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A swoony romance with a perfect touch of self acceptance!

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 2026)

Reviewed by Cameron, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC

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Julian Winters writes another romance that is as funny as it is tender and sweet. I really enjoyed I Think They Love You, so I was really excited to read this, and it did not disappoint. With all of the same heart as the first book, we dive right back into this family that is, while nosy and opinionated, loving in their own way. Jordan and Jaime are a couple you will have you yelling at the pages sometimes, but only because you are rooting for them so hard. A second chance romance with more heat than the first book, this is a great read to enjoy as the weather warms up too.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 20267)

Reviewed by Brianna, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Once again, Julian Winters gets right to the heart of learning to love and be loved exactly as you are. I also love seeing such beautiful demisexual representation on page in a romance novel and appreciate the care with which Julian wrote Jordan’s journey with his sexuality. This story was an absolute delight and I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone that I can!

Last First Kiss by Julian, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jonlyn Scrogham, A Novel Romance in Louisville, KY

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Vignettes on middle age, aging parents, motherhood, grief, and acceptance. A touching and poignant yet breezy read. So obviously crafted with immense care.

The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly, (List Price: $22.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324117407, February 2026)

Reviewed by Hannah, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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It is a difficult and rare thing for any of us to try to fully know our parents as the entire, whole, often complicated, sometimes messy, humans that they were. Tom Junod elegantly shows us the man who was his father with an impressive honesty and vulnerability, digging through the layers of his legacy and its impact on him and those around him — a beautiful and powerful read.

In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod, (List Price: $32, Doubleday, 9780375400391, March 2026)

Reviewed by Nicole, novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

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This family memoir was insightful, sensitive, and impossible to put down. Tom Junod’s father was instantly familiar and fascinating to me, with his charm and swagger, his casually devastating secrets. I harbor a long-held affection for men of Lou’s generation, and it’s clear Tom does too. But as a writer, he also explores how his complex legacy shaped the man he is today. I loved it.

In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod, (List Price: $32, Doubleday, 9780375400391, March 2026)

Reviewed by Ashley, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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As a Savannah local who loves everything ghost-related and was absolutely obsessed with the paranormal and ghosts tours as a kid (… and now), this book was a total delight from beginning to end! I loved our perceptive, clever, and imaginative narrator, Mony, and how she honored her authentic self with a level of confidence and self-assuredness I wish I saw in more female-led middle grade. It was a joy seeing Savannah through her eyes as a newcomer, a curious mind, and a girl experiencing liminality of all sorts: life and death, grief and celebration, childhood and adolescence, loss and discovery. Jackson, as always, writes a young voice with a sure, surgical hand, both validating the experience of young people and encouraging self-reflection and growth. I also adored Mony’s ghost-hunting pals: her skeptical pseudo-brother, Robby, and the fearless (but potentially untrustworthy) Myah. The three friends played off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses so beautifully, and even weathered a fight and uncovered secrets, while remaining whole individuals. The mystery itself provided historical facts about the city that will intrigue any young history buff, and kept the pace quick and the stakes high. The last few chapters absolutely flew by as tensions rose and the reveal was imminent. On the note of history, I particularly enjoyed the focus on Black and African ancestral history that this city is quite literally built on, and it’s a section of America’s past that is often ignored even now. I’d happily recommend this to any ghost story fan, history enthusiast, mystery devotee, or tween just looking to feel seen, heard, and understood.

Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson, (List Price: $18.99, Scholastic Press, 9798225017477, August 2026)

Reviewed by Abigail, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, GA

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I’m going to go ahead and call it right now—Phoenix will be one of my favorite books of 2026. Bradley is one of the best children’s authors writing today. She doesn’t shy away from the hard situations that kids sometimes face. She clearly has great respect for her young readers. I’m so excited to read more from this new series!

Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, (List Price: $17.99, Dial Books, 9780593859865, March 2026

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

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Oh, this is brilliant. The humor is delightfully absurd, there is earth science cleverly woven into the mystery, and I’d argue that there are great ELA tie-ins (common core writing standards for grades 2 and 3, maybe others). Plus there is a drawing guide and a search-and-find at the end for added value and inspiration. I love this so much!

Squirrel Lock Holmes #1: The Pet Rock Mystery by Ashley Belote, (List Price: $10.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593897829, March 2026)

Reviewed by Adah, Main Street Books in Davidson, NC