John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Delving into the delicate nuances of language, connection, belonging, and loss, My English Teacher and I by Mikhael Aroni is a passionate exploration of love and the complicated layers of power that inevitably exist within every person. Boasting vivid, three-dimensional characters from across the world – expats, teachers, travelers, and students – this novel offers a vulnerable peek inside the transient and challenging world of living somewhere you can’t quite call home. The cover doesn’t quite reflect the care and artistry inside, but the prose makes up for this, as the rich language of this novel is effortless, erudite, and […]

A haunting Gothic drama triggering humanity’s deepest and oldest fears, Behind the Veil by E.J. Dawson is a powerful reflection on mortality and the lengths some will go to find closure or their own separate peace. A suspenseful but patient ride from start to finish, Dawson has created an empathic and endlessly engaging protagonist in Letitia – tortured, but hardened and indomitable. The mystery of the kidnapped children unfurls in fits and starts, at its own pace, but the plot is well supported by a poignantly penned cast of characters that readers can envision and invest in. Emulating a 1920s […]

Specialized financial education for a new generation of creative investors, How to Make Money in Stocks by Fred A. Green is a cutting-edge guide based on real-world experience. From the most basic rules of stock market maneuvering to calculated tactics for advanced investors, this book has something for any level of interest. Green writes with an engaging and conversational tone, as he almost wills his audience to take his advice, but the supporting knowledge should be taken very seriously. There are some sales-y aspects throughout the writing, and some cliche verbiage that makes the book seem less credible, but Green’s […]

A compassionate companion read for those struggling through the pain and trauma of divorce, Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris is a brutally honest and vulnerable memoir – as well as an invaluable guide. Walking readers through some of the most common crises of separation and divorce – self-doubt, fear, anger, desperation, and mental overload – the book offers commiseration and confession, not a lecture. While many other instructional books on overcoming trauma are dry or formulaic, Harris’ voice is funny, self-aware, original, and transparent; no emotion is left unexplored, nor are personal failings. Despite the casual tone, the editing […]