Book Spotlight: Ramen, Existential Crises by Roie Oknin
Today I am bringing you a book spotlight for Ramen, Existential Crises by Roie Oknin. This one was just released on August 5th and is his debut novel. It is a shorter Contemporary Fiction novel at just 164 pages and well worth looking into. There is even a Goodreads giveaway currently going on!
About: Ramen, Existential Crises
Author: Roie Oknin
Genre: Literary fiction / contemporary fiction
Published:
164 pages
Book Description:
Koji is twenty-seven and one module short of a degree in Politics and Government. The missing module is Crisis Management. It feels appropriate.
For six years, he has worked in a tiny ramen shop with eleven seats, one dish and a broth whose flame has not gone out in thirty-two years. The noodles cook for exactly eighty-five seconds.
Then the timer fails. A stranger gives Koji his business card. Someone from his past walks into the restaurant. Around him, other people make decisions and continue with their lives.
Koji has always known what should be done.
Doing it is another matter.
Purchase Your Copy here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Hugendubel, Germany
eBook.de, Germany
Booktopia, Australia
YES24, South Korea
The paperback is also distributed internationally through Ingram.
Goodreads Giveaway:
If you are on Goodreads and also live in the US, you can enter to win a copy of Ramen, Existential Crises here. This giveaway is ending very soon. There are 10 copies up for grabs! **Remember: You can’t win if you don’t enter!**
About the Author:
Roie Oknin is a writer, artist and medical student. He holds a BSc in Neuroscience and a BA in Psychology. Ramen, Existential Crises is his first novel.
Contact Roie:
Website
Goodreads
Reviews of Ramen, Existential Crises:
Lupe Farkas Reviews: Ramen, Existential Crisis not only received a 5 star review from this reviewer, but it has also claimed a spot in Lupe’s Top 10 books of ALL Time.
The Book’s Delight: Ramen, Existential Crisis was loved by this author!
Book Spotlight: The Purpose of Life by Jason Hershey
Today I am bringing you a book spotlight for the upcoming novella The Purpose of Life by Jason Hershey. This is the third novella in the Thelonious Mitchell series. This one comes out May 26th and I will be reading and reviewing it very soon! My goal is to read and review it this month and I still have time! Plus, I have an extra day off this weekend thanks to Memorial Day here in the US. I reviewed the first two novellas in the series this week. The reviews are linked below.
If you are intrigued by these novellas, go ahead and buy a copy or even pre-order and ‘meet’ a new-to-you author! You can’t loose as these are not long stories! And Even Better: The first two in the series are currently FREE on Kindle! That’s right: They are FREE through May 25th! Pick up a copy as you have NOTHING to lose!
About The Purpose of Life
Author: Jason Hershey
To Be Published: May 26, 2026
134 pages
Book Description:
One traffic stop. One moment of injustice. One man’s struggle to remain whole.
Thelonious “Theo” Mitchell has spent his young life overcoming tragedy—losing his mother to addiction, watching his best friend die in the streets, and fighting to escape the zip code that tried to define him. Now a college student and youth counselor, Theo has finally found his purpose: helping at-risk kids believe in a future beyond their circumstances.
But on an ordinary evening drive home from work, a routine traffic stop shatters everything Theo has built. Officer Kowalski’s handcuffs are too tight, his questions too probing, his assumptions too dangerous. And though Theo has done nothing wrong, he learns a brutal lesson: sometimes being Black in America is reason enough to be guilty.
In the aftermath, Theo finds himself unraveling. The anger he’s spent years controlling breaks through at the worst possible moment—in front of the very children who need him most. Suspended from the job that gave his life meaning, haunted by sleepless nights and a voice in his head that won’t stop saying “son,” Theo must confront an impossible question: How do you teach kids to trust a system that has just proven itself untrustworthy?
The Purpose of Life is a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, resilience, and the weight of carrying other people’s burdens when you’re barely holding your own together. Ultimately, it’s about finding the courage to heal—not just for yourself, but for the children watching to see if broken things can ever be made whole again.
For readers who loved The Hate U Give, Long Way Down, and All American Boys—a powerful story about surviving injustice and learning that asking for help is the bravest thing you can do.
Pre-order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Buy the rest of the series here:
Amazon
Amazon UK
To Live To Die at Barnes & Noble
The Chosen Path at Barnes and Noble
Previous novellas in the series and my reviews:
To Live To Die: 5 stars
The Chosen Path: 4 stars (I love this cover!)
About the Author:
Jason Hershey is a high school English teacher and author who draws inspiration from his experiences growing up in the inner city of South Phoenix, Arizona. His books explore themes of resilience, identity, and personal transformation, connecting deeply with young adult readers through authentic storytelling.
Contact Jason:
Website
Instagram @authorjasonhershey
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Happy Thanksgiving and Publication Day for Turning Trauma Into Triumph by Jennifer Gilmour
I have a couple of things to share with you today: For those of you in the USA Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you are spending some time with loved ones today and eating good! For the past few years my family has done ‘Taco Thanksgiving’ and we are continuing it today. Today is the start of a long four day weekend, and it sounds like it is finally going to get cold and stay cold here in Georgia! And after today I can focus on Christmas and see if my tree will fit in my tiny apartment! I really hope it does!!!
And for today’s book news; Today is publication day for Jennifer Gilmour’s newest book: Turning Trauma Into Triumph!
Here is some information on Turning Trauma into Triumph in Jennifer’s own words:
The book was fully crowd funded on Kickstarter. (The link to the Kickstarter is here.)
Over a decade has passed since I fled the abuse I endured in my own home with the person who said they loved me.
Since then I have made it my mission to raise awareness of coercive control. Together we can work to eradicate this insidious and often unnoticed behaviour which is prevalent in an unacceptable number of relationships.
Book Description:
“Turning Trauma into Triumph” is a raw and inspirational collection of articles and blog posts written by Jennifer Gilmour, chronicling her journey from the depths of domestic abuse to the heights of recovery and empowerment.
Jennifer recounts her harrowing experiences detailing the psychological scars of the abuse she endured. Her truth begins with a seemingly innocent workplace friendship that rapidly devolves into a nightmare of control and manipulation. Despite the absence of physical bruises, the mental and emotional wounds run deep.
Through sheer resilience and the support of unexpected allies, Jennifer found the courage to escape and rebuild her life. She shares her transformative journey from victim to survivor, offering practical advice and critical resources for others facing similar challenges. Her narrative is interwoven with educational insights and reflections on the long-lasting impact of abuse.
Join Jennifer as she marks the eleventh anniversary of her escape and continues her path from pain to purpose. Whether you read it cover to cover or dip into specific sections, this book promises to inspire, educate, and empower.
Jennifer Gilmour is an award-winning author, blogger and advocate for women escaping abuse.
Buy your copy here:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
I’m so excited to see that Jennifer Gilmour’s latest publication is now available to buy on Amazon! I was one of her Kickstarter backers and helped to bring this book to life. This book is a deeply personal collection of articles and blog posts chronicling Jennifer’s journey escaping an abusive partner and into recovery. I have also worked with her over the years with previous books she has written and seen her grow as an author, and learn more about her true self! She is in the UK, but I really hope to be able to meet her one day.
Let’s break the silence surrounding domestic abuse and support survivors on their path to healing.
#TurningTraumaIntoTriumph
“Together we are louder”
Here are links to my reviews of Jennifer’s other books that I have read:
First Edition of Isolation Junction (This is a fictional book based on her own experience). Click here for my review.
Clipped Wings (This is a book where both men and women who survived domestic abuse share their experiences.) Click here for my review.
About the Author:
Jennifer Gilmour is an author and advocate for women in abusive relationships, using her own experiences of domestic abuse as a catalyst to bring awareness and to help others. Jennifer has published two works, Isolation Junction and Clipped Wings, which have both been Amazon Best Sellers and received awards. Jennifer speaks at events across the UK and continues to raise awareness through blog posts, public speaking, radio interviews, and social media.
Jennifer has listened to her readers and has grown a digital community to support discussions about domestic abuse online. Starting with her Twitter Chat #AbuseTalk, which opened late 2017, this developed into an online forum in 2018. In 2019, Jennifer launched a podcast which includes interviews with those in the sector and gives followers the opportunity to ask burning questions.
Awards Jennifer has received:
Most Informative Blogger Award 2018 (Bloggers Bash Annual Awards)
UK & European Award for using Social Media for Good 2019 (Social Day: Social Media Marketing Awards)
Small Business Sunday Winner 2020 (Theo Paphitis #SBS)
Contact Jennifer:
Website
TikTok
Twitter/X
Instagram
LinkedIn
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
Huffington Post Blogger Profile