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CABIN by Patrick Hutchison

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CABIN by Patrick Hutchison
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This is the kind of book you want to read by a campfire. CABIN is a funny, reflective story about a young man who unwittingly finds himself becoming a capable handyman as the owner of a small cabin in the woods. What resonated with me is Patrick’s self-exploration that came with his cabin trips, going back and forth from a desk job to his cabin with no WiFi or phone service.

CABIN by Patrick Hutchison, (List Price: $29, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250285706, December 2024)

Reviewed by Daniel Jordan, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Rental House by Weike Wang

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Rental House by Weike Wang
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Rental House is the story of a marriage and all its complicated layers, told through two family vacations. What I love most about Weike Wang is how directly she tells a story, while also leaving the reader time to think and meditate on the story and this relationship. Another brilliant, poignant story perfect for book clubs!

Rental House by Weike Wang, (List Price: $28, Riverhead Books, 9780593545546, December 2024)

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

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Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen

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Roland Rogers Isn't Dead Yet by Samantha Allen
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Hollywood It Man Roland Rogers is ready to tell his big secret with no time to spare. He isn’t quite dead yet – but it’s not looking good. With the minimal power he can get from his home intercom system, he hires struggling writer Adam to bring new meaning to the term “ghostwriter” and get his memoir out before he is gone completely. As they rush to get it all done in a month, sparks fly, and Walls come down. This is very different from Allen’s first novel (which I also love), but it’s just as good. Fair warning – THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE.

Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen, (List Price: $18, Zando, 9781638931539, December 2024)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong

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The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong
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A girl named Wednesday who can see ghosts tasks herself with helping a restless soul cross over while also trying to fit in at her new school. This is a lovely story about friendship, grief, and starting over. I appreciated the level of diversity in this book, as well as the portrayal of what a modern family can look like. The paranormal aspects were a bit intense at times, but I think it’s perfect for readers who are interested in ghost stories.

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong, (List Price: $17.99, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665904506, August 2024)

Reviewed by Becca Naylor, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Bert, the Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson

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Bert, the Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson
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Bert the Bowerbird is just the sweetest little guy. All he wants is a wife to share his bower with. But Annette, the bird he’s set his sights on, is demanding, and never satisfied with Bert’s efforts to win her affection. He journeys far and wide to find more offerings for Annette, but always ends up hurt by her lack of interest. Can Bert find a bird who loves him for who he is? With adorable rhymes from Julia Donaldson (author of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom) and gorgeous illustrations by Catherine Rayner, Bert, the Bowerbird is a wonderful tale of bird-based romance and self-acceptance. Don’t settle, Bert!!!

Bert, the Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson, (List Price: $18.99, Boxer Books, 9781915801845, December 2024)

Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher

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Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher
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I’ve been a big fan of Lex Croucher’s work for a while now, so I didn’t need much convincing to enjoy this book, but I’m so glad it still exceeded all my expectations. With top-notch character banter, a ragtag found family, silly woodsy shenanigans, and a tender slow burn romance between the granddaughter of Robin Hood and the healer she accidentally kidnaps, it was so easy to fall in love with this book!

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher, (List Price: $20, Wednesday Books, 9781250847232, November 2024)

Reviewed by Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia

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Brown Girl, Brown Girl by Leslé Honoré

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Brown Girl, Brown Girl by Leslé Honoré
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Brown Girl, Brown Girl deserves a permanent spot on every family’s bookshelf. A powerful message with beautiful illustrations.

Brown Girl, Brown Girl by Leslé Honoré, (List Price: $18.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316314039, November 2024)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle

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On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle
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The first book in Solvej Balle’s brilliant (and forthcoming in English) septology On the Calculation of Volume is, in a word, stunning. Following the day-to-day minutia of a woman continually reliving the 18th of November, Balle finds the beauty and torment in repetition and recursion and revision. In all honesty, nothing actually happens in this book. But that doesn’t matter. Balle’s writing turns the reader into a balloon hitting a powerline—bright, weightless, fluorescent until the shock comes. An absolutely stunning piece of fiction.

On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle, (List Price: $15.95, New Directions, 9780811237253, November 2024)

Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Leap by Simina Popescu

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Leap by Simina Popescu
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I loved everything about this story! This touched on typical dancer struggles, like eating disorders, cruel instructors, and envy among the students but it was done in a way that I feel lots of people who aren’t in dance can relate to. But much more than just a story about dancers, we are following Ana, who is struggling with her identity, her relationships, being queer, and her struggle to figure herself out. I also really appreciated the color pallet that was chosen for this story and the times when the artist utilized other brighter colors as part of the storytelling.

Leap by Simina Popescu, (List Price: $17.99, Roaring Brook Press, 9781250838308, November 2024)

Reviewed by Sarah Blackwell, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

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Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
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Well damn, I going to be thinking about it for awhile. Blood Over Bright Haven is the perfect story for the person who wants to rage at the system of oppression against women and also the way in which religion and history are often used to tell a story that continues to make a person or people group be regarded as less than. Just add a technical magic system called “siphoning” and a group of mages who use their skills to learn where to siphon magic in order to power their city. Sciona is fueled by her desire to be the first woman accepted into this society of mages. She cares about nothing and no one else other than her work and her ability to be the best and make a name for herself when the majority believe as a woman, her delicate disposition will be her downfall. Nothing could be further from the truth because truth and magic are her focus, and nothing will stop her from seeking it. But what if the truth reveals something that completely changes the lens and paradigm of how you view the world? What then? Perfect for fall, perfect for the reader who wants to RAGE at the impacts of colonialism, racism, sexism.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang, (List Price: $29.99, Del Rey, 9780593873359, November 2024)

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

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Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows

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Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows
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Being invisible and lonely is better than being seen and ridiculed, right? Warmth, caring, and cozy were all knit together to make this book. Middle school relationships are hard and are often made that much worse with miscommunication. Meadows handles it in a way that I think anyone can relate to and appreciate. Not to mention me giggling and kicking my feet at how sweet this romance is.

Bye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows, (List Price: $18.99, Holiday House, 9780823456383, November 2024)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

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Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch
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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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The Burrow by Melanie Cheng

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The Burrow by Melanie Cheng
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Melanie Cheng’s novel The Burrow is a compact, moving story of a family tragedy. Beautifully written words show all believable family members as they deal with the death of the infant Ruby in a tragic accident. Each member of the family becomes intimately known to the reader as each relates their private feelings about each other and the trauma and grief. Relief is brought by the rabbit, Fiver, as Grandma Pauline and ten-year-old daughter Lucie bond with the new pet. The father Jin and mother Amy show their weaknesses, guilt, and imperfections in this realistic telling of a family’s pain and love, and hope.

The Burrow by Melanie Cheng, (List Price: $16.95, Tin House Books, 9781959030867, November 2024)

Reviewed by Nancy Pierce, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

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The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
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The Blue Hour is a book about art – it is about the reclusive artist, the sculptures and paintings, the curator obsessed with her work, and the people who have come to be in possession of pieces of her art. The description of the art and its inception is fascinating. No wonder her work has been fought over. The Blue Hour is also a psychological drama about self-worth, loneliness, loss, and love. You will probably not like most of the characters. You will probably be surprised by the slow revelations that have led to the present circumstances. But you will definitely not soon forget this dark and chilling story of obsessive love.

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins, (List Price: $30, Mariner Books, 9780063396524, October 2024)

Reviewed by Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk

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The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk
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This was my first Olga Tokarczuk, and I’m still not sure what to make of it: a slow, coiling narrative set in the early 1900s follows a group of men thrown together in a sanitarium to cure their tuberculosis. At turns creepy (the gothic of the subtitle refers to mysterious disappearances, and talking walls, which are glossed over for most of the book), and philosophical (the characters spend their time getting high on a mysterious drink and setting the world to rights, mainly at the expense of women), there’s plenty to get your teeth into, and even a twist at the end. Intriguing.

The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk, (List Price: $30, Riverhead Books, 9780593712948, October 2024)

Reviewed by Doron Klemer, Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

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