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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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As someone who dislikes aquariums and zoos, this book was not only sweet and magical, but a reinforcement of my beliefs. I absolutely hated Paul when he kept trying to find excuses to keep Houdini in her tank. “We saved her from the sea”? You did not. You took her home away from her. And I went absolutely livid when he argued that Houdini had to stay because replacing her would be too expensive for the aquarium. What a thought, keeping someone caged for profit! This book made me so angry, which made the ending all the more satisfying. I loved the friendship between Juno and Houdini, it reminded me of Marcellus and Tova’s bond in Remarkably Bright Creatures.

An Octopus Named Houdini by Zana Fraillon, (List Price: $17.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9798347114757, October 2026)

Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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A feline-friendly retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca! Feral and fearful Kitty finds her forever home. But it’s haunted by her predecessor, the sleek and savvy Licorice… or is it? This eerie tale takes many twists and turns as it tugs on readers’ heartstrings. A must middle grade read this fall!

Licorice by Kara LaReau, (List Price: $18.99, Scholastic Press, 9781546185949, October 2026)

Reviewed by Sheri, novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

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What a giggle! This silly little picture book is the perfect spooky season gift to get your kiddos moving, playing, and working off some post-Halloween candy energy! Beautifully illustrated in an updated midcentury style, these are bound to be the cutest ghosts (and bats…I’m obsessed with the bats) you’ll see all autumn. Consider me charmed!

Giggling Ghosts! by Fiz Osborne, (List Price: $12.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665990875, July 2026)

Reviewed by Jenny, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC