E. Shaver, bookseller

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion

,
Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

That was an absolutely wild ride that I wish I could do all over again. Lost Girls of Hollow Lake is a fantastic addition to the emerging YA horror-thriller genre. I’m generally pretty proud of the fact that horror doesn’t get to me and that it takes a lot to get under my skin, but this book REALLY got to me at some points. The gore descriptions were especially potent and made me squirm in a way no other book has. There’s one scene later on in the story that I had to read through squinted eyes as if it were a movie I needed to watch through my fingers, and I love that I had such a strong reaction. The lore and legend surrounding the island the girls were stranded on were so deeply unsettling that I felt a sense of genuine dread whenever I’d get to a point in the novel where it was time to learn more about it. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the island itself was very much the main character, which is why its history and mythology were so alluring. Additionally, I loved the point-of-view character, Evie, and had a lot of fun inside her head. She’s so funny in this biting, caustic way that endeared me to her very quickly. And the sapphic relationship that blooms within the terror is beautiful and complicated and filled with the perfect amount of yearning–not too much, not too little. Finally, the mystery entwined with the dread and terror was so effective. I was turning pages so quickly that I’d glance at the page numbers and wonder where 70 pages went. Even though I’d say the story overall falls more in line with horror than mystery, the back-and-forth between whodunnit and “what the heck happened on that island???” was gripping. An absolutely stellar debut perfect for anyone who loves to stay up late and scare themselves silly with ghost stories that blend seamlessly into nightmares.

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593900437, January 2026)

Reviewed by Abigail, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion Read More »

Normal People by Sally Rooney

, , ,
Normal People by Sally Rooney
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

I don’t know if it’s the fact that I was living Normal People while reading Normal People, but this book sticks with me, and I recommend it highly to adult readers of all ages. A beautiful and complicated book on growing up and experiencing extreme highs and (mostly) lows in your relationships. I am both a Collin and Marianne apologist; those kids just wanted love!!!!

Normal People by Sally Rooney, (List Price: $17, Crown, 9781984822185, February 2020)

Reviewed by Sarah, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

Normal People by Sally Rooney Read More »

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley

, , , ,
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Spend a year in Wyoming in this one sitting read and you might just end up blaming the British, too. Dark, quirky, and complete with all the snarkiness of ’80s tween energy, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder will force you to confront the uncomfortable experiences of The Others. Agatha and Georgie’s story is so much more than a murder mystery; it’s about saving yourself and creating your own independence. Nina McConigley’s storytelling will stay with you for a long time — but most of all if teen magazine quizzes could be the solution to all things.

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley, (List Price: $26, Pantheon, 9780593702246, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley Read More »

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich

, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

If you are a fan of Margaret Atwood, and specifically The Handmaid’s Tale, this book is a must-read. Erdrich’s storytelling feels very intimate, which I prefer in a dystopian novel. A larger picture comes into focus through the perspective of Cedar’s individual experience. Quietly disturbing, this story will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page. Though this book is not a new release, I would put it in league with The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng.

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich, (List Price: $17.99, Harper Perennial, 9780062694065, November 2018)

Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich Read More »

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite

, , ,
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

The back cover of this new and highly anticipated novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite has a quote by the New York Times, calling it “brilliantly perceptive” and “sharp”. It is those things. But the review also calls this novel “wickedly funny” and “hilarious”. To me, this is misleading. This novel is more complicated than that, and it is certainly no rom-com. There were moments you could chuckle at, yes. When you have a big family sharing a home together, funny and ironic things happen all the time. To me, this is a family saga. In it, there is a lot of heartbreak, a lot of love, some superstition, and some questionable choices. Braithwaite is immensely talented, and her stories will keep you on the edge of your seat, craving the knowledge of what will happen next. She is a gifted storyteller, and I will eagerly read anything she writes. This story is very different from her first novel and is perfect for anyone interested in multigenerational stories woven together with otherworldly elements.

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, (List Price: $29, Doubleday, 9780385551472, November 2025)

Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite Read More »

107 Days by Kamala Harris

, , , , , ,
107 Days by Kamala Harris
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Kamala Harris’s memoir, highlighting her experience through the shortest presidential campaign in history, left me with just about every emotion. Each chapter being a daily countdown to the election, made this a very fast-paced read and will keep your attention. It is also a very conversational memoir, which I found rather helpful when diving into heavier topics.

107 Days by Kamala Harris, (List Price: $30, Simon and Schuster, 9781668211656, September 2025)

Reviewed by Kenzie Karoly, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

107 Days by Kamala Harris Read More »

Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum

, , , , , , ,
Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

What happens when your lover burns your immortal beloved’s art? You go on vacation to rekindle the flame (and hunt, obviously). Join Rebekah and Hugh as they navigate the emotional depths of a queer cruise and realize that they aren’t the only ones hunting. Merbaum’s storytelling perfectly captures the essence of ‘We’re on Vacation’ mode. Full of humor, glamour, and orgies, Vampires at Sea will expose the longevity of being an immortal in love.

Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum, (List Price: $18, Creature Publishing, 9781951971229, October 2025)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum Read More »

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall

, , ,
The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Gwen MacKinnon has spent much of the eleven short years of her life feeling unwanted, but it only takes two weeks in a small Massachusetts town–plus one unruly dog, an enthusiastic four-year-old, the coolest older cousin, the corniest uncle, some love and attention, and an entire clan of tiny, winged creatures convinced she is destined to be a hero–for Gwen to understand that home isn’t just a word. This new book by Jeanne Birdsall is absolutely worth the wait (tbh I needed the time, I’m still recovering from The Penderwicks in Spring), full of Birdsall’s signature heart and community love, with some very unique world building for the lore of the Lahdukan. Gwen is a delightful character to join on her journey of fate, discovery, and courage.

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall, (List Price: $17.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780525579045, August 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall Read More »

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall

, , ,
The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Gwen MacKinnon has spent much of the eleven short years of her life feeling unwanted, but it only takes two weeks in a small Massachusetts town–plus one unruly dog, an enthusiastic four-year-old, the coolest older cousin, the corniest uncle, some love and attention, and an entire clan of tiny, winged creatures convinced she is destined to be a hero–for Gwen to understand that home isn’t just a word. This new book by Jeanne Birdsall is absolutely worth the wait (tbh I needed the time, I’m still recovering from The Penderwicks in Spring), full of Birdsall’s signature heart and community love, with some very unique world-building for the lore of the Lahdukan. Gwen is a delightful character to join on her journey of fate, discovery, and courage.

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall, (List Price: $20.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780525579052, August 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall Read More »

Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus

, , , ,
Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Grab your beach cruiser and join Blue as they make the daily bakery deliveries around the community. Along the way, they’ll create a little havoc with their untamed magic abilities, but are always there to help clean up the remnants of the spells. Perfect for young witches-to-be who like cooking, helping their community, and want to start their own coven.

Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus, (List Price: $15.99, Random House Books for Young Readers, 9798217025855, August 2025)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Kara LaReau, Ariane Moreira (Illus Read More »

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer

, ,
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

A hypnotic onion of a puzzle…peel back one layer and find more questions, fewer answers. All the more triumphant in its building frustration, eventual catharsis. Area X is all of us and none of us, nowhere and everywhere, peering at us with a thousand impossible eyes.”

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer, (List Price: $18, Picador, 9781250824066, July 2024)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer Read More »

Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham

, ,
Sharks Don't Sink by Jasmin Graham
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Such an entertaining and important memoir. Not only does Jasmin pack the book with super interesting shark facts, she also talks about important issues – racism, sexism, workplace and educational abuse, marine conservation, and mental health. The ways in which she describes her experiences (good and bad) and how they sometimes relate to sharks, is so poetic.

Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham, (List Price: $18, Vintage, 9780593685273, July 2025)

Reviewed by Stephanie StJohn, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham Read More »

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman

,
On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

Very cute and sweet! Happy ending that wasn’t fully resolved but going in the right direction for the main character.I learned a lot of facts about fencing, which was fun. This was a debut. I will definitely be checking out their future works!

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman, (List Price: $21.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593649985, June 2025)

Reviewed by Stephanie StJohn, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman Read More »

Marsha by Tourmaline

, ,
Marsha by Tourmaline
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

I snatched this as soon as I saw it at the bookshop. This book captures a feeling I’ve been struggling to articulate for so long: showing joy in who you are as a form of defiance when the world does everything it can to push you down. Everything about Marsha’s life embodies that idea, she’s an amazing subject for a biography. Tourmaline does an amazing job telling Marsha’s story – and at giving a good overview of LGBTQIA history in the U.S. as well – but what separates this from other biographies for me is just how much love, passion, and radiance spills out from the pages; Tourmaline clearly has such a deep appreciation for Marsha that makes the writing so engaging and vivid. There’s a wealth of information here but there’s never a moment where the book feels bogged down or heavy. Tourmaline also goes beyond Marsha’s life, going into the impact and legacy she’s left for the LGBTQIA community, in activism and everyday life. It’s made clear that the progress made to equality for LGBTQIA people has happened over a short length of time, and there’s still so much work to be done – especially for Trans people – but Tourmaline makes sure every nook and cranny of this book is filled with hope and joy. I think this should be essential reading for anyone remotely interested in LGBTQIA history and activism, and anyone who just needs some hope and joy right now.

Marsha by Tourmaline, (List Price: $30, Tiny Reparations Books, 9780593185667, May 2025)

Reviewed by Winter Goldsmith, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Marsha by Tourmaline Read More »

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

, , ,
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

My first Colleen Hoover read! I can definitely see where all the hype is with her novels. She does pull you in and stir up all the feels. It was entertaining, I thought the female lead character did not stand up for herself enough, and love triangles are always tricky. The most interesting part was learning how the hearing-impaired male lead was able to teach himself to play and write music. Can’t wait to read more of her books!

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, (List Price: $16.99, Atria Books, 9781476753164, March 2014)

Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover Read More »

Scroll to Top