{"id":4727,"date":"2026-06-01T06:24:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T06:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/what-to-read-this-summer-11-exceptional-good-reads-make-latest-q1-2026-books-to-bookmark-list\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T06:24:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T06:24:53","slug":"what-to-read-this-summer-11-exceptional-good-reads-make-latest-q1-2026-books-to-bookmark-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/what-to-read-this-summer-11-exceptional-good-reads-make-latest-q1-2026-books-to-bookmark-list\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Read this Summer: 11 Exceptional Good Reads make latest Q1-2026 ‘BOOKS TO BOOKMARK’ List"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE (TEMECULA, Calif.) \u2014 Publishers Newswire (PNW), an online news publisher in California, covering books, music, indie film, and software launched in 2004, today announced its latest semi-annual \u201cbooks to bookmark\u201d list for Q1 of 2026, noting 11 new and exceptional \u201cgood reads\u201d from small publishers based in North America. These recently published books are often overlooked due to not coming from major traditional New York book publishers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

11 BOOKS WORTH A LOOK FOR Q1 2026:<\/h3>\n

(alphabetical order by book title)<\/em><\/p>\n

:: ADDICTED TO FAILURE: WHY THE REHAB SYSTEM DOESN\u2019T WORK AND WHAT MUST CHANGE
In his new book, \u201cAddicted to Failure: Why the Rehab System Doesn\u2019t Work and What Must Change\u201d (ISBN: 978-1968339876), author and addiction reform advocate Jimmie Applegate takes aim at a $16B industry that \u201cprofits from relapse\u201d and exposes why traditional rehab models fail to deliver real recovery. Applegate unpacks the myths behind 12-step dominance, exposes the financial exploitation driving short-term treatment and explains how neuroscience reveals a longer path to recovery than insurance companies want to admit.<\/p>\n

:: BRAND YOU: HOW PROFESSIONALS BUILD AUTHORITY, TRUST, AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE AI ERA
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) can automate tasks, analyze data, and even generate content, the question isn\u2019t whether technology will replace human workers \u2013 it\u2019s what makes professionals irreplaceable. \u201cBrand You: How Professionals Build Authority, Trust, and Opportunity in the AI Era\u201d (ISBN: 979-8249280345) by Michael K Bender answers that question with a comprehensive, action-oriented guide designed for professionals across all industries and countries.<\/p>\n

:: JUNY THE BUTTERFLY BOY: A STORY OF LOSS AND LOVE
Dr. MaryAnn Wilkey\u2019s compassionate new children\u2019s book, \u201cJuny the Butterfly Boy: A Story of Loss and Love\u201d (ISBN: 978-1779629081) blends gentle fantasy with emotional truth. Her book offers young readers and families an accessible way to understand grief, memory, and the lasting power of love. Written as a comforting companion for young readers, the book provides language, imagery, and emotional support for families navigating grief together.<\/p>\n

:: LAUGHING THROUGH THE STORM: LIFE WITH EPILEPSY: UNPREDICTABLE, AND UNEXPECTEDLY FUNNY
In author Jane Rogers\u2019 \u201cLaughing Through the Storm: Life with Epilepsy: Unpredictable, and Unexpectedly Funny\u201d (ISBN: 978-1834189024), she brings raw honesty, unexpected hilarity, and deeply human insight to the epilepsy journey \u2013 one seizure, one hospital visit, and one awkward moment at a time. What happens when your brain becomes your most unpredictable sidekick? Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 13, Jane has navigated decades of neurological mayhem with a sharp wit and a resilient heart. Her memoir is more than a survival story \u2013 it\u2019s a celebration of humor in the face of hardship.<\/p>\n

:: LOVE, LIFE AND MOTHER NATURE: PICTURE BOOK OF POEMS
James C. Glassford\u2019s new book, \u201cLove, Life and Mother Nature: Picture Book of Poems\u201d (ISBN: 978-1834182124) is a poetry collection that explores the natural world as a source of reflection, learning, and emotional grounding. Paired with original photography, the book presents nature as both a physical environment and a place for personal contemplation. While much of the book reflects adult observation and lived experience, some poems examine nature through imagination and memory.<\/p>\n

:: MATTHEW\u2019S JOURNEY: THE RETURN HOME
Author and longtime educator William Joseph Birrell\u2019s latest novel, \u201cMatthew\u2019s Journey: The Return Home\u201d (ISBN: 978-1834182674), is an historical fiction story centered on love, separation, and survival during wartime. The story addresses themes of trauma, perseverance, loyalty, and hope. Through Matthew\u2019s experiences, William J. Birrell explores the physical and psychological impact of combat, including fear, anger, and the lasting effects of violence. Caroline\u2019s story reflects the quiet strength required to endure separation and loss.<\/p>\n

:: ONCE UPON A TIME IN PALM BEACH: TALES OF LIFE & LOVE FROM THE LAND OF SUNSHINE & MONEY
Karen Soven\u2019s \u201cOnce Upon A Time In Palm Beach: Tales of Life & Love from the Land of Sunshine & Money\u201d (ISBN: 978-1964377599) provides a juicy journey through high society and the hip-hop culture of the South. \u201cOnce Upon A Time In Palm Beach\u201d isn\u2019t just a memoir \u2013 it\u2019s a dynamic exploration of worlds rarely glimpsed and a blueprint for turning losses into wins. Readers will connect with Karen\u2019s candid insights on balancing career, motherhood and social demands as well as her talent for finding opportunities in adversity.<\/p>\n

:: SELF-WORTH: THE PATH TO HAPPINESS
In an era marked by rising stress, disconnection, and declining happiness, author and former investment management chairman Jonathan J. Woolverton offers a timely and practical guide to reclaiming joy and purpose in his new book, \u201cSelf-Worth: The Path to Happiness\u201d (ISBN: 978-1834181714). Drawing on decades of professional experience advising individuals and teams, as well as his academic background in economics, accounting, and psychology, Woolverton examines why happiness levels have steadily declined across all stages of life \u2013 and what can be done to reverse that trend.<\/p>\n

:: THE LAST NEIGHBORHOOD: A SOUTH PHILLY MEMOIR
Author and former professional boxer Mike Rafferty announces the release of his new memoir, \u201cThe Last Neighborhood: A South Philly Memoir\u201d (ISBN: 978-1834189406) a deeply personal coming-of-age story set in the working-class streets of South Philadelphia. This is not a Hollywood boxing story. It is a raw, honest account of a skinny, uncertain boy struggling with fear, self-doubt, and expectations. Determined to earn respect from his father and peers, Michael turns to boxing as a way to stand out and build confidence. Rafferty was a top-ranked amateur and professional boxer for nine years. He went undefeated as a professional with a 7-0 record before a car accident and injuries interrupted his career.<\/p>\n

:: TO LIVE AND WRITE IN LA: A STREET-LEVEL GUIDE TO SURVIVING AS A SCREENWRITER
In a brutally honest and darkly humorous exploration of the film and television industry, veteran screenwriter Jim Agnew\u2019s \u201cTo Live and Write in LA: A Street-Level Guide to Surviving as a Screenwriter\u201d (ISBN: 979-8218906696) blends behind-the-scenes stories with practical business insight. Agnew recounts his journey from low-budget, single-location action films to studio projects, streaming-era pitches and high-stakes legal battles. Drawing from more than 30 years inside Hollywood\u2019s creative and corporate machinery, \u201cTo Live and Write in LA\u201d pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a screenwriting career in an industry where deals collapse overnight, backend profits vanish and creative control is often an illusion.<\/p>\n

:: YOU SHOULDN\u2019T HAVE TO KILL TO GET AHEAD: REIMAGINING WEALTH, POWER AND BELONGING IN AMERICA
In his new book, \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have to Kill to Get Ahead: Reimagining Wealth, Power and Belonging in America\u201d (ISBN: 978-1968339180), author, Army Veteran and former political candidate Chris Rivers lays bare the broken promises of the American Dream and offers a path forward for a nation at a breaking point. Rivers argues that the US must decouple wealth from political power, build a new marketplace of ideas and foster a sense of belonging that can unite rather than divide.<\/p>\n

LEARN MORE:<\/p>\n

To learn more about these and other great reads you\u2019ve never heard about, visit: https:\/\/publishersnewswire.com\/book-news\/<\/p>\n

ABOUT PUBLISHERS NEWSWIRE:<\/p>\n

Publishers Newswire\u2122 (PNW) is an online publication founded in 2004, covering books and publishing, music and software news. Publishers Newswire does not endorse, \u201crecommend,\u201d or review any of the book titles mentioned, and the specific books mentioned are for informational purpose only. No fee or other consideration was paid for inclusion in this list. PNW is a publication of Neotrope\u00ae.<\/p>\n

* * *
This version of news first appeared on CaliforniaNewswire.com \u00a9 2026 \u2013 all rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE (TEMECULA, Calif.) \u2014 Publishers Newswire (PNW), an online news publisher in California, covering books, music, indie film, and software launched in 2004, today announced its latest semi-annual \u201cbooks to bookmark\u201d list for Q1 of 2026, noting 11 new and exceptional \u201cgood reads\u201d from small publishers based in North America. These recently published books […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3670,3669,662,1744,1280,3032,3668,2789,3667,3666],"class_list":["post-4727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-bookmark","tag-books","tag-exceptional","tag-good","tag-latest","tag-list","tag-q12026","tag-read","tag-reads","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4727\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insuracarelife.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}