Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin

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In her debut novel, Wandering Souls, Cecile Pin delivered a searing portrait of a family shaped by war, immigration, and assimilation. It's a completely entrancing read that earned a spot among my favorites of 2023. So when her publisher offered me a copy of her latest novel, Celestial Lights, it was an easy yes. This time, Pin expands her scope beyond the terrestrial, turning her gaze toward space exploration and the profound impact it has on those who choose to venture into the unknown.

In January 1986, the world watched in shock as the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster unfolded just moments after launch. We understood that space travel carried risk, but this felt like something else entirely. The tragedy was made even more devastating by the presence of Christa McAuliffe, the schoolteacher chosen to represent everyday Americans among the stars. Millions of students watched as she carried a red apple onto the shuttle only to witness her story end in devastation.

That same year, Oliver Innes was born. Growing up in a quiet British village, Ollie’s imagination was sparked early, his bedroom ceiling dotted with glow-in-the-dark constellations. Encouraged by his father to dream big, he pursued engineering, setting his sights on the stars he’d long admired. Years later, with multiple missions already behind him, Ollie is chosen by a billionaire visionary to lead a groundbreaking expedition to Europa.

But the opportunity comes with an impossible cost. With a wife and young son at home, Ollie must decide whether he can commit to a mission that will take him away for a decade. And if he does, will the life he leaves behind still be waiting for him when he returns?

With Celestial Lights, Cecile Pin explores vast, expansive ideas about humanity, our place in the galaxy, and the weight of our choices. Yet she grounds them in an intimate, deeply felt character study. That juxtaposition between the scale of her setting—the infinite stretch of space—and the personal journey of her protagonist gives the novel both focus and deep emotional resonance.

Pin alternates between mission logs from Ollie’s time in space, where he wrestles with the consequences of leaving his life on Earth behind, and flashbacks that trace how he became the man hurtling through the cosmos. Along the way, we also see the psychological toll of the journey on his fellow crew members, adding another layer to this already complex portrait of isolation and ambition.

The novel builds toward a conclusion that may leave readers with more questions than answers, but one that feels true to the messiness of being human. Pin suggests that our lives are defined by the moments that shape us. Even at the farthest reaches of space, we are never free from the emotional gravity of the lives we’ve lived. It makes for a quietly profound novel that asks us to look both outward to the stars and inward at ourselves.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 26)

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Heartwood by Amity Gaige

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The COVID-19 pandemic meant many things to many people. Thankfully, I avoided its worst impacts, but the isolation of social distancing was very real. I retreated into books more than ever, and as an unexpected silver lining, I discovered authors and stories I might never have picked up otherwise. Amity Gaige was one of those discoveries. Her novel Sea Wife became one of my favorites of 2020, and I promised myself I’d read whatever she wrote next.

That promise led me to Heartwood, her latest novel—a story that uses the pandemic as a starting point for its direction. While this isn’t a “pandemic novel” in the traditional sense, it thoughtfully draws on our shared experience of that time to deepen our understanding of its characters.

Valerie Gillis became a nurse because she wanted to help people. But when COVID laid siege to her hospital, making it nearly impossible to do just that, she found herself at a breaking point. In the aftermath, Valerie takes a months-long leave from work and sets out to hike the Appalachian Trail in search of clarity and escape. She encounters a hiking partner along the way, only for that partner to be called away from the hike. And then, just like that, she’s alone in the wilderness.

So when Valerie disappears, it feels almost inevitable. But that’s only the beginning of the story.

We're introduced to a cast of characters whose lives intersect with Valerie’s in unexpected ways. There’s Beverly, the game warden tasked with finding her; Lena, an elderly woman in an assisted living facility who turns to online sleuthing and begins to suspect the missing hiker might be her estranged daughter; and Santo, the man who briefly walked alongside Valerie before sending her to continue on alone. Through these shifting perspectives, the mystery deepens, each thread pulling us closer to the truth of what really happened on the trail.

Amity Gaige once again proves her strength in crafting compelling, well-rounded characters in Heartwood. Her mosaic approach gives readers an intimate look into each character’s psyche, revealing what drives them and how their lives intersect with the larger narrative. It’s a thoughtful, layered structure that highlights Gaige’s skill as a writer.

That said, not every thread resonated equally. While some perspectives added meaningful depth, others occasionally pulled focus from the central mystery. There were moments when I found myself less invested in the individual character arcs and wishing for a stronger narrative momentum behind the missing-person storyline.

Ultimately, much of the novel’s impact will depend on how much you connect with its character-driven approach. Amity Gaige is undeniably a gifted writer, and while I admired the craft on display, I found myself wishing for a bit more narrative drive to match the depth of its characters. In the end, Heartwood leans more toward a thoughtful study of people than a traditional mystery, but for readers willing to settle into its rhythms, there’s plenty of rewarding payoff to be found. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 24)


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Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

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There are a handful of authors I credit with hooking me on reading, and Patricia Cornwell is definitely one of them. I still remember picking up a paperback copy of her Kay Scarpetta novel Body of Evidence in high school and becoming completely absorbed by its eerie atmosphere, graphic forensic detail, and gripping mystery. I went on to read many more of her books and still make a point to pick up her latest releases each year. With Kay Scarpetta recently being adapted into a TV series starring Nicole Kidman, I realized I’d somehow never gone back to read the very first book in the series, Postmortem. It felt like the perfect time to finally correct that.

We’re introduced to Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the state of Virginia, as she’s called to the scene of a gruesome murder. It's the latest in a string of killings targeting young women in Richmond. The city is on edge, and all eyes are on Scarpetta to uncover the evidence that might lead to the killer. She’s joined in the investigation by Detective Pete Marino, a blunt, no-filter investigator who quickly zeroes in on the latest victim’s husband as his prime suspect. But Scarpetta isn’t convinced. Relying on her sharp instincts, cutting-edge forensic techniques, and unwavering determination, she sets out to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

Patricia Cornwell has been such a fixture in the crime fiction genre that it’s almost impossible to imagine a time when her approach didn’t exist. But the reality is that, at the time of its release, Postmortem was something of a revolution. Cornwell introduced a new way of telling crime stories, grounding her mystery in meticulous research and bringing the forensic process to life as few authors had before. The science became an integral part of the storytelling, adding depth and authenticity to every step of the investigation.

It’s important to view the novel within the context of when it was written. What once felt like cutting-edge technology now serves as a snapshot of the era. Scarpetta stands out as a smart, capable woman navigating the very real sexism of her field. That combination of procedural detail and strong character work became the blueprint for much of what followed in the genre. Postmortem is where it all began, and it still delivers. It’s a gripping, pulse-quickening read that holds its tension all the way to the final pages. It's an early illustration of why Cornwell remains one of the defining voices in crime fiction.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 24)


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Kin by Tayari Jones

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How strong are the ties that bind us to another person? Are we shaped more by who we are at our core, or by the lives we’re forced to live? These are the questions at the heart of Tayari Jones’s Kin. Following the success of An American Marriage, Jones once again explores a relationship shaped by separation—this time shifting her focus from marriage to the enduring bond between two best friends. The result is another moving story that blends elements of historical fiction with a deeply layered portrait of friendship.

Vernice “Neicy” and Annie were, in many ways, cut from the same cloth. Neicy was orphaned at just six months old after her father murdered her mother. Annie never knew her father, and her mother abandoned her days after she was born, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. In Honeysuckle, Louisiana, family isn’t always about blood—it’s about who shows up. And for these two girls, that shared understanding binds them together.

But as they grow older, their paths begin to diverge. Determined to give Neicy every opportunity, her aunt sends her off to Spelman College, where she finds herself among a circle of ambitious, well-connected women and eventually marries into wealth. Annie, meanwhile, is driven by a different need—the desire to find the mother who left her behind and finally make sense of that absence. As they move further into their separate lives, the question becomes not just who they will become, but whether the bond that once defined them can survive the distance between who they were and who they’re becoming.

Tayari Jones once again proves her ability to craft complex, deeply realized characters in Kin. We follow Neicy and Annie as they come of age during the Jim Crow era, though the historical backdrop serves more as atmosphere than the novel’s central focus. This is, first and foremost, a story about growth—about how these two girls evolve into very different women.

Through alternating perspectives, Jones allows us to feel the widening distance between them, each chapter deepening the divide shaped by their choices and circumstances. She resists offering clean, easy answers, instead inviting us to sit with the complexity of it all. What emerges is a thoughtful meditation on friendship—how it endures, how it fractures, and how much of who we become is shaped by the lives we’re given.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 23)

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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

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Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material was never really on my TBR. I’d seen plenty of bookish friends praising it when it was released back in 2020, but it wasn’t something I planned to read. In fact, I tend to avoid most romance novels. I appreciate the genre, but it’s not usually my go-to.

Funnily enough, I ended up with a copy thanks to a giveaway from author Mindy Mejia’s newsletter. She’s one of my favorite thriller writers, and her giveaway featured books she had read and enjoyed herself. I figured that if she liked it, there was a good chance I might too. What I couldn’t have anticipated was just how much I would end up loving this story.

Luc O’Donnell, the only son of a once-famous rock star turned absentee father, has earned himself quite the reputation. After his last boyfriend broke up with him and sold their story to the tabloids, Luc coped in the worst way possible. Now he’s known as a party boy, regularly splashed across gossip pages for his late-night exploits. In short, Luc is living up to every stereotype of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

The problem is that those escapades are beginning to interfere with his day job. Luc works for a small nonprofit dedicated to saving the dung beetle, and their wealthy donors are starting to pull their support—using Luc’s tabloid reputation as the excuse. With a major fundraising gala only weeks away and the guest list shrinking by the day, Luc desperately needs a way to repair his image.

Enter Oliver Blackwood. Handsome, impeccably put together, and almost aggressively respectable, Oliver is successful, ethical, and has never once appeared in a tabloid. In other words, he’s the perfect boyfriend—at least on paper. When a mutual friend suggests the two pretend to date, it seems like the perfect solution. Oliver will accompany Luc to the gala, and in return, Luc will pose as Oliver’s boyfriend at his parents’ anniversary celebration.

But as these complete opposites spend more time together, they begin to realize they might have more in common than either expected. And soon the question isn’t whether they can pretend to be in love but whether they’re ready to admit that the feelings between them might actually be real.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that just captures you. It’s a rare thing, but it’s such a treat when it happens. I read a lot of books, and I enjoy most of them. But it’s not often that I truly love one. I can say, though, that somewhat surprisingly, Boyfriend Material is a book I loved.

Alexis Hall writes gay characters who feel authentic. Their relationship isn’t perfect, and that’s part of what makes it work so well. Even the happy ending doesn’t feel inevitable. It feels earned. Yes, this is a romance built around the familiar fake-dating trope, and it’s not trying to be some grand literary statement. But it doesn’t need to be.

What it offers instead is a sweet, grounded love story that celebrates the possibility of queer love in a way that feels honest and real. More importantly, it made me feel everything along with the characters. I laughed. I cried. I rode every awkward, tender, frustrating, and joyful moment right alongside them. And for that reason, Boyfriend Material is a book that I can easily say that I loved.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 22)

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The Long Walk by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman

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Long before he terrified readers with rabid dogs, vampires, or clowns, Stephen King published a novel under the pseudonym Richard Bachman about a brutal endurance contest in which a group of teenage boys walk without rest for the chance to win anything they desire for the rest of their lives. The Long Walk has lingered on my backlog for years, and I finally picked it up after watching the recent film adaptation. Like the best of King’s work, the novel pairs a stark, chilling premise with sharply drawn characters who feel heartbreakingly real.

Ray Garraty is one of one hundred boys chosen to compete in the annual endurance trial known simply as The Long Walk. The rules are deceptively simple: maintain a steady pace of four miles per hour without stopping. Keep moving, and you stay in the game. Win, and you’re granted the Prize—anything you want for the rest of your life.

But the simplicity is a veneer. There is no finish line. The Walk ends only when ninety-nine boys have fallen behind. Drop below the required speed and you receive a warning. Three warnings earn you a ticket, an irrevocable exit from the competition, delivered with a single gunshot. No outside help. No rest. No mercy. Just a long road and the growing certainty that only one of them will walk away alive.

Written before Carrie, The Long Walk is one of Stephen King’s earliest and most ruthlessly efficient novels. The premise is stark and dystopian, reminiscent in some ways of The Hunger Games, though far more stripped down. There are no elaborate arenas or shifting alliances. There's just a road, unyielding rules, and the steady erosion of the boys forced to follow them.

As the miles stretch on, the psychological strain becomes even more harrowing than the physical toll. What begins as a grim contest of endurance slowly reveals itself to be a deeper meditation on ambition, conformity, survival, and the cost of turning suffering into spectacle. King masterfully tightens the emotional screws until the story hurtles toward a finale that feels dark and heartbreakingly inevitable. It’s clear that in a world like this, there can be no winners. We all lose in the end. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 21)

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