Quail Ridge Books

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

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Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg
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JJust Watch Me has a certain flaming-car-crash-you-can’t-look-away-from quality that I really admire in a book. In a painfully accurate depiction of how it feels to be young and very stupid in New York City, we watch human raccoon Dell rise to niche livestream fame eating very spicy peppers. We root for her, despite the fact that she seems to be sabotaging herself and every single one of her relationships. On purpose. But that’s what we grow to love about her, as do her livestream viewers… until one rogue account threatens to bring Dell’s spicy food empire toppling down.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg, (List Price: $28.99, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster, 9781668091180, January 2026)

Reviewed by Ryan, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Loud by Drew Afualo

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Loud by Drew Afualo
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For readers looking to unlearn internalized misogyny whilst also laughing out loud. I enjoyed how Afualo explains where certain misogynistic paths of thinking come from, and how to unlearn them without making the reader feel guilty for needing to do the work in adjusting those lines of thinking. Her reflections on her own journey to unlearning her internalized misogyny made me feel so seen and I especially loved how she discussed the roots and effects of misogyny on an intersectional level.

Loud by Drew Afualo, (List Price: $19, Picador, 9781250390530, August 2025)

Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

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A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury
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Amazing amazing amazing!! From the first chapter, I was immediately drawn into the story and only put it down when absolutely necessary. If you love Legendborn like I do, this is the book for you. I loved!! the main ensemble, and watching each of their dynamics grow against the backdrop of the story was beyond enjoyable. The budding forbidden, slow-burn romance alongside the steady increasing tension was chef’s kiss. Can’t wait for the second one!

A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury, (List Price: $24.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665957366, July 2025)

Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

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The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
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The horrors of this book provide both an obvious fear but also a deeper, sinister psychological kind (which I’d argue is worse than what looks you in the face). I loved the dynamic of the horrors of the characters’ experience and how they work through the estrangement of a once-familial friendship. The exploration of the relationship between fear, guilt, isolation, and grief through the lens of horror was quite captivating! This may all sound a little vague in regards to what actually occurs, but honestly, anything more would spoil the fun. Please check all trigger warnings before reading, not for those who do not enjoy body/gore horror

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig, (List Price: $30, Del Rey, 9780593156568, April 2025)

Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao
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In a world where the remains of civilization are menaced by enormous, spirit-powered monsters, boys with large spirit-force can become the pilots of the Chrysalises, giant machines that provide humanity’s only defense and the hope to retake the lost provinces. Girls with strong spirit-force can become concubine pilots: the second pilot necessary to power up the Chrysalises, but destined to be used up and die in battle. Wu Zetian’s older sister was sent to be a concubine pilot but when she died outside of battle no pay-out was given to the family. Now the family is sending Wu Zetian, but she’s not planning to go out by herself: she’s going to kill the pilot responsible for her sister’s death first. As Wu Zetian maneuvers through the machinations behind the scenes in both the military and the civilian media, she questions all the country’s received knowledge about the strength and value of women relative to men – and aims herself at a bigger opponent than one single pilot.

Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao, (List Price: $11.99, Tundra Books, 9780735269958, February 2023)

Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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A captivating look into what Coates saw in Palestine.

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates, (List Price: $30, One World, 9780593230381, 2024-10-01)

Reviewed by Michelle Weiler, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

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Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
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A Sapphic Christmas second-chance romance — what more do you need to know? Two musicians, one who left the other at the altar, are in a forced proximity situation at Christmas! The dynamic between Charlotte and Brighton is excellent, and I loved how important music was to the story. A perfect holiday book to devour in December.

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake, (List Price: $19, Berkley, 9780593550595, October 2024)

Reviewed by Amber Brown, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishøi

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Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishøi
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This is a winter novel for those of us who name Hans Christian Anderson’s stories among our favorite fairy tales. Ronja’s voice is perfect – poignant and descriptive but still true to a ten-year-old. I felt for her and for Melissa, her older sister, dealing with a parent whose good intentions were never going to see the family through to the happy Christmas Ronja envisioned. The moment I finished the book, I immediately flipped back to the first page to reassess the beginning in light of how it ends… and nearly got sucked back into re-reading the entire novel.

Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishøi, (List Price: $20, Grove Press, 9780802163493, November 2024)

Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath

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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath
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A perfect graphic novel for Fall. The juxtaposition of the gory murders with the colorful animal characters is absolutely delightful. An excellent read to curl up with by a fire.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath, (List Price: $17.99, IDW Publishing, 9798887241081, September 2024)

Reviewed by Michelle Weiler, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Fledgling by S. K. Ali

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Fledgling by S. K. Ali
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In this dystopian sci-fi commentary on the ever-aching sociopolitical battle of choosing between the individual and the many, love and peace, and what is worth fighting for, Ali emphasizes the importance of knowing your story and safeguarding your truth under the thumb of a colonial regime. With beautifully nuanced characters to root for, Fledgling forces you to engage with the effects of war, forced assimilation, and imposing enlightenment head-on without metaphors to hide behind. After you finish this book, flip back to the first page and begin again as the lessons learned last a lifetime.

Fledgling by S. K. Ali, (List Price: $21.99, Kokila, 9780593531242, October 2024)

Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida

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Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida
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A lithe novel of interlocking stories set over a series of very late nights in Tokyo. The characters either work through or leave their work in the AM part of the night; their stories overlap (or nearly overlap) via taxis, diners, and bars. Slice of life, relatively low stakes, and enjoyable.

Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida, (List Price: $18, Europa Editions, 9798889660279, July 2024)

Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in , North Carolina

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Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

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by Nina LaCour
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A powerful ghost story about transformative healing. I could not put it down. Beautiful.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour, (List Price: $11.99, Rocky Pond Books, 9780593108994, January 2022)

Reviewed by Abbe Townsend, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

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The Black Queen by Jumata Emill
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This is an absolutely promising and thought-provoking thriller debut that questions numerous sensitive issues, including racism, underage sex, teenage pregnancy, corruption, white privilege, and child abuse.

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill, (List Price: $12.99, Ember, 9780593568576, December 2023)

Reviewed by Michelle Weiler, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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This Isn’t Going to End Well by Daniel Wallace

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This Isn't Going to End Well by Daniel Wallace
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Daniel Wallace’s newest work is a combination memoir and biography, telling his own story alongside that of friend and brother-in-law, William Nealy. This Isn’t Going To End Well begins in 1970s Alabama capturing llaissez-faire parenting, and the idleness and creativity of childhood at the time. Fast forward to our beloved Chapel Hill, the book moves from adolescence to adulthood, asking the question: How well do we ever really know someone? Wallace makes you feel like you are sitting with an old friend, reminiscing. The people rattle around in your head, and the writing is clean and clever. An especially great read for outdoor enthusiasts and artists, writers and lovers. Wallace has written a story of family, adventure, following your dreams, and sadly, tragedy. This Isn’t Going To End Well is gentle and kind, even when life is not.

This Isn’t Going to End Well by Daniel Wallace, (List Price: $28, Algonquin Books, 9781643752105, April 2023)

Reviewed by Peggy Mulqueen, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush

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The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush
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A beautifully written, immediately engaging book about exploring a new area of the Antarctic, experiencing climate change on a vast yet immediate scale, and still deciding to bring a child into the world. The author pulls from her experiences as an observer on an exploration vessel to chart a path into the future. Excerpts from her interviews with others aboard the ship – scientists, but also the crew and even the ship’s cooks – bring multiple perspectives into her musings on everything from the breaking ice to birth stories. While the themes of the book are urgent, the messages are hopeful: while there is work for everyone, together, we can accomplish more; and when we mess up, which we all do, own the error and don’t make the same mistake again.

The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush, (List Price: 30, Milkweed Editions, 9781571313966, August 2023)

Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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