Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

In Anthony J. Mohr’s memoir, Every Other Weekend, the author tells the story of a childhood suspended between two contrasting worlds. After his parents’ divorce at a time when divorce was rare, young Tony lives between two worlds: his biological father’s world, Gerald Mohr, who is a charismatic radio and television actor known for playing Philip Marlowe, and that of his stepfather, Stanley Dashew, a real estate entrepreneur who helped launch the credit card industry. It is set in the 1950s and 60s Southern California, and the book traces Tony’s coming-of-age as he experiences Hollywood glamour, the virtues of business, and parental betrayals. Whether describing his stepfather’s volatile temper, his father’s declining career, or his own confused loyalties, Mohr captures the emotional arithmetic of divorce: the competing households, the every-other-weekend custody visits, and the slow understanding that he must build his own identity from the fragments of two very different lives.

Anthony J. Mohr executes these elements with the perceptive wisdom of the judge he eventually became. He offers a portrait of the two fathers as vividly as possible, shining a light on Gerald, the womanizing dreamer and chain-smoker, and Stan, the pipe-puffing, conservative businessman. Each of these people in his life is rendered through crisp, revealing dialogue and detailed descriptions. The narrative voice is dryly humorous, excavating painful memories in a tone that reflects an adult’s irony and the innocence of a child. While suspense is not the primary engine that moves this book forward, quiet tension thrums through the revelations of Gerald’s affairs and domestic scenes. Every Other Weekend takes you on a journey from the Brown Derby to Beverly Hills High School, unveiling an era when make-believe and reality were almost synonymous. This episodic memoir is fast-paced, and it brilliantly explores class, loyalty, and identity.

Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite

Aaron Pufal opens Chasing Legends with a personal backstory that began in the world of extreme wealth and ends in crisis when he is betrayed by his last employer. He finds a lifeline and new meaning in a lifelong fascination with motorcycles. By exploring the different and diverse characters of ordinary bikers doing extraordinary things, he finds something more authentic. There's Austin Vince, the unassuming math teacher who conquered the Zilov Gap in Siberia with his friends. Lyndon Poskitt became a Dakar legend by completing the rally in the punishing Malle Moto class on a bike he engineered himself, while simultaneously filming the experience for a self-produced documentary. Claudio von Planta, cameraman to Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor's motorcycle series, defined a different level of extreme by capturing memorable footage, often while staying in the saddle of his own motorbike. The second section of the book focuses on authors and lore keepers. Ted Simon looms large as a pioneering mentor of adventure motorcycling. Jordan Gibbons opens the conversation on the value of mechanical skills legacies. And the emotive journey of Joey Evans, who beat incredible medical odds to complete the 2017 Dakar rally, shows what real courage looks like on good days and bad days.

While the book definitely touches on technical specifications, it is not so jargon-heavy as to be impenetrable to the ordinary reader. Instead, the author has a particular knack for finding the soul of the story he's telling. Having spent years creating tailored experiences for millionaires chasing the biker aesthetic, he developed a deep appreciation for true grit and real courage. But it also includes the author's personal reckoning with his own ghosts. Never is it more poignant than in the piece about Robin Poskitt. I also appreciated the way he blended the individual stories with that greater brotherhood that connects bikers. There were insightful segments on the influence of London's Ace Cafe on biker culture. The important but often unheralded contribution of the Blood Bikers. The meticulous planning that went into Ross 'Beau' Earnest's record-breaking cannonball run from New York to Los Angeles. Chasing Legends by Aaron Pufal has to be a must for anyone passionate about motorbikes. It is a worthy companion to the author's podcast.

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

High Hopes by Anne Abel is a memoir that captures the author's transformative journey through music, self-discovery, and overcoming personal challenges. The book begins with Abel's decision to travel to Australia to attend Bruce Springsteen concerts, a leap of faith that becomes a pivotal moment in her life. This bold adventure marks the start of her journey toward healing and finding joy, as she navigates depression and discovers the unexpected power of music to uplift and inspire. Abel offers an honest look into her struggles with mental health, including her experiences with treatments like ECT. She shares her emotional challenges and how Bruce Springsteen's music became a source of comfort and strength. The memoir is filled with vivid descriptions of Springsteen's performances, capturing the energy and humanity that make his concerts so impactful.

Anne Abel's reflections on her favorite songs and their significance add to the narrative, highlighting the connection she feels to the music. Throughout her memoir, she shares encounters with strangers and moments of reflection that add to her story. Her observations about the people she meets and the places she visits provide insight into her evolving perspective on life. Exploring ideas of identity, family, and self-worth, the narrative offers engaging inspiration for readers. High Hopes is about transformation and the courage to embrace change. Abel's journey is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to find light and purpose. The writing is honest and conversational. This memoir is an account of how one woman found strength and meaning through the power of music and storytelling.

Reviewed by Zahid Sheikh for Readers' Favorite

Heidi Yewman's brave and intensely personal memoir Dumb Girl describes how she was abused as a youngster and how these events influenced her to become a well-known gun control activist. She takes readers on a tumultuous journey that starts with the abuse she experienced at home and progresses into her campaign for gun regulation, inspired by the Columbine High School shooting. This tragedy hit close to home as she had once been a student there. Yewman's narrative combines her advocacy work with personal suffering, demonstrating the transformational potential of speaking up and advocating for others. She takes readers into her world of activism and recovery with personal stories and conflicts fought in public.

The writing in Dumb Girl is raw and full of emotional depth that allows readers to feel the intensity of Yewman's experiences. The structure of the memoir blends political and personal history seamlessly together. The author skillfully balances action and reflection throughout the narrative, allowing for quiet introspection combined with louder, more visible moments of her advocacy. The characters, especially her past self and those who affected her, are compelling and drawn vividly. As I read the book, Yewman's story enthralled me and her perseverance in the face of hardship motivated me. Dumb Girl is a compelling and enduring book because of the author's openness and vulnerability in her narration. I highly recommend it to readers who value powerful memoirs that delve into complex themes of identity, resilience, social justice, and the power of personal transformation.

Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite

The Courtyard by Benjamin Parket and Alexa Morris is a remarkable memoir about what happened to a specific Jewish family during the Holocaust. In this memoir, Bernard recounts how, at first, while living in Paris, he and his Polish-immigrant family only heard rumors of what was happening to Jews because of the war, making his parents worry for their families back in Poland. Bernard was only seven years old when things started to change for all Jews across Europe, and for them when the war reached French soil. He describes what it was like to have someone close to him taken away to a camp, and how their lives turned upside down because of all the antisemitic restrictions. It was difficult for him and his family to live in constant fear, hiding in a warehouse from both French and German authorities to avoid being arrested and killed. He also recounts what happened after the war.

The Courtyard by Benjamin Parket and Alexa Morris is an engrossing, powerful, and must-read Holocaust memoir that blends the personal and the historical. It's a moving portrait of generosity from neighbors who cared enough to help keep this Jewish family's secret, of courage and endurance against Nazi tyranny, and of hope. While this well-written story of survival reveals terrible things, it also shows that their survival was a miracle that happened not out of luck but out of kindness, and that one can rebuild a meaningful life after trau­ma. This memoir is an unforgettable read, as it tells the story of a boy and his family who suffered immense fear and despair to survive the war.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

When Mimi Nichter boarded a Trans World Airlines flight on September 6th, 1970, she was focused on resuming her studies at George Washington University after a productive trip to Israel. She never in her wildest dreams expected that this flight would put her in a harrowing situation as an unwanted part of a political plane hijacking. An ordeal she initially thought would last no more than a few days dragged on for weeks until a series of unimaginable events brought her back to American soil. Five decades on, and she remains reluctant to recall those dark days. It takes the coaxing of a colleague for her to reopen a chapter of her life she considered closed. She bares it all in Hostage.

Mimi Nichter’s Hostage paints a striking picture of the world before militant religious fundamentalism changed everything. She shows the gamut of emotions running through her mind and the views of other passengers, based on their detailed conversations. Her referencing earlier hijack episodes from her time and what came much later, such as the September 11th events, provides context for readers and makes it easier to understand some of the unusual actions of the hijackers at the time. Her observations on how some Jewish hostages chose to uphold their beliefs even when severely limited will resonate with readers. One remarkable aspect of her book is the unusual way her friends viewed her ordeal, which revealed a disturbing disconnect with reality among some of them. Her experiences with the legal system when seeking redress for her ordeal are worth studying in depth. The author’s detail-oriented narrative style, along with pictures and first-person accounts of heart-stopping moments in the Middle East, will inspire readers to appreciate the simpler things in life, such as a clean bathroom.

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Ascending America: Five Kidney Donors, 50 Peaks in 50 States, One Record-Breaking Journey by Matt Harmody, MD, follows a team of living kidney donors as they attempt to climb the highest point in each of the fifty states in record time. The narrative introduces each team member, highlighting their diverse backgrounds, from military service and aviation to librarianship and endurance racing, all united by their shared experience as kidney donors. The team faces extreme weather, exhaustion, and life-threatening situations, including crevasse falls, equipment loss, and the mental strain of high-altitude climbing. Interwoven with the adventure are reflections on the significance of kidney donation, aimed at raising awareness and demonstrating that donors can lead physically demanding, active lives. The book later expands into a broader guide that explains kidney disease, transplantation, and the systems that support donation.

Matt Harmody writes in a detailed, immersive first-person style that places the reader in the action, often describing technical aspects of climbing alongside moments of tension and teamwork. The pacing varies, with slower sections that explain mountaineering strategies and medical context, balanced by fast-moving sequences during critical climbs and emergencies. Dialogue reveals personality differences, while the inclusion of weather conditions and climbing techniques grounds the story in authenticity. Readers who enjoy adventure narratives with a strong human element will find the combination of physical challenge and personal mission compelling. The structure allows the story to serve as both an expedition account and an informative look at organ donation, making it appealing to those interested in either topic. Ascending America may appeal to readers who appreciate adventurous, reflective style stories offering an engaging blend of endurance, risk, and purpose.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Twice the Family by Julie Ryan McGue is a heartfelt memoir that examines the often emotionally charged themes of identity, belonging, and becoming. Through the perspectives of Julie and her twin sister Jenny, the book offers an intimate exploration of their adoption journey and the challenges of growing up as part of a large, loving, but imperfect family. The memoir presents Julie's vivid recollections from childhood to adulthood, focusing on her and Jenny's life as adopted children in a bustling household. Each chapter reveals significant events that shaped their understanding of family and identity. From joyous moments such as birthday celebrations and summer vacations to painful ones like facing their adoption and familial losses, Julie's journey is marked by a quest for self-discovery.

Julie Ryan McGue's exploration of her adoption reveals a deep yearning to understand her roots. The memoir also explores the themes of loss and resilience, mainly through the family's experiences with miscarriages and the death of their brother, Mark Edward. Additionally, the book touches on societal perceptions of adoption in the 1960s and 70s and the challenges of navigating family relationships that are simultaneously fragile and fulfilling. McGue's writing is reflective and profoundly stirring, balancing narrative storytelling and introspective analysis. Her prose is lyrical, vividly bringing to life both the mundane and extraordinary moments of her family's life. McGue's ability to convey raw emotion allows readers to deeply empathize with her experiences, while her candid reflections provide insight into her adoption story and familial bonds. The use of detailed personal anecdotes not only grounds the memoir in authenticity but also invites readers to reflect on their notions of family and identity. Twice the Family is a compelling memoir that offers an enriching exploration of what it means to be part of a family, to seek one's identity, and to embrace the journey of becoming. It is a story filled with lessons that are beautifully told.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, slice-of-life, and inspirational writing genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers as it contains adult situations and themes, including an explicit exploration of suicide. Penned by author Linda M. Lockwood, we follow young Linda as she moves to an isolated ranch in eastern Washington with her family. By age ten, she is managing ranch duties from herding sheep to protecting livestock. Her greatest challenge, however, is her mother's descent into schizophrenia, a condition Linda fears inheriting. At twenty-five, Linda marries and faces further trauma with her mother's suicide, a miscarriage, and her grandmother's death. Despite these hardships, she builds her own family and vows to uncover the roots of her mother's illness and its impact on her own life and potential future.

Author Linda M. Lockwood holds nothing back in crafting this profound and emotional read. The author’s raw, honest account of her childhood on a remote ranch is both rugged and captivating, painting vivid images of her adventures and challenges with evocative, atmospheric language that helps the audience feel they’re right there with her in the moment for some truly heartbreaking experiences. Her resilience and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, especially her relentless pursuit of her dream to train horses, which balances some of the darker aspects of the memoir well. The portrayal of her mother's schizophrenia adds a poignant complexity to matters that helps readers to empathize deeply with Linda's fears and struggles but also sheds light on the importance of mental health support. The narrative is heart-wrenching when detailing her personal losses, yet it also shows the strength she derived from her upbringing. These moments are well-paced between descriptions of life on the ranch that are both nostalgic and enlightening, revealing a lifestyle that is both harsh and beautiful. Overall, Sky Ranch: Reared in the High Country is a deeply inspirational work that fans of well-penned, immersive memoirs will no doubt enjoy from cover to cover.

Reviewed by Mansoor Ahmed for Readers' Favorite

Object by Kristin Louise Duncombe is a powerful and heartbreaking memoir that shows the author's experiences of trauma, survival, and healing. The narrative develops in various countries around the world as the author tries to remember and comprehend her childhood and life in foreign countries as an immigrant, as well as the abuse she experienced that changed her personality. In several incidents, Duncombe fearlessly navigates the complexities of personal trauma and how it has been masked and erased throughout her youth, and her emergence as a survivor. Her writing conveys the internal turmoil of a young girl grappling with transformative occurrences and moments of healing from untold stories.

Kristin Louise Duncombe is a keen and discerning writer who captivates her readers, offers them a glimpse into her life, and explains herself and the things she wants. The characters are strongly drawn, especially Duncombe’s family and the influential personalities that were part of her childhood, and the depiction of dramatic relationships, especially when built on the foundation of abuse and silence. I was quite moved by how candidly and openly the author described her experiences in this memoir, which is a very emotional read. Her ability to navigate complex emotions and relationships with clarity and introspection is admirable. The themes of the unknown, struggle, and transformation are central to the author's narrative. I highly recommend Object to readers who are interested in exploring the impact of family dynamics and personal trauma on one's journey toward healing and self-discovery.