Our Reviews

At firstCLUE, we only review books we love, or at least like a whole lot—and the reviews appear months in advance of publication.

Newsletter Schedule

firstCLUE: New reviews every Thursday.
Monthly: Reviews of books publishing that month.

Our Database

Search our 1,000+ reviews by author, title and more.

Recent Reviews

For our latest reviews subscribe to the firstCLUE Newsletter
by Dodie Ownes

Everyone is reading the bestselling novel Diary of an Octopus by Emily Harper, but Rose knows that the novel is her real story, from …

by Jeff Ayers

The Nine, beings designated to protect Earth from potential destruction, have been asleep for centuries, but now the alarm has been activated. An alien …

by Dodie Ownes

In Two Perfect Lies, Richards crafts a “Freida McFadden for YA” thriller that explores the dark side of loyalty. Clara Cutler is a social …

by Dodie Ownes

This engaging young-adult mystery follows best friends Rick and Martina, social outcasts at Meadowvale High who are known for staging elaborate pranks. Their lives …

by Brian Kenney

A leader of London’s huge drag scene. A mentor to many young queens. A devoted spouse. A stunning entertainer who is a partial owner …

by Brian Kenney

Book of the Week January 8, 2026 Peter Key, 30, is a hipster detective of sorts, whose personal life is, if not actually a …