M.J. Wassmer’s Zero Stars Do Not Recommend has a ballsy title. If it was a bad book, the insults are just too easy. Luckily, however, it isn’t a bad book–in fact, quite the opposite–and thus said title works as this clever debut writer must have intended it to.

In Hannah Mary McKinnon’s cleverly titled Only One Survives, the center spotlight is on Vienna Taylor, an aspiring drummer whose band, The Bittersweet, was involved in fatal car accident outside the Catskills one snowy night.

The Day He Never Came Home is characterized by excellent writing and a unique storytelling mode that makes it stand out from other domestic thrillers. While

Death in the Air by Ram Murali works because the charm and humor of its main character allows any shortcomings to be forgiven.