The 23rd Hero | Rebecca Anne Nguyen

The 23rd Hero is a 2025 Audie Awards® finalist

Rebecca Anne Nguyen, a Milwaukee novelist and playwright, has received a prestigious Audie Award nomination for her audiobook, The 23rd Hero. The novel, about a woman who travels back in time to stop climate change before it begins, is a top five finalist in the Narration By The Author category, pitting debut author Nguyen against the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and Salman Rushdie.

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An ordinary woman
with an extraordinary memory

In the near future, the world is desperate for a Hero

On the verge of being forced to live in an underground bunker due to climate crisis, an ordinary woman with an extraordinary memory is recruited for a time travel program to stop environmental disasters before they happen. But when she falls in love with the program's mysterious founder, she must learn to believe in herself and her abilities before she's sent to sixteenth-century France with no way to save the world or return to the man she loves.

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News, reviews & interviews

People Magazine

People Magazine lists the 2025 Audie Award nominees, including The 23rd Hero in the Best Narration by the Author category.

The Audible Blog

Audible lists the 2025 Audie Award nominees, including The 23rd Hero, a finalist in the Best Narration by the Author category

Billboard

Billboard lists the 2025 Audie Award finalists, including The 23rd Hero

Milwaukee Magazine

Milwaukee Magazine interview with author Rebecca Anne Nguyen

Canvas Rebel Magazine

Interview with Canvas Rebel about taking creative risks

In Business Madison

Mystery to Me Books features author Rebecca Anne Nguyen

Rive Gauche interview

Live radio interview on Riverwest Radio 104.1 Milwaukee

She Reads Interview

This month, Rebecca Anne Nguyen is releasing her novel, The 23rd Hero, a sci-fi adventure that pulls together themes of climate change, time travel, memory and love. We got the chance to sit down with her and ask about the new book, some of her favorite reads and writing as a form of activism.

She Reads round up of best sci-fi novels with a female main character.

Fantastic Sci-Fi Novels

She Reads best sci-fi novels with a female main character.

Hot as Hell Podcast

Hot as Hell (TSTL) Podcast

Must-Read Climate Fiction

She Reads must-read climate fiction of 2024.

10 Epic Love Stories

10 most epic love stories by Rebecca Anne Nguyen

Madison Magazine

36 vacations reads and porch picks, including The 23rd Hero by Rebecca Anne Nguyen.

2024 Readers' Choice Award

Winner of the 2024 Readers' Choice Book Award for Best Adult Novel (Bronze).

new article about author Rebecca Anne Nguyen's appearance at the Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho

Eye on Sun Valley

Rebecca Anne Nguyen to Discuss Readers’ Choice Award Winning Book, The 23rd Hero

Idaho Mountain Express

News article about Rebecca Anne Nguyen's author visit to the Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho

Womxn Up! Podcast

Interview with Women's eNews editor Lori Sokol.

St. Louis Magazine

St. Louis Magazine feature on The 23rd Hero author event at Subterranean Books.

Mommy Ramblings Interview

Interview for the Mommy Ramblings YouTube interview series.

Cover Reveal

The 23rd Hero cover reveal on She Reads.

Mindset Cafe Interview

Interview with Devon Gonzalez of the Mindset Cafe Podcast.

Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus's review of The 23rd Hero: "Our verdict: Get it!"

Comic Crusaders

Time Travel, Sizzling Romance and the Fear of Success: The 23rd Hero

California Book Watch

July 2024 review of The 23rd Hero in California Book Watch and Midwest Book Review.

Conversations of Significance

Success Made to Last podcast interview

Advance praise for The 23rd Hero

“The consistently high emotional intensity throughout Nguyen’s novel is the fuel that powers its narrative engine, as is the complex dynamism between the two lead characters.”

Kirkus Reviews

The 23rd Hero is a 2025 Audie Awards® finalist

An ordinary woman with an extraordinary memory

In the near future, the world is desperate for a Hero

News, reviews & interviews

Advance praise for The 23rd Hero

Available through your local indie bookstore (or these outlets)

An ordinary woman
with an extraordinary memory

Available through your local indie bookstore
(or these outlets)