chance in a diner, and Morgan offers to rent her a spot for her RV on her ranch. When a truck carrying horses to slaughter is involved in a serious accident, Ripley joins Morgan and her crew to rescue the horses, bonding with one who is terrified of men. As she helps the horse regain trust and heal, Ripley falls in love with Morgan’s best friend Ty. Both have secrets, and they have to navigate their current lives and their pasts while deciding if they have a future together. It’s a slow burn romance with lots of clear, difficult discussions about what they want and need in a partner. The characters are strong and engaging, and every scene that’s built around the horses is both hopeful and heart-rending. THE RESCUES is a love story that demonstrates hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trouble.
E. H. Gates’s THE AUTHOR is a unique novel and a treat for literary nerds, written in the form of a profound dialogue between two young siblings—Ezekiel and Hannah—meeting regularly at a local cafe, Milton’s Coffee. At the heart of this novel, punctuated by excerpts from the Bible, soulful original poems and a great number of literary allusions, is Ezekiel’s quest to discover what it means to be an author and his power as a creator of words and worlds. Together, Hannah and Ezekiel embark on a journey in their shared dreams to communicate with each other when they can’t in the physical world, and decode the riddle at the center of this mind-bending tale: is Ezekiel ready to become “the author”?
UNBROKEN: Life Outside the Lines by Adriene Caldwell is a memoir reflecting on how it was growing up with a parent with a mental illness and how it shaped and healed Caldwell’s life. The tragedies, bravery, perseverance, and triumph made this story remarkable. Though the narrative delves into harsh and unflinching territory, it is infused with genuine admiration for Caldwell’s bravery, perseverance, and hard-won triumph over adversity.
MORTAL VENGEANCE by Alejandro Torres De la Rocha is a story of revenge set by four friends that plots to be more than payback. Marcos, Alex, Mario, and Manuel all have their own story and reasoning but they all have the same goal. If readers want a gripping, thrilling, and exhilarating story leaving them breathless, then MORTAL VENGEANCE fulfills that dream and more.
STARBREAKER PROTOCOL by David McLeod delivers a gritty, character-driven science-fiction novel focused on survival, loyalty, and escalating moral stakes. Readers drawn to slow-burn space operas will appreciate the novel’s immersive worldbuilding and the steady resolve of its quietly resilient protagonist.
Trisha T. Pritkin’s historical novel THEN CAME THE SUMMER SNOW overlaps with her nonfiction book of oral histories, The Hanford Plaintiffs, in that both books deal with incidents around the Hanford nuclear weapons facility in Washington State. In the novel, housewife Edith Higgenbothum transitions from docile wife to determined activist when a Geiger counter indicates radiation in her son’s milk, and her son develops thyroid cancer. The book unfolds slowly, as Edith puts together information and finds other mothers willing to take action. Herbie, her young son, is delightfully depicted with everything from inquisitive intelligence to fear at his upcoming treatments. THEN CAME THE SUMMER SNOW personalizes the effects of radioactive fallout on unsuspecting communities lied to by federal bureaucracies.
Troy Kotanides’s AFTERGLOW follows Edyn as she navigates a controlled society shaped by suppression and carefully managed truths. Edyn is pulled deeper into questioning what she has been taught through therapy sessions, fractured memories. The novel slowly reveals how much of her identity has been shaped by forces beyond her control.
Rather than moving quickly, the story unfolds through reflection and tension, letting the weight of repression, love, and choice build naturally. AFTERGLOW is less about rebellion in action and more about the quiet, dangerous moment when someone begins to remember who they were before being told who to be.
Tony Stewart’s CARRYING THE TIGER is a personal memoir that traces the experience of loving someone through illness, loss, and the long aftermath of grief. The book follows Stewart’s journey alongside cancer. Not just the medical reality, but the emotional weight of anticipation, hope, and heartbreak, while also capturing the quiet, unexpected moments of joy that surface even in the darkest periods. What stands out is the honesty of the reflection; the narrative does not rush toward healing or easy meaning, but allows sorrow and gratitude to exist side by side. Such a compassionate, steady account of learning how to keep living while carrying loss forward is rare to find.
Thank you to the 2027 IndieReader Discovery Awards Sponsors!
