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The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers

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The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers
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A magical bookshop, a whodunnit, and a morally grey heroine wrapped in rich lore. This story is pure fantasy perfection. It’s so immersive, it doesn’t feel like reading at all… just magic.The characters feel alive, the mystery keeps you turning pages, and before you know it, ‘one more chapter’ becomes four hours later, and worth every second! You’ll miss the bookshop the moment you close the cover.

The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers, (List Price: $29, Redhook, 9780316561839, November 2025)

Reviewed by Erika Patoni, Righton Books in Saint Simons Island, Georgia

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A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

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A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
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Honey, the land!” No spoilers, but Simone St. James has really outdone herself with this twisty supernatural mystery/thriller. Every overturned stone along the plot’s path is captivating, and I never wanted to put it down. I love the sibling dynamics as they return to their haunted childhood home in search of answers regarding their little brother, who went missing at just 6 years old. The Broken Girls may still be my favorite, but this is a very close second.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, (List Price: $30, Berkley, 9780593200414, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jenny Ford, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto

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Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto
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Greek mythology inspires this debut romantasy, featuring a richly constructed magical world filled with political intrigue, spymasters, banished royalty, forbidden romance, trauma, and epic friendships. The author does an amazing job bringing both the story and its characters to life. We follow Aella, the female lead, whose point of view drives the narrative. Once a princess, she is disowned and cast into a guild of spymasters called The Aviary. After seven years of grueling work to prove herself, her first major assignment requires her to pretend to be a princess once more and entice a ruthless prince. Aella’s journey is deeply emotional and often painful, making her story incredibly compelling. The ending absolutely demands more.

Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto, (List Price: $30, The Dial Press, 9798217153824, February 2026)

Reviewed by Sandra Pinkney, Hills and Hamlets Bookshop in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia

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Self Portrait by Ludwig Volbeda

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Self Portrait by Ludwig Volbeda
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Self Portrait is a sweet and introspective story that follows a teen’s gender exploration. Told from the internal monologue of Jip, Ludwig portrays teenage thoughts, potentially from a neurodivergent lens, in an endearing way. The story also does a good job of initially not placing too much emphasis on gender identity at all, which evolves as the protagonist realizes that he is trans. This novella would be a great choice for any YA readers looking for a queer coming of age.

Self Portrait by Ludwig Volbeda, (List Price: $19.99, Levine Querido, 9781646145775, November 2025)

Reviewed by Aidan Walker, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

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Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey

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Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey
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Perfect for readers of Dolly Alderton’s Good Material. Wild story that is full of heart. I fell in love with Poppy, Jake AND Dandelion. Twisty family drama with themes of sisterhood, friendship, grief, and full of life-imploding moments. I can see this one on the big screen. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. Should be HUGE with the indies!

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey, (List Price: $30, Berkley, 9780593954348, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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The Wildest Thing by Emily Winfield Martin

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The Wildest Thing by Emily Winfield Martin
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Eleanor loves the wild outdoors. When she invites the wild inside, she spins and leaps like the animals outside. This beautiful picture book inspires imagination.

The Wildest Thing by Emily Winfield Martin, (List Price: $19.99, Random House Books for Young Readers, 9798217023981, January 2026)

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

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The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin

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The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin
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Dusapin’s novel depicts the heavy silence that has fallen between two sisters who love and understand each other but who can no longer connect. The characters struggle to find peace with their life choices and roles in one another’s lives. The Old Fire questions how an individual is defined by place, family, loss, and abandonment and how those definitions can impede growth and happiness. A quiet novel whose impact on the reader is anything but quiet.

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin, (List Price: $27, S&S/Summit Books, 9781668212219, January 2026)

Reviewed by Lera Shawver, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

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Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet
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Fantastic update to the classic story of Little Women – with modern sisters searching for Beth’s killer (which definitely wasn’t natural causes this time around). Great debut, excited to see what Katie Bernet does next.

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet, (List Price: $19.99, Sarah Barley Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Yo, 9781665988698, January 2026)

Reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, 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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I studied trees for my senior project in undergrad, and I remember the looks I would get when I tried to explain how magical these living beings are. My work explored plant autonomy and the ways humans interpret nature’s agency, but When Trees Testify deepens that understanding in ways I could have never imagined. The book’s poetic assertion that the breath of loved ones can remain alive through scientific processes is an astounding observation. It redefines the boundaries between the human and the natural. It reminds us that our actions are linked to the lives of the ecosystems we shape. When Trees Testify presents trees not as passive organisms, but as active participants—beings with resilience and a shared history.

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

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

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Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

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Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet
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Little Women is reimagined in a modern-day family and unfortunately, Beth is dead in chapter one. But who is responsible? Is it one of her famous sisters or someone else close to them? The answer unravels through twists and turns in this compelling novel.

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet, (List Price: $19.99, Sarah Barley Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Yo, 9781665988698, January 2026)

Reviewed by Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu

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The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu
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This delightful little book serves up some sweet life lessons through the use of magical candy. Each customer finds themselves at the Amberglow Candy Store at a critical point in their lives. Kogetsu, the mysterious proprietor is there to sell sweets that produce unexpected in the customers’ lives. A nice cozy read tied together with a final chapter that, like wagashi of the book, offers a surprising change in perspective.

The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu, (List Price: $28, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 9780593854921, November 2025)

Reviewed by Alex Schulz, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

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Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart
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How have most of us never heard of the American Plan? Donna Everhart’s new novel delves deeply into this troubling early-20th-century government program, propounded to keep servicemen healthy but used as a way to control women and their bodies. The State Farm colony she depicts is more prison than reform school, and the things that happen to the young women kept there would be hard to believe were they not based on actual historical records. After witnessing some difficult scenes of punishment and even medical mistreatment, I was grateful to watch the young women work together secretly to fight against the superintendent and her misguided authority. I rooted for Ruthie, an independent career woman; I felt for Stella, a pregnant teen abused by her father; and I marveled at the misunderstood Frances. This novel, perfect for book clubs, will start important conversations about the ongoing topic of women’s freedom and autonomy.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart, (List Price: $18.95, Kensington, 9781496740724, January 2026)

Reviewed by Lady Smith, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

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How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley

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How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley
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Spend a year in Wyoming in this one sitting read and you might just end up blaming the British, too. Dark, quirky, and complete with all the snarkiness of ’80s tween energy, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder will force you to confront the uncomfortable experiences of The Others. Agatha and Georgie’s story is so much more than a murder mystery; it’s about saving yourself and creating your own independence. Nina McConigley’s storytelling will stay with you for a long time — but most of all if teen magazine quizzes could be the solution to all things.

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley, (List Price: $26, Pantheon, 9780593702246, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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Mega Milk by Megan Milks

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Mega Milk by Megan Milks
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I’ve never consumed milk. If I did, my throat would close up, and I’d stare down death. Nevertheless, I drank Mega Milk straight from the udder. In a truly brilliant essay collection, Megan Milks takes a few seemingly simple things–a name, a glass of milk–and spirals them outward into a quiet, encompassing portrait of a life. Written with an intimate detail that causes forgotten memories to bubble to the surface, these essays cast a keen and penetrating eye to the small moments that make up a person. I will read and reread Mega Milk for years to come.

Mega Milk by Megan Milks, (List Price: $17.95, The Feminist Press at CUNY, 9781558613584, January 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

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The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
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I was thrilled to see this sequel coming out and Laura Dave absolutely nailed it, once again! We pick up exactly where we left off, and while most sequels spend the first 30 pages or so catching you up to the story, she does not waste our time, and we are thrown right into it. Not to worry, though, I remembered only the bare bones of the first book, and by telling this story on a dual timeline (now and years before), you get caught up bit by bit. Just like the first book, you will be racing through the pages to find out what happens next.

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave, (List Price: $29, Scribner, 9781668002964, January 2026)

Reviewed by Allyn Oliver, The Bluffton Bookshop in Bluffton, South Carolina

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