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Recommended by Southern indies…

Saint Death’s Daughter by C. S. Cooney
Random House / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy
More Reviews from The Haunted Book Shop

I snagged the book because of the necromancy, but the tagline of “fun, froofy, and glorious: a coming-of-age story” is absolutely correct. The comparisons to Gideon the Ninth will be inevitable, but the tone of this book tends more towards the cheerful morbidity of the Addams family than the grimness I felt at the core of Gideon. The story follows Miscellaneous Stones, a necromancer born with an allergy to violence into a house of assassins and murderers as she grows into her power. As important to the book as her growing necromancy is the way she comes to terms with her family’s legacy and the burden of their sins. Despite the solemnity of the topic, Lanie herself has such a joyous attitude that infects the book and makes me smile even now. I really enjoyed the entire book and look forward to reading her continued adventures. In particular, I can usually predict story beats long before they happen but the author managed to surprise me with the depth and complexity of the characters, especially the antagonists.

Reviewed by Kelly McLeod, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers

"As a young girl growing up in North Carolina tobacco country, I was fascinated by my grandmother’s stories about the women she called the tobacco wives. She was a hairdresser for the wives of the wealthiest, most powerful tobacco magnates in Winston-Salem in the 1940s, and tales of these wealthy, glamorous women captured my imagination."–Adele Myers (via Writer’s Digest)

What booksellers are saying about Tobacco Wives

• It doesn’t say it’s set in Winston Salem, but it’s totally Winston Salem. I forgot how recently smoking was everywhere, and advertised aggressively towards kids and women, and in the case of these particular ladies, including and specifically targeting the pregnant women, wonderful (and completely healthy) mint-flavored cigarettes…It’s a little bit Cruella, a little bit Hairspray, and a little bit Pelican Brief. I couldn’t put it down. ― Lisa Yee Swope from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• Oh, the tobacco wives! Drama abounds as Maddie works to design and sew ornate gowns for the most influential, fussy women in town. Although the tobacco wives seem to lead a carefree life, Maddie discovers a cover-up scheme about the health risks of tobacco products that affect women, in particular. It is this discovery that puts her in a compromising situation as she endeavors to pursue a full-time career as a dressmaker in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive. ―Allison Hendrix from The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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• Where the Crawdads Sing meets Lookaway, Lookaway (plus a small dash of Mad Men) in this small town NC novel about big tobacco and even bigger coverups — all through the eyes of a young seamstress who sees it all. A fantastic read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction — Myers’ portrayal of the 1950s was spot-on — and the strength of the female characters was truly iconic.   ―Christine Schwarz from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC
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About Adele Myers

Adele Myers grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently works in advertising and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son and their rescue dog, Chipper. The Tobacco Wives is her first novel.

Letter to a Stranger by Colleen Kinder
Algonquin Books / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Essays, Literary Collections
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

As the season changes, I find myself drawn to books that I can pickup, read however much I want whether it be a page or fifty, and then put back down and not worry about losing my spot or anything like that. I want digestible, but not fluff, I still want the grit and strong storytelling. This book is the cure for this predicament. Colleen Kinder sent out an email to authors everywhere, simply asking them to write a letter to a stranger who haunts them. The result is this intimate collection of letters from some of the most beloved authors of our time, and perfect is an understatement. The book is broken up by emotional prompt, which I like but was wary as books similar to this can be sort of repetitive with the themes of stories in them, but this next level. The sections are symmetry, mystery, chemistry, gratitude, wonder, remorse and finally, farewell. This is what makes this book so strong, it’s not just emotions of love or pain, it’s so much more than that. It’s funny, startling,and at times heartbreaking. A book that has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf, and one I do not think I will ever get tired of skimming through.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Ravenous Dead by Darcy Coates
 Poisoned Pen Press / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, Horror
More Reviews from Foggy Pine Books

This next installment of the Gravekeeper Series hasn’t even come out yet, and yet I’m already itching to read the next part of Kiera’s story. This series is the most unexpectedly delightful combination of spooky, action packed, and heartwarming slice of life all wrapped up in a mystery. I find myself falling in love with all of the characters, from the kindly pastor Adage, to the cheery “not a doctor” Mason. However I adore most of all our main character and amnesia ridden ghost whisperer Kiera. I adore this series and cannot wait for the next one!

Reviewed by Ana, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina

Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu
Quill Tree Books / March 2022

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Wingbearer is a beautiful fantasy graphic novel written by Marie Lu. The world is breathtakingly beautiful along with having an enchanting story. I was at the edge of my seat following Zuli’s journey from the great tree to the world she supposedly came from. I loved the side characters and can’t wait to see the full color version. This is a middle reader fantasy that will draw in even the most reluctant of readers.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Gallant by V. E. Schwab
Greenwillow Books / March 2022

Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Olivia Prior has grown up in an orphanage, unable to speak, the only one able to see the ghouls around her. Her mother’s journal is her only link to her unknown past, until she gets a letter from an uncle she didn’t know she had, summoning her to her family home, Gallant — a place her mother had warned her against in her journal, even as her words spiraled into madness. But Olivia longs for a place to belong, and so she goes. It turns out, though, that Gallant is more than just a house. When Olivia crosses the crumbling garden wall, she finds herself in a shadow Gallant, ruled by death, and she has to decide which world she really belongs in. Schwab has a way of telling stories that really gets to the root of the story — yes, this is a story about family and loss, life and death, a doorway between them, and a girl who can live in both worlds, but Schwab makes it so much more, breathing life and meaning into everything Olivia is and does and wants to be. A beautiful book for fans of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.

Reviewed by Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Beyond Innocence : The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt by Phoebe Zerwick
Atlantic Monthly Press / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, African American & Black, Discrimination, Law Enforcement, Political Science, Social Science
More Reviews from Malaprop’s

A March 2022 Read This Next! Title

Once upon a time, a man was unjustly imprisoned. DNA and dogged work freed him after 19 years. He lived happily ever after. Sorry, that last part didn’t happen. Even with DNA evidence, he almost didn’t get exonerated. Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt details Hunt’s journey from teen to convicted killer, innocent freed man, and activist with many twists. But the saddest part is what happened to him after freedom, and how it illustrates the plight of most of the exonerated. That is not as exclusive a club as you might think. According to author Phoebe Zerwick, “As of May 2021, 2,783 men and women in America have been exonerated since 1989…The National Registry of Exonerations calculate the combined years they lost at 24,915.”

Zerwick wrote about Hunt in the Winston-Salem Journal and has spent years on his case. Hunt was not just railroaded. Police falsified evidence; a judge unbelievably ruled DNA evidence was insufficient to warrant a new trial. A faithful cadre of supporters and the author’s newspaper series resulted in deliberately overlooked evidence being reexamined and finding the true killer. Only then was Hunt released. But Hunt’s case shows how the system continues to fail. Hunt briefly had a foundation to aid released prisoners. Years of prison life and post-release limitations lead to PTSD, depression, and often recidivism. Hunt’s friends realized too late he was leading a double life – calm outside, but in agony inside. They couldn’t stop him from taking his life. But if enough people pay attention to his story, perhaps others can be helped.

Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese from Malaprop’s in Asheville, NC

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”
– Malala Yousafzai

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Southern Book Prize Finalist!

What’s the best Southern book of the year?

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Beyond Innocence : The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt by Phoebe Zerwick
Atlantic Monthly Press / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, African American & Black, Discrimination, Law Enforcement, Political Science, Social Science, Southern Book Prize Finalist
More Reviews from Malaprops

Once upon a time, a man was unjustly imprisoned. DNA and dogged work freed him after 19 years. He lived happily ever after. Sorry, that last part didn’t happen. Even with DNA evidence, he almost didn’t get exonerated. Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt details Hunt’s journey from teen to convicted killer, innocent freed man, and activist with many twists. But the saddest part is what happened to him after freedom, and how it illustrates the plight of most of the exonerated.

VOTE FOR THE SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE

Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese from Malaprop’s in Asheville, NC

Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

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The Boy with a Bird in His Chest by Emme Lund
Atria Books / January 2023

Adult Fiction, Magical Realism
More Reviews from Copperfish Books

Owen has an exposed space in his chest where Gail, a wise and chatty java sparrow, has lived since he was a newborn. His mother has hidden him from those who would hurt him because of his difference, but he’s a teenager now and must figure out who to trust and how to be — or even if he CAN be. I really enjoyed this sensitive and heartbreaking coming-of-age story about a queer boy, his bird, and their friends. Though not usually drawn to magical realism, I found myself almost believing in the possibility of Gail, and that was a real joy.

Reviewed by Serena Wyckoff, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

“I have to be honest—I had a friend fic! It was a notebook I shared with two close friends during my first year of high school. We would write these stories to each other and pass the book back and forth. In Georgie, All Along, she and her best friend do the same, although their version of it is a little more focused than mine was—young Georgie and her best friend are very focused on imagining the perfect versions of their lives once they get to the new high school they’ll be attending. My friends and I, I’m embarrassed to say, were far more focused on our celebrity crushes! But I was really inspired by that hopeful, imaginative experience of my teenaged self—I wanted to think about what that notebook represented about the experience of growing up.” ―Kate Clayborn, Interview, Above the Treeline

What booksellers are saying about Georgie, All Along

• Clayborn, All Along! She never disappoints. With supportive, but odd-duck parents, Georgie has always had a "soft" place to land and as a result is "expansive", so much so that she has a hard time focusing in on what she wants in her life and her future. Levi had no such parents, with no support network from his family when he needed them most, and as a result has made himself tight and small in his life and his wants/needs. When they meet, they learn to let go of their past and with her as his "soft place to land" and he allows himself to expand into himself and she learns to trust her own self and what she truly wants.
    ―Angela Trigg from The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL | Buy from The Haunted Book Shop
  
  
• Kate Clayborn’s books come with high expectations of an excellent story. She always delivers, and Georgie, All Along is no different. The writing is engrossing and diverting and it’s impossible not to relate to or love Georgie as she finds herself and her way. January is rich with romance, and this is an excellent winter read to curl up with.
    ―Preet Singh from Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur, GA | Buy from Eagle Eye Book Shop
  
  
• Kate Clayborn hits a home run with Georgie, All Along. I loved this relatable story about a woman coming home to find herself and reconnect with the dreams she had in high school. She’s a quirky mess who puts everyone’s needs before her own and she meets Levi, the brooding older brother of her high school crush, who also has a past he’s working through. I enjoyed the small town setting, the cast of characters and the nostalgia of revisiting high school escapades.
    ―Jessica Nock from Main Street Books in Davidson, NC | Buy from Main Street Books
  
  
• A charming and witty story about how our pasts can shape us. Unexpectedly, Georgie, a personal assistant that has just lost her job and Levi, onetime town troublemaker, find themselves as roommates. They are both trying to reinvent themselves and use Georgie’s high school diary as a blueprint for their transformation. Georgie did not write in her diary about what was happening then, but her dreams and wishes for the future. Georgie and Levi have great chemistry and of course there is a great dog, Hank.
    ―Pam Crawford from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA | Buy from Bookmiser
  
  

About Kate Clayborn

Kate Clayborn is the critically acclaimed author of contemporary romance novels. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Bookpage, and more. By day she works in education, and by night (and sometimes, by very early morning) she writes contemporary romances about smart, strong, modern heroines who face the world alongside true friends and complicated families. She resides in Virginia with her husband and their dog.

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Everything Calls for Salvation by Daniele Mencarelli
Europa Editions / January 2023

Adult Fiction, Coming of Age, Fiction, Friendship, Italy, Literary Fiction, Psychological, World Literature
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Over seven days in a psychiatric ward in 1994 in Italy, the main character Daniele Mencarelli (who shares the author’s name and some life experiences) documents his involuntary committal. We spend most of our time on the ward itself with occasional flashbacks of the six patients’ and staff’s pasts. Mencarelli (author and character) is also a poet, and the language is beautiful and delicately translated by Wendy Weathly. While not dismissing the need for the truly suffering or dangerous to be treated, the author presents much to be considered about the way society categorizes those who are simply different or passing through a difficult phase of life.

Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
Graydon House / November 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Women
More Reviews from Main Street Reads

This is such a beautifully written story. The characters are so wonderfully honest and real. You are truly immersed in Eve’s world, you feel her pain and confusion. This is the story of one woman’s journey through grief and guilt after her husband takes his own life. Written like a memoir, straight from Eve’s thoughts and feelings, we follow her through every up and down, her highs and her lows. This is a beautiful reminder about the struggles of mental illness and the hidden pain of those around us. This is a must read!

Reviewed by Makayla Summers, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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One Last Shot: Based on a True Story of Wartime Heroism by Kip Wilson
Versify / January 2023

Novels in Verse, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction
More Reviews from Parnassus

Kip Wilson’s novel in verse about photojournalist Gerda Tardo captures her passion for revealing truth through photography. It sweeps the reader from Gerda’s school days in Germany to the front lines in the Spanish Civil War. A compelling read.

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

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Cinderella–with Dogs! by Linda Bailey
Nancy Paulsen Books / February 2023

Adaptations, Children, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Juvenile Fiction
More Reviews from Bookmarks

Everything is better with dogs, and the tale of Cinderella is no exception. Not only does Cinderella get a fairy dogmother instead of a fairy godmother, but she also gets some nice updates to her story, including a chance to suggest she gets to know the prince first instead of marrying him right away. I loved all the dogs in this book, but there are plenty of cute cats to see on each page, too!

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles (Manga): Volume 1 by Shibamura Yuri
J-Novel Club / February 2023

Action & Adventure, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Manga, Media Tie-In
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Rio is a young orphan living in the slums of the kingdom of Beltrum. When he is stricken with a high fever, he dreams of a different world where he is called Haruto. When Rio wakes up from his fever, he realizes he is two people in one, both Rio of the slums and Haruto, from the other world. When Rio is forced to rescue a kidnapped princess, his troubles get even worst. When the nobles find the young princess with Rio, they accuse him of kidnapping, but after the princess awakens, she tells of how Rio saved her. As a reward, he is granted acceptance into the Royal Academy of Beltrum. An act that upsets the kingdoms noble people, who feel he does not deserve this prestigious reward. Whether he succeeds or not, is all up to him and his new professor, Celia. Perfect manga for fans of The Irregular at Magic High School, Magic Knight Rayearth, or Snow White with Red Hair.

Reviewed by Gretchen Shuler, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

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Begin Again by Emma Lord
 Wednesday Books / January 2023

Coming of Age, Emotions & Feelings, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fiction
More Reviews from Bookmiser

An January 2023 Read This Next! Title

Emma Lord brings the feels in her new novel, Begin Again. Andie didn’t get into her first choice college with her boyfriend, but she has a plan. She works really hard and ends up getting in as a transfer student after her first semester at community college. The problem is that she planned her transfer as a surprise for her boyfriend….who did the same thing, transferring to the school Andie WAS at.

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”
– E.B. White

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805