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Oh how times haven’t changed. And that’s the sad part. Knowledge is still being suppressed in some manner and in this classic, we have a ‘far off’, yet completely imminent dystopian society in which books are burnt for their obscene nature. There is so much public knowledge that is to be found and held at one’s fingertips and yet, in the United States, books and other sources are being banned due to not conforming to the ideologies and practices of those in power. Incredibly important message, especially considering it came out in 1953. Only thing that was difficult to digest and took some time to get used to was the language and incredibly unique writing style that Bradbury has.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, (List Price: $27.99, Simon and Schuster, 9781451673265, January 2012)

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

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This novel explores themes of generational trauma, family, and an immense amount of grotesque horror through the tale of three cousins. As Cindy goes to visit her late grandmother’s home for summer, her two cousins who love there year-round, notice she is different this year. Cindy has lost all memory of who she is and who her family is and has gained an awful nighttime habit of waking up with small objects placed in her mouth. As a vampire-demon with no family line or ancestry haunts the three girls, they have to come to terms with their own traumas and fight through a world of nightmares to get their families back. Through blood and determination, these girls hunt down a man at the demand of the demon Needlemouth to restore their home.

Needlemouth by K-Ming Chang, (List Price: $28, Simon & Schuster, 9781668089514, October 2026)

Reviewed by Ashton, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, NC

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Astonishing debut – expertly crafted thriller with fully-formed characters trying to fill the void of a missing Eldest Sister. Life on their reservation has been dominated by bleak funerals since her disappearance after a bonfire over a year ago and her Middle Sister is essentially raising their younger siblings while their parents grieve on their own. I will think of this family, and all the missing girls who do not “merit” Amber Alerts, for a long time. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this incredibly talented new voice in authorship.

Another Name for Red by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, (List Price: $30, Pantheon, 9780593702369, October 2026)

Reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, NC

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It’s hard to avoid hearing about data centers these days, especially here in Virginia. They’re ubiquitous. They’re making our power bills spike. They’re bringing in jobs (apparently). They’re destroying the environment. They’re not destroying the environment. Paris Marx’s Hyperscale takes the various, disparate threads of debate around data centers and refocuses them on the single issue that affects us all: what are they doing to the planet? With insightful reporting and clear, accessible writing, Marx explores how the hunger of big tech for bigger data centers and more compute is leading us down a path to disaster, and what to do about it.

Hyperscale by Paris Marx, (List Price: $31, Riverhead Books, 9798217048526, October 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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I’ll always hang out where poetry and memoir meet. Beth Ann Fennelly twists the memoir genre upside down and inside out, weaving stories and memories into a satisfying whole.

The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly, (List Price: $22.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324117407, 2026-02-24)

Reviewed by Liz, E. Shaver, booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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This is a beautiful, intimate collection deeply rooted in place. The poet illustrates the complicated relationship many queer people have with the South, and uses form to show how contradictions can exist alongside each other. It’s about grief and memories and love and change, and about finding language to talk about all of them.

Small Talk by Acie Clark, (List Price: $16.95, Hub City Press, 9798885740814, September 2026)

Reviewed by Becca, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Absolutely hysterical! Neil Sharpson absolutely knew what the market was lacking, bear survival guides… and this is THE guide to knowing exactly how to avoid being eaten by a bear. Now I just need to get myself a pair of fancy traveling pants and head to Alaska… more bears are waiting to be outsmarted. Help! I’m Being Eaten by a Bear! by Neil Sharpson, (List Price: $19.99, Dial Books, 9780593616703, November 2026) Reviewed by Mallory, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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Tansy and Merit’s relationship epitomizes opposites attract, and I love them. I want only good things for them. The snow globes added an eerie touch from the first moment they are mentioned, and were a fun way to discuss pocket universes.

Lavender and Hemlock by Lili Wilkinson, (List Price: $13.99, Delacorte Press, 9798217026593, November 2026)

Reviewed by Jennifer, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina

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Go Ask Alice is a remarkably real and deep first-hand account of a girl named Alice’s ups and downs. In a battle that ultimately leads to her death at only 17, this diary has you rooting for Alice through her struggles with drug abuse and mental illness. This story is a beautifully written piece about the dangers of addiction.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, (List Price: $11.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534483675, December 2020)

Reviewed by Makayla, Main Street Reads in Summerville, SC