Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. 'Free Marcus Katz' by Howard Marc Chesley is not my normal type of read but the intriguing format caught my eye - oh I am so glad I took a chance! This book is equal parts adorable, hilarious and poignant, cleverly written exclusively as Yelp reviews by the eponymous Marcus Katz (but unfortunately fictional!). We meet Marcus as he begins his journey as a Yelper, seeking elite Yelp status as he writes long (and oversharing) reviews. Through the reviews, we get to know about the inner-workings of Marcus' life and learn about him being on the autistic spectrum. Due to this, after his mother dies, Marcus is put under the care of an exploitative conservatorship. Not only are the reviews and Marcus' experiences complete heartwarming, but Chesley shines a light on this legal practice which is horrific to read about. Overall, this is a cleverly structured book. You would have to be cold of heart to not fall for Marcus and care deeply about his health and happiness - I certainly did! 5 stars. ~ Poppy Nobes (Educator), NetGalley

In a move that the author himself freely admits blew his mind, out of the blue one day he received a call from an editor at John Hunt Publishing who professed to not only being a total Yelp junkie but also knew in her heart that if he could group together just the right Yelp reviews kindly left for him over the years, they would make for one highly engrossing read. Thus, what we get is a very cleverly formatted creation of a book in the form of Yelp reviews from businesses that, and along with threading their own individual stories along the way, also manage to make the reader think twice about unwarranted, and at times malicious abuse of people with disabilities and such. And so what we get within this quite wondrous, and highly inventive new book, is not only a jolly fine bantering between humorously written observations and some delicately balanced, if not teetering on the brink of aggravating verbal outpourings within reviews of law offices, smoke shop, guitar shop, supermarkets, restaurants and even a low key group home (that actually contains the alluded to and rather a serious message within the book), but an opening of our eyes to those individuals with intellectual disabilities who are either flailing badly against a stonewall institution or being smothered within a relative-enforced, form of conservatorship (where the end result will always be financial gain for those undeserved). FULL REVIEW: https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=284 ~ Exclusive Magazine, Review

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I loved this. It made me barrel over with laughter. ~ Nadine Rizvi (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I SAW that this said fiction, but somehow in my mind, it consisted of genuine Yelp reviews by an individual. So much so, I spent an hour looking for his father's obituary online. So kudos to the author for creating a concept and character that felt so genuine. As Marcus Katz, a man on the spectrum, goes through the trials of being accepted for who he is, recognizing that there are aspects of his condition that could make that difficult, reading his funny and touching reviews. This book also had a subplot regarding conservatorship, which is so true and pissed me off that this kind of stuff happens. Loved this book. ~ Sue Fernandez (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely loved Free Marcus Katz. The structure--a story told through Yelp reviews--was unique without being gimmicky, and Marcus felt like an authentic autistic character, without falling into stereotypes. I also appreciated that this novel had multiple autistic characters who had their own distinct personalities and challenges. The story was obviously very topical, and demonstrated the seriousness of Marcus's conservatorship issues while still maintaining an exciting, adventure novel feel. A great read! ~ Hilary Martin (Educator), NetGalley

FREE MARCUS KATZ A Curated Collection of Yelp Reviews Howard Marc Chesley Roundfire Books (184 pp.) $13.95 paperback, $7.49 e-book ISBN: 978-1-78904-982-4 February 1, 2022 BOOK REVIEW In Chesley’s comic novel, a California man with Asperger syndrome chronicles his emancipation in online reviews. Marcus Katz has a lot of opinions, and he’s putting them all on Yelp. He loves the fish tacos at Tacos Baja Ensanada, and Jonathan’s Steam Cleaning is good at getting stains out of a carpet, though Marcus is not a fan of the smell of the deodorant they use. These opinions are not the reason his Yelp reviews are starting to go viral, however; it’s because of the 22-year-old’s tendency to include bits of autobiography in his reviews. Marcus’ mother just died, offering him the opportunity to review the Cedars-Sinai cafeteria and Palisades Mortuary, and his older sister, Lisa, forces him into a conservatorship: “Like a lot of people, she acts like Asperger’s is somehow related to being stupid,” Marcus notes. “In fact Aspies are statistically of medium to high intelligence. I won’t tell you what I am. I will let you decide.” When the judge-appointed conservator tries to push Marcus into a group home, he flees with his dog, Sadie, leaving a breadcrumb trail of Yelp reviews and making himself a cause célèbre in the process. Chesley believably crafts Marcus’ earnest reviewing voice as well as that of his Yelp friend, Durinda Dowling, who also has Asperger. He notes one of their interactions in a hotel review: “A sign by the driveway in front said ‘15 minute check-in parking only’….Inside she asked me if I wanted to come up, but I had already parked for a minute and a half and I didn’t want to get a ticket so I said no.”Overall, it’s a fun conceit, and although Marcus’ unwavering Yelp persona at times becomes a bit tedious, the book’s zippy pacing and short length keep the novel moving along at a brisk pace. Marcus’ story also raises intriguing questions about the nature of conservatorship while demonstrating the ways that people form communities online—and how these can spill over into one’s personal life. A clever work with an intriguing format and a memorable protagonist. ~ Kirkus Reviews

Another Howard Chesley page turner with a compelling story and a wonderful, engaging hero. Marcus Katz is an odd young man in his 20s with charm and grit, somewhere “on the spectrum.” One might think he had nothing in common Britney Spears or any celebrity. But Marcus does, in fact, share her dilemma as well as that of countless others unnamed:. He must do desperate battle with a powerful, unwanted conservator seeking to rule his life and drain his resources. ~ David Webb Peoples , Writer: Blade Runner, Unforgiven

The clever format of creating a book in the form of Yelp reviews for businesses will make the reader think about serious abuses of people with disabilities. Autistic people, elders, and individuals with intellectual disabilities may lose their legal rights when relatives and other people form conservatorships for their own financial gain. The reviews alternate between fun to read descriptions to restaurants and hotels to reviews of law offices and a dingy group home that contains the book's serious message. It opened my eyes to use of the legal system to abuse individuals who are fully capable of making their own decisions. ~ Temple Grandin, Author: Thinking in Pictures

Booker Prize nominee Howard Marc Chesley's new novel is a charming, insightful, moving, funny tale of one young's man movement through a confusing and heartbreaking world, all seen through the reviews he leaves on Yelp. In many respects Marcus' life is quotidian, and in others it's extraordinary. Whether he's at a new-to-him restaurant or in a law office, navigating legal troubles foisted on him by circumstances beyond his control, he reveals his everyday yearnings and his wildest dreams in his miniature reviews. A portrait emerges of a man who wants something more ... and just might get it. ~ Craig Lancaster, Author: 600 Hours of Edward