A thought-provoking novel for readers willing to navigate its dense political and philosophical terrain.
Boyner’s ambitious political thriller plunges readers into the fractured Republic of Estaran near the Iberian Peninsula, where idealism clashes with ruthless pragmatism.
In 1940, Sark Efni, Estaran’s president-select who once served as the nation’s Minister of Interior, struggles to maintain control of a country in turmoil as insurgencies erupt and loyal allies fall. His main adversary, though, is the enigmatic Esin Largaz—the Chief of the General Staff, who orchestrates a ruthless military coup that reshapes the nation. The relatively brief narrative features high-stakes political maneuvering, full of tense standoffs, assassinations, and strategic gambits, which make for an intriguing contrast with the more intimate, reflective moments between Sark and his significant other, Ely: “Every night before bed…Sark and Ely lay close to one another after tangling the sheets and just spoke. They talked about politics, philosophy, economics, theology, the past, the future... everything.” Throughout, the book’s plotting is intricate, and the stakes are convincingly dire. However, the prose often falters under the weight of its ambition. Lengthy expository monologues and repetitive ideological speeches slow the pace and sometimes feel more like lectures than organic dialogue: “But there is an enormous gap between those who are here and those who, for example, live in rural regions. The cultural gap is growing, and one day it will be so wide it will be impossible to close. Resentment will take root, assuming, of course, it has already not done so.” As such, the novel is thematically rich but uneven in style. In addition, abrupt shifts between violent action and introspective musing may jar the reader. Still, the story’s exploration of power, loyalty, and the fragility of idealism is compelling, and the tension between public chaos and private intimacy gives the book emotional depth. The ultimate sense of suspense—leaving readers with the promise of rebellion and upheaval—ensures that the narrative lingers in the mind. Fans of meticulous dystopian political thrillers may appreciate its scope, although those seeking fast-paced, character-driven storytelling may find it heavier going.
A thought-provoking novel for readers willing to navigate its dense political and philosophical terrain.Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2025
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 226
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Nov. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Have tissues ready as you read this. A small package will do.
A love story about a life of second chances.
In Nassau, in the Bahamas, casino detective Vincent LaPorta grills Alfie Logan, who’d come up a winner three times in a row at the roulette table and walked away with $2 million. “How did you do it?” asks the detective. Alfie calmly denies cheating. You wired all the money to a Gianna Rule, LaPorta says. Why? To explain, Alfie produces a composition book with the words “For the Boss, to Be Read Upon My Death” written on the cover. Read this for answers, Alfie suggests, calling it a love story. His mother had passed along to him a strange trait: He can say “Twice!” and go back to a specific time and place to have a do-over. But it only works once for any particular moment, and then he must live with the new consequences. He can only do this for himself and can’t prevent anyone from dying. Alfie regularly uses his power—failing to impress a girl the first time, he finds out more about her, goes back in time, and presto! She likes him. The premise is of course not credible—LaPorta doesn’t buy it either—but it’s intriguing. Most people would probably love to go back and unsay something. The story’s focus is on Alfie’s love for Gianna and whether it’s requited, unrequited, or both. In any case, he’s obsessed with her. He’s a good man, though, an intelligent person with ordinary human failings and a solid moral compass. Albom writes in a warm, easy style that transports the reader to a world of second chances and what-ifs, where spirituality lies close to the surface but never intrudes on the story. Though a cynic will call it sappy, anyone who is sick to their core from the daily news will enjoy this escape from reality.
Have tissues ready as you read this. A small package will do.Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780062406682
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A heartbreaking, laugh-provoking, and absolutely Ephron-esque look at the beauty and fragility of everyday life.
A woman faces a health crisis and obsesses over a local accident in this wonderful follow-up to Sandwich (2024).
Newman begins her latest with a quote from Nora Ephron: “Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know—it’s everywhere. You could be next. But then you turn out not to be. But then again, you could be.” It sets an appropriate tone for a story that is just as full of death and dread as it is laughter. Two years after the events of Sandwich, Rocky is back home in Western Massachusetts and happily surrounded by family—her daughter, Willa, lives with her and her husband, Nick, while applying to Ph.D. programs; her widowed father, Mort, has moved into the in-law apartment behind their house. When a young man who graduated from high school with Rocky’s son, Jamie, is hit by a train, Rocky finds herself spiraling as she thinks about how close the tragedy came to her own family. She’s also freaking out about a mysterious rash her dermatologist can’t explain. Both instances are tailor-made for internet research and stalking. As Rocky obsessively googles her symptoms and finds only bad news (“Here’s what’s true about the Internet: very infrequently do people log on with their good news. Gosh, they don’t write, I had this weird rash on my forearm? And it turned out to be completely nothing!”), she also compulsively checks the Facebook page of the accident victim’s mother. Newman excels at showing how sorrow and joy coexist in everyday life. She masterfully balances a modern exploration of grief with truly laugh-out-loud lines (one passage about the absurdity of collecting a stool sample and delivering it to the doctor stands out). As Rocky deals with the byzantine frustrations of the medical system, she also has to learn, once more, how to see her children, husband, father, and herself as fully flawed and lovable humans.
A heartbreaking, laugh-provoking, and absolutely Ephron-esque look at the beauty and fragility of everyday life.Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780063453913
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
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