Book Reviews – Page 8 – Sassy Reviews

January 15, 2026

Thurmond

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Thurmond 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Esther Davis ✍️
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When Stephanie returns to Thurmond after ten years away, what should be a brief, painful visit quickly becomes something far more sinister. She met Ethan, her first love and first heartbreak. When she visited her childhood home, she realized that her parents had kept her childhood intact. She feels seventeen again in her childhood room, but also twenty-seven, carrying ten years of grief, distance, and loss.

The author has done great work in the backdrop setting. Thurmond itself feels alive, wrapped in quiet menace and unspoken history. Davis excels at slow-burn tension, allowing dread to build naturally through subtle details, uneasy interactions, and moments where “nothing happens” yet everything feels wrong.

The characters are compelling and emotionally layered, especially Stephanie and Ethan. Their shared history adds depth to the mystery, blending unresolved love, guilt, and suspicion in a way that feels raw and believable. The storyline was gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.

The novel explores how small towns protect their secrets. I had a great time reading this story about obsession, control, etc. Fans of psychological thrillers and small-town mysteries would have a great time reading this book. I loved the writing style of the author. I am excited to get my hands on more books by Davis in the future.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 13, 2026

A Second Chance

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: A Second Chance 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Asher Frend ✍️
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A Second Chance by Asher Frend explores faith, friendship, trauma, and the fragile line between destiny and choice. The story is set in the early 2000s. It follows Mikaila, a teenager navigating family instability, mental illness, and the complexities of growing up until a life-altering event changes everything.

Mikaila’s bond with her best friend, Chara, is the emotional anchor of the story. When a tragic accident occurs, the narrative takes a powerful spiritual turn, raising questions about sacrifice, free will, and what it truly means to save someone.

The characters feel authentic, each carrying their own wounds and hopes. The portrayal of mental health struggles within a family is handled with care, showing both the pain and the resilience that coexist in difficult circumstances.

Faith plays a central role in the novel. Readers who appreciate spiritually driven narratives will find depth and meaning here, while others may still connect strongly with the universal themes of loss, forgiveness, and second chances. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 10, 2026

B-Unstoppable

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: B-Unstoppable 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Errol Fonseca ✍️
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B-Unstoppable is not just another motivational book. It is a raw, grounded, and practical guide to reclaiming personal power and building a life of purpose, confidence, and long-term impact. Drawing from his journey from extreme hardship in Mumbai to leading global organizations as a CEO, Errol Fonseca delivers a powerful narrative rooted in lived experience rather than theory.

At the heart of the book is the UNSTOP Code, a clear and repeatable framework designed to help readers break out of survival mode and step into intentional leadership. Fonseca addresses themes many readers silently struggle with like scarcity thinking, self-doubt, fear of visibility, burnout, and the habit of shrinking to stay safe.

The structure of the book is particularly strong. Divided into five parts from Breaking the Survival Cycle to Legacy in Motion, the content flows naturally from mindset shifts to habits, leadership, money, and purpose. The chapters are packed with practical reflections, real-life examples, and exercises that encourage immediate application.

Fonseca’s reflections on identity, discipline, self-respect, and ownership are especially impactful for professionals who feel stuck despite outward success.

What truly elevates B-Unstoppable is its emphasis on long-term thinking and legacy. This is not a book about quick wins or surface-level success. It challenges readers to ask deeper questions. Go ahead with this thought provoking read. I am glad to get my hands on this book.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 9, 2026

I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mark Leslie ✍️
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I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises by Mark Leslie is a lighthearted read and a tribute to the art of the pun, the dad joke, and the well-earned groan. Leslie leans fully into silliness, inviting readers to relax and enjoy language at its most playful. The book’s strength lies in its sheer enthusiasm for wordplay. Every joke feels like it was shared with a grin.

Organized into themed sections such as meta jokes, one-liners, reflections, and observational humor, the collection offers constant variety while remaining easy to read in small doses. Readers can open the book at random and still find something amusing within seconds.

More than anything, the book succeeds because it understands its purpose: to bring joy, spark laughter, and encourage sharing. Leslie’s humor feels inclusive and warm, making it suitable for readers of all ages who appreciate clean, clever comedy. I Think It’s a Sign That the Pun Also Rises is an ideal pick-me-up book. It is perfect for coffee tables, gift-giving, or those moments when a good laugh (or groan) is exactly what’s needed.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 9, 2026

Anasazi Vision

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Anasazi Vision 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: True North ✍️
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Anasazi Vision penned by the author True North is a powerful read that follows True on both a physical and emotional journey through memory, land, and identity. Central to the story is the presence of True’s Mama, whose influence lingers long after her words were spoken. Her voice, teachings, and silences shape True’s inner world, making the journey feel deeply rooted in family and inherited wisdom.

The Four Corners desert plays a vital role in the narrative, almost functioning as a character itself. Its vastness mirrors True’s internal search, while its stillness allows space for reflection and grief. The author’s prose is restrained and thoughtful, letting the landscape and emotions speak. Each scene feels intentional, inviting the reader to pause and absorb its meaning.

This is a novel for readers who appreciate literary fiction driven by atmosphere and introspection. Anasazi Vision is less about external conflict and more about understanding where one comes from and where one truly belongs. It’s a gentle, contemplative read that stays with you long after it ends.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 8, 2026

Through the Windshield: Drive-by Lives

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Through the Windshield: Drive-by Lives 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D. B. Sayers ✍️
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Through the Windshield: Drive-by Lives by D. B. Sayers is a compelling anthology of short fiction that makes for a gripping read.

“Sinbad’s Sofa” is a touching and intriguing story about a cat named Sinbad who wanders into Jerry’s Standard station one night in search of refuge. The narrator offers him shelter and a comfortable sofa, which soon becomes a place of quiet comfort and emotional connection. The cat’s presence leaves a lasting impression but what happens when Sinbad suddenly disappears?

“The Village Boneyard” follows Bryan, who takes a job at the municipal cemetery he refers to as the village boneyard. The work becomes unsettling when he is tasked with burying Karen Mooreman, a former classmate from his graduating year. Things grow even stranger when Bryan comes across a cluster of three headstones. He never mentioned them to Keith Connaught, a man he was working with. What path will Bryan walk in his life? Will he meet Keith again?

Each story kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself binge-reading one after another. The author’s writing style is engaging, the narration is strong, and the cover design is visually appealing. I was so absorbed in this anthology that I completely forgot about the world around me for a while.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 8, 2026

Happy as Larry

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Happy as Larry 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Dr Larry Culliford ✍️
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Drawing on decades of clinical experience and personal introspection, Dr Larry Culliford explores a deceptively simple yet profoundly important question: What truly constitutes mental health?

This is not a conventional self-help book, nor a purely academic text. Instead, Culliford offers readers a lived inquiry, one rooted in real encounters with patients, families, mentors, suffering, burnout, and healing. From the opening chapters, it becomes clear that the author’s understanding of mental health goes far beyond the absence of illness. For Culliford, wellbeing is an ongoing process of growth, self-awareness, compassion, connection, and spiritual maturity.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its storytelling. Clinical encounters are rendered with sensitivity and humanity, never reducing patients to diagnoses. Whether describing a young woman grieving an unacknowledged loss, a traumatised adolescent engaging in self-harm, or families trapped in destructive emotional patterns, Culliford consistently centres the reader’s attention on the person rather than the pathology.

These stories are not used for dramatic effect; they are offered as learning moments, illustrating how healing often arises from presence, listening, and kindness rather than technical intervention alone. The memoir aspect of the book is equally compelling.

At its heart, Happy as Larry is a hopeful book. It suggests that even after trauma, emotional neglect, or professional burnout, growth remains possible.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 6, 2026

Dave and Me

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Dave and Me 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Rusty Austin ✍️
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Dave and Me is a gritty, laugh-out-loud memoir that captures the essence of lifelong friendship with brutal honesty and irreverent humor. Rusty Austin doesn’t romanticize the past; instead, he recreates it exactly as it was – messy, reckless, absurd, and deeply human. Through episodic storytelling, the book reads like a series of unforgettable bar stories that somehow carry real emotional weight beneath the laughter.

What makes the book stand out is its voice. The narration feels unfiltered and conversational, pulling readers directly into moments of lightning strikes on golf courses, doomed betting systems at the racetrack, and misadventures fueled by youth, bravado, and poor judgment. Austin’s writing reflects the authenticity of the era, the friendship, and the personalities involved.

At its core, Dave and Me is a love letter to a best friend who is no longer around. Beneath the chaos and comedy lies a quiet grief that sneaks up on the reader. The book reminds us that the most meaningful relationships are often built not on grand gestures, but on shared stupidity, loyalty, etc.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Uncommon Poems Common People

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Uncommon Poems Common People 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: T.D. Kruser ✍️
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Uncommon Poems Common People is a deeply introspective collection that explores the emotional terrain of love, loneliness, identity, and personal growth. T. D. Kruser writes with an unfiltered honesty that makes each poem feel less like a performance and more like a confession. The recurring image of “The Edge” serves as a powerful metaphor for the moments in life when certainty fades and self-reflection begins.

The poems move fluidly through stages of human experience: joyful connection, heartbreak, isolation, and healing often mirroring the reader’s own emotional cycles. Kruser’s language is simple yet emotionally charged, allowing the feelings to take center stage rather than elaborate literary devices. This accessibility makes the work especially relatable, as if the poet is speaking directly to the reader rather than at them.

What makes this collection stand out is its emotional consistency and sincerity. The poems do not try to resolve pain too quickly; instead, they sit with it, examine it, and gradually transform it into understanding. Uncommon Poems Common People is not just a book of poetry, it is a companion for anyone navigating the quiet struggles of being human.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5

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January 5, 2026

West of Tomorrow

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: West of Tomorrow 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: D.B. Sayers ✍️
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D.B. Sayers delivers a captivating novel in West of Tomorrow, blending corporate intrigue with the inner turmoil of a man shaped by war. The story features Clay Conover, a retired Marine officer who appears to have successfully reinvented himself in the upper ranks of the business world. Yet beneath the surface of professional stability lies deep uncertainty, as Clay confronts a failing economy, a shrinking job market, and a corporate culture far removed from the clarity and structure of military life. Sayers draws a striking parallel between the dangers of combat and the moral minefields of corporate America.

The novel gains momentum when Clay is tasked with training Sheera Prasad, a brilliant rising star. As he grows to respect her intelligence and ambition, Clay uncovers a disturbing truth: Sheera has been hired to quietly unseat their boss, a man Clay deeply admires and feels loyal to. What follows is a tense moral standoff. If Clay chooses self-preservation and plays along, corporate power promises rich rewards. If he refuses, he risks losing everything alongside his boss. Sayers excels at exploring themes of loyalty, integrity, and identity. West of Tomorrow is a sharp, engaging novel. I am glad to get my hands on this book. Hats off to the author for this amazing story.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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