“Her smiling boy, untouchable now by waves and storms, and sheltered from disagreements, disappointments, and heartache.” The novel, The Things They Didn’t See, by Angela Shaeffer, places us soon before an unfathomable tragedy as the protagonist, Jill, a high school Spanish teacher with a compassion for her students, attempts a relaxing vacation with her family. Once a sudden death occurs, anguish soon follows each family member, as they must endure the guilt of their individual survival. As they blame each other while repressing their grief, the family begins to spiral in conflict, reflecting over their perceived mistakes. The Things They Didn’t See masterfully captures the heartache and courage involved in reaching out to others during hard times and shows how connection can lead to healing and hope, once we decide to quit running from the pain of our loss.

“She was my neighbor for a spell. A hustler. Nose always on the money. The Gorgon of Los Feliz.” The novel, The Gorgon of Los Feliz, by Nolan Knight, depicts an array of perspectives in the sudden disappearance and effort to find a strained couple’s daughter, Tiffany, primarily centered on the efforts of a hired young woman, Cameron Kilbride, to aid in the search. In contrast with Cameron’s moniker as a gorgon by those that she has wronged through her various hustles, she suddenly exhibits a sincere quality of compassion as she seeks to entice Tiffany to voluntarily return to her parents. However, once circumstances suddenly change, Cameron quickly reverts to her typical fleeting pretenses. The Gorgon of Los Feliz portrays differing shades of selfishness through its use of multiple characters’ viewpoints, ultimately showing us the ongoing repercussions that can result from our shortsightedness in seeking instant gratification.

“He envisioned himself rising with the sun, tending to the vines, nurturing them as he would his own child. He imagined the satisfaction of bottling his own wine, the pride of sharing it with others. This land would provide not just sustenance, but a legacy for Nikos.” The novella, The Water Beneath, by Ayis A. Caperonis, introduces us to the life of Dimitros in 1920s Greece as he struggles to support his family in a land that refuses to relinquish its reserve of water. As tragedy reveals the source of his father’s toil masked in betrayal, we see the courses Nikos will opt for in fitting retribution. The novella explores the bonds of family and the values we must overlook to satisfy our need for retribution.

“‘I guess I’m just worried, deep down, that your life is better than mine,’ I said. ‘I think that’s what everyone worries about, that someone else’s life is better than our own. I think that’s why we just want everyone to fall in line with our decisions of conformity.’” The short story collection, I Wanted To Be A Bluesman, by David Joseph, guides us through multiple perspectives of the impact that music can have in the human experience and the healing power that can be gained through developed bonds and fond memories. I Wanted To Be A Bluesman explores the different viewpoints that are developed amongst the backdrop of distinctive lives and upbringings that modify our perception of similar, if not the same, artforms, such as the blues, that help us better appreciate each other.

“Ellie Vogel walked into the darkness beyond the river, carrying with her everything that remained of Demmin—not just memory and grief, but the stubborn, defiant insistence that even from the greatest horror, something might yet survive.” The novel, Demmin, by Nick Nichols, explores part of the aftermath of World War II and the Nazi propaganda that all of Germany’s people must fall in tide with that regime by the distribution of a means of mass suicide. In spite of this internal strife in tandem with the external turmoil of the looming Russian troops, a young couple, Ellie and Wil, seek to survive by leaving the remains of their war-torn hometown in hopes of discovering a more peaceful life together. Demmin depicts the struggles of all those encouraged with this decisive decision and the sorrowful ease it holds over its protagonists, family members, and general society that pains them throughout the novel.

“Jack turned from the store display with a quiet sense of loss—not just for the animals that had vanished, but for the unpredictability and rawness of life itself, dismantled invisibly by AETERNIRIS, one subtraction at a time.” The novella, The Consent of Shadows, by Naza Semoniff, leads us through a dystopian society in which present-day fears that artificial intelligence will succeed human life has occurred in sorts. We discover that life is a mirage of freedom, when thought is already anticipated before it occurs and must follow protocol or risk being forcibly forgotten and extinguished.  The novella explores the importance of memory and the necessity in having the ability to make everyday choices in even the most mundane acts of our lives.

“Even in moments of friction and guilt, I reminded myself that the things I cherished – living in a comfortable house, spending time with my children, making sure they were fed and clothed well – were made possible through that splintering.” The novel, A Splintering, by Dur e Aziz Amna leads us through the life of its protagonist, Tara, as she seeks to escape the confines of so much of her surroundings in rural Pakistan: family life that constantly propounds upon the violence and expectations of her gender, the class she was born into despite her hunger and aptitude for higher learning, and the ties that forever haunt her burden of knowing that she deserves more. A Splintering explores the resolve of an endearing character through vivid language that compels us to yearn for her ultimate triumph, as she is driven to pursue what is touted to be unattainable.

“So this is what the after looks like. A void. Vast. Silent. Claustrophobic.” The novel, Above the Waterline, by Francois Domain, explores the reasons that relationships that feel stable and tolerable may not be enough for our partners and/or children. As the protagonist, Eddie, suddenly finds himself facing a different life when his wife expresses her dissatisfaction with their marriage and the possibility of a separation lingering amid her words, he escapes to another country. However, he quickly learns that he cannot keep himself from reflecting beyond what must be wrong with his wife and the source of her unhappiness, as his budding friendships with hotel guests fluctuate and sour when it is pointed out how his behaviors circulate a toxicity that he has been unwilling to acknowledge. Above the Waterline digs into the ease we ignore our disagreeable traits, and small changes that we may make to improve not only the lives of those around us but in core satisfaction of our lives.

“I’d pray Mozo’s suspicion had been right, and I’d find something at Santa Rosa to guarantee the Rangers would come after Javier, but I’d found more than I’d dared to hope for, and more than I’d thought to fear.” The novel, Sarita, by Natalie Dossett, focuses on its title protagonist, Sarita, as she seeks vengeance following a tragedy that results in the death of her younger brother and worsening health of her father. Refusing to feel useless or overlooked, she charges forward in a riveting tale of retribution, as we witness her triumphs, setbacks, and resolve in reaching her target. The novel depicts the unrelenting well of strength of its lead character, as she is quickly forced to discover beyond her perceived limitations in confrontation with an array of new and old relationships, all while using expressive prose that explores the novel’s underlying themes.

“She loved her mother, but she didn’t want to be like her, and she wondered if there was a way to pick out the parts she admired—her mother’s capacity for joy, her generosity, grace, and deep-down loyalty to her daughter.” The novel, True Home, by Janet Clare, explores the nature, impact, and ongoing complexity of relationships, centrally focused on the mother/daughter relationship between Christina and Swanee Burrows. The novel delves into the fallout of scandal from their respective husband/father’s actions, and their hectic albeit understandable reactions to the collapse of their family. As Christina attempts to find comfort with her first husband, Colin, ignoring the prior hurt of her sudden departure, Swanee seeks any escape from the parents she cannot seem to rely upon. True Home skillfully explores the extent we may go to leave our pain behind, and the resolve we discover when we confront these burdens.