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Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne

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Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne
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LOVED this one! So cute and cozy. I’m not normally the type to pick up a lot of sci-fi, but I’m so glad I picked up Moss’d in Space. I really enjoyed seeing our characters develop throughout the book, especially Moss. What an incredible life support system! The interactions between Moss and Torian varied so much from sweet and emotion-filled to witty, with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. And the ending page of the epilogue?? Very fitting that they were all still getting into mishaps ‘til the very last second.If you are looking for a cozy sapphic read that has an amazing found family (from all over space) and will keep you laughing along the way, definitely give this a go!

Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne, (List Price: $18.99, Bramble, 9781250414144, June 2026)

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

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Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan

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Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan
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“What was your childhood like? You never talk about it.” Brad asked his grandmother to tell him about her life….how many of us wish we had someone to listen to us or that we had asked questions before loved ones died? With the astonishing beauty of the sixty-three national parks containing all the flowers and plants and wild creatures, readers will sit in the back seat and hear all the joys and tumult of this family’s life. The author and grandson Brad Ryan is a veterinarian who lives with the agony of his solitary life and the pain he carries from his childhood. Grandma Joy is not a woman who shares feelings and loves, but in her 90 years has experienced many of life’s tragedies. Reading this book forces readers to see all the resplendence and majesty of the parks while trodding up countless steps for viewing and sleeping and snoring on an air mattress in a tent. All will long remember the journeys of Brad and Grandma Joy and think about completing them with a 90-year-old relative. It is quite the adventure.

Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan, (List Price: $29, Simon & Schuster, 9781668099261, June 2026)

Reviewed by Nancy, Bookmiser in Marietta, GA

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
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The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite classics, so I absolutely had to pick up Laura Steven’s reimagining of the story. Part horror-thriller, part romance, Every Exquisite Thing follows Penny as she bargains for immortal beauty in the cutthroat world of models and acting. But things aren’t as they seem at her drama school, and once the bodies start dropping, Penny finds herself in a race against the clock to stay alive. Steven offers sharp reflections on the cost of identity in a beauty-obsessed society that’s willing to resort to violence for the sake of perfection.

Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, (List Price: $15, Wednesday Books, 9781250346797, May 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
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I loved Our Infinite Fates, so when I saw Laura Stevens was coming out with another book, I went wild with excitement. Laura’s way of telling a story is so compelling, and it keeps you focused. I absolutely loved this retelling of Dorian Gray, and it made me want to re-read the classic. Laura did an amazing job setting the story in today’s times, in a fictional academy called Dorian Drama School. She mixed themes that are extremely important in this day and age for girls struggling with their image, self-love, and acceptance. In the right hands, it can be a very powerful book. Laura condemns the beauty industry that forces women to chase an impossible standard, and she does this in a fast-paced, thrilling mystery retelling. I really enjoyed the ending too. It leaves the door open to the mystery of the painter, and I can’t wait to see what Laura will write next!Personal note (not part of the review): I wish there were no explicit scene in the book. I feel this can make it more difficult for the book to reach its audience. Without the open-door scene, this book could easily be recommended to younger young adults and reach a much wider audience.

Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, (List Price: $15, Wednesday Books, 9781250346797, May 2026)

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

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
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I don’t read a lot of YA, but after loving Laura Steven’s adult debut, I came across this book billed as a reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and I knew there was potential for something great. Thankfully, I was right! This is the type of YA novel I would give to my 14-year-old daughter to read because the author holds to the tenets of YA writing without “dumbing down” the prose. She also put a modern spin on the classic themes to make them more relevant to Gen Z teenagers. The exploration of themes like body image, identity, and self-discovery is handled deftly. Steven takes her time building the characters so the denouement has a deep impact. The characters could have been plucked from real life, and the author takes care in making the cast diverse. The setting was haunting and twisted, just as a gothic horror should be. I would absolutely recommend this book for teens.

Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, (List Price: $15, Wednesday Books, 9781250346797, May 2026)

Reviewed by Lara, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven

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Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven
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YA fantasy/horror with beautiful writing and a creepy atmosphere that slowly pulls you in. The story takes place at an elite drama academy and follows Penny, who wants the lead role badly enough to make some dangerous choices. It’s a sapphic twist on The Picture of Dorian Gray, with intense rival energy and so much tension. The horror is more unsettling than gory, which made it even better. I also really appreciated the representation of mental health, eating disorders, alopecia, and type one diabetes. Completely unforgettable!

Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, (List Price: $15, Wednesday Books, 9781250346797, May 2026)

Reviewed by Sandra, Hills & Hamlets Bookshop in Chattahoochee Hills, GA

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AMMAZZA! by Hillary Sterling

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AMMAZZA! by Hillary Sterling
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“From the live-fire kitchen of Ci Siamo comes Ammazza!, the definitive guide to the soulful, high-impact cooking that made Chef Hillary Sterling a New York icon. Blending her Brooklyn Jewish roots with elite Italian technique, Sterling delivers a masterclass in seasonal flavor. With over 100 recipes—from rustic pastas to surprising global feasts—this is more than a cookbook; it’s an invitation to cook with confidence, curiosity, and a healthy dose of smoke. In Rome, Ammazza! means ‘Wow.’ In your kitchen, it means ‘I’m definitely having a third bowl of pasta, and no, I don’t want to hear about your keto diet.'”

AMMAZZA! by Hillary Sterling, (List Price: $40, Scribner, 9781668068717, May 2026)

Reviewed by Mevelyn, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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The Body Riddle by Sam K. MacKinnon

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The Body Riddle by Sam K. MacKinnon
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The Body Riddle is a coming-of-age story that happens later in life. It captures the uncertainty of stepping into a new body and the panic of wondering if a decision can be right even after years of thinking it through. Lex’s experience is shaped by constant change and stagnant repose, learning how to navigate their worldview as they uncover new truths about themselves. At the center of the story is the importance of gay community. Even when Lex is unsure, withdrawn, or lashes out, the people around them continue to show up. As a transmasc autistic character, Lex is deeply unsure of their own importance, shaped by years of not being out or fully honest about who they are. This self-doubt makes them an unreliable narrator at times. The Body Riddle is less about having answers and more about allowing yourself the time and care to keep asking questions, even when you think you should already know who you are.

The Body Riddle by Sam K. MacKinnon, (List Price: $21.99, House of Anansi Press, 9781487013912, May 2026)

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

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Collapse by Édouard Louis

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Collapse by Édouard Louis
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When you have a relative who is simply a bomb waiting to go off, their death is both complicated and almost nothing at all. This is what Louis exposes with his brother. Delving into the details of compassion and violence from others’ perspectives, it doesn’t take long to realize his trajectory was a painfully common one. Instead, it is the approach and awareness Louis has of his own emotion, and lack thereof, that make this a meaningful read. This is not a title to open up lightly, not if you aren’t prepared to hear what is both a poetic and distant unraveling of a troubled life. The trauma of his brother doesn’t justify his mistakes though; it can only help to better understand them. Instead of excusing or even solely blaming his brother for the abuse and addiction, Louis allows the question of responsibility to linger even far past the final page, acknowledging there is no possible clean answer for a life that is fraught.

Collapse by Édouard Louis, (List Price: $26, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 9780374616830, June 2026)

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

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Casting April by Wendy Lu

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Casting April by Wendy Lu
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April has always dreamed herself under the bright lights of a Broadway stage, but after spending her whole life navigating the wrong kind of attention for her tracheostomy tube, does April really want to put herself in the spotlight? Will anyone else be able to look beyond her disability to the talented actor in front of them? And when April knows she has been treated unfairly, can she find the confidence to speak up? An endearing story about not being afraid to go after what you want, and not being afraid to ask for what you deserve. Readers will love April’s heart, passion, and grit.

Casting April by Wendy Lu, (List Price: $17.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9798217030286, June 2026)

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

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The Tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick

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The Tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick
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Whoa, what a silly, goofy time. Absolutely the definition of camp. Immediately, you can tell that this book is not to be taken seriously and is intended to be incredibly cheesy. But also, aren’t all spy films incredibly cheesy? It’s not typically my sort of genre, but the narrator did such a fabulous job that I had to keep going!

The Tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick, (List Price: $28, Atria Books, 9781668212615, May 2026)

Reviewed by Itzy, M. Judson, Booksellers in Greenvillel, SC

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It’s Only Drowning by David Litt

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It's Only Drowning by David Litt
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I don’t know anything really about surfing, but I super loved this memoir by former Obama speechwriter David Litt. In the throes of pandemic-lockdown-induced doomscrolling, Litt found himself desperately in need of something to pull him out of his slump, and that something was surfing. Join him on his journey from foamy-riding newbie to surviving Hawaii’s infamous North Shore. Along for the ride – perhaps begrudgingly at first – is his brother-in-law, with whom Litt has next to nothing in common, except the hunt for the perfect break. The joy and mental growth that comes from learning a hard new thing – and finding common ground with someone at polar opposites – is inspiring and so very funny.

It’s Only Drowning by David Litt, (List Price: $19, Gallery Books, 9781668035368, June 2026)

Reviewed by Amanda, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, FL

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Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner

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Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner
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A fun retelling of Cinderella featuring a very empowered Axolotl. What’s not to love? Perfect for the rebel little princess in your life. The book is also filled with interesting facts about these magnificent amphibians!

Axolotl-Ella by Kate Messner, (List Price: $18.99, Ten Speed Young Readers, 9780593837993, June 2026)

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

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Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa

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Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa
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This was everything I hoped it to be and more! A perfect sapphic tale that reminded me of my days of getting into romance books as a teen, reading about changelings. This book was so cozy and sweet, but it definitely had some dark moments that really elevated the storyline. I absolutely LOVED the color palettes. Just wow. The color of blood in different panels was in such stark contrast to everything else and just worked so well. Forget-Me-Not was so snarky and sarcastic, but I feel like she just needed her space to be herself, and she found it with Aisling. Sobbing. 5 stars.

Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa, (List Price: $26.99, First Second, 9781250784162, April 2026)

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

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You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

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You Won't Forget Me by Mazey Eddings
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In this contemporary romance, we meet Cubby and Darcy, best friends navigating life in a chaotic indie band full of breakups, fake dating, and internet drama. One drunken night changes everything, even though they both pretend it never happened. Between touring, social media spirals, and years of buried feelings, the tension keeps building. Funny, emotional, and full of heart, this queer friends-to-lovers romance delivers music, messy feelings, and the kind of love story you will not want to miss.

You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250343840, June 2026)

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

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