The SBR Newsletter

An Earth Day list for young (and young at heart) readers.

As April comes to a close, there is one celebration we have yet to mark. Last week, on April 22nd, the world observed Earth Day in honor of our much-beleaguered and beautiful planet. While the day is often given to community action, such as recycling events, beach clean-ups, or tree-planting, it is also a day to recognize and feel grateful for the incredible biodiversity hosted by our blue planet, and to think about our own part in it.

Bookstore events range from raffles to author readings, games to free snacks, storytimes to open mics. Many stores invite other local businesses to celebrate with them — local restaurants and food vendors, brew pubs, artists and artisans, and in one case, a local plant nursery. As the Book Wyrm and Other Oddities in Douglasville, GA says, “Come for the books, stay for the community.”

A Young Reader’s List on Nature and the Environment

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!

– Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, LA

The Outermost Mouse by Lauren Wolk

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. 

– Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl

This book is a delightful visit to the weedy garden, from birds, butterflies, and bumblebees flying about to animals hopping, scurrying, and slithering through.

– Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver

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.

– Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA

Is It Spring? by Kevin Henkes

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!
–  Charlie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina


Find more recommendations at SBR

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Featuring reviews of:

• • • • Poetry Says It Better by Ellen Burstyn, reviewed by Jan, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

• • • • Only a Little While Here by María Ospina, reviewed by Doloris, Book No Further in Roanoke, VA

    • • The Motherload by Sarah Hoover, reviewed by Kimberly, Square Books in Oxford, MS

    • • Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner, reviewed by Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR

• • • • Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, reviewed by Kate, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky

    • • Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, reviewed by Emoke, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina

• • Bookseller Buzz: Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein, reviewed by Matt, A Cappella Books, Atlanta, Georgia; Amanda, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, Florida; Joshua, The Underground Bookshop, Carrollton, Georgia 

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Where will you be on Independent Bookstore Day?

April 25 is Independent Bookstore Day, which may not be an official national holiday, but certainly deserves to be a worldwide party. Have you checked in with your local bookstore to see what they are planning? Over 2000 independent bookstores are celebrating (there is a map), and there are a number of “bookstore crawls,” which is like a pub crawl, only you get drunk on literature. Bookstore events range from raffles to author readings, games to free snacks, storytimes to open mics. Many stores invite other local businesses to celebrate with them — local restaurants and food vendors, brew pubs, artists and artisans, and in one case, a local plant nursery. As the Book Wyrm and Other Oddities in Douglasville, GA says, “Come for the books, stay for the community.”

A Reading List for Arab American Heritage Month

Homeland by Hannah Moushabeck A love letter to a people and place we see far too little of in books and media. It is time for more books like Hannah’s to teach us about Palestinians and their beautiful culture. – Rayna, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana Silken Gazelles by Jokha Alharthi Perfect for Ferrante and Rooney fans, for anyone who’s lost a friend and searched for her in every shadow of their life. A haunting and dazzling story. – Emily, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama The Coin by Yasmin Zaher Zaher ruminates on statelessness, nature, opulence, and beauty in the narrator’s slow spiral. The Coin is an incredible debut! – Kelsey, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida Song for the Missing by Pierre Jarawan This one here is a perfectly paced and passionate ode to Lebanon, family drama and young friendship, served up like a mystery. – Ian McCord, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah Full of longing and regret, Bride of the Sea tells the story of Muneer and Saeedah, a newly married couple from Saudi Arabia living in Ohio. –  Jessica, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina Find more recommendations at SBR

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Featuring reviews of:

• • Gilgamesh translated by Simon Armitage, reviewed by Doron, Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana

• • Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, reviewed by Sarah, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
  • The Feather Wars by James McCommons, reviewed by Jim, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia
  • The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey, reviewed by Itzy, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

• • Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess, reviewed by Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, reviewed by Olivia, Shelf Life Books in Richmond, Virginia

• Bookseller Buzz: Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar, reviewed by Erika, Righton Books, St. Simon’s Island, Georgia; Flora, Epilogue Books, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Rachel, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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A moon shot reading list in honor of Artemis 2

Emily Dickinson once said, “If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” In April, SBR celebrates Poetry Month by leading each week’s newsletter with a review of a recently published book of poetry beloved by Southern booksellers. And because few things in life are more poetic than the moon and our desire to reach out and touch it, here is a lunar reading list, recommended by booksellers, dedicated to the crew of Artemis 2, and the efforts of all the people who made their flight possible.

A Lunar Reading List

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage It’s hard to believe that this multifaceted novel is a debut. It’s about Native American history, identity, and culture, about how the past – and the stories we tell ourselves about it – shapes our futures, and ultimately about family and the need for connection with others. I loved To the Moon and Back, well, to the moon and back. – Jude, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi Moonbound by Robin Sloan Readers. brace yourself for a journey 13,000 years into the future, where the destiny of the world rests upon the shoulders of a young boy called to fulfill his destiny but ultimately takes matters into his own hands. Moonbound feels both timeless and completely new in a way that only Robin Sloan could deliver. – Beth, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Life on the Moon by Matthew Swanson, Robbi Behr (illus.) 12 year-old Leo joins the first moon colony. Exciting! Until his father disappears and Leo sets out to find him, encountering shocking surprises on the way. What if everything he’s been told about the moon is a lie? – Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova An adorable, imaginative escapist read for children and adults alike. Written by poet and essayist Maria Popova, Perfect for ages 5 to 8, this book supposes that the cure to loneliness is the happiness and creativity found in solitude. Enchanting, otherworldly, and so beautifully illustrated! – Julia, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Featuring reviews of:

• • Horses by Jake Skeets, reviewed by Oliver, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

• • Fire Line by Maggie Gates, reviewed by Fiona, Givens Books & Little Dickens in Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Anywhere Else by Rachel Knox, reviewed by Candice, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida
  • Charmed and Dangerous by Shelley Page, reviewed by Faith, Resist Booksellers in Petersburg, Virginia

• • Where I Grew by Jashar Awan, reviewed by Grace, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
  • A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh, reviewed by Nyawira, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

• Bookseller Buzz: The Book of I by David Greig, reviewed by Holly. The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, North Carolina; Amanda, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, Florida; VaLinda, Turning Page Bookshop in Charleston, South Carolina

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Celebrating independent and small presses

The month of March may be best known for Women’s History Month, for St. Patrick’s Day, for March Madness, and even for the time of year clocks spring forward, costing us an hour’s worth of much-needed sleep. But in the book world, it is also Small Press Month — a time to celebrate all the dedicated, quirky, idealistic, idiosyncratic, visionary, driven, and passionate book people who bring books to readers that might otherwise never see the light of day. Many of your favorite authors first found a home in a small independent press. Not a few of the books on any bestseller list were first published by the indie presses.

Top 40 nonfiction books from small presses at Bookshop.org

It is an act of faith when a reader picks up a book by an unfamiliar author. But just as readers trust the opinions of indie booksellers on what they should read next, readers can trust that the books published by indie presses are worth putting at the top of the what-to read-next list.

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Featuring reviews of:

• The Creek, the Crone, and the Crow by Leah Weiss, reviewed by Mary, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia
• Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell, reviewed by Tori, Union Avenue Books in Knoxville, Tennessee
• Partially Devoured by Daniel Kraus, reviewed by Lily, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
• Downfall 3 Above the Black by Marc J. Gregson, reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
  
• How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mireille Messier, reviewed byKelly, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (illus.), reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina
• The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasime Warga, reviewed by Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
• Bookseller Buzz: The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann, reviewed by Claire, River & Hill Books in Rome, Georgia; Jessica, E. Shaver, Booksellers, Savannah , Georgia; Amanda, Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg , Florida; Joshua Lambie, The Underground Bookshop, Carrollton, Georgia 

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March 22, 2026

Honoring Women’s Stories.

If you were to sort all the reviews published in The Southern Bookseller Review by their subject tags, you would find 185 labeled “Women.” It is one of the most popular tags used on the site, and 185 does seem like a lot of books, until you realize that SBR has published over 3000 book reviews.

This month, we celebrate the importance of women’s history and women’s stories, of which we’ve only scratched the surface of what is there to be told.

Women’s History Month Booklists:

Women’s History Month bookseller adult fiction picks

Women’s History Month bookseller nonfiction picks

Her Story: Memoirs and biographies of history’s heroines

2026 Woman’s Prize for Fiction long list
Books tagged “women” on SBR

Books tagged “feminist” on SBR

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Featuring reviews of:

• A Suit or A Suitcase by Maggie Smith, reviewed by Sandra, Hills and Hamlets Bookshop in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia
• All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun, reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
• Adult Braces by Lindy West, reviewed by Chelsea, Union Avenue Books in Knoxville, Tennessee
• The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa, reviewed by Fisher, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky
  
• The Curse Breaker by Jen Calonita, reviewed by  Judith, Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Looking for Alaska by John Green, reviewed by Nichole, Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe in Pensacola, Florida
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser, reviewed by Sarah, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
• Bookseller Buzz: Under Water by Tara Menon, reviewed by Kathy, Sundog Books, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Allyn, The Bluffton Bookshop, Bluffton, South Carolina; Beth, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 

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March 10, 2026

Upcoming books for young readers.

The best way to encourage kids to read is to give them really great books. Read This Next! Kids is a list of books for young readers coming out this month and next that Southern indie booksellers can’t wait to share with kids (and their parents!).

Read This Next! Kids March/April

The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga

A delightful tale of rescue dog Finnegan and cheetah cub Chase. When the zookeeper needs a friend for the cheetah cub she’s training, Finnegan accompanies her to the zoo, finding friendship in an unlikely place. This is a story of soaring hope and kindness.

– Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach by Scott Rothman, Linzie Hunter (Illus.)

Judgy Bunny will steal your heart with her cuteness, even though she’s very, VERY grouchy. Adorable, relatable, with bright, fun illustrations that are sure to turn any sour mood around. Perfect for a read-aloud!

– Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Loops by Jashar Awan

Such a cute story about a child learning how to become a “big kid” and the importance of not losing their shoe. I loved how the book gently teaches kids how to tie their shoelaces in a fun, simple way.

– Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia

Gunnar the Viking’s Great Pizza Adventure by Diego Vaisberg

A cute story about a conqueror who is missing something and finds his missing piece when he tries a slice of pizza! The illustrations are hilarious: the snake with the knife, the pizza disaster, the wave of tomato sauce and Viking boat on an actual wave scene is amazing.

– Kait, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder, LeUyen Pham (Illus.)

Gorgeous, and a helpful context for young readers about anxiety and worry. How do we do big things when we feel small? How do we shore ourselves up when the occasion demands it? Snyder, as always, provides gentle, reflective solutions to hard questions.

– Amelia, Long Story Books in Atlanta, Georgia

Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions by Ahmad Saber

Ramin is a Pakistani-Canadian boy who just wants to get through his senior year at his Muslim high school without anyone finding out that he’s gay. Ramin’s sincerity, questions, and earnest attempts to find a path that honored all parts of himself captured my heart.

– Fisher, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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Featuring reviews of:

• Whidbey by T Kira Madden, reviewed by Kandi, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas
• The Loon Counters, reviewed by Nancy, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
• The Beginning Comes After the End by Rebecca Solnit, reviewed by Megan, The Underground Bookshop in Carrollton, Georgia
• Red Rising Sons of Ares Omnibus by Pierce Brown, reviewed by Erika, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia
  
• Bartleby by Matt Phelan, reviewed by Kimberly, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, reviewed by Nichole, Bodacious Bookstore and Cafe in Pensacola, Florida
• The Lions’ Run by Sara Pennypacker, reviewed by Susan , M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina
• Bookseller Buzz: 200 Monas by Jan Saenz, reviewed by Anna, The Underground Bookshop, Carrollton, Georgia; Zack, Novel., Memphis, Tennessee; Kate, Plaid Elephant Books, Danville, Kentucky; Annastasia, The Bottom, Knoxville, Tennessee 

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• Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, reviewed by Cheryl, 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Peachtree Corners, Georgia
• Eradication by Jonathan Miles, reviewed by Christina, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama
• Traversal by Maria Popova, reviewed by Megan, The Underground Bookshop in Carrollton, Georgia
• Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean, reviewed by Amy, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama
  
• Yulu’s Linen by Cao Wenxuan, reviewed by Kimberly, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, reviewed by Gabriela, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Raising Hare by Chloe Dalto, reviewed by Cathy, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
• Bookseller Buzz: Kin by Tayari Jones, reviewed by Burch, Righton Books, St Simons Island, Georgia; Kala, M. Judson, Booksellers, Greenville, South Carolina; Kandi, Wordsworth Books, Little Rock, Arkansas; Jude, Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi 

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March 1, 2026

March books to watch out for.

Based on the conviction that you can never have too many good books, Read This Next! is a list of books coming out next month that Southern indie booksellers are especially excited about.

Read This Next! March

Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell

Fridman-Tell writes characters whose thoughts, worries, and flaws spill off the page into people and experiences I’m sure most readers know in some way. This was a simultaneously familiar and altogether unique reading experience.  –Tori, Union Avenue Books in Knoxville, Tennessee

Whidbey by T Kira Madden

The best thing about this book was how nuanced it is while still telling a story that never excuses horrific behavior. She manages to capture the gray in every character, showing us the full range of humanity in both the victim and the perpetrator, as well as the people who love each. – Kandi, WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

A Suit or a Suitcase: Poems by Maggie Smith

This beautiful poetry collection looks at the connection between mind and body and the ways our sense of self shifts over time…A quiet, powerful read that stays with you. – Sandra, Hills and Hamlets Bookshop in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia

In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man: A Memoir by Tom Junod

Our fathers were still our fathers, and we love them regardless of their foibles as this elegant and elegiac memoir shows. Tom Junod took me back to my childhood and I saw my father, and with an honesty I don’t have shares with us with his father warts and all. – Pete, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina

The Creek, The Crone, and the Crow by Leah Weiss

It’s a gift and a joy to read one of Leah Weiss’s books. Her descriptions of the natural world and well-crafted characters stay with you for years. She writes intelligently yet lovingly about Appalachia and the people who live in the small community of Baines Creek. – Mary, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia

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Featuring reviews of:

• Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, reviewed by Cheryl, 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Peachtree Corners, Georgia
• Eradication by Jonathan Miles, reviewed by Christina, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama
• Traversal by Maria Popova, reviewed by Megan, The Underground Bookshop in Carrollton, Georgia
• Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean, reviewed by Amy, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama
  
• Yulu’s Linen by Cao Wenxuan, reviewed by Kimberly, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, reviewed by Gabriela, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Raising Hare by Chloe Dalto, reviewed by Cathy, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
• Bookseller Buzz: Kin by Tayari Jones, reviewed by Burch, Righton Books, St Simons Island, Georgia; Kala, M. Judson, Booksellers, Greenville, South Carolina; Kandi, Wordsworth Books, Little Rock, Arkansas; Jude, Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi 

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• Eating Ashes by Brenda Navarro, reviewed by Charlie, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
• Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg, reviewed by Ryan, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
• Linger by Hetty Lui McKinnon, reviewed by Jamie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  
  
• Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown, reviewed by Eden, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
  
  
• Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Bhojani Playforth, Julia Bereciartu (Illus.), reviewed by Kait, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama
• Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta, reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  
  
• Vigil by George Saunders, reviewed by Savannah Laughlin, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Bookseller Buzz: All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson | 2026 Newbery Medal Winner, reviewed by Sheri Bancroft, Novel., Memphis, Tennessee; Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, Georgia; Lupe Penn, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The week of February 3, 2026

February books to look out for…and a scavenger hunt!

Voting has closed for the Southern Book Prize, but readers can still have some fun learning about the finalist books while we wait for the winners to be announced on February 14th. The Southern Book Prize Scavenger Hunt starts on Monday. Visit SBR on Instagram Monday morning to start your whirlwind tour through the Southern Book Prize books and the booksellers who love them. People who finish the Scavenger Hunt can enter into a raffle for a $100 gift card to your Southern Indie bookstore.

Southern Book Prize honors the best books of last year, but a new month also means a new Read This Next! list of what booksellers think are some of the best books coming out this month:

"This is how you write historical fiction," says The Book Worm Bookstore about Sadeqa Johnson’s Keeper of Lost Children. Murder Bimbo gave me just what I needed – a messy, unreliable narrator, a political-ish point of view that’s long on wit and style," writes Tombolo Books. "A chilling, darkly humorous, sci-fi thriller with a sharp real-world edge had me turning the pages nonstop" says Hills and Hamlets Bookshop about Operation Bounce House. "If you love a strong forearm, Swedish Fish, and passive-aggressive Post-It Notes – this one is for you," gushes Kiss and Tale Romance Bookshop about B.K. Borison’s And Now, Back to You. And a bookseller at Novel. thinks they should create a whole new subgenre for Lauren Groff’s Brawler.

Pick one up and discover your next new favorite author.

 

 

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Featuring reviews of:

• Eating Ashes by Brenda Navarro, reviewed by Charlie, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
• Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg, reviewed by Ryan, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
• Linger by Hetty Lui McKinnon, reviewed by Jamie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  
  
• Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown, reviewed by Eden, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
  
  
• Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Eyes, Knees, Boundaries, Please! by Krupa Bhojani Playforth, Julia Bereciartu (Illus.), reviewed by Kait, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama
• Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta, reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  
  
• Vigil by George Saunders, reviewed by Savannah Laughlin, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Bookseller Buzz: All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson | 2026 Newbery Medal Winner, reviewed by Sheri Bancroft, Novel., Memphis, Tennessee; Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah, Georgia; Lupe Penn, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The week of January 26, 2026

One more week to vote!

This is the last week readers can vote for their favorite Southern books of the year. Right now votes in each of the ballot categories — fiction, nonfiction, and young readers — are all so close that anything could happen, and any vote could be the deciding vote. , You have a chance to make some of your favorite authors very happy:
Vote for your favorite Southern books of the year.

 

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Featuring reviews of:

• Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin, reviewed by Frances, Blinking Owl Books in Fort Myers, Florida
• A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, reviewed by Brooke, Spellbound Bookstore in Sanford, Florida
• Mega Milk by Megan Milks, reviewed by Charlie, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
  
  
• Fustuk by Robert Mgrdich Apelian, reviewed by Mallory, Bards Alley in Vienna, Virginia
  
  
• Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, reviewed by Susanne, Sassafras on Main in Waynesville, North Carolina
• Normal People by Sally Rooney, reviewed by  Sarah, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
  
  
• Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash, reviewed by Kat, novel. in Memphis, Tennessee
• Bookseller Buzz: Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet, reviewed by Alissa, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina; Lady, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama; Rae Ann, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee 

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The week of December 29, 2025

Choose the best Southern novel of the year.

Voting is still ongoing for the 2026 Southern Book Prize, where readers decide the all-important question of “what is the best Southern book of the year.”

Vote here!

The Southern Book Prize chooses six finalists in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, and young readers. Each finalist has been put forward by Southern independent booksellers as the “best of the year” in their category. SBR readers have already been introduced to the finalists in the Nonfiction and Young Readers categories. Now, with only a month to go before voting closes, here is what Southern booksellers have to say about the books in the Fiction category.

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SBP Fiction Finalists

Hellions by Julia Elliott (Tin House Books)

“Swampy Southern Gothic at its finest. These stories are lush, each driven by magical, wicked, wholly-alive characters so deeply rooted in their surroundings—or their desires—its difficult to see where person begins and wild ends. ” –Miranda Sanchez, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Berkley)

“This dual timeline, multi-generational story explores the real Kingdom of Happy Land that was created by ex-slaves on the North Carolina / South Carolina border in the 1870s, and its lingering legacy in the present day.  If you have a place that gives you peace and security, that you long for when you are away, you will understand this story.” –Amy Dance, The Snail On the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)

“What can’t S.A. Cosby write? When it comes to crime fiction loaded with action, Cosby is the man! Once again, Cosby takes the reader on a journey that one is not fully prepared for. King of Ashes begs the question of how far are you willing to go for the family you love? ” –Kayla Saxon, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (Ecco)

“In Kevin Wilson’s latest, we have a different kind of sibling drama–one in which the siblings in question don’t even know the others exist. That is, until they’re thrown together in a PT Cruiser on a road trip to ambush–er, confront–the father who abandoned them all. With heart, humor, and empathy, Kevin Wilson explores the divide between the family we’re born with and the family we choose, and what happens when they intersect.” –Joyce McKinnon, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett (Riverhead Books)

“Don’t let the title fool you – you haven’t heard this one before. Kristen Arnett pratfalls her way into our hearts with a more gay, more unhinged, more Florida version of a John Hughes movie of a book. The absurdity only makes the characters more real. Sometimes, being funny is serious business.” –Dominic Howarth, Book + Bottle in St. Petersburg, Florida

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (Zibby Books)

“This story weaves together love, ambition, and love — and how it can one day circle back to you, bringing up old secrets. This is the summer read you’re waiting for, with explorations of resilience, lost love, and beautifully flawed characters.” –Leah Fallon, Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia

Featuring reviews of:

• The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey, reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
• Queen Esther by John Irving, reviewed by Karen Dugger, Righton Books in Saint Simons Island, Georgia
• Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum, reviewed by Kimberly Todd, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
  
  
• I’ll Find You Where the Timeline Ends by Kylie Lee Baker, reviewed Tamara Browning, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina
• Moon Cat by Casi Cole, reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, reviewed by Rebecca Speas, One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia
  
  
• The Barn by Wright Thompson, reviewed by Amanda Grell, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Bookseller Buzz: Television by Lauren Rothery, reviewed by  Doron Klemer. Octavia Books in New Orleans, Louisiana; Ross Ramirez, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia; Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama

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The week of December 15, 2025

Make a bookseller’s day – vote now.

Voting is still ongoing for the 2026 Southern Book Prize, where readers decide the all-important question of “what is the best Southern book of the year.”

Vote here!

One of the perks of voting is that you can enter a raffle to win a selection of Southern Book Prize finalists. Another is that the finalists make a great list of last-minute gift ideas for the readers on your holiday list. (See the nonfiction finalists list below.)

And perhaps the best perk of all is that you get to show your local bookstore how much you appreciate them. One of the questions on the ballot is simply a space that says, “Say something nice about your local bookstore.”

SBR passes along to bookshops the comments people made about the store when they voted—a welcome moment of cheer during a busy holiday season. Hearing how much you value your local bookstore is one of the best presents you can give them. 

Make a bookseller’s day, vote now.

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SBP Nonfiction Finalists

The Harder I Fight the More I Love You: A Memoir 

Neko Case (Grand Central Publishing)

“I have long admired Neko Case as a powerful singer and incredible songwriter, so I was desperate to get my hands on this book — but you don’t have to already be a fan to be moved by her story. The rawness and vulnerability that Case shares in her life’s story give me a new appreciation for her album.” –Emily Liner, Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi

Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations

Alton Brown (Gallery Books)

“You don’t have to be familiar with any food programs to have great fun reading these essays. Funny, quirky, and honest, they are as much about life as food, or even food as life.” –Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People 

Imani Perry (Ecco)

“A stunning, kaleidoscopic work of intense research and imagination, spanning centuries, disciplines, and profoundly moving possibilities, from one of our most innovative thinkers. Perry’s writing deserves its own rich shade of blue.” –Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama

The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things 

Nikki Giovanni (William Morrow)

“Reading Nikki Giovanni’s final collection of poetry is a bittersweet experience. The New Book is full of reflection and encourages readers to think critically about recent events in our nation’s history. It feels like a final love letter, urging us to be kind to ourselves and to one another.” –Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging 

Tara Roberts (National Geographic)

“A memoir, a message, and a deeply felt paean to history. Roberts weaves her personal narrative into the depths of the history she shares all the while highlighting the reasons these sites go underresearched and stories untold. Moving, inspiring, and essential reading!” –Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

All These Ghosts  

Silas House (Blair)

“So glad that the former Kentucky Poet Laureate has a poetry collection at last! As with his fiction, House’s work resonates most deeply the closer he stays to his Appalachian roots. Poems about queerness, protest, timesickness and soup beans all exist side by side in this collection, as in life.” –Sam Miller, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

Featuring reviews of:

• The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder, reviewed by Thomas Wallace, Reading Rock Books in Dickson, Tennessee
• The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell, reviewed by Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books in Rome, Georgia
• Paper Girl by Beth Macy, reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  
  
• Final Cut by Olivia Worley, reviewed by Sarah Dimaria, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
• Dragonborn by Struan Murray, reviewed by Stacey Sanford, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
• The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson, reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
  
  
• Dog Show: Poems by Billy Collins, reviewed by Sheri Bancroft, novel. in Memphis, Tennessee
• Bookseller Buzz: Family of Spies by Christine Keuhn,  Horton’s Books & Gifts in Carrollton , Georgia; Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser, Inc. Marietta, Georgia; Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books in Rome, Georgia; Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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The week of December 2, 2025

Read these next.

New December books loved by Southern indie booksellers.

Because there is a book out there for every kind of reader.

Founded on our booksellers’ conviction that you can never have too many good books, Read This Next! is a list of books coming out each month that booksellers are especially excited about. Read This Next! Kids is a bimonthly list of forthcoming Children’s and Young Adult Books receiving Southern indie bookseller love.

This month’s list includes steamy romance, reality TV, and a Nobel Prize winner. Because indie booksellers read everything, and really believe there is a book for every kind of reader.

See what books are on the list for December.

Happy reading!

Featuring reviews of:

• House of Day, House of Night by Olda Tokarczuk, reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Our Gifted Hearts by Jennifer Kennedy, reviewed by Kathy Clemmons, Sundog Books in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
• Tea is Love by Adib Khorram, reviewed by Jennifer Sauter-Price, Read Early and Daily (READ) in Arlington, Virginia
• A Guilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith, reviewed by Eden Haymon, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
• A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls by Adam Morgan, reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
• Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich, reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
• Fake Skating by Lynn Painter, reviewed by Kimberly Todd, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
• Bookseller Buzz: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, Barb Rascon, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina, Allyn Oliver, The Bluffton Bookshop in Bluffton, South Carolina, Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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The week of November 23, 2025

Southern bookstores feed their communities.

When the government shut down and SNAP benefits were revoked for millions of Americans, Southern indie bookstores were among the many small businesses that stepped up for their communities. And even though SNAP benefits have been reinstated, many vulnerable households are still set to potentially permanently lose them. A Congressional Budget Office report published in August estimated that more than 3 million Americans could lose assistance over the next few years. Here are just some of the things Southern bookstores are doing to help:

Baldwin & Co., New Orleans, LA is holding a “Friendsgiving Brunch” on November 22 to give away free food and toys and gifts for children to help families prepare for the holidays.

Bigfoot Books & Brews, Marion, NC: For every drink sold, they donate $1 to Foothills Food Hub for families in need.

Book Exchange, Marietta, GA: Running a food donation drive for Must Ministries Donation Center.

The Book Tavern, Augusta, GA: Through November 26, running a non-perishable food donation drive for Golden Harvest Food Bank, and donating 10% of profits to the food bank.

The Book Worm Bookstore, Powder Springs, GA has established a “free shelf” inside the store filled with canned goods and personal care items to offer support to neighbors. Customers who donate receive 10% off one book as a thank you.

Bookish, Atlanta, GA has launched the “Bookish Mutual Aid Pantry” in East Atlanta for toiletries and basic household items.

Brave + Kind Books, Decatur, GA is collecting non-perishable food items for local food pantries.

Charis Books & More, Decatur, GA donated a percentage of sales during their birthday weekend (November 8-9) to New Disabled South’s food assistance program for disabled people in the South.

Dickson Street Bookshop, Fayetteville, AR ran a food donation drive for the NWA Food Bank from November 3-17.

Ernest & Hadley Books, Tuscaloosa, AL is using their “Brick House” event space to collect shelf stable food to donate to Grace Presbyterian Church’s Table of Grace food pantry.

Hub City Bookshop, Spartanburg, SC is running a donation drive for Total Ministries, who have provided food and financial support to the Spartanburg community since 1982. Customers who donate receive 10% off a store purchase.

Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA is running a donation drive of non-perishable food items and toiletries for the Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM) through the end of the month.

M. Judson Booksellers, Greenville, SC: During the month of November, running a food drive for Harvest Hope, a local nonprofit serving more than 20 counties in South Carolina. Customers who donate five or more food items receive a coupon for a free drip coffee, cookie, or tea.

My Sisters Books, Pawleys Island, SC is collecting food items for the Baskervill Food Pantry. Folks who donate receive an MSB&G scratcher filled with surprise savings.

Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC is collecting non-perishable items for the local food bank.

Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN is collecting donations for Second Harvest at Ann Patchett’s holiday office hours (Mondays in November).

Queer Haven Books, Columbia, SC is partnering with other local businesses to hold a canned food drive during the month of November.

Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, SC is running their 9th annual Pajama Drive for Child Abuse Prevention Associates (CAPA). Each pair of pajamas donated is matched with a book so children receive both as a holiday gift.

Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg, FL is running a community donation drive through the end of the year for non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and infant supplies, to be donated to the St. Pete Free Clinic.

Underbrush Books, Rogers, AR ran a food donation drive for local food pantries. Customers who donated received 10% off a store purchase.

There is so much good will in the bookselling community! Check in with your local bookstore to see how you can help.

by Candice Huber, Membership Coordinator The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance

Happy reading!

Featuring reviews of:

• The Definitions by Matt Greene, reviewed by Gabriela Warner, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson, reviewed by Kathy Clemmons, Sundog Books in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
• The Uncool by Cameron Crowe, reviewed by Sarah Goldstein, Old Town Books in Alexandria, Virginia
• Anzuelo by Emma Rios, reviewed by Jonathan Hawpe, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky
• The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova, reviewed by Julia Lewis, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
• The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes, reviewed by Julie Jarema, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia
• The Mad Wife by Meagan Church, reviewed by Morgan Gayles, The Book Worm Bookstore in Powder Springs, Georgia
• Bookseller Buzz: Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts, reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina, Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana, Thais Perkins, Reverie Books in Austin, Texas

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