Holy moly, S. A. Cosby does it again. As a fan who has read every single one of his books, I look forward to each of his releases and every time I am blown away by his characters, plot, and atmosphere. King of Ashes might be my favorite- and I think you need it on your TBR. 

Roman Carruthers is the eldest of three adult children and he's put as much distance as he can between himself and his small hometown. When his father is in a serious car accident, Roman must face the demons of his past and urgent problems in the present that his brother has created. In an effort to preserve the family crematorium and protect his brother, Dante, Roman becomes wrapped up with dangerous people who don't care to negotiate. 

While Roman puts his financial savvy to work, his sister is pulling at every string she can find to unravel the abrupt disappearance of their mother decades ago. It is clear the siblings have run from their emotional trauma in different ways, but they will have to face the realities of the past and present as everything collides. 

This book is excellently plotted with characters so rich and dynamic that you'll feel tugged in every direction. I'll never be able to write reviews that live up to the tremendous quality of S. A. Cosby books, but I hope I've convinced you anyway. Read this! 

Julie Chan is Dead is such a fun, compulsive read with themes around race and class in the online influencer space. Julie Chan has nothing. She's a struggling young woman, frequently stealing from her retail job (and getting caught) because there's just not enough money to get by. 

Julie has a twin whom she was separated from at four years old. Chloe has become a wealthy and famous influencer with many followers. When Julie misses a call from Chloe, who is she practically estranged from, Julie decides to look into it. 

What follows is a whirlwind of bizarre and out there events. The pages will keep you turning. If you liked Bunny or Yellowface, this one is for you. It gave me big Bunny vibes but with more concrete plot points and resolution. I loved this and I think it will appeal to many readers that want a wild ride with a bit to say. 

Up in Smoke is a compelling and fast moving young adult novel from Nick Brooks that met my high expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed Promise Boys and this book, while different in plot and structure, has a similar vibe with dynamic young Black characters and situations that will resonate with young and older readers. 

This book follows two main characters, one of whom ends up unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. As his friends struggle to help him, the situation grows dire. It calls to mind memories of the time period after the death of George Floyd and the rise of the BLM movement. 

I loved this from start to finish and recommend it to anyone who enjoys well written, character driven suspense.