Each of these three novels invites readers into a world where personal history, identity, and moral complexity collide. From a high‑stakes technological tragedy that exposes the fragile architecture of privilege, to a multigenerational Midwestern saga pulsing with longing and restraint, to a sharp, funny debut about reinventing yourself after early fame, these books remind us why storytelling matters. They explore who we become when life veers off script—and how the past, whether inherited or self‑made, shapes every choice we make.

 A Gripping Exploration of Wealth, Indulgence, Technology, and Moral Reckoning

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger, a recent selection of Oprah’s Book Club, begins with artificial intelligence and modern technology, but its true focus is the human heart. Holsinger uses the premise of a self-driving car gone wrong to explore how people behave when the world tilts off its axis. The novel asks difficult questions about responsibility, privilege, and the moral compromises we make when the stakes are high and the consequences are irreversible.

The story opens inside a minivan on the way to a lacrosse tournament. Charlie, a seventeen-year-old lacrosse standout with a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina, sits behind the wheel. His life has been defined by achievement, praise, and the steady reinforcement that he is destined for success. His father, Noah, rides beside him, an attorney who has built a career on managing risk and shaping outcomes. In the back sits his mother, Lorelei, a prominent figure in the world of artificial intelligence, absorbed in her work while their younger daughters scroll through their phones. This is a family accustomed to control, comfort, and the assumption that things will go their way.

When their autonomous vehicle collides with an oncoming car, killing two people, the tragedy becomes a crucible. Technology may trigger the plot, but the aftermath is entirely human. Each member of the family holds a piece of the truth, and each must decide what to reveal, what to hide, and what story they can live with.

Much of the novel unfolds during a retreat to a luxurious summer rental on the Chesapeake Bay. The setting is lush, indulgent, and almost hypnotic, especially as the family becomes entangled with an extraordinarily wealthy neighbor. The beauty of the place heightens the tension, contrasting privilege and accountability even more striking.

As a parent, the story felt close to home. My own son recently left for college to play lacrosse, and the pressures surrounding youth sports, identity, and opportunity felt painfully real. The novel captures that moment when parenting shifts, when you realize you can no longer shield your child from the world.

Set in a coastal Virginia town near where my grandmother grew up and where my family spent many summers, Culpability felt intimate and familiar. It is a gripping exploration of wealth, indulgence, technology, and moral reckoning. Beyond all of that, it was simply a super enjoyable read, and I truly could not put it down. GET THE BOOK.

~Roni Jenkins, Partner, The Three Tomatoes, Glen Cove, NY

An Exploration of Boyhood, Masculinity, and Longing

Buckeye, by Patrick Ryan, is a sprawling novel set in the fictional Ohio town of Bonhomie, following two families, the Jenkins and Salts, from the 1940s through the 1980s. Through its character driven narrative, it explores how a secret affair between Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt after WWII binds their lives, intertwining their families with themes of hidden desires, duty, sacrifice, love, and the profound impact of American history on ordinary lives.

The cast of characters includes Cal and Becky Jenkins, a couple whose relationship is thwarted by a lack of empathy with each other. Cal struggles with a physical disability (a short leg) that prevents him from serving in WWII and makes him feel inadequate. Becky has a gift of communing with the dead, which makes Cal uncomfortable, especially when she becomes increasingly popular and invites strangers into their home for seances.

Margaret Salt harbors secrets and seeks connection, and is married to Felix, a closeted gay man whose hidden identity creates internal conflict. Ryan portrays these emotionally withholding personalities with small details – like a gesture, a look, a moment of restraint – that simmer on the emotional landscape.

As much as the adults control the narrative, for me the real story is in the two sons that the couples are raising. Two years apart in age, the boys are close friends, sharing childhood experiences and connection. The book explores boyhood, masculinity, and longing with patience and sensitivity that will appeal to those who appreciate psychological nuance over plot-driven drama.

Buckeye is an intimate saga about deeply flawed but relatable people making difficult choices, showing how small indiscretions and long-held secrets can shape families and define a life, all against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America. GET THE BOOK.

~Joan Pagano is founder of Joan Pagano Fitness, NYC

A Fresh Perspective on the Coming-of-Age Story

I am starting off this new year with a fantastic debut novel, Far From The A-List by Stephanie Burns.  This is a witty, charming, and just a fun story.  Burns writes with compassion and so much humor, she will have interested in the story from page one.  I loved it and highly recommend this book.  Congratulations Stephanie on your debut novel.  It was five-stars for me.

This story follows Michaela Turner, a former child star trying to navigate her life in the tabloid era of 2000.  Her appeal in the spotlight has dimmed and she is trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. Her going out to bars and clubs every night, drinking is not making her happy anymore.

Michaela has tried hard to stay out of the tabloids but fading into the background is not as easy as it sounds.  Not when her manipulative momager, Caroline is dead set on launching her daughter’s big comeback no matter how many old wounds it tears open.  She tries to have some normal relationships and they are all unsuccessful.  Michaela cannot seem to escape the toxic ex-boyfriend to the nice guy she wishes she could have a future with.  She has not always made the best choices, but she was the kind of character you wanted to root for her every step of the way.  The relationship she has with her mother is one of the strongest parts-messy, painful, and sadly believable.

This novel is a self-assured compelling debut that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with heart, humor, and a bit of Hollywood sparkle.  Burns offers a fresh perspective on the coming-of-age narrative-one that asks what happens when you have already “come of age” in front of millions and now have to figure out who you want to be when the cameras stop rolling.  GET THE BOOK.

~Francene Katzen, advocate for parents of children with adictions.  Richmond, VA