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A perfect blend of absurdity and philosophical musing, this novel takes on the perspectives of Gelsomina, an elderly French Bulldog, and the worms that are killing her. Controlled from the outside by the confines of her owners and now from the inside, Gelsomina provides us with beautiful meditations on autonomy, love, and the meaning of life. There is a stark contrast created by the pairing of heavy introspective text with base desire and the simple reality of existing that serves to better carry these complex themes, and it carries them well. The nauseating intimacy of parasitism is not to be forgotten and can even be found in the most surprising of places, like reflections on the glass house Gelsomina lives in. I find it almost hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I am ecstatic to see experimental works like these published.

The Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day, (List Price: $28, Astra House, 9781662603372, March 2026)

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

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What a lovely book! The accompanying illustrations by her daughter make the stories even more elegant and moving. Erdrich is a master storyteller, and each of these stories brings us into a carefully crafted world full of grit, poignancy, heartbreak, and resilience. If there’s anyone still out there who hasn’t read Louise Erdrich, this would make a wonderful gift for them– a glorious way to enter her unique world.

Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich, (List Price: $32, Harper, 9780063375000, March 2026)

Reviewed by Liz Feeney, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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I picked this book up two days after the loss of my 15-year-old beagle, and I am so glad I didn’t put it right down. The first story alone – about the love of a dog for her person – made the book more than worth the time. I was her person, and now I truly understand the depth of her devotion. As a full-fledged imaginer, I think all the time about what animals, birds, and bugs even think as they navigate the same world we do. These stories brought my vague notions alive. What do migrating birds think about on long, solitary flights compelled only by instincts? Why does that wasp continue to dig and tunnel and finally surface to a life that is fraught from the beginning? The scientific among us may scoff at these stories. Anyone who has owned a beagle knows they are true.

Only a Little While Here by María Ospina, (List Price: $28, Scribner, 9781668097083, March 2026)

Reviewed by Doloris Vest, Book No Further in Roanoke, VA

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This book really made me pause. It explores the deep connection Black people have to land, trees, and botanical knowledge, and how that connection is tied to both legacy and trauma. Nature has always been part of our survival and resilience, even when it was shaped by enslavement, displacement, and loss. When Trees Testify reminds us that trees and land have witnessed our history. Reconnecting with our botanical roots isn’t just about plants…it’s about healing, reclaiming what was taken, and working through the trauma we’re still carrying. Thoughtful, reflective, a bit heavy…but honestly necessary.

When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery, (List Price: $27.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250335166, January 2026)

Reviewed by Morgan, The Book Worm Bookstore in Powder Springs, Georgia

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I absolutely adored this book. Val is so vivid with her imagery that her recounting of childhood memories makes them feel like my own. You could really see her crime writer background come through in her painting of winter as noir, her romanticization of the darkness. I learned so much about Scottish culture, too! This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a short read to make you fall in love with winter.

Winter by Val McDermid, (List Price: $22, Atlantic Monthly Press, 9780802167811, January 2026)

Reviewed by Aidan, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL

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This fascinating, accessible, and often witty book takes a fresh look at human evolution by tracing it from the female perspective. Starting with our earliest mammalian ancestors, author and researcher Bohannon outlines how women’s bodies developed to be both human and uniquely female, and how much of humanity’s evolution was itself spurred by our female ancestors. Despite clocking in at over 400 pages, Evewas a surprisingly quick read – or at least it would have been had I not stopped regularly to read passages out loud, each time proclaiming “I never knew that!”

Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)

Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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Goldfinches by Mary Oliver is a beautiful book with gorgeous artwork and a gentle, thoughtful tone. It’s a wonderful introduction for kids to a great contemporary poet, while still being meaningful and enjoyable for adults. The illustrations are stunning and pair perfectly with the poetry, making this a lovely book to read together or enjoy quietly. This is a great pick for families, classrooms, and anyone who appreciates nature, poetry, and beautiful art.

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593692417, March 2026)

Reviewed by Erika Patoni, in St. Simons Island, Georgia

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This book is a delightful visit to the weedy garden, from birds, butterflies, and bumblebees flying about to animals hopping, scurrying, and slithering through. The playful text paired with the gorgeous collage illustrations will make the reader hope for a visit.

The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl, Billy Renkl (illus), (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063432819, February 2026)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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Anyone who has lived in North Carolina in the early months of the year knows this story well. Round these parts, Springtime arrives not in a great shower of blossoming color, but in a small sprinkling of brave little buds, little splashes of color against the brown; a few warm days followed by another month of frightful cold; the Warm Spring Sun peeking timidly through cloud fingers. This book uses simple language and gorgeous drawings to capture the strange push-and-pull of the changing season. Cozy and perfect for reading aloud!

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes, (List Price: $21.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063469259, February 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina