PAID REVIEWS
FEBRUARY 2, 2026 BOOKLIFE 113
BookLife Reviews are paid reviews of independently published books. A lightning bolt ( ) indicates an Editor’s Pick, a book of outstanding quality.
FOOD & COOKING
Striking celebration of Madagascar’s heritage, food, and people.
palatable experience for the five senses, whether LaRoche is examining the ties between Madagascar’s sweet koba— steamed or baked rice, bananas, and peanuts encased in banana leaves—and the country’s Indonesian heritage or describing traditional dishes like zebu meat braised in red wine. In each of his shared experiences, LaRoche takes care to high-
A Taste of Madagascar: Culinary Riches of the Red Island Emmanuel Laroche | Post Hill Press 400p, hardcover, $38, ISBN 979-8895650141 LaRoche ( Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door ) shares his love affair with Madagascar through a culinary lens, highlighting the local foods and exports—including vanilla, chocolate, caviar, fragrant rice, pink pepper- corn, and zebu—while touching on the island’s culture,
Great for fans of Junda Khoo’s Ho Jiak , Polina Chesnakova’s Chesnok.
light the communities and workers who play a role in bringing Madagascar’s food to market, emphasizing their culture, spiritual beliefs, and ethical business practices. Most chapters are bookended by riveting parables of the Malagasy people, and LaRoche includes mouthwatering recipes that will inspire readers to try their own hand at making local dishes. LaRoche’s passion for Madagascar underpins his writing, whether he’s reflecting on the history of colonialism and resultant deforestation crisis or marveling at the landscapes—“intricately woven with both resilience and fragility.” This is a striking celebration of culture, ingredients, and possibilities.
history, and world markets. Beginning with his 2022 trip to learn about vanilla produc- tion in the small nation that produces 80% of the world’s vanilla bean, LaRoche speaks of Madagascar with respect, curiosity, and reverence, examining not just the country’s food products but also the businesses that run on these ingredients—and the balance they strike between tradition and innovation. Highly informative and thoughtfully organized, A Taste of Madagascar is aes- thetically beautiful, providing vivid descriptions, striking photographs, and QR codes laced throughout for an accompanying playlist. Those elements produce an inviting,
Cover: B+ | Design & typography: A- | Illustrations: A Editing: A | Marketing copy: A
SELF-HELP Nulling Out: The Terrifying Cost of Success and The Path Back to Being Fully Alive Cheryl Jack | Piquin Press 150p, e-book, $9.95, ISBN 979-8-9999084-1-4
ment—in an effort to cope with emotional numbness. Fortunately, she marks the condition as reversible, sharing success stories of individuals who have made the journey from empty to fulfilled and restored the “human core.” Most helpful are the concrete steps, including an assessment scale, reconnection exercises, potential resources for support, and specific guid-
Welcoming, empathetic guidance to fight disconnect and restore authenticity.
Great for fans of Russ Harris’s The Happiness Trap , Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection.
Jack outlines a crisis among high achievers in this insightful debut, referring to “the gradual erasure of your authentic self in service of external performance” as “nulling out.” Success has been redefined, she argues, as optimization over authenticity—causing humankind to disconnect from the impact of their deci- sions and slowly lose “everything that makes them
ance for loved ones of those who are “physically present but emotionally absent.” Readers struggling with self-erasure will find Jack’s writing relatable, straight- forward, and welcoming. She eschews judgment in favor of empathy, urging high achievers to dispose of masks, restore their ability for unfiltered responses to everyday situations, and stop “operating from a predictable, optimized script.” The pathway to authenticity is challenging, and restoring connection requires dedicated effort, but the sacrifice is well worth it: “The most sustainable success, the most fulfilling life,” she writes, “emerges from bringing your whole self to the challenges that matter.”
human.” Jack applies her experience as a psychiatrist to outline a potential road to recovery, first providing learned opinion on how nulling out differs from depression, burn-out, anxiety, and other issues before moving on to the fix: honest self-assess- ment, reconnecting with authenticity, and choosing to live according to core principles. Jack uses anecdotes and real-life experiences to demonstrate the aftershocks of nulling out, detailing how it can manifest in reckless behaviors—affairs, embezzle-
Cover: B+ | Design & typography: B+ | Illustrations: – Editing: A- | Marketing copy: A
SELF-HELP Women of Valor: Affirmations and Devotional JP Wallis | Signet Media Publishing 288p, trade paper, $16.99, ASIN B0FKNGJM6H
Inspiring, well-organized weekly devotional for Christian women.
a framework for “growing in prayer,” dis- pensing advice for confronting life’s challenges with love, faith, and hope, and cultivating moments to recognize the presence of God. In “Living with Gratitude,” readers contemplate the “spiritual pos- ture” of being grateful, viewing life “not through the lens of what’s lacking, but through the lens of God’s unchanging
Great for fans of Melissa Horvath’s You Got This , Donna K. Maltese’s Worry Less, Pray More.
Wallis offers Christian women seeking to deepen their faith a year’s worth of weekly devotionals, biblical affir- mations, and interactive steps to nurture their connection to God. “We live in a world that is loud with labels, heavy with expectations, and quick to tell you who you are not,” she writes, “but God has already declared who you are: strong and courageous, beauti- fully redeemed, and fearfully made.” Her devotions are
goodness”; “Embracing New Beginnings” assigns spiritual meaning to life’s transi- tions, inviting trust in God that there is purpose to the uncertainty; and “Becoming a Woman of Valor” closes with the weekly affirmation that “I am clothed in God’s strength and dignity. I face the future with faith, courage, and joy.” As readers move through Wallis’s year-long resource, they will find action steps for abandoning fear, moving in purpose, and being intentional with their Christian faith. The guide is well structured, easy to implement, and inspiring, urging readers to find “peace in a restless world” while providing practical tools and rousing decla- rations of hope, resilience, and growth.
grouped four weeks at a time, each centered around a spiritual theme, such as being rooted in Christ, nurturing a prayerful existence, weathering life’s challenges, and transforming identity. Each devotional is constructed around a scriptural focus, guided reflection, and opportunities to take action. Women of Valor is uplifting, positive, and empowering, focused on helping women gain confidence as they navigate day-to-day life. Wallis provides supportive reas- surance—grounded in faith and spiritual knowledge—throughout, teaching readers
Cover: A | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: A Editing: A | Marketing copy: A
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