PAID REVIEWS
114 BOOKLIFE FEBRUARY 2, 2026
SPIRITUALIOTY & INSPIRATIONAL To Eternity and Back: Discovering and Decoding the Map of the Multiverse R.A. Varghese | BlackBox Books 244p, mass market, $13.33, ISBN 979-8350999730 Varghese explores the nature of existence, conscious- ness, and destiny through philosophy, science, and religion, arguing that human individuality and the rational structure of the universe point to an infinite, tri-persona source: God. Mapping reality as a multi- verse of physical, spiritual, and moral realms, Varghese asserts that humanity’s final, self-chosen destiny is either Heaven (“plentitude”) or Hell (“Void”). Through
Contemplative analysis of human destiny entwined with God’s love.
either closeness to this source or separation from it. Evil, guilt, and sacrifice are treated as signs of “violat[ing] the divine law,” while providence is interpreted as a deeply personal divine presence. The rhythm of Varghese’s writing is lyrical and contemplative, though the text relies on repetitions that slow narrative momentum. It’s an ambitious, wide-
Great for fans of Paul Davies’s The Mind of God , David Bentley Hart’s The Experience of God.
ranging vision that links philosophy, science, and religion, with arguments that sometimes rely on detailed evidence and, at others, on sweeping claims. Varghese frequently views scientific mysteries—such as consciousness, evolution, and physics—as proof of a non-physical self and a Triune God, as in his statement, “How could the physical produce something that is not physical? It cannot… consciousness and thought can only originate from Something that is both conscious and rational. Infinite-eternal Mind.” Readers who favor theological interpretation, abstract analysis, and explorations of “the Father’s Love… [and a life] in communion with God” will find this a thought-provoking meditation.
discussions of eternity, the soul, and the God–human relationship, he presents an intricate vision of the cosmic drama of love, freedom, and eternal consequence. Life holds profound purpose in Varghese’s hands. He views existence as rooted in an eternal source—one whose mind holds everything together—and suggests that our consciousness, sense of right and wrong, creativity, and the orderly world around us all point to a non-physical side of ourselves and to a Triune God whose knowing and loving make sense of reality. Our choices shape an unending future, he writes—
Cover: B+ | Design & typography: B | Illustrations: – Editing: B | Marketing copy: B
SPIRITUALITY/INSPIRATIONAL Too Strong for Your Own Good: Success with Soul Anette DeMattio | 10-10-10 189p, e-book, $4.99, ISBN 979-8-9933691-6-7
Warm, accessible guide to healing from the inside out.
guided exercises, reflective inventories, and somatic practices intended to help readers identify where they habitually override their own needs. DeMattio emphasizes the body as an “intelligence system,” framing physical symptoms as messages rather than malfunctions. DeMattio’s empathetic tone—and
Great for fans of Laura Khoudari’s Lifting Heavy Things , MaryCatherine McDonald’s Unbroken.
This uplifting debut finds DeMattio—after surviving numerous cancer diagnoses, repeated medical trauma, infertility, and loss—realizing that “Healing isn’t about getting there faster. It’s about arriving more whole.” She argues that relentless resilience—particularly among high achievers and caregivers—often masks a deep disconnection from the body, leading to burnout, chronic illness, and emotional depletion. The answer,
accessible, affirming language—will resonate with readers who feel trapped by over-functioning and people-pleasing, and she offers hands-on solutions to real-life problems, executing her trademark framework in step-by-step examples that encourage practical application. Her focus on nervous-system regulation and establishing healthy boundaries supports those seeking alternatives to productivity- driven self-help, though the book’s heavy reliance on spiritual concepts overrides its scientific references. Ultimately, Too Strong for Your Own Good is best suited for spiritually inclined readers open to somatic and intuitive approaches to healing, particularly women navigating burnout, caregiving roles, or post-traumatic stress. It positions itself less as a step-by-step manual and more of an invitation to reimagine strength as sustainable, relational, and deeply embodied.
DeMattio contends, can be found in her REAL You Activation System, organized around a three-part arc: awakening to bodily signals, alchemizing survival patterns into wisdom, and ascending into an integrated existence. Blending memoir, spirituality, and sensible guidance, DeMattio’s writing draws deeply from her own experiences, reframing strength not as endurance, but as embodied self-leadership rooted in safety, truth-telling, and energetic awareness. Chapters interweave emotionally charged personal narratives—such as ignoring intuitive warnings during fertility treatments that preceded a cancer diagnosis—with
Cover: A- | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: – Editing: A | Marketing copy: A
FICTION To Never See Heaven Garrett Garland | Publify Publishing 392p, e-book, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-960-90359-4
Touching portrait of a lost soul seeking acceptance and belonging.
times poetic, other times flowery dialogue—slow the momentum, resulting in a narrative that feels rich with meaning but requires readers to carefully sift the text for context and perspective. Where Garland shines is in conveying what it’s like to be a broken child and a lost teenager. At age 11, Antony is raped by his cousin Frank; his father becomes consis-
Garland’s debut sketches the story of Antony Shrader— an angsty gay teenager searching for belonging and identity—looking back on a life of abuse, abandonment, and hard-earned love, detailing an introverted child- hood, tormented young adulthood, and fraught path to self-acceptance. From the start, Antony is shy and out of place, seeking traction in a world populated by the confident, the cruel, and those lost in between. As he finishes prep school and plays mediator between his
Great for fans of Elif Batuman’s The Idiot , Bryan Washington’s Memorial.
tently more withdrawn as he ages; his mental health worsens; and his eventual descent into drugs and alcohol becomes a temporarily satisfying but potentially deadly escape. His relationship with Henri saves him, and the narrative picks up pace when the two meet, finding its footing in their journey to “carve a place for the two of us in this world.”
warring parents, he weighs the costs of being honest with his family and himself—that he is gay, struggling with depression, and heartsick for love. When Antony travels to Paris for a college semester abroad, he finally stumbles onto happiness—with Henri, his would-be husband who changes his life forever. Antony’s narrative unfolds through flashbacks, musings, and extravagant prose, starting with Henri’s illness and looming death before jumping back in time to Anto- ny’s unhappy childhood. Garland frames the story with Antony’s attempts to craft a commencement speech, typically delivered by Henri, who is too ill to do so now. That gives the novel ballast, but the timeline jumps—paired with long stretches of some-
Cover: B+ | Design & typography: A- | Illustrations: – Editing: C+ | Marketing copy: B+
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