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Alice Munro’s stories had a depth most novelists only dream of

Miranda July’s new novel will make you blush

How Paul Reiser helped Michael McDonald write his memoir

‘Long Island’ is Colm Tóibín’s heartbreaking sequel to ‘Brooklyn’

‘Challenger’ is a fresh telling of one of NASA’s darkest moments

May’s books offer a choice: Dark science fiction or cozy fantasy

David Ignatius’s ‘Phantom Orbit’ is a twisty, believable spy novel

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Cancer stalked his family. It took years to find the culprit.

The 10 best books of 2023

50 notable works of fiction, 50 notable works of nonfiction, the 10 best audiobooks of 2023. sample them yourself., the 10 best mystery novels of 2023.

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'Whale Fall' centers the push-and-pull between dreams and responsibilities

May 16, 2024 • Elizabeth O'Connor's spare and bracing debut novel provides a stark reckoning with what it means to be seen from the outside, both as a person and as a people.

Two new novels investigate what makes magic, what is real and imagined

May 15, 2024 • Both of these novels, Pages of Mourning and The Cemetery of Untold Stories, from an emerging writer and a long-celebrated one, respectively, walk an open road of remembering love, grief, and fate.

What are 'the kids' thinking these days? Honor Levy aims to tell in 'My First Book'

May 14, 2024 • Social media discourse and the inevitable backlash aside, the 26-year-old writer's first book is an amusing, if uneven, take on growing up white, privileged, and Gen Z.

Claire Messud's sweeping novel borrows from her own 'Strange Eventful History'

May 13, 2024 • Messud draws from her grandfather's handwritten memoir as she tells a cosmopolitan, multigenerational story about a family forced to move from Algeria to Europe to South and North America.

My Octopus Teacher's Craig Foster dives into the ocean again in 'Amphibious Soul'

May 13, 2024 • Nature's healing power is an immensely personal focus for Foster. He made his film after being burned out from long, grinding hours at work. After the release of the film, he suffered from insomnia.

'Women and Children First' is a tale about how actions and choices affect others

May 11, 2024 • The puzzle of a girl's death propels Alina Grabowski's debut novel but, really, it's less about the mystery and more about how our actions impact each other, especially when we think we lack agency.

A 19th-century bookbinder struggles with race and identity in 'The Library Thief'

May 10, 2024 • In her debut novel taking place in the Victorian era, Kuchenga Shenjé explores the expectations that arise when society demands that every group be neatly categorized.

Magic, secrets, and urban legend: 3 new YA fantasy novels to read this spring

May 8, 2024 • A heist with a social conscience, a father using magic for questionable work, an urban legend turned sleepover dare: These new releases explore protagonists embracing the magic within themselves.

'Long Island' renders bare the universality of longing

May 7, 2024 • In a heartrending follow-up to his beloved 2009 novel, Brooklyn, Colm Tóibín handles uncertainties and moral conundrums with exquisite delicacy, zigzagging through time to a devastating climax.

A poet searches for answers about the short life of a writer in 'Traces of Enayat'

May 1, 2024 • Poet Iman Mersal's book is a memoir of her search for knowledge about the writer Enayat al-Zayyat; it's a slow, idiosyncratic journey through a layered, changing Cairo — and through her own mind.

'Real Americans' asks: What could we change about our lives?

April 30, 2024 • Many philosophical ideas get an airing in Rachel Khong's latest novel, including the existence of free will and the ethics of altering genomes to select for "favorable" inheritable traits.

As National Poetry Month comes to a close, 2 new retrospectives to savor

April 29, 2024 • April always brings some of the years' biggest poetry collections. So as it wraps up, we wanted to bring you two favorites — retrospective collections from Marie Howe and Jean Valentine.

A new collection of Emily Dickinson's letters has been published by Harvard's Belknap Press, edited by Dickinson scholars Cristanne Miller and Domhnall Mitchell. Three Lions/Getty Images hide caption

This collection may be the closest we'll ever come to a Dickinson autobiography

April 25, 2024 • The Letters of Emily Dickinson collects 1,304 letters, starting with one she wrote at age 11. Her singular voice comes into its own in the letters of the 1860s, which often blur into poems.

Looking for new ways to appreciate nature? 2 new birding books may help

April 22, 2024 • Novelist Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles centers on an array of birds that visit her yard, as Trish O'Kane's Birding to Change the World recalls lessons from birds that galvanized her teaching.

'When I Think of You' could be a ripped-from-the-headlines Hollywood romance

April 18, 2024 • Myah Ariel's debut is like a fizzy, angsty mash-up of Bolu Babalola and Kennedy Ryan as the challenges of doing meaningful work in Hollywood threaten two young lovers' romantic reunion.

5 new mysteries and thrillers for your nightstand this spring

April 17, 2024 • These new books will take you from murder in present-day Texas to cryptography in Cold War Berlin to an online community that might hold the solution to a missing-person case.

It's a wild ride to get to the bottom of what everyone's hiding in 'A Better World'

April 16, 2024 • A very sinister thriller with a dash of science-fiction and full of inscrutabilities, Sarah Langan's novel is as entreating and creepy as it is timely and humane.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Books we love: love and romance.

April 15, 2024 • NPR's Books We Love is a roundup of favorite books of the year, sorted and tagged to help you find exactly what you're looking for. From the meet cutes to the happy endings and through all the ups and downs in between, we're recommending great books for people who love love and romance.

In 'Like Happiness,' a woman struggles to define a past, destructive relationship

April 12, 2024 • Ursula Villarreal-Moura's debut novel movingly portrays its protagonist coming to terms with an imbalanced, difficult, and sometimes harmful friendship that was also a key part of her life for years.

'The Familiar' is a romance, coming-of-age tale, and a story about fighting for more

April 11, 2024 • In her new novel, Leigh Bardugo drags readers into a world of servitude, magic, power struggles, and intrigue — one where there isn't a single character that doesn't have a secret agenda.

'There's Always This Year' reflects on how we consider others — and ourselves

April 3, 2024 • Hanif Abdurraqib's latest book is about hoops, sure, but it's also about so much more. It's another remarkable book from one of the country's smartest cultural critics.

'Lilith' cuts to the heart of the gun debate and school shootings

April 2, 2024 • Eric Rickstad's novel is full of sadness and rage; it forces readers to look at one of the ugliest parts of U.S. culture, a too-common occurrence that is extremely rare in other countries.

'Replay' spotlights resilience, loss, and intergenerational connectedness

March 21, 2024 • Jordan Mechner is known for his video games. But here he brings to life the many twists and turns that underscore the pervasive impact of the past — and the connectedness that remains in the present.

'The Tree Doctor' chronicles one woman's response to a series of life-changing crises

March 19, 2024 • Marie Mutsuki Mockett's latest novel about a wife and mother is wise and sensitive, and a stunning reflection on how we reinvent ourselves when we're left with no other choice.

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Who are the ‘Real Americans’ when the wealthy are treated like superheroes?

Rachel Khong's ambitious second novel moves back and forth in time and place to tell the story of three generations of one Chinese American family.

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‘Crow Talk’ is a meditative and hopeful novel on grief

Crows have long been associated with death, but Eileen Garvin’s latest novel offers a fresh perspective; creepy and morbid becomes beautiful and transformative.

Emily Henry’s new novel is kind of a ‘Funny Story’

"Funny Story" is a romantic comedy about children's librarian Daphne, who moves to a small town with her fiancé, only to be dumped on the...

Indigenous writer’s new novel takes on the legacy of an ‘Indian Burial Ground’

Nick Medina, a member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, revisits the fictional Takoda reservation he introduced in his 2023 debut, "Sisters of the Lost...

‘The Sleepwalkers’ offers a ‘White Lotus’ honeymoon, complete with drowning

Scarlett Thomas' latest novel is such dark, twisted, scandalous fun that it might dent the psyche.

‘Groundhog Day’ meets ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ in new comic novel

"The Husbands" is a rollicking novel about a Londoner named Lauren who keeps cycling through husbands who come out of a magic attic.

Transfixing novel explores the repercussions of one day of violence

Abigail Dean's new novel "Day One" revolves around a tragedy and its aftermath, and features a layered narrative made up of chopping-and-changing timelines.

Novel shows how Panama Canal created a ‘Great Divide’ even as it joined oceans

Cristina Henríquez's engaging "The Great Divide" uses the power of fiction to further imagine the lives of those who built and lived near the canal.

‘Wandering Stars’ is a fiery follow-up to Pulitzer finalist ‘There There’

"Wandering Stars" is the just as damning and brilliantly incensed sequel to Tommy Orange's debut "There There."

Jewel thief and a death forced writer Sloane Crosley to wrestle with ‘Grief’

Fans of Crosley's tart essay collections, including "I Was Told There'd Be Cake," will recognize her ironic humor and her instinct for the perfect detail.

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Book reviews can be an indispensable asset to writers and their careers. Our Book Review Outlets database is an excellent platform for authors—from self-published independents to household names—to research and discover a spectrum of book review options.

Book Nerdection

Book Nerdection is a website offering services for book reviews, sponsored book listings, author interviews, and an abundance of content for both authors and readers. Reviews are available for both written books and audiobooks.

VIDA Review

The  VIDA Review  is an online literary magazine publishing original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and reviews. Reviews must be for full-length or chapbooks of poetry or prose by writers from historically-marginalized...

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue biannually publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by...

Adroit Journal

The Adroit Journal  is a registered literary and arts nonprofit organization that was founded in 2010 by poet Peter LaBerge. At its foundation, the journal has its eyes focused ahead, seeking to showcase what its global staff of emerging...

Bone Bouquet

Bone Bouquet is a biannual print journal publishing new writing by female and nonbinary poets, from artists both established and emerging. Work that breaks with tradition, creating new forms by dwelling in thought rather than seeking...

Asymptote  is the premier site for world literature in translation. They take their name from the dotted line on a graph that a mathematical function may tend toward, but never reach. Similarly, a translated text may never fully replicate...

Published since 2009, Big Other is an online arts and culture magazine accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, lyric essay, art, video, short drama, and hybrid work from both established and emerging writers and artists....

Barrelhouse

Barrelhouse is a biannual print journal featuring fiction, poetry, interviews, and essays about music, art, and the detritus of popular culture. Their website regularly posts new short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and book...

Another Chicago Magazine

Another Chicago Magazine  is independent of any institution, and has lived on volunteer efforts and grants. Each editor has autonomy and publishes work that ranges from conventional to experimental. They adore writing that is engaged with...

American Poetry Review

The American Poetry Review is dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary prose. They also aim to expand the audience interested in poetry and literature, and to provide...

Printed twice a year (in July and December) and distributed internationally with subscribers in over twenty countries, each issue includes thirty-two shorter poems. In 2013, 32 Poems expanded to publish regular prose features online....

Self-Publishing Review

Self-Publishing Review has been a leading name in self-publishing services and author advocacy since 2008. Offering professional editorial book reviews across all genres with a number of options for paid reviews, their services also...

Under a Warm Green Linden

Under a Warm Green Linden , launched in 2008, is both a forum on the technical and ineffable qualities of the art of poetry, and a digital poetry journal. Reviews and interviews with established and emerging poets are intended to deepen,...

Vol. 1 Brooklyn

Founded in 2009, Volume 1 Brooklyn engages and connects the literary-minded from Brooklyn and beyond. Their website features short and long content, news, book reviews and more.  Vol. 1 Brooklyn seeks to motivate the community to...

Masters Review

The Masters Review is an online and print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. It is on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work. It offers...

BookLife is a website from  Publishers Weekly  dedicated to indie authors. The site provides a free and easy way to submit self-published books to  Publishers Weekly  for review, and offers editorial content—success stories,...

City Book Review

Since 2009 City Book Review has reviewed more than 20,000 books under the San Francisco, Manhattan, and Seattle Book Review brands, and Kids’ Book Buzz. They review 300 books a month in more than 40 genres.

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Stirring is a journal with several editors who all contribute their individual input for each issue. The joy of Stirring is a confluence of diverse opinions. Creative work from all genres and a variety of visual art media are...

Newfound is a nonprofit publisher based in Austin, Texas. The work published explores how place shapes identity, imagination, and understanding. The journal is published biannually online and annually in print, and features fiction,...

CALYX Journal

A forum for women’s creative work—including work by women of color, lesbian and queer women, young women, old women— CALYX Journal  breaks new ground. Each issue is packed with new poetry, short stories, full-color artwork, photography,...

American Poets

American Poets , published biannually by the Academy of American Poets, provides readers with a panorama of the contemporary poetic landscape and offers ten to twelve reviews of new poetry books in each issue. The magazine, which publishes...

The Guardian was founded in 1821 and known as the Manchester Guardian until 1959. The Guardian has evolved from a local paper into an international publication that offers publishing industry news, book reviews, and the...

Georgia Review

The Georgia Review  seeks to create a lasting environment for literature by supporting writers at every stage of their careers. Committed to the art of editorial practice, the  Review  collaborates with authors of essays, stories,...

The Independent

Founded in 1986, the Independent, nicknamed the Indy , is a major newspaper in the United Kingdom. The Indy —which launched an online version in 2008—covers the publishing industry, literary news, and all things books.

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Compulsive Reader features reviews of books by contemporary writers, as well as exclusive author interviews and literary news and criticism. Compulsive Reader works with an eclectic and extensive team of book reviewers who are...

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Blog – Posted on Friday, Mar 29

17 book review examples to help you write the perfect review.

It’s an exciting time to be a book reviewer. Once confined to print newspapers and journals, reviews now dot many corridors of the Internet — forever helping others discover their next great read. That said, every book reviewer will face a familiar panic: how can you do justice to a great book in just a thousand words?

As you know, the best way to learn how to do something is by immersing yourself in it. Luckily, the Internet (i.e. Goodreads and other review sites , in particular) has made book reviews more accessible than ever — which means that there are a lot of book reviews examples out there for you to view!

In this post, we compiled 17 prototypical book review examples in multiple genres to help you figure out how to write the perfect review . If you want to jump straight to the examples, you can skip the next section. Otherwise, let’s first check out what makes up a good review.

Are you interested in becoming a book reviewer? We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! To register as a book reviewer, sign up here.

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

Should you become a book reviewer?

Find out the answer. Takes 30 seconds!

What must a book review contain?

Like all works of art, no two book reviews will be identical. But fear not: there are a few guidelines for any aspiring book reviewer to follow. Most book reviews, for instance, are less than 1,500 words long, with the sweet spot hitting somewhere around the 1,000-word mark. (However, this may vary depending on the platform on which you’re writing, as we’ll see later.)

In addition, all reviews share some universal elements, as shown in our book review templates . These include:

• A review will offer a concise plot summary of the book. 
• A book review will offer an evaluation of the work. 
• A book review will offer a recommendation for the audience. 

If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it’s the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course. A book review on Goodreads, for instance, will be much more informal and personal than a book review on Kirkus Reviews, as it is catering to a different audience. However, at the end of the day, the goal of all book reviews is to give the audience the tools to determine whether or not they’d like to read the book themselves.

Keeping that in mind, let’s proceed to some book review examples to put all of this in action.

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Book review examples for fiction books

Since story is king in the world of fiction, it probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that a book review for a novel will concentrate on how well the story was told .

That said, book reviews in all genres follow the same basic formula that we discussed earlier. In these examples, you’ll be able to see how book reviewers on different platforms expertly intertwine the plot summary and their personal opinions of the book to produce a clear, informative, and concise review.

Note: Some of the book review examples run very long. If a book review is truncated in this post, we’ve indicated by including a […] at the end, but you can always read the entire review if you click on the link provided.

Examples of literary fiction book reviews

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man :

An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.

His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.

This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.

Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:

YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried.

This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down.

I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]

The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry :

Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home. “You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for it,” he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in “Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them for it.

Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]

Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy Discovery :

In Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.

An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.

Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.

The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten path and enjoy the ride. “There’s not a place that’s like any other,” [39] Dukes contends, and The Narrator realizes he’s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the moment.

As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy and drifter, who opens The Narrator’s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world. And Rosie, The Narrator’s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back together both physically and emotionally.

This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully nuanced and complicated. He’s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he’s also a grifter with a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” attitude that harms those around him. It’s fascinating to watch The Narrator wrestle with Duke’s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to discard.

Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn’t erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he’s prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she’s been a good mother to him but chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively disappears from his old life.

Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.

The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls :

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea.

Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim.  To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother. […]

Examples of children’s and YA fiction book reviews

The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give :

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a “controversial” label, but if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC’s shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.

In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.

♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was to be the one person that didn’t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.) However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for wanting to read this book. […]

The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood :

Alice Crewe (a last name she’s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales called “Tales From the Hinterland.” The book has a cult following, and though Alice has never met her grandmother, she’s learned a little about her through internet research. She hasn’t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.

Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the “bad luck” that seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a schoolmate who’s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother. Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.

“The Hazel Wood” starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy and evocative as you’d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It’s a captivating debut. […]

James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it out and join the next few weeks!

This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child, but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to sleep.

The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine author and her illustrators.

Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine :

This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up.

Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.

Examples of genre fiction book reviews

Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch , a paranormal romance novel , on Goodreads:

4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.

I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.

The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.

I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.

I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.

Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars , an epic fantasy novel , on Goodreads:

“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.”

Holy hell, what did I just read??

➽ A fantasy military school

➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history

➽ Shamans and gods

➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters

➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentors

That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).

Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.

Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall , a crime novel:

In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it’s a more subtle process, and that’s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the sliding scale?

In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman survives plane crash, then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.

Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton’s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive. She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you’re hearing the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There’s much, much more to learn about Ally before this tale is over.

Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One , a science-fiction novel :

Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter Cline’s first novel is old wine in new bottles.

The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade, our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has captivating bells and whistles, and it’s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.

Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games, so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival’s great strength is that he has absorbed all Halliday’s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS. Cline’s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival; when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade’s trailer is demolished, his relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point. Parzival threads his way between more ’80s games and movies to gain the other keys; it’s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate “epic throwdown” fail to stir the blood.

Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.

Book review examples for non-fiction books

Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication . In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations.

Again, we’ve included abbreviated versions of long reviews here, so feel free to click on the link to read the entire piece!

The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon :

The arc of David Grann’s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, “The Lost City of Z,” is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the “biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.”

Grann deserves the attention. He’s canny about the stories he chases, he’s willing to go anywhere to chase them, and he’s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.

All of these strengths are on display in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as “headrights,” which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich — diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age America’s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]

Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers :

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.

The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.

Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell. […]

Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar :

Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book’s billing. Instead, it turned out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person’s life, one that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed “realistic” and “affecting” by non-transgender readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.

In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular – have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy – provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender experiences remains critical.

To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn’t just a story about a trans man. It’s also a story about epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving father’s eyes. Adam, Prashaw’s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through the elder Prashaw’s narrative are excerpts from Adam’s social media posts, giving us glimpses into the young man’s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s. […]

Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love :

WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5

SUBJECT: 4/5

CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5

RELEVANCE: 3.5/5

ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5

“Eat Pray Love” is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book (before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don’t remember what I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different. The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure), India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book’s name – EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.

Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY, CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn’t happy in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after, Elizabeth was shattered. She didn’t know where to go and what to do – all she knew was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]

Emily May reviews Michelle Obama’s Becoming on Goodreads:

Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies. I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.

This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion, when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago; about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood; about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.

I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.

And yes, I know we present what we want the world to see, but I truly do think it's genuine. I think she is someone who really cares about people - especially kids - and wants to give them better lives and opportunities.

She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world, she's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working class family in Chicago.

I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.

Hopefully, this post has given you a better idea of how to write a book review. You might be wondering how to put all of this knowledge into action now! Many book reviewers start out by setting up a book blog. If you don’t have time to research the intricacies of HTML, check out Reedsy Discovery — where you can read indie books for free and review them without going through the hassle of creating a blog. To register as a book reviewer , go here .

And if you’d like to see even more book review examples, simply go to this directory of book review blogs and click on any one of them to see a wealth of good book reviews. Beyond that, it's up to you to pick up a book and pen — and start reviewing!

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The 13 Best Book Review Sites and Book Rating Sites

Knowing where to buy books can be challenging. So, here are the best book review sites to help you avoid buying books that you'll regret reading.

Nobody likes to spend money on a new book only to face that overwhelming feeling of disappointment when it doesn't live up to your expectations. The solution is to check out a few book review sites before you hit the shops. The greater the diversity of opinions you can gather, the more confidence you can have that you'll enjoy the title.

Which book review and book rating sites are worth considering? Here are the best ones.

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is arguably the leading online community for book lovers. If you want some inspiration for which novel or biography to read next, this is the book review site to visit.

There's an endless number of user-generated reading lists to explore, and Goodreads itself publishes dozens of "best of" lists across a number of categories. You can do a book search by plot or subject , or join book discussions and reading groups with thousands of members.

You can participate in the community by adding your own rankings to books you've read and leaving reviews for other people to check out. Occasionally, there are even bonus events like question and answer sessions with authors.

2. LibraryThing

LibraryThing is the self-proclaimed largest book club in the world. It has more than 2.3 million members and is one of the best social networking platforms for book lovers .

With a free account, you can add up to 200 books to your library and share them with other users. But it's in the other areas where LibraryThing can claim to be one of the best book review sites.

Naturally, there are ratings, user reviews, and tags. But be sure to click on the Zeitgeist tab at the top of the page. It contains masses of information, including the top books by rating, by the number of reviews, by authors, and loads more.

3. Book Riot

Book Riot is a blog. It publishes listicles on dozens of different topics, many of which review the best books in a certain genre. To give you an idea, some recent articles include Keeping Hoping Alive: 11 Thrilling YA Survival Stories and The Best Historical Fiction Books You’ve Never Heard Of .

Of course, there's also plenty of non-reading list content. If you have a general affinity for literature, Book Riot is definitely worth adding to the list of websites you browse every day.

Bookish is a site that all members of book clubs should know about. It helps you prep for your next meeting with discussion guides, book quizzes, and book games. There are even food and drink suggestions, as well as playlist recommendations.

But the site is more than just book club meetings. It also offers lots of editorial content. That comes in the form of author interviews, opinion essays, book reviews and recommendations, reading challenges, and giveaways.

Be sure to look at the Must-Reads section of the site regularly to get the latest book reviews. Also, it goes without saying that the people behind Bookish are book lovers, too. To get a glimpse of what they’re reading, check out their Staff Reads articles.

5. Booklist

Booklist is a print magazine that also offers an online portal. Trusted experts from the American Library Association write all the book reviews.

You can see snippets of reviews for different books. However, to read them in full, you will need to subscribe. An annual plan for this book review site costs $184.95 per year.

6. Fantasy Book Review

Fantasy Book Review should be high on the list for anyone who is a fan of fantasy works. The book review site publishes reviews for both children's books and adults' books.

It has a section on the top fantasy books of all time and a continually updated list of must-read books for each year. You can also search through the recommended books by sub-genres such as Sword and Sorcery, Parallel Worlds, and Epic Fantasy.

7. LoveReading

LoveReading is one of the most popular book review sites in the UK, but American audiences will find it to be equally useful.

The site is divided into fiction and non-fiction works. In each area, it publishes weekly staff picks, books of the month, debuts of the month, ebooks of the month, audiobooks of the month, and the nationwide bestsellers. Each book on every list has a full review that you can read for free.

Make sure you also check out their Highlights tab to get book reviews for selected titles of the month. In Collections , you'll also find themed reading lists such as World War One Literature and Green Reads .

Kirkus has been involved in producing book reviews since the 1930s. This book review site looks at the week's bestselling books, and provides lengthy critiques for each one.

As you'd expect, you'll also find dozens of "best of" lists and individual book reviews across many categories and genres.

And while you're on the site, make sure you click on the Kirkus Prize section. You can look at all the past winners and finalists, complete with the accompanying reviews of their books.

Although Reddit is a social media site, you can use it to get book reviews of famous books, or almost any other book for that matter! Reddit has a Subreddit, r/books, that is dedicated to book reviews and reading lists.

The subreddit has weekly scheduled threads about a particular topic or genre. Anyone can then chip in with their opinions about which books are recommendable. Several new threads are published every day, with people discussing their latest discovery with an accompanying book rating or review.

You'll also discover a weekly recommendation thread. Recent threads have included subjects such as Favorite Books About Climate Science , Literature of Indigenous Peoples , and Books Set in the Desert . There’s also a weekly What are you Reading? discussion and frequent AMAs.

For more social media-like platforms, check out these must-have apps for book lovers .

10. YouTube

YouTube is not the type of place that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best book review sites online.

Nonetheless, there are several engaging YouTube channels that frequently offer opinions on books they've read. You’ll easily find book reviews of famous books here.

Some of the most notable book review YouTube channels include Better Than Food: Book Reviews , Little Book Owl , PolandBananasBooks , and Rincey Reads .

Amazon is probably one of your go-to site when you want to buy something. If you don’t mind used copies, it’s also one of the best websites to buy second-hand books .

Now, to get book reviews, just search and click on a title, then scroll down to see the ratings and what others who have bought the book are saying. It’s a quick way to have an overview of the book’s rating. If you spot the words Look Inside above the book cover, it means you get to preview the first few pages of the book, too!

Regardless of the praises or criticisms you have heard from other book review sites, reading a sample is the most direct way to help you gauge the content’s potential and see whether the author’s writing style suits your tastes.

12. StoryGraph

StoryGraph is another good book review site that's worth checking out. The book rating is determined by the site's large community of readers. Key in the title of a book you're interested in and click on it in StoryGraph's search results to have an overall view of its rating.

Each book review provides information on the moods and pacing of the story. It also indicates whether the tale is plot or character-driven, what readers feel about the extent of character development, how lovable the characters generally are, and the diversity of the cast.

13. London Review of Books

The London Review of Books is a magazine that covers a range of subjects such as culture, literature, and philosophy. Part of its content includes amazingly detailed book reviews. If you feel that most modern book reviews are too brief for your liking, the London Review of Books should suit you best.

You'll gain insight into the flow and themes of the story, as well as a more thorough picture of the events taking place in the book.

Read Book Reviews Before You Buy

The book review sites we've discussed will appeal to different types of readers. Some people will be more comfortable with the easy-to-interpret book rating systems; others will prefer extensive reviews written by experienced professionals.

Although it’s easy to be tempted by a gorgeous book cover, it’s always best to have a quick look at the book reviews before actually buying a copy. This way, you can save your money and spend it on the books that you’ll be proud to display on your shelves for a long time. And check out recommendations, as well, to help you find what's worth reading.

• TV & radio
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Guardian review

Trump may be gone, but Covid has not seen off populism

Lauren Groff on Fates and Furies: ‘I thought it would be interesting to write a book questioning marriage’

New hustle: Pulitzer winner Colson Whitehead on his heist novel

Tenderness by alison macleod review – the triumph of lady chatterley, book of the day love and deception: philby in beirut by james hanning review – the spy who loved, maybe, tom gauld's cultural cartoons tom gauld on the subtle (and not so subtle) art of giving feedback to a writer.

Crime and thrillers roundup The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup

Books that made me Alan Johnson: ‘I read Animal Farm at 14 and it changed my life’

Book of the day The Magician by Colm Tóibín review – inside the mind of Thomas Mann

The Sisters Mao review – dazzlingly ambitious yet modestly human

Book of the day Listen by Kathryn Mannix review – a wise guide to finding the right words

Index, a History of the by Dennis Duncan review – a delightfully readable A to Z

Exponential by Azeem Azhar review – bridging the technology gap

Book of the day A Calling for Charlie Barnes review – tragicomedy of the American Dream

Sebastian Faulks on Human Traces: ‘I had no idea I would turn out to be 3% Neanderthal’

Twenty years on from 9/11, is US democracy working?

On the Cusp: Days of ’62 by David Kynaston review – dizzyingly varied

Malorie blackman: ‘hope is the spark’, tom gauld's cultural cartoons tom gauld on the power of the biography to shatter myths – cartoon, freight dogs by giles foden review – surviving africa’s world war.

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Thu 16 May 2024

2024 newspaper of the year

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The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, review: An exquisite, wildly funny debut

No wonder this genre-defying novel has already been commissioned as a bbc series.

If you’re after a literary Timecop , you may want to look elsewhere. In this genre-defying and exquisitely written debut by Kaliane Bradley (already commissioned as a BBC series), time travel and government espionage merely form the backdrop to a deeply original love story and an examination of otherness, heritage, identity and the lingering tentacles of colonialism.

It is Britain in the near future. Our narrator, an unnamed British-Cambodian woman, has got herself a job as a “bridge” at a top-secret new government department. Time-travellers, euphemistically termed “expats” by officials, are being extracted from different historical eras and brought to modern-day London.

The purpose of this mission is murky. Are they scientific experiments? Historical refugees? (The ministry only selects people who would have died soon in their own era, so as not to interrupt the space-time continuum.) Sharing a house with their expats, the bridges must help them adjust to modern life.

Our narrator is paired with Commander Graham Gore, a real naval officer and polar explorer who went missing during the Franklin Expedition in 1848, in which British ships became trapped in Arctic ice.

Gore, a curly-haired and sometimes shy man who regards a menu “with exploratory interest”, is adaptable and also devastatingly attractive in a way that feels like an odd cross between Mr Darcy – earnest, formal, quietly emotional – and Ryan Gosling ’s character in the film Crazy Stupid Love – cheeky, curious, a hell of a laugh.

He finds he adores Spotify (though he suspects replaying songs infinitely is “disrespectful”), and learns to cook Cambodian food. He takes apart the toilet just to see how it all works. He types text messages with adorable effort. There is something endearingly child-like about his wonder at the world.

But he is also irrefutably a man of his time; he baulks at swearing and dating (he summarises the latter as “like trying on clothes for fit, except the clothes are people”).

Bradley never falls into the trap of making him anachronistic, and the narrator’s preternatural patience with his occasionally unacceptable views (colonial “victories”, for example) is one of the book’s great strengths. Bradley is always looking for common threads of humanity – curiosity, kindness, joie de vivre – without ever burdening them with ahistorical morality. The narrator’s own relationship with her past is complicated too. Her parents escaped from Pol Pot but she doesn’t want to be seen as “dragging a genocide around”.

My Family and Other Rock Stars by Tiffany Murray is an elegiac memoir

What, the book asks, makes a person? Innate personality traits? The country or time we’re from or in? To this end, Bradley also assembles a terrific cast of other expats: Margaret, the spirited, cinema-loving gay woman extracted from plague-ridden London , who takes on Tinder with her medieval vernacular. Arthur, a gentle poetry-lover and soldier who can’t quite wrap his head around no longer being shelled in the trenches.

The book is also wildly funny and banter lies at the heart of the slow-burn romance between Gore and “Cat” (as he affectionately nicknames her). She informs him he can’t smoke indoors in this era. “Send me back to the Arctic,” he quips. Meanwhile, Bradley lightly dispenses with the cumbersome metaphysics of time travel: “The moment you start thinking about the physics of it you are in a crock of shit.”

Bradley writes sentences so luxurious you want to swim in them: “What I was doing was squeezing my eyes shut and singing la la la at the gathering darkness, as if the gathering darkness cared that I couldn’t see it.” She does occasionally need reining in (does a long-awaited sex scene really need a “cumulonimbus” metaphor?), and I also found the second half of the book, where it gathered pace, less convincing than the first – at times it is so fiendishly and unexpectedly plotty, that I longed for the languorous yearning of the first act.

Still, this is extraordinary writing, with unforgettable characters and a spine-tingling love affair. It manages to be both a serious look at the weight of history, colonialism and migration, and an absolute riot. A true original.

Published by Sceptre on 16 May, £16.99

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• Newspaper Book Review Editors

These book reviewers have been updated as indicated by the date noted after the listing. Note that this list also often includes the website URL for other reporter contacts at these newspapers. If the contact is vital to you, verify the book reviewer’s name and address before making submissions.

Please send us any corrections or additions. Email [email protected] . Thanks. I need your feedback to keep this list up-to-date.

Please note that most newspapers don’t review books any more and, when they do, they only review new books. So they need to see books (galley copies or advanced review copies) six to 12 weeks before the publication date of the book.

News Release Critiques That Help You Sell More Books, Products, Services, or Ideas

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Albuquerque Journal , 7777 Jefferson Street NE, Albuquerque NM 87109; 505-823-4400. Web:  https://www.abqjournal.com/contact . No book reviews. Updated 6/22.

Events calendar submissions: https://promote.events.com/plans/?calendarId=1368

Anchorage Daily News , Mike Dunham, Book Editor, 1001 Northway Drive (99508-2098), P O Box 149001, Anchorage AK 99514-9001; 907-257-4305 (life section); 907-257-4200 (main number). Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.adn.com . Editor and reporter contacts: http://www.adn.com/help/newsroom . Only reviews books about Alaska and by Alaskans. Takes reviews off newswire. Updated 2/09.

The Arizona Republic , Randy Cordova, Pop Culture Editor (also books), 200 E Van Buren, Phoenix AZ 85004; 602-444-8000; Fax: 602-444-2417. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.arizonarepublic.com . Randy: 602-444-8849. Updated 2/15.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution , 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta GA 30346; 404-526-5747. Web: http://www.ajc.com . Sadly, they don’t seem to have a book review section anymore. Probably your best chance is to contact one of the Sunday Living and Arts Reporters below. Updated 8/11.

Austin American Statesman , 305 S. Congress Avenue (78704), P.O. Box 670, Austin, TX 78767; 512-445-3610; Fax: 512-445-3968. Web: http://www.Austin360. com or http://www.statesman.com . Updated 11/09.

Jody Seaborn, Book Editor. Email: [email protected]

Joe Gross, books reporter and editor. Email: [email protected]

Baltimore Sun , 501 N Calvert Street (21202); P O Box 1377, Baltimore MD 21278. 410-332-6100. Web: http://www.baltimoresun.com . Editor and reporter directory: http://www.baltimoresun.com/about/bal-baltimore-sun-newsroom-directory,0,536389.htmlpage . Updated 2/15.

Mary Carole McCauley, Books Reporter; 410-332-6704. Email: [email protected] . Note: most of their book reviews come from from the LA Times.

The Baton Rouge Advocate , 7290 Blue Bonnet Road (70810); P O Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588; 225-383-1111. Web: http://www.theadvocate.com . Employee list: http://theadvocate.com/help/employeelist . Local-related books are covered by local reporters. They currently do not have a book editor. Updated 4/14.

Boston Globe , 135 Morrissey Boulevard, P.O. Box 2378, Boston, MA 02125; 617-929-2000. Web: http://www.bostonglobe.com . Reporters and editors: http://www.bostonglobe.com/tools/help/stafflist . Updated 12/20. Web: http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books .

Kate Tuttle, Book Editor. Email: [email protected] .

Amy Sullivan, Globe Correspondent, interviews authors. Twitter: http://twitter.com/globebiblio . Email: [email protected] .

Nicole Lamy, the previous book editor, still reviews books for the Globe in the Short Stack column. This email may still be valid: [email protected] .

Boston Herald , 1 Herald Street (02118), P.O. Box 55843, Boston MA 02205; 617-426-3000; Fax: 617-451-3506. Arts & Lifestyle: 617-619-6193. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.bostonherald.com . Most book news is from the Associated Press. Updated 9/16.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle , Ben Pierce, 2820 West College, Bozeman MT 59715; 406-587-4491; Fax: 406-587-7995. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com . Update 12/15.

Buffalo News , Jeff Simon, Sunday Arts & Books Editor, One News Plaza, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240; 800-777-8680; Fax: 716-856-5150. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.buffalonews.com . Features editors: http://www.buffalonews.com/section/help05/#Features . Update 4/15.

Charlotte Observer , Pam Kelley, Reading Life Editor, 600 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte NC 28202; 704-358-5024; Fax: 704-358-5036. Email: [email protected] . Pam: 704-358-5271. Web: http://www.charlotteobserver.com or http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte . Staff listings: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/staff . Updated 8/12.

Chicago Sun-Times , Teresa Budasi, Books Editor, 350 N. Orleans Street, 10th Floor, Chicago IL 60654; 312-321-3000. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.suntimes.com . One of the ten largest newspapers in the U.S., the Sun-Times is dropping most book coverage except for coverage of local authors. Updated 2/15.

Chicago Tribune , Elizabeth Taylor, Literary Editor, 435 N. Michigan Avenue #400, Chicago IL 60611-4022; 312-222-3232; Fax: 312-222-3143 or 312-222-0236 (features). Web: http://www.chicagotribune.com . Reviews very few independent presses. Now in the Saturday issue rather than Sunday. Updated 2/15.

Christian Science Monitor , One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115; 617-450-2000; Fax: 617-450-7575. Book Editor (617-450-2462). Web: http://www.csmonitor.com .

Cincinnati Enquirer , 312 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202; 513-768-8477; Fax: 513-768-8340. Web: http://news.enquirer.com . Local news: [email protected] . Editorial contacts: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=contact . No book reviews. Updated 2/15.

Cleveland Plain Dealer , Skylight Office Tower, 1660 West 2nd Street #3200, Cleveland, OH 44113; 216-999-4800; 800-688-4802; Fax: 216-999-6354. Web: http://www.cleveland.com . They do not do book reviews. They do feature a few syndicated book reviews. Updated 9/15.

Contra Costa Times , Sue Gilmore, Book Editor, Bookends, 175 Lennon Lane #100, Walnut Creek CA 94598; 925-977-8482; main phone: 925-935-2525. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.contracosta times.com and http://www.mercurynews. com/books . They have just reinstated their book review section in print. Contact list: http://www.contracostatimes.com/contact-us . Updated 2/15.

Dallas Morning News , Michael Merschel, Assistant Arts & Culture Editor, Books, P O Box 655237, Dallas TX 75265; 214-977-8594. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books . Main phone number: 214-977-8222; Fax: 214-977-8838. Lifestyle editors: http://www.dallasnews.com/connectwithus/newsroom_lifestyles.html . Twitter: http://twitter.com/mmerschel . Updated 5/17.

The Denver Post , Ray Rinaldi, Books Editor, 101 W Colfax Avenue #600, Denver CO 80202; 303-820-1624;Fax: 303-820-1679. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.denverpost.com . Editors: http://www.denverpost.com/contactus . Updated 12/11.

Detroit Free Press , Steve Byrne, Entertainment Editor, 615 West Lafayette Street, Detroit MI 48231; 313-222-5977; Fax: 313-223-4726. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.freep.com . Main number: 313-222-6400. Editors: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= 200551101001 . Updated 4/09.

East Bay Times , 2121 N California Boulevard #290, Walnut Creek CA 94596; 925-935-2525. Web: https://www.eastbaytimes.com . Updated 6/22.

News Tips, Local News: [email protected]

Breaking Bay Area News: [email protected]

Letters to the Editor: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/letters-to-the-editor (submission form)

Randy McMullen, Arts and Entertainment Editor; 510-293-2461. Email: [email protected]

Book and other events: Anne Gelhaus. Email: [email protected]

Business and technology stories: [email protected]

Linda Zavoral, Food Reporter; 408-920-5960. Email: [email protected]

South Florida Sun-Sentinel , 200 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293; 954-356-4710; Fax: 954-356-4612. Web: http://www.sun-sentinel.com . No current book editor. Primarily syndicated reviews. Updated 12/16.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram , Stephanie Allmon, Assistant Managing Editor, Features, P O Box 1870, Fort Worth TX 76101; 817-390-7720. Web: http://www.star-telegram.com . Life & Arts Department: 817-390-7750; Fax: 817-390-7257. Email: [email protected] . Newsroom number: 817-390-7400. Editors: http://www.star-telegram.com/contact . They don’t really do original book reviews. Updated 11/12.

Hartford Courant , 285 Broad Street, Hartford CT 06115; Main: 860-241-6200. Web: http://www.courant.com . Reporter/editor listings: http://www.courant.com/about/custom/thc/thc-news-submit,0,7366803.html . No book reviewer, but MaryEllen Fillo, an entertainment columnist once interviewed a book author. Email: [email protected] . Updated 06/12.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser , 7 Waterfront Plaza #210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu HI 96813; 808-529-4747; Fax: 808-529-4750. Web: http://www.staradvertiser.com . Editors: http://www.staradvertiser.com/about/ Star_Advertiser_Contact_Information.html . No book reviews. Updated 11/10.

Christie Wilson, Today Editor; Email: [email protected]

Book signings and events email: [email protected]

Houston Chronicle , Maggie Galehouse, Book Editor, 801 Texas Street (77002-2904), P.O. Box 4260, Houston, TX 77210; 713-362-7171. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.chron.com . Updated 4/09.

Indianapolis Star , Jennifer Morlan, Life Editor, 130 S Meridian Street, Indianapolis IN 46225; 317-444-6921. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.indystar.com . For a list of reporters, see http://static.indystar.com/en/follow . Updated 2/15.

International Herald Tribune , 6 bis, rue des Graviers, 92521 Neuilly Cedex, France; (33-1) 41 43 93 22; Fax: (33-1) 41 43 93 32. General email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.iht.com . A daily international English-language newspaper owned by the New York Times . Book reviews are taken from the New York Times . Updated 11/16.

Kansas City Star , Steve Paul, Arts Editor, 1729 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City MO 64108-1413; 816-234-4141; Fax: 816-234-4926. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.kansascity.com . Editorial contacts: http://www.kansascity.com/contact_us . Short book reviews, primarily from other sources. Updated 2/11.

Los Angeles Times Book Review , 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles CA 90012; 213-237-7778; Fax: 213-237-5916. Main #s: 213-237-5000; Fax: 213-237-7679. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.latimes.com/ book . Editorial staff: http://www.latimes.com/about/mediagroup/la-mediacenter-editorial_staff,0,3058915.htmlstory . Jacket Copy book blog: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy . Send email first with as much information as possible to [email protected] – no attachments. Updated 4/14.

Joy Press, Books and Culture Editor. Email: [email protected]

David Ulin, Book Critic. Email: [email protected]

Carolyn Kellogg, Staff Writer – Writes about books. Email: [email protected]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/latimesbooks

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/latimesbooks

Louisville Courier-Journal , 525 W Broadway, P O Box 740031, Louisville KY 40201-7431; 502-582-4667; Fax: 502-582-4665. Web: http://www.courier-journal.com . For a list of other Courier-Journal editors (with phone numbers and email addresses), see their website at: http://archive.courier-journal.com/section/contact06 . No book reviews. Updated 2/17.

Marin Independent Journal , 103 Shoreline Parkway #201, San Rafael CA 94901; 415-883-8600. Editorial Fax: 415-883-5458. Editorial contacts: https://www.marinij.com/contact-us . Updated 6/22.

Press release email: [email protected]

Arts and Entertainment Calendar and listings: Colleen Bidwill; 415-382-7282. Email: [email protected] .

Miami Herald , Connie Ogle, Book Editor, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132-1693; 305-376-3649; Fax: 305-376-8950. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.herald.com . Updated 12/13.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , 333 W. State Street, P.O. Box 371, Milwaukee, WI 53201; 414-224-2181; General: 414-224-2000. Web: http://www.jsonline.com . Here’s what their old book editor once wrote about self-help books: “I would never have bothered with them had it not been for a perverse idea to poke fun at them.” This is a common opinion among newspaper book reviewers. Updated 8/09.

Minneapolis Star Tribune , Laurie Hertzel, Books Editor, 425 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55488; 612-673-4380; Fax: 612-673-7568. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.startribune.com . General news: 612-673-4414. Updated 2/09.

Nashville Tennessean , 1100 Broadway, Nashville TN 37203; 615-259-8228; Fax: 615-259-8057. Web: http://www.tennessean.com . Updated 2/17.

New Orleans Times-Picayune ,3800 Howard Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70125-1429; 504-826-3457; 800-925-0000; Fax: 504-826-3186. Living section email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.timespicayune.com and http://www.nola.com . Updated 11/12.

New York Daily News , Sherryl Connelly, Book Editor, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004; 212-210-2100; Fax: 212-643-7831. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.nydailynews.com . Updated 9/13.

New York Observer , Alexandra Peers, Culture Editor, 321 West 44th Street, 6thFloor, New York, NY 10036; 212-755-2400; 800-542-0420; Fax: 212-688-4889. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.observer.com . A weekly newspaper in New York City. Updated 6/12.

New York Post , 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036; 212-930-8000; Fax: 212-930-8542. Web: http://www.nypost.com . Updated 2/09.

New York Times Book Review , 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018-1405; 212-556-1234 or 212-556-3652; Fax: 212-556-3690. Web: http://www.nytimes.com/books . You can send email to most reporters and critics via the website.

Gilbert Cruz, Book Editor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/gilbertcruz

Dwight Garner, senior writer and book critic

Janet Maslin, book critic

Sarah Harrison Smith, Children’s Book Editor at the New York Times Book Review

Main emails for the various sections in the paper:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Newark Star-Ledger , Jacqueline Cutler, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102; 973-392-4040. Web: http://www.starledger.com . Newsroom contacts: http://www.starledger.com/editorial/News.asp . Updated 2/15.

Newsday , 235 Pinelawn Road, Melville NY 11747-4250. Web: http://www.newsday.com . Arts & Entertainment Editor, 2 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York NY 10016-5695; 212-251-6622; Fax: 212-696-0590. Features/Entertainment (Part 2): 631-843-2950; Fax: 631-843-2065. Option: 631-843-4659. Updated 8/12.

Tom Beer, Books Editor. Email: [email protected] .

Aileen Jacobson, Media Writer

The Oregonian , Jeff Baker, Book Editor, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland OR 97201-9911; 503-221-8165; 877-238-8221, ext. 8165; Fax: 503-294- 5172. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.oregonlive.com . Editors: http://biz.oregonian.com/newsRoster . Updated 2/11.

Orlando Sentinel , Arts and Entertainment Editor, Books, 633 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando FL 32801; 407-420-5671; main number: 407-420-5000. Web: http://www.orlandosentinel.com . After big papers do a review, send info on the book. They are followers not leaders. Updated 1/15.

Philadelphia Inquirer , John Timpane, Books Editor, 801 Market Street #301, Philadelphia PA 19107; 215-854-2401. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.philly.com . Updated 1/15.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , Tony Norman, Book Review Editor, 34 Boulevard of the Allies (15222), P O Box 566, Pittsburgh PA 15230; 412-263-1601; Tony: 412-263-1631; Fax: 412-391-8452. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.post-gazette.com . Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tonynormanpg . Updated 4/14.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , D. L. Clark Building, 503 Martindale Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh PA 15212; 412-321-6460. Web: http://www.pittsburghlive.com . They do not have a book review editor but feature reviews from LA Times and Associated Press. Updated 4/14.

Providence Journal-Bulletin , Phil Kukielski, Managing Editor, Features, 75 Fountain Street, Providence RI 02902; 401-277-7000; Fax: 401-277-7346. Email: [email protected] . Send newstips to: [email protected] . Web: http://www.projo.com . Updated 11/12.

NewsReleaseCritiques.com — I see dozens of news releases every day. Few make the grade. Most are uninteresting, unnewsworthy, and product-oriented. What does it take to sell books with a good news release? In a 15-minute phone call, I can give you feedback on your news release to help you make it one that sells books. — John Kremer

Sacramento Bee , Cathie Anderson, Features Editor, 2100 Q Street, P O Box 15779, Sacramento CA 95852; 916-321-1000; Fax: 916-321-1109. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.sacbee.com . Updated 2/09.

“I am a writer in the Sacramento Valley area, and have contacted the Bee numerous times concerning book reviews. The answer has been consistent, if not encouraging: They DO NOT do fiction reviews. They reprint syndicated review columns from Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, et al. in their Ticket section – when they print book reviews at all. If a nonfiction book has some immediate relevance to something going on in Sacra-tomato, they might give it some coverage.”

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch , Jane Henderson, Book Review Editor, 900 N. Tucker Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63101; 314-340-8107; Arts and entertainment: 314-340-8124; Features Fax: 314-340-3080. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.stltoday.com . Her Book Blog: http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/book-blog . Main phone: 314-340-8000. Editors: http://www.stltoday.com/help/contact-us . Updated 8/10.

Salt Lake Tribune , Ellen Weist, Books & Theater Reviews, 90 South 400 West, Salt Lake City UT 84101; 801-257-8742; Fax: 801-257-8525. Opinion fax: 801-257-8515. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.sltrib.com . Staff info: http://www.sltrib.com/pages/staff . Ellen: 801-257-8621. They don’t have an official book page. Few book reviews. Updated 4/14.

San Antonio Express-News , Steve Bennett, Books Editor, 301 Avenue E (78205), P O Box 2171, San Antonio TX 78297-2171; 210-250-3000; City Desk: 201-250-3171; Fax: 210-250-3105. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.mysanantonio.com . Newsroom contacts: http://www.mysanantonio.com/about_us/contact_us/contact_the_newsroom . Maggie Galehouse writes about books; email: maggie.galehouse#chron.com . Updated 5/12.

San Diego Union-Tribune , Robert L. Pincus, Books Editor, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191; 619-293-1321; 800-244-6397; Fax: 619-293-2436. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.uniontrib.com . Also web: http://www.signonsandiego.com . Pincus’s blog: Creative Reading. Updated 2/09.

San Francisco Chronicle , 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103; 415-777-6258; Fax: 415-957-8737. Web: http://www.sfgate.com . Main phone number: 415-777-1111. Chronicle staff: https://www.sfgate.com/home/article/SFGATE-Staff-15734829.php . SF Chronicle apparently now does two reviews every Sunday. Updated 4/23.

Barbara Lane, Books Columnist. Barbara Lane can’t remember a time when she didn’t have her nose in a book. Her column appears every other Tuesday in Datebook. Email: [email protected] .

San Jose Mercury News , 75 E Santa Clara Street #1100, San Jose CA 95113; 408-920-5000; main fax: 408-288-8060. Email: [email protected] for features and lifestyle stories. Staff contacts: https://www.mercurynews.com/contact-us . Newsroom: 408-920-5444. Updated 6/22.

Letters to the Editor: https://www.mercurynews.com/letters-to-the-editor submission form

Santa Fe New Mexican , Kristina Melcher, Pasatiempo Editor, 202 E Marcy Street (87501), P O Box 2048, Santa Fe NM 87504-2048; 505-995-3878. Main switchboard: 505-983-3303. News: 505-986-3030; Fax: 505-986-9147. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.santafenew mexican.com . Updated 2/09.

Seattle Times , 1000 Denny Way, Seattle WA 98109; P O Box 70, Seattle WA 98111; 206-464-2496; Fax: 206-464-2261. Web: http://www.seattletimes.com . Reviews few independent presses outside region. Editorial staff listing: http://seattletimes.com/flatpages/services/newsroomstaff.html . Updated 9/13.

Mary Ann Gwinn, Books Editor; 206-464-2357. Email: [email protected]

Michael Upchurch, book critic; 206-464-8793

Tampa Bay Times , Colette Bancroft, Book Editor, 490 First Avenue S (33701), P.O. Box 1121, Saint Petersburg FL 33731; 727-893-8435; 800-333-7505. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.tampabay.com . Contact page: http://www.tampabay.com/company/contact-us . Updated 10/15.

Pamela Davis, Staff Writer, HotStuff (in teen section). She reviews YA novels, music, movies, games, etc. of interest to teens. Updated 2/09.

Tampa Tribune , The News Center, 202 S. Parker Street (33606-2395), P.O. Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601-0191; General: 813-259-7711; Newsroom: 813-259-7600. Web: http://www.tampatrib.com . No book news or reviews. Updated 10/15.

Toronto Star , One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6 Canada. Web: http://www.thestar.com . Editorial contact: http://www.thestar.com/about/contactus.html#editorial . Updated 4/14.

Jennifer Hunter, Columnist, The Reader. Features Canadian fiction and non-fiction. 416-869-4249. Email: [email protected] . Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sjenniferhunter (but not active).

Barbara Carey, Columnist, Poetry. Sporadic reviews of poetry.

Deirdre Baker, Columnist, Small Print. Mini-reviews of books for tots to teens, every other week.>

USA Today ,   7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean VA 22108-0605; 703-854-3400; Fax: 703-854-2053 and 703-854-2049. Email: [email protected] . Web: http://www.usatoday.com . New York bureau: 535 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York NY 10022. Want to email specific reporters at USA Today ? For those that have email addresses, the following formula works most of the time: [email protected].

While the paper reviews few books (only 5 to 10 on Thursdays), the book editor does make all books she receives available in a small library for other editors to use.

Barbara VanDenburgh, Book Editor. Email: [email protected] . Twitter: https://twitter.com/babsvan

Voice Literary Supplement , Village Voice, 36 Cooper Square, New York NY 10003-4846; 212-475-3300; Fax: 212-475-8944. Email: http://villagevoice.com/feedback/submitSuccess/email . Web: http://www.villagevoice.com . Staff listing: http://www.villagevoice.com/about/staff . Zach Baron, Senior Associate Editor, blogs book reviews.

Wall Street Journal , 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10036; 212-416-2000. Web: http://www.wsj.com . Updated 12/17.

Christopher Carduff, Books Editor

Sam Sacks, Columnist, Fiction Chronicle

Tom Nolan, Columnist, Mysteries

Tom Shippey, Columnist, Science Fiction

Meghan Cox Gurdon, Columnist, Children’s Books

Washington Post , 1150 15th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20071; 202-334-6000; Fax: 202-334-7502. Web: http://www.washingtonpost.com . Editor info: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email . You can email staff members via that web page. The Post also provides a guide to all the DC area bookstores. Updated 12/13.

Steve Levingston, Nonfiction Editor. Now reports to the Outlook section.

Ron Charles, Fiction Editor. Reports to the Style section. Email: [email protected] . Twitter: h ttp://www.twitter.com/roncharles . He also writes and produces his own video blog of book reviews.

Elizabeth Ward, Children’s Books. Email: [email protected] . She reviews many children’s books. She also works at the copy desk for foreign stories.

Washington Times , 3600 New York Avenue NE, Washington DC 20002-1947; Main phone: 202-636-3000. Fax: 202-832-2235. Web: http://www.washingtontimes.com . Updated 2/09.

Carol Herman, Books Editor. Email: [email protected] .

Jennifer Harper, Media Issues Reporter; 202-636-3085. Email: [email protected] . She also covers book publishing. Don’t send review copies. She doesn’t do reviews, but she does cover interesting publishing stories if you have one to tell. Send her information on your innovations.

Westchester Journal-News , One Gannett Drive, White Plains NY 10604; 914-694-9300; Fax: 914-696-8396. Web: http://www.thejournalnews.com . Editors: http://www.thejournalnews.com/about/contactus.html . They don’t have a book editor, but their monthly Mind section features many books and authors. They only review local authors. Updated 7/07.

Mary Dolan, Life&Style Editor; 914-694-5070; Fax: 914-696-8122.

Robert Heisler, Entertainment Editor; 914-694-3507.

Kathy McClusky, Arts/Events Editor; 914-694-5074.

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Thanks for putting this list together which I just stumbled upon. It sure would be great to have an updated version of this list. I had about a 50% success rate in emailing the contacts listed to promote my new commercial real estate tale, “Don’t Sign the Lease! The Tale of a Triumphant Business Owner.” http://www.dontsignthelease.com.

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Alice Munro, Nobel Laureate and Master of the Short Story, Dies at 92

Her stories were widely considered to be without equal, a mixture of ordinary people and extraordinary themes.

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By Anthony DePalma

Alice Munro, the revered Canadian author who started writing short stories because she did not think she had the time or the talent to master novels, then stubbornly dedicated her long career to churning out psychologically dense stories that dazzled the literary world and earned her the Nobel Prize in Literature, died on Monday night in Port Hope, Ontario, east of Toronto. She was 92.

A spokesman for her publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, confirmed the death, at a nursing home. Ms. Munro’s health had declined since at least 2009, when she said she’d had heart bypass surgery and had been treated for cancer, though she continued to write.

Ms. Munro was a member of the rare breed of writer, like Katherine Anne Porter and Raymond Carver, who made their reputations in the notoriously difficult literary arena of the short story, and did so with great success. Her tales — many of them focused on women at different stages of their lives coping with complex desires — were so eagerly received and gratefully read that she attracted a whole new generation of readers.

Ms. Munro’s stories were widely considered to be without equal, a mixture of ordinary people and extraordinary themes. She portrayed small-town folks, often in rural southwestern Ontario, facing situations that made the fantastic seem an everyday occurrence. Some of her characters were fleshed out so completely through generations and across continents that readers reached a level of intimacy with them that usually comes only with a full-length novel.

She achieved such compactness through exquisite craftsmanship and a degree of precision that did not waste words. Other writers declared some of her stories to be near-perfect — a heavy burden for a writer of modest personal character who had struggled to overcome a lack of self-confidence at the beginning of her career, when she left the protective embrace of her quiet hometown and ventured into the competitive literary scene.

Her insecurity, however powerfully she felt it, was never noticed by her fellow writers, who celebrated her craftsmanship and freely lent her their highest praise.

The Irish novelist Edna O’Brien ranked Ms. Munro with William Faulkner and James Joyce as writers who had influenced her work. Joyce Carol Oates said Munro stories “have the density — moral, emotional, sometimes historical — of other writers’ novels.” And the novelist Richard Ford once made it clear that questioning Ms. Munro’s mastery over the short story would be akin to doubting the hardness of a diamond or the bouquet of a ripened peach.

“With Alice it’s like a shorthand,” Mr. Ford said. “You’ll just mention her, and everybody just kind of generally nods that she’s just sort of as good as it gets.”

In awarding her the Nobel in 2013 , when she was 82, the Swedish Academy cited her 14 collections of stories and referred to her as “a master of the contemporary short story,” praising her ability to “accommodate the entire epic complexity of the novel in just a few short pages.”

As famous for the refined exuberance of her prose as for the modesty of her personal life, Ms. Munro declined to travel to Sweden to accept her Nobel, saying she was too frail. In place of the formal lecture that winners traditionally give, she taped a long interview in Victoria, British Columbia, where she had been visiting when her award was announced. When asked if the process of writing her stories had consumed her entirely, she responded that it did, then added, “But you know, I always got lunch for my children.”

During the presentation of the taped interview at the Swedish Academy, the Swedish actress Pernilla August read an excerpt from Ms. Munro’s story “Carried Away,” a multi-decade tale of dashed expectations that typified the complicated, often disappointing, world of her stories.

“She had a picture taken. She knew how she wanted it to be,” the excerpt read. “She would have liked to wear a simple white blouse, a peasant girl’s smock with the string open at the neck. She did not own a blouse of that description and in fact had only seen them in pictures. And she would have liked to let her hair down. Or if it had to be up, she would have liked it piled very loosely and bound with strings of pearls.

“Instead she wore her blue silk shirtwaist and bound her hair as usual. She thought the picture made her look rather pale, hollow-eyed. Her expression was sterner and more foreboding than she had intended. She sent it anyway.”

‘Our Chekhov’

Ms. Munro’s early success in Canada, where her first collection of stories, “Dance of the Happy Shades” (1968), won the Governor General’s Literary Award, the equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, spread to the United States after her stories began to be published in The New Yorker in 1977. She was an important member of a generation of Canadian writers, along with Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje, whose celebrity reached far beyond the country’s borders.

Ms. Munro went on to win the Governor General’s award twice more, along with two Giller Prizes, another important national award in Canada, and many other honors. In 2009, she withdrew her collection “Too Much Happiness” from consideration for yet another Giller because she believed that a younger writer should have a chance to win it.

That same year she was awarded the Man Booker International Prize for her lifelong body of work, which the judges claimed was “practically perfect.” The awards committee commented that although she was known mostly as a short-story writer, “she brings as much depth, wisdom and precision to every story as most novelists bring to a lifetime of novels.”

“To read Alice Munro is to learn something every time that you never thought of before,” the judges said.

As her many-layered style developed, her short stories came to be neither short nor simply stories — she included 15 stories in her first book, but only eight or nine longer ones in some of her most recent collections. The greater length of each story gave her room to explore the psychological profiles of her characters more fully, and the resulting works are tightly woven tapestries of great tension, lasting resonance and stunning breadth that combine the emotional thrust of a novel with the pinpoint power of a masterful poem.

Over the years, her stories seemed to grow darker and more paradoxical, even though she often described her own life as ordinary and generally upbeat. Often her characters were simple people confronting unusual circumstances. But those situations could be odd, even bizarre, such as an accident in which a soldier who returned from war is decapitated after his sleeve is caught in a factory machine, or the actions of an unattractive girl who steals so much money from her parents’ store to pay boys for sex that her parents are forced to declare bankruptcy. The women in her stories tended to be emotionally pierced — divorced women, adulteresses and noble victims of life’s vicissitudes.

Like Faulkner, Eudora Welty and the other Southern writers she admired, Ms. Munro was capable of breathing life into an entire world — for her, the importunate countryside of southwestern Ontario and the placid, occasionally threatening presence of Lake Huron.

Cynthia Ozick called her “our Chekhov,” and the description stuck.

In a 2009 review of “Too Much Happiness,” Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times described the collection’s title story as “a brilliant distillation of her Chekhovian art.”

Never a Novel

Ms. Munro was able to live a life remarkable for its normalcy. Her days, like her characters’, were filled with quotidian routines punctuated by the explosive mystery of happenstance and accident.

Outside of a decade spent on the west coast of Canada during her first marriage, she lived with a great deal of satisfaction in the Ontario bramble she celebrated in her stories, quietly composing them in the house where her second husband was raised, not far from the place where she was born.

Perhaps the question that most dogged her throughout her long career was why, with her abundant talents and perceptive eye, she restricted herself to what is generally seen as the limited world of the short story rather than launch into the glittery universe of the novel.

“I don’t really understand a novel,” Ms. Munro confessed to Mervyn Rothstein of The Times in a 1986 interview. “I don’t understand where the excitement is supposed to come in a novel, and I do in a story. There’s a kind of tension that if I’m getting a story right I can feel right away.”

While one of her early collections, “Lives of Girls and Women,” is sometimes called a novel, Ms. Munro and her longtime editor at Alfred A. Knopf, Ann Close, considered it a collection of linked stories.

“Once I started to write that, I was off,” she told The Paris Review. “Then I made a big mistake. I tried to make it a regular novel, an ordinary sort of childhood adolescence novel. About March I saw it wasn’t working. It didn’t feel right to me, and I thought I would have to abandon it. I was very depressed. Then it came to me that what I had to do was pull it apart and put it in the story form. Then I could handle it.”

At times she swore she would never write a novel — almost dismissing the challenge as too great for her to even attempt. But at other times she seemed to wistfully wonder, as one of her characters might, how different her life might have been had she written a blockbuster novel.

“I’m thinking of something now, how it might be a novel, but I bet you it won’t be,” she said in a 1998 interview, just after publication of her widely acclaimed collection “The Love of a Good Woman.” She confessed that on occasion she had experimented with stretching her stories into novels but said she found that the stories “start to sag” when she did so, as though being taken beyond their natural limits. Still, the lure never completely evaporated. “My ambition is to write a novel before I die,” she said, also in 1998.

She never did.

Shortly before receiving her Nobel in 2013, Ms. Munro told several interviewers that she had decided to stop writing. As far back as 2009, she had disclosed her cancer diagnosis and that she’d undergone heart bypass surgery. Her declining health had robbed her of strength, but she also remarked that she’d been writing since she was 20 and had grown weary of what Del, a character in “Lives of Girls and Women” who is generally taken to be Ms. Munro’s proxy, says is a writer’s only duty, which is “to produce a masterpiece.”

“That’s a long time to be working,” Ms. Munro said, “and I thought maybe it’s time to take it easy.”

Rural Beginnings

Alice Ann Laidlaw was born on July 10, 1931, in the village of Wingham, Ontario, hard by the banks of Lake Huron. She was the first of three children of Robert Eric Laidlaw and Anne Clarke (Chamney) Laidlaw. Her father had tried his luck at the rather exotic undertaking of raising silver foxes and mink, but when that failed he went through a number of professions, including stints as foundry watchman and turkey farmer.

When Anne Laidlaw developed Parkinson’s disease, it fell to Alice, not yet a teenager but the oldest of the three children, to care for her mother, an experience that she wove through her writing. She was able to attend college after winning a two-year scholarship to the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, about 65 miles south of Wingham.

She majored in English but initially kept her ambition to write fiction to herself. She dropped out before completing her studies and married a fellow student, James Munro. She sold her first short work of fiction, a story, to the radio service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Munros settled in Vancouver and had two children; a third died at birth. Ms. Munro said the domestic demands of those years — balancing parenthood with her dream of writing, “getting apple juice, answering the phone and letting the cat in” — left her no time or energy for ambitious projects like writing novels. Instead, she dedicated herself to mastering the short story, a form that she felt she could manage in between raising her children and taking care of her house.

In 1963, Ms. Munro and her husband moved to Victoria, where she helped him found a bookstore, Munro’s, and gave birth to another daughter. The marriage ended in 1973, and she moved back to Ontario.

By then, her literary reputation in Canada was established. In 1968, her first book, “Dance of the Happy Shades,” a collection of short stories compiled over a dozen years, introduced readers to what would later be widely recognized as “Alice Munro Country” — the rigidly introspective landscape of solitary country roads and stolid houses of yellow brick within which shy lives and solemn secrets unfolded.

“Everybody knows what a house does, how it encloses space and makes connections between one enclosed space and another and presents what is outside in a new way,” she wrote in a 1982 essay. “That is the nearest I can come to explaining what a story is for me.”

Her stories are blanketed with countless small but sharp observations that animate Munro Country. For instance, in “Spaceships Have Landed,” a story in the collection “Open Secrets” (1994), the main character drunkenly flirts with her boyfriend’s friend, only to be grossly insulted by him. The next day, she calls him to the porch of her house and confronts him while using a piece of steel wool to clean freshly laid eggs.

Such details evoke a sense of the semirural Canadian backcountry, a quiet land where people never deliberately call attention to themselves and the ordinariness of life can be suddenly disrupted by accidents, arrivals and unanticipated departures.

Although Ms. Munro was most often described as a Canadian writer, her stories evoked not Canada itself but the bittersweet triumphs, mishaps and humiliations of small town life. And in the end, every landscape served as backdrop for her central themes, which were the unpredictability of life and the betrayals that women suffer or commit — scenes redolent with autobiography.

In “The Albanian Virgin,” a celebrated story featuring a rare exotic setting as well as the familiar Canadian landscape, the female protagonist runs a bookstore in Victoria and dreamily contemplates the errant directions taken by her life: “But I was not despondent. I had made a desperate change in my life, and in spite of the regrets that I suffered every day, I was proud of that. I felt as if I had finally come out into the world in a new, true, skin.”

A Publicity-Shy ‘Plodder’

Ms. Munro shunned much of the publicity usually associated with literary success and limited her book tour appearances and readings. She often referred to herself in a self-deprecating way; she said she had not “come out of the closet” as a professional writer until she was 40, and she called herself a “plodder” because of the slow and deliberate way she worked, often writing in her nightclothes for several hours in the morning and then extensively revising her stories before sending them off.

But to critics, there was nothing plodding about her stories, which were put together so seamlessly that the many flashbacks, flash-forwards and shifts in time and place that she employed happened without notice. She often started her stories at a point where other authors might end theirs, and continued them well past the climax or denouement that would have satisfied others less driven by the twists of fate. Inevitably, this left readers to work out who exactly the narrator was and how one character was related to another.

Eventually, though, every piece would fit together. “It’s like a child’s puzzle,” the novelist Anne Tyler once said of Ms. Munro’s work. “In the most successful of the stories, the end result is a satisfying click as everything settles precisely into place.”

After the turbulence and dislocation she went through before Ms. Munro turned 40, her life and career clicked satisfyingly into place when she returned to southern Ontario. She started seeing Gerald Fremlin, a geographer, and after a brief romance married him and moved into the house in Clinton, Ontario, where he was raised.

She is survived by her daughters, Sheila, Jenny and Andrea. Sheila Munro is the author of the 2001 memoir “Lives of Mothers and Daughters: Growing Up With Alice Munro.”

She embarked on an ambitious schedule of publishing a collection of short stories every three or four years, winning praise and admiration across Canada, where she comes close to being a household literary saint. After receiving her first Governor General’s award, she won it twice more, for “Who Do You Think You Are?” in 1978 and for “The Progress of Love” in 1986.

In 1998, she received the Giller Prize for “The Love of a Good Woman,” and in 2004 she picked up another for “Runaway.” After the National Book Critics Circle agreed for the first time to consider authors from outside the United States for its award, Ms. Munro won in 1998 for “The Love of a Good Woman.”

As if she were a character in one of her stories, plagued by bad timing and unlucky happenstance, Ms. Munro was not at home when the Swedish Academy called to tell her that she had won; it had to leave a telephone message. She was in Victoria visiting her daughter, who heard the news and woke her mother at 4 a.m. Still groggy when interviewed by the CBC, Ms. Munro admitted that she’d forgotten that the prize was to be awarded that day, calling it “a splendid thing to happen,” adding, “more than I can say.”

Struggling to control her emotions, she reflected on her success and what it might mean for literature. “My stories have gotten around quite remarkably for short stories,” she told the interviewer. “I would really hope that this would make people see the short story as an important art, not something you play around with until you got a novel written.”

Lisa D. Awano and Sofia Poznansky contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this obituary misspelled the given name of an author who praised Ms. Munro’s writing. She is Anne Tyler, not Ann.

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