Tag: book reviews

Posts with this tag are identified by writer Cortni Merritt as related to discussions of book reviews for self-published and trad-published authors.

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Editor’s Pick: Book Recommendations for Veterans Day

Close up of American flag on a blurred background; offering discounts to veterans beginning Veterans Day 2024

Every year on November 11, we honor the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country. This year, I’d like to offer a short list of book recommendations for veterans you know, or if you are interested in military history and literature.

First and foremost, please, take time to thank and hug a veteran today. Their service and their sacrifice deserve to be remembered every day of the year.

As a daughter, sister, and longtime partner of military service members, veterans from all branches hold a special place in my heart. Whether it’s a story of service by land, by air, or by sea, tales of military life add value to many book genres and categories. Often, when we think of books by veterans or about military life, we think of memoirs of famous generals or wartime leaders, but books that feature our brave men and women in uniform come in many varieties and in practically every genre.

While, of course, I could put together a list of some well-known bestsellers that I recommend, today, I’d like to make some quieter suggestions of books I’ve read in the past couple years, written by lesser-known authors, that both celebrate the many and varied lives of veterans and that touched me deeply and personally.

Of course, due to the nature of some content, reader discretion advised.

Jakovenko: From the Steppes of Ukraine to the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame

 

Jakovenko: From the Steppes of Ukraine to the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame book cover

Jakovenko: From the Steppes of Ukraine to the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Vladamir “Jake” Jakovenko

Veteran Memoir Recommendation

Tagged: adventure, Vietnam, military lit, memoir, special ops, fatherhood, immigrant author

Jake’s tale is a wild one, full of honor, bravery, humor, and incredible resilience during a thirty-year career. As a US Army Ranger, now inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Jake completed two tours in Vietnam, was a SCUBA team combat diver, and performed counter-terrorism special operations. His funny and poignant tell-all provides fresh insight and honesty alongside a sense of adventure that kept me guessing what would happen to him and where he would end up next.

If you’re looking for a riveting true-life action-adventure story, check it out.

Eighty-6: My Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name…on This Dark Path My Father, Allow My End to Be Granted with Light. Amen

 

Eighty-6: My Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name...on This Dark Path My Father, Allow My End to Be Granted with Light. Amen. book cover.

Eighty-6: My Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name…on This Dark Path My Father, Allow My End to Be Granted with Light. Amen.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

By Derrick Pickney

Inspirational Veteran Memoir Recommendation

Tagged: veteran, military lit, memoir, Black author, inspirational

A Purple Heart recipient, Derrick shares his stories of bravery and true lessons learned in childhood, on the front lines, and after coming home. As Derrick analyzes, many veterans like himself suffered traumatic experiences in childhood that primed them for their years of military service, and which is then complicated by that service. When those veterans return home, and once their enlistment ends, they may feel unprepared for the challenges of civilian life, including processing of their traumas. Although it is a difficult challenge, Derrick has chosen to attempt to give outsiders an understanding of this complex cycle of trauma in military veterans from his position within it.

If you’re looking for a thought-provoking journey of reflection on hard truths, check it out.

Vietnam From 35,000 Feet: A Stewardess Story

 

Vietnam from 35,000 Feet: A Stewardess Story by Joan DeRosa

Vietnam From 35,000 Feet: A Stewardess Story

By Joan Derosa

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: romance, military lit, women’s lit, based on true experiences 

At the height of the fighting in Vietnam, one American airline remained assigned to the route of shuttling soldiers to, and body bags from, the battlefields. Based on true experiences, this novel follows Christina as she stewards these soldiers through this moment in history, splitting her time between being airborne and as a volunteer Red Cross nurse. From this unique perspective, she bravely faces it all. With the drama of war around her, she can’t stop herself from falling for a handsome reconnaissance air force pilot, and there’s nothing like danger to fuel the flames of passion and young love. Full of tragedy, heroism, a touch of humor, and a unique perspective on patriotism, this novel will grab ahold your heart.

Do You Have a Book Recommendation for Me?

So that’s it! My short list of book recommendations for Veterans Day 2025.

If you have suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below about what you think I should add to my To Be Read list.

Happy reading.

10% Discount for Military Veterans

The service and sacrifice of all military service members should be honored every day of the year. This is one reason why SRD Editing Services offers a 10% discount on all editing services to active duty or veteran military service members from any branch.

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Announcing: SRD Editing Services Quarterly Newsletter

Candy and tiles that spell "join us"; announcing newsletter launch

Since 2018, SRD Editing Services has helped hundreds of writers in fiction and nonfiction genres turn their dreams of a book into a reality.

For the first time, we’ll bring together and introduce all our writers and interested readers to one another through a quarterly newsletter!

Although the blog and social media channels have been where interested readers could find information about our various authors and their books, readers of our quarterly newsletter will find a catalog of those publications all in one place. Additionally, the newsletter will include brief updates on what’s happening with the SRD Editing Services editors, business news, and even exclusive discounts to subscribers.

The first quarterly newsletter is scheduled for distribution on Friday, November 22, to give readers a chance to review the enclosed booklist and save those great gift ideas for their Black Friday or Small Business Saturday shopping.

Hint: SRD Editing Services will be offering a special deal on Small Business Saturday that you don’t want to miss! 

To begin receiving the quarterly email newsletter in your Inbox, fill out the Form HERE.

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Editor’s Pick: Horror Novel Recommendations for October (and Beyond)

Cover of the book "One of Us Knows" by Alyssa Cole

The countdown to Halloween has begun! And if the crisp air and pumpkins have you craving a terrifying tale, I have a few horror novel recommendations for you. 

Now, horror isn’t my specialty genre, but every year in October, I binge listen to audiobooks that focus on this oh-so-appropriate genre. Some are fun-time spooky and some are downright nightmare inducing. This month is off to a great start for me – connect with me on Goodreads for real-time updates of my reading list. But this year is the first time I’ve put together a short list to recommend to readers who might just be looking for a good horror audiobook fix. 

I also enjoy a good horror tale in the summer, for whatever reason. The sun is out and shining and I’m lying by the pool. Time for murder and carnage, ghosts and goblins, I guess. 🤷‍♀️ 

Now, generally after I read or listen to something, I post a private and very casual review to my friends on social media, which sometimes makes its way to Goodreads, although not usually. The horror novel recommendations you’ll find below here are reposts of what I tell my friends and family about these books. 

Since October has already begun, and there’s way too many in my reading history for me to keep the list short if I include everything I recommend, I’ve narrowed it down to just three horror sub-categories: fantasy horror, psychological thriller, and horror featuring women of color as protagonists (two appear in this category below: one YA appropriate and one for adults). 

It may go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Reader discretion advised.

The Salt Grows Heavy

Book cover: Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw; editors picks top books read in 2023

The Salt Grows Heavy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Cassandra Khaw

Fantasy-Horror Recommendation

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit, short story

I covered this incredible short novel in my blog, Editor’s Pick: Top Books Read in 2023, so you’re welcome to check that out if you want the full (and extended!) review. 

To what I’ve said there, I’ll add this: this is one of the few horror novel recommendations that maintains its place on my list, even as I read more in this genre, and I’m growing to love this author more with each exposure to her work. 

I listened to another short story from this author in October 2022, returned to her to listen to this in October 2023, and have now returned to her again for my horror reading list of October 2024. She continues to impress me each and every time. 

The Last House on Needless Street

Book cover for The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

The Last House on Needless Street

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By Catriona Ward

Psychological Thriller-Horror Recommendation

Tagged: 21st century lit, LGBTQ, psychology, horror

This incredible book was an Honorable Mention in my blog, Top 5 Books of 2022, so you might want to take a look there for the full review. 

What I can say is that this has stuck with me over the past two years. As someone with a background in psychology, I have to sometimes be careful about what types of psychological thrillers I get myself in — as they tend to hit deeper nerves than other types of thrillers — but as I continue to read more novels with depictions of mental illness, I continue to think about how well done this one is. Since the time of reading this, I have also listened to books by Mary Higgins-Clark and  Cormac McCarthy, who are both superb writers in depicting mental illness, and I would maintain that this book holds up against those larger, perhaps more well-known writers. 

I predicted when I published my Top Books of 2022 blog that this book would “stick with me for a long time,” and here we are, two years after I read it, and it’s showing up on this short list of horror novel recommendations. I love it when a prediction comes true. 😁

Horror Novel Recommendations Featuring Women of Color Protagonists

For the final category of my horror novel recommendations, I’d like to feature two books that star not only female protagonists but women of color specifically. There has long been discussion in the publishing community about how women of color are not featured enough in the  horror genre, and I agree! #representationmatters

The first book is one I read just this past summer of 2024, so it’s fresh in my mind and still haunts me randomly as I go about my life. The second I read in summer of 2023 and is for a YA audience. I particularly enjoyed the narrative’s delivery of the character’s paranoia in the audiobook, and I hope you will too. 

Both these titles include content warnings for hate crime violence and abuse based on race, as well as depictions of pretty severe mental health crises. The first also receives content warnings for harm to a child. 

One of Us Knows

Cover of the book "One of Us Knows" by Alyssa Cole

One of Us Knows: A Thriller

By Alyssa Cole

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: horror, adventure, psychology, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, 21st century lit

4.5 stars. Oooo! Spooky! A psychological thriller for your summer reading list. Very well done. 👏👏👏 

Disassociative Identity Disorder (previously known as “multiple personality disorder”) is not particularly well understood or depicted in general pop culture media (books, TV, etc.), and I’m certainly no expert, but I’d say this is extremely well done. Our main narrator is one of the two hosts of this person’s system, a queer Black woman in her early thirties, and she is co-narrated by several of her/their other identities. 👉👈 

While people with DID often experience gaps in time due to various personalities controlling the body’s actions and memories, this novel shows how terrifying that really can become when your whole personhood ends up the center of a mystery that urgently needs solving before more people die or disappear under strange circumstances… 😱 

So while one of them must know what’s going on, all of them will have to work together to save themselves using only the pieces of information available to each. 

Terrifying. Funny. Deeply disturbing depiction of true-to-life trauma caused by people of MAGA ilk. It’ll have you cheering and laughing and gasping in the same scene.👌  

Reminded me of The Shining and The Menu and Last House on Needless Street.

Obviously content warnings. No SA but violence, hate crimes, abuse/neglect of children, mental illness, and more. 💔

White Smoke

Cover of the book "White Smoke" by Tiffany D. Jackson

White Smoke

By Tiffany D. Jackson 

⭐⭐⭐ 

Tagged: psychology, women’s lit, YA, 21st century lit

3.5 stars. A mid-summer ghost story that actually felt like fun summer reading. 

A lot of YA tropes mixed with standard ghost story stock that felt like a fresh twist on some classics I probably read in middle or early high school and just can’t remember now, like “Fear Street.”👻 

This was fresh and modern, with an angsty MC who learns a few valuable lessons along the way. 👩‍🎤 Her dad is in an interracial relationship, and she’s learning to adjust to having a White stepmother and stepsister. She’s also struggling with her own mental health in a few different ways. 

At times it was a bit predictable or obvious, but maybe that’s because I’m an adult who is familiar with the formula. And at times I was honestly questioning what would happen next. Generally, I enjoyed it. ❤️

Do You Have Horror Novel Recommendation for Me?

So that’s it! This is my short list of horror novel recommendations for October 2024. 

If you have suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below to let me know what you think I should add to my horror To Be Read list.

Happy reading, and have a great/horrific spooky season! 

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Writers Talking Writing: Creative Writing Advice from Questlove

Cover of the book "Creative Quest" by Questlove, full of excellent creative writing advice

Last year, I had the pleasure of listening to several audiobooks from some amazing writers, several of who provided excellent creative writing advice. In today’s blog, I want to highlight some of the best creative writing tips and techniques from the book Creative Quest, by the very talented Questlove.

Why is Creativity Important? According to Questlove

It might seem like the value of creativity is obvious (at least, to those of us who love great writing), but in the mind of a creative genius who writes in both words and musical notes, the importance may be slightly different than what people might assume. 

In this book, Questlove emphasizes the value of self-expression, describing how creativity allows people to express themselves and their unique perspectives. By utilizing your creativity, you may find means of communicating emotions, thoughts, and experiences that may be difficult to convey. Allowing ourselves room to explore creative solutions to problems is crucial for development in many fields, not only our artistic endeavors. Creativity allows us to address complex challenges and come up with novel solutions.  

Engaging in creative endeavors can also bring us personal fulfillment and satisfaction and fosters personal growth. Creating something original and meaningful is deeply rewarding and can boost your self-esteem and feelings of connectedness with the world. Through creative and artistic expression, we can transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries. Our creativity can connect us, bridging gaps to convey ideas and emotions in ways that resonate with others. As we push our own boundaries, take risks, and learn from our experiences, we challenge ourselves to always be improving and learning. 

Additionally, creativity shapes and enriches culture. Artists and creators are the architects of cultural evolution, and their contributions have lasting impacts on society. Innovation and progress are driven by creative and critical thinking in many fields, including technology, science, and business. It leads to the development of new products, services, and ideas that can transform industries and improve lives. 

Lastly, our creativity brings joy and inspiration to both ourselves as creators as well as our audiences. The joy of experiencing art, music, literature, and other forms of creative expression is a fundamental part of the human experience.

While Questlove’s opinions and views may not be specifically creative writing advice, his overall analysis on what makes creativity important as part of the human experience is essential for everyone, whether you consider yourself creative already or are trying to improve your creative skills. 

Check out this interview with Questlove, “In Pursuit of the Creative Life.“  

Top 5 Creative Writing Tips and Techniques from QuestLove

Creative Quest offers a range of creative writing advice, emphasizing the creative process and artistic expression. But his top five tips for creative writing boil down to these:

Tips for Creative Writing: #1. Embrace Collaboration

Working with others can enhance your creativity and help you find new perspectives. In particular, Questlove stresses the value of working with others because it can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to your creative process. Collaboration can challenge your assumptions, lead to unexpected breakthroughs, and create a sense of camaraderie that fuels your thoughts and imagination when writing alone. Whether you’re a book writer working with an editor, a screenwriter collaborating with a team, or a musician jamming with other musicians, learning to work with a team is a key aspect of the creative journey.

Tips for Creative Writing: #2. Find Your Voice

It’s essential to develop a unique and authentic artistic voice. As Questlove emphasizes, authenticity is key in creative work. Discovering and nurturing your unique voice or style sets you apart from others and helps you resonate with your audience. This process involves self-discovery and self-expression, and he gives the creative writing advice that you should draw from personal experiences and emotions or on the observations you make about the experiences and emotions of others.

Tips for Creative Writing: #3. Continuous Learning

You must constantly seek inspiration and expand your knowledge to keep your creativity high. The book promotes the idea that creativity is an ongoing journey. Questlove suggests that you should never stop seeking inspiration and expanding your knowledge. This means being curious, exploring new fields, and being open to diverse influences. Continuous learning keeps your creative wellspring from running dry.

Tips for Creative Writing: #4. Overcome Creative Blocks

Everyone encounters creative blocks (or “writer’s block”). They are common, and everyone needs creative writing advice and strategies for overcoming these obstacles. These strategies can include changing your environment, seeking inspiration from other art forms, or simply embracing moments of boredom and frustration as part of the creative process. By acknowledging and addressing these blocks, you can keep your creativity flowing.

Check out our blog on Oblique Strategies, an app that can help when you experience writer’s block.

Tips for Creative Writing: #5. Creativity in Everyday Life

Lastly is the most straightforward of the book’s creative writing advice: find creativity in your everyday experiences! Your own life is often the best source of inspiration. Be present and observant; take note of small details; and draw from the people, places, and moments around you. Creative ideas can be born from the most ordinary of circumstances, and the ability to recognize their potential is a valuable skill.

Does Creativity Contribute to Success?

Yes! Absolutely. Questlove offers excellent creative writing advice for achieving success in the artistic fields. 

To achieve at a high level, you must consistently work on your craft. Success often comes from putting in the time and effort to hone your skills and create a body of work over time. Maybe you’ve heard the saying that it takes years to become an overnight success. Or maybe you’re familiar with the idea that something like success happens “a little a time, then all at once.” The more consistent you are, the more ready you’ll be when it happens. 

Of course, to be successful in any creative endeavor, you must have a deep passion. True success often stems from a genuine love for what you do, which can sustain you through challenges and setbacks. If you truly love what you do, you’ll have to learn to take risks at it. Push your boundaries. Success can come from venturing beyond your comfort zone, embracing the unknown, and being adaptable. In the ever-evolving creative landscape, the ability to adapt to change and stay relevant is crucial. Success often involves embracing new technologies and trends while staying true to your vision.

As you begin to build a business, an author platform, and a brand around your writing, you will have to network and build relationships. Not only for marketing, promotion, and audience connection but also for potential and opportunities to collaborate with others. Success is often intertwined with building and maintaining relationships in your creative community, which is why it’s essential among creative writing tips and techniques. Learning from mentors and studying the work of those who inspire you is a valuable path to success. Mentorship and a willingness to learn from others can accelerate your growth. There is a high value and long-term results in networking, collaborating with others, and supporting your peers. However, it is a delicate balance between the creative process and the business side of art. In this book, Questlove offers advice on how to navigate the entertainment industry, negotiate deals, and protect your creative integrity.

Lastly, try to recognize that success is not just about external recognition but also about self-awareness and self-care. It’s important to reflect on your work, maintain your well-being, and find your own measures of success.

These pieces of creative writing advice underscore that success in the creative world is multifaceted, and it’s not solely about fame or fortune. It’s about finding fulfillment in your work, making meaningful contributions to your chosen field, and continuing to evolve as an artist. Success is a journey that involves a combination of hard work, passion, and a willingness to adapt and grow.

The Invaluable Value of Creative Writing Advice

Now, I’ve highlighted some of the key elements I found in the book Creative Quest, but if you’re looking for a great read, there’s a lot more to be learned. It offers a holistic approach to nurturing and enhancing your creative process, emphasizing that it’s not just about the end product but also about the journey and the mindset. The best piece of creative writing advice is to remember that creativity is a fluid and dynamic process that can be nurtured and cultivated over time.

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Editor’s Pick: Top Books Read in 2023

Collage 10 book covers of editors picks top books read in 2023 entire list

The SRD Editor's Pick: Top Books Read in 2023

Welcome back for the second year of the SRD Editor’s pick of top books read this year! (Check out the 2022 list here.) 

As a refresher, I love tracking my audiobook listens and physical book reading via Goodreads (let’s connect!), and I typically get my materials from the county library using the Libby by Overdrive app. I love it! And the audiobook experience is perfect for me. 

So in 2023, I borrowed 151 audiobooks from my library. My total reading tracked on Goodreads is 154 books – which is more than double my goal of 75! 

Don’t ask me to pick a single favorite – I just can’t! 

But I did narrow it down to a shortlist. 

Like last year, I posted my preliminary, casual reviews of these books on Facebook to my personal circle. Below, you’ll find that original, informal and sometimes knee-jerk reaction review, but in this blog for my comprehensive editor’s list of top books read in 2023, I’ve included a bit more of my thoughts in the extended review. 

In the Libby app, I also tag books to keep track of the genres and main themes/types of books I read, out of curiosity. You’ll find that info below as well. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

These book reviews may contain some details that could affect your reading of the book. But, I tried not to give away too much. 

This page contains affiliate links. SRD Editing Services may receive a commission if you purchase a product through one of our affiliate links. Thank you!

The Salt Grows Heavy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Cassandra Khaw

OMG. What an intense and beautiful but insanely gory and graphic and literary excellence of a horror love story fever dream. I don’t even know. By far, the best true horror in my spooky October readings.

Book cover: Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw; editors picks top books read in 2023

The writing in this is superb. Descriptions and word choice that will soak through your skin and bite you with their beauty while the content of what’s being said will melt your brain. I can’t even with this writer.

The mermaid. She was abducted. And her children have teeth. She burns down the kingdom and escapes into the woods with a fearless nonbinary plague doctor who (spoiler) turns out to be analogous to Frankenstein’s monster. They stumble across a society of unaging children in the woods who are under control of three “saints.” (Not sus at all…) Chaos and destruction ensue.

It’s graphic, can’t-look-away horror not quite like anything else I’ve ever read. I keep trying to picture how you’d make it into a movie and i don’t think you could. I think it’d have to be anime. It’s so violent and extreme i don’t know how you’d show a live action representation.

CW for all the physical, visceral horror things and cult-type abuse with children. (No SA).

Extended Review

In October, my reads are exclusively horror/thriller themed, and looking back from the end of the year, it’s easy to see why this made its way onto my editor’s pick top books list. The language flowed over me like syrup, and many months later, I remain stuck in the unique, fascinating, gruesome world. 

Although I didn’t delve into it too much in my original review, the themes of motherhood and identity weave through every paragraph of this revenge tale. While the mermaid character explores her intense storyline, the plague doctor’s path explores deep LGBTQ+ meanings. Placing both of their narratives (the mermaid and the doctor) in spotlights that circle each other keeps the trance woven as the carnage piles up around them. 

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit, short story

Good Inside: The Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Dr. Becky Kennedy

OMG. I loved this so much. This might be my new favorite recommendation for parenting books, like for real y’all. So good. For both mothers and fathers. For kids of any age. For struggles of any kind.

Book cover Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

The basic premise is: you are good inside. Your kid is good inside. Either of you might be a good person having a hard time/struggling through a tough situation.

It’s overwhelmingly positive, with easily understood advice that anyone can begin implementing immediately, and not just in parenting relationships but in others as well. It has personal stories and large-scale stats and ties together both micro and macro.

It’s hard not to ramble about how much i love this book and why. In the span of a few hours, it helped me tie together my personal experience with scientific best practices. It helped explain and dissolve some of my confusion.

I want a print copy. So i can highlight things and put stickie notes in it and reference it as needed. 

Extended Review

While I don’t specifically choose the books on my editor’s pick top books of the year list because of their genre, if I had to narrow down and choose only one nonfiction book this year, this would be it. Perfect for parents of children of all ages. My main takeaway, months later, that I’ve been able to implement and see results in my own life is the idea that everyone is good inside, they might be going through a hard time. Including you. 

It’s possible to change your communication style. It’s possible to use compassion and empathy to approach your children to change their behaviors. It’s possible to help kids grow into the people you know they can be. It’s not only possible–it’s your job as a parent. And I think this book will, for me, personally help me get there. 

Now, I did just receive a copy of this book as a holiday gift. (Hooray!) I may revisit and post a more extended review next year, after I’ve had a chance to re-read and learn more from it.  

Tagged: psychology, 21st cent. lit., mom lit., funny, self-help, dad lit 

Moon Witch, Spider King

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Marlon James

This may be one of the most incredible things I’ve ever read. I’m still processing it. Black History month book 4.

It’s epic high fantasy adventure with an all-Black cast, brought to you by a Jamaican author, so the voices are truly unique and authentic.

Book cover for Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James

Picture Game of Thrones in its level of backstory and intricate politics and character storylines. But instead of dragons, we have other magic in the world in direct connection with the gods. Mainly shape shifters that can turn from human to big cats (lions and jaguars) but many other magics as well.

Our MC — we start following her at age 11 and by the end she is 177. She is cursed. A witch with powers she cannot fully control and a destiny she strongly resents once she discovers it. Then when she embraces it, all hell breaks loose and the gods should tremble.

It’s vulgar. Like, John Waters and Cardi B lyrics level raunchy. And violent. Like Tarentino-level violent. And its completely unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s the Odyssey. And Gulliver’s Travels. And Gladiator. And Beloved. And Blade. With a Jamaican-ish female MC.

Apparently it’s the second in a series. I didn’t read the first (but i added it to my list) and the third is pending release. If you like intricate, epic high fantasy with fantastic world building and strong Black female lead characters, then take the plunge.  

Extended Review

So I’m no stranger to paranormal romance, and this takes the cake. Not the type of book I typically enjoy, I am a bit surprised this ended up on my editor’s pick of top books for 2023, but looking back over the competition this year, it still stands above many of the other books I listened to and read. 

I said this before, but it bears repeating, this book is not a YA fantasy. It’s smutty and raw and graphic with both violence and pretty extreme sex. It gets in-the-jungle levels of dirty. And another about a powerful magical woman who is out for revenge, even if it destroys her in the process. There are plenty of angry powerful women out there, but if B. Kiddo from Kill Bill was the Witch Doctor character from the Diablo video game, you might have something close to this MC. Truly one of a kind. 

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit, romance, political, mom lit

Remarkably Bright Creatures

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Shelby van Pelt

OMG. So i just told you how i love stories from animal perspectives? One of our three MCs here is a Giant Pacific Octopus named Marcellus. And i love him.

Cover of book Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt; among editor's pick for top books read in 2023

Overall, the story is heartwarming, bringing together three disparate characters with an intergenerational mystery. It’s got elements of romance, some light action, some family friendly humor. Really just delightful.

And then there’s Marcellus, the real star of the show.

I also loved that this audiobook included an interview with the author, giving us some behind the scenes insight and fun writerly discussion. So if you read/listen to this and love it, i recommend the bonus interview as well. 

Extended Review

Of all the books on the editor’s pick top books list, this is definitely the most wholesome. At some point this year, I started to realize what “upmarket fiction” means, and this book is one of the ones that I would put on that list. (I might not be right, but the genre is a concept I’m still trying to wrap my head around, and the best explanations I’ve seen for it are very much “I know it when I see it” type explanations…so I feel like this counts.) 

I love books with animals as first-person POV narrators, and for me, Marcellus steals the show. However, I also enjoy that the other two MCs whose perspectives we (readers) get to enjoy are of vastly different ages, backgrounds, and points of view. And I appreciate that the main MC (as it were) is an older woman. Many of the MCs I enjoyed following along with this year were in their forties or older, and I’m finding it very refreshing to get away from YA more often than not. You can still go on adventures and learn lessons and enjoy life (and even fall in or find love) without being young and innocent. I’ve been here for it all year, for sure. 

Tagged: fantasy, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., mom lit., mystery

We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want out of Your Relationship

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book cover We Over Me by Khadeen & Devale Ellis

 

By Khadeen and Devale Ellis

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed everything about this book. I came to it knowing nothing about this couple and walked away feeling like i not only knew them but i knew myself better.

So as someone who wasn’t familiar with either of their individual journeys or their combined journey as a couple, i appreciated the first half of the book giving me that insight and showing me how they built up their trust, support, and communication over the years to achieve a healthy, balanced, and happy relationship now. The first half of the book was very insightful.

The second half felt like it switched into a more focused directive of giving advice, which was welcomed. As a successful celebrity (who wouldn’t call themselves that) couple in their 40s, they offer solid advice on how to make a relationship work for 20+ years and how to raise 4 boys. (lawdamercy)

Overall i really liked what they each (and combined) had to say. I like how they told their story and i think they offer very valuable advice about teamwork, marriage, and parenting. Not to mention business and work-life balance.

One of the key things that struck me is that you have to be in love with marriage, the idea of it, the committment of it, to make it work. There will be good days and bad days and longer periods when you have to recommit yourself. The “happily ever after” is up to the individuals, and it’s ongoing work.

Extended Review

This year, a lot of the self-help I enjoyed focused on either parenting strategies and skills, or relationship improvement. There are many places you can go to get relationship advice, and one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard over the years is “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with.” Well, there’s a lot to admire about the Ellis’s relationship, to me, and I think I’d be willing to trade places with Khadeen, so I wanted to see what I could learn from them. 

After enjoying what they had to say in this book and how they put their perspectives together to explain their joint philosophy and approach to life, I tried listening to a couple episodes of their podcast. Now, I’m not much of a podcast person anyway, and I generally don’t like podcasts that are unstructured conversations between small groups of people, so ultimately I found that their podcast was not for me. I liked the structure and approach to the material in the organized presentation of their book, but if you like the book and you generally like spontaneous conversation-style podcasts, you should check that out as well. 

Tagged: psychology, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., romance, sports, mom lit., self-help, dad lit, memoir

Honorable Mention

Book cover When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill; honorable mention for editor's pick for top books read in 2023When Women Were Dragons
By Kelly Barnhill
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit., romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit., historical lit., YA

4.5 stars. Loved this historical fiction fantasy. Strong LGBTQ romance(s). True metaphorical coming of age tale. Deep themes of mothering.

What would happen if, in 1955, over half a million women suddenly, miraculously, without explanation or specific warning, turned into dragons? Real life, scaly, flying dragons.

So many things could happen. And do.

This story was both solidly crafted and surprising. Refreshing in its unique details yet familiar in many of its tropes. It’s lovely. A unique beauty. A pearl among emeralds.

The Candy HouseBook cover for The Candy House: A Novel by Jennifer Egan
By Jennifer Egan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: adventure, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., LGBTQ+, sci-fi 

Exquisite. Brilliant. This is a deep sci-fi masterpiece that I can’t recommend enough.

When i was in grad school, I read “A Visit from the Goon Squad” from Egan, and it turns out that this book is not only in the same universe, but also contains some of the same characters, giving us insight, foresight, and hindsight on all their lives. I’m going to have to re-read Goon Squad to more fully see all the connections (it’s been 10+ years), but I’d be very willing to do it.

We have neurodivergent characters. LGBTQ+ characters. Interracial relationships. All my favorites from the “woke” world of today.

What if you could upload your consciousness into the cloud? What if you could also access others’ memories in the cloud to re-experience events from other points of view that lived through them? What would the tech geniuses who created this reality look like? How would espionage function? How would this impact everyday people?

Egan probes into all these questions and more in a strangely real but slightly dystopian depiction of the current and upcoming world. We jump through character perspectives and various timelines in vignettes that glimpse into one another and ultimately, reveal an overall truth in the big picture.

Like the fable of 5 blind men who touch different parts of an elephant and describe the beast based on their limited knowledge (“It’s like a tree trunk!” “It’s like a snake!”), this novel collaborates in all its various parts to form an image of a massive, new beast — the pink elephant in the room, as it were, whose heart is technology and its effects on our daily existence.

It isn’t until the end when you can step back from the individual puzzle pieces to see the mosaic as a whole. And the image may be unlike what you expected and reveal some truth that you normally only glimpse in sections. In the end, it may be a self-portrait, warts and all.

Book cover for SensitiveSensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too Much World
By Jen Granneman and Andre Solo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: psychology, 21st century lit., women’s lit., mom lit., science, self-help, dad lit.

Ever been told you’re “too sensitive”?… What does that even mean? What’s a “normal” level of sensitive and what is “too much”?

Sensitivity, like so many things in life, may be a spectrum. Individuals are more or less sensitive than each other in a variety of ways and that sensitivity can adjust over time and according to context.

You might be highly sensitive to tactile sensations or pain. You might be sensitive to other people’s emotions and needs. You might be sensitive to changes in the environment or a situation. You may be sensitive in myriad other ways.

You’re not “too sensitive” and you don’t need to “toughen up” or feel guilty that you’re affected by things in the world. You don’t need to buy into the “toughness myth” that so frequently tells you that being sensitive in any capacity is wrong. If you’re an emotionally sensitive person in particular, you may need to learn to harness the power of your sensitivity. You may even need to be told that is an option. This book will give you all that and more.

Not only do the authors understand and give examples of what it’s like to be sensitive — whatever that means to you and for you — but there’s a loving and compassionate presentation of new information, namely, how can you love forward and embrace success in today’s world by using the powers that your sensitivity affords you.

Demon CopperheadBook Cover for Demon Copperhead; one of the editor's picks for top books of 2023
By Barbara Kingsolver
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: adventure, 21st cent. lit., romance, true crime, sports, LGBTQ+, memoir, dad lit., YA

Destined to become a true literary classic. Modeled after “David Copperfield” and hitting every classical structural point, this novel really is a masterpiece. The author uses metaphor and simile like they should be used, giving characters unique voices and a sense of place through language choice and colloquial expression. An exemplary piece of writing.

Little Daemon’s mom brought him into her under educated and addiction-filled world and he never really stood a chance. In the poorest county in the US, where unemployment from closed-down coal mines hovers around 50%, there isn’t much to do, or anywhere to go, or anything to be.

Yet Daemon, a foster kid who works his way through all the colorful characters that appear in that system, is surviving okay. His life twists and turns down a trail of hillbilly self-discovery, poverty, addiction, and redemption that anyone living anywhere in the US in the 1990s and early 2000s should find somewhat familiar. Frightening and sad, touching and tender at times, but somewhat familiar.

Book cover To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill BlackgooseTo Shape a Dragon’s Breath
By Moniquill Blackgoose
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, romance, LGBTQ+, YA, sci-fi

4.5 stars. I think might be one of my favorite YA adventures this year. Destined to be a new classic.

A mix of some of your favorite tropes and some things I’ve never quite seen before. Mild spoilers ahead

Like Harry Potter or Wednesday, we begin with an outcast in a prep school for elite teenagers. What makes these kids elite?… They’re dragon riders.

So our MC is from a remote indigeneous population and she is 100% a fish out of water but also bold, brave, true, and steadfast. She is anti-colonial and there to fully represent her people and her traditional way of life at one of the sacred institutions of the metropole. She is a groundbreaking phenomenon and a gamechanger. A chosen one and not really all that reluctant about it.

She also turns out to be bi and polyamorous, and one of the relationships she involves herself in is interracial and inter-class, which she completely disregards in importance. Just busting through all the boundaries.

Of course, it’s the first in a series, and i will 100% look forward to the next one. And the eventual TV or movie series. Because I’m telling you, this is going to have a ripple effect.

Goal: 100+ More Books in 2024

So that’s it! Thank you for taking the time to look at my editor’s picks, top books of 2023 list. For 2024, I’m setting my goal at 100 titles, but I’m sure I’ll go over that. If you have a specific book you think I’d love and should add to my TBR for 2024, leave a comment and let me know! Or let’s connect on Goodreads and recommend to each other. Looking forward to it! 

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Writers Talking Writing: TV Writer Shonda Rhimes’s Tips to Lay Track

Cover of book by TV writer Shonda Rhimes titled "Year of Yes"

Lessons on Life from a TV Writer

Earlier this year, I listened to the audiobook for Shonda Rhimes’s Year of Yes, a successful and interesting TV writer with decades of experience (if you don’t know who she is.) In this mix of memoir and self-help advice, both funny and touching, Rhimes shares her wisdom about how to embrace personal growth and new opportunities.

You must open your mind to new opportunities and experiences in order to overcome stagnation and truly grow. Nothing new will happen to you if you don’t say “yes” to anything new. If you want to break free from the constraints of the familiar and mundane, Rhimes argues, you must be open to the unknown.

The book is particularly relatable for writers, mothers, and Black women—and even if you are not all of those things, you may be able to relate to her clear and insightful revelations about her experiences as an introvert. I could relate! I understood exactly what she was talking about when she said she was fine fading into the background, although she obviously had a larger-than-life personality.

Lay Track like a TV Writer

One striking metaphor Rhimes employs in the book compares writing for successful TV shows to laying down train tracks, and even non-TV writers can relate. Shonda describes how she knew the train was coming; the production schedule must run on time. She details her intense feelings of pressure to keep the schedule on track. She knows she can be flattened by that train.

To help her maintain focus and meet her writing goals (while avoiding being overwhelmed by industry demands), Rhimes lays out 6 tips on “how to lay track” as a TV writer. Even if you’re not a writer for a big, successful TV series (or three!), try these out to see if they can help you be more focused and productive in your own writing process.

  1. Establish a routine. A daily routine provides structure and can help you stay disciplined, focused, and productive. Designate times to complete your writing, whether you write for a specific period of time or until you reach a certain word count; it’s the consistency of sitting down to write at the same time that can help.
  2. Set clear deadlines. Clear, nonnegotiable deadlines create a sense of urgency and can help motivate you to meet your goals. In the case that you’re working on a collaborative project (like a TV show), deadlines for yourself will help you do your part to ensure everyone’s timelines stay on track.
  3. Say “no.” It can be difficult, of course, because we want to say “yes” to all the good, entertaining, pleasing things in our lives—like time with family and indulging in trips to restaurants and other places away from our desks—but if those opportunities are not aligned with your goals, they can derail your focus. To meet your deadlines, you will have to say “no” to some things and prioritize your work.
  4. Embrace productive procrastination. To be at your most creative, you need the space to brainstorm and think, so not all procrastination is bad procrastination. Sometimes, letting your mind wander allows you to come up with something great, new, and creative. So allow yourself to take a break if it helps you be your creative best.
  5. Accountability. Do you have a team that holds you accountable? Or even just one single “accountability-buddy”? Get one. Whether it’s your partner, your kids, your colleagues, or the rest of your writing team, use the power of positive peer pressure to help you make steady progress and deliver on your commitments.
  6. Create a dedicated workspace. This should be a sort of “sacred” writing space for you. A space where you can be your most productive, feel free to think, and that helps you envision yourself as a successful, competent, productive writer. Set up an area that helps you feel comfortable, but not too relaxed, and ready to work.

In addition to these tips on how to successfully lay track in your writing, Rhimes also discusses some of the less glamorous aspects of being a TV writer, such as the eye strain (and necessary eye care for writers) that comes from staring at a screen for long hours and the weight gain that can occur if you maintain a sedentary lifestyle and don’t balance laying track in your writing with actual movement of your body. And in all her discussions about these real-world writerly topics, Rhimes remains funny as hell.

More Life Lessons

If you’re not familiar with Rhimes’s work, do yourself a favor and try this book on for size. You’ll find some heartwarming lessons about navigating physical, mental, and emotional challenges, particularly those faced by a successful TV writer. No matter what other self-help books you’ve read, you’ll find in Year of Yes an inspirational message about embracing your own paths of growth and self-love.

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Goodreads Book List: Father’s Day Recommendations

Drawn image of man and small child silhouette by the sun and the words "Happy Father's Day"

The last-week countdown to Father’s Day begins today! And if you have a dad who loves (or even just “likes”) reading, then I have a book list for you. 

Dad doesn’t want another tie or photo frame this year; he wants a book! 

At least, I think he might. And since I listen to a lot of audiobooks, I thought I’d compile a shortlist of the best books I’ve listened to in 2023 that might be perfect for a dad in your life. I’ve linked here to the audiobooks, since I know I can personally recommend them, but if the dad you’re shopping for prefers physical or ebooks, get him the format you know he’ll love.

Below, you can find the featured book list of my top recommendations from audiobooks read in 2023, but take a look at my Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads for a comprehensive and more frequently updated list of books I’d recommend for dads. 

Editor Cortni's Father's Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads

Screenshot of Goodreads page with book list of recommended readings for Father's Day from SRD Editing Services
Screenshot of Goodreads book list with Father's Day recommendations from SRD Editing Services

The SRD Editing Services Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads includes books our editor read or audiobooks listened to in 2022 or 2023.

Recommendations include memoirs, self-help and psychology, history, and fiction with “fatherhood” as a theme.

Goodreads

Connect with Cortni on Goodreads!

Editor Cortni's Featured Short Book List

So while my full Goodreads Shelf includes the whole book list I can recommend for dads, I realized that the books I tag as “dad lit” fall into four main categories: 

  • Parenting books
  • Self-help books
  • Books on topics dads might like
  • Fiction that features “fatherhood” as a theme

So whether you know a dad who is looking to grow, to think, or to feel, I compiled a shortlist of books I think your dad might dig. If you don’t see one below that seems quite like him, check out the full Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads for my other recommendations!

Featured Parenting Books for Dads

Topping my book list are books that help any Dad become the best Dad he can be. 

Screenshot of book cover of The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
Screenshot of book cover for Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
Good Inside: The Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

The Opposite of Spoiled dives into excellent advice for how to parent kids of all ages and teach financial literacy, responsibility, charity, and even some basic investment advice. The information may be a bit outdated in some respects (pre-Covid), but overall excellent advice to help parents help their children financially excel. 

Good Inside might be my new favorite parenting book. It hits a broad range of topics about relationship development, communication strategies, healthy bonding and attachment, and personal growth that can comebine to make each and every parent better. 

Featured Self-Help Books for Dads

Books that Dad can enjoy while learning to improve himself and enhance his family’s lives. 

Screenshot of book cover for We over Me by Khadeen and Devale Ellis
We Over Me By Khadeen and Devale Ellis
Screenshot of cover of book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess By Dr. Caroline Leaf

We Over Me takes a deep dive into exploring relationship and parenting advice in a practical way. Although a large section of the book is dedicated to describing the story of this power couple who have been together for more than twenty years and are raising four children, there are equally large sections of the book dedicated to discussing communication and parenting strategies, relationship goals and advice, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a working father. 

Cleaning up Your Mental Mess is an in-depth and comprehensive behavioral therapy approach that could help most anyone adjust and reshape a learned behavior through a series of steps. The author has developed an easy-to-follow progressive plan that the reader can use to create a new habit and set of responses or to break out of an established pattern. Adaptive and flexible to nearly every situation, the largest factor that Dad will have to bring to the table is his dedication. 

For History-Loving Dads

Books for dads who love the nerd out/do a deep dive on a specific topic. 

Screenshot for book cover for The Declassification Engine:
The Declassification Engine by Matthew Connelly
Screenshot of cover of book Good for a Girl by Lauren Fleshman
Good for a Girl By Lauren Fleshman

If Dad loves a well-researched deep dive into a topic, he may enjoy either of these titles. 

The Declassification Engine explores the history of protected information and documents in the U.S. From encryption to scandals, from leaks to staged releases, from data management to AI-generated solutions for mismanagement; this title is a wealth of information. 

Good for a Girl is perfect for a father of a female athlete. This title explores the areas of girls and women in sports at all levels, from introductory to professional, and the physiological, psychological, and sociological impacts and challenges. While the writer may be a runner, the information contained within applies to women in every sport. 

Fiction with Fatherhood as a Theme

Books for Dads who love to be told an interesting story that explores the theme of “fatherhood.” 

Screenshot of the book cover for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time By Mark Haddon
Screenshot of book cover for Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Fairy Tale By Stephen King

The Curious Incident is one of the most unique books I’ve read recently, as the narrating character speaks from a neurodivergent perspective. A young teenager/pre-teen, I suspect his voice will feel both achingly familiar and charmingly young to a reader over thirty years old. It is a relatively short read/listen but packs a real punch.

Fairy Tale, on the other hand, is a monster of a tome and well worth the journey at the end. If Dad is already a fan of Stephen King, you may not have to sell him on this too hard, but if not, I think he’ll enjoy all the classic elements he’ll see here. It’s not horror, but there are some frightening moments in the adventure, and a solid and heartfelt lesson learned along the way. 

So that’s it! This is my book list of top recommendations for dads, out of the books I’ve read in 2023. 

For more suggestions, take a look at this blog with my Top 5 Book List of 2022 or visit Goodreads and peruse my Father’s Day Book List Shelf.

Happy reading, and Happy Father’s Day! 

Got Suggestions for this Book List?

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Tool for Children’s Book Writers (& Parents!): Accelerated Reader Bookfinder

Children reading a children's book. Boy and girl sitting next to a window.

For more than 20 years, the Accelerated Reader (AR) program has been helping kids read children’s books they enjoy, at their own pace. Readers of all levels can choose an AR book, read their way through it, then take a computerized quiz to assess their understanding and sometimes earn class credit. 

Educators across the US use it, and hundreds of thousands of kids across the country read millions of pages every year because of it. If you’re a parent of a child of any age, you’ve probably already heard of AR. 

But if you’re a parent who is looking to contribute more to your child’s reading goals and even help them find new books to read, or if you’re a writer of children’s books looking to keep up with trends, find stories comparable with your own work, or identify the reading level of your work, the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder website can be a great resource. 

This blog aims to provide both parents and kids lit authors an introduction and overview of how to use the AR Bookfinder site. Let’s take a look! 

Accelerated Reader Bookfinder logo for childrens book database
The Accelerated Reader Bookfinder website is a comprehensive database of information about children's books.

Using AR Bookfinder Website

Whether you’re a parent or you write children’s books of any level — from elementary to mid-grade, juvenile, or YA books — use the AR Bookfinder website for basic research. 

Now, when I was a kid participating in Accelerated Reader, there was no website–there was no internet. If I wanted to know what reading level a book was or how many points it was worth, I had to actually go to the library and examine the sticker on the spine of the book or ask the librarian. How times have changed!

Accelerated Reader Bookfinder welcome page for children's books
On the Welcome page, select the “Parent” option to explore AR Bookfinder without creating an account.

When you first land on the AR Bookfinder welcome page, you need to identify yourself as a student, parent, teacher, or librarian. Whether you’re a parent or a writer of children’s books, you can use the “parent” option to browse the website without creating an account.

For Parents: Confirm AR Children's Books, Reading Levels, & Points

Once you have identified yourself as a parent, use the “Quick Search” option to enter a title that your kid is interested in, to confirm whether it is an AR book, what reading level it is, and how many points it’s worth. You can also search an author name to see which of their works are AR eligible.

I’m lucky, personally. My kid is an excellent reader(!), but I have to constantly remind him to collect his AR points and meet his goal to earn the grade for his language arts class. Luckily, most of the books he’s interested in are in the AR Bookfinder database. 

We are sometimes at our favorite local thrift bookstore or the public library, or a friend will offer to let my son borrow a book, and with a quick search, we can find out whether a title he’s interested in is an AR book.

(In fact, one of our favorite books of 2022 — See You in the Cosmos — was one we borrowed from the public library then found out on AR Bookfinder that it was worth 10 points!)

For titles that may have multiple versions in print, it may be important to look more closely at the details of each book on your search results list. Some versions may be abridged, a graphic novel or illustrated version, or an annotated or enhanced version of the book–all of which might affect the reading level and point value. 

AR Bookfinder children's book results list of different versions of Alice in Wonderland
A popular title like “Alice in Wonderland” may have several versions available for your child to enjoy and earn AR points.

Advanced Search Options

If you’re not sure of the title or author name, or if you want to check more details about a book series, use the “Advanced Search” tab for more search options.

AR Bookfinder childrens books advanced search options and menu
Use the AR Bookfinder Advanced Search options to filter specific results.

By using the Advanced Search tab, you can peruse a specific children’s book series to see which titles earn AR points, or you can choose the “Interest Level” (i.e., reading level) to browse titles that might appeal to your child. 

Select from Lower Grade (K-3), Middle Grade (4-8), Middle Grade (6+), and Upper Grades (9-12) to filter a list that meets your child’s unique reading needs.

Use the Additional Criteria options to select a topic that your child is interested in (not just genres, but think of this more similar to tags, like “adventure” or “history”), as well as filter to look at only fiction or nonfiction children’s book titles.

If you have no ideas or starting points for your search, and your kid needs suggestions of children’s books, keep reading! The section below details how to use the “Collections” tab on the AR Bookfinder website to search for new titles, authors, or series your little one may love.

AR Bookfinder Tips For Children's Book Writers

As a new or still-learning children’s book writer, it can be tricky to know exactly what reading level or grade level you’re writing for. These “levels” may differ based on subjective criteria such as word choice, sentence structure, and topic.

Maybe you have an idea for a kid’s book, and you’re not sure who your audience is or exactly what age they are.

Or maybe you’re prepping your query letter and submission info for agents and you need to gather titles of children’s books that are comparable to yours. Either way, using the “Collections” tab in AR Bookfinder can help.

Explore "Collections" for Comps & Reading Level

Writers (and parents!) can use the “Collections” tab to explore two things: recent award-winning children’s books and trending and popular kids books.

AR Bookfinder website showing childrens book writers how to explore the Collections tab.
Use the “Collections” tab to explore award-winning children’s books.

Now, it’s possible that these lists will overlap, but just because something is award winning doesn’t mean it’ll be popular! And just because a title is popular with kids in a certain age group doesn’t mean it was critically acclaimed.

Checking out both options in the Collections tab can give you a full picture of what’s going on in children’s book publishing and how to position your title. 

When you select the Collections, tab you will see these two main options to peruse through the database.

By selecting the “plus sign” next to one of the options, you expand the menu for more specific information.

Under “Awards,” for example, you can find links to specific children’s book award lists, such as the Newberry Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. 

AR Bookfinder collections show award-winning children's books
Use “Collections” to browse award-winning children’s books.

On the other hand, selecting the plus sign next to “What Kids Are Reading” opens a sub-menu with the three most recent calendar years. Select a year to open the next sub-menu, which says “Top 20 Fiction/Nonfiction Books of [YEAR]”.

When you select this menu, the next sub-menu opens, separating out each grade with a link. You can then explore the top 20 books for kindergarteners, first graders, etc., all the way through high school seniors.

AR Bookfinder children's books top 20 of 2020
Use “Collections” to explore top 20 titles for each grade level in most recent 3 calendar years.

For example, the Top 20 for 11th grade in 2020 includes classic titles such as The Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Finn, along with contemporary titles such as Divergent and The Hate U Give. 

Obviously, many eleventh graders are reading and taking AR quizzes on titles required for a class curriculum, but it’s also obvious that many eleventh graders are continuing to read children’s and YA books in which they’re interested and which are also AR books they can earn points on. 

Track Titles & Reading Goals with Goodreads!

Although the AR Bookfinder website does have a “favorites” feature, which they call the AR Bookbag, that allows you to save a list of titles; however, when using a Parent account, the Bookbag empties/clears its history when you close your web browser. That can be inconvenient for long-term tracking and ideas! 

Instead, our editor Cortni suggests creating a Goodreads account if you don’t already have one (and connect with Cortni on Goodreads!) Using Goodreads’ “shelf” feature, you can easily track all the books you’ve read, the ones you’re currently reading, and ones you want to read. 

Since a Goodreads account will last far beyond your child’s school years, it can be an excellent long-term tool to keep your kid reading far into adulthood. 

And for authors of children’s books, a Goodreads membership and active account can help you connect with your readers and keep them informed of your work and upcoming releases.

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Children's Books Edited by SRD Editing Services

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Top 5 Books of 2022

Neon sign in purple, pink, and blue that reads "top 5" indicating top 5 books read and reviewed in 2022

The SRD Editor List of Favorite Books Read in 2022

As an avid reader, I’ve been on Goodreads for years. I love being able to track what books I read and share with others the ones I feel most strongly about. In 2022, I began listening to audiobooks that I borrow from my local library on the Libby by Overdrive app. I love it! I have a commute. I have to cook dinner. I can’t always be sitting with my nose in a book, but I can (almost) always be listening to a  book while doing something else. I’m hooked! 

So in 2022, I borrowed 68 audiobooks from my library. Although Goodreads shows I read 88 books, it counted some story or essay collections separately (Sherlock Holmes and Karl Marx, in particular). Plus, I also read a couple physical books that made their way into Goodreads. So I probably read about 75-ish total. 

Don’t ask me to pick a single favorite! I might blow a circuit trying to figure it out. 

But I have narrowed it down to a *few* of my top recommendations. 

After I finished these audiobooks last year, I posted about them to my personal Facebook circle. So below, you’ll find that original, casual review. But, as a bonus, because I professionally write book reviews as well, I’ve included a bit more of a comprehensive review in this blog. I also tag the books I read to keep track of genres, so I’ve included those below as well. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

These book reviews may contain some details that could affect your reading of the book. I’ve tried not to give away too much, however. 

Oh! And connect with me on Goodreads! I love to add to my “Want to Read” list when I see my connections recommend a book! 

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Little Fires Everywhere

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: Celeste Ng
 
This started as a slow burn for me. Probably wasn’t really until the end of Chapter 2 before I was interested but I was hooked by the end of Chapter 10. I kind of always wanted to be Mia, but I was probably actually Izzy. But at least I never burned the house down. 🔥😁
 
This story is especially pertinent now, in the wake of over turning Roe v. Wade. 
Book cover for Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

 It’s about mothering, motherhood, and who “qualifies” as a mother — which, mothering was central to my Master’s thesis, btw. If this book has been published when i was writing my thesis, i would have used it. It has so much to say.

It’s set in the 90s, just a couple years ahead of my own life and social development.

I remember pretty much everything mentioned but i remember it as a child. Reading about the events as an adult is different. Strikingly, painfully different now that i know what happened after 2001. The world can never be the way it was in the 90s. You can never go home again.
 
Especially after you’ve burned it to the ground. 🔥 Great job, Izzy. Well done.

Extended Review...

“Motherhood” is composed of many decisions, daily, and it presents in many different ways. This story gave an interesting analysis of different types of mothers, what “mothering” can look like, and what makes a truly excellent mother. There’s a contrast between the suburban, idyllic mother, who embodies many of the stereotypes sold on TV as ideal mothering, a birth-mother who gives up her daughter for adoption due to temporary struggles and the adoptive mother who doesn’t want to give the daughter back when the birth-mother asks for her, and a surrogate mother who, during pregnancy, realized she did not want to give up the chance to be a mother and who steals the baby from the couple she is surrogating for. All of these women are flawed; all of these women define themselves as mothers, although their priorities and approaches are vastly different. 

The definition and portrayals of mothers changed vastly in the 1990s, the time period for the story, and the book faces those challenges with grit and heart. In a decade when women were fighting to institute a more fair and truly family-friendly approach to motherhood, women seemed to also be fighting each other over who was entitled to those motherhood rights. Which is unfortunate, and perhaps the women of today’s generation can examine if, and how, gendered treatment of one another has changed. From “mean girls” to “mean moms,” how is today’s generation approaching the community of sorority differently? I’m not sure the book answers these questions, but to pose them for examination is one of the first challenges, and the story certainly makes a display of the importance of these ponderings. 

Tagged: women’s lit, 21st century lit, mom lit, movie

Readers should be aware of sensitive content including sexual activity in teenagers, destruction of property, and discussions of abortion. 

Kitchen Confidential

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: Anthony Bourdain
Read by the author

Everyone should read this book. Everyone. If you’ve ever worked at a restaraunt, known someone who works in a kitchen, eaten at a restauraunt, or plan to eat at a restaurant. EVERYONE.

Foul-mouthed. Fast-paced. Full of life.

Book cover for Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Sure he talks a bit about his life. But what he regails in elegant prose and sharp-tongued truth is kitchen life. Who you’ll meet in a kitchen. How you’ll grow. And the grit it really takes to run a great restaurant.

Now, this book is old. Pre-food network glory days. But it’s destined to be a classic of nonfiction prose. One for the ages.

RIP. 💔

Extended Review...

As someone who worked in kitchens (fast food and delis) as a teenager, I felt a deep connection and identification with Bourdain’s content. And as a frequent reader of memoir, I found this to be a unique description more about the actions and lessons learned in his life than the events of it, which was not only refreshing but insightful and helpful thanks to his practical advice and world-wise perspective. 

Tagged: memoir, funny, 21st century lit, science

Readers should be aware of sensitive content including adult language and drug use. 

The Giver of Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: Jojo Moyes

5 glowing stars.

Excellent. A place I’ve never been before (Depression-era Kentucky), full of characters with unique voices, and a story I’ve never heard before. One in which gritty librarians are the heroes. Full of #girlpower. Honestly, I’m not sure if it gets better than this.

Book cover for The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Shows an image of a mountainside in sunrise.

There’s a lot of debate in writer communities about prologues. Are they good? Bad? Necessary? Annoying?

To offer a little *spoiler*: I think the prologue in this book is crucial. 

You couldn’t cut it. It’d be an entirely different story. That’s all I’ll say about that. 🤐

I’ll be checking out more from this author. ❤️

Extended Review...

There’s always something I appreciate when reading about characters who are dirt poor. I mean, stuffing holes in the cracks in the wall to keep out the cold, no shoes in frozen ground, bathes once a year in a hot bath, seasons broth with tree bark, live off the land, dirt poor. It feels more real somehow, more urgent, than reading about characters whose lives are full of diamonds and satins and warm fires in gilded fireplaces. Maybe it just makes me appreciate living in moderate comfort in modern times, but it feels more approachable. 

In particular, I love to read about the lives of “everyday” or common women in the past. Even if they are fictitious. The lives of the rich and famous, the lives of aristocrats and social figures is nice and all — queens are certainly fabulous — but there’s something simultaneously sweet and raw in reading about peasant women whose lives didn’t have a huge impact but whose stories are larger than life. 

So maybe that’s why I loved this book so much. Because I love when I get to connect with women from the past and see all the ways in which their lives might be similar to my own. 

Tagged: historical lit, women’s lit, romance

Readers may need to be made aware of sensitive content including adult language, death/murder, and physical abuse of women/children.

Atomic Habits

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By: James Clear

I could give this 10 stars. Remarkable. Genuinely a book that I think everyone could benefit from. Clear breaks down some of the most useful and successful concepts in cognitive behavioral therapy into practical, applicable advice. Want to implement a good habit? There’s a trick for that. Want to break or replace a bad habit? There’s advice for that. Not too technical or full of jargon. An approachable self-help manual to improve any area of your life. I cannot recommend this book enough. I may actually buy a physical copy for myself and everyone i know. ❤️

Book cover for Atomic Habits by James Clear

Extended Review...

As someone who has read extensively into psychology topics, I love the idea of behavior modification through proven/easy-to-implement techniques. In particular, I love how simple Clear makes this. He doesn’t say it will be easy, but he does help readers make it as easy as possible. 

Some of these concepts I was familiar with and have used before, such as “habit stacking,” which is when you build on one habit by attaching another to it. For example, if you have a medication you need to take every morning, you attach it to something that’s part of your existing routine, like brushing your teeth. Brush your teeth. Take the medicine. Stack one habit on another to make your routine easier and optimize your habit building. 

Clear focuses on behaviors, and although he touches a bit on the “cognitive” part of cognitive behavioral therapy, he keeps the focus on the manageable actions. I think that’s best for most people. Some people need a deeper dive into their thoughts and changing their thought patterns to have better control over their behaviors, but most people mainly need the awareness of the behavior in the first place in order to initiate change. 

Clear makes the topic easy and guilt-free. It’s a solutions-first approach rather than heavy on analytical techniques or digging into the “why,” and that’s why I think it’s so successful and approachable for so many people. 

Tagged: self-help, psychology

There is no sensitive content readers should be aware of. 

Damned

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
By Chuck Palahniuk

Alrighty then. Picture this if you will: A 13 year old girl with the personality of Tyler Durden has died of a marijuana overdose and gone to hell. 🔥 She becomes the weirdo freak character in a twisted version of the Breakfast Club and together, she and a group of fellow misfits relive a rendition of Dante’s Inferno, where she works a call center reminiscent of the Sorry to Bother You movie, then squares off against the most evil characters in world history to live the most wacky and triumphant afterlife imaginable. 😈

Cover of the novel "Damned" by Chuck Palahniuk. Shows a red devil face on a brown background.

This might be my favorite book I’ve listened to this year. Wild. Self-righteous. Zany. Completely unhinged. Disgusting. Hilarious. Sharp and sardonic. I don’t know how else to describe Palahniuk.

If you’ve never read any Palahniuk before, this isn’t the worst place to start. But just know, you may think you’re losing your mind, and you may also love every damned minute of it.

Extended Review...

Chuck Palahniuk has become synonymous with weird, building a legacy on his twisted tales that take the reader places they’ve likely never been before. And although male writers often err when writing female characters, Palahniuk has found a way to channel the sarcasm, biting critiques, and attitude of outraged angst so typical in his characters into a perfectly believable teenage girl. 

One of the elements that contributes to Palahniuk’s success in his craft is his ability to handle unreliable narrators. Here, the narrator either is insecure and embarrassed, lying to give a better impression while knowing she’s unreliable. Or, she starts off in denial of her situation, and it is only after she faces the unique and tragic circumstances that got her to hell can she be relied upon (either by the reader or other characters). I’ll let you be the judge. 

However, once she empowers herself with the truth, her redemption/revenge arc is an extraordinary adventure.

Tagged: 21st century lit, adventure, women’s lit, fantasy, funny, horror

Readers should be warned about sensitive content including adult language, self-harm and suicide, drug use, and sexual activity among teenagers.  

Honorable Mention

The Book Eaters
By Sunyi Dean
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: adventure, women’s lit, 21st century lit, Mom lit, LGBTQ, horror, sci-fi

4.5 stars. In a world where some people consume and grow from literature and some people consume and grow from others’ minds, how does a mother protect and care for children who are seen as monsters and who can quickly become monsters? 📚

I loved this. Every minute of it. The prose is gripping and the plot takes several unexpected twists. Including how Lgbtqia+ this book is (it’s the first book I’ve read this year with a character who self-identifies as ace.)🏳️‍🌈

Part Handmaid’s Tale, part Frankenstein, mixed into a new nightmare. 🧟‍♀️

The ending isn’t what i expected either. And i liked that. It *doesnt* tie up with a nice bow, and what could be more true-to-life?

The audiobook ended with a lovely conversation between the author and the audiobook narrator, which was so interesting and different. As a publishing professional, i love that kind of industry insider content. 😊 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: women’s lit, 21st century lit, LGBTQ, romance, funny, movie

If you’ve heard anything about this book, I think it will come as no surprise that I found it extraordinary. What a romance! I cried real tears. Simply heart wrenching and inspiring with an excellent twist at the end. 🙌

I know Evelyn is blonde, but I kept picturing her as Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall. Maybe with a dash of Marilyn Monroe mixed in. Elegant and lovely. Sharp witted. Classy and poised like golden Hollywood always presented itself. A true icon. 👗👠

I can’t say i “liked” Evelyn. But i really loved her. And i won’t say that Celia was perfect, but she was damn sure close. And Harry! Who wouldn’t love Harry? ❤️

I loved the alternating between past and present timelines, with the occassional insert from the gossip columns so we could see how things looked from the outside.

I was on the wait list for this book. Twice. For a total of 5 months. And i devoured it in 2 days. It was well worth the wait and impossible to put down.

Netflix is making a movie, and I see people online concerned that Netflix will “sterilize” the story and focus on only Evelyn’s seven husbands and not her wife. I agree. I really, really hope they don’t do that. 😬

Run, don’t walk, to check this out for yourself.

The Last House on Needless Street
By Catriona Ward
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: 21st century lit, LGBTQ, psychology, horror

It should be no surprise that a thriller with a blurb from Stephen King on the cover is very good. And this book is.

Although i want horror and spooky all month, what i *didnt* want was serial killers torturing victims, and I was a bit afraid when this story seemed to be heading in that direction. But it took a powerful and well-executed turn, and i think this will stick with me for a long time. 🐱

What really stuck with me is the idea that “monsters” very rarely look like what we expect them to. The weird guy you pass on the street? probably not a monster. But beware the nice looking, the people who seem to have no cracks in their outer presentation.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like inside the mind of someone with disassociative identity disorder (aka, multiple personalities) i’d bet this book will give you a pretty clear picture. DID is pretty well always prompted by severe childhood trauma, so be forewarned that’s something that comes with the territory in this story. 💔

By Jack Cheng
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: kid lit, adventure, mom lit, psychology, 21st century lit, funny, sci-fi
 
This funny, heartwarming adventure was an outstanding audiobook that my son and I enjoyed together. Almost-12-year-old Alex wants to launch his home built rocket into space and ends up launching himself into his own future. Alex is making a series of recordings for the aliens he thinks his rocket will encounter – a golden iPod to update alien life and build on what is contained in the golden record.
Charming. Smart. Thought-provoking. I loved it.
 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My 9 year old son’s review: “Stunning. It got really deep. The author did a really good job on this one. Five and a half stars.”

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer 
By Fredrik Backman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: 21st century lit, short story, psychology

It’s only an hour-long audiobook, and I bawled beginning at about minute 4 and continued throughout.

A man with Alzheimers recalls and recounts the precious moments of his life with his son, the ghost of his wife, and his grandson, Noah-Noah, whose name he likes twice as much as anyone else’s so he always says it twice (🥺😢😭 ).

It’s beautifully written and performed. It’ll hit home hard.

I do not recommend listening to it at work, where people can walk in your office and you have to explain that you’re fine but just listening to a sad book. Lol.

But i do recommend listening to it. ❤️

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