Weekly Book Recs 18/2026
- Apollo Imperium
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
7 BOOK SUGGESTIONS EVERY FRIDAY –– A MIX OF INDIE AND TRADITIONAL PUBLISHED BOOKS
We've some darker books for you this week! No worries, not all of them are heavy––we've included some romance too. This week's book recommendations predominantly feature indie authors, with only one traditionally published book: TJ Klune's new novel "We Burned So Bright".
Spring's here, and what better time to pick up a book, sit in the sun and read some indie gems than right now? While we're preparing for summer––at least, in terms of vibes our future book recs will have––give the books in this week's edition a chance, we're sure there's at least one you'll enjoy!
"The Day Before Yesterday" by Jordan Corley
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 4.50
This is my debut poetry book focusing on my experience of moving to a foreign country and what it means to be a woman in society.
"We Burned So Bright" by TJ Klune
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 4.38
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an older queer couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world. Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over. On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
"The Call of the nightingale" by Kathryn Barnett
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 4.29
London. 1950s
An innocent girl is swept into an unfamiliar world where nothing is as it seems.
In the quiet humdrum of post-war England, Alice, a young typist and caretaker to her ailing mother, lives
a life of routine and responsibility. But her world is upended when her enigmatic new boss, Behrooz Azadi,
captures her heart. Their budding romance blossoms amid London's lively dance halls, leading them to a
whirlwind marriage and a shared life in his shadowy Victorian home.
Yet, when family duty calls Behrooz back to Iran after the sudden death of his father, Alice finds herself
bound to a culture and country still shrouded in mystery. As they journey east, she enters a world of
ancient traditions, where her identity and choices are questioned, and her courage is tested in ways she
could never have foreseen.
In this evocative tale, Kathryn Barnett masterfully captures the allure of first love, the pull of family loyalty, and the intrigue of a now-lost Iran. The Call of the Nightingale is a poignant journey of self-discovery and resilience, set against the backdrop of two worlds colliding.
"Killer Kidz" by Brooke Luther
Goodreads Rating: Expected 7 Jun 26
The parents of the small mountain town of Royal, Colorado are experiencing every parent's worst nightmare. Their kids are turning into monsters. Not just ill mannered, bad tempered, disrespectful little monsters. The kind of monsters that crave human flesh. Something about this disease only affects young people under 18 every one else just… dies.
The parents of Royal, Colorado must make the ultimate sacrifice. Kill the monsters that lurk around their houses, or hold out for a hope that the Colorado Science Institute will find a cure. If anyone makes it out of The Institute alive.
"The Illumination" by Asher D. Payne
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 4.48
After the fall, the last remnants of humanity cling to the illusion of safety the fortified walls cast. The world beyond is a wasteland deemed unsafe by government officials, and overrun by the infected runners, rebels and scavengers - the results of failed experimentation and burning opposition.
As a Venturer, Astrid is one of the few wearing the badge of protection, daring to face the dangers of the Wilds on missions sanctioned by authorities. Delving further into their webs of secrecy. she begins to question the intentions of those in power.
When Astrid crosses paths with the Most Wanted power user, a man whose name sparks rebellion, the fragile lines between enemy and ally blur. To protect those she loves, Astrid may have to confront not only the horrors of the Wilds, but the shadows of her own secrets, and the man who holds the key to unraveling them.
"Liar Liar" by Lucy Lee
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 4.36
Two Liars. One love story. Zero chance it ends the way they planned.
After winning $100K in an online love story contest, compulsive liar Lena realizes she didn’t read the fine print: the magazine expects a real couple for on-camera interviews and a full production. Panicked, she turns to Mac, from Liars Anonymous who jumps at the chance to date the girl who eludes him. As they fake-date, the truth blurs and they must decide if honesty and love is worth the risk.
"Farewell, my paradise" by Jyuu Anna
Goodreads Rating: ⭐️ 3.44
Gisele Gravelle is a psychologist at the exclusive Echelon Psychological Institute, a clinic specializing in the care of celebrities. She is the first to leak confidential files from the clinic to the public, which makes her a witness in a murder case. A staff member gave one of the patients a powerful sleeping pill without the doctors prescription. The famous handballer (Daniel Adler) eventuelly dies from an overdosis. Little did they know, that was one of the harmless things that happened at Echelon.
Journalist Jesse Jarvis was the last person to see the handball player alive, thanks to an interview she conducted with him just a few days earlier. The accompanying article, which didnt get the handballer a good run, now became the focus of the coverage. It became a bestseller thanks to many headlines.
The case is taken over by Terence Troska, a lawyer hired by the Adler family. He himself is marked by a painful past, due to his sister, who was bullied at a young age. This motivates him to fight against the injustices in the social and legal system. His interest in his project, which aims to criminalize emotional and mental abuse, stems not only from professional ambition but also from his deep compassion for people suffering from psychological violence.
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