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A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

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A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek
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An enchanting, action-packed retelling of Swan Lake! I was completely enthralled in this vividly told, magic-infused fantasy filled with a cast of unique, engaging characters, each navigating a labyrinth of power struggles, evil sorcery and court intrigue. I soaked up every page!

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek, (List Price: $19.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665936507, June 2025)

Reviewed by Anderson McKean, Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama

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The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason

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The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise by Riel Nason
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We get to see Little Ghost Quilt in another adventure, this one during the Christmas season. I love how Little Ghost Quilt is different, and so are his ghost friends, and that is OKAY, more than normal. This story isn’t about changing to be more similar, but finding ways they can all experience the magic of the holidays. Little Ghost Quilt comes up with an idea to bring the holiday spirit to his friends.

The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise by Riel Nason, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9781774885376, August 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase

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I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase
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This story was delightful from start to finish. It isn’t very often that I’ve seen trans representation from the very beginning, non-passing stages. I was immediately enamored with the casualty of exploration and the support between friends. 10/10 recommendation!

I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase, (List Price: $12.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593902929, July 2025)

Reviewed by Eden Haymon, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

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The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

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The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
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I somehow have to figure out a way to live with myself and the desire to read the next book in this duology. The urgency to find out what happens next is already clawing at me. Brigette Knightley is my newest shero. I love everything that makes The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, just that- irresistible. It’s so funny and smart. I tried unsuccessfully to smother my laughter while in public waiting rooms, doctor offices, and any place I could read. Knightley credits a number of literary stars for inspiring them, and it showed especially in the word choices. In particular, the language Osric and Aurienne use to skewer each other with every verbal exchange. There were words I had to immediately look up the definition for, making the reading experience richer. Each word was well picked and placed. When I started reading, I had no hope of anything developing between Osric and Aurienne. At the end of this book, I want nothing more than to remove everything keeping them apart. If you’re looking for something that will live in your head rent-free once you’re finished, then this book is for you. It’s a delicious slow burn that will have you falling for the characters, kicking your heels with delight, and turning the pages as fast as you can.

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley, (List Price: $30, Ace, 9780593819456, July 2025)

Reviewed by Preet Singh, Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur, Georgia

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The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang

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The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang
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I love the creativity behind the café in this story—a place where people come together to talk and be heard. But even more compelling is the journey of Jean, the main character, who leaves Taiwan for California and builds a life she never expected—two marriages, motherhood, unexpected wealth, deeply felt loss, and ultimately, the fulfillment of her dream in opening a café. A beautifully woven novel about friendship, connection, and purpose.

The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang, (List Price: $28.99, Scribner, 9781668068922, July 2025)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Payback by Kashana Cauley

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The Payback by Kashana Cauley
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Cue the lit match and the cool walk-away. This heist novel centers on Jada Williams, a Black woman whose student loans are literally following her–and a bunch of other Black folks–in the form of LA’s debt police, a new unit of cops decked out in turquoise who keep running their mouths about crystals. Author and unparalleled wit Kashana Cauley zeroes in on what it feels like to be stalked by debt in a capitalist system in this knock-out novel. This book made me mad in all the right ways.

The Payback by Kashana Cauley, (List Price: $27.99, Atria Books, 9781668075531, July 2025)

Reviewed by Julia Paganelli Marin, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez

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Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
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Driving out of Hileah, FL into the muggy yet lush Everglades, down Alligator Alley, Ingrid comes closer and closer to a reunion with her childhood best friend (and somewhat frenemy) Mayra in a labyrinth house, deep in the swamp. What follows in Nicky Gonzalez’s Mayrais a haunting hallucination as the house shifts and changes, history becomes blurred, and memory becomes hazy, all told through the story structure of horror. Mayra has shades of the Southern gothic, but ultimately crafts its own uniquely Florida gothic. This fan of Shirley Jackson devoured this.

Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez, (List Price: $28, Random House, 9780593731550, July 2025)

Reviewed by Mikey LaFave, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

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Cry for Me, Argentina by Tamara Yajia

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Cry for Me, Argentina by Tamara Yajia
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Tamara Yajia’s cracked coming of age memoir is required reading for Weird Girl Summer. Her life story is absolutely bonkers, her family members are completely unhinged, and at times it gets quite dark and vulnerable, but Tamara writes with the poise of a veteran comedian who understands that everything is material. Tamara gives readers the gift of permission to laugh through Cry for Me, Argentina, and the payoff is a total triumph.

Cry for Me, Argentina by Tamara Yajia, (List Price: $26.99, Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639733910, July 2025)

Reviewed by Emily Liner, Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi

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Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin

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Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin
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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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King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby

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King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
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What can’t S.A. Cosby write? When it comes to crime fiction loaded with action, Cosby is the man! Once again, Cosby takes the reader on a journey that one is not fully prepared for. The underlying storyline of the missing mother, along with the main storyline of the “no good” son, played in such a parallel that is easily missed if not paying close attention. King of Ashes begs the question of how far are you willing to go for the family you love? One thing that is different about this Cosby novel from the others is that we actually get a female character’s perspective. Cosby handles this point of view very well. I am sad that I have already finished this book, but I cannot wait to start putting it into customers’ hands!

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby, (List Price: $28.99, Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar, 9781250832061, June 2025)

Reviewed by Kayla Saxon, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram

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The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
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I always enjoy Audrey Ingram’s books, and this one didn’t disappoint! This story weaves together love, ambition, and love — and how it can one day circle back to you, bringing up old secrets. This is the summer read you’re waiting for, with explorations of resilience, lost love, and beautifully flawed characters.

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram, (List Price: $17.99, Zibby Publishing, 9798989923069, June 2025)

Reviewed by Leah Fallon, Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia

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We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons

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We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons
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I found myself smiling as I read We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons. It was fun to get an inside look at her beautiful friendship with Kate Spade and the story of how they teamed up to build such a successful company. It’ll make you want to do two things: hug your best friend and go buy a really great Kate Spade handbag.

We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons, (List Price: $28.99, Gallery Books, 9781668069073, June 2025)

Reviewed by Barb Rascon, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon

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The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon
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In this book a corner store is not just a place to grab milk, but a haven. For Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher with a heart as big as her store’s dwindling profits, it’s her lifeline. Then, a lost purse, a mysterious phone call, and a simple act of gratitude sets in motion a chain of events that will transform her little world. Enter Dok-go, a gentle giant “bear” of a man with a shadowed past, drawn to the warmth of Mrs. Yeom’s generosity and the simple comfort of a free lunch. He’s more than just a customer; he’s a silent force, a listener, a protector. But just as the store blossoms, a dark secret threatens to unravel everything, forcing Dok-go to confront the past that haunts him. The Second Chance Convenience Store isn’t just a story about a store; it’s a tender tale of found family, second chances, and the quiet miracles that happen in the most unexpected places.

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon, (List Price: $17.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063354777, June 2025)

Reviewed by Kimberly Todd, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

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Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis

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Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis
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Be forewarned: begin reading Aaron John Curtis’s Old School Indian and you’ll quickly fall into a conspiratorial relationship with the protagonist Abe’s alter ego, Dominick Deer Woods, a poet, and a tell-it-like-it-is fella. Suffering from a life-threatening illness baffling his doctors, Abe goes home to the Ahkwesáhsne reservation to see his family and escape the isolation of his marriage. Dominick Deer Woods’s familiar tone when schooling the reader on the true history of Indigenous peoples in America is brutal, funny, and heart-wrenching. It’s an honor to witness Abe’s journey to remember and embrace his past while seeking clarity for the future. Old School Indian is gorgeously written and brutally beautiful.

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis, (List Price: $28, Zando – Hillman Grad Books, 9781638931454, May 2025)

Reviewed by Mitchell Kaplan, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt

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The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt
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Welcome back, crayons, except… they are gone! Our story begins with an empty crayon box, no wax left in sight, and no sign of where they went—until we start getting letters from our colorful friends and the new adventures they have embarked on. From living out dreams of being a firefighter to becoming a board game piece or even finding your long-lost twin, the crayons have again taken over my heart with the friends they just can’t wait to tell us about. Dare I say best crayons book yet, get ready to obsess over these guys!

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt, (List Price: $19.99, Philomel Books, 9780593622360, June 2025)

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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