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First Lady Freeman has my vote in the upcoming First Lady USA pageant, but with scandals, relationships, and secrets breaking, she’s going to need more than God on her side. Sinfully good gossip with layered drama, tenderness, sexiness, and ferocity as you follow Scharisse biting the apple and letting the truth set her free. If you like the sound of Scam Goddess meets If Honk For Jesus Save Your Soul meets Celeste Ng, you’re gonna want to read this immediately!

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw, (List Price: $32, Marnier Books, 9780063383074, September 2026)

Reviewed by Ashley, Underbrush Books in Rogers, Arkansas

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Another great read by Amanda Peters! The Birthing Tree is a wonderful story of love, family, friends, and traditions. Aliet Paul was raised by her grandmother, Kiju, a Mi’kmaw woman, after her own mother died in childbirth. She never knew who her father was, and no one would tell her. The “Birthing Tree,” where Kiju helped bring many children into the world, is its own character. A dual-timeline book where the world has evolved and most women are choosing more modern hospital births, both Kiju and Aliet fight to hold onto traditions and protect the birthing tree.

The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters, (List Price: $28, Catapult, 9781646223695, September 2026)

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

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The latest book from the author of ‘The Will of the Many’ trilogy, James Islington, drops you into a world of futuristic action on page one and never lets up. Starting as a kind of reverse closed-room mystery, the enhanced cybernetic main character, Azure, is trying to keep a mystery employer alive inside a not-quite-locked-enough compound. Once the action spills out of the compound and into the futuristic city, the fun really begins. The world-building is clever and exceptional; the many cyberpunk elements are never gratuitous but all serve to illuminate a future society where the poor have turned on the ultra-rich, human bodies can be modified for speed of thought or action, and animals have been enhanced for both defense and offense. Deeper questions of justice, equality, surveillance, autonomy, mob rule, and democracy in general are constantly lurking just under the surface of this fast-paced thriller (and often rise above it). Chaos and adventure abound, and if people whose entire worlds are turned upside down sometimes forgive the bionically enhanced Azure a little too easily, it’s forgivable in a story so well-paced, compelling, and short enough to finish in a single sitting – which I did, and you’ll want to as well, because it’s a fun ride to be on.

Scion by James Islington, (List Price: $28, S&S/Saga Press, 9781668239247, September 2026)

Reviewed by Doron, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA

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*bones creaking* Back in my day, we called The Ick a “turn off”, but honestly, getting the icky feeling from someone’s weird habit nails it. It doesn’t have to be a major red flag; it’s just a feeling in your gut, usually early on, that this relationship is a non-starter. The Icktionary gathers a bunch of people’s confessions of what gave them the ick, some of them hilarious, some completely relatable, some gross, and even some that had me feeling the ick from the poster (Look, Jimmy, running out of toilet paper and using Christmas napkins as an emergency backup option isn’t crazy). This is the perfect book to read al oud with friends and share your own icks.

The Ick Files by Ari Cagan, (List Price: $22, S&S/Simon Element, 9781668245972, September 20261)

Reviewed by Kate, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Imagine sitting in an Irish pub being regaled with the story of how a lost Irish tradition was revived. The flow of this memoir is very much like such a conversation. Keohan’s enthusiasm shines through as he shares his journey discovering lost lifting stones and encourages towns to embrace their history and a new generation to test their mettle lifting stones at least high enough for wind to blow under. The result is an engaging tale of discovery, camaraderie, and a singular passion.

The Wind Beneath the Stone by David Keohan, (List Price: $28, Chelsea Green, 9781645024897, September 20261)

Reviewed by Jan, Main Street Books in Davidson, NC

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As a child born and educated in Wilmington, North Carolina, who—like so many others—knew nothing of this massacre until adulthood, I am always grateful to see new scholarship on this topic. The author’s care in tying history to present conditions for descendants of the massacre makes this a particularly noteworthy document. Even the Philly Deli makes an appearance. Excellent work, which gives me hope more will eventually come to light in my lifetime.

They Stole a City by Lauren Collins, (List Price: $32, Penguin Press, 9781984878816, July 2026)

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

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Uhm, so that ending was crazy!! What a fun time I had while reading this. Truly, I was entertained the whole time! The full cast audiobook was amazing!! Definitely felt more engulfing and immersive. I won’t lie, I was rooting for the one romantic male lead that is pushed on the reader the whole time and was confused as to why the other romantic lead was even there, but then it hits you, and it hits you good. I genuinely cannot wait to see how Gray explores that relationship in the next book! Also, I understand why Vanessa would have so much rage throughout the book because of what happened to her, but sometimes it just felt too damn annoying. Like, we get it, girl, you have rage. The one thing I will say is this should definitely not be considered YA. Very much so adult themes throughout the whole book, but I digress.

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray, (List Price: $13.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316584555, August 2026)

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

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The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming-of-age book that tells the story of the main character’s first love. The story itself has so many fun aspects, including the family dynamics along with the friendships between characters. This book is perfect for someone looking for a series that starts off lighthearted and then leads into more depth as the series progresses.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, (List Price: $11.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665922074, May 2022)

Reviewed by Grace, The Bookshelf on Church in Kilmarnock, VA

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This is the reminder every Black person in America needs. Beautifully illustrated and written with the soul of a poem, this book is more than a picture book; it’s a love letter. Read it and be inspired.

That You Are Here Is No Small Thing by Traci N. Todd, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593353028, September 2026)

Reviewed by Jess, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC