The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

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Miles Ahead by Minh Lê

This book is so adorable. First, seeing Miles pack for his road trip was absolutely adorable, especially when he packs books instead of clothes… I feel seen! The story is just so sweet and sends a great message when it comes to giving. Highly recommended, especially for baby showers.

Miles Ahead by Minh Lê, (List Price: $18.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593569207, April 2026)

Reviewed by Erika Patoni, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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City of Rats by Copi

Imagine: Remy from the classic Pixar film Ratatouille is fed up with the high-pressure life of a chef. He quits his job, opens up a worm-selling business on a Parisian street corner, and gets really into ketamine. This is the vibe of City of Rats. We follow Gouri, a Parisian rat, through a disastrous double date, a prison break, a meeting with the Rat Devil, an animal uprising, and, ultimately, the end of the world (sort of). It is a joyous, madcap, absolute TREASURE of a book, at once strange, sweeping, and deeply personal. I cannot express how much I loved this book.

City of Rats by Copi, (List Price: $15.95, New Directions, 9780811238373, March 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Livonia Chow Mein by Abigail Savitch-Lew

Livonia Chow Mein is a slow burn that turns into a book full of drama that makes it impossible to put down. Grappling with intertwined story lines of belonging and togetherness, the Brownsville community finds ways to fight back against systemic racial disparities in its communities. It follows a myriad of people throughout the book as the histories that have once plagued the town are slowly discovered and brought to light. Livonia Chow Mein portrays immigrants in America grappling with the dreams that brought them here, only to discover that becoming their truest selves sometimes means letting go of old ideals and embracing an unexpected new path. It became impossible for me to believe I was just reading. The vivid imagery and clear, deliberate prose made me feel as if I was also working to change this town for the better.

Livonia Chow Mein by Abigail Savitch-Lew, (List Price: $29, Simon & Schuster, 9781668075234, April 2026)

Reviewed by Chloe, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Salt, Sweat & Steam by Brigid Washington

An insider’s view of the culinary world tempered through a very personal lens. Attending the Culinary Arts Institute is a grueling experience, more so for students of color, and more so if you are trying to mend a broken heart. Filled with personal and culinary ups and downs, this is both a cautionary tale and a romantic journey. Not just for foodies.

Salt, Sweat & Steam by Brigid Washington, (List Price: $30, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250333377, April 2026)

Reviewed by Jan, Main Street Books in Davidson, NC

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Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. The longing, the YEARNING, so so so good. Reading about messy queer characters in a queer-normative world is so satisfying. I feel seen, I feel like it’s okay if I don’t have everything figured out because maybe that’s normal. Maybe we grow and find answers as we go. Mal, in particular, was my favorite character. I connected so much with the way he just wanted to be accepted for who he was. Truly, though, all of the characters weaseled their way into my heart, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them in future books. Alys! Alys, with her mushrooms, deserves only good things. Griff rounds out the main trio, and he was so fun to read, just a sweetheart who knows what he wants and takes exactly that as soon as the opportunity presents itself. The world-building is very contained in this story, with glimpses into the wider world that have me itching for more. We got a slice-of-life adventure that was the perfect way to introduce both the characters and the world. Tastes of more to come, peeks at higher stakes in the future. The romance is at the forefront here, but the larger conflicts going on in the background make this feel like just one quest that will lead to many more, and that is exactly what I want from this sort of fantasy book. I can’t wait for Our Rogue Fates to release so I can push it into the hands of every romantic fantasy reader I know. Fans of Dragon Age? Check this book out. Fans of wandering quests like The Hobbit? This is the book for you. Looking for more queer love stories in fantasy? Marsh has delivered a book just for us, and it feels like coming home.

Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh, (List Price: $19.99, Alcove Press, 9798892424301, April 2026)

Reviewed by Katie, A Novel Romance LLC in Louisville, Kentucky

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Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian

A gorgeous and moving meditation on childhood, mental illness, and finding your roots when you spent your childhood moving from place to place. The language is poetic and spare, the art is beautiful, and the story is a unique one, a perfect recommendation for any kid who has a parent with mental illness.

Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian, (List Price: $17.99, First Second, 9781250884220, April 2026)

Reviewed by Fisher Nash, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, KY

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Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

Rejoice and praise before Dear Monica Lewinsky, a trenchant, incisive, emotionally resonant and so very funny novel that far surpassed my preconceptions — and reservations — about another novel concerning a young woman seduced by her university professor. Author Julia Langbein brings to life our fully dimensional protagonist, Jean Dorman, a 45-year-old woman dealing with an existential crisis brought on by an invitation she receives, as she’s visited by Saint Monica Lewinsky to help her unpack a traumatic event from her past. Starting from a hooky, irresistible premise, Langbein delivers a near-flawlessly crafted novel that find new ways to explore and expand the boundaries of our cultural discourse around power and consent with depth, humor and well-earned emotional payoff. Bless Julia Langbein! Bless Jean Dorman! And Bless Dear Monica Lewinsky!

Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein, (List Price: $30, Doubleday, 9780385551502, April 2026)

Reviewed by Matt, A Cappella Books in Atlanta, GA

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American Han by Lisa Lee

Each chapter of American Han gives readers a window into the lives of the Kim family and their personal search for the American Dream. A story of family and obligation, personal happiness societal expectations, and the immigrant experience in America, Lisa Lee gives readers a lot to think and talk about. A much-needed book!

American Han by Lisa Lee, (List Price: $29, Algonquin Books, 9781643757254, March 2026)

Reviewed by Beth, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Wildspeak by Sangma Francis

Cora and Ada are excited to embark on a wonderful expedition of the nature surrounding them and make up playful words to describe their amazing experiences. Now it’s up to you, the reader, to see what amazing words you can create!

Wildspeak by Sangma Francis, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 9781464261299, April 2026)

Reviewed by Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA

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The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.)

I was a few pages into this story, and I knew I would have ended up crying. What a beautiful story based on a real house in Cape Cod that stood in the sand dunes for half a century, then was taken away by a storm. I will keep on dreaming that the little mouse landed on a safe place and was able to still enjoy the house, and they had a lot of fun adventures. A tale of the power of Mother Nature and how fleeting possessions are.

The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk, Kristen Adam (illus.), (List Price: $18.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593407776, May 2026)

Reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

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Goldfinches by Mary Oliver

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver is a beautiful book with gorgeous artwork and a gentle, thoughtful tone. It’s a wonderful introduction for kids to a great contemporary poet, while still being meaningful and enjoyable for adults. The illustrations are stunning and pair perfectly with the poetry, making this a lovely book to read together or enjoy quietly. This is a great pick for families, classrooms, and anyone who appreciates nature, poetry, and beautiful art.

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver, (List Price: $18.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593692417, March 2026)

Reviewed by Erika Patoni, in St. Simons Island, Georgia

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When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery

This book really made me pause. It explores the deep connection Black people have to land, trees, and botanical knowledge, and how that connection is tied to both legacy and trauma. Nature has always been part of our survival and resilience, even when it was shaped by enslavement, displacement, and loss. When Trees Testify reminds us that trees and land have witnessed our history. Reconnecting with our botanical roots isn’t just about plants…it’s about healing, reclaiming what was taken, and working through the trauma we’re still carrying. Thoughtful, reflective, a bit heavy…but honestly necessary.

When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery, (List Price: $27.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250335166, January 2026)

Reviewed by Morgan, The Book Worm Bookstore in Powder Springs, Georgia

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The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl, Billy Renkl (illus)

This book is a delightful visit to the weedy garden, from birds, butterflies, and bumblebees flying about to animals hopping, scurrying, and slithering through. The playful text paired with the gorgeous collage illustrations will make the reader hope for a visit.

The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl, Billy Renkl (illus), (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063432819, February 2026)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes

Anyone who has lived in North Carolina in the early months of the year knows this story well. Round these parts, Springtime arrives not in a great shower of blossoming color, but in a small sprinkling of brave little buds, little splashes of color against the brown; a few warm days followed by another month of frightful cold; the Warm Spring Sun peeking timidly through cloud fingers. This book uses simple language and gorgeous drawings to capture the strange push-and-pull of the changing season. Cozy and perfect for reading aloud!

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes, (List Price: $21.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063469259, February 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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