John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Finishing out the Love@Work series with a bang, Work With Me by Pax Sinclair is a wild and blushing romp that will leave you hot under the collar. Chloe decides to take a risky gambit in her game-playing romance, complicating her own heart and professional life in the process, even as she tries to manipulate the emotions of her ex-dreamboat lover, and current boss. The steamy and perpetually charged narration, as in Sinclair’s other work in this series, makes the reading experience feel like a dirty little secret. Despite the occasional overuse of internal monologue, this femme-driven novel is sexy, […]

An experimental, philosophical, and poetic sojourn into the self, The Tower & The Star by B.D. Hildreth is a dark and reflective collection of verse like few others. A lone voice wanders in nothingness – bathing in light, seeking connection, imagining purpose, and creating meaning in isolation, armed with poetic narration that is both epic and enigmatic. There is a storyline of self-discovery here, buried beneath imagery and mystery and tangled verse, which forces each reader toward their own unique interpretation. No two experiences of these stanzas will be the same – an intentional puzzle on the part of Hildreth, […]

A trio of friends leap into a mystical and dangerous adventure to better their troubled lives in The Scavenger by Aidan Lucid. A coming-of-age story with heavy allegorical elements, this YA novel highlights the power of friendship amidst struggle, and reveals the hidden consequences of chronic trauma, bullying, and abuse in young people. The story may have undertones of “be careful what you wish for,” but the themes Lucid explores are important and timely. Blending fantastical elements with relatable relationships, authentic dialogue, and common struggles too often left undiscussed, this book does what YA literature should always strive for – […]

A quick and important story about common anxieties that young children face, The Little Brown Spider in Which Way to Go? by Dennis Derobertis is a beautifully illustrated primer for kids before they start attending school. Michael is worried about not knowing which direction to turn after getting off the bus at school, but a new friend helps him find the way. While this worry is understandable for kids, the language and focus are somewhat repetitive, which is necessary and common in children’s books, but happens a bit too often here. However, the illustrations are exquisite, and the titular spider […]

A whirlwind of an adventure set in the eternally mysterious city of London, The Timepiece and the Girl Who Went Astray by O.R. Simmonds is a bold and meticulously penned thriller. William Wells only wanted a special gift for his girlfriend, but his thoughtfulness sends him spiraling into the midst of a horological battle stretching back generations. Boasting a sprawling vocabulary, visceral descriptions, and a discerning narrative voice that never reveals too much, this time-bending novel will appeal to physicists, anglophiles, treasure hunters, and sci-fi lovers alike. Simmonds echoes the declarative formality of certain English mystery writers, but also displays […]