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A fascinating look at the American Navy officers and their spouses stationed in La Maddalena, Italy in the early 1970s. Eileen navigates her new life in Italy as a newlywed and a Navy wife, while also immersing herself in the Italian town with the locals. And when she finds herself attracted to local journalist Teo, her life gets pulled in different directions. An engrossing story that was extremely well-researched. Definitely looking forward to recommending this to customers this summer!

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland, (List Price: $30, Simon & Schuster, 9781668069134, July 2026)

Reviewed by Claire, River & Hill Books in Rome, GA

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There are two things that drive my will to exist: studying spaces and having dreams that introduce me to new places. “Air” managed to fulfill both of these needs through a void of color in both its plotline and its world building (and I mean that with high praise believe it or not). While I don’t believe this book is for everyone, it was certainly for me.

Air by Christian Kracht, (List Price: $24.99, Liveright, 9781324094586, July 2026)

Reviewed by Maureen, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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This was such a fun read with great characters and unexpected suspense along the way! Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates Pride and Prejudice, but is looking for a creative take on a modern love story.

Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464264764, July 2026)

Reviewed by Kelly, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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The Lost Voices of Pompeii is time travel at its finest. Expertly researched and artfully written, Dr. Venner places you directly inside a living, breathing Pompeii. It’s intimately human yet wholeheartedly driven by fact. Honestly, the way I’ve been describing this book to my friends (none of whom were spared) isn’t nearly as eloquent…. “It’s like you’re an invisible hitchhiker, piggy-back riding around Pompeii in 79 CE.” Still, I stand by this evaluation. Knowing Dr. Venner’s particular expertise in ancient gardening, I expected her to include vibrantly detailed descriptions of the gardens and the city layout. However, I was not expecting the mouth-watering culinary moments. (I had to put this book down at one point, because I was stuck on a plane and growing far too hungry). In all seriousness, I am so thrilled to have picked up The Lost Voices of Pompeii. It is fun, informative, and an incredibly special read.

The Lost Voices of Pompeii by Dr. Jess Venner, (List Price: $30, William Morrow, 9780063460614, May 2026)

Reviewed by Caroline, Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana

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I absolutely loved this memoir. Hackney digs into the real grit of her upbringing with a loving thoughtfulness no outsider could ever hope to capture. As someone with a similar background, I think this kind of honest reckoning is necessary for us to ever move forward.

All That’s Unseen by Emilee Hackney, (List Price: $32, Penguin Press, 9780593831403, July 2026)

Reviewed by Brooke, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC

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Emilee Hackney’s Appalachian memoir begins as a primer on the Pentecostal religion she is raised within in Tazewell, VA, a small mining town in the heart of coal country USA. Soon though, she begins to question everything she knows when her (older) fiancé Sam, a self-proclaimed man of god, turns out to be a groomer and pedophile. Emilee looks for answers from church and community, but her search turns into something bigger when she applies and is accepted to Harvard after two years of community college. Once ensconced in its Ivy League halls, she realizes just how isolating an upbringing she had and how current politics have used her beloved Appalachia to their advantage. Very well written, timely, and compelling, All That’s Unseen helps explain why America’s most rural areas have been hurt again and again by a government they support unceasingly.

All That’s Unseen by Emilee Hackney, (List Price: $32, Penguin Press, 9780593831403, July 2026)

Reviewed by Jamie, Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books in Duck, NC

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This book celebrates big ideas: community, school, team projects. But it also celebrates the unique qualities of the individual. Love it! And of course the illustrations are beautiful.

Story Rug by Sophie Blackall, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316535380, July 2026)

Reviewed by Wilson, novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

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A little bit Holes, a little bit Hunger Games, a little bit Minecraft. Sofia’s parents send her to a dystopian camp straight out of her favorite video game, Sandbox. At first, this seems like a great thing, especially the 1 million in-game credits that she has the chance to win at the end of camp! But things quickly turn dark as mechanical vultures begin snatching up campers and a terrifying game master pits the campers against one another. Sofia is a complex character, and things are not at all what they seem. This series opener will definitely leave you wondering what the next volume of the series has in store!

Fatal Glitch: Camp Zero by Erin Entrada Kelly, (List Price: $14.99, Stonefruit Studio, 9781464241048, July 2026)

Reviewed by Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR

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I absolutely adored reading this book. The art style is cartoony and so expressive that it fits the story’s tone perfectly. There are so many relatable moments in this story as an LGBTQ person that touched my heart and made me feel seen, even as an adult. This book will help so many people feel understood in so many different ways. I cannot wait for the second book to come out as this story has captured my heart with these characters and themes of family, friends, acceptance, and Philippine culture.

Coming Out Perfect #1: A Graphic Novel by Richard Mercado, (List Price: $16.99, Graphix, 9781339001593, July 2026)

Reviewed by Chloe, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia