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!
Audiobook Review: The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker
The Sixth Wicked Child
Series: 4MK #3
Author: J.D. Barker
Narrators:
Edoardo Ballerini
Graham Winton
Published: August 27, 2019
Audiobook: 14 hours 29 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: August 17-29, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Book Description:
In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, NY Times Bestseller Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don’t miss a single word of the series James Patterson called “ingenious.”
Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.
Jessica’s Review:
The conclusion to the #4MK trilogy! I was excited to finally read this! And I had planned to once I found out that Barker has a prequel trilogy coming out, the first in that series is out on September 22nd! I listened to all three in the trilogy back-to-back and it was one long and crazy adventure! The Anson Bishop/ Sam Porter combination is up there with Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling! I have only ever seen those movies, and must put the Silence of the Lambs books on my TBR to read.
At times The Sixth Wicked Child was very long winded and did drag on. There was a lot going on as the whole series has been that way, the direction just really wasn’t working for me. It just seemed like some could have been cut. BUT the final twists redeemed the book for me and I went for 4 stars to 4.5! Although I had some issues the ending was very satisfying for me and this series is definitely worth a read if you enjoy novels about serial killers. Just remember this series does get graphic!
I also enjoyed how all three books in the trilogy were brought together for the conclusion. Another thing to keep in mind with this novel: Do not believe ANYONE! I really was not sure where Barker was heading in this conclusion.
I am so glad we had both Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton narrate for the trilogy. Having a different narrator would not have worked for me. Their voices truly are these characters. And with the series coming to film/television soon in the future I cannot wait to see these characters brought to life! I just wonder who will be cast as Bishop and Porter!
Many thanks to JD. Barker and his publisher Hampton Creek Press for sending me paperback copies of this trilogy! I am starting The First Scarlet Door now!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
My August 2026 Reads
It’s the last day of August and it’s time to share what I read this month! This month’s post will be a little different as I am choosing to NOT have a ‘top rated read’ or ‘lowest rated read’. The reason is because of what I read this month. I listened to three audio books, which were a series, and after way too long, I finished a book I was sent by another author. The #4MK trilogy was basically a continuous story and the first two books I had read back in 2017 and 2018. These were read again as the first in a prequel trilogy is being released in September and J.D. Barker and his publisher sent the original trilogy AND an arc of the upcoming prequel! Many thanks to them for sending me those books!
And I also received Aoh by Jennifer Renson earlier in the year. But thanks to The Crash on Netflix, I have been watching a lot of True Crime documentaries. And this is interfering with my reading! Many thanks to Jennifer for sending me the book and her wonderful patience in me for finally completing it!
Let’s see if I can get my reading mojo back/watch less documentaries and get The First Scarlet Door read before publication day on September 22nd! This it the title of the first of the prequel trilogy to the #4MK trilogy!
Here is what I read in August:
The #4MK trilogy by J.D. Barker:
The Fourth Monkey- 5 stars
The Fifth to Die- 4.5 stars
The Sixth Wicked Child- 4.5 stars
Aoh by Jennifer Renson- 4 stars
What was your August reading month like? Let’s see what September and the Fall brings us! Fall is my favorite season and I am ready for it to cool off as it has been super hot this summer!
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