Flyleaf Books

The Tea Dragon Society by K.O’Neill

This book is one of the most wholesome I’ve ever read. Reading it is like being wrapped in a blanket. Adorable art, whimsical writing, and a sweet story make for a cute & comforting read about friendship and finding your niche. I try to read this book AT LEAST once a year because of how heartwarming it is.

The Tea Dragon Society by K.O’Neill, (List Price: $9.99, Oni Press, 9781620107379, June 2020)

Reviewed by Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Among the Bros by Max Marshall

An amazing true crime story involving a group of people who seemingly felt they were untouchable, privileged fraternity brothers at a traditional Southern university. I live in a college town, and the stories of drug use among students were terrifying… if I had kids, I’d sit them down immediately and talk to them about this!

Among the Bros by Max Marshall, (List Price: $18.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063099548, February 2025)

Reviewed by Jamie Fiocco, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Parachutes by Kelly Yang

Kelly Yang’s spectacular YA debut follows the lives of Claire, a “parachute” – the teenage daughter of a wealthy Chinese family sent to the United States to attend high school – and Dani, daughter of a first-generation Filipino immigrant. Claire and Dani become reluctant roommates, setting the stage for a novel that has it all – compelling friendships, insights into wealth and power dynamics, complicated relationships with parents, and two #metoo moments that made me feel all the things and had me rooting for Dani and Claire. I didn’t want it to end. A fantastic older YA book.

Parachutes by Kelly Yang, (List Price: $15.99, HarperCollins, 9780062941091, July 2021)

Reviewed by Elese Stutts, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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The Ancients by John Larison

A detailed and unswerving fable about the impossible choices ahead of us—both as individual people and as a collective species. John Larison’s particular concern is the way that stories of the past can function either as cautionary tales, informing our commitment to a wiser trajectory, or, in the wrong hands, as convenient and exploitative mythology to waylay any doubts that our bright and bountiful future is somehow guaranteed. This book is a testament to the importance of stories that remind us to watch our footing while we climb, and always extend a hand behind us.

The Ancients by John Larison, (List Price: $30, Viking, 9780593831168, October 2024)

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

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Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello

In this brand new YA romance novel, city girl Tia Solanke is NOT looking forward to the holidays. She and her boyfriend, Mike, are on a break, and her mother’s solution is to take a Christmas getaway to the picturesque Saiyan Hedge Farms. Tia takes an instant dislike to the countryside and after the final straw, falling in horse manure and being chased by sheep, she decides to sneak back to London for Mike’s birthday. Quincy needs some help. His family will be the first Black family to ever host the Winter Ball (aka the biggest event of the year), and he is in need of a date after breaking up with his girlfriend. At first, Quincy and Tia don’t see eye to eye, but they soon realize that they both have something to gain by pretending to be a couple. Quincy needs a date to the ball, and Tia, a ride back to London just in time for Mike’s birthday. Soon, fake feelings turn real, and Tia and Quincy realize that maybe what they were looking for is right in front of them…

Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello, (List Price: $19.99, Soho Teen, 9781641296106, October 2024)

Reviewed by Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi was once my family’s favorite local cafe. I’ve collected the signed cookbooks for many years, and cooking from them reminds me of my London days. This latest book is a winner, and I’ll recommend it for cozy recipes that feature bold flavors and international influences that reflect the delicious London food scene.

Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi, (List Price: $37.99, Ten Speed Press, 9780399581779, October 2024)

Reviewed by Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray

Somewhere, sometime, you may come across a rock. When you do, remember that it’s not just a rock. It holds memories. And like memories, rocks come in all shapes and sizes. Some happy, some blue, some too big to understand. So, if you see a cool rock, take it, I won’t tell.

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray, (List Price: $18.99, Chronicle Books, 9781797214580, September 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz

I want to crawl inside this book, eat LOTS of bread, curl up with a dragon next to a cheerful fireplace, and take a long nap. Devin Elle Kurtz’s glowing illustrations and cozy, atmospheric storytelling make The Bakery Dragon an instant cold-weather classic.

The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz, (List Price: $18.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593710968, October 2024)

Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Becoming Little Shell by Chris La Tray

Chris La Tray has written a memoir that is so very much more than his personal story. It’s the story of how, for generations, his Native family has been brutalized, ostracized, robbed, and dismissed. It teaches about Blood Quantum laws, migration patterns, genealogical searches, and Indigenous customs of the Metis people in Montana and the landless tribe of the Little Shell Chippewa Indians. It weaves through all of this vital information the stories of how his family has continued living and loving, seeking connection and community in a country that has tried to erase that they ever existed.

Becoming Little Shell by Chris La Tray, (List Price: $28, Milkweed Editions, 9781571313980, August 2024)

Reviewed by Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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11/22/63 by Stephen King

A high school English teacher discovers a portal to the past – specifically to September 9, 1958 – and decides that he’s going to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But here’s the thing – the past is stubborn. It’s obdurate. It doesn’t want to be changed and will fight back any effort to rewrite history. In typical King fashion, 11/22/63 is a brilliant and affecting novel full of heart and terror in near-equal parts.

11/22/63 by Stephen King, (List Price: $23.99, Scribner, 9781451627299, July 2012)

Reviewed by Colin Sneed, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham

Jasmin Graham’s story is one of hardship, struggle, triumph, and most importantly, power. Each chapter introduced a new notion. A new understanding. A new feeling. And after finishing this book, I was left with such hope that I couldn’t help but smile. The energy Graham brings to her field of shark science is something that traditional academia has been sorely lacking. And they will continue to miss out on this Rogue Scientist as she stands in defiance of the status quo.

Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham, (List Price: $28, Pantheon, 9780593685259, July 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

Pony Confidential galloped straight into my heart from page one. This cozy mystery is narrated by an ornery pony trying to clear the name of his beloved former owner Penny. It features rats, cats, birds, and dogs aiding our hero in his redemptive quest, and – oh, did I mention – this is based on The Odyssey? Easter eggs galore for the clever classicist. If you enjoyed playing spot-the-character in Demon Copperhead, just wait until you meet Circe the goat. Perfect for lovers of Remarkably Bright Creatures and Lessons in Chemistry.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch, (List Price: $28, Berkley, 9780593640364, November 2024)

Reviewed by Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Hard Copy by Fien Veldman

Wholly original, perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman. A lonely young woman who has isolated herself from her family, friends, and colleagues turns to the one (semi)reliable relationship left in her life: her office printer. She dusts it lovingly, protects it from leaks, troubleshoots its needs. Is she delusional? Is it a fairy tale? Does that even matter? I came for the love story and stayed to see if she gets her HEA…and I’m not saying anything else because you should obviously read it if you’ve stayed with me this far. No spoilers.

Hard Copy by Fien Veldman, (List Price: $28.99, Apollo, 9781035906444, September 2024)

Reviewed by Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

1950s San Francisco is not the safest place for seventeen-year-old Lily Hu to realize she’s a lesbian, and the danger is only amplified by the anti-Chinese sentiment of the Red Scare. It starts with Lily’s infatuation over the male impersonator Tommy Andrews, and the companionship and understanding of Kathleen Miller, a friend from her math class. It coalesces with love found under the neon sign of the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar that is equally as threatened by the paranoia of the Cold War. Last Night at the Telegraph Club is beautifully written and utterly transcendent, and serves as a testament to the power and necessity of queer love even in times of danger and intolerance.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, (List Price: $11.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780525555278, December 2021)

Reviewed by Jordan April, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse

Puberty has brought about the wildest change for Adèle; she can now see ghosts! Adèle now finds herself stuck between her desire to help and her Grandma’s absolute HATRED of ghosts. Armed with new ghost friends, medium powers, and some unexpected assistance, Adèle finds herself in the middle of a fight to save her city from predatory real estate developers. Sounds a bit wacky, but I promise you, you’re gonna love this one.

Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse, (List Price: $13.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593565971, September 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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