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The Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day

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The Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day
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A perfect blend of absurdity and philosophical musing, this novel takes on the perspectives of Gelsomina, an elderly French Bulldog, and the worms that are killing her. Controlled from the outside by the confines of her owners and now from the inside, Gelsomina provides us with beautiful meditations on autonomy, love, and the meaning of life. There is a stark contrast created by the pairing of heavy introspective text with base desire and the simple reality of existing that serves to better carry these complex themes, and it carries them well. The nauseating intimacy of parasitism is not to be forgotten and can even be found in the most surprising of places, like reflections on the glass house Gelsomina lives in. I find it almost hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I am ecstatic to see experimental works like these published.

The Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day, (List Price: $28, Astra House, 9781662603372, March 2026)

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

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Stalactite & Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer

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Stalactite & Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer
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A fun way for kids to learn about nature and the passage of time. Not a subject that is written about a lot for kids, but this not only talks about geology, but also talks about evolution and great correlation for how long it takes for any change to take place in any environment.

Stalactite & Stalagmite by Drew Beckmeyer, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665926638, March 2025)

Reviewed by Jamie, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Winter by Val McDermid

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Winter by Val McDermid
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I absolutely adored this book. Val is so vivid with her imagery that her recounting of childhood memories makes them feel like my own. You could really see her crime writer background come through in her painting of winter as noir, her romanticization of the darkness. I learned so much about Scottish culture, too! This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a short read to make you fall in love with winter.

Winter by Val McDermid, (List Price: $22, Atlantic Monthly Press, 9780802167811, January 2026)

Reviewed by Aidan, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL

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Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich

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Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich
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What a lovely book! The accompanying illustrations by her daughter make the stories even more elegant and moving. Erdrich is a master storyteller, and each of these stories brings us into a carefully crafted world full of grit, poignancy, heartbreak, and resilience. If there’s anyone still out there who hasn’t read Louise Erdrich, this would make a wonderful gift for them– a glorious way to enter her unique world.

Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich, (List Price: $32, Harper, 9780063375000, March 2026)

Reviewed by Liz Feeney, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate

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Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
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Absolute perfection. I am a sucker for a novel in verse, and Katherine Applegate is a master of the genre. She packs so much action, empathy, and emotional depth into those short passages. I’m in awe. And – I’M IN LOVE WITH WOMBAT. This charming story about a stray dog, a displaced boy, a small owl, and a lonely bat is one that will absolutely win you over. It will be a great ‘bridge’ book for kids moving out of early chapter books into more robust novels.

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, (List Price: $19.99, Storytide, 9780063221178, May 2026)

Reviewed by Kate, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
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I really loved Simon’s voice, but I loved all of the characters and truly wish that there were more folks like Simon’s group of friends and supporters. Becky Albertalli has given us a beautiful coming-of-age story that leaves the reader with much to think about. Through the voices of her characters, she has done a fine job of pointing out the many outdated prejudices and assumptions still held by too many in today’s world and how unfair and unnecessary they are. I have long believed that it will be the current generation that will finally achieve the change that we need and allow issues of sexual identity to become a thing of the past, and this book and these wonderful characters give voice to many insights that are spot on. Absolutely everyone should read this book!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, (List Price: $17.99, HarperCollins, 9780062839701, January 2018)

Reviewed by Emoke, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina

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Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner

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Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner
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Eighth grade graduation, the start of summer break, a pool party to which the whole class is invited, and underneath it all, the complex ecosystem of junior high. Socially awkward Dustin is doing his best to host the party, wallflower Rose is working on her Junior High Goals checklist, Liv is auditioning new best friends, and mean girl Maya is discovering that she may have to start being nicer if she wants real friendships. I smiled, cringed, and laughed as I followed all these dramas. The story slides from one scene into another like a soap opera. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner, (List Price: $21.99, Labyrinth Road, 9798217031429, April 2026)

Reviewed by Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR

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Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

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Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein
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In this wickedly funny yet touching novel, the reader follows Jean as she recalls a turbulent summer spent studying French churches and persecuted saints, watching the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal unfold on television, and sparking an unseemly relationship with her much older teacher. Featuring an all-knowing heavenly Monica Lewinsky, breathtaking moments of irony and beauty, and an array of saintly women, this novel—evocative and timely—enchanted me beyond words. Praise Saint Monica—tortured unjustly not for her actions, but for his.

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

Reviewed by Joshua, The Underground Bookshop in Carrollton, GA

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Only a Little While Here by María Ospina

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Only a Little While Here by María Ospina
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I picked this book up two days after the loss of my 15-year-old beagle, and I am so glad I didn’t put it right down. The first story alone – about the love of a dog for her person – made the book more than worth the time. I was her person, and now I truly understand the depth of her devotion. As a full-fledged imaginer, I think all the time about what animals, birds, and bugs even think as they navigate the same world we do. These stories brought my vague notions alive. What do migrating birds think about on long, solitary flights compelled only by instincts? Why does that wasp continue to dig and tunnel and finally surface to a life that is fraught from the beginning? The scientific among us may scoff at these stories. Anyone who has owned a beagle knows they are true.

Only a Little While Here by María Ospina, (List Price: $28, Scribner, 9781668097083, March 2026)

Reviewed by Doloris, Book No Further in Roanoke, VA

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The Motherload by Sarah Hoover

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The Motherload by Sarah Hoover
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Tired of the picture-perfect portrayals of motherhood? The Motherload is the raw, unflinching memoir you’ve been waiting for. Sarah Hoover bravely tackles the difficult truths of pregnancy and postpartum life, including anxiety, trauma, and postpartum depression—topics often left out of the conversation. She shatters the myth of the “perfect mother” and the idea of immediate, blissful connection with your child, replacing it with a candid account of her own struggles. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like an imposter in their own life and is a powerful and necessary addition to the world of women’s literature.

The Motherload by Sarah Hoover, (List Price: $20, S&S/Simon Element, 9781668010143, April 2026)

Reviewed by Kimberly, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly

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The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Perfect for fans of The Wild Robot. Kelly created a wonderful story about the friendship between a girl, Zuzu, and her guardian robot, Snap. The book, in only 176 pages, covers a lot of important themes, like AI, climate change, and class. In a dystopian future where the wealthiest control the population with the help of machines, a group of kids tries to get by until an old guardian robot is added to the mix. The book also teaches the power of human connection. A great read. I would not be surprised if Kelly gets another award with this one!

The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly, (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063485952, May 2026)

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

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Poetry Says It Better by Ellen Burstyn

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Poetry Says It Better by Ellen Burstyn
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A very personal and at the same time universal poetry collection tied together by insights from Burstyn’s life. Short introductions and afterthoughts provide context and glimpses into Burstyn’s life. This will be a great book for reluctant poetry readers and old hands open to finding new meanings.

Poetry Says It Better by Ellen Burstyn, (List Price: $26.99, HarperOne, 9780063387683, April 2026)

Reviewed by Jan, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery

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When Trees Testify by Beronda L. Montgomery
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Trees transform our exhalations into parts of themselves, embodying the breath of those who live and work near them. Montgomery’s stories and observations, organized around eight species, show us what trees can teach us about ourselves, our histories, and our society.

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

Reviewed by Chris, Shelf Life Books in Richmond, Virginia

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