This is about so much more than surfing! It’s about family and friendship and how we move through this world together, despite our differences! Love it!
It’s Only Drowning by David Litt, (List Price: $29.99, Gallery Books, 9781668035351, June 2025)
Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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This is sure to be a breakout hit this summer and the most talked about. Rob Franklin takes on so many big issues, and the way they land in this complicated world that we live in. Well worth your time (and your book clubs!)
Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin, (List Price: $28.99, S&S/Summit Books, 9781668077436, June 2025)
Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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Bakewell writes fantasies that leave me feeling charmed, comforted, and optimistic. Where Shadows Bloom is as much a love letter to the power of storytelling as it is a fantastical romance between its two lovelorn leads. Compassion and sensitivity leaps off the page. A marvelous read for younger YA readers.
Where Shadows Bloom by Catherin Bakewell, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063359086, February 2025)
Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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I have never cared so much about football as I have while reading Kneel. This is a fantastic debut.
Kneel by Candace Buford, (List Price: $11.95, Inkyard Press, 9781335454355, July 2022)
Reviewed by Cat Chapman, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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Underwood’s bold reimagining of Penelope’s hanged maids cements her among the ranks of Rick Riordan and Jennifer Saint. Lies We Sing to the Sea is a a magical take on feminine rage that girls of all ages can empathize with. The love story is ephemeral, and my pages were tear-soaked by the end. I will never look at daffodils the same way.
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood, (List Price: $15.99, HarperTeen, 9780063234499, April 2024)
Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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David Small’s illustrations give life to three short stories about age. identity, and metamorphosis in the vein of Franz Kafka and Alfred Hitchcock. Each story positions a person beside a beast in some way, which aids in contextualizing our very human experiences. The illustration is dreamlike; and although the stories are short, they are abundant with depth.
The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small, (List Price: $25, Liveright, 9781324092827, March 2024)
Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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In her latest novel, Austin captures the bittersweet heart of growing up and growing apart. Told over the course of Sigrid’s attempts at a suicide note, Austin’s charm and tact never waver, guiding the reader through Sigrid’s disenchantment with equal parts humor and heartbreak
We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin, (List Price: $27.99, Atria Books, 9781668058145, January 2025)
Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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The Tusks of Extinction hurt me, inspired me, and taught me in less than 100 pages. Through the lenses of an elephant-expert turned mammoth matriarch, a boy on a hunt with his father, and a man who can’t rise above his wealth, Nayler’s conservationist novella reaches into depths of human empathy and bares it all for examination. Nothing so short has ever made me cry so much.
The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler, (List Price: $26.99, Tordotcom, 9781250855527, January 2024)
Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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All the Fighting Parts is a much needed book. The verse format makes it a quick read, but it spares no punches, delving deep into the heart of one sexual assault survivor’s journey through grief, guilt, resistance, and reclamation. Healing is a journey through, not a journey’s end; and while the powers of her local church are stacked against her, her loved ones (whom she withdraws from in the aftermath) learn how to support her through every step. It’s poignant and oh-so relevant. Amina’s story is unlike anything I’ve read before, and I hope with all my might that All the Fighting Parts falls into the hands of those who need it most.
All the Fighting Parts by Hannah V. Sawyerr, (List Price: $19.99, Amulet Books, 9781419762611, September 2023)
Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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Curious Tides centers a lush magic system unlike anything I’ve seen before. The celestial lore was beautifully crafted, and Lacelle’s prose is as captivating as a high tide. I deeply appreciated the subtle LGBTQIA rep and the care with which each interpersonal entanglement was treated. I’ve no doubt that Curious Tides will become a staple in the dark academia/fantasy niche, and I cannot wait for the sequel.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle, (List Price: 21.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665939270, October 2023)
Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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Wow! Blown away! This has so much potential! I love the setting, concept, action, art direction, everything! I am so excited to keep up with this series!
Doom Breaker Volume 1 by Blue-Deep, (List Price: 19.99, WEBTOON Unscrolled, 9781990259883, July 2023)
Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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The myths of Shakespeare are so deeply ingrained that I didn’t realize how many of the things I "know" may not be correct. Winkler makes an excellent case that the Shakespeare we read may not be the Shakespeare of Avon, and she makes it very clear that not every anti-Stratsfordian is a crank. I am not convinced but I am intrigued, and I will keep digging for myself. To me, that makes this book successful–I am hooked and I want to know more.
Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies by Elizabeth Winkler, (List Price: 29.99, Simon & Schuster, 9781982171261, May 2023)
Reviewed by Tracy Bailey, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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I thought I had it all figured out in the start. There are countless stories out there that start out in a similar way. However, this novel really does it’s own thing. I thought it was going to be a werewolf or wendigo type creature. Boy was I wrong. Never expected the climax that actually came!
Hailstone by Rafael Scavone, (List Price: 22.99, Dark Horse Books, 9781506730943, June 2023)
Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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I knew that someone was writing a comedy manga around the world of Elden Ring, but I didn’t know it was going to hit this level of scale! Following the journey that everyone who played the game also had, except this tale takes the world and twists the situations into joking situations. Very clever idea. I hope this is able to be continued until the conclusion.
Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita, (List Price: 13, Yen Press, 9781975364892, May 2023)
Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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This darkly beautiful, otherworldly tale is dripping with gore-filled scenes and mesmerizing prose that is certainly not for the faint of heart.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, (List Price: 21.99, Tor Nightfire, 9781250830913, May 2023)
Reviewed by Kassie Weeks, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
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