‘Akikos’ Quiet Happiness’ is a moving new Japan trilogy novel. Photo: Other Press
Akiko’s Quiet Happiness
The Japan Trilogy, Vol. 1 by Jan-Philipp Sendker Translated by Daniel Bowles
The first book in a new series by the beloved author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats trilogy is now out. Jan-Philipp Sendkerreturns withAkiko’s Quiet Happiness, the opening novel in The Japan Trilogy, a tender, introspective story about grief, identity, and the courage it takes to love. (Other Press, 2025)
About the Novel
Still grieving the death of her mother, 29-year-old Akiko lives alone in Tokyo, withdrawn and emotionally isolated. Her quiet, carefully contained life is interrupted one evening when she unexpectedly runs into Kento, her first love from school.
Kento now lives as a hikikomori, leading a reclusive life and only venturing outside at night. As the two former classmates reconnect, their fragile bond begins to open doors neither of them expected.
At the same time, Akiko uncovers unsettling evidence that her mother had been lying to her about their family. The discovery shakes her sense of self and forces her to confront a painful truth: she doesn’t really know who she is.
With Kento’s support, Akiko embarks on a journey into her own past, one that leads her in surprising directions and toward questions she has never dared to ask before:
How do I want to live?
And do I have the courage to love?
Perfect for fans of Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Akiko’s Quiet Happiness is a poignant story of family, identity, and belonging.
About the Author
Jan-Philipp Sendker, born in Hamburg in 1960, was the American correspondent for Stern from 1990 to 1995 and its Asian correspondent from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, he published Cracks in the Wall, a nonfiction book about China.
His first novel, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, became an international bestseller. Sendker now lives in Potsdam with his family.
About the Translator
Daniel Bowles is Associate Professor of German Studies at Boston College. His translation of Imperium won the Goethe-Institut’s Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize in 2016.
Whispers of Mayhem is Aurora Ramsden’s latest romantasy novel. Photo: Amazon
Whispers of Mayhem (Guardians of Death)
by Aurora Ramsden
Overview
Whispers of Mayhem is a dark romantasy packed with savage creatures, deadly magic, unhinged humor, and a heroine who absolutely will take your head.
Nyx Blackwood has always suspected she isn’t human. She’s immune to fire and plagued by visions ripped straight from a horror movie. Loud, unapologetic, and fiercely independent, Nyx is done pretending to be normal and she has no intention of softening herself for anyone.
Alongside her sisters, triplets Opal and Rue, Nyx owns The Triad, a tattoo and piercing studio. Opal serves as the rational backbone of the business, balancing Nyx’s explosive temper and Rue’s take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Together, the Blackwood sisters take life by the horns, and heaven help anyone who gets in their way.
Everything changes when a mysterious stranger named Ryker walks into the shop, tosses Nyx a gold coin, and promises he’ll see them soon.
Not long after, the sisters are transported to another realm and enrolled in Death University. Surrounded by chaos and danger, they learn they are powerful creatures who need intense training, because the world’s evil isn’t waiting for them to catch up.
Review
Whispers of Mayhem is a fast-paced plunge into dark romantasy that revels in chaos, blood, and biting humor. Aurora Ramsden introduces Nyx as a vision-seeing tattoo artist whose sharp wit is matched only by her sharper instincts. Alongside her sisters, she is violently ripped from everything familiar and thrown into a brutal new world crawling with savage creatures, deadly magic, and truths that refuse to stay buried.
The tone is unapologetic and the humor delightfully unhinged. Fight scenes are vivid and immersive, pulling the reader straight into the action:
“I pull the vine tighter around his throat, standing to the side of him, reveling in his rising panic…”
Told in first person through both Nyx and Ryker’s perspectives, the danger feels constant and deeply personal.
Nyx is not a passive heroine waiting to be saved, she is rage, survival, and teeth. Ramsden writes her with an itchy trigger finger and zero hesitation to turn violent when pushed, making it impossible not to root for her. The bond between the sisters adds emotional weight, grounding the carnage in loyalty and love. Together, they are an unstoppable trio.
As they uncover who and what they truly are, the tension escalates toward a chilling truth: self-discovery isn’t optional, and time is not on their side.
Dark, violent, and wickedly entertaining, Whispers of Mayhem is a must-read for fans of gritty fantasy with heart and humor buried beneath the bloodshed. This being the first book in the Guardians of Death series, prepare yourself for the Blackwood sisters, they’re just getting warmed up. If you love strong female leads, this book is for you.
“The shadow figure-faceless and void-moves with predatory grace, slicing at her with a malevolent glee, leaving trails of darkness swirling in the aftermath of each cruel blow.”
Content Warning
Intended for mature audiences. Contains:
Violence and gore
Dark humor
Strong language
Explicit sex scenes
About the Author
Aurora Ramsden’s love for fantasy romance is rooted in memories of her mother and strengthened by the bond she shares with her closest girlfriends, trading smutty recommendations, laughing over morally gray men, and celebrating heroines who bite back.
Her stories are messy, blunt, sexy, a little unhinged, and unapologetically raw, packed with chaos, sarcasm, and enough spice to keep your Kindle sweating.
Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 out of 5)
Whispers of Mayhem delivers a ferocious blend of dark fantasy, sisterhood, violence, and unhinged humor. The worldbuilding is immersive, the pacing relentless, and Nyx Blackwood is the kind of heroine who refuses to be forgotten. The sister dynamic adds emotional depth, while the action and spice keep the pages turning.
A few moments feel intentionally chaotic, which largely works in the book’s favor, but readers who prefer slower worldbuilding or softer fantasy tones may find the intensity overwhelming. For fans of gritty romantasy with spice, morally gray characters, and heroines who choose violence every time, this book hits hard.
Perfect for readers who want their fantasy dark, bloody, funny, and unapologetically wild.
*Thank you to Aurora Ramsden for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Craniofacial Anatomy and Forensic Identification by Gloria Nusse. Photo: PICT, used with permission.
Part of the Partners in Crime Tours Virtual Book Tour
Book Review: Craniofacial Anatomy and Forensic Identification by Gloria Nusse
Overview
Our bodies record what happens to us physically throughout our lives, including scars from injuries sustained years or even decades ago. Scars tell us how we used our joints or how we may have injured them as children and adults. Our bodies also conform to the environments in which we live, both externally and internally. By examining and observing these key clues, a forensic investigator can reveal the unique characteristics that tell the story of a person’s life and death. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)
Craniofacial Anatomy and Forensic Identification is an atlas that covers all aspects of facial reconstruction and the anatomy of the head and neck. It explores facial expression, the anatomical basis of facial development, and the effects of muscle movement in detail.
Written by a world-renowned forensic artist with decades of experience as a scientific illustrator, portraitist, anthropologist, and lecturer in anatomy and biology, Gloria Nusse brings a rare balance of scientific rigor and artistic mastery to this work.
What’s Inside
Chapter 1: Introduction and identity from the skull’s perspective
Chapter 2: History and research of facial identification
Chapter 3: Bones, muscles, and tissues
Chapter 4: Facial features
Chapter 5: Analysis and interpretation
Chapter 6: Age, archetype, and expression
Chapter 7: Grave goods and artifacts
Chapter 8: Mold making and reproduction
Chapter 9: Clay work and finishing
Chapter 10:Lefty, an exemplar
Highlights
Chapter 2 This chapter includes a fascinating history of facial identification, beginning with mortuary practices of preserving the head that date back approximately 80,000 years to Jericho and the Middle East. It also highlights influential figures in the field, such as Wilton Marion Krogman, a professor of physical anthropology who along with sculptor Mary Jane McCue created a 3D facial reconstruction on a male skull in 1946. Modern identification methods are largely based on this groundbreaking work.
Chapter 8 This section goes into detailed methods of mold making, skull preparation, and techniques for working with damaged skulls, making it especially valuable for practitioners.
Review
Craniofacial Anatomy and Forensic Identification is a visually rich atlas that bridges science and art with remarkable accuracy. Designed for forensic artists, anthropologists, and anatomy students, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the head and neck, grounding facial reconstruction in anatomical knowledge rather than artistic intuition alone.
Nusse guides readers through craniofacial anatomy, facial musculature, and the structural basis of expression, clearly demonstrating how bone, muscle, and soft tissue interact to create recognizable human faces. I especially appreciated her focus on facial development and muscle movement, which shows how subtle anatomical variations can dramatically alter a person’s appearance, which is an essential insight for forensic identification. The atlas format, supported by detailed illustrations, allows complex concepts to be easily understood and reinforces the text’s scientific clarity.
As a world-renowned forensic artist and scientific illustrator, Nusse writes with the authority of a scientist and the sensitivity of an artist. Her explanations are precise yet accessible, reflecting deep respect for both disciplines.
Overall, Craniofacial Anatomy and Forensic Identification is a valuable reference that elevates facial reconstruction from technique to discipline. It gives readers a deeper understanding of the human face as both a biological structure and an expressive form. An extra plus is the history of facial reconstruction; fans of history will appreciate the detailed background information.
“It is impossible to know all of anatomy. She is a mysterious mistress and refuses to be put into a box. Each time you think you have figured it out, you see something else that changes all you knew before.”
Gloria Nusse is a forensic artist, anatomist, and anthropologist who has taught numerous professional workshops, including for the FBI.
She has aided in the identification and return of the unidentified remains of more than 14 individuals to their families. Her work includes recreations of ancient peoples of the Middle East and the reconstruction of the crystal skull for National Geographic, among others. Her work has been featured on 48 Hours, Forensic Files, Dateline, National Geographic specials, Unsolved History, and more.
Nusse worked as a scientific artist for over 35 years and taught human dissection and anatomy at San Francisco State University for 12 years, where she is currently Emeritus. She has authored and co-authored multiple journal articles and book chapters and was the invited speaker for the Chalmers Historical Address at the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons meeting in 2013.
*Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
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Mattering is the new book by Jennifer Wallace. Photo: Penguin Random House
We live in a world more connected than ever, yet more people feel invisible, replaceable, and disconnected from purpose than at any other time in recent history.
From award-winning journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Wallace comes Mattering, a timely and transformative book that confronts the loneliness, burnout, and loss of purpose so many people are experiencing today. (Penguin Random House, 2025)
📅 Release date: Tuesday, January 27 📘 Status: Available now for pre-order
Why Mattering Matters
In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes a powerful and urgent case: mattering—the feeling that we are valued and that we have an opportunity to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water.
Yet in today’s world, this fundamental need is increasingly unmet, with serious consequences. As mental and social health crises continue to surge, we often point to social media, the pace of modern life, or polarizing politics as the cause. Wallace argues that beneath these forces lies a deeper issue, what she calls “an erosion of mattering.”
Stories, Science, and the Cost of Feeling Invisible
With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together compelling research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. She introduces readers to:
Burned-out employees
Overwhelmed caregivers
People navigating grief
Individuals facing destabilizing life transitions
Through these stories, Mattering shows how lives are transformed when people are reminded, often in small but intentional ways, that they are valued and that their presence and contributions truly count.
The “Mattering Core”
At the heart of the book is what Wallace calls the mattering core, made up of four essential elements:
Recognizing your impact
Being relied on (but not too much)
Feeling prioritized
Being truly known and invested in
Strengthening this core helps us reconnect with purpose, deepen our relationships, and face uncertainty with greater resilience and clarity.
Who This Book Is For
Perfect for readers of Brené Brown, David Brooks, and Adam Grant, Mattering is a rare, culture-shifting book that offers a diagnosis and a remedy. With a clear roadmap and actionable takeaways, Wallace shows how to:
Unlock mattering within ourselves
Build cultures of mattering in our homes
Create healthier, more connected workplaces
Strengthen communities that support belonging
Mattering is a call to action and a blueprint for living a meaningful life and for creating the world we so urgently need.
About the Author
Jennifer Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestselling book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It, named an Amazon Best Book of the Year.
Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. A graduate of Harvard College, Wallace began her journalism career in television at 60 Minutes.
My Mother Cursed My Name is the debut novel by Anamely Salgado Reyes. Photo: Barnes & Noble
My Mother Cursed My Name Book Review: A Magical Realism Novel About Generational Trauma
My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes is a debut novel that explores three generations of strong Mexican American women: Olvido, Angustias, and Felicitas. Blending magical realism, women’s fiction, and family drama, the novel examines generational trauma, grief, identity, and the power of names. Set near the U.S.–Mexico border, the story follows a grandmother’s ghost who meddles in her living family’s life from beyond the grave.
Book Overview: What My Mother Cursed My Name Is About
The novel opens with the history of the Olivares women, dating back to 1917, when Justa Olivares named her daughter Calamidades. Justa believed hardship built character and if she suffered, her daughter should too.
“For generations, the women in the Olivares family attempted to change the course of destiny through the power of names.”
Fast forward to Oakville, Arkansas, where Angustias abruptly pulls her ten-year-old daughter Felicitas out of school to leave town once again. On the road, Felicitas speaks with a mysterious intruder as they head to Grace, Texas, Angustias’ hometown, where her mother Olvido has just died.
The intruder is Olvido herself. Felicitas has the ability to see ghosts, allowing Olvido to linger. Convinced she cannot cross over without resolving unfinished business, Olvido insists on “fixing” Angustias’ life, including her family, career, faith, and future, by working through Felicitas.
Felicitas, who never knew her grandmother, agrees to help in hopes of understanding her. Meanwhile, Angustias, grieving and eager to leave Texas behind, is baffled when the town suddenly rallies around her offering jobs, matchmaking, and church invitations.
Each woman possesses a unique gift: Felicitas sees ghosts, Angustias sees people’s auras, and Olvido draws confessions from others through her cooking. Ultimately, they must learn how to truly listen to one another.
Review: Themes of Generational Trauma, Identity, and Motherhood
My Mother Cursed My Name is a haunting and intimate novel about inherited trauma, unresolved love, and the weight of family expectations. It asks a central question: how much of our destiny is decided before we are born?
The story alternates between Olvido, her daughter Angustias, and her granddaughter Felicitas, revealing how control, often disguised as protection, damages relationships. Olvido’s belief that names determine fate casts a long shadow across generations.
When Angustias becomes pregnant as a teenager, her choice to leave home feels both reckless and necessary, a desperate act of self-preservation. Years later, Felicitas’ attempt to connect with her grandmother delivers a darkly ironic truth: although Olvido is dead, her influence remains powerful.
Reyes’s prose is restrained, vivid, and poetic:
“Between the humidity and the running, her hair has tangled in multiple places as if various birds fought to make a nest on her head.”
Blending emotional realism with a subtle gothic tone, the novel uses death as a metaphor for estrangement and healing. My Mother Cursed My Name is ultimately a poignant exploration of motherhood, resentment, cultural inheritance, and the difficult work of breaking cycles we inherit without consent.
Readers who enjoy Latina literature, magical realism novels, and women’s fiction about family and identity will find this story heartwarming and thought-provoking.
“If only mistakes could anchor Angustias without drowning her, she wouldn’t be so determined on sailing the unknown sea.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
About the Author: Anamely Salgado Reyes
Anamely Salgado Reyes grew up on both sides of the Mexico–Texas border. Now based in the Rio Grande Valley, she writes stories rooted in family, friendship, culture, and the quiet magic found in everyday life.
Leyla’s House is Zülfü Livaneli’s, one of Turkey’s great modern writers, musicians and activists, new novel. Photo: Other Press
Leyla’s House: A Novel by Zülfü Livaneli
Release Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Publisher: Other Press
Tradition, modernity, displacement, and human connection collide in internationally bestselling author Zülfü Livaneli’s latest novel, Leyla’s House. Richly layered and emotionally resonant, the book explores old and new money, the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, and the complexities of modern Turkey. It’s available for pre-order now. (Other Press, 2026)
A Story of Loss, Survival, and Unexpected Friendship
Evicted from her Istanbul mansion, an elderly aristocrat forms surprising new connections across class and culture in this colorful, nuanced novel.
The last living member of a great Ottoman family, the refined yet sheltered Leyla finds herself homeless and vulnerable when her house is sold by the bank to a business tycoon and his ambitious wife. Forced out of her historic mansion on the banks of the Bosphorus, Leyla is rescued by Yusuf, the son of her family’s former gardener, now a journalist, and taken into his care.
Leyla follows Yusuf to a modern, cosmopolitan district of Istanbul, where she encounters a vibrant world of artists and outcasts, including Yusuf’s partner Roxy (real name Rukiye), a hip-hop singer. Despite initial hostility, a genuine friendship slowly develops between these two women from radically different worlds.
A Hidden History Comes to Light
When Leyla’s former home is emptied of its furniture, a startling family secret emerges. A discovered photograph reveals the old woman’s uncanny resemblance to a British officer, raising an unsettling question: could Leyla be the product of an illegitimate union between an Ottoman woman and an Englishman?
With a strong sense of romance and social insight, Leyla’s House captures a society in flux, where former Ottoman aristocrats, the nouveau riche, and Turks returning from Europe all coexist, collide, and redefine what belonging means.
About the Author
Zülfü Livaneli is Turkey’s best-selling author and a prominent political activist. Widely regarded as one of the most important Turkish cultural figures of our time, he is known for novels that interweave diverse social and historical perspectives. His acclaimed works include Bliss, Serenade for Nadia, Disquiet, The Last Island, The Fisherman and His Son, On the Back of the Tiger, and My Brother’s Story.
His books have been translated into thirty-seven languages, won numerous international literary prizes, and adapted into films, stage plays, and operas.
About the Translators
Brendan Freely
Born in Princeton in 1959, Brendan Freely studied psychology at Yale University. His translations include Two Girls by Perihan Mağden, The Gaze by Elif Şafak, and—co-translated with Yelda Türedi—Like a Sword Wound by Ahmet Altan.
Yelda Türedi
Born in Mersin, Turkey, in 1970, Yelda Türedi studied chemical engineering at Boğaziçi University. She has co-translated Ahmet Altan’s Like a Sword Wound and Love in the Days of Rebellion.
He doesn’t offer abstract frameworks or motivational clichés, but rather a practical system rooted in real-world experience. He has spent a decade in mission-critical consulting where decisions aren’t theoretical, they’re consequential.
His goal in writing this book is clear:
“This book is for anyone who is facing tough decisions, feeling stuck, or just looking for a better way to think things through.”
The Core Idea: Outcome-First Thinking
The premise is simple yet powerful. We need to stop reacting to the options in front of us and start anchoring every decision to the outcome we actually want.
This Outcome-First approach flips traditional decision-making advice on its head. Instead of weighing endless pros and cons, Sable encourages clarity first—defining success before choosing a path. The result is faster, more confident decisions with far less mental noise.
What’s Inside the Book
The book is divided into four clear sections:
Part I: Framing the End
Part II: Navigating the Messy Middle
Part III: Making the Call
Part IV: Becoming a Decision Maker by Design
Key Highlights
Part I, Chapter 1: Outcome-First Thinking Sable immediately addresses artificial intelligence, noting that AI will increasingly influence both personal and professional decisions. While AI can provide predictive analytics and real-time simulations, it can also begin to make decisions for us if we aren’t clear on our goals.
“AI is not your enemy, but it’s not your decision maker either. You are.”
Part I, Chapter 5: Generate Better Options — Decision-Making Under Pressure When faced with two bad options, Sable challenges readers to create better ones. He uses Tyler Perry as a case study: when told his work wasn’t mainstream enough for Hollywood, Perry didn’t conform or quit, he built his own studio.
“So the next time you’re told it’s either A or B, remember—you are writing the test, not just taking it.”
Why This Book Works
Sable acknowledges the speed, complexity, and constant pressure of modern life and designs his approach accordingly. The writing is clear, direct, and refreshingly free of jargon. He reinforces concepts through illustrations, case studies, and interactive exercises, with each chapter ending in summaries and key takeaways.
Several chapters also explore how artificial intelligence fits into modern decision principles, making the book especially relevant right now.
Final Thoughts
For readers who feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by choice, Begin at the End is an effective antidote. It restores agency and focus by reminding us that better decisions start with knowing where we want to go.
Looking for fresh decision-making ideas? This book is worth making your next guide.
“Whether in markets or in life, if you wait for perfect signals, you’ll miss the opportunities that come from moving forward with intention, even when the picture is messy.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
*Thank you to Jeremy Sable for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls is the exciting new fantasy novel by Vivian Bell. Photo: Amazon
The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls (Book 1)
By Vivian Bell
An ancient jinja is home to the Wind and Ice clans, vampires who spend eternity fighting loneliness and boredom. In modern-day Japan, the New Bloodline must navigate everyday life, love, and increasingly ferocious yokai.
Shun Holynorth, a vampire, lives in the frost of eternity, while Haruki Akayama, a mortal, exists within the fragility of human time. Their meeting becomes the crack through which both light and darkness seep.
Story Overview
The novel opens with Shun admiring the sun’s final rays at sunset. Even after centuries, sunsets still mesmerize him, though they stir an ancient unrest within his soul. Shun belongs to the New Bloodline, children born of vampires and immortals. As the youngest, he’s seen as delicate, earning him the nickname the Cub. Adam and Ryuu are assigned to protect him as he begins university at Aizawa Academy, where vampires and humans study side by side.
Haruki Akayama and Yoshi Yamamoto are among the human students attending Aizawa Academy. Haruki is a 20-year-old billionaire with no immediate direction in life, aside from his determination to find his mother, who disappeared during his childhood. He’s dating Sam, unaware that Sam is a vampire.
As the group begins school, friendships form and secrets surface. Shared struggles and personal drama draw them closer together, revealing unexpected similarities. Beneath their everyday lives, however, a lurking danger emerges, only briefly introduced here, as this is the first book in the series.
Review
The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls blends ancient myth with modern unease. Set within an ancient shrine, it explores what happens when immortality collides with change. The New Bloodline must balance mundane university life with the growing threat of increasingly dangerous yokai, creating a compelling tension between the ordinary and the supernatural.
Shun and Haruki’s connection acts as a bridge, allowing light, darkness, longing, and fear to seep into each other’s worlds. Bell writes their relationship with emotional sensitivity, making it feel earned rather than merely symbolic.
As the opening volume of The Jinja of Blood, the novel sets the tone for a saga focused less on spectacle and more on belonging, friendship, and love in all its complexities. While the central romance between two young men places the book firmly within queer fantasy, the broader cast adds depth and diversity.
The vampires and immortals are portrayed as beings seeking normalcy rather than reveling in blood and gore. Their longing for ordinary lives makes them relatable, despite their centuries-long existence.
The narrative flows smoothly, supported by vivid, poetic language:
“The leaves, no longer resisting, surrendered to the wind’s invitation and danced over gardens and rooftops, skimming aerials and skyscrapers.”
Because the story is set in Japan, Japanese terms appear throughout. While this occasionally slows the pacing, the included glossary is helpful. The incorporation of Japanese folklore, such as the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog who waited for his long dead owner at Shibuya Station for ten years, adds cultural richness.
Final Thoughts
Overall, The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls is a strong and atmospheric beginning to a dark urban fantasy saga. It explores themes of friendship, identity, coming of age, and love. Though categorized as LGBTQ+ fiction due to its central romance, the story’s emotional core and diverse cast give it broad appeal.
Fans of fantasy, vampire lore, and Japanese culture will find this an engaging and promising start to what is sure to be an exciting series.
“Yoshi was the only anchor that allowed him to maintain a connection to reality. Without him, he would have capsized in the tidal waves of his own soul.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
About the Author
Vivian Bell is a shadow behind shrine doors, writing queer gothic tales of vampires, jinja, and cursed bloodlines. The Jinja of Blood is her debut dark fantasy, set between university corridors and yokai-haunted districts in modern-day Tokyo.
*Thank you to Vivian Bell for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
The Emotions is the new novel by Jean-Philippe Toussaint. Photo: Other Press
New Book Spotlight: The Emotions by Jean-Philippe Toussaint
Do we want to know what the next few days or weeks have in store for us? Do we want to know if a new romantic or sexual encounter lies just ahead, or how close death really is? (Other Press, 2025)
The Emotions by Jean-Philippe Toussaint, one of Europe’s most celebrated contemporary writers, is a quiet yet unsettling novel that explores these questions through grief, memory, and uncertainty. Translated from the French by Mark Polizzotti, this introspective work examines how the future is imagined, misread, and often undone by the past.
Overview: What Is The Emotions About?
Set against the bureaucratic machinery of the European Union, The Emotions follows Jean Deprez, a European civil servant specializing in strategic foresight. After the death of his father, Jean begins to revisit his past while obsessively anticipating what lies ahead. He is professionally trained to predict outcomes, yet increasingly incapable of doing so in his personal life.
As political and personal upheavals unfold, including Brexit, the election of Trump, the dissolution of a relationship, and a night spent with a stranger, Jean confronts the limits of prediction and the instability of memory.
Fiction That Disrupts Reality
Toussaint’s novel functions as an experiment in how fiction destabilizes our sense of reality. Jean foresees events that never occur, fails to imagine those that will devastate him, and often does not fully grasp what he is experiencing in the present moment. Even his recollections of the past remain unreliable, filtered through grief and self-doubt.
This deliberate uncertainty transforms The Emotions into a meditation on time, both the time that has passed and the time we imagine is still to come.
Themes: Love, Politics, Masculinity, and Memory
The Emotions is an intimate exploration of mourning and emotional disorientation. Toussaint weaves together:
Personal grief and the death of a parent
The fragility of romantic relationships
Political instability in contemporary Europe
Masculinity and emotional restraint
The failure of rational systems to account for human feeling
The result is a subtle, contemporary novel that lingers long after the final page.
Why You Should Read The Emotions
Fans of European literary fiction in translation will find much to admire here. Readers who enjoyed Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck or Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov will appreciate Toussaint’s restrained prose, philosophical depth, and emotional precision.
The Emotions is ideal for readers drawn to introspective novels that examine grief, memory, and the illusion of control in modern life.
About the Author: Jean-Philippe Toussaint
Jean-Philippe Toussaint is a Belgian novelist, photographer, and filmmaker. He is the author of eighteen books, translated into more than twenty languages, and has received numerous literary awards, including the Prix Médicis (2005) for Fuir (Running Away) and the Prix Décembre (2009) for La Vérité sur Marie (The Truth About Marie).
In 2012, Toussaint created a multimedia exhibition at the Louvre Museum combining photography, video, installation art, and performance to convey literary works without written text.
About the Translator: Mark Polizzotti
Mark Polizzotti is an award-winning translator of more than fifty books from French, including works by Gustave Flaubert, Patrick Modiano, Marguerite Duras, André Breton, and Raymond Roussel. His translation of Kibogo by Scholastique Mukasonga was shortlisted for the National Book Award (2022), and his translation of Éric Vuillard’s The War of the Poor was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize (2021).
Polizzotti is also the author of eleven books, including Revolution of the Mind: The Life of André Breton and Sympathy for the Traitor: A Translation Manifesto.
Tired of traditional leadership paths? The Fractional Leader’s Playbook offers a smarter, more flexible approach. Photo: Amazon
Why Leadership Books Continue to Matter
Leadership books, leadership development, and leadership growth continue to shape how professionals lead in today’s evolving workplace.
Books on leadership offer readers clarity in uncertain moments. They blend story, research, and hard-earned lessons into guidance people can apply at work and in life. Readers are drawn to leaders’ failures as much as their successes, finding reassurance that growth is imperfect. These books appeal across industries because leadership is universal: influencing others, making decisions, and managing oneself.
Whether practical handbooks or reflective memoirs, they offer frameworks, language, and courage. They help readers imagine better teams, healthier cultures, and a stronger sense of purpose. Readers return to them during periods of change, seeking confidence, direction, and grounding, especially during career transitions, burnout, or shifts in organizational culture.
Book Spotlight
The Fractional Leader’s Playbook by Kellie Hinkle
Learn how to become a part-time leader with a full-time salary.
If the traditional 9-to-5 (or let’s be honest, 9-to-9) leadership path feels like a soul-sucking, status-chasing trap, you’re not wrong—and you’re not alone. (Amazon, 2025)
The Fractional Leader’s Playbookis a no-fluff, BS-free guide for seasoned professionals who are done being tied to one company, one title, or one calendar. Whether you’re a burnt-out executive, a multi-talented free agent, or someone who wants a full life alongside high-impact work, this book offers a practical roadmap for doing leadership differently.
What You’ll Learn
What fractional leadership really is (and what it isn’t)
How to design a flexible, profitable business that doesn’t own you
Practical guidance on pricing, scoping, onboarding, and managing clients
Scripts, templates, and systems that protect your time, energy, and boundaries
Tactical strategies for long-term success—without scaling yourself into another job you hate
This book isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing smarter. It’s written for high-impact, values-driven leaders who want to build careers that fit their lives, not the other way around.
Who Should Read The Fractional Leader’s Playbook
This leadership book is ideal for executives, consultants, nonprofit leaders, and professionals exploring alternative leadership models. If you’re interested in fractional leadership, flexible work, portfolio careers, or sustainable leadership practices, this book offers practical insight and real-world tools.
About the Author
Kellie Hinkle is the founder and CEO of Brightside Advisors, a consulting firm focused on nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. With more than two decades of experience in executive leadership roles, she brings deep expertise in strategic design, systems and process development, data storytelling, workplace culture, and continuous learning and improvement.
Final Thoughts
Leadership books help us rethink how we work, lead, and define success. The Fractional Leader’s Playbook stands out by challenging traditional leadership paths and offering a flexible, values-driven alternative for modern professionals.
Ready to rethink leadership? Add this book to your reading list, explore whether fractional leadership fits your career goals, and subscribe for more book recommendations, leadership insights, and reflections on building meaningful work, on your terms.
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