It felt like it was just me and the author in an old Italian café that turned into a bar at night. The air felt warm and dim. He poured whisky, neat. One for me, one for him. Then he lit a Marlboro. He did not offer me one. Then he began to tell the story. That is what reading this book felt like. Not text on a page. A voice. Gauis’s voice, not just his writing, carries the whole night forward.
Tag Archives: fiction
Colleen Hoover’s Woman Down: A Thrilling Dive into Obsession and Ambition
Colleen Hoover’s Woman Down (January 2026) marks her first foray into psychological thrillers with romantic suspense. Best known for emotional contemporary romances, Hoover experiments with darker themes in this standalone novel while maintaining her signature addictiveness.
Threads of Kindness: The Transformative Tale of Theo of Golden
Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden is a standout debut and a gentle surprise. First self-published in 2023 and later picked up by Atria Books , which is part of Simon and Schuster. It has won over both readers and critics with its heartfelt look at kindness and the power of art. The book’s thoughtful, episodic style encourages us to pause and appreciate the beauty of connecting with others.
Project Hail Mary: Andy Weir’s Sci-Fi Triumph
Project Hail Mary starts with a familiar Weir scenario: one person facing an impossible challenge. Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher with a PhD in molecular biology, wakes up alone on a spaceship far from Earth. He doesn’t remember how he got there, his crewmates have died, and now he’s responsible for saving humanity. The sun is losing energy because of a microorganism called Astrophage, and Grace’s job is to find a solution at Tau Ceti, the only nearby star not affected.
Lights Over Phoenix
While skipping class one day, seventeen-year old Daisy finds a mysterious message in the girls’ bathroom. Though she’s not sure if it’s meant for her, she’s determined to find the sender. Every message has a sender. Soon she begins witnessing strange lights in the desert surrounding the small Arizona town from which she’s determined to escape. Before she can go far, however, she must face the parts of herself she wishes to rewrite. Inspired by the Phoenix Lights phenomena of the late 1990s, Terrestrial explores themes of isolation, communication, place, and the desert as both a home and a questionably inhabitable environment.
Author Spotlight: Calder Venn and the Treasure of Storytelling
In the quiet moments outside his office, cigarette in hand, Calder Venn crafts worlds on his phone. By day, he’s an architect, designing structures that shape the world around us. By night, he’s a writer, building stories that transport readers to distant times and places. His debut novel, All the Tide Takes: The Lost Treasure of Olivier Levasseur, shows his unique perspective, blending meticulous historical research with a storyteller’s flair. Published on February 24, 2026, this indie historical fiction novel has already begun to carve its niche in the literary seas.
All the Tide Takes: The Lost Treasure of Olivier Levasseur, Calder Venn’s Fresh Take on Pirate Lore
Calder Venn’s debut, All the Tide Takes: The Lost Treasure of Olivier Levasseur, plunges readers into the high-stakes world of 18th-century piracy, treasure hunting, and the unforgiving Indian Ocean. Published on February 24, 2026, this historical fiction novel is a meticulously researched maritime adventure that blends the intellectual discipline of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series with the moral complexity of The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s a tale of ambition, consequence, and the sea’s relentless duality—what it offers and what it takes. With its roots in real history and its sights set on timeless themes, this novel is a standout addition to the genre and the first in a planned trilogy.
Author Spotlight:Collings MacCrae on Crafting Crime, Embracing Indie, and Redefining Neurodiverse Heroes
Collings MacCrae is a name that stands out in the world of crime fiction. A former healthcare consultant with over 40 years of experience, MacCrae brings a unique blend of professional expertise, personal insight, and creative passion to her writing. Her Fox Argall Mysteries series has fascinated readers with its dark, atmospheric storytelling, richly developed characters, and authentic portrayal of neurodivergence. In this Author’s Spotlight, we explore MacCrae’s journey as a writer, her decision to self-publish, and her vision for the future of indie publishing.
Collings MacCrae’s The Ruin of the Watcher: A Standout in Character-Driven Crime Fiction
Collings MacCrae’s The Ruin of the Watcher is a riveting crime-fiction prequel that blends a dark atmosphere with human characters and a unique protagonist. This novel introduces the Fox Argall Mysteries with a powerful exploration of trauma, loyalty, and neurodivergence, while delivering an intelligent, emotionally resonant standalone mystery.
12 TBR Gems You Need to Check Out This Week!
Building on this system, my picks for the week include a mix of indie gems and traditionally published heavyweights. Alongside sharing my recommendations, I’ll offer tips on how you can choose your next read wisely. We’ll also take a closer look at how indie books are impacting the publishing world, and why they deserve your attention.