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Kin by Tayari Jones

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Kin by Tayari Jones
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In Kin, Tayari Jones has written an absolute glory of a novel: one that explores friendship, family, the ties that bind and so much more through the lens of two friends – both motherless girls in the small town of Honeysuckle, Louisiana – and the different paths their lives follow. Niecy, orphaned as a baby and raised by her convention-defying aunt, has her sights set upwards – towards Spelman College and the upper echelons of Black society in 1950s Atlanta. In contrast, her “cradle friend” Annie lights out to the bars and clubs of Memphis in search of the mother who abandoned her as a newborn. Told with joy, wit, and pathos, and wearing its erudition lightly, Kin is a novel to savor and enjoy.

Kin by Tayari Jones, (List Price: $32, Knopf, 9780525659181, February 2026)

Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

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How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mireille Messier

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How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mireille Messier
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A not-so-serious book about reading “very serious books.” Messier does a wonderful job of “explaining” to young readers how to read a “serious book” and how to look serious while doing it. There are instructions on how to look “deep in thought”, how to make sure you’ll be seen reading your serious book to impress people, and how to drink tea and “ponder” when you are finished. Because serious books have boring covers, no pictures, and lots of tiny words. Unlike this delightful book, whimsically illustrated by Kelly Collier. What a clever way to show us all that we can choose to read for fun, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks!

How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mireille Messier, (List Price: $18.95, Owlkids, 9781771476584, March 2026)

Reviewed by Kelly, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Looking for Alaska by John Green

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Looking for Alaska by John Green
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“How will you ever get out of this labyrinth of suffering?” John Green’s novel Looking for Alaska unfolds in two distinct parts: before and after “the incident.” The narrative builds gradually, leading up to the event, fostering suspense and posing thought-provoking questions that keep readers engaged. Green adeptly captures authentic teenage angst, unlike Perks of Being a Wallflower and Catcher in the Rye. All three novels explore themes of teenage trauma, love, substance use, and existential questioning within a compressed timeframe. What distinguishes Looking for Alaska is its portrayal of teenagers grappling with credibility, profound existential queries, insecurities, and impulsive decision-making, often disregarding consequences. The characters in Looking for Alaska share similarities with those in John Green’s other works like The Fault in Our Stars. Despite their different genders, Augustus from “The Fault in Our Stars and Alaska from Looking for Alaska lack distinct characteristics that set them apart from each other. Suffering and the afterlife are prevalent themes in this novel. Alaska’s reckless and turbulent behavior originates from witnessing her mother’s sudden collapse and subsequent death, an event that leaves her frozen in shock, unable to intervene or seek help. John Green excels at portraying tragedy. His depiction of character demise is so vivid and poignant that it resonates with readers as if they have lost someone they intimately know. Green possesses a remarkable talent for swiftly establishing a deep and genuine connection between readers and his characters.

Looking for Alaska by John Green, (List Price: $6.99, Dutton Books for Young Reads, 9780525556541, April 2023)

Reviewed by Nichole, Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe in Pensacola, Florida

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Downfall by Marc J. Gregson

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Downfall by Marc J. Gregson
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Gregson’s final book in the Above the Black series is an incredibly satisfying ending. There’s tension, fighting, betrayals, scary creatures, and even a smidge of romance. Downfall is everything you would want in a sci-fi adventure! Conrad’s uncle, the king, has sent him down to the Below. He says it’s to conquer the colonies there, but Conrad knows it’s a suicide mission. Now it’s his plan to not only survive, but to thrive and eventually take down his uncle.

Downfall by Marc J. Gregson, (List Price: $22.99, Peachtree Teen, 9781682637081, March 2026)

Reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

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Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
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You mourn, you love, you laugh, and you grow with our dear Lady Tremaine. You can feel her desperation and anger at her situation in every chapter. She is struggling to keep her family afloat, a task that feels like it could collapse at any moment. Throughout the story, Lady Tremaine learns that supporting her family does not look the way she initially thought it would, but she is willing to forge a new path for the benefit of her daughters. I appreciated Rachel’s use of foreshadowing. Normally, I can maintain an objective perspective while reading, considering all sides, but Rachel has a way of making you deeply feel what the characters experience, including the anger she wants you to direct toward certain individuals. This is a fantastic retelling of a fairy tale that you won’t want to miss. If you love the traditional story of Cinderella being rescued by her prince, this version may not be for you. In this tale, THE GIRLS ARE SAVING THEMSELVES!

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser, (List Price: $29, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250396341, March 2026)

Reviewed by Sarah, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

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The Curse Breaker by Jen Calonita

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The Curse Breaker by Jen Calonita
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If the Isle of Forever put you on the edge of your seat, just wait until you read Jen Calonita’s The Curse Breaker. Be sure to sit comfortably in your chair and hold on!

The Curse Breaker by Jen Calonita, (List Price: $16.99, Sourcebooks Young Readers, 9781728277066, March 2026)

Reviewed by Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

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All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun

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All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun
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In the week after 9/11, three vastly different people set sail on a cruise to Bermuda that was already planned, and have mixed emotions about the trip and their lives. This extremely compelling story sucked me right into the narrative and didn’t let me go until we docked back in Boston! I immediately felt immersed in the lives of these characters, eager to know what was going to happen next. Highly recommend!

All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun, (List Price: $30, 37 Ink, 9781668200599, March 2026)

Reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus

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Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus
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There is nothing better than people who love movies writing about why they love movies and how those movies impacted them!!! While I don’t have a huge connection to Night of the Living Dead I was still totally taken by this book. As a cinephile and filmmaker, I’m uber impacted by films, and seeing such a raw passion and love for a film on paper is really special. Educational and passionate, this is a great recommendation to horror/sci-fi film fans!

Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus, (List Price: $28, Counterpoint, 9781640097155, March 2026)

Reviewed by Lily, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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Adult Braces by Lindy West

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Adult Braces by Lindy West
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I gobbled up this heartfelt, hilarious memoir about getting out of town and getting some perspective. I cannot wait to shove this into people’s hands. I think this whole country could use a good laugh through tears, and there is nobody more talented at facilitating that than Lindy West.

Adult Braces by Lindy West, (List Price: $29, Grand Central Publishing, 9780306831836, March 2026)

Reviewed by Chelsea, Union Avenue Books in Knoxville, Tennessee

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The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa

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The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa
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The Free Verse Society gave me everything I want in a YA book and a romance. Flawed characters trying to figure out who they are, real stakes, and a slow-burning, sweet romance. Jae moves in with her uncle and starts attending a new school to make a fresh start after giving up her baby for adoption. Derek is still struggling with his family’s fall from wealth after his father’s death. The way these two characters struggle, make mistakes, write poetry, and find each other is beautiful and heart-rending.

The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa, (List Price: $19.99, Peachtree Teen, 9781682638408, March 2026)

Reviewed by Fisher, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson

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The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson
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Little book. Big ideas. In the time that it takes to drink a cup of coffee, you can read this book and gain greater illumination into the importance of the glorious American experiment in democracy and why it’s worth protecting more than you could by listening to the entirety of all political discourse over the past quarter century. Read it all the way through. Then, read it again.

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson, (List Price: $20, Simon and Schuster, 9781982181314, November 2025)

Reviewed by Jim, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia

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Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion

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Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion
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That was an absolutely wild ride that I wish I could do all over again. Lost Girls of Hollow Lake is a fantastic addition to the emerging YA horror-thriller genre. I’m generally pretty proud of the fact that horror doesn’t get to me and that it takes a lot to get under my skin, but this book REALLY got to me at some points. The gore descriptions were especially potent and made me squirm in a way no other book has. There’s one scene later on in the story that I had to read through squinted eyes as if it were a movie I needed to watch through my fingers, and I love that I had such a strong reaction. The lore and legend surrounding the island the girls were stranded on were so deeply unsettling that I felt a sense of genuine dread whenever I’d get to a point in the novel where it was time to learn more about it. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the island itself was very much the main character, which is why its history and mythology were so alluring. Additionally, I loved the point-of-view character, Evie, and had a lot of fun inside her head. She’s so funny in this biting, caustic way that endeared me to her very quickly. And the sapphic relationship that blooms within the terror is beautiful and complicated and filled with the perfect amount of yearning–not too much, not too little. Finally, the mystery entwined with the dread and terror was so effective. I was turning pages so quickly that I’d glance at the page numbers and wonder where 70 pages went. Even though I’d say the story overall falls more in line with horror than mystery, the back-and-forth between whodunnit and “what the heck happened on that island???” was gripping. An absolutely stellar debut perfect for anyone who loves to stay up late and scare themselves silly with ghost stories that blend seamlessly into nightmares.

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593900437, January 2026)

Reviewed by Abigail, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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Between the World and Me” is an honest, raw love letter from Ta-Nehisi Coates to his fifteen-year-old son, Samori. The six-chapter letter was conceived after Coates watched his son’s heartache at the announcement that there would be no charges filed against Darren Wilson, the police officer who killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown. Coates reveals his own fears for his son and his frustrations with the world the boy is growing up in. He writes about the many senseless murders of black men; men who would still be alive if it weren’t for their black bodies. Coates tells his son, “You have every right to be you. And no one should deter you from being you. You have to be you. And you can never be afraid to be you.” Except the last sentence contradicts the world in which we live. Because Coates is afraid, both for his son and himself, but also of the world in which they live. The word body is repeated excessively in his letter. It is an insightful and persuasive argument that, first and foremost, we are a body. We are a body before any other distinguishing markers or features, and they embody a state of blackness. While this revelation isn’t new, the way Coates strings together his argument so elegantly causes one to pause and contemplate. His contrasts between human ideals and the stark realities of life rooted in racism are raw and painful. I found myself comparing this letter to Isabel Wilkerson’s masterpiece, Caste. While Coates points out the ways black bodies have been mistreated, his letter doesn’t provide the depth of contemplation and assessment that Wilkerson’s excellent work did.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, (List Price: $20, One World, 9780812983814, June 2025)

Reviewed by Nichole, Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe in Pensacola, Florida

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The Lamb by Lucy Rose

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The Lamb by Lucy Rose
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I love a good cannibalism book, yum! It’s not only a coming-of-age story for Margot but also a realization of sexual identity and femininity for Mama. I personally have this notion in which each stray that comes to their cabin is a sexual experience or encounter that Mama has, and once it has been lived through, they are gone, aka eaten. I mean, there must be a metaphor in there somewhere, right? When Eden comes to their cabin, however, everything changes for Mama and for Margot. She’s not a stray to them but becomes a part of their family. However, Eden isn’t exactly a good role model but rather causes Mama to question her hunger and her role as a mother, and causes Margot to question their lifestyle (as cannibals). Poor little Margot. Growing up so isolated with a mother who doesn’t know how to satiate her hunger, and simply knowing what is taught to her. Her desire to be normal and be within societal standards can easily be seen in how much she desires Abby and Abby’s green ribbon. There’s so much I could say regarding this relationship, but for my sake, I’ll keep it brief. All I can say is, Rose is an absolute genius, and this is definitely for those who love a complicated mother/daughter relationship, gore, horror, and, of course, cannibalism.

The Lamb by Lucy Rose, (List Price: $18.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063374614, February 2026)

Reviewed by Itzy, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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