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The Lamb by Lucy Rose

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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Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams

Everything Alicia D. Williams does is gorgeous, and this picture book is no exception. The illustrations are phenomenal, and the message of a young girl’s strength and the power of music and community is exceptional. Loved it!

Nani and the Lion by Alicia D. Williams, (List Price: $19.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781665914222, February 2026)

Reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina

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Pierce Brown’s Red Rising: Sons of Ares Omnibus by Pierce Brown

I am mostly a fantasy girly, but I kept feeling drawn to Red Rising. The story is fast-paced and divided into three parts. I really enjoyed the first two, while the third was action-packed and, at times, felt a bit like The Hunger Games without the same emotional charge. That said, the characters are very well fleshed out, and the world-building is compelling. I have heard the other books in the trilogy are even better, and I am genuinely curious to see where the story goes. There are so many threads that feel ripe for major plot twists. I am especially interested in Darrow’s psyche after the transformation. It does not feel like only his body was changed. I am also curious to see whether Eo will continue to play a role in the resistance and how everything ultimately unfolds. A very well-crafted story that left me wanting more.

Pierce Brown’s Red Rising: Sons of Ares Omnibus by Pierce Brown, (List Price: $59.99, Dynamite Entertainment, 9781524127299, March 2026)

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

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Kin by Tayari Jones

Vernice and Annie, best friends and loyal companions since infancy, leave their hometown of Honeysuckle, Louisiana, on very different life trajectories. Jones vividly describes their journeys, allowing the reader to feel deeply each of the bumps along the road as Vernice attends Spelman College in Atlanta and Annie desperately seeks to establish a relationship with her birth mother in Memphis. The powerful bond these friends maintain across the miles and the years reminds us that we don’t have to be biologically related in order to be “kin.”

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

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

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Fire Line by Maggie Gates

I loveeee an emotionally stunted man and a stubborn woman….. Especially when they start to fall for each other and end up being a powerhouse couple. For sure looking forward to whatever Maggie puts out next!

Fire Line by Maggie Gates, (List Price: $19, Berkley, 9780593955963, March 2026)

Reviewed by Fiona, Givens Books & Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Virginia

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Bartleby by Matt Phelan

I love this story. Bartleby marches to his own drum, and his class gives him room to be himself and welcomes him on his own terms when he is ready to show warmth to them in his own way. Compelling and told through conversation, storytelling, and through the color scheme of the pictures to convey feelings, this book is a winner!

Bartleby by Matt Phelan, (List Price: $18.99, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374393557, March 2026)

Reviewed by Kimberly, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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The Loon Counters by Roger Sheffer

Roger Sheffer had me convinced The Loon Counters was not sixteen fictional stories but a real place with a community of year-round lake dwellers as well as visitors. Every page was filled with enviable scenery that called for hours of gazing at the lakes in all seasons while watching the loons and looking forward to sitting by a fire at night. Centered around an Adirondack general store with no cell service, the stories include an Olympic torchbearer, hikers, artists, a pianist, a violinist, and more, all connected to the beauty of the region. There is danger and heartbreak and love and threats alongside the incredible silent scenery of the lakes. The stories and characters are jig-saw-puzzled together through the years with Bruce, Martha, Russ, Linda, Albert, Luke, Max, Emma, Joan, Steve, Elise, Cheryl, James, Tristan, and Jayne to name a few. Readers will not want to leave the beauty of the world created in The Loon Counters.

The Loon Counters by Roger Sheffer, (List Price: $24.95, Syracuse University Press, 9780815612001, March 2026)

Reviewed by Nancy, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Kin by Tayari Jones

What a fantastic novel! I finished this book last week, and I am STILL thinking about it. This is such an important story about daughters without mothers. Tayari’s writing pulls you in the moment you begin the story. My heart and soul went out to Vernice and Annie. Seeing them attempt to conquer life and find love while searching for a mother’s love captures you from beginning to end. A story about the complexities of female relationships, especially among Black women. I cannot wait to put this book into as many hands as possible.

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

Reviewed by Kala Saxon, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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Kin by Tayari Jones

I’ve been waiting a long time for a new Tayari Jones novel, and this one was worth the wait. I was mesmerized by the stories of Niecy and Annie and a bond that is closer than blood. The novel made me examine who my own “kin” are and how I can honor that bond. As always with Jones, I also loved the Atlanta setting. Atlanta feels like a character of its own, and I love it!

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

Reviewed by Kandi, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

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Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

This book is about overcoming generational trauma, but also is a romance story. The protagonist in the story is a strong woman determined to survive and make a new life for herself. If you liked Black Cake, which I did, you will love this book!

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, (List Price: $29.99, Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464229220, February 2026)

Reviewed by Cheryl, 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Peachtree Corners, Georgia

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A Year of Kites by Monisha Bajaj

A Year of Kites is an informative book about the role kites play in traditions around the world. Replete with beautiful illustrations, it would be a nice addition to elementary classrooms, allowing teachers to combine multiple subjects in their lesson planning: the history of kites, following the directions to use artistic skill to create individual kites, and assessing proper wind conditions needed for kite flying. Sounds like a fun afternoon to me as the kids also will get a few steps in as they let ’em soar!

A Year of Kites by Monisha Bajaj, (List Price: $18.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547612246, February 2026)

Reviewed by Barb, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Eradication by Jonathan Miles

I very much enjoyed this quick read about Adi, who is given a bizarre and challenging task. Miles does a beautiful job of peeling back Adi’s past and personality, and how that results in a man who ultimately makes his own decisions despite the dictates he has been given. Nature, man’s impact on the environment, who’s really at fault here – so many questions to consider. A thoughtful little read with a big ending.

Eradication by Jonathan Miles, (List Price: $25, Doubleday, 9780385551915, February 2026)

Reviewed by Christina, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

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Traversal by Maria Popova

Maria Popova once again illuminates how science and poetry have reckoned with “the bewilderment of being alive” while reconnoitering truths of the body, soul, spirit, and space, all through the intertwining loves, lives, and labors of visionaries like Mary Shelley, Walt Whitman, Frederick Douglass, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, Ruth Benedict, and others. Popova writes brilliant, fluid, lively nonfiction—like floating down a river of science, poetry, history, and stars.

Traversal by Maria Popova, (List Price: $36, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 9780374616410, February 2026)

Reviewed by Megan, The Underground Bookshop in Carrollton, Georgia

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On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

I read this one in two sittings. While a lot more Eurocentric than I was expecting, this little book was simple to follow and SUPER informative. I would recommend to all of “my fellow Americans”.

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder, (List Price: $22, Crown, 9798217087952, May 2025)

Reviewed by LJ, Shelf Life Books in Richmond, Virginia

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The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass

The Great Gatsby was my favorite assigned book in school. I am always up for reading a retelling. This was such a unique retelling of the beloved classic. I loved the incorporation of the Tulsa Race Massacre into the story. I am also a huge fan of books taking place in Harlem, especially during the Harlem Renaissance. The diversity and representation are seen throughout the novel. This would be a great book for reluctant readers who are familiar with the original story. I

The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063312487, January 2026)

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

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