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John Ferguson is a principled man. But when, in 1843, those principles drive him to break from the established Church of Scotland, the evangelical minister soon finds himself a poor man, too. Stripped...

Beyond the Book

The Highland Clearances

In Clear, the third novel from Carys Davies, an impoverished presbyterian minister reluctantly takes part in the Highland Clearances, a series of mass evictions that took place in the north of ...

Édouard Louis's 2014 debut novel, The End of Eddy —an instant literary success, published when Louis was just twenty-one—follows the life of a gay youth in a small, poor factory town ...

The Sociological Work of Pierre Bourdieu

In addition to being a novelist, Édouard Louis, author of Change, is a scholar of the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. Louis's scholarly work has explicitly informed his novels, which are ...

Big Time , the latest offering from prolific novelist and screenwriter Ben H. Winters, is as philosophical as it is electrifying to read. Set in the near future, the novel follows the interwoven ...

What Is a Portacath?

A portacath is a medical device used to assist with the treatment of ongoing conditions, most commonly cancer. It is composed of two key parts: the portal, which is a small chamber usually made of ...

Becoming Madam Secretary

Our First Impressions reviewers enjoyed reading about Frances Perkins, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, in Stephanie Dray's novel Becoming Madam Secretary ; out of 33 reviewers, 32 gave ...

US Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray narrates the life of Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the first woman to serve in the US Cabinet. Perkins ...

The Last Bloodcarver

The city-state of Theumas is a gleaming metropolis of advanced technology and innovation where the use of automatons is commonplace and modern medicine is seemingly developing at a rapid rate. However...

Blood Magic in YA Literature by Asian American Authors

In Vanessa Le's debut YA novel The Last Bloodcarver, her heroine, Nhika, is the titular protagonist: a person with the power to alter anatomy with a single touch, able to travel through a body's ...

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Twenty-year-old Ismael Reyes is making a living in Miami as an impersonator of the rapper/singer Pitbull when he receives a cease-and-desist letter from the entertainer's lawyers. In search of a new ...

Elián González

In Say Hello to My Little Friend, main character Izzy Reyes traveled by raft from Cuba to the United States in 2003 at age seven with his mother, who drowned during the trip. It is mentioned in ...

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The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide.

The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson

From the new Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks, a richly-woven story of family, forgiveness, and reinvention.

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Half a Cup of Sand and Sky by Nadine Bjursten A poignant portrayal of a woman's quest for love and belonging amid political turmoil.

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Debut novelist Wenyan Lu brings us this witty yet profound story about one woman's midlife reawakening in contemporary rural China.

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Book Reviews

Recent book reviews.

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Featured Book Reviews

Real growth.

Marks’ book focuses on mental health and healthy life practices. The fifty-four short chapters include topics related to fostering creativity, coping with emotions, balancing life, the mind-body connection, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and self-care. Some of the ideas for healing include journaling, art and music, mindfulness, visualization, humor and laughter, participating in hobbies, being in solitude, meditation, being in nature, taming the inner critic, and deep breathing. The teaching utilizes a “Balance Theory” regarding human behavior and how to change this behavior, along with an examination of scientific findings containing an exploration of the “social nature” of humans. The work is a self-reflective guide with exercises to complete in each chapter, which adds to the focus of not just reading the book but being immersed in it. ... (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)

The Best Memories

The Todd sisters offer a shared autobiographical look at their unique childhood, spent mostly outside America as daughters of the eleventh black man to be inducted into the United States Foreign Service in 1945. James and his wife, Norma, enthusiastically accepted this remarkable opportunity, embarking for Egypt where Angela would be born. Later, they would be stationed in Israel, Ann’s birthplace. An early lesson in racial inequality occurred when Angela and her parents visited America on home leave. Her father warned her to speak only in Arabic when they went to a restaurant in the South. She recalls that instead of being ostracized by the locals for their skin color, they were welcomed heartily as “foreigners.” ... (read more)

Bedford Township has seen its share of ups and downs as a community, from prosperity to near desertion. In 2012, the announcement of the construction of a new dam has led to rejuvenation. However, a new problem has arisen with new arrivals as crime has begun to skyrocket. Detective Ben Creager and his partner, Ritch, are experiencing this phenomenon firsthand with each new crime scene to explore. The crimes are becoming more brazen, from daylight shootouts between thieves and security guards to the string of murders that appear almost ritualistic in nature. Creager’s skills are put to the test, as is his mental health, since he has never fully recovered from a near-fatal car crash in his youth. As the 911 calls keep coming in, Bedford Township’s future may be in doubt. ... (read more)

Artful & Entertaining

Gavin DiMasi has a terrible childhood of being tormented by his twin brother and their father. But when his parents and brother die, DiMasi is the last man standing to deal with all of the family's dirty laundry. Not only were his father and brother cruel, but they also left a mob mess to mop up. DiMasi's wife tries to save him from his memories and the mob while simultaneously working to protect herself and their child from being sucked into his dark world. Readers learn from DiMasi and his wife's dialogues with their counselor, Dr. Pederson, and are reminded of the slow road to recovery. Pederson says, "If Gavin’s life were fiction, his behavior would self-correct after one explanation. But words can’t rewire the neurological damage from his lifetime of traumatic assaults." ... (read more)

Evocative & Sensual

Lyrical prose, an expert grasp of historical detail, and deftly honed plausible imagination define award-winning author Worth’s passionate seventh novel. A historical romance set from 1448 to 1453 against the dramatic backdrop of the Eastern Roman Empire’s final days, this love story for the ages culminates in tragedy: the prophesied fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire and the demise of Emperor Constantine XI. By the time Constantine XI ascends his throne, the once great empire of eastern Christendom has been reduced to a mere blip on the map—a bit of land surrounding the city of Constantinople, the Queen of Cities. Although much has been written and recorded about the empire, emperor, and era, many facets of this history, including Constantine’s supposed secret third marriage, remain a mystery debated by scholars to this day. ... (read more)

Through the medium of the short story, characters are introduced in moments when their candles are burning the brightest. The reader is served a cross-section of these fictional lives in a manageable fraction that packs the most flavor and impression into the smallest number of bites. One might not expect these defining scenes to include the quitting of one’s job to discover one’s true calling in authentic mozzarella cheese, or a frustrated series of phone calls between two people whose love never really got to reach its potential even after decades, but life often happens before it can be prepared for. This compilation of evocative stories and scenes thrusts readers into the unexpected, only to be dazzled and captivated by raw emotion, personal insight, and the occasional water buffalo. ... (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)

Transporting audiences into a riveting espionage thriller, Bornstein pushes the limits of science and technology to create a potentially cataclysmic outcome that is as plot-centric as it is character-driven. Loyalties are tested regularly, revealing the fortitude of the main characters and their determination to achieve their goals at all costs. Not your typical thriller, the narrative is tied to one’s roots, family, and being wronged in a way that can’t easily be forgiven. ... (read more)

Lyrical & Vivid

In the summer of 1956, eleven-year-old (soon to be twelve) Lily Grainger describes her family’s annual summer vacation at their undeveloped property on the shore of a salt pond on Cape Cod. As this coming-of-age novel progresses, it mirrors the Beaufort scale of wind velocities that mark each chapter heading with increasing speeds and potential damages, an apt reminder of the increasing tension in Lily’s parents’ marriage and the marriage of her forceful Uncle George and delicate Aunt Fanny. Lily describes this crescendo of life-changing events in the prologue: “All summer the storm gathered and gathered, took its breath from every direction we thought we knew, and lashed us into spindrift.” Interestingly, the summer of 1956 is meaningful historically as the shipwreck of the Andrea Doria happened nearby on a July evening. ... (read more)

Introspective Observer

Morris shares a poignant, sometimes painful memoir of the time spent with her twin sister, Judy. Born first, Judy was soon recognized to have cerebral palsy, probably a result of damage to her brain before she emerged from their mother’s womb. Yet the author’s early childhood memories indicate that the two shared a remarkably communicative relationship. Though incontinent and burdened with cognitive impairments, her twin was able to enjoy the special attention of those who loved her. A special memory for Morris was of dancing with her sister to the merriment of other family members. ... (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 Fred’s dad dies and his sister (his primary income buffer) moves away, Fred and his mom are on their own until Fred’s wrestling champion girlfriend, Mary Ellen, arrives, giving Fred the boost he needs to defend himself, literally and figuratively. ... (read more)

Burton reveals the feminine perspective in this groundbreaking volume inspired by Joseph Campbell’s work on the hero’s journey and masculine archetypal themes in fiction. As Burton worked on Far Away Bird (2020), his historical novel about the Byzantine empress Theodora, he noted (along with a few other writers and academics) that the patterns, themes, and archetypal symbols in female-centered stories vary from the archetypal patterns proposed by Campbell’s hero’s journey. Burton initially worked to organize Theodora’s life into a compelling structure, turning to Campbell’s work for support. However, he found that the structure of Theodora’s life didn’t reflect the hero’s journey closely, so he sought the feminine archetypal equivalents by studying a plethora of critiques, blogs, articles, and books about women’s spiritual journeys. He soon found that very few enlightened him in the manner that Campbell’s work did about the steps of the narrative arc that appears universally in mythological tales about heroes who journey far from home to vanquish a villain or a threat. These steps resonate with people of widely different cultures because they are believed to be archetypes or archetypal symbols—primal models embedded in human consciousness. This is the reason these symbolic aspects ring true in diverse cultures. ... (read more)

From Poverty & Orphanhood

This is an engaging and often upsetting portrait of growing up in Ukraine in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Young Ludmila has no memory of her grandparents, who have already died when the story begins. Her mother—beautiful, fragile, and overburdened—copes with the stress of raising two girls by injecting heroin. Ludmila and her younger sister, Alyona, live in squalid conditions. Perpetually hungry, they’re forced to beg on the streets for food. At the age of nine, Ludmila learns that she can acquire large amounts of money by performing sexual favors for a local pervert. The bleakness of the children’s situation is only leavened by occasional visits with an aunt who lives in the suburbs. ... (read more)

Cachi is a twelve-year-old with profound autism. Everyone wants to help him, but no one can see the world from Cachi's viewpoint. Like a person with dementia, the afflicted can't explain, and their reality is altered in such a way that sometimes they can't be reached. But what readers can do is empathize, and the narrative effectively pulls them into the protagonist’s life. By peering into Cachi's world, readers have the opportunity to learn how to be more helpful, less intrusive, and more compassionate, even if unable to truly "understand." ... (read more)

Xander Moorhouse spent a lifetime building wealth. In fact, his relationship with his three children suffered due to his dedication to business pursuits. No one knew his net worth, which is how he liked it. After his wife passed and he slowed into retirement, he moved his wealth offshore and came up with a plan to deliver his children a final message and tell his story before they would get any of his money. Part of this plan was to have his lawyer hire a driver to hide seventeen packages around the United States. Austin, famed for his delivery skills, was interviewed for the task. The job presented to him by the lawyer was odd and interesting and paid well, so he said yes. A little less than two years later, the task was done. Meanwhile, Xander and his children developed a renewed relationship through travel, and they all worked together to open an ice cream parlor. When he passed, his lawyer told them about the seventeen parcels and the rules to collect them. The children decided to hire Austin to help them retrieve the packages. ... (read more)

Challenges Overcome

Author Pettit has remarkably derived solace, understanding, and philosophical structure as a result of a terrifying car accident. Resolving to share with others his trepidations and triumphs, he began his chronicle in 1999, a few months after his near-death experience, by keeping a journal. Torn from a career as a professor of physics at the Carleton College and from the blessings and accomplishments of that status, he found himself so diminished from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) that, for a frustrating period, he could not perform the simplest physical or mental tasks. His journal writing revealed the morass of confusion that sometimes plagued him. Though it was a daunting and lengthy process, Pettit garnered encouragement from family and friends, including his wife Karen, who was also injured but less seriously in the wreck, and by the companionship of his toddler son, Andrew, who was in the car with his parents but was thankfully unhurt. ... (read more)

Events & Aspirations

Born into a wealthy Mexican family around 1900, Luis Valderano admires and has learned much from his older brother, Ruben. The two enjoy life on their family’s large ranch, although it does come with complications from their older stepbrother, Elpidio, who is heir to the estate and more connected to his deceased mother’s family than their own. Ruben eventually moves to Spain near his mother’s family for schooling and begins taking an interest in military service. After showing an interest in Catholicism, Luis is put under the guidance of Brother Tracy. This begins a period of intense educational and religious training, which will lead Luis to dedicate his life to the priesthood. His intellect and devotion, as well as the influence his family’s wealth brings, opens many doors for Luis. Both Ruben and Luis serve in their respective disciplines with distinction, growing in reputation and responsibility. The coming of WWII finds the brothers with ties to wealthy and influential men on both sides of the Atlantic, and they each battle the Axis powers. Although the Vatican officially stays neutral, Luis secretly works with many underground groups to help refugees, resistance fighters, and secret agents. ... (read more)

Bright & Descriptive

There once was a fearsome dragon living in a mountain cave with a huge pile of gold and riches. He used to get tons of pleasure out of admiring the beauty of his treasures, but lately, he had been feeling sad and alone. In the valley at the foot of the mountain, there was a small village. Its inhabitants lived in poverty and were always hungry. Years ago, the dragon had stolen all their gold and riches, leaving them without the means to buy food and provisions from the king. Olyn, a young boy who lived in the village, decided that someone needed to do something about the town’s situation. It was a long hike, and Olyn was weak and hungry, but his determination carried him to the dragon’s cave. The dragon terrified Olyn, but he overcame his fear and showed great insight, asking the dragon if he ever felt lonely. This conversation led to the dragon accompanying the boy to the village, where he was treated warmly and hugged by Olyn. The dragon enjoyed the feeling of community and decided to share his treasure, which allowed the villagers to purchase goods again from the king. ... (read more)

Loss & Grief

Over a year ago, Angus Mariner survived a car accident, but his wife did not. Because of that, he became an alcoholic. Now, he is trying to get his life back on track. One day, the police find a dead body near Angus' trailer on the beach. They question him, and he explains that he fled the scene when he heard the gunshots. A few days later, a stranger named Wendell Peters approaches Angus in a bar. Wendell offers to give him a helicopter, but Angus declines the offer. The next morning, Wendell is found dead. Detective Walt Dekker sees Angus as a potential suspect because he has been connected to two murders. The more Angus tries to find evidence to clear his name, the more he realizes that Wendell's death might be connected to his wife's death. ... (read more)

When inspiration strikes, it does so at times that can be either convenient or difficult to manage. It can be a gentle nudge toward gradual change or a compulsion so strong that it levels everything around it to the ground to be built up from scratch. This collection of essays, written by the author over the course of a decade, highlights his journey to leave behind a career as a copywriter, to travel the world in search of inspiration and new experiences, and to navigate the same modern human experiences as so many others. Through marathon races and reluctant therapy, self-actualization and reflection find their way to the forefront in many intended and unexpected ways in this volume of more than two dozen published essays. ... (read more)

Writer Pinciroli, collaborating with her father, has constructed a thorough, thoughtful view of the ways that sports activities mirror other life situations. Trained and encouraged by her father, the author has been a successful Olympic athlete and trainer and has also attained success in the corporate realm. Her book opens as she rides at the age of six on her father’s shoulders far out into the ocean. Such experiences led to her becoming a highly regarded participant in water polo, an activity she describes in vivid detail. A stirring example of the author’s thesis is Natalie du Toit, a South African swimmer whose sports career seemed doomed when she lost a leg. Yet months later, she was back in competition, starting in the Paralympics and rising to regular Olympic competition. Pinciroli draws on family recollections, as well as interviews and accounts of sports greats like Benita Willis, Dotsie Bausch, and Kobe Bryant, illustrating the myriad ways that one can envision, practice, and create oneself as a top player within and beyond the arena. ... (read more)

Gentle & Loving

This delightful children’s picture book pays sweet homage to a particular spot at the narrator’s grandmother’s house: the swing on the front porch. It is upon this swinging bench, with its big red cushion, that the child and his “Ginny” (pronounced like “Guinea”) have together spent so many wonderful times over the years. When he cried and cried as a baby, Ginny wrapped him in a cozy blanket and sang lullabies on that favorite porch swing. During hot summertime, the two would share icy popsicles side by side on the swing. Whenever the child was not feeling well, Ginny would hold him close and dry his tears, sitting with him on the bench swing until everything was better. ... (read more)

Engaging Story

In this colorful children’s book, young readers meet Flossy the Racoon. He lives in a good neighborhood, but Flossy’s mom realizes he would probably be better off in the woods. However, Flossy does not let his mom’s realization deter him. He introduces children to his friends, the local cats. Flossy also shows readers the beautiful, natural landscape in which he can play. Children visit the river and see how the raccoon interacts with others as he meets a group of puppies who want to play. The dogs even help Flossy return home safely by giving him safety tips. Ultimately, Flossy realizes an important lesson after his adventures: there is no place as safe, fun, and warm as home. ... (read more)

In this poetic reimagining of Albert Bierstadt’s life, readers discover America’s true and untamed "Wild West." They also enter into the artistic realm of a German-American painter whose work transformed how people across America and even the globe viewed the American wilderness. The hardships of emigrating westward into unknown, unexplored expanses unfold. The poems capture an artist’s personal and professional difficulties, including harsh criticism from reviewers and patrons, the fiery destruction of Bierstadt’s mansion, and Bierstadt’s wife’s struggle with chronic illness. These poems solidify, too, Bierstadt’s legacy as an artist who reimagined the West in a way so few could during his time. Poems like “Chief Rocky Bear Views The Last of the Buffalo in Paris, 1889” portray “the stillness of the great picture” and the respectful way in which Bierstadt painted and preserved the dignity and cultures of the Sioux and Shoshone peoples. ... (read more)

Exciting Introduction

In this fun children’s book, young readers meet Funky Donkey on a bright sunny day. Funky Donkey likes to ski fast. He zooms and falls and crashes, taking young readers with him. Eventually, Funky Donkey meets Robo the Robot, who suggests that Funky Donkey take some ski lessons. Despite his resistance, Funky Donkey eventually meets his ski instructor, Pineapple Herb. Pineapple Herb reinforces the necessity for safety and ski lessons to Funky Donkey, and young readers receive many important safety lessons that will teach them to be mindful of their own skiing practices. For example, they learn why they should always wear a helmet, and they learn important techniques that will help them maintain balance on the slopes. They also learn the important turns, like the J-Turn, that will improve their technique. ... (read more)

Real World Christmas

Part of a series of children’s books, this particular story follows Princess Taryn and Prince Kevin from the kingdom of Athanasia. They visit Jabalia in the tropics to attend the wedding of their friend Princess Jameela to Zuberi, the son of a prime minister. While commemorating the sweet occasion, they enjoy the special ways the inhabitants of Jabalia celebrate their Christmas festivities as compared to those in Athanasia. Meanwhile, they also strengthen their ties with their friends from the far more secretive country of New Atlantis. Princess Taryn’s younger brother, James, even forms a bond with Tabitha, who comes from New Atlantis and uses their advanced technology to fight against pirates. When James and Tabitha spend time together at a waterfall, things take a tragic turn when Tabitha falls and hurts herself. It takes James and their friends to rescue her. Meanwhile, Princess Taryn has been experiencing dizzy spells, which are alarming but lead to a sweet reveal. ... (read more)

Peace Seeking

Author Naito has composed a vibrant treatise centered on issues of race and skin color and their potential effects on social behaviors, feelings, and legal issues. The setting for his artfully constructed work is Hawaii, where Naito was raised, noting that it is a state with a low number of hate crimes, providing a melting pot where people of all heritages live “in peace and harmony.” The spokesperson for his salient points is the title’s Princess Liliokalani, who initiates the book’s themes by asking, “What does racism mean to you?” Is it, she questions, based on skin color (a thin layer that some people try to darken for greater beauty), dress styles, languages, foods, or other superficial elements? ... (read more)

One morning, a mother woke up feeling positive and planned to go out with her daughter. Suddenly, she was hit with a severe migraine and could no longer go out with her child. The mother lay in bed in her bedroom, feeling unwell. Her daughter was sad to see her mother suffer, so she tried to help her by bringing her an ice pack and a cold drink. The father came home and realized that his wife was not feeling well. His daughter felt responsible for her mother's migraine, but her dad reassured her that it was not her fault. Later, the daughter saw that the lights in her parents' bedroom were on and guessed that her mother was feeling better. Her mother came out of the bedroom looking happier than ever. ... (read more)

Bold Lessons

Jesse Pérez is a middle-aged widower who lives in California with his ten-year-old son Matthew. Matthew has some mild autism and is highly intelligent. Jesse's husband, David, passed away from cancer six months prior to the story's beginning. One night, Jesse's fifteen-year-old niece, Gloria, knocks on his door unexpectedly. She has run away from her home in Lubbock, Texas, because she is pregnant and seeking an abortion in California. Jesse allows her to stay with him and have the procedure but insists, as she manifests terror, that she inform her parents where she is. ... (read more)

Inside Story

Everyone knows that skiing can be fun. After all, it is a whole sports industry. But as the book illustrates, there is more for the asking at most ski areas. The theme here is to expand and explore adventure horizons. From activities as crazy and cold as ice yachting to more mellow and introspective alternatives like bird watching or yoga, Naito helps readers see the possibilities for a life well lived. ... (read more)

Thought-Provoking

Author Naito propounds a significant view of racism, hate crimes, and discrimination at all levels as they manifest in America. He sets Hawaii as a positive exemplar for its statistically based multiculturism and proposes an effort, led by the University of Hawaii, to identify causes of, and solutions for, hate crime and racism wherever found. He devotes chapters to various immigrant groups in the US, beginning with the Chinese. Their arrival in the 1800s was based on economic factors. Those who came were hardworking men who were treated as slaves, engendering bias against them that still lingers. The Japanese migrated seeking better circumstances, with families settling, often as farmers, until World War II brought about their US internment in subhuman quarters. Still, these cultures, including Koreans who arrived later, maintain strong, respect-based standards for familial and social behaviors. ... (read more)

Generational Trauma

After marrying in Israel, the author’s parents moved to Los Angeles shortly before he was born. His father was a survivor of the concentration camp known as Dachau, and his mother survived by being hidden in a barn where she watched her own mother die and was in constant fear of being turned into the Nazis by the abusive family who owned the property. When his parents split, his aunt and uncle took him in. They, too, survived the war and kept their scars hidden. However, they worked extremely hard to provide for Raff and loved him very much. Later, Raff’s mother took him back, luring him away with the promise of the sister he didn’t know he had. ... (read more)

Abundant Passion

Writing that he is “passionate about helping people find their life path by helping them understand and use their own soul guidance,” Acheson’s self-help guide seeks to align the reader with both God’s will and one’s own instinct to overcome life traumas and reach the greatest natural potential possible. Through sharing selections of his own intimate poetry, the author explains it is his hope that sharing his personal pain in life will help readers realize that change and spiritual progress are always possible. Examination of one’s many habit-based perceptions and the power of choice and intention serve as fodder for the ultimate goal of “metanoia,” defined as “the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life.” Finding one’s center and purpose is a process that takes time, Acheson contends. But with the right tools and perspective, it can absolutely happen. ... (read more)

Best Course

The author’s unique offering is a comprehensive guide to preparing anyone from age three to eighteen to ski. In addition to the standard areas of preparation such as outfits, appropriate ski poles (adjustable ones are more expensive but may be more beneficial to a very young skier), instruction on positions regarding the skier's body and posture, and finding the right coach for the young person, Naito briefly describes the perspective of each age group, the importance of proper nutrition and hydration, and additional aspects of preparation that usually are not covered in traditional lessons. One example is the importance of the ski student going to the bathroom prior to the lesson. ... (read more)

Growth Potential

"Cumulative Reinforcement of Concepts and Skills [CRCS]" is an instructional strategy that was introduced in the late 1990s and intended for high school students. Its efficacy was noted, and teachers of fourth and fifth grades were eager to implement it in their classes, as was a teacher of the seventh and eighth grades in Florida. The results were dramatic. ... (read more)

Godly Adoption

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children and feel they have a happy family. However, the couple has been thinking of adopting a third child. After going through the process and the paperwork, the Jones family is introduced to Quiana. They gather her things and take her home, introducing her to her new surroundings. Quiana likes Mr. and Mrs. Jones as well as their two children. The family is nice and takes good care of her. She has her own room, and she enjoys going to school and church. However, as she has been bouncing around foster homes for the past three years, she has decided not to get disappointed again. She is going to tell the Jones family that she doesn’t want to stay with them any longer. ... (read more)

Reconciling

Rosalee Linoff is adjusting to a new life at sixty-three years old. Her husband, Arnold, has recently passed away, and Rosalee’s grief has left her stagnant. As a new year has dawned, Rosalee knows she must get back into normalcy and stay active. She longs to get back into her sculpting. Her attempts at self-rejuvenation are tested when she meets her new neighbor, Fran Barish. Despite Fran’s ingratiating manner, Rosalee keeps her at arm’s length. Fran infiltrates Rosalee’s social circle and befriends Rosalee’s granddaughter Jill. The barely concealed animosity between Rosalee and Fran is revealed to revolve around Rosalee’s late husband, Arnold, and a previous relationship with Fran. In spite of the turmoil with Fran, Rosalee is determined to put her best foot forward in sculpting and in life. ... (read more)

In this honest, heartfelt memoir, Nemeth begins as she and her brother—ages one and two—arrive in Phoenix with their mother after leaving their father. Searching for a new life, they have few possessions. Nemeth’s mother waitresses at a diner and eventually marries a local car salesman. Although naturally filled with a curious imagination and a thirst for learning, Nemeth is discouraged from reading and intellectual growth. Her unschooled parents, unable to nurture her, view the author’s role as one of simply marrying and bearing children. Nemeth instead finds meaning in competing academically. As her parents disavow her, she works her way through college, earns a doctorate in anatomy, travels the world engaged in academic fieldwork, and later teaches at Washington University School of Medicine. She eventually discovers her true life’s calling as a physician. Successful in practicing medicine (and finding her true love, Jim), she nonetheless encounters instances throughout her career of misogyny and sexism. ... (read more)

Appropriation

Just as Ian sees many changes in his life between his initial sea voyage from Scotland to Canada in the 1720s and his settling on a farm in the 1730s, his adopted country also undergoes many changes during his time there. The book charts Ian’s travels with his mentor and friend, Father Henri, through Native settlements and budding towns. Between trips, he works as a barrel maker and with voyageurs in a fur trading outfit. Then, he marries Sarah and devotes his life to the family farm. As the farm and Ian’s family grow, tension between the French and British over the new territory mounts. ... (read more)

Stuempfle spins a fantasy tale about the collapse and restructure of a civilization as the Haafian await an attack by the enemy Kyykki. The story develops through the conversations between the many characters and the situations that arise. The dialogue evinces the relationships of the characters on a micro level, as well as develops the tension of beings anticipating the chaos of a collapsing civilization. The story is filled with the drama of battle, although not as much as a good versus evil tale but of ambiguity versus more ambiguity. An intriguing question emerges from the narrative: how do beings develop a society and, subsequently, cope with the preparations for its defense or restructure? ... (read more)

Author Campbell recounts the many remarkable incidents and notable characters that he and his wife, Wanda, have encountered in their dedicated work in street ministry. Located in Columbus, Ohio, their charitable mission, the Dream Center, has assisted many persons in desperate physical and spiritual need. ... (read more)

Bargas’ book is divided into two parts. The first is “The Journey,” while the second is “The Calling.” The book tells the story of a young man who grows up in the Christian faith. He enlists and is sent to Vietnam to fight. The author ultimately engages in many battles in which he sees not only the members of the Viet Cong tortured and killed but also civilians and close friends, one of whom he feels strongly was an angel sent by God to protect him from harm. During the multiple horrors of battle, Bargas, plagued by nightmares, finds relief in killing, as well as in abusing drugs and alcohol. His destruction continues until he is declared mentally unfit and sent home. ... (read more)

The author has had many wonderful dogs in her life, including Boy Scout. Now that these dogs have passed away, she is missing them. She wonders if these animals will be waiting for her when she dies. She imagines them greeting her at Heaven’s gate, running to greet her and licking her face. She believes that if they remember her and greet her when she passes, she’ll see rainbows everywhere. She loved the days when these dogs would follow her like her own shadow and bring her joy when she was down. Although she misses the dogs now, she is looking forward to a time when her life is over and she can reunite with her beloved dogs. once again enjoying their company and unwavering friendship. ... (read more)

In this comic book-style collection, a young boy named Arni goes on a wide variety of extraordinary adventures. Whether he’s catching mischievous flies, hatching dinosaurs to become his pets, or dressing up as a bear to work at the zoo, there is no end of excitement around each bend in his life. Arni's world is truly a wild and wacky place. His mother is oftentimes busy with work elsewhere, but the people and things her son encounters might just surprise her on a regular basis as well. Then again, at one point she even helps Arni to try and catch a ghost, leading to the stunning realization that such activities are an average day in the lives of these characters. Almost anything has the chance of happening next. ... (read more)

Eight-year-old James has a big brother named John and a little sister named Shayla. Their mom takes great care of them, and their dad works fixing planes at the airport. Born with one leg shorter than the other, James is always told by doctors that he will never be able to run like his friends. This saddens James, who dreams of running. Other kids tease him for the way he walks. When the family moves, James finds his classmates to be kind, and they encourage him. Every weekend, he runs with his best friend, Daniel, and over time gains confidence. Though it’s difficult, James never gives up and with practice gets better and better. His gym teacher notices and suggests he join the school track team. On the day of the big race, James finishes second, and the entire family celebrates. ... (read more)

Self-Examination

Author Koncerak presents a treatise to assist his readers in focusing on and thereby improving their lives, opening the mind and spirit to the God-given concept of free will and its role in complex human experience. The book comprises three parts: “How You Were Born,” “What You Have,” and “What You Want,” each addressing four of Koncerak’s twelve contentions regarding human development. Koncerak avows he specifically addresses men since he is a man and believes that other males will readily identify with his ideas and appreciate his sometimes rowdy sense of humor. However, women, he states, can also grasp the book’s sturdy principles. ... (read more)

Author Campbell takes young readers with her on a walk in the woods while teaching observation and curiosity, sometimes humorously: "The great stag stands tall on the path just ahead. We count twelve points on his antlers. How does he go to bed?" It is refreshing to see everything growing in the woods as a garden. After all, gardens aren't just where carrots grow. Teaching young readers that moss and mushrooms are alive helps them see the magic on the forest floor. ... (read more)

If you’ve ever imagined what would happen if you committed a significant crime and were sentenced to jail despite having previously lived an ordinary, law-abiding life, this is the memoir to read. Natalie Peters, a healthcare professional working in Queensland, Australia, turns her quiet, churchgoing life upside down with an unspecified, serious crime she committed under the influence of a mental health issue. Convicted and sentenced to jail time, the next four months of her life were spent grappling with the many stated and unstated social rules of incarceration that she had to swiftly learn in order to cope with the personality quirks of her fellow inmates and prison guards and staff. ... (read more)

Review Text ... (read more)

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'When I Think of You' could be a ripped-from-the-headlines Hollywood romance

April 18, 2024 • Myah Ariel's debut is like a fizzy, angsty mash-up of Bolu Babalola and Kennedy Ryan as the challenges of doing meaningful work in Hollywood threaten two young lovers' romantic reunion.

5 new mysteries and thrillers for your nightstand this spring

April 17, 2024 • These new books will take you from murder in present-day Texas to cryptography in Cold War Berlin to an online community that might hold the solution to a missing-person case.

It's a wild ride to get to the bottom of what everyone's hiding in 'A Better World'

April 16, 2024 • A very sinister thriller with a dash of science-fiction and full of inscrutabilities, Sarah Langan's novel is as entreating and creepy as it is timely and humane.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Books we love: love and romance.

April 15, 2024 • NPR's Books We Love is a roundup of favorite books of the year, sorted and tagged to help you find exactly what you're looking for. From the meet cutes to the happy endings and through all the ups and downs in between, we're recommending great books for people who love love and romance.

In 'Like Happiness,' a woman struggles to define a past, destructive relationship

April 12, 2024 • Ursula Villarreal-Moura's debut novel movingly portrays its protagonist coming to terms with an imbalanced, difficult, and sometimes harmful friendship that was also a key part of her life for years.

'The Familiar' is a romance, coming-of-age tale, and a story about fighting for more

April 11, 2024 • In her new novel, Leigh Bardugo drags readers into a world of servitude, magic, power struggles, and intrigue — one where there isn't a single character that doesn't have a secret agenda.

'There's Always This Year' reflects on how we consider others — and ourselves

April 3, 2024 • Hanif Abdurraqib's latest book is about hoops, sure, but it's also about so much more. It's another remarkable book from one of the country's smartest cultural critics.

'Lilith' cuts to the heart of the gun debate and school shootings

April 2, 2024 • Eric Rickstad's novel is full of sadness and rage; it forces readers to look at one of the ugliest parts of U.S. culture, a too-common occurrence that is extremely rare in other countries.

'Replay' spotlights resilience, loss, and intergenerational connectedness

March 21, 2024 • Jordan Mechner is known for his video games. But here he brings to life the many twists and turns that underscore the pervasive impact of the past — and the connectedness that remains in the present.

'The Tree Doctor' chronicles one woman's response to a series of life-changing crises

March 19, 2024 • Marie Mutsuki Mockett's latest novel about a wife and mother is wise and sensitive, and a stunning reflection on how we reinvent ourselves when we're left with no other choice.

'James' reimagines Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn' with mordant humor, and horror

March 19, 2024 • Percival Everett's retelling of Mark Twain's 1885 classic focuses on Huck's enslaved companion. James is a tale so inspired, you won't be able to imagine reading the original without it.

'James' revisits Huck Finn's traveling companion, giving rise to a new classic

March 18, 2024 • In a fever dream of a retelling, America's new reigning king of satire has turned a loved classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, upside down, placing Huck's enslaved companion Jim at the center.

In 'The Manicurist's Daughter,' a refugee family goes on after its matriarch's death

March 15, 2024 • Author Susan Lieu transforms her acclaimed 2019 one-woman show — 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother -- into a memoir of her family after the death of her mother due to botched plastic surgery.

The stories in 'Green Frog' are wildly entertaining and wonderfully diverse

March 14, 2024 • Gina Chung's collection is a fantastic medley of short stories that dance between literary fiction, fable, Korean folklore, and science fiction — and one that's full of emotional intelligence.

Big-box store workers find themselves shut out of the American Dream in 'Help Wanted'

March 13, 2024 • Adelle Waldman's novel is a workplace ensemble set in a Costco-like store. But, because Help Wanted is a group portrait, it tends to visit, rather than settle in with, its working class characters.

Cover of The Extinction of Irena Rey Bloomsbury Publishing hide caption

'The Extinction of Irena Rey' asks: Can anything be truly individual and independent?

March 8, 2024 • Jennifer Croft's novel, centered on a group of translators working on a book, is surprising at every turn, moving from profound observations about nature, art, and communication — to surreal events.

3 collections take the poetic measure of America in the aftermath of the pandemic

March 7, 2024 • New collections The Gone Thing, Silver and Modern Poetry offer, if not a solution to trying times in America, then a kind of truth-telling companion, a mirror with a real person on both sides of it.

'Anita de Monte Laughs Last' is a complex dissection of art, gender and marriage

March 6, 2024 • Xochitl Gonzalez's novel looking at relationship power dynamics is a thought-provoking and brilliantly entertaining triumph that surpasses the promise of her popular debut Olga Dies Dreaming .

Kennedy Ryan's new novel, plus 4 other new romances by Black authors

March 5, 2024 • Black romance authors have been some of the leading advocates for change in the books industry. This Could Be Us, the latest by bestselling author Kennedy Ryan, hits shelves today.

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This oral history of the 'Village Voice' captures its creativity and rebelliousness

March 4, 2024 • Tricia Romano's The Freaks Came Out To Write chronicles the passion and talent that made a great American newspaper — and the forces that killed it.

A man fights expectations in 'I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together'

March 2, 2024 • Maurice Vellekoop's graphic memoir is an impressive book by an artist, a cartoonist, staking a claim — presenting a life lived willfully resisting other people's inconsistent, harmful attitudes.

Sloane Crosley mourns her best friend in 'Grief Is for People'

February 28, 2024 • Russell Perreault hired Crosley when she was 25 and the two became very close. He died by suicide in 2019. Her first full-length book of nonfiction is a noteworthy addition to the literature of grief.

Tommy Orange's 'Wandering Stars' is a powerful follow up to 'There There'

February 27, 2024 • An eloquent indictment of the effects of the massacre, dislocation and forced assimilation of Native Americans, it is also a heartfelt paean to the importance of family and of ancestors' stories.

Dishy-yet-earnest, 'Cocktails' revisits the making of 'Virginia Woolf'

February 26, 2024 • Philip Gefter's Cocktails with George and Martha traces the evolution of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — from Broadway sensation, to Oscar-winning film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

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Booklover Book Reviews

Find the best books to read at Booklover Book Reviews

Welcome book lovers.

I’m Jo, an Aussie book reviewer. I started this Booklover Book Reviews site in 2009 and quickly realised I enjoy blogging and reviewing books almost as much as actually reading them. I hope you enjoy browsing all the reviews of books, book lists and author interviews I have amassed over that time and find the perfect book for you. Then, sit back in your favourite reading chair and join me on this bookworm’s quest to find the best books to read!

Browse the several hundred book reviews on this site by genre

Book format & special features, want only the best books to read browse book reviews by rating, latest articles.

Maame by Jessica George: Emotionally charged debut novel

Maame, Jessica George’s compelling debut has garnered much attention from book clubs. But is it really as funny as marketed? Read my full review.

How To Solve Your Own Murder: Kristen Perrin’s vivid puzzler

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a fresh, clever and contemporary treat for mystery lovers. Read my spoiler-free book summary and review.

The Rewilding: Donna M Cameron on why hopeful literature is needed

Donna M Cameron shares with us her inspiration for writing new novel The Rewilding and why hopeful literature is so important.

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang: Thrilling

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang is captivating and thrilling female-led historical fiction. Read my full review.

New Fiction Releases & Best Books Lists

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5 Star Book Reviews

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn Review, Mark Lawrence’s Library Trilogy

The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is the utterly captivating novel that begins Mark Lawrence’s new fantasy trilogy for book lovers, The Library. Read my full review.

The Bookbinder of Jericho, Review: Pip Williams’ deeply moving tale

The Bookbinder of Jericho is Pip Williams’ captivating new historical fiction novel, and a companion read to her worldwide bestselling The Dictionary of Lost Words. Read my full review.

Ninth House sequel, Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo: Book Review

Ninth House sequel, Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo’s new adult-fantasy novel featuring Alex Stern, has definitely been worth the wait. Read my 5-star review.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, Review: Engrossing epic

Ninth House, Leigh Bardugo’s impressive adult debut is an engrossing epic, a multi-layered and deeply human fantasy novel. Read my full review.

We’ve been reviewing books since 2009…

People who fall in love with books never really stop falling.

– Rainbow Rowell

How to Write a Book Review: A Comprehensive Tutorial With Examples

You don’t need to be a literary expert to craft captivating book reviews. With one in every three readers selecting books based on insightful reviews, your opinions can guide fellow bibliophiles toward their next literary adventure.

Learning how to write a book review will not only help you excel at your assigned tasks, but you’ll also contribute valuable insights to the book-loving community and turn your passion into a professional pursuit.

In this comprehensive guide,  PaperPerk  will walk you through a few simple steps to master the art of writing book reviews so you can confidently embark on this rewarding journey.

What is a Book Review?

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book, offering insights into its content, quality, and impact. It helps readers make informed decisions about whether to read the book.

Writing a book review as an assignment benefits students in multiple ways. Firstly, it teaches them how to write a book review by developing their analytical skills as they evaluate the content, themes, and writing style .

Secondly, it enhances their ability to express opinions and provide constructive criticism. Additionally, book review assignments expose students to various publications and genres, broadening their knowledge.

Furthermore, these tasks foster essential skills for academic success, like critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information. By now, we’re sure you want to learn how to write a book review, so let’s look at the book review template first.

Table of Contents

Book Review Template

How to write a book review- a step by step guide.

Check out these 5 straightforward steps for composing the best book review.

Step 1: Planning Your Book Review – The Art of Getting Started

You’ve decided to take the plunge and share your thoughts on a book that has captivated (or perhaps disappointed) you. Before you start book reviewing, let’s take a step back and plan your approach. Since knowing how to write a book review that’s both informative and engaging is an art in itself.

Choosing Your Literature

First things first, pick the book you want to review. This might seem like a no-brainer, but selecting a book that genuinely interests you will make the review process more enjoyable and your insights more authentic.

Crafting the Master Plan

Next, create an  outline  that covers all the essential points you want to discuss in your review. This will serve as the roadmap for your writing journey.

The Devil is in the Details

As you read, note any information that stands out, whether it overwhelms, underwhelms, or simply intrigues you. Pay attention to:

• The characters and their development
• The plot and its intricacies
• Any themes, symbols, or motifs you find noteworthy

Remember to reserve a body paragraph for each point you want to discuss.

The Key Questions to Ponder

When planning your book review, consider the following questions:

• What’s the plot (if any)? Understanding the driving force behind the book will help you craft a more effective review.
• Is the plot interesting? Did the book hold your attention and keep you turning the pages?
• Are the writing techniques effective? Does the author’s style captivate you, making you want to read (or reread) the text?
• Are the characters or the information believable? Do the characters/plot/information feel real, and can you relate to them?
• Would you recommend the book to anyone? Consider if the book is worthy of being recommended, whether to impress someone or to support a point in a literature class.
• What could improve? Always keep an eye out for areas that could be improved. Providing constructive criticism can enhance the quality of literature.

Step 2 – Crafting the Perfect Introduction to Write a Book Review

In this second step of “how to write a book review,” we’re focusing on the art of creating a powerful opening that will hook your audience and set the stage for your analysis.

Identify Your Book and Author

Begin by mentioning the book you’ve chosen, including its  title  and the author’s name. This informs your readers and establishes the subject of your review.

Ponder the Title

Next, discuss the mental images or emotions the book’s title evokes in your mind . This helps your readers understand your initial feelings and expectations before diving into the book.

Judge the Book by Its Cover (Just a Little)

Take a moment to talk about the book’s cover. Did it intrigue you? Did it hint at what to expect from the story or the author’s writing style? Sharing your thoughts on the cover can offer a unique perspective on how the book presents itself to potential readers.

Present Your Thesis

Now it’s time to introduce your thesis. This statement should be a concise and insightful summary of your opinion of the book. For example:

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a captivating portrayal of the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of love, class, and self-discovery with exceptional depth and authenticity.

Ensure that your thesis is relevant to the points or quotes you plan to discuss throughout your review.

Incorporating these elements into your introduction will create a strong foundation for your book review. Your readers will be eager to learn more about your thoughts and insights on the book, setting the stage for a compelling and thought-provoking analysis.

How to Write a Book Review: Step 3 – Building Brilliant Body Paragraphs

You’ve planned your review and written an attention-grabbing introduction. Now it’s time for the main event: crafting the body paragraphs of your book review. In this step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the art of constructing engaging and insightful body paragraphs that will keep your readers hooked.

Summarize Without Spoilers

Begin by summarizing a specific section of the book, not revealing any major plot twists or spoilers. Your goal is to give your readers a taste of the story without ruining surprises.

Support Your Viewpoint with Quotes

Next, choose three quotes from the book that support your viewpoint or opinion. These quotes should be relevant to the section you’re summarizing and help illustrate your thoughts on the book.

Analyze the Quotes

Write a summary of each quote in your own words, explaining how it made you feel or what it led you to think about the book or the author’s writing. This analysis should provide insight into your perspective and demonstrate your understanding of the text.

Structure Your Body Paragraphs

Dedicate one body paragraph to each quote, ensuring your writing is well-connected, coherent, and easy to understand.

For example:

• In  Jane Eyre , Charlotte Brontë writes, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.” This powerful statement highlights Jane’s fierce independence and refusal to be trapped by societal expectations.
• In  Normal People , Sally Rooney explores the complexities of love and friendship when she writes, “It was culture as class performance, literature fetishized for its ability to take educated people on false emotional journeys.” This quote reveals the author’s astute observations on the role of culture and class in shaping personal relationships.
• In  Wuthering Heights , Emily Brontë captures the tumultuous nature of love with the quote, “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” This poignant line emphasizes the deep, unbreakable bond between the story’s central characters.

By following these guidelines, you’ll create body paragraphs that are both captivating and insightful, enhancing your book review and providing your readers with a deeper understanding of the literary work. 

How to Write a Book Review: Step 4 – Crafting a Captivating Conclusion

You’ve navigated through planning, introductions, and body paragraphs with finesse. Now it’s time to wrap up your book review with a  conclusion that leaves a lasting impression . In this final step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the art of writing a memorable and persuasive conclusion.

Summarize Your Analysis

Begin by summarizing the key points you’ve presented in the body paragraphs. This helps to remind your readers of the insights and arguments you’ve shared throughout your review.

Offer Your Final Conclusion

Next, provide a conclusion that reflects your overall feelings about the book. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression and persuade your readers to consider your perspective.

Address the Book’s Appeal

Now, answer the question: Is this book worth reading? Be clear about who would enjoy the book and who might not. Discuss the taste preferences and circumstances that make the book more appealing to some readers than others.

For example:  The Alchemist is a book that can enchant a young teen, but those who are already well-versed in classic literature might find it less engaging.

Be Subtle and Balanced

Avoid simply stating whether you “liked” or “disliked” the book. Instead, use nuanced language to convey your message. Highlight the pros and cons of reading the type of literature you’ve reviewed, offering a balanced perspective.

Bringing It All Together

By following these guidelines, you’ll craft a conclusion that leaves your readers with a clear understanding of your thoughts and opinions on the book. Your review will be a valuable resource for those considering whether to pick up the book, and your witty and insightful analysis will make your review a pleasure to read. So conquer the world of book reviews, one captivating conclusion at a time!

How to Write a Book Review: Step 5 – Rating the Book (Optional)

You’ve masterfully crafted your book review, from the introduction to the conclusion. But wait, there’s one more step you might consider before calling it a day: rating the book. In this optional step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the benefits and methods of assigning a rating to the book you’ve reviewed.

Why Rate the Book?

Sometimes, when writing a professional book review, it may not be appropriate to state whether you liked or disliked the book. In such cases, assigning a rating can be an effective way to get your message across without explicitly sharing your personal opinion.

How to Rate the Book

There are various rating systems you can use to evaluate the book, such as:

• A star rating (e.g., 1 to 5 stars)
• A numerical score (e.g., 1 to 10)
• A letter grade (e.g., A+ to F)

Choose a rating system that best suits your style and the format of your review. Be consistent in your rating criteria, considering writing quality, character development, plot, and overall enjoyment.

Tips for Rating the Book

Here are some tips for rating the book effectively:

• Be honest: Your rating should reflect your true feelings about the book. Don’t inflate or deflate your rating based on external factors, such as the book’s popularity or the author’s reputation.
• Be fair:Consider the book’s merits and shortcomings when rating. Even if you didn’t enjoy the book, recognize its strengths and acknowledge them in your rating.
• Be clear: Explain the rationale behind your rating so your readers understand the factors that influenced your evaluation.

Wrapping Up

By including a rating in your book review, you provide your readers with an additional insight into your thoughts on the book. While this step is optional, it can be a valuable tool for conveying your message subtly yet effectively. So, rate those books confidently, adding a touch of wit and wisdom to your book reviews.

Additional Tips on How to Write a Book Review: A Guide

In this segment, we’ll explore additional tips on how to write a book review. Get ready to captivate your readers and make your review a memorable one!

Hook ’em with an Intriguing Introduction

Keep your introduction precise and to the point. Readers have the attention span of a goldfish these days, so don’t let them swim away in boredom. Start with a bang and keep them hooked!

Embrace the World of Fiction

When learning how to write a book review, remember that reviewing fiction is often more engaging and effective. If your professor hasn’t assigned you a specific book, dive into the realm of fiction and select a novel that piques your interest.

Opinionated with Gusto

Don’t shy away from adding your own opinion to your review. A good book review always features the writer’s viewpoint and constructive criticism. After all, your readers want to know what  you  think!

Express Your Love (or Lack Thereof)

If you adored the book, let your readers know! Use phrases like “I’ll definitely return to this book again” to convey your enthusiasm. Conversely, be honest but respectful even if the book wasn’t your cup of tea.

Templates and Examples and Expert Help: Your Trusty Sidekicks

Feeling lost? You can always get help from formats, book review examples or online  college paper writing service  platforms. These trusty sidekicks will help you navigate the world of book reviews with ease. 

Be a Champion for New Writers and Literature

Remember to uplift new writers and pieces of literature. If you want to suggest improvements, do so kindly and constructively. There’s no need to be mean about anyone’s books – we’re all in this literary adventure together!

Criticize with Clarity, Not Cruelty

When adding criticism to your review, be clear but not mean. Remember, there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and cruelty. Tread lightly and keep your reader’s feelings in mind.

Avoid the Comparison Trap

Resist the urge to compare one writer’s book with another. Every book holds its worth, and comparing them will only confuse your reader. Stick to discussing the book at hand, and let it shine in its own light.

Top 7 Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Writing a book review can be a delightful and rewarding experience, especially when you balance analysis, wit, and personal insights. However, some common mistakes can kill the brilliance of your review. 

In this section of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the top 7 blunders writers commit and how to steer clear of them, with a dash of  modernist literature  examples and tips for students writing book reviews as assignments.

Succumbing to the Lure of Plot Summaries

Mistake: Diving headfirst into a plot summary instead of dissecting the book’s themes, characters, and writing style.

Example: “The Bell Jar chronicles the life of a young woman who experiences a mental breakdown.”

How to Avoid: Delve into the book’s deeper aspects, such as its portrayal of mental health, societal expectations, and the author’s distinctive narrative voice. Offer thoughtful insights and reflections, making your review a treasure trove of analysis.

Unleashing the Spoiler Kraken

Mistake: Spilling major plot twists or the ending without providing a spoiler warning, effectively ruining the reading experience for potential readers.

Example: “In Metamorphosis, the protagonist’s transformation into a monstrous insect leads to…”

How to Avoid: Tread carefully when discussing significant plot developments, and consider using spoiler warnings. Focus on the impact of these plot points on the overall narrative, character growth, or thematic resonance.

Riding the Personal Bias Express

Mistake: Allowing personal bias to hijack the review without providing sufficient evidence or reasoning to support opinions.

Example: “I detest books about existential crises, so The Sun Also Rises was a snoozefest.”

How to Avoid: While personal opinions are valid, it’s crucial to back them up with specific examples from the book. Discuss aspects like writing style, character development, or pacing to support your evaluation and provide a more balanced perspective.

Wielding the Vague Language Saber

Mistake: Resorting to generic, vague language that fails to capture the nuances of the book and can come across as clichéd.

Example: “This book was mind-blowing. It’s a must-read for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Use precise and descriptive language to express your thoughts. Employ specific examples and quotations to highlight memorable scenes, the author’s unique writing style, or the impact of the book’s themes on readers.

Ignoring the Contextualization Compass

Mistake: Neglecting to provide context about the author, genre, or cultural relevance of the book, leaving readers without a proper frame of reference.

Example: “This book is dull and unoriginal.”

How to Avoid: Offer readers a broader understanding by discussing the author’s background, the genre conventions the book adheres to or subverts, and any societal or historical contexts that inform the narrative. This helps readers appreciate the book’s uniqueness and relevance.

Overindulging in Personal Preferences

Mistake: Letting personal preferences overshadow an objective assessment of the book’s merits.

Example: “I don’t like stream-of-consciousness writing, so this book is automatically bad.”

How to Avoid: Acknowledge personal preferences but strive to evaluate the book objectively. Focus on the book’s strengths and weaknesses, considering how well it achieves its goals within its genre or intended audience.

Forgetting the Target Audience Telescope

Mistake: Failing to mention the book’s target audience or who might enjoy it, leading to confusion for potential readers.

Example: “This book is great for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Contemplate the book’s intended audience, genre, and themes. Mention who might particularly enjoy the book based on these factors, whether it’s fans of a specific genre, readers interested in character-driven stories, or those seeking thought-provoking narratives.

By dodging these common pitfalls, writers can craft insightful, balanced, and engaging book reviews that help readers make informed decisions about their reading choices.

These tips are particularly beneficial for students writing book reviews as assignments, as they ensure a well-rounded and thoughtful analysis.!

Many students requested us to cover how to write a book review. This thorough guide is sure to help you. At Paperperk, professionals are dedicated to helping students find their balance. We understand the importance of good grades, so we offer the finest writing service , ensuring students stay ahead of the curve. So seek expert help because only Paperperk is your perfect solution!

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Book Review

Daniel c. dennett, widely read and fiercely debated philosopher, 82, dies.

Espousing his ideas in best sellers, he insisted that religion was an illusion, free will was a fantasy and evolution could only be explained by natural selection.

  By Jonathan Kandell

9 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

Lord Byron Was Hard to Pin Down. That’s What Made Him Great.

Two hundred years after his death, this Romantic poet is still worth reading.

  By Benjamin Markovits

6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week

Selected paperbacks from the Book Review, including titles by Quentin Tarantino, Elizabeth Kolbert, Tyriek White and more.

  By Shreya Chattopadhyay

A Sugary Bonbon of a Novel From a Legendary Foodie

In “The Paris Novel,” Ruth Reichl is a glutton for wish fulfillment.

  By Mattie Kahn

That Time Europe Tried to Bring Monarchy Back to Mexico

In “Habsburgs on the Rio Grande,” Raymond Jonas’s story of French-backed nation building in Mexico foreshadows the proxy battles of the Cold War.

  By Natasha Wheatley

2 Books That Capture New York

A stroll around the city with a great stylist; a comic novel of love and real estate.

Anne Lamott Has Written Classics. This Is Not One of Them.

Slim and precious, “Somehow: Thoughts on Love” doesn’t measure up to her best nonfiction.

  By Alexandra Jacobs

Emily Henry Is Proud to Be Called a Romance Writer

“I don’t want other people to miss out on the wisdom and joy this genre has to offer, the way I did for so long,” says the best-selling novelist. “Funny Story,” about a heartsore librarian and the new man in her life, is out next week.

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Long Before Trump, Immigrant Detention Was Arbitrary and Cruel

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Salman Rushdie Reflects on His Stabbing in a New Memoir

“Knife” is an account of the writer’s brush with death in 2022, and the long recovery that followed.

  By Dwight Garner

For Caleb Carr, Salvation Arrived on Little Cat’s Feet

As he struggled with writing and illness, the “Alienist” author found comfort in the feline companions he recalls in a new memoir, “My Beloved Monster.”

Savages! Innocents! Sages! What Do We Really Know About Early Humans?

In “The Invention of Prehistory,” the historian Stefanos Geroulanos argues that many of our theories about our remote ancestors tell us more about us than them.

Delmore Schwartz’s Poems Are Like Salt Flicked on the World

A new omnibus compiles the poet’s books and unpublished work, including his two-part autobiographical masterpiece, “Genesis.”

Climate Doom Is Out. ‘Apocalyptic Optimism’ Is In.

Focusing on disaster hasn’t changed the planet’s trajectory. Will a more upbeat approach show a way forward?

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Books Bound in Human Skin: An Ethical Quandary at the Library

Harvard’s recent decision to remove the binding of a notorious volume in its library has thrown fresh light on a shadowy corner of the rare book world.

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Spooks, Sleuths and the Nazi Origins of the War on Drugs

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How to Write a Book Review: Awesome Guide

A book review allows students to illustrate the author's intentions of writing the piece, as well as create a criticism of the book — as a whole. In other words, form an opinion of the author's presented ideas. Check out this guide from EssayPro - book review writing service to learn how to write a book review successfully.

What Is a Book Review?

You may prosper, “what is a book review?”. Book reviews are commonly assigned students to allow them to show a clear understanding of the novel. And to check if the students have actually read the book. The essay format is highly important for your consideration, take a look at the book review format below.

Book reviews are assigned to allow students to present their own opinion regarding the author’s ideas included in the book or passage. They are a form of literary criticism that analyzes the author’s ideas, writing techniques, and quality. A book analysis is entirely opinion-based, in relevance to the book. They are good practice for those who wish to become editors, due to the fact, editing requires a lot of criticism.

Book Review Template

The book review format includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Introduction
• Describe the book cover and title.
• Include any subtitles at this stage.
• Include the Author’s Name.
• Write a brief description of the novel.
• Briefly introduce the main points of the body in your book review.
• Avoid mentioning any opinions at this time.
• Use about 3 quotations from the author’s novel.
• Summarize the quotations in your own words.
• Mention your own point-of-view of the quotation.
• Remember to keep every point included in its own paragraph.
• In brief, summarize the quotations.
• In brief, summarize the explanations.
• Finish with a concluding sentence.
• This can include your final opinion of the book.
• Star-Rating (Optional).

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How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step

Writing a book review is something that can be done with every novel. Book reviews can apply to all novels, no matter the genre. Some genres may be harder than others. On the other hand, the book review format remains the same. Take a look at these step-by-step instructions from our professional writers to learn how to write a book review in-depth.

Step 1: Planning

Create an essay outline which includes all of the main points you wish to summarise in your book analysis. Include information about the characters, details of the plot, and some other important parts of your chosen novel. Reserve a body paragraph for each point you wish to talk about.

Consider these points before writing:

• What is the plot of the book? Understanding the plot enables you to write an effective review.
• Is the plot gripping? Does the plot make you want to continue reading the novel? Did you enjoy the plot? Does it manage to grab a reader’s attention?
• Are the writing techniques used by the author effective? Does the writer imply factors in-between the lines? What are they?
• Are the characters believable? Are the characters logical? Does the book make the characters are real while reading?
• Would you recommend the book to anyone? The most important thing: would you tell others to read this book? Is it good enough? Is it bad?
• What could be better? Keep in mind the quotes that could have been presented better. Criticize the writer.

Step 2: Introduction

Presumably, you have chosen your book. To begin, mention the book title and author’s name. Talk about the cover of the book. Write a thesis statement regarding the fictitious story or non-fictional novel. Which briefly describes the quoted material in the book review.

Step 3: Body

Choose a specific chapter or scenario to summarise. Include about 3 quotes in the body. Create summaries of each quote in your own words. It is also encouraged to include your own point-of-view and the way you interpret the quote. It is highly important to have one quote per paragraph.

Step 4: Conclusion

Write a summary of the summarised quotations and explanations, included in the body paragraphs. After doing so, finish book analysis with a concluding sentence to show the bigger picture of the book. Think to yourself, “Is it worth reading?”, and answer the question in black and white. However, write in-between the lines. Avoid stating “I like/dislike this book.”

Step 5: Rate the Book (Optional)

After writing a book review, you may want to include a rating. Including a star-rating provides further insight into the quality of the book, to your readers. Book reviews with star-ratings can be more effective, compared to those which don’t. Though, this is entirely optional.

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Dive into literary analysis with EssayPro . Our experts can help you craft insightful book reviews that delve deep into the themes, characters, and narratives of your chosen books. Enhance your understanding and appreciation of literature with us.

Writing Tips

Here is the list of tips for the book review:

• A long introduction can certainly lower one’s grade: keep the beginning short. Readers don’t like to read the long introduction for any essay style.
• It is advisable to write book reviews about fiction: it is not a must. Though, reviewing fiction can be far more effective than writing about a piece of nonfiction
• Avoid Comparing: avoid comparing your chosen novel with other books you have previously read. Doing so can be confusing for the reader.
• Opinion Matters: including your own point-of-view is something that is often encouraged when writing book reviews.
• Refer to Templates: a book review template can help a student get a clearer understanding of the required writing style.
• Don’t be Afraid to Criticize: usually, your own opinion isn’t required for academic papers below Ph.D. level. On the other hand, for book reviews, there’s an exception.
• Use Positivity: include a fair amount of positive comments and criticism.
• Review The Chosen Novel: avoid making things up. Review only what is presented in the chosen book.
• Enjoyed the book? If you loved reading the book, state it. Doing so makes your book analysis more personalized.

Writing a book review is something worth thinking about. Professors commonly assign this form of an assignment to students to enable them to express a grasp of a novel. Following the book review format is highly useful for beginners, as well as reading step-by-step instructions. Writing tips is also useful for people who are new to this essay type. If you need a book review or essay, ask our book report writing services ' write paper for me ' and we'll give you a hand asap!

We also recommend that everyone read the article about essay topics . It will help broaden your horizons in writing a book review as well as other papers.

Book Review Examples

Referring to a book review example is highly useful to those who wish to get a clearer understanding of how to review a book. Take a look at our examples written by our professional writers. Click on the button to open the book review examples and feel free to use them as a reference.

Book review

Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’

Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a novel aimed at youngsters. The plot, itself, is not American humor, but that of Great Britain. In terms of sarcasm, and British-related jokes. The novel illustrates a fair mix of the relationships between the human-like animals, and wildlife. The narrative acts as an important milestone in post-Victorian children’s literature.

Book Review

Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’

Dr. John’s ‘Pollution’ consists of 3 major parts. The first part is all about the polluted ocean. The second being about the pollution of the sky. The third part is an in-depth study of how humans can resolve these issues. The book is a piece of non-fiction that focuses on modern-day pollution ordeals faced by both animals and humans on Planet Earth. It also focuses on climate change, being the result of the global pollution ordeal.

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How To Write A Book Review?

What to include in a book review, what is a book review, related articles.

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The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan review – a delightful debut about deafness

A promising first novel takes a jazzy, improvised journey with a young woman who has a sudden loss of hearing

A good test of a writer is to take a high concept and stretch it. In The Hearing Test , the debut novel by American Eliza Barry Callahan, a young woman loses her hearing – or most of it – without warning. One day, she hears a “deep drone”, and then her hearing is all “rolling thunder… like God adjusting his piano stool but never getting around to the song”.

When having her sudden deafness investigated, doctors tell her she has sudden deafness, a diagnosis that reiterates the question it seeks to answer. The problem is intimately close but impossible to resolve. “We can get to the moon, but we can’t get to the inner ear,” she’s told. As a result, her treatment is “a work of improvisation. Like jazz.”

Or like this novel, which has a loosely structured feel, often to delightful effect. There are numerous brilliant scenes of the narrator navigating her new life. Her eccentric landlady cheerfully shares that some of Hitchcock’s Rear Window was filmed in the courtyard, which is “very funny,” she tells her, because “when she lived in the apartment the super had actually murdered a tenant”.

In the absence of medical help, she turns to peers on online forums. There, two men debate the merits of clubbing near a university for the deaf, where “you can say all sorts of things you’ve always wanted to say in the sheets”. The experience for the narrator is all-consuming – “it felt less like I was going through something and more like I had become the thing” – but the act of writing balances it out. “To see something in its entirety is to be entirely outside that thing.”

Perhaps this is why the focus shifts frequently away from deafness and towards sight: one sense compensating for another. The story becomes increasingly visual, including Zoom calls, a film-maker and the pursuit of a comet. But this also makes it meander further from its unique origins and closer to well-trodden territory.

When the narrator brings in other writers such as Robert Walser or Clarice Lispector, the effect is double-edged. Their words add texture (Lispector: “Before going to bed, as if putting out a candle, she blew out the little flame of the day”), but they also remind us that these writers would never deliver a line as woolly or awkward as “I felt in the present like I was living always alongside what a previous body had felt like”. Nonetheless, this is a debut that mostly delivers interesting things, and promises greater ones to come.

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The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan is published by Peninsula Press (£10.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply

• The Observer
• Deafness and hearing loss

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Most viewed.

A sympathetic look at the rise — and stall — of gay conservatives

Neil j. young’s ‘coming out republican’ offers the history of a movement that may not have actually been that influential.

History may be written by the victors, but Neil J. Young’s excellent new book, “ Coming Out Republican ,” is a sympathetic look at one of the past century’s losers: the gay conservative. Young, a historian by training, has spent his career explaining the heterogeneity of the conservative movement. His first book, “ We Gather Together ,” was about the alliances and rivalries among Catholics, Mormons and evangelicals that birthed the Christian right, and Young has written about religion and politics for the New York Times and CNN.

“Coming Out Republican” moves from the 1950s to the present, telling the stories of the closeted operators and buttoned-up political clubs that often served as the Myrtle Wilson to the Christian right’s Daisy Buchanan, their sense of entitlement out of proportion to the way their supposed allies treated them. Sometimes these gay men acted gallantly to expand the individual freedoms of their queer countrymen. But there are also many instances in the book of them selling out the other civil rights movements in whose wake they traveled. “Coming Out Republican” is less about an interest group than a self-interest group, one that has long been unable to envision a liberation project more ambitious than expanding the sexual prerogatives of White men.

“Coming Out Republican” is at its best when using profiles of individual men to depict the eras in which they lived. Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam War hero, came out in 1975 and sued the federal government to reenlist after he was kicked out of the military. Conservative and macho, Matlovich claimed that “everything I am and everything I hope to be I owe to the United States Air Force.” He relied on Frank Kameny, of the gay advocacy group the Mattachine Society, and a lawyer from the ACLU to sue on his behalf. Appearing on the cover of Time magazine, he had a dark mustache from central casting, but he was an imperfect poster boy, all-American but naive about gay life. He once bashfully asked a reporter from the Advocate — an eminent gay magazine — what the publication was.

In his study of Matlovich, Young deftly, if a little dryly, parses the cross currents of imperialism, respectability and internecine gay resentment. His prose is at times as vanilla as the men he writes about, relying on ventriloquism of vulgar gay patois for color. In other illuminating sketches, we meet figures such as Jon Hinson, the Bible-thumping congressman from Mississippi who resigned after getting caught performing oral sex on a Black Library of Congress technician in a bathroom in the Capitol, and Terry Dolan, Ronald Reagan’s whiz kid pollster who bragged about purging moderates from Congress, bulldozing a path for the Christian right’s ascension in the 1980s. They are but two of the legions of closeted Republicans who believed in privacy for a man’s sex life but not, among other things, a woman’s right to an abortion . Young takes so much care describing the different ways Matlovich, Hinson and Dolan conceived of themselves, and the roles they played in the politics of their era, that their deaths feel like a gut-punch. Each one died of AIDS.

Less successful are Young’s sections on gay Republican groups — the Log Cabin Republicans, the Teddy Roosevelt Republican Club, the Lincoln Republican Club, Concerned Republicans for Individual Rights, GOProud — whose sheer number of names reflects how often they split off from one another. Most of the book’s colorful characters were better at acting out and working covertly than they were at building large coalitions, so the stakes of their collective action — like persuading a few thousand San Francisco Republicans to oppose a California ballot initiative — feel low.

Young also has the credulous habit of, for example, describing a group whose membership “doubled that year to over 150” and citing the growth as evidence of its strength, when such crowds would barely match a modest gay bar’s Saturday night or a Baptist church’s Sunday services. In instances when gay Republican groups have wielded influence in a decisive way — say, by whipping up a handful of votes to pass civil rights protections in the California legislature and marriage equality in the New York legislature — it is not because they had power that could not be ignored. It is because in the eyes of Republican lawmakers in very liberal states, gay Republicans could, like a mistress that doesn’t ask or expect too much, be indulged from time to time.

But that’s state politics. At the national level, gay Republicans have been betrayed and insulted by every Republican presidential candidate since Reagan. In 1980, they had reasons for optimism. Despite Reagan’s conservative bona fides, two years earlier he helped defeat a California referendum that would have barred gay people from teaching in public schools. But as president, his embrace of the religious right was so close, and his administration’s antipathy for people with AIDS so pronounced, that it further stained the Republican Party’s reputation with gay people. George H.W. Bush ran as a moderate and even signed gay-friendly legislation like the Ryan White Care Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act before abandoning tolerance to court the religious right. Less than a decade after he left office, his son campaigned as a compassionate conservative, and then ran for reelection supporting a constitutional amendment to forbid same-sex marriage. Donald Trump also seemed to embrace LGBTQ people as he campaigned for the 2016 election, but as president he nominated judges hostile to LGBTQ rights and supported policies that made it easier for people claiming religious exemptions to discriminate against sexual minorities.

Young makes a persuasive case that gay Republicans contributed to the civil rights progress of the last few decades. Intellectuals like Andrew Sullivan and operators like Ken Mehlman, who ran George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign from the closet, contributed to the push for marriage equality and military participation. But neither man — or really any conservative advocate — did nearly as much as Evan Wolfson, the Lambda Legal lawyer, who articulated the intellectual foundations of same-sex marriage and executed the political strategy to make it a reality. The simple fact is that liberal gays have been more clear-eyed about power than their conservative counterparts, better at building coalitions and more wary of placating the Christian conservatives who do not believe there is a place for sexual minorities in public life.

Young could have more forcefully thought through the reluctance of gay Republicans to find common cause with members of other minority groups. The obvious answer is the most uncomfortable one: Gay Republicans see themselves as having more in common with other White people, rich people and men. Unfortunately, the only way that the numerically few can wield power is through solidarity with other minorities, but that requires insight that does not always come easily to White gay men, especially conservative White gay men: None of us is that special, and trying to be “not that kind of gay” comes at a cost. One of the most heartbreaking themes of “Coming Out Republican” is how unfamiliar many conservative gays are with the varying joys of gay life — writing it off as too “PC” or too promiscuous. Being gay can be quite fun, not despite but because of our endless squabbles and struggles over how to keep this life distinct and ours, and open to as many people as want to partake.

Anyone could benefit from reading this book. Straight people will learn how the puritanical impulse to control other people’s ’ sex lives has defined politics for nearly a century, an impulse as old as it is futile. Queer people — who often must teach ourselves our own history — will learn how respectability remains an empty promise. But it is gay Republicans themselves who most need to read Young’s book. If they are not too vain, the Peter Thiels and George Santoses of the world might find in these pages a warning that having power is not the same thing as being tolerated until you are no longer useful.

Nathan Kohrman is a writer covering medicine, politics and culture. Based in New York, he is an incoming general surgery resident at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Coming Out Republican

A History of the Gay Right

By Neil J. Young

University of Chicago Press. 441 pp. $29.99

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Yellowface: A Reese's Book Club Pick Hardcover – May 16, 2023

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INSTANT  NEW YORK TIMES  BESTSELLER • A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

“Hard to put down, harder to forget.” —  Stephen King, #1  New York Times  bestselling author

White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly  not  Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1  New York Times  bestselling author of Babel .  

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the  New York Times  bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice,  Yellowface  grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable. 

• Print length 336 pages
• Language English
• Publisher William Morrow
• Publication date May 16, 2023
• Dimensions 6 x 1.09 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 0063250837
• ISBN-13 978-0063250833
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com review.

“This is a great read. Crime, satire, horror, paranoia, questions of cultural appropriation. Plenty of nasty social media pile-ons, too. But, basically, just a great story. Hard to put down, harder to forget.” — Stephen King

“Viciously satisfying…addictive.” — New York Times Book Review

"Well-executed, gripping, fast-paced novel." — NPR

"Reading  Yellowface  felt like being inside a wild, brutal, psychological knife fight with a deranged clown. A merciless satire that left me screaming inside... from both its horror  and  humor."  — Constance Wu, star of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Making a Scene

"At once a brilliant satire that mixes horror and humor; a nuanced exploration of race, heritage, identity, and diversity in publishing; and an honest look at the hell that is social media, this might just be Kuang's best." — Boston Globe

"Yellowface  is one of the most transfixing novels I’ve read in ages… Kuang boldly interrogates literary hot-button issues like privilege, appropriation, and authenticity, leaving it open for readers themselves to decide where to draw the line."   — Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of  The Other Black Girl

"It's addictive, shocking, compelling, ridiculous, and extremely fun to read by turns." — Paste Magazine

“Yellowface  is a brittle, eviscerating read that affected me bodily. Kuang’s oeuvre consistently finds new ways to expose and interrogate systems of power, in this case tackling the commodification and consumption of art with both swagger and sophistication.  Yellowface  really is THAT bitch.” — Olivie Blake, New York Times Bestselling author of The Atlas Six

"A spiky, snarky, shady, smart, sinister take on white privilege." — Nikki May, author of Wahala

"Yellowface  is brilliant satire--thought provoking, thrilling, and hitting a little too close to home. A must read commentary on the line between representation and exploitation and those who are willing to cross it for fame. Everyone in publishing's wide orbit should read this, and take a long look in the mirror." — Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times Bestselling Author of Kaikeyi

" Yellowface is a spicy, satirical page-turner that skewers the racism and tokenization in the publishing and entertainment industries, the vanity of social media, and the lengths at which people will go to remain in the glaring spotlight."  — Tracey Lien, author of All That's Left Unsaid

"They say you should write the book that only you can write. Well, no one else but R.F. Kuang could have written Yellowface . A brilliant and unflinching take on white performativity and publishing. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Kuang is one of the most important voices in publishing today." — Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A for Aunties

"A darkly satirical thriller about greed, truth, identity, and art—and who a story really belongs to. Reading Yellowface was like riding a roller coaster with no safety belt. I screamed the whole way through!" — Peng Shepherd, author of The Cartographers

"Excellent satire from Kuang...This is not to be missed."  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This unsettling and electrifying book piercingly addresses issues of cultural appropriation and racial identity.” — Library Journal

"There’s SO MUCH I recognised (with the odd full-body cringe) about the vagaries of publishing and the ego bin fire of being a writer and SO MUCH I learned about my own white privilege but above all it’s a funny, engrossing read about what people do when they reckon they can get away with it." — Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton Key

"Her magnificent novel uses satire to shine a light on systemic racial discrimination and the truth that often hides behind the twisted narratives constructed by those in power." — Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

Rebecca F. Kuang  is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History , and Yellowface . Her work has won the Nebula, Locus, Crawford, and British Book Awards. A Marshall Scholar, she has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford. She is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she studies diaspora, contemporary Sinophone literature, and Asian American literature.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow (May 16, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063250837
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063250833
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.09 x 9 inches
• #10 in Cultural Heritage Fiction
• #12 in Asian American Literature & Fiction
• #208 in Literary Fiction (Books)

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About the author

R. f. kuang.

Rebecca F. Kuang is the #1 New York Times bestselling and Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Award nominated author of Babel, the Poppy War trilogy, and the forthcoming Yellowface. She is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford. She is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.

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Review: ‘Artificial Intelligence — A Primer for State and Local Governments’

A new book by alan shark offers an excellent guide and an ai road map for state and local governments. he answers basic questions that public-sector leaders are asking in 2024.   .

FINAL THOUGHTS

• An Intro to AI
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Overdue Book Returned to Colorado Library After 105 Years

The Fort Collins library waived the fine, which totaled over $14,000 when adjusted for inflation

Aaron Boorstein

Staff Contributor

On February 13, 1919, a reader in Colorado checked out Ivanhoe , Walter Scott’s historical romance novel, from the Fort Collins Public Library and Free Reading Room.

A few months ago, the book was finally returned to the library— now named the Poudre River Public Library District—105 years after its due date.

“It came to us from an unnamed woman who [got it from] from her brother, who found it in their mom’s belongings in Kansas,” Annaclaire Crumpton, the library’s digital communications specialist, tells Jennifer Meckles of the local TV station KUSA .

The book’s inside back cover holds the original due date slip, which shows that it was checked out just three times before its disappearance. The inside front cover features a slip displaying its  accession number , which was assigned to the book when the library acquired it, and the library’s lending rules.

According to the rules, “A fine of two cents per day shall be collected on all books. If a messenger be sent for a detained book an additional charge of 25 cents shall be collected.”

Under this system, the fine would now be approximately $760, or about $14,000 when adjusted for inflation, writes Katie Auman, the library’s communications and development director, for the  Poudre Libraries blog .

“It’s been annotated and well-loved—so you wonder how many generations it went through, how many parents to kids,” Crumpton tells KUSA.

Luckily for the unknown reader who checked out the book, the library stopped enforcing overdue materials fines in  November 2020 .

Ivanhoe was not the first decades-overdue book recovered by the Colorado library. In 2019, a book was  returned in the mail 40 years after its due date. The text, Working With Stained Glass by Jean Jacques Duval, had been checked out in October 1978. Although it was returned before the termination of overdue fines, the library dismissed the charges, which, when calculated at the 2019 rate of $0.10 per day, totaled almost $1,500.

Fort Collins’ library system has a rich history dating back to 1882, when citizens established a community reading room. In 1900, it became Colorado’s sixth public library.

WCVB ’s Jocelyn Brumbaugh reports that the library’s staff hopes the overdue Ivanhoe can be displayed at a local history museum or in a special space at the library.

In other parts of the country—and the world—libraries have received books that had been missing for even longer periods. Just last year, a university received a donation that included a copy of James Clerk Maxwell’s An Elementary Treatise on Electricity that was nearly 120 years overdue at a library in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, the record for the world’s most overdue library book belongs to an obscure German text borrowed from the University of Cambridge’s Sidney Sussex College around 1667 or 1668. A professor stumbled across the volume and returned in 1956, nearly 300 years after it went missing.

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Aaron Boorstein is an intern with  Smithsonian magazine.

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The only book review templates you'll ever need.

Whether you’re trying to become a book reviewer , writing a book report for school, or analyzing a book, it’s nice to follow a book review template to make sure that your thoughts are clearly presented. 

A quality template provides guidance to keep your mind sharp and your thoughts organized so that you can write the best book review possible. On Reedsy Discovery , we read and share a lot of book reviews, which helps us develop quite a clear idea what makes up a good one. With that in mind, we’ve put together some trustworthy book review templates that you can download, along with a quick run-through of all the parts that make up an outstanding review — all in this post! 

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

Should you become a book reviewer?

Find out the answer. Takes 30 seconds!

Book review templates for every type of review

With the rapid growth of the book community on Instagram, Youtube, and even TikTok, the world of book commentary has evolved far beyond your classic review. There are now many ways you can structure a book review. Some popular formats include:

• Book reports — often done for school assignments; 
• Commentary articles — think in-depth reviews in magazines and newspapers; 
• Book blog reviews — short personal essays about the book; and
• Instagram reviews — one or two-paragraph reviews captioned under a nice photo. 

But while the text in all these review styles can be organized in different ways, there are certain boxes that all good book reviews tick. So, instead of giving you various templates to use for different occasions, we’ve condensed it down to just two book review templates (one for fiction and one for nonfiction) that can guide your thoughts and help you nail just about any review. 

⭐ Download our free fiction book review template  

⭐ Download our free nonfiction book review template  

All you need to do is answer the questions in the template regarding the book you’re reading and you’ve got the content of your review covered. Once that’s done, you can easily put this content into its appropriate format. 

Now, if you’re curious about what constitutes a good book review template, we’ll explain it in the following section! 

Elements of a book review template

Say you want to build your own book review template, or you want to customize our templates — here are the elements you’ll want to consider. 

We’ve divided our breakdown of the elements into two categories: the essentials and the fun additions that’ll add some color to your book reviews.

What are the three main parts of a book review?

We covered this in detail (with the help of some stellar examples) in our post on how to write a book review , but basically, these are the three crucial elements you should know: 

The summary covers the premise of the book and its main theme, so readers are able to understand what you’re referring to in the rest of your review. This means that, if a person hasn’t read the book, they can go through the summary to get a quick idea of what it’s about. (As such, there should be no spoilers!) 

The analysis is where, if it’s a fiction book, you talk more about the book, its plot, theme, and characters. If it’s nonfiction, you have to consider whether the book effectively achieves what it set out to do. 

The recommendation is where your personal opinion comes in the strongest, and you give a verdict as to who you think might enjoy this book. 

You can choose to be brief or detailed, depending on the kind of review you’re writing, but you should always aim to cover these three points. If you’re needing some inspiration, check out these 17 book review examples as seen in magazines, blogs, and review communities like Reedsy Discovery for a little variation. 

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Which additional details can you include?

Once you’ve nailed down the basics, you can jazz things up a little and add some personal flavor to your book review by considering some of these elements:

• A star-rating (the default is five stars but you can create your own scales); 
• A bullet-point pros and cons list; 
• Your favorite quotation from the book; 
• Commentary on the format you read (i.e., ebook, print, or audiobook);
• Fun facts about the book or author; 
• Other titles you think are similar.

This is where you can really be creative and tailor your review to suit your purpose and audience. A formal review written for a magazine, for instance, will likely benefit from contextual information about the author and the book, along with some comment on how that might have affected the reading (or even writing) process.

Meanwhile, if you’re reviewing a book on social media, you might find bullet points more effective at capturing the fleeting attention of Internet users. You can also make videos, take creative pictures, or even add your own illustrations for more personal touches. The floor is yours at this point, so go ahead and take the spotlight! 

That said, we hope that our templates can provide you with a strong foundation for even your most adventurous reviews. And if you’re interested in writing editorial reviews for up-and-coming indie titles, register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery !

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DeSantis scales back book ban law amid spike in Florida book objections

Florida has seen a spike in book challenges and restrictions.

As Florida schools face a growing number of book ban attempts , Gov. Ron DeSantis is scaling back policies that made it easier for people to challenge materials in schools.

In 2022, DeSantis signed HB 1467, which required elementary schools to provide a searchable list of the books accessible to students in libraries or classrooms and allow for public comment on all new materials.

Other recent legislation signed by DeSantis, including the Parental Rights in Education Bill and the Stop WOKE Act, restricts content on race and LGBTQ identities in schools and has further impacted access to classroom materials.

Florida law also allows parents and residents to object to books and have them reviewed and potentially removed from schools.

Since the implementation of these laws, Florida has seen a rise in book banning attempts across the state, according to the American Library Association (ALA) and free speech advocacy group PEN America.

Now, DeSantis has signed HB 1285, which he said will limit the amount of book objections that can be made by people who don't have a child who is accessing school materials. Parents of children in the school districts or using district materials will still be able to object to an unlimited amount of material.

MORE: Report: LGBTQ content drove book banning efforts in 2023

According to DeSantis, the book transparency efforts were aimed at removing "explicit" material from schools. Critics of these policies argued their vague restrictions would lead to censorship.

In the first half of this school year alone, PEN America found that Florida experienced the highest number of ban cases with 3,135 attempts across 11 school districts.

More than 1,600 of those book banning attempts took place in Escambia County Public Schools , which is currently being sued by book publisher Penguin Random House, authors and PEN America for removing hundreds of books off shelves for review.

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These groups found that political groups like Moms for Liberty and politicized individuals are behind large swaths of book challenges nationwide, sometimes demanding the censorship of multiple titles -- often dozens or hundreds at a time.

The vast majority of the books impacted by these banning efforts are written by or about people of color and the LGBTQ community, according to the ALA.

MORE: Former librarian sues Texas county, alleges she was fired for refusing to remove books

DeSantis' office said the recent change to these policies "protects schools from activists trying to politicize and disrupt a district’s book review process."

"What's happened though, is you have some people who are taking the curriculum transparency and are trying to weaponize that for political purposes that involves objecting to normal books," said DeSantis in a Tuesday press conference. "Some of the books I saw in the teachers lounge, the classic books, there's people that will try to get to that because they wanna create a narrative. It's like, 'oh, all these books, we don't know what's lawful or not to have.' That's nonsense."

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

I tested Samsung's flagship laptop and it gave my MacBook Pro a run for its money

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra

Pros and cons.

• Large OLED touchscreen display
• High-performance laptop with discrete GPU
• Fantastic battery life and efficiency
• Useful Samsung features (if you can use them)
• Large, physical trackpad leads to false inputs
• Noticeable amount of bloatware/ads for the price

ZDNET's buying advice

On the tail end of spring-season laptop releases, Samsung's Galaxy Book 4 Ultra shines with one of the best displays on the market -- now available with touchscreen support, performance configuration options that should satisfy content creators, work users, and even gamers, and battery life that will impress everyone.

The Ultra laptop still suffers from similar setbacks as its predecessor, which I tested last year , including the large, physical trackpad that either doesn't register taps at times or becomes too sensitive to inputs (the duality of this trackpad is quite baffling, I know), the lack of a full-size SD card slot, and a few too many Samsung-owned apps (read: bloatware, if you're not a Samsung user) and ad pop-ups that shouldn't be a talking point at this price.

You can expect to pay between $2,400 to $3,000 for the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, which is a big ask, but the performance and hardware package you're getting in return justifies the price point. My buying advice is to wait for one of Samsung's sales events (usually during major holidays) and take advantage of its trade-in program, which can deduct up to $600 more. Case in point: you can pick up the highest configuration, which comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM, for $500 off at the time of writing.

Specifications

How i tested the samsung galaxy book 4 ultra.

I've used the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra as my daily driver for the past two weeks. My normal usage includes browsing the web, answering emails, writing articles like this, watching videos on YouTube and Netflix, and editing photos and videos for work and leisure. 

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra comes in a new Moonstone Gray color that looks very similar to last year's Graphite.

Most of the time, the laptop is either hooked to an external monitor (meaning I try to run as many windows of apps and services at the same time as possible) or used in tandem with my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the help of Quick Share and Second Screen. Both cross-platform features worked very smoothly, though they're mainly compatible with Samsung devices and Samsung devices only.

For performance testing, I ran Cinebench 2024 to calculate the single, multi, and GPU scores of the laptop, while also taking notes on day-to-day aspects like fan speed and loudness, system temperature, frame rate drops, and more.

What are the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra's best features?

Big, touchscreen, OLED display:  Need I say more? When I reviewed last year's Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, I mentioned that "a display that is both touchscreen-enabled and glossy is a recipe for a visual disaster." With the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, Samsung basically said "Hold my OLED," and gave its 16-inch display touchscreen support and a new anti-reflective cover glass. These two features make interacting with a laptop this powerful one of the most intuitive, visually satisfying experiences I've tested. 

Also:  I tested Dell's most underrated laptop and it has clever features at an accessible price

Stretching out an image in order to erase blemishes in Photoshop just hits different when you can pinch-zoom with your fingers. (Now if only Samsung can add S Pen support.) While the Galaxy Book's new display is not as anti-glare as say, Samsung's S95D TV or Galaxy S24 Ultra , I've had no problem using it beside the biggest window at ZDNET's New York office. Mind you we're situated on the highest floor of the building, so sunlight is the second most prevalent thing after awkward elevator rides.

Spacious keyboard with surprising tactility:  I'm not as passionate about keyboards as my ZDNET colleague Cesar Cadenas , but I type enough every day to have a feel for what's good and what's not. That's to say I rate the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra keyboard a 7/10; it's spacious, with a full-on number pad for the data crunchers, a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to the Windows AI assistant, and quiet yet tactile feedback on each key that invites you to keep typing and typing.

The keys are evenly spaced, with a number pad, a Copilot key, and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor.

The one quirk with the laptop is that it takes a worrying amount of time to boot up. I often found myself staring blankly at the screen after pressing and holding the power button, only for the Samsung logo to appear right as I was prepared to search for a charger. 

No, seriously; the charger, which only fields one USB-C port, is massive.

Battery life that lasts and lasts:  That is my flawless segue into charging and battery life, two other aspects I'm a big fan of with the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. Save for the unwieldy, cheese-slice-sized charger that comes in the box, there's not much for me to complain about when it comes to powering the laptop and its endurance. 

Also: I tested LG's 17-inch Gram Pro and it's the big-screen, lightweight laptop to beat

On average, I got roughly ten hours of usage before needing to top up the device. That's impressive for a 16-inch, 3K OLED laptop that's powered by a discrete graphics card. When I did need to charge, the proprietary power brick gave the Galaxy Book a 55% charge after 30 minutes.

Intel Core Ultra and discrete GPU make all the difference : You're not wrong to chalk up the improved efficiency of the Galaxy Book to the new Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 chips powering the unit. I'd do the same. When you combine the backend capabilities of Intel's NPU with a discrete Nvidia GeForce 4050/4070 GPU that's no longer the newest on the market but still great, you get a system that runs most apps and services fluidly, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Lightroom, and gaming on Steam. 

Here are the Cinebench scores, compared to competing laptops, for reference. While the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra's scores won't set any records, they're in line with the industry standard and competitive with Apple's flagship MacBook, which is great to see.

What I'd like to see in the next model 

Less bloatware and ads, more features for everyone:  For a near-$3,000 laptop, the amount of pre-installed apps, pop-up ads to download McAfee's antivirus service, and Samsung-exclusive features lessens what would otherwise be a premium user experience. Such things are common on cheaper laptops because they allow manufacturers to offload much of the retail cost. In Samsung's case, it's charging more for a laptop that's not shy about selling you services you may or may not need. That's a no-no for me.

Also: The best laptops of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

A smaller haptic trackpad:  If I could fix anything hardware-related, it would be the trackpad. While the abnormally large trackpad on the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is useful in theory, the off-centered placement of it meant I'd frequently move the mouse or, worse yet, register a click when my palm was simply resting down. 

The trackpad is also a physical one, meaning it presses down instead of mimicking the feel of it via haptic motors like on the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS . As a result, when I did want to click, drag, or tap on something, I had to find the "sweet spot" on the trackpad to register it properly. Otherwise, pressing too close to the corners and edges would oftentimes not register anything at all.

Final thought  

While it's easy to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra as the "MacBook Pro for Samsung users," several upgrades this year, including the Intel Core Ultra chip for AI applications, touchscreen display, and improved battery life, make the laptop a formidable pickup for just about every Windows user. Just note that if you're a content creator who relies on full-sized SD cards to transfer photos and videos, you'll want to pick up a dongle or docking station to work with the Galaxy Book. There's also no charging port on the laptop's right side, so you'll want to think twice when situating near an outlet.

Alternatives to consider 

Featured reviews.