By Autumn Konopka
INDIE BOOKS THAT CLEAVER EDITORS LOVE
Celebrate Banned Books Week With Independent & Small Press Authors

It’s Banned Books Week, an annual event that unites the entire book community ― from writers and publishers to librarians, booksellers, and readers — to challenge censorship and advocate for the freedom of expression and open access to ideas and information. There’s a lot you can do to help protect the freedom to read, but one of the best things to do is read. Plain and simple.

What to read — now there’s a sticky wicket.

You should, of course, read whatever brings you joy and inspires you. And you should definitely read a banned book every once in a while.¹ Do it publicly, and tell the world about it (y’know, post it on whatever social media platform gives you the least agita).

Then, if you’re looking for more recommendations, I suggest you step off the beaten path and look for titles by independent and small press authors. Thousands of amazing books are written every year — beautifully crafted, unique, and important. Small and independent publishers are critical to keeping free expression alive because they are often on the fringe, taking risks, publishing authors and stories that the big houses disregard. But they aren’t likely to blow up on BookTok or land a spot on your favorite bookstore’s main display table because their publishers don’t have the resources of those mainstream publishing behemoths (aka the Big Five).

But if they’re off the beaten path, how do I find them?

Fair question. One thing you could do is look for sources dedicated to reviewing small press books and interviewing independent authors. (And in case you didn’t know, that’s exactly what Cleaver does!)

Another thing you might try is asking the well-read editors of a respected, independent literary magazine — like, oh, say Cleaver, perhaps — what indie books they love. In fact, that seemed like such a good idea, I went ahead and did it myself. 

Here’s what they said:

Andrea Caswell, Fiction Editor and Workshop Faculty, recommends:

Love & Fury: A Memoir by Richard Hoffman, (2014, Beacon Press).
“Beautifully honest, compassionate and layered memoir about familial relationships and cultural complexities of race, class, violence, and masculinity.”

Remembering the Alchemists & Other Essays by Richard Hoffman, (2023, The Humble Essayist Press).
“An intensely personal essay collection full of intelligence, self-scrutiny, and attention to life’s connections.”

Kathryn Kulpa, Senior Flash Editor, says she’s really enjoyed:

French Girl by Jesse Lee Kercheval (2024, Fieldmouse Press)
Sidle Creek: Stories by Jolene McIlwain (2023, Melville House)

Andrea Marcusa, Flash Editor, writes: “These aren’t new books, but they both are special.”

Grief is a Thing With Feathers by Max Porter (2016, Graywolf Press)
Foster by Claire Keegan (2022, Grove Press)

Jennifer Mathy, Senior Fiction Editor, says if she could only recommend one book it would be:

We’re So Lucky to Live Here² by Rachel Pastan (2026, Delphinium Books)
But she’s not limited to one and also recommends:
Purgatoire: A Novel in Stories by Liz Prato (2026, Forest Avenue Press)

Layla Murphy, Editor and Outreach Coordinator, really likes:

The Colony, by Annika Norlin (2025, Europa Editions)

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t urge you to take a look at the small press books published over the last few(ish) years by Cleaver‘s own editors and staff:

Take Care, Poems by Mark Danowsky² (2025, Moon Tide Press)
JAWN by Mark Danowsky² (2020, Moonstone Press)
Pheidippides Didn’t Die: A Novel by Autumn Konopka² (2023, Manuscripts Press)
A Map of Lost Places by Kathryn Kulpa (2025, Gold Line Press)
What We Now Live With by Andrea Marcusa (2024, Bottlecap Press)
Starting with Goodbye: A Daughter’s Memoir of Love after Loss by Lisa Romeo (2018, University of Nevada Press)