Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews

A woman is forced to reexamine an old heartbreak she thought she understood in Five Years Later by Sarah Kraft, a uniquely crafted, emotional thriller.

Elle Fox is a relatable and charming protagonist whose past and troubled present are slowly revealed through dual storylines set five years apart. Recounting a painful loss on one side and an unexpected reunion on the other, the execution is excellent, when it could be muddled or lose momentum. Bouncing between timelines is an ambitious choice, but it gives this story a great sense of dimension and emotional impact.

Kraft is also unafraid of dark […]

Author Larry Center delivers a heartwrenching story of a father’s love for his son in Like No Other Boy.

Chris Crutcher is navigating a messy divorce, fighting for custody, and trying to do what’s right for his autistic son, Tommy, who wants to be with his beloved chimpanzees at the San Francisco Zoo. The chimps are very special to Tommy – he finds them to be kindred spirits, and they help alleviate his pain. Even though they are unable to communicate, the relationship between Tommy and the chimps is brought to life tenderly with great sympathy and emotion.

Told […]

A tenderly penned reflection on the broad spectrums of boys and men, The Buzz Boys by Edward Izzi explores quiet and forbidden trauma, and the unexpected bonds so many people form to survive.

In this generation-spanning exploration of hurt and healing, readers are carried along on a coming-of-age narrative of five devoted young men that stretches across decades. Though the author clearly states this to be a work of fiction, there are a multitude of intimate moments between characters, and expressions of raw emotion, that will feel profoundly visceral. Delving into triggering subjects like abandonment, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and […]

Workplace drama, emotional tragedy, and the winding roads of reconciliation abound in Book Endings: A Call Numbers Novel by Syntell Smith.

Following on the heels of this series’ first installment, readers once again find Robin Walker in the surprisingly dramatic muddle of mid-90s life in New York City. Despite the traditionally quiet atmosphere of a library, Robin’s world is packed with opinionated and argumentative peers who add color, conflict, and energy to this character-driven workplace drama. Managing the emotional exhaustion of his declining grandfather, navigating the patchwork alliances and fleeting loyalties among his colleagues, and even testing the waters of […]