Bad Americans Part II

Bad Americans Part II by Tejas Desai

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

What if, during a global lockdown, a reclusive billionaire invites 12 people to a luxurious Hamptons mansion for an elite dating app competition? Better yet, they cut off the Internet and force the group to share stories every night to survive the social isolation. Well, that is the premise of Bad Americans: Part II.  Purchase Here.

The book is basically the literary equivalent of a reality TV reunion show, if a mastermind of psychological satire and dark humor directed it. While Book I was a critically acclaimed slow burn, Book II amps up the psychological tension until everything comes to a head in the climactic finale.

The book plays out like a modern, hyper-realistic Decameron. During the day, it is all about flirting, gossiping, and dining while actively plotting your arch-nemesis’ takedown. However, the real tea is served at night when the storytelling begins. Each tale acts as a catalyst, sparking fiery arguments, massive debates, and shifts in people’s perspectives on many issues.

What I love about this sequel is that Desai remains unapologetic and true to himself as a writer. His experimentation with style is clear in this book. He doesn’t stick to one prose style. In one chapter, he uses neurotic noir to highlight the frantic, hilarious romantic comedy that some of the characters are experiencing.

In another chapter, he uses Sylvania’s unfiltered nature to deliver a brilliantly sharp, satirical look at identity and transformation that leaves you laughing while also making you truly contemplate these issues.

The highlight has to be the “Dope Double Ditty” chapter featuring a rap challenge battle. It is the absolute crown jewel of stylistic fun, as Angela and Darnell use rhythm to tackle heavy topics like community friction and structural racism without ever losing their entertainment value.

It is impossible to discuss this book without mentioning the realistic dialogue. Desai outdoes himself in how well he makes all these 12 characters seem as authentic as possible. He perfectly channels real-world observations of urban tension, micro aggressions, cultural pride, and linguistic rhythms straight into the characters.

Thanks to this unique style, the conversation and intense debate between the characters feel like real, messy human discourse. For a second, it takes us back to those family dinners that feel like a minefield, as everyone has different perspectives on life and experiences.

In this sequel, Desai completes the narrative arc, which mirrors the entire 2020 pandemic lockdown experience. Together, the two books form a singular “masterpiece” of social commentary. Unsurprisingly, this second book is unflinching and unforgiving in how it magnifies the underlying fractures of modern America.

In its essence, Part II is a riveting masterclass in the psychological toll of social isolation. The book unmasks how pandemic-driven social claustrophobia changes how we interact with each other.

As a reader, it was fascinating to watch the dynamics between the characters shift during dinners. The dinner debates play out like an ideological boxing ring where one statement can deliver a knockout punch.

The book perfectly captures the political and social polarization we are currently witnessing in our society. It truly proves that some of these deep ideological divides aren’t just internet talk.

In his own style, Desai uses these characters to expose America’s fractured identity. The book effortlessly exposes the emotional and psychological toll of the immigrant experience.

Simultaneously, it directly confronts structural inequalities, racial tensions, and class barriers many Americans currently face.

Bad Americans: Part II feels like a deliberate channel for literary voyeurism. Through its reality-TV surveillance structure and the confessional nature of the stories, readers feel like flies on the wall, prying into private human chaos.

The book exposes all the human vulnerabilities, flaws, and the disintegrating social and moral decorum that people normally try to hide from the public eye. Ultimately, Desai uses this voyeuristic format not just to entertain us, but to call us out.

Overall, we can’t help but praise Tejas Desai’s mastery. It takes mad skills to write a high-concept book that is deeply intellectual, fiercely critical of modern American subcultures, and yet consistently, wildly entertaining from start to finish.

Once again, Desai proves that he is a literary chameleon who uses dark humor and sharp satire to push the envelope and provoke readers to confront uncomfortable societal mirrors.

 

 

 

My Inner Child Wants to Kill

My Inner Child Wants to Kill by Karsten Dusse

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

I read My Inner Child Wants To Kill not too long ago, and it’s one of those books where the title makes you think it’s going to be wacky, but it actually ends up being a lot heavier than you expect. Björn is a lawyer who’s been trying to keep himself together with concentration because his wife basically told him he was slipping. And it helped him calm down a bit, but you can tell it didn’t fix whatever was beneath the surface. It just made the noise quieter.  Purchase Here.

The book starts with him deciding not to kill this gangster, Boris, even though he has every reason to. And the way it’s written, it doesn’t feel like some big moral moment. It feels like he’s just worn out. That kind of sets the tone for everything else. Most of the story comes out in therapy sessions, and the way he talks about these completely wild events, with a calm, almost flat tone, is weirdly funny and unsettling. Even a family trip goes off the rails in a way that made me stop and think, “Okay, this is not normal vacation chaos.”

The whole inner‑child thing becomes a lot more literal than I expected. It’s not just a metaphor he’s supposed to think about — it’s something he actually has to face, and once he does, you start to see how much of his adult behavior is tied to stuff he never dealt with as a kid. The book doesn’t sugarcoat any of that. It’s not the usual “heal your inner child, and everything magically improves” message. It’s more like: here’s the stuff you’ve been dragging around for years, and here’s what happens when you finally stop pretending it’s not there.

As it goes on, you see how much of him was shaped by old wounds and beliefs he didn’t even realize he had. And the book doesn’t pretend that self‑awareness automatically makes someone better. Sometimes it just makes you more aware of the chaos you already have. I actually liked that honesty, even though it’s not exactly comforting.

If you enjoy psychological stories or narratives that challenge the usual self-help tropes, this book stands out. Its dark humor and unsettling moments force you to confront just how chaotic inner struggles can be, which is at the heart of its message. It’ll leave you thinking long after you finish.

 

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Mrs. Shim is a Killer

Mrs. Shim is a Killer: A Novel by Kang Jiyoung

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“Mrs. Shim Is a Killer” by Kang Jiyoung follows Shim Eunok, a widow and mother of two whose husband took his life five years ago following a series of complications with his health. She is now unemployed, hopeless, and ashamed, and dreads going home to the sight of a mailbox overflowing with unpaid bills. We meet her at one of her lowest moments, overwhelmed by despair, where we are reminded that the family had to sell their butchery to pay off the damages of a pub her husband drove into, in what police ruled as suicide.  Purchase Here.

As fate would have it, Eunok stumbles upon a Help Wanted notice from a private detective agency.  She’s all too aware of the worn clothes on her back and the fact that her schooling ended early, and the worry creeps in that they’ll judge her before she even gets a word out. As she pauses outside the building, an older guard gives her a salute that feels strangely knowing. It’s a small, unsettling moment that hints at something bigger already moving around her—something she hasn’t begun to piece together.

The interview shifts from odd to chilling as the interviewer focuses on her experience with knives. And much to her shock, he offers her a job on the spot, leaving her feet frozen to the floor in disbelief. You almost want to scream at her to resist the offer, but that is just before a gold bar is placed on the table, promising quick wealth that could secure her children’s future, if she does the new “job” well.

From there, the novel expands outward, shifting perspectives to reveal the agency’s inner workings and the many lives entangled within it. You are drawn into a layered story that moves between various voices, among them, The Boss, a relentless secret agent, a watchful daughter, and clients whose pain is so deep that revenge feels like their only remaining answer. These voices do not unfold in a straight line, and by taking that form; readers are offered the thrill of assembling the puzzle pieces themselves. Through it all, Eunok remains at the center, not as a cold professional but as a reluctant woman learning to survive inside a world that demands detachment. In that light, as a reader, you might feel forced to root for her even when questioning the morality of her choices, especially when consequential figures from her personal life begin brushing dangerously close to her new reality.

This book will surprise you with how well it balances humor and horror. It moves steadily, allowing tension to build through shifting viewpoints and quiet revelations, as well as unsettling realizations that raise the underlying personal stakes into something that can’t be solved with skill alone. If you enjoy stories that blur the line between dark and playful, or where characters are underestimated only to quietly reinvent themselves in ways that surprise even them, then “Mrs. Shim Is a Killer” by Kang Jiyoung should be your next read!

 

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Text: Bad Americans Part I, bold font.

Bad Americans: Part I by Tejas Desai

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

Bad Americans by Tejas Desai is an immersive emotional roller coaster that tells the human tragedy of the pandemic era like never before. The book is set in the summer of 2020 in New York, where 12 strangers from diverse backgrounds find themselves living in a mansion in the Hamptons to find love. As they mingle, they share their life experiences, which elicit some heated debates, with each narrative depicting the complexity of modern America.  Purchase Here.

Tejas Desai is a literary master, as he brings to life the deep-seated political, social, and economic divisions in each character’s narrative. From the story of a nurse recovering from the horrors of the pandemic to a queer Black man trying to find his identity and others from various walks of life, this gripping and haunting tale of survival manages to inspire a sense of humanity.

In this book, Desai uses the frame narrative to paint an illuminating picture of the struggles of modern Americans hoping to find their identity and make sense of the confusing times they are living in.

The book gains momentum as the multifaceted experiences of the 12 strangers highlight the conflicting perspectives entrenched in modern society. Tejas effectively conveys social inequality, political division, and the repercussions of the tragic pandemic in a manner that easily resonates with the reader.

The book’s striking juxtapositions are both enlightening and reflective. It speaks to Desai’s powerful mastery of storytelling.  The refreshing combination of dark humor and the raw emotional tones of the characters gives the story a lot of depth. In its unique way, the plot is a compelling summary of what America has turned into over the years. It will be fair to say that the book is a social and political work of fiction inspired by the realities faced by Americans.

However, Bad Americans offers no quick resolution; instead, it inspires the reader to critically analyze human behavior. By presenting the diverse viewpoints about the current social and political polarization, the book challenges readers to confront the hard truths, which are often uncomfortable.

One of the main themes in this classic work of art is the exploration of morality versus human nature. Through the characters’ narrative, Desai perfectly encapsulates the intertwined complexity of this theme and exposes the flaws in society. However, the book also manages to capture the essence of humanity through shared experiences, such as the pandemic.

The timing of this book couldn’t have been more perfect. It not only highlights the horrific pandemic experience but also the American division. The nuanced exploration delves into some of the current deeply divisive issues, such as immigration, healthcare, race, identity, and class. By doing this, it provides a chance for a much-needed social commentary on modern America.

Bad Americans will pull you in with its realistic portrayal of contemporary society. It will have you contemplating your stance on many issues and how they all fit together in the grand scheme of things. The book is bold and impactful, skilfully narrating the complexity of our times, making it a timeless masterpiece. It is a thought-provoking piece of literature, as it serves as society’s mirror. Once again, Desai establishes himself as a novelist who is worthy of recognition.

 

 

Gold Bestsellers World Reviewers Choice Award Seal.
First Place: Short Stories/Anthology
Two basketball players in urban setting.

Seventeen Missions to Save the World by Leyth Sharaf

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Your life can change in unimaginable ways in the blink of an eye, whether during a college basketball game or while picking up Seventeen Missions to Save the World by Leyth Sharaf. While the book mainly targets a younger audience, it is a refreshing read for all ages. The author’s vivid narration makes the story cinematically unfold before the reader’s eyes.  Purchase Here.

This young adult novel blends humor, satire, and touches of surrealism to explore a grand theme: saving the world. Rather than treating this ambitious goal as an impossible challenge, the author breaks it into seventeen smaller, achievable missions.

It all begins with a teenager who simply wants to win a basketball game for his team. But in the middle of the match, a shimmering portal opens, and a mysterious being known as the Reminder steps through, bringing a warning of impending doom.

The future is collapsing, and only the protagonist, Leyth, holds the key to saving it. By a twist of fate, his teammate Ellie is drawn into the mission as well. Together, they journey through a magical portal that transcends time and space, witnessing possible futures across the world as they strive to set things right.

Our two heroes embark on seventeen missions to save the world as we know it. Each mission unfolds in two parts. First, Leyth and Ellie are given a glimpse into a dystopian future that magnifies a pressing global issue, such as poverty, gender inequality, or rampant overconsumption. These scenarios are depicted in vivid detail, infused with sharp satire, humor, and wit. Then, they are transported back to the present day, where they must confront and resolve the problem before it spirals beyond control.

Seventeen Missions to Save the World by Leyth Sharaf is a light-hearted and thought-provoking exercise on enacting positive change in the world around us. It shows over and over again how even the smallest good deeds can reverberate into causing global change.

If two teenagers can save the world seventeen times, surely, collectively, we should manage to be able to as well. Leyth Sharaf serves as our Reminder of how we continue to neglect our responsibilities to care for and protect one another and our home.

Gold Bestsellers World Reviewers Choice Award Seal.
First Place: Humor/Satire
Farm scene with barn, animals, and awards.

The Bronson Escapades by Alison Bellringer

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Alison Bellringer offers young readers a delightful escape with The Bronson Escapades. Lighthearted and enchanting, the book invites us into the tender world of childhood wonder and innocence. Each page feels like a breath of fresh air, making this a truly family-friendly read.  Purchase Here. Throughout the story, we follow the Bronson family; especially their five children, three girls and two boys, ranging in age from 9 to 17. The delightful group of five is surrounded by a group of strong supporting characters, which includes the parents, Cook (who is as you may have guessed it, the family’s cook), Sarah (a friend of the children with a high-pitched voice), George (the gentle giant), and Mr. Hugglepuff (the new school principal). Alison Bellringer welcomes readers into the magical realm of childhood, where wonder is found in simplicity. Everyday moments (like a trip to the store or the search for a lost ring) unfold into grand adventures. What makes the journey especially engaging is seeing how each of the Bronson children responds in their own unique way when faced with the same situation. The book can also be enjoyed as a collection of interconnected short stories told in chronological order, each following the same characters. This structure makes it highly accessible, with every chapter offering a self-contained adventure while deepening our connection to the familiar cast. A gentle overarching thread ties the stories together, giving the book a natural sense of flow. With every exciting chapter, these characters grow more vivid and familiar, until by the final page, it feels as though the reader has gained five new, fun-loving friends. As the story draws to a close, there’s a bittersweet tug at the heart, like saying farewell to dear companions. Yet it may not be goodbye at all, but rather a hopeful “see you next time.” In October 2024, The Bronson Escapades was honored with the Mom’s Choice Awards® Silver Seal of Excellence. And it is an excellent read indeed. Although written primarily for young readers ages 8 to 12, the stories hold a charm that can captivate readers of all ages.  
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Third Place: Children's Books
Bronze Bestsellers World Reviewers Choice Award badge.
Third Place: Humor/Satire
Child in devil costume on book cover.

The Museum of Lies by J. Timothy Hunt

Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

Our experiences have a way of shaping our lives, and any traumas we suffer can have a severe effect on the people we become. However, our memories are unreliable, and even the most impactful event can become distorted over time. Thinking too much about the past can raise significant questions about the reality we believe we have lived. In The Museum of Lies, author J. Timothy Hunt takes an in-depth look at the concepts of trauma, memory, and reality.  Purchase Here.

The book follows the life of Cary Scott, jumping back and forth through time from one traumatic experience to another. The book paints a detailed picture of a deeply neurotic man with severe issues of self-loathing who has suffered various forms of abuse from strangers and loved ones alike. Throughout the story, we also see Cary grow more and more concerned about whether his memories are really his own and become fixated on separating fact from fiction. Adding a few tales of unbelievable good fortune in among the seemingly countless stories of suffering makes the case for the reality of the narrative even more tenuous for both Cary and the reader alike.

The character work in The Museum of Lies is terrific. Hunt does a beautiful job of portraying Cary as a profoundly troubled man who is constantly looking to fix himself and is never satisfied with the results. He shows Cary at various points in his youth enduring significantly damaging forms of abuse and humiliation. While the severity of these traumas varies greatly, we see how even comparatively minor embarrassments can take their toll and contribute to the mental breakdown of a bright and promising child.

The Museum of Lies is a quick read that is portrayed more as a collection of vignettes with a common theme than a standard novel. The non-linear storytelling spanning decades is engaging as the reader is constantly bouncing back and forth between cause and effect, with the questions about the reliability of memory leaving you wondering which is which.

Hunt does a great job of keeping the reader wanting more by leaving you with questions at the end of every chapter that often are not answered until several chapters later. The Museum of Lies is an enjoyable (if somewhat unsettling) read that will leave you thinking back on your own life and wondering what about your existence you can prove.

 

Futuristic ray gun on book cover.

Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder

Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

The world is full of stories of deadly alien invasions, and there are also many notable examples of fish out of water extraterrestrial visits to our little planet. However, in Extraterrestrial Noir, author Rich Leder decides to see how well these elements play together. Attracted to Earth by an SOS sent out into the night sky from the flashlight of a suburban housewife, a quirky shapeshifting alien makes a visit to Earth to lend a hand. While this may sound like the setup for an offbeat sitcom like Alf, things quickly take a dark turn as this alien has a penchant for noir.  Purchase Here.

Once again, Leder shows off his bleak sense of humor as this twisted take on first contact rapidly devolves into a deadly trip through the hidden criminal underworld that lies beneath an idyllic suburban paradise.

The plotting of Extraterrestrial Noir is superb, keeping the reader engaged and excited to find out what crazy turn the story will take next. The story has a wide range of characters, and each chapter gives us a glimpse into the brain of the person in focus, with our enigmatic alien always being viewed from the outside without getting to peek into their unfathomably complex mind.

While the novel is fairly long, the action-packed pacing and witty wording of the writer keep propelling you over the pages, and you find yourself breezing through the story at a breakneck pace, unable to find a pausing point to put down the book and take a break.

The character development is wonderful, as, aside from the visitor to our planet and our kid genius tasked with protecting her family, most of the other characters are not what they first appear. While they may seem to be fairly normal everyday folks from the suburbs at first glance, once their onion is peeled back, their dark secrets hiding underneath are revealed.

Don’t go into Extraterrestrial Noir expecting the characters to act with reason. The novel is full of the “don’t go in there” kind of moments you see in horror films, where the actions of the characters are clearly going to lead them to their doom. However, that is part of the fun of this story, as Leder is constantly using the narrative to highlight the stupidity of mankind with his typically twistedly comedic charm.

 

Children with laptop facing mysterious figure.

Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol by Thomas Kuhn

Reviewed by Teri Takle

Nate lives a reasonably everyday life for a 10-year-old boy. Along with his parents, little brother, big sister, and grandmother, life survives with little excitement. The school exists, but Nate’s standard is to get by doing as little work as possible and to tolerate his admiring little brother.   Nothing exciting has ever happened to Nate until he met Tommy Rocket.  Purchase Here.

Tommy Rocket is your typical 10-year-old boy, except he only has one human friend. Life with a wheelchair can be confining, but Tommy has adjusted well by creating his social group with A.I. robots that he invented with his father’s help. Normal? For his one human friend, Nate Turner, this relationship can be challenging as Tommy really does not understand what it takes to be a friend.   Tommy doesn’t usually use the telephone to call Nate. How would you react to a robotic helicopter tapping at your window with a coded message? Yes, you have to use a decoder ring to decrypt the message. Have you ever been treated as an obedient robot?  That is how Nate feels when he plays with Tommy.

Learning how to relate to others is not Tommy’s strong point, but his robots are fascinating. Tommy’s basement is his playroom which isn’t your typical playroom.  Functioning robots are everywhere.  Each one has their own purpose which Tommy created.  These are Tommy’s true friends, his Goober Patrol.  Also, his creations are extraordinary.  Sentient, meaning they can think for themselves, best describes them.  Due to a special chip Tommy’s dad created, called a Prometheus Chip, each robot has some degree of freewill.    Now you can begin to see what intrigues Nate with this unusual friendship. Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol is a wonderfully engaging adventure for boys aged 8-12. I strongly feel that most children would thoroughly enjoy this book either to read by themselves or as read out loud to them.  The adventures are fun, and yes, even dangerous.   As for characterization, the reader knows Nate and Tommy well.   You can easily visualize each boy as well as the various robots. The illustrations are perfectly matched and enhance the story line. Moral character and doing the right thing is woven within the storyline.

This often-overlooked development is expertly exhibited as problematic for the characters which is realistic. The illustrations perfectly match the text. These are needed to show that Nate is black and Tommy is white. Nate comes from a blue-collar family and Tommy from white. Tommy’s family is well-educated, Nate’s is not. Through all these differences the friendship grows through Nate’s compassion, patience and morality. My only complaint was the reference to Marlin Perkins who passed away in 1986.

Do kids today have any idea who this renowned zoologist is?    I would suggest to the author to rewrite that section and either use Steve Irwin, who is still well-known although deceased, or the Kratt Brothers.    The challenges of Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol are vocabulary and the length of the novel. Vocabulary might be difficult for the younger readers, but the story is so engaging that readers are likely to want to know any unfamiliar word. The book length can be overwhelming to some readers, but this author expertly engages the reader with this captivating tale on the first page. Tommy Rocket and the Goober Patrol is difficult to separate yourself from the book from the beginning. Warning: This book is addictive. I adored this novel, and even though I am far from being a 10-year-old boy, I have purchased and am currently reading the author’s other book.

First Place: Science Fiction/First Place: Children/Second Place: Humor/Satire