About Elena
Hi, I’m Elena — a former bookseller, chronic annotator, and the reader behind Book Rebellion USA. I spent seven years working in independent bookshops across Illinois before realising that the books I kept pressing into customers’ hands were almost never the ones on the promotions table.
I launched this blog to shine a light on debut novelists and under-the-radar titles that deserve a wider audience. I believe a debut novel is one of the bravest things a person can publish, and I think those books deserve thoughtful, considered criticism — not just a star rating and a vague thumbs-up.
I review across all genres, except adult content. Every review on this site is my honest opinion. I’ll tell you what works, what doesn’t, and whether I think you should spend your time and money on it. I’m based in Chicago, and I read roughly 80 books a year, which my partner considers a personality disorder.