In a dual POV novel, Angela Velez takes readers on a road trip with the Zavala sisters. Lulu & Milagro’s Search for Clarity is a humorous and heartfelt debut about sisterhood, coming of age, and piecing together the aftermath of…
‘You Truly Assumed’ review: Laila Sabreen’s diverse debut highlights the importance of online communities as safe spaces
Laila Sabreen’s debut novel, You Truly Assumed, follows the lives of three Black Muslim teens in the aftermath of a terrorist attack that results in rising Islamophobia. The book largely draws from Sabreen’s own experiences with Islamophobia, especially in the…
‘It All Comes Back to You’ review: Farah Naz Rishi’s newest novel combines humor and heartache while exploring grief
After her science fiction debut novel I Hope You Get This Message, Farah Naz Rishi switches genres in her sophomore novel, It All Comes Back to You. While It All Comes Back to You is a contemporary young adult romance,…
‘Misfit in Love’ review: S.K. Ali delivers a heartwarming companion novel to ‘Saints and Misfits’
Two years after the events of Saints and Misfits, Janna Yusuf’s story continues in S.K. Ali’s companion novel, Misfit in Love. While Misfit in Love can be read as a standalone book, Saints and Misfits provides more background for the…
‘Dial A for Aunties’ review: Jesse Q. Sutanto’s delightful novel is a love letter to Indo-Chinese culture
Jesse Q. Sutanto’s book Dial A for Aunties is not your average murder mystery novel. If you are looking for your next terrifying whodunnit thriller, then it’s best to continue looking—Dial A for Aunties is not that book. It is,…
‘The Cost of Knowing’ review: Brittney Morris uses speculative fiction to explore coming-of-age for Black boys in America
Brittney Morris’ new book The Cost of Knowing is a speculative fiction novel that sheds light on our contemporary reality, and most especially the reality for Black people living in America. A beautifully crafted work, Brittney Morris masterfully navigates themes…
‘American Betiya’ review: Anuradha D. Rajurkar’s book calls attention to gaslighting, manipulation, and fetishization
Anuradha D. Rajurkar’s American Betiya is an OwnVoices novel about Rani Kelkar, an Indian American teen who enjoys photography, volunteering to work with kids, and intends to pursue pre-med in her goals of becoming a pediatrician. Her world comes crashing…