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I absolutely loved Pot Shot by Laura Pipper Lee. This book was so well written, with incredible character and plot development that kept me fully invested from start to finish. There’s a bit of spice, but it never overpowers the story—which I really appreciated. The emotional depth and growth of the characters are what truly shine. Julian starts off as closed-minded and a little uptight, but through his rotation in family medicine—and seeing firsthand how people benefit from medicinal marijuana—his perspective begins to shift. Watching him confront his own biases and personal demons added so much depth to his character. Nomi, on the other hand, is more of a free spirit, though she carries her own private struggles with her bowel disease. She’s compassionate, forgiving, and grounded in a way that perfectly balances Julian. Together, they just work. Their dynamic felt authentic and meaningful, and I found myself really rooting for them. Laura also did a fantastic job with the side characters—they weren’t just background noise, but added real depth to the story. I genuinely cared about these people, which made the whole reading experience even more impactful. I’ve already recommended this book across my social media platforms, and it’s definitely one I’d love to own a physical copy of. Such an enjoyable and memorable read!

Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee, (List Price: $18.99, Union Square & Co., 9781454965558, May 2026)

Reviewed by Savannah, Story Hollow in Madisonville, Tennessee

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If you love a character-driven suburban drama, Coyoteland delivers with a timely, pandemic-era story full of urgency and relevance. Each character is navigating something big — family conflict, economic pressure, systemic bias — creating a web of tension that feels very of-the-moment. Thoughtful, messy, and compelling, it’s a novel that tackles a lot and does it well.

Coyoteland by Vanessa Hua, (List Price: $28.99, Flatiron Books, 9781250395511, May 2026)

Reviewed by Jamie, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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I am haunted by this story – trapped in its hazy despair, the threads of death woven through each page, the crushing weight of time and boxes and underwater graves. I am trapped in its pages, in the house behind the sword ferns. You want heavy, emotional gothic? This is it. You want unreliable narrators, spiraling depression, trauma, and deaths that echo across time? Bam. Right here. Japanese Gothic is a gorgeous blend of horror, mythology, and science fiction. It’s also a murder mystery, mental health commentary, and a nuanced exploration of Samurai history, all wrapped in a reimagining of the tale of Urashima Taro. Two people. One house. A door that opens across time. How can you know what’s real? 5/5 stars. Absolutely recommend.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001559, April 2026)

Reviewed by Rachel, Friendly City Books in Columbus, MS

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“This book is my panoramic assault on nihilism. I wrote it in an effort to be helpful, but toward the end, I felt I was writing it to save my life…the largest gesture of hope I could muster.” In a world of mounting time pressure–one in which we dutifully recite “rest is productive” so that we don’t feel guilty for taking a break–it’s become clear that a paradigm reset is in order. Saving Time is an evisceration and a balm: a thorough, necessary breakdown of our current state of affairs, and a primer for how to begin thinking differently if we hope to save ourselves from the ticking capitalist clock.

Saving Time by Jenny Odell, (List Price: $20, Random House, 9780593242728, January 2024)

Reviewed by Talia, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC

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As I was reading this, I felt like I needed to get the word “respair” tattooed on my body. That’s how deeply this collection affected me. The essays all felt different from one another, yet connected through themes of grief, resilience, survival, and healing. What stayed with me most was how each essay gave me something different to sit with — some left me heartbroken, some reflective, and some unexpectedly hopeful.

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward, (List Price: $29, Scribner, 9781668064269, May 2026)

Reviewed by Jess, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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It’s always a gift to read Jesmyn Ward’s wise and powerful work. “Respair” is an obsolete word, a noun, meaning “fresh hope after despair” and this collection delivers it. Jesmyn Ward explores a lot of territory here, including her upbringing, love of her home of rural Mississippi, the vibrant stories passed down to her by family, cultural influences and representation, and art as a means of survival. She also explores the transformative power of loss and grief – through the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, the loss of her beloved brother, and the death of her partner. She addresses the difficulty of raising a Black son in this country as well as long-term and rampant injustices. Her prose, as always, is beautiful and authentically hers. The illustrations that her words conjure are powerful and fully human. A resounding part of this collection is Ward’s love letter to libraries, authors, and books. She writes of her early years as a Black student in rural Mississippi, and the search for her own experience within books. She came up short time and time again until she found Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, Richard Wright, James Baldwin. She finally discovers mirrors within these words, and heeds the call to write down her own, drawing upon the treasured stories passed to her by her grandparents and parents. These essays shed light on the history of this country and the experience of Black Americans. It puts things into perspective for many who believe current despair and fear is new. These essays illustrate that this has long been happening in America. For so many, there has always been a fear of the arbitrary and unjust nature of authority. It’s not new. Yet somehow resilience and hope can be found in the dark. That is respair – and it’s inspiring. I think Jesmyn Ward is one of our very best American writers.

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward, (List Price: $29, Scribner, 9781668064269, May 2026)

Reviewed by Sarah, Old Town Books in Alexandria, Virginia

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If any book should be required reading for booksellers, librarians, and educators, this is it. Abandon your preconceived notions of what children’s books should be, and let Mac Barnett remind you how magical they can be. This message comes at the perfect time and makes a lovely gift for people who want to spread the joy of reading to all ages.

Make Believe by Mac Barnett, (List Price: $20, Little, Brown and Company, 9780316601122, May 2026)

Reviewed by Becca, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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I love all of Allison Ashley’s books and was so excited for a young adult book by her! The summer setting in this is just absolutely perfect, and the way she writes the love triangle is so well done!! I love her writing, the emotional connection in her books, and the family dynamics. Allison is just one of my favorite authors ever, and I am so excited for everyone to be able to read this!!

Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley, (List Price: $12.99, Simon Pulse, 9781665982214, May 2026)

Reviewed by Bethany, Court Street Books in Florence, Alabama

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I truly love a good novel written in verse, and this one is no exception. Chandni’s character carries the burden of a deep secret that she shouldn’t even have to carry. The emotional depth shines as she balances the weight of this secret and the everyday issues of being a middle schooler. Filled with honesty and heart, a great read.

All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel, (List Price: $18.99, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9798217004485, March 2026)

Reviewed by Jess, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC