Steven Rowley has worked as a freelance writer, newspaper columnist, and screenwriter. Originally from Portland, Maine, he is a graduate of Emerson College. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his boyfriend and their dog. Lily and the Octopus is his first novel.
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern (2024) Lynda Cohen Loigman "Two parts indelible characters, a heaping of gorgeous prose, a pinch of humor and a dash of old-world charm--this romantic elixir may just be Lynda Cohen Loigman's best work yet. But the magic here is no sleight of hand. It's enthralling to read an author at the top of her game."
My Mother Cursed My Name (2024) Anamely Salgado Reyes "A powerful meditation on love and forgiveness with a lyricism that kept me spellbound. This novel explores the power of names and Anamely Salgado Reyes is a name to remember."
The Faculty Lounge (2024) Jennifer Mathieu "This is a hell of a way to start the school year, announces a teacher in the opening pages of Jennifer Mathieu's delightful novel, a celebration of teachers who remain heroically human in nearly impossible times. Likewise, The Faculty Lounge is a hell of a way to announce a major new voice in adult fiction. I loved it."
One-Star Romance (2024) Laura Hankin "Laura Hankin takes a nightmare premise for any writer--the dreaded one-star review--and with her signature charm and humor weaves it into a perfect dream."
Sylvia's Second Act (2024) Hillary Yablon "A first-rate novel of second chances that will have you laughing right from the start. Sylvia will show you that it's never too late to reinvent yourself, especially if you have a good friend by your side and a cosmopolitan in hand."
This Disaster Loves You (2024) Richard Roper "Roper possesses a wry and formidable wit. But his real gift is the ability to infuse that humor with such immense heart that it becomes the path for an uplifting and redemptive journey."
One Love (2024) Matt Cain "A beautiful, deeply human exploration of the blurred lines between love and friendship that exist in the queer community, with a tender understanding that the most important love of all can be the love and forgiveness we hold for ourselves."
The Way Life Should Be (2023) William Dameron "Like the characters in William Dameron's The Way Life Should Be, I have driven across the Piscataqua River Bridge many times to go home. Dameron effortlessly captures the deep love of family and place and all the heartbreak, laughter, beauty, and joy they contain. It's a loving portrait of second chances."
Forever Hold Your Peace (2023) Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke "With plentiful laughs on one side of the aisle and long-standing, multigenerational drama on the other--this is one wedding you won't want to miss. RSVP YES."
Cutting Teeth (2023) Chandler Baker "First comes love, then comes marriage... but in this baby carriage comes gnashing social commentary swaddled in Chandler Baker's delicious wit. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
Super Bloom (2023) Megan Tady "A winning (and wickedly funny) debut about a massage therapist's second chance at life. Like a skilled therapist herself, Megan Tady works all the right pressure points to leave the reader rejuvenated. I already can't wait to read what she writes next."
Love and Other Scams (2023) Philip Ellis "Two con artists. A scam. A cat-and-mouse game. And yet the real heist here is debut author Philip Ellis's ability to so fully capture a reader's attention with vibrant characters and the seasoned skill of a pro. I was laughing from page one and I already can't wait to read what he writes next."
Jacqueline in Paris (2022) Ann Mah "It is 1949. A young Jacqueline Bouvier has a year to find herself while studying abroad, and in Mah's talented hands, readers find themselves captivated. Jacqueline in Paris beautifully captures the soul of a city as well as the spirit of a remarkable woman."
The Witches of Moonshyne Manor (2022) Bianca Marais "Picture it. Critchley Hackle, 2021. A group of older women living together to share expenses and lean on each other. Sound familiar? But with these delightful witchy equivalent of The Golden Girls, it's not just the cheesecake that has healing powers."
Just by Looking at Him (2022) Ryan O'Connell "With his singular voice and unforgettable wit, O'Connell movingly explores how our messiest moments can lead to radical self-acceptance. Elliott's journey may be his own, but what he discovers about the absurdity of the human condition is universal."
Jackie and Me (2022) Louis Bayard "A loving and romantic look at an unlikely friendship told with a playful command of language that feels as effortless as it is exciting. Bayard possesses a singular wit and deftly uses it to give fresh insight into even his best-known characters. I never wanted it to end."
Sedating Elaine (2022) Dawn Winter "Sedating Elaine is a tasty caffeinated jolt that grabs you from page one and races you to a surprisingly moving conclusion - I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Dawn Winter's dazzling wit is beautifully coupled with a natural ability to explore difficult themes like loss and forgiveness. A winning debut."
Red Thread of Fate (2022) Lyn Liao Butler "A heartfelt contemplation on the course of our lives - what is fate, what is the result of the choices we make - coupled with a central mystery that will keep you reading late into the night. It seems Lyn Liao Butler's fate is to entertain with absorbing stories and compelling characters that linger long after the final page."
The Paris Bookseller (2022) Kerri Maher "Dazzling like Paris, rich and immersive like the work it celebrates, and bursting with heart and passion like every great bookstore, The Paris Bookseller is a dream for book lovers from start to finish."
Shoulder Season (2021) Christina Clancy "I tore through this vibrant coming-of-age tale of small-town girls seduced by a new life of sex and glitter just miles from their quiet Wisconsin towns. Clancy’s vulnerable characters come roaring to life in full eighties glamour, before spiraling toward a central tragedy that will define their adult lives and the very definition of home."
The Perfume Thief (2021) Timothy Schaffert "For the perfume to work, the wearer has to believe what I tell them. And you, too, will believe every word from the unforgettable Clementine, the perfumer and thief who shares her breathtaking story with dazzling notes that seduce over time. Like the very best fragrances, this book lingers on all of your senses, continuing to enchant, long after the final page. A truly remarkable tale."
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead (2021) Emily Austin "Everyone in this book will touch your heart. Austin's writing is spare yet exciting, each page sparkles with keen observation about the fleeting nature of life, yes, but also our profound ability to make lasting impact on those around us. I already can't wait to read what she writes next."
Take What You Can Carry (2021) Gian Sardar "Timely, romantic, and thrilling from start to finish, Gian Sardar crafts a story with great beauty and heartbreak, reminding us the harder we work to truly know one another, the better we come to understand ourselves. Those of us who love books know this is exactly why we read."
Burn It All Down (2021) Nicolas DiDomizio "Hell hath no fury like a mother AND son scorned. Except in Nicolas DiDomizio’s capable hands, fiery anger is the spark for forgiveness, growth, self-acceptance, and deep connection. A fast, fun, and unforgettable debut."
Better Luck Next Time (2020) Julia Claiborne Johnson "Julia Claiborne Johnson's real skill is a literary sleight of hand: creating humorous characters with big hearts, then using them to deliver a story with a surprising emotional wallop. There were tears from heartbreak and joy! My face still hurts from smiling."
The Big Door Prize (2020) M O Walsh "Part mystery, all charm. The big prize here is for readers: a heartwarming and eccentric page-turner in the grand tradition of Southern literature that will keep you wondering until the very end. Walsh writes his characters with great respect to prove we're never too old to discover new things about ourselves."
The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals (2020) Becky Mandelbaum "A story of reconciliation and forgiveness (and so many animals!) in the assured hand of a writer who understands that the hardest journeys we undertake are the ones in search of home."
Eliza Starts a Rumor (2020) Jane L Rosen "A swift, satisfying page-turner that deftly employs a rumor to underscore the redemptive power of the truth. Rosen writes vibrant characters with her trademark humor and compassion. A perfect summer read."
Broken People (2020) Sam Lansky "An epic journey of self-forgiveness that confronts us with the ways in which we're all broken, then, with the assured hand of a most talented writer, conjures the healing magic within. A mesmerizing read."
And They Called It Camelot (2020) Stephanie Marie Thornton "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis leaves an enduring (and intimidating) legacy; for a writer, finding something new and meaningful to say about her is a daunting task. Thornton harnesses her immense talent for historical fiction and combines it with a biographer's immersive research to create a rich portrait that is both intimate and thoughtful while also wildly addictive. I tore through these pages and you will too. Thornton gifts her readers with a fresh appreciation for the indomitable woman behind the iconic sunglasses."
I Know You Know Who I Am (2020) Peter Kispert "Cuts right to the bone with startling observation: we obfuscate because to be seen, truly seen, is to risk everything. And yet, this remarkably assured collection leaves it all on the page with startling honesty for us – the reader – to see."
Daisy Jones & The Six (2019) Taylor Jenkins Reid "Raw, emotive, and addictively voyeuristic, Daisy Jones & The Six is imbued with the same anguished heart that fuels the very best rock 'n' roll. Like my favorite albums, this book will live with me for a very long time."
