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Rebecca Solnit argues that the climate crisis is, in part, a “storytelling crisis,” with a lack of compelling fiction to present paths for action in the face of the looming crisis. Rich, author of one of the best nonfiction books on the history of climate change and the political reaction to it (Losing Earth), has delivered the fictional follow-up we need – subtle yet moving, bizarre yet brilliant. Set in the near future, a rudderless journalist discovers Virginia, an off-grid idealist living in a storage facility. This meeting is the launchpad for an odd-couple heist that presents the evils of Big Data folded into a truly bizarre caper, which gets darker and darker as the tale unfolds.

Cloudthief by Nathaniel Rich, (List Price: $28, MCD, 9780374619794, July 2026)

Reviewed by Doron, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA

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I’ll tell you a secret: some of the best slasher films and stories are whodunits. Think Scream, The Prowler, Psycho , etc. Craig Dilouie understands it and works it from a new angle. “What,” he asks, “if the slasher story was told from the perspective of the skeptical cop who arrives too late to save the day?” And that’s how we get The Summer Fun Massacre. This is a fun one, a guaranteed darker beach read. I read it all in one sitting, and you’re sure to do it, too.

The Summer Fun Massacre by Craig DiLouie, (List Price: $19.99, Run For It, 9780316578240, June 2026)

Reviewed by Rowan Rodriguez, Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL

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I found this book to be fascinating. It’s told in three parts, and in all of them, our main character is a vastly different person. We get to see the world and everyone else through her eyes, and wow, do they change an alter, even on a minute-to-minute basis. She stays consistent in her love of nature, but that’s about it. Thrilling, chilling, confusing? And so so fun. I loved this book.

At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich, (List Price: $17.95, Two Dollar Radio, 9781953387615, June 2026)

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

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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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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

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The braid craze has not only taken over the students in Story Rug, but also me! A story that blends community, culture, and fabric scraps, the art of craft and storytelling that is shown in this is just remarkable. Blackall’s gentle voice with humor looped in, paired with Wahl’s daydreamy, folky illustrations, makes this an unbeatable children’s book. New top contender for a picture book I wish I could live in, and I can’t wait to show this to anyone who has ever questioned my rag collection.

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

Reviewed by Grace, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA