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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
Doubleday / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Caribbean & West Indies, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, World Literature
More Reviews from Underground Books

The destinies of a Rastafarian man prohibited from interacting with the dead and a woman destined to care for their spirits collide in a cemetery full of secrets in this magical realist novel set in a Trinidad “with the volume turned all the way up.” I enjoyed the settings and magical realism throughout the novel. I’d especially recommend for fans of Practical Magic.

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

"In Yerba Buena I get to examine adulthood— how the experiences we have when we’re young reverberate through our lives, how we make mistakes and make amends and try to escape the destruction we inherit while also holding onto the good."–Nina LaCour, Author’s letter to bookstores

What booksellers are saying about Yerba Buena

• Though the plot of Yerba Buena seems to meander at first, with dark, desperate characters with twisted pasts and wildly uncertain futures, you’ll want to stick around until the end. And you will want to linger in the middle among the luxurious imagery throughout this story. Nina LaCour shines while writing descriptions of art and making–from crafting cocktails to arranging beautiful bouquets of flowers–with great care and attention that makes these moments feel close to magical. In spite of the convoluted secrets and choices these characters makes, there is seeking, growth, and love, too, in a bittersweet pull on their paths towards healing. ― Julie Jarema from Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA
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• At once full of wonder and excruciatingly real, Nina LaCour’s adult debut is truly a thing to behold. A story of love, food, and the achingly beautiful reality of the human condition, Yerba Buena was, without a doubt, one of the most exquisite books I have ever read. ―Mary Louise Callaghan from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• A bittersweet meditation on the lives of two women whose emotional histories so tragically mirror one another that their connection is both painful and undeniable. Sara and Emilie come from different places and different classes, but both of their formative years are marked by grief and dismissal, by losses that keep them unfinished. They’re also, though, both drawn to the beauty of things: in flowers, in food, in design, in each other. In evocative prose and rich settings, LaCour gives us romance in the truest sense: complicated and intentional, lovers choosing each other as the people they are and the ones they are still becoming.   ―Miranda Sanchez from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC
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Nina LaCour

Nina LaCour is the award-winning and bestselling author of six novels for young adults, including We Are Okay, a Printz Award winner and national bestseller. She lives in San Francisco with her wife and daughter. Yerba Buena is her first novel for adults.

What We Harvest by Ann Fraistat
Delacorte Press / March 2022

Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Wren Warren is one of the four founding families of Hollow’s End that holds one of the mysterious crops that tourists flock to. Everything in her life was perfect until the corruption started seeping into the town. Now they’re all trapped in quarantine trying to fight back the “Blight” with no help from a mysterious government agency. Wren will have to ask her ex Derek for help before it’s too late for her and the farms. This was a delightfully dark and delicious read. Not only do we have a very good doggo named Teddy, we also have real and raw characters that leap off the page into your heart. If you like your horror with a bit of small town gothic, this is for you and it’s perfect for fans of Wilder Girls.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Riding with Evil by Ken Croke
 William Morrow / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Espionage, True Crime
More Reviews from McIntyre’s Books

This glimpse into the brutal world of outlaw bikers is not sugar coated with flowery language. But, despite its “just the facts ma’am” style, it delves into the emotional strain of being an undercover agent in a way that I’ve not really experienced before. So, if you’re a true crime buff and want to read something compelling that isn’t about a serial killer- here it is!

Reviewed by Billy McCormick, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina

French Braid by Anne Tyler
Knopf / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Family Life, Siblings
More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

Families are messy and imperfect and Anne Tyler has spent a lifetime telling the stories of the most interesting of families. French Braid is no exception and in it we follow the Garretts from the 1950s to the present pandemic. This is a family whose individuals sacrifice and are also selfish, care deeply and chose to ignore. Tyler creates beautifully complex characters that you may not love, but you’ll definitely remember.

Reviewed by Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Greenwillow Books / March 2022

Children, Diversity & Multicultural, Juvenile
More Reviews from Bookmarks

This is a beautifully diverse book about Abdul finding his voice despite his learning challenges. Throughout the story Abdul doesn’t think he is a writer, but he knows he has stories to tell. Once he has a mentor he learns that everyone makes mistakes and the best stories come from what look like messes. In the end Abdul finds his voice and confidence in what once felt like an impossible task.

Reviewed by Josie Greenwald, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
Atlantic Monthly Press / March 2022

Childrens, Comics & Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction
More Reviews from Books and Books

A March 2022 Read This Next! Title

This wordless, gorgeous graphic novel is stunning in its delivery of a story that lives so close to my heart: exile and assimilation after leaving 1960s Cuba. On a personal level, this book’s very existence feels like a major triumph but I think it will reach any reader who picks it up. Hand Isla to Island to fans of Victoria Jamieson & Nidhi Chanani. I can’t wait for more work from Alexis Castellanos!

Reviewed by Cristina Russell from Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Shakespeare wrote about love. I write about love. Shakespeare wrote about gang warfare, family feuds and revenge. I write about all the same things”
– Sister Souljah

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Read This Now!

The best of southern publishing…

Under the Golden Sun by Jenny Ashcroft
St. Martin’s Press / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Romance, World War II Historical Fiction

Quite simply one of the most beautiful books I’ve read all year. Historical fiction with well-drawn heroines and interesting love stories aren’t uncommon. What makes this book absolutely sing is the care and attention given to all the relationships in this book. The mother who has lost her child and the child who has lost his family; women forging deep, meaningful friendships that are treated with the same importance as the romantic entanglements; and perhaps even better, everyone grows. In a field cluttered with WWII era novels this book rises about the field with its unusual setting and lovely relationships, but also with the author’s distinct voice and prose.

Reviewed by Traci Harris, The Book House, Mableton, Georgia

About the Author:
Jenny Ashcroft is a British author of historical fiction, including Meet Me in Bombay, Beneath a Burning Sky and Island in the East. She lives in East Sussex with her family and is hard at work on her next novel.

The Wonders by Elena Medel
Algonquin Books / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction, Feminist, City Life

I absolutely loved this English-language debut from Spanish writer Elena Medel. The conceit of jumping between the past and present is sometimes tricky to pull off, but Medel does it so well – letting María and Alicia’s respective timelines waltz gently together, anchored in the captivating central character that is the city of Madrid…until it all comes to a head. Medel’s pacing is thriller-esque, while her prose is sumptuous and elegant, beautifully translated by Lizzie Davis and Thomas Bunstead

Reviewed by Charles Lee, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, North Carolina

About the Author:
Elena Medel is a Spanish poet and the founder and publisher of La Bella Varsovia, an independent poetry publishing house. Medel was the first woman ever to win the prestigious Francisco Umbral Prize, for her debut novel The Wonders, which was also longlisted for the Finestres Award and has been translated into fifteen languages. She published her prizewinning first collection of poetry, My First Bikini, when she was sixteen years old.

Lizzie Davis is a translator and an editor at Coffee House Press. She has translated Elena Medel’s poetry collection My First Bikini, Juan Cárdenas’s Ornamental (a finalist for the 2021 PEN Translation Prize), and work by Valeria Luiselli, Pilar Fraile Amador, and Aura García-Junco. Her work has appeared in the Paris Review, Granta, and other publications.

Thomas Bunstead is a writer and translator. His recent translations include The Things We’ve Seen by Agustín Fernández Mallo, which was a recipient of a PEN Translation Award, and Water Over Stones, a co-translation with Margaret Jull Costa.

Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jessie Q. Sutanto
Berkley / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Romantic Comedy,  Asian American

Picking up where Dial A For Aunties leaves off, this is another hilarious romp into the world of weddings and murder. Well, almost murder. Meddie’s life is complicated. But she’s getting married and her aunties won’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of a perfect wedding, even if it means kidnapping and murder.

Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

About the Author:
Jesse Q. Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Indonesia, Singapore, and Oxford, and considers all three places her home. She has a Masters from Oxford University, but she has yet to figure out how to say that without sounding obnoxious. Jesse has forty-two first cousins and thirty aunties and uncles, many of whom live just down the road. When she’s not writing, she’s gaming with her husband (mostly first-person shooter), or making a mess in the kitchen with her two daughters.

Women and Other Monsters by Jess Zimmerman
Algonquin Books / February 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Folklore & Mythology, Women’s Studies

What can I say about Women and Other Monsters other than READ THIS NOW!? I picked this book up with full-blown curiosity, ignited by my love of mythology and strong belief in the women’s rights movement. Jess Zimmerman uses her own life experiences, mingled with monsters of ancient myth, to bring light to the ugly truth of what it means to be a woman. We are monsters–for our individuality, determination, free spirits, desires and ambitions, and our less-than-perfect bodies. At least that’s what the world wants us to believe. I found pieces of myself in every chapter, and discovered just how much I wanted that to change. I highly recommend this book to women of all colors and ages, trans women, non-binary gentlefolk, and those looking for insight.

Reviewed by Sophie Giroir, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

About the Author:
Jess Zimmerman is the editor in chief of Electric Literature. Her essays, fiction, opinion pieces, and prose poetry have appeared in publications including Vice, Slate, The Cut, the Washington Post, The Guardian, and the New Republic. She lives in Brooklyn.

Spotlight on: Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

"A few years ago, when [my friend] Janet had a milestone birthday, a vague idea floated into my head about writing something epistolary to honor that part of our friendship. Life happened, and the idea remained nothing more than that. Then came COVID and the lockdown in Los Angeles. Within days, I found myself writing a gift for Janet and another good friend, the food writer Barbara Hansen — a story told in letters.

I wanted a book that could serve as a balm. I wanted a book that could be read in a single afternoon. "—Kim Fay (via Bookweb)

What booksellers are saying about Love & Saffron

• This whisp of a book transported to a time when real friendship can exist between people who have never met or seen images of each other, gratitude opens doors and a reminder of the beauty that exists in following the curiosity of your taste buds. Tender and honest this book told in three parts, most of it through the letter exchanges of two women, is a reminder that we are never finished growing, changing and loving. It is a reminder of how big our lives can become when we move through them with an open mind and an open heart. ― Kimberly Daniels from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC
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• This beautiful and thoughtful book is a testament to the power of food, it really is a miracle worker. I wish I could type this review in all capital letters, but that wouldn’t be appropriate, but it would definitely convey how much I love this book and want everyone to know about it. Incredible! ―Jill Naylor from Novel in Memphis, TN
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• Tender friendship, delicious food, and canny wit tie together this absolutely delightful epistolary novel. Set in the 1960s, this captivating correspondence between 27 year old Joan and 59 year old Imogen is reminiscent of the great food writing of Laurie Colwin, Ruth Reichl, and even Julia Child. Their no-nonsense attitudes and deep love for both food and each other make this book absolutely magic to read. With the healing properties of a warm meal enjoyed with those we love, Love & Saffron is set to fill both hearts (and bellies) of readers everywhere. ―Mary Louise Callaghan from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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About Kim Fay

Born in Seattle and raised throughout the Pacific Northwest, Kim Fay lived in Vietnam for four years and still travels to Southeast Asia frequently. A former bookseller, she is the author of Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam, winner of the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards’ Best Asian Cuisine Book in the United States, and The Map of Lost Memories, an Edgar Award finalist for Best First Novel. She is also the creator/editor of a series of guidebooks on Southeast Asia. Fay now lives in Los Angeles.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Wednesday Books / March 2022

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dark Fantasy

A Far Wilder Magic is one of my favorite novels of all time, and Allison Saft is an author that I can count on for glorious tales such as this. The ancient forests, salt water and fog in this atmospheric fox hunt creep into you, chilling to the bone, and are warmed only by the fires running hot in Welty Manor. This is the kind of book that you read and re-read, like putting on a favorite sweater at the start of each autumn. It is a story of being an outsider, of desperate loneliness, of aching grief and lingering trauma. But ultimately, Margaret and Weston’s story is lined with so much hope and beauty that it fills your heart to bursting. I love this magical novel so much.

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida

About the Author:
Allison Saft is the author of eerie and critically acclaimed romantic fantasies, Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic. After receiving her MA in English literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time hiking the redwoods and practicing aerial silks.

Hope and Glory by Jendella Benson
Algonquin Books / March 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Women

Hope and Glory is the story of a family recovering from their father’s unexpected death in the aftermath of decades of secrets. An exploration of grief, identity, immigration, and sibling dynamics, the story is powerful, and bittersweet. It’s no secret that family dramas are my favorite, particularly sibling stories, and Hope and Glory is one of my favorites coming this year. This is a striking debut; I can’t wait to see what comes next from Jendella Benson.

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

About the Author:
Jendella Benson is a popular writer and editor for Black Ballad, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, BuzzFeed, MTV News UK, The Metro, The Huffington Post, and on MumsNet, amongst many others. She originated, crowd-funded, and published a book of photography and interviews, Young Motherhood, in 2016, and has contributed to a couple of anthologies. She is a TEDx speaker and has also appeared on Woman’s Hour, BBC World Service, London Live and OH TV.

Parting Thought

"I do not remember a time when I could not read, nor any time when reading was not a joy and a solace. "
― Emmeline Pankhurst

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Saint Death’s Daughter by C. S. Cooney
Random House / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy
More Reviews from The Haunted Book Shop

I snagged the book because of the necromancy, but the tagline of “fun, froofy, and glorious: a coming-of-age story” is absolutely correct. The comparisons to Gideon the Ninth will be inevitable, but the tone of this book tends more towards the cheerful morbidity of the Addams family than the grimness I felt at the core of Gideon. The story follows Miscellaneous Stones, a necromancer born with an allergy to violence into a house of assassins and murderers as she grows into her power. As important to the book as her growing necromancy is the way she comes to terms with her family’s legacy and the burden of their sins. Despite the solemnity of the topic, Lanie herself has such a joyous attitude that infects the book and makes me smile even now. I really enjoyed the entire book and look forward to reading her continued adventures. In particular, I can usually predict story beats long before they happen but the author managed to surprise me with the depth and complexity of the characters, especially the antagonists.

Reviewed by Kelly McLeod, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers

"As a young girl growing up in North Carolina tobacco country, I was fascinated by my grandmother’s stories about the women she called the tobacco wives. She was a hairdresser for the wives of the wealthiest, most powerful tobacco magnates in Winston-Salem in the 1940s, and tales of these wealthy, glamorous women captured my imagination."–Adele Myers (via Writer’s Digest)

What booksellers are saying about Tobacco Wives

• It doesn’t say it’s set in Winston Salem, but it’s totally Winston Salem. I forgot how recently smoking was everywhere, and advertised aggressively towards kids and women, and in the case of these particular ladies, including and specifically targeting the pregnant women, wonderful (and completely healthy) mint-flavored cigarettes…It’s a little bit Cruella, a little bit Hairspray, and a little bit Pelican Brief. I couldn’t put it down. ― Lisa Yee Swope from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• Oh, the tobacco wives! Drama abounds as Maddie works to design and sew ornate gowns for the most influential, fussy women in town. Although the tobacco wives seem to lead a carefree life, Maddie discovers a cover-up scheme about the health risks of tobacco products that affect women, in particular. It is this discovery that puts her in a compromising situation as she endeavors to pursue a full-time career as a dressmaker in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive. ―Allison Hendrix from The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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• Where the Crawdads Sing meets Lookaway, Lookaway (plus a small dash of Mad Men) in this small town NC novel about big tobacco and even bigger coverups — all through the eyes of a young seamstress who sees it all. A fantastic read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction — Myers’ portrayal of the 1950s was spot-on — and the strength of the female characters was truly iconic.   ―Christine Schwarz from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC
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About Adele Myers

Adele Myers grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently works in advertising and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son and their rescue dog, Chipper. The Tobacco Wives is her first novel.

Letter to a Stranger by Colleen Kinder
Algonquin Books / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Essays, Literary Collections
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

As the season changes, I find myself drawn to books that I can pickup, read however much I want whether it be a page or fifty, and then put back down and not worry about losing my spot or anything like that. I want digestible, but not fluff, I still want the grit and strong storytelling. This book is the cure for this predicament. Colleen Kinder sent out an email to authors everywhere, simply asking them to write a letter to a stranger who haunts them. The result is this intimate collection of letters from some of the most beloved authors of our time, and perfect is an understatement. The book is broken up by emotional prompt, which I like but was wary as books similar to this can be sort of repetitive with the themes of stories in them, but this next level. The sections are symmetry, mystery, chemistry, gratitude, wonder, remorse and finally, farewell. This is what makes this book so strong, it’s not just emotions of love or pain, it’s so much more than that. It’s funny, startling,and at times heartbreaking. A book that has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf, and one I do not think I will ever get tired of skimming through.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Ravenous Dead by Darcy Coates
 Poisoned Pen Press / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Ghost, Gothic, Horror
More Reviews from Foggy Pine Books

This next installment of the Gravekeeper Series hasn’t even come out yet, and yet I’m already itching to read the next part of Kiera’s story. This series is the most unexpectedly delightful combination of spooky, action packed, and heartwarming slice of life all wrapped up in a mystery. I find myself falling in love with all of the characters, from the kindly pastor Adage, to the cheery “not a doctor” Mason. However I adore most of all our main character and amnesia ridden ghost whisperer Kiera. I adore this series and cannot wait for the next one!

Reviewed by Ana, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina

Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu
Quill Tree Books / March 2022

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Wingbearer is a beautiful fantasy graphic novel written by Marie Lu. The world is breathtakingly beautiful along with having an enchanting story. I was at the edge of my seat following Zuli’s journey from the great tree to the world she supposedly came from. I loved the side characters and can’t wait to see the full color version. This is a middle reader fantasy that will draw in even the most reluctant of readers.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Gallant by V. E. Schwab
Greenwillow Books / March 2022

Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Olivia Prior has grown up in an orphanage, unable to speak, the only one able to see the ghouls around her. Her mother’s journal is her only link to her unknown past, until she gets a letter from an uncle she didn’t know she had, summoning her to her family home, Gallant — a place her mother had warned her against in her journal, even as her words spiraled into madness. But Olivia longs for a place to belong, and so she goes. It turns out, though, that Gallant is more than just a house. When Olivia crosses the crumbling garden wall, she finds herself in a shadow Gallant, ruled by death, and she has to decide which world she really belongs in. Schwab has a way of telling stories that really gets to the root of the story — yes, this is a story about family and loss, life and death, a doorway between them, and a girl who can live in both worlds, but Schwab makes it so much more, breathing life and meaning into everything Olivia is and does and wants to be. A beautiful book for fans of Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.

Reviewed by Melissa Oates, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Beyond Innocence : The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt by Phoebe Zerwick
Atlantic Monthly Press / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, African American & Black, Discrimination, Law Enforcement, Political Science, Social Science
More Reviews from Malaprop’s

A March 2022 Read This Next! Title

Once upon a time, a man was unjustly imprisoned. DNA and dogged work freed him after 19 years. He lived happily ever after. Sorry, that last part didn’t happen. Even with DNA evidence, he almost didn’t get exonerated. Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt details Hunt’s journey from teen to convicted killer, innocent freed man, and activist with many twists. But the saddest part is what happened to him after freedom, and how it illustrates the plight of most of the exonerated. That is not as exclusive a club as you might think. According to author Phoebe Zerwick, “As of May 2021, 2,783 men and women in America have been exonerated since 1989…The National Registry of Exonerations calculate the combined years they lost at 24,915.”

Zerwick wrote about Hunt in the Winston-Salem Journal and has spent years on his case. Hunt was not just railroaded. Police falsified evidence; a judge unbelievably ruled DNA evidence was insufficient to warrant a new trial. A faithful cadre of supporters and the author’s newspaper series resulted in deliberately overlooked evidence being reexamined and finding the true killer. Only then was Hunt released. But Hunt’s case shows how the system continues to fail. Hunt briefly had a foundation to aid released prisoners. Years of prison life and post-release limitations lead to PTSD, depression, and often recidivism. Hunt’s friends realized too late he was leading a double life – calm outside, but in agony inside. They couldn’t stop him from taking his life. But if enough people pay attention to his story, perhaps others can be helped.

Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese from Malaprop’s in Asheville, NC

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”
– Malala Yousafzai

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

In Love by Amy Bloom
Random House / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Bereavement, Biography & Autobiography, Death, Family & Relationships, Grief, Personal Memoirs, Survival
More Reviews from Square Books

When Amy Bloom’s husband of 15 years is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he decides to end his life on his own terms – “to die on his feet, not live on his knees”. In Love is an account of how the couple made that happen, as well as a celebration of their love. It’s by turns honest, raw, unsentimental, funny, captivating, powerful and utterly devastating. I devoured it in less than a day – an experience that left me emotionally wrung out, but also very glad to have done so.

Reviewed by Jude Burke-Lewis, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

"The illustrations for Knight Owl posed an interesting challenge. Most of the book takes place at night. How could I make the illustrations using a color pallet varied enough so that each scene could have the right feeling and not feel too dark? I took that challenge as an opportunity to dive deep into my fascination with Japanese woodblock prints, specifically the work of Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) one of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style. Yoshida’s work, along with a few nods to Rembrandt and Vermeer, defined the palette for the entire project. The range of blue tones in Yoshida’s work is amazing! "–Christopher Denise (via School Library Journal Blog)

What booksellers are saying about Knight Owl

• An absolutely delightful picture book bursting with wonderfully playful illustrations. As a kid, I loved knights, dragons, and adventure (still do!) and I would have cherished this wonderful book from Denise and spent hours looking at each page. Celebrating perseverance, cleverness, and friendship; Knight Owl is sure to delight readers! ― Caleb Masters from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• A night Knight owl who proves he can be brave by outwitting a dragon with pizza. And in doing so shows that even the smallest of creatures can be cunning. ―Judith Lafitte from Octavia Books LLC in New Orleans, LA
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• A sweet picture book about a wise owl, perseverance, and finding common ground with others.   ―Rae Ann Parker from Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN
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• Knight Owl is full of goodness. Who knew dragons and owls made for a good story? And pizza, the great peace maker? Perfect for fans of Gruffalo and Dragons Love Tacos. ―Jilleen Moore from Square Books in Oxford, MS
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About Christopher Denise

Christopher Denise spent much of his childhood in Shannon, Ireland, exploring castles and dreaming of great adventures. He is the illustrator of many critically acclaimed books for young readers, including Anika Aldamuy Denise’s Bunny in the Middle, Alison McGhee’s Firefly Hollow, Rosemary Wells’s Following Grandfather, and Anne Marie Pace’s Groundhug Day, as well as several in Brian Jacques’s award-winning Redwall series. His books have appeared on the Indie Next List and the New York Times bestseller list and in the Society of Illustrators’ Annual Exhibition. Knight Owl marks his author-illustrator debut. Christopher’s current adventures include exploring coastal Rhode Island, where he lives with his family.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. Mandel
Knopf / April 2022

Action & Adventure, Adult Fiction, Apocalyptic Post-Apocalyptic, Literary, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction
More Reviews from Sunrise Books

Good grief I loved this book. The Glass Hotel makes more sense now, but I already loved it anyway. Nobody does time “travel” like Emily St. John Mandel. She manages not to lose us in the weaving of the timelines and characters. Despite being set in both the past and the future, the themes are so timely. A pandemic, wealth inequity, the idea of home, the role of art in society, family dynamics–it’s all there, plus there are colonies on the moon and maybe we’re all living in a simulation. It might seem like a stretch, but I think her only peer in speculative fiction is Margaret Atwood herself.

Reviewed by Angela Schroeder, Sunrise Books in High Point, North Carolina

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
 Atria Books / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Women
More Reviews from Bookmiser

Imagine the tragic cancer death of your mother when she is your best friend—the real love of your life…and then imagine you find her alive again and she is happy and healthy and only thirty years old. This happens when Katy travels to Italy on a trip she and her mother Carol planned. How could this be? Katy is utterly devastated when her mom dies and she doesn’t know how she can go on with life without her. Rebecca Serle’s description of the beauty of Postano’s cliffs and ocean views makes the reader join Katy and taste the amazing food at every Italian meal. The sudden appearance of her mother Carol as a young vibrant woman is shocking. Is it really her mother in her youth? Is Katy so heartbroken that she just imagines it? This unforgettable love story will leave the reader thinking about family bonds and wondering how one would react to such an event. It is a story that will stay with you long after the last page.

Reviewed by Nancy Pierce, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
HarperTeen / March 2022

Epic, Fantasy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Story on the Square

This #ownvoices novel rips the reader out of their world into the Yoruba-Nigerian world of Sloane. A recently drafted child soldier of the Lucis, who destroyed and still destroy people like her, ones that have powers from the gods, a Scion. Sloane is put through brutal test after brutal test all while trying to find out what happened to her mother who disappeared two years before and survive the bloodbath that is basic training. While this novel isn’t for the weak of heart, it’s perfect for anyone who loved A Song of Wraiths and Shadows and Children of Blood and Bone. The debut novel is nonstop action and punch after punch, perfect for readers who don’t like any slow parts in their reads.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowska
Barefoot Books / March 2022

Children, Middle East, People & Places
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Nour and her cousin Amir live in Damascus, playing and reading and planning a secret club when the war in Syria comes to their city. Soon they are forced to spend their nights in a basement, and during the day Amir and his friends collect the books left on the streets of Damascus. With the books piling up, Noor and Amir decide to start a secret library- a place for their friends to find hope,adventure, and comfort. The illustrations are lovely and I’m always a sucker for a board book about books!

Reviewed by Kate Towery, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Algonquin Young Readers / March 2022

Children, Fantasy & Magic, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Orphans & Foster Homes
More Reviews from The Country Book Shop

A March 2022 Read This Next! Title

This beautiful tale is cleverly oozling with allegory–but it boils down to a simple message: knowledge, education, and the written word are power, kindness matters, and together we are stronger. Kelly Barnhill has crafted a masterpiece chock full of mistrusting citizens in a ruined village, an ogress with a big heart, orphans who pay attention, crows with a language of their own, a scarily charismatic mayor who isn’t who he seems, and an unnoticed stone at the heart of it all. This reader was thoroughly bedazzled and charmed by its brilliance.

Reviewed by Damita Nocton from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.”
– Mary McLeod Bethune

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
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Recommended by Southern indies…

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
G.P. Putnam’s Sons / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Civil War Era, Historical Fiction
More Reviews from Snail on the Wall

Booth is about more than resurrecting a villain from the history books, though it does shine a spotlight on John Wilkes Booth from birth to his infamous assassination of President Lincoln. This is a tale of the entire Booth family, who might be remembered for their theatrical celebrity — from father Junius Booth to his three thespian sons, Edwin, John, and June — but for the crime that brought shame to the clan forevermore. The story takes its time, meandering through births, deaths, and sibling conflicts, and focusing much of its attention on the sisters who had to live in their brothers’ shadow. In the background throughout is Abraham Lincoln, who was gradually making his way to the White House, while the issue of slavery increasingly divided the country. We know about the big battles, from Gettysburg to Antietam, but here we also see the smaller riots and uprisings that inflamed someone like Booth to take matters in his own hands.

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

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman

"I think character development will always be my first love. It wasn’t until the characters in this book became distinct to me that the story itself began to sweep me up as well. Whatever type of story I’m engaging with as a reader or a writer, and whatever sort of craft challenge I undertake, my primary interest is always in people. Whether my books are plotty or meandering, I think I’ll always take the most joy in telling stories that honor the complexity of the human heart. "—Rebecca Kauffman (via Guernica)

What booksellers are saying about Chorus

• Chorus captured my heart in a way that only a family drama can! I became complete obsessed with the seven Shaw siblings and their shared but distinct memories of two pivotal moments in their family’s history: their mother’s death and their sister’s pregnancy. Told throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the additional layer of historical fiction in this story makes it the perfect selection for any book club. Rebecca Kauffman has landed the first spot on my Best Books of 2022 List!   ―Beth Seufer Buss from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• Magnificent. The writing is somehow both simple and decadent. I had to pause multiple times throughout just to appreciate the depth of understanding of human beings, the beauty of the words chosen to convey it. This isn’t East of Eden, but it will be compared to it. Instead, Chorus brings a contemporary style and consciousness to a family in the depression era. It explores the mysteries of family, choices, secrets, anger, grief, connection, but it does not solve them. This book was devastating and incredible. You should read it. ― Becca Sloan from Novel in Memphis, TN
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• A terrific family saga that questions the meaning of home and the changing roles that family members play over time as they age and experience loss. Through shifting perspectives and over back and forth time periods, the author unravels the mysteries and motivations of the Shaw family in perfect syncopation. I couldn’t put it down! ―Maggie Robe from Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NCL
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About Rebecca Kauffman

Rebecca Kauffman received her M.F.A. in creative writing from New York University. She is the author of Another Place You’ve Never Been, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, The Gunners, which received the Premio Tribuk dei Librai award, and The House on Fripp Island. Originally from rural northeastern Ohio, she now lives in Virginia.

Listening Still by Anne Griffin
St. Martin’s Press / March 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women
More Reviews from Novel

Simply beautiful! This is the story of Jeanie Masterson, who can hear the newly dead, and it is not cheesy or cliché or gimmicky; it is beautiful in its entirety. I had the pleasure of listening to an advanced copy of this, narrated by Nicola Coughlan, which only elevated my experience with this book. Kudos to Coughlan who incorporated small pauses and breaths and the sound of tears in one’s eyes, during dialogue, creating realistic-sounding conversation. The production studio’s attention to detail was on point as well, as characters who were on the other end of a phone call sounded tinny and small. Really well done!

Reviewed by Jill Naylor, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres, Gladys Jose (illus.)
 Aladdin / March 2022

Children, Hispanic & Latino, People & Places, United States
More Reviews from Bookmarks

Catalina Incognito is the first book in what’s sure to be a charming new chapter book series. Gifted with a magic sewing kit on her eighth birthday, shy and reserved Catalina learns about taking chances and trying again — and also solves the mystery of her aunt’s missing ruby. I loved the way Spanish phrases are mixed in throughout the book.

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers / April 2022

Asian American, Coming of Age, Diversity & Multicultural, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Family, Magical Realism, Young Adult
More Reviews from The Haunted Book Shop

I picked up this book because 1. it has a full moon on the cover. I’m a complete sucker for a moon and as I have yet to be steered wrong by this, it will continue to be an indicator of a great story to me. And 2. I am adoring this retelling trend YA is on right now. Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology had me swiftly plucking this from the arc box. Other favorite motifs include: unearthly fireflies, a mysterious and magical book, & unexplainable “natural” happenings. The romance between Luna and Hunter is so sweet and swoon-worthy and doesn’t veer outside the plot (which is a pet peeve of mine).The story takes place in the early 90s which I forget until someone mentions a windbreaker, lol. I learned SO MUCH about Chinese versus Taiwanese culture–I never knew there was/is an identity issue and found it fascinating as Pan expertly weaves it into the Romeo & Juliet narrative. And speaking of R&J, the closer I got to the ending, the more anxious I was about how close to the play Pan would go. No spoilers here, but the ending is chef’s kiss.

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi
Dey Street Books / March 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Politics
More Reviews from Square Books

Reading might not seem the most obvious of radical acts – but in Read Dangerously, Iranian-American writer Azar Nafisi shows that it can be. Drawing on her experiences of living in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in today’s America, and citing authors as diverse as Plato, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood and Elliot Ackerman, the bestselling writer of Reading Lolita in Tehran illustrates how literature can counter oppression. An erudite, accessible and inspiring book.

Reviewed by Jude Burke-Lewis, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Groundskeeping by Lee Cole
Berkley / February 2022

Adult Fiction, Coming of Age, Literary Fiction, Southern Fiction
More Reviews from Underground Books

A March 2022 Read This Next! Title

Every character in this book felt so much like someone I’ve known. I have lived most of my life in southern college towns, where professors and liberal arts types live in tense bubbles amidst a sea of religious conservatism and working class anti-intellectualism. This familiar setting forms the backdrop of Lee Cole’s debut novel Groundskeeping, which is at its heart a love story between Owen and Alma, from two very different backgrounds. But more than a simple love story it is also a pitch perfect exploration of the nuanced ways race and class form the boundaries of relationships in these communities. I laughed, I cheered, I cringed with recognition, I shared the characters’ pains and sorrows, and I absolutely could not put this book down.

Reviewed by  Josh Niesse from Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans – because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings.”
– Maya Angelou

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
Clarion Books / January 2022

Epic, Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction
More Reviews from Bookmarks

Families are hard to live with, even more so when it seems like everything you do tears you apart further. The Ivory Key opens with a family torn asunder, tossed to four separate lives, yet they’re still as connected as ever, and they need each other, even though they refuse to admit it. I loved every single second of this book, but mostly, I loved the realistic nature of every relationship. I loved that the true backbone of this story was a family, that even though the plot was something much greater than them, they were the most important thing. Raman has a gift for storytelling, and it shines brightly from within the pages of The Ivory Key.

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang

"Even the food we ate growing up was interesting, and I put that into The Family Chao. When our parents arrived in the U.S., Americans were eating peanut butter and jelly, and cake from a box and Cool Whip. My parents couldn’t buy the ingredients they needed to make Chinese food, and so they improvised. They made stir-fry out of iceberg lettuce. After the Vietnam War, supermarkets became more diverse. My parents couldn’t believe their good fortune! We ate bean sprouts for weeks. "—Lan Samantha Chang (via The Washington Post)

What booksellers are saying about The Family Chao

• The three brothers Chao are brought back to their small Wisconsin hometown to deal with a falling out between their parents and long simmering secrets soon bubble to the surface. Chang’s novel centered on the Chao family and their Chinese restaurant is a sprawling, uproarious, and deftly crafted exploration on family, greed, and the darker side of the "American Dream." Wonderfully written with countless passages to savor, written with equal parts biting humor and deep empathy; The Family Chao is a nearly perfect novel and one of my favorites of 2022.   ―Caleb Masters from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• The three grown sons of a dysfunctional Chinese family gather at their Midwestern home for the holidays, and become embroiled in series of mishaps, misunderstandings, and misbehavior. An epic family drama wrapped around issues of race and class. ― Anne Peck from Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
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• The Family Chao is a true pleasure! A hard to put down who dunnit family drama and mouthwatering delight! I do recommend you eat before reading…. This is great for bookclubs who enjoy topics on obligation, family dynamics and the seemingly picturesque front that often hides the truth. ―Laura Taylor from Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL
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• Lan Samantha Chang hooked me from the beginning with this tale of three brothers and their difficult father set in the backdrop of their Americanized Chinese restaurant. Chang walks a tightrope in her storytelling, pushing away, pulling in, and ultimately implicating the reader by shining a light on the kinds of lives we are willing to ignore and the ones we care about.   ―Fisher Nash from Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, KY
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About Lan Samantha Chang

Lan Samantha Chang is the award-winning author of the collection Hunger and the novels The Family Chao, Inheritance and All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost. A recent Berlin Prize Fellow, she also has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. Chang is the first Asian American and the first female director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Iowa City.

I Love You Because I Love You by Muon Thi Van
Katherine Tegen Books / January 2022

Children, Childrens, Family, Multigenerational
More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

I Love You Because I Love You is a sublime psalm to the ways in which love manifests and changes us for the better. Love’s soft, expressive illustrations are a perfect match for the heartfelt text, displaying a beautiful variety of relationships in which love abounds. A perfect gift for baby showers, weddings, graduation, Valentine’s Day, or any day—because every day is a good day to say, “I love you.”

Reviewed by Hannah DeCamp, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

Xstabeth by David Keenan
 Europa Editions / February 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction
More Reviews from Square Books

David Keenan joins serious fabulists and metaphormen Kundera, Coover & Co. with this perverse and metafictional novel. We follow the rise and falling-out of a pseudonymous musician, Xstabeth, with critical “essays” about the “deceased author” and the novel we’re reading in between. Herein: experimentation that succeeds.

Reviewed by Conor Hultman, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad
Catapult / October 2021

Adult Nonfiction, Social Science, Women’s Studies
More Reviews from Cavalier House Books

White Tears/Brown Scars is an eye opening book for anyone like me who has not experienced racism on a daily basis. As a white woman, I felt I was the perfect audience for what Ruby Hamad had to say. While discussing race and racism is an uncomfortable topic for many people, Ruby shows us the importance of remaining calm, seeing, and hearing the concerns of our BIPOC colleagues, friends and neighbors. I truly appreciated this book.

Reviewed by Sophie Giroir, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
Ballantine Books / February 2022

Adult Fiction, Technological, Thrillers
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

A crazy time-travel novel that is also a meditation on loss. The main character is mourning the loss of her lover as she tries to hold on to her job as “time cop” that is also frying her brain. I really loved this story with its many and varied villains and exploration of what regular time travel would do to the human brain. The protagonist keeps up her work to catch glimpses of the woman she loves in the form of kind of time-ghosts in the hotel where she works for wealthy people who go back in time and try to mess it up for sport and profit. Sometimes our biggest villains are ourselves as she learns while pushing away the people remaining in her life who wish to help.

Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Berkley / February 2022

Adult Fiction, LGBTQ+, Romance, Romantic Comedy
More Reviews from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews

A February 2022 Read This Next! Title

This is a truly lovely and joyful romance between two women that weaves together conversations of sacrifice, family, and friendship in such a beautiful way. Delilah and Claire are true champions of queer joy, and it was wonderful to read a story where queer women were the only characters. With a focus on second chances in a small town, reckoning with your past, chosen family, and of course, the way falling in love can turn you inside out, folks who enjoy Louise Miller’s novels or Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop will fall in love with Delilah and Claire.

Reviewed by Gaby Iori from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.”
– Louis L’Amour

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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The best of southern publishing…

Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
Gallery Books / February 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Biographical Fiction

This book is a treat, about a strong woman who embodied the post emancipation strength that coursed through many in the bright years before Jim Crow. Kianna Alexander brought the real Josephine Leary to life in her page-turning book of historical fiction that leapt off the page as Josephine became a new wife, a landowner, a business partner, a working woman creating a family life, a visionary with business dreams and eventually a real estate legend. While she built this life she encountered love, other strong women, racism, heaps of sexism, love and lots of friends. Great book!

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

About the Author:
Kianna Alexander wears many hats: doting mother, advice dispensing sister, and voracious reader. The author of more than twenty novels, she currently lives in her home state of North Carolina.

Black Cloud Rising by David Wright Faladé
Grove Press / February 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Civil War Era, Historical Fiction, Southern Fiction

I’ve never before encountered a novel to plunge me into the heart of the Civil War like this. As the War still rages, a Black Union Brigade is formed of recently freed slaves. Dick, semi-acknowledged son of a slave and her master, is an honest and eloquent observer of slave-master relations. Now he fights for Gen. Edward Wild, leading the hunt for rebel fighters as he steels himself to clash with his former master. I felt all of Dick’s emotional journey as he progressed from slave to wartime leader and beyond. The Outer Banks setting for much of the action is beautifully portrayed.

Reviewed by Rosemary Pugliese, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville, North Carolina

About the Author:
David Wright Faladé is a professor of English at the University of Illinois and the Mary Ellen von der Heyden Fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers. He is the co-author of the young adult novel Away Running and author of the nonfiction book Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers, which was a New Yorker notable selection and a St. Louis-Dispatch Best Book of 2001. The recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award, he has written for the New Yorker, the Village Voice, the Southern Review, Newsday, and more.

You Don’t Know Us Negroes by Zora Neale Hurston
Amistad / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, African American & Black, Essays, Literary Collections

The gift of Zora Neale Hurston and her multifaceted works shine beyond decades. You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays covers the timelessness of her work. Zora Neale Hurston’s work holds an essential space in piecing the histories of America and the visibility of the lives of Black Folk. Hurston honors the language, spirit, and progressive movements that are exhibited in our history and heritage. This book gives us a deeper understanding of Hurston and her legacy.

Reviewed by Jasmine from Cafe Noir, in Memphis, Tennessee

About the Author:
Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) was a novelist, folklorist, dramatist, ethnographer, and cultural anthropologist. Her many books include Jonah’s Gourd Vine; Mules and Men; Seraph on the Suwanee; Moses, Man of the Mountain; The Collected Stories; Every Tongue Got to Confess; Barracoon; and Dust Tracks on a Road. She is also the author of the bestselling classic Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Algonquin Books / February 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Coming of Age, Feminist, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Readers will be stunned by the force of Kaitlyn Greenidge’s latest novel. Set in Brooklyn during the Civil War era and the turbulent times after, the voice of Libertie Sampson describes her unique childhood as the freeborn daughter of a Black, widowed female doctor. Libertie’s mother has aspirations for her daughter to follow her path and join her in her practice. Two things prevent Libertie from choosing this course: her darker skin tone lessens her level of acceptance in the community and she doesn’t have the aptitude for medicine. Rather than face her mother’s disappointment, she marries a Haitian doctor and leaves the country with him. She finds herself lonelier than ever in this tumultuous island country. This is a highly immersive and unforgettable literary accomplishment.

Reviewed by Damita Nocton, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, North Carolina

About the Author:
Kaitlyn Greenidge‘s debut novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, was one of the New York Times Critics’ Top 10 Books of 2016 and a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. She is a contributing writer for the New York Times and the features director at Harper’s Bazaar, and her writing has also appeared in Vogue, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, as well as fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Whiting Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Substack, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Greenidge lives in Massachusetts. Her second novel, Libertie, is available now.

Spotlight on: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

"As a young Black man growing up in North Carolina and learning to play violin, I’d been put down and discouraged in every way imaginable from pretty much everyone. I was a skinny nerd; I was wasting my time. Quit playing that violin; go join the military. No other Black kid in my high school played violin, let alone classical music. But there was always at least one person, one encouraging voice, to keep me going. I was very lucky in that I always had a mentor, someone to look up to—or sometimes just someone who was happy that I was happy doing what I loved. "—Brendan Slocumb (via Lithub)

What booksellers are saying about The Violin Conspiracy

• Beautifully brilliant, utterly original, and completely inspired, Brendan Slocumb authored one of my new favorite novels. The book touches on everything- race, dreams, doubt, love, mystery. I was hanging onto every word, desperately invested in Ray’s story, a young Black man who just wants to play his violin living in a world set to see him fail. The writing will have you rooting for Ray, getting angry on his behalf, crying with him, triumphing with him. ― Laney Sheehan from Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, NC
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• There are so many captivating things about this novel…the insight the reader gets as to what it takes to be a classical musician, the background on the history of violins (and one violin in particular) and how they’re made, the main character’s determination in the face of struggle, family dynamics and expectations, racial issues that rear their ugly heads, and a mysterious theft of a priceless instrument…I could go on and on. Brendan Slocumb effortlessly keeps his story flowing, leaving the reader rooting for Ray McMillian while trying to put the pieces of the theft together. Such a great read! ―Mary Patterson from The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, VA
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• The Violin Conspiracy is listed as a mystery – and while the theft of a 10-million-dollar violin is at the heart of the book the story is so much more than the theft and who stole it. It is about music and how someone who is a true musician can forget the terrible things around him and just live for the music. It is a story about the violin itself and what it meant to a poor slave boy who was subjected to horrors we can’t imagine. And most of all it is the story of Ray and how his grandmother, his violin, his mentor, and those few who believed a young black boy could become a famous classical violinist helped him to become the man and the musician he came to be.   ―Nancy McFarlane from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC
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About Brendan Slocumb

Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and holds a degree in music education (with concentrations in violin and viola) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For more than twenty years he has been a public and private school music educator and has performed with orchestras throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. He is currently working on his second novel.

The Last Suspicious Holdout by Ladee Hubbard
Amistad / March 2022

Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Literary Fiction

“I loved these interconnected stories. They are fiercely intelligent, warm in their own way, and absolutely absorbing. Hubbard has a deft sense of character and community and I really enjoyed piecing together the connections between the collection’s characters. Excellent excellent excellent.” -Roxane Gay

.

About the Author:
Ladee Hubbard is the author of The Rib King and The Talented Ribkins, which received the 2018 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction. Her writing has appeared in Guernica, the Times Literary Supplement, Copper Nickel, and Callaloo. She is a recipient of the Berlin Prize and was recently named a Harvard Radcliffe Fellow. She is also won a 2016 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award and has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Art Omi, the Sacatar Foundation, the Sustainable Arts Foundation, Hedgebrook, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Born in Massachusetts and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, Hubbard currently lives in New Orleans with her husband and three children.

Parting Thought

"I write for young girls of color, for girls who don’t even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive. I can only change how they live, not how they think. "
― Ntozake Shange

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Knopf / February 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction
More Reviews from E. Shaver, bookseller

So, this book made me cry on the airplane. A ode to swimming, routine, kindness, and what it is like to fall into dementia, to love someone with dementia, and to loose that person as they lose themselves. A beautifully written meditation on the difficulties of a mother/ daughter relationship.

Reviewed by Jessica Osborne, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur

"I’ve spent five years on this show about moral philosophy, so I learned a lot about intention. Intention does matter. There’s a difference between someone intending to hurt someone and someone intending to be funny and make a joke and it going horribly wrong and miscalculating. But we have to be better at understanding that the things we say, regardless of their intention, can be really hurtful and can contribute to this ongoing problem of people feeling disrespected and less than and everything else…intention isn’t the only thing that matters. "—Michael Schur (via Vulture)

What booksellers are saying about How to Be Perfect

• This is an only partially tongue-in-cheek guide to being a better person. The creator of
  television’s The Good Place revisits the classic ethics dilemmas and helps us understand
  why being a good person is a complicated, but achievable, goal. ― Anne Peck from Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
  Buy from Righton Books
  
  
• From the creator of The Good Place comes a tongue-in-cheek guide to being a good person. This is a whirlwind trip through philosophy that highlights teachers from all over the world, pleasantly balanced with non-Western ideals in addition to the familiar Greeks and Europeans. By the end you will be armed with tools to make real-life decisions. Perhaps the most moving part of the book was the letter at the end to his 10 and 12 year old children in which he boils down the entire book into concepts even the youngest human can understand. ―Kelly Justice from Fountain Books in Richmond, VA
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• Michael Schur’s work always leaves you wanting more, and with this book he gives us another taste of The Good Place. Brimming with his signature wit, humor, and awareness, this book is an accessible entry point to philosophy for the pop culturistas like me. Schur knows how daunting it can be to read philosophy (he had to do it for years for research!l); his approaching masterfully breaks down the walls between philosophical ideas and the average reader. I’m thrilled to finally say I’ve read philosophy!   ―Lauren Kean from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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About Michael Schur

Michael Schur is a television writer and producer who has worked on shows like The Office, Master of None, The Comeback, and Hacks, and created or cocreated Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn 99, The Good Place, and Rutherford Falls. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Jennifer, and their two kids, William and Ivy.

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
HarperTeen / February 2022

Fantasy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Only A Monster uses my favorite type of time travel device (the fixed timeline) to craft an incredible tale spanning decades and centuries. I felt like I was right alongside Joan, trying to unravel the mysteries of the monster world. The idea of these sort of monsters moving throughout our world is a fascinating, if terrifying, one, and I was immediately intrigued. I wasn’t sold on the story right away, but the monster mystery was enough to keep me hooked until I really fell in love with the story itself. The world feels well-developed and larger than Joan and Aaron and our protagonists, and you get a distinct sense that a lot is going on in the “normal” world, while we see only a small fraction where we’ve chosen to focus our lens. Only A Monster is both heartbreaking and spellbinding, leaving you breathless for a happy ending. Will you get one? Only time will tell!

Reviewed by Kate Wilder, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

The Eye Test by Chris Jones
 Twelve / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Creative Ability, Psychology
More Reviews from Parnassus Books

Jones looks back on a career of studying fascinating individuals for his journalism, and in doing so reveals a truth he’s learned: analytics are helpful, but human passion, experience, and imagination are the things that count in the end. A great storyteller, Jones’s subjects include doctors, sports figures, entertainers, writers, cops, scientists, businesspeople, and more. He found that effective specialists learn, watch, and then act in a way that pushes society towards being better. They use both expertise and their minds. Models and formulas help with this, but they are limited because they rely on what has happened before. Sometimes new and crazy things happen; then they’re kind of useless. My favorite quote: “We do our best work when we remember our humanity, especially when it’s hard to remember it.”

Reviewed by Sissy Gardner, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López
Nancy Paulsen Books / January 2022

African American & Black, Children, People & Places, United States
More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

When the world is too boring or too hard or too angry for them, a brother and sister are reminded by their very wise grandmother that somewhere in the world somebody else felt the same way. This stunningly illustrated (by Rafael López) masterpiece from Jacqueline Woodson, former Ambassador for Children’s Literature, highlights the power of the imagination and encourages young readers to believe in something, leave troubles behind, and imagine a better world.

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Silent Parade by Keigo Higashino
Minotaur Books / December 2021

Adult Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural
More Reviews from Bookmarks

Detective Galileo is back in another compelling puzzle-box mystery from the great Keigo Higashino. Whether you are a big fan of the series or a newcomer, Silent Parade is a excellent entry point into these engrossing mysteries. Set in Tokyo, a murder suspect has been able to avoid conviction twice because of lack on concrete evidence. Now the murder suspect has turned up dead during the community’s annual parade and Galileo is on the case to finally uncover the truth. Methodical, full of wonderful characters and an excellent sense of place, Silent Parade is a winning mystery experience.

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Funny Farm by Laurie Zaleski
St. Martin’s Press / February 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Animal Rights, Biography & Autobiography, Environmentalists & Naturalists, Nature, Pets
More Reviews from Bookmiser

A February 2022 Read This Next! Title

Once you open this book, this story will never leave your heart. Laurie Zalenski tells of her mother’s love as the family escapes an abusive husband and father and attempts life with zero money. As the family scrapes by, they adopt and care for others including neglected animals. The love of people and animals shine on every page as the tale leads to the Funny Farm and the 600 abused and neglected animals that thrive on the New Jersey farm. You will fall in love with Laurie, the many animals, and the book as you plan your trip to see for yourself the Funny Farm.

Reviewed by Nancy Pierce from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“So long as I have questions to which there are no answers, I shall go on writing.”
– Clarice Lispector, The Hour of the Star

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Read This Now!

Recommended by Southern indies…

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Gallery Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Domestic, Thrillers
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

Greenwich Park is a fabulous debut novel. The book starts off with a letter to Helen from someone in prison wanting her to know the truth. So, you know from the beginning that something bad is going to happen, but you don’t know who wrote the letter. Told from three points of view–Helen’s, who hopes to finally be bringing a baby to term after many miscarriages; Serena’s, who is Helen’s college friend and now married to her brother Rory; and Kate’s, Helen’s child hood friend who is her brother Charlie’s on again and off again girlfriend–the story takes time to develop but once it starts going it seems to go in lots of different directions at once. The ending will surprise you, and then the rest of the ending will surprise you even more – and then the last sentence on the last page happens.

Reviewed by Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Joan is Okay by Weike Wang

"…sometimes being around writers is kind of strange. I love them, but sometimes there’s just this sense of impracticality with writing. It’s just such an inefficient system. I feel like I’m always straddling the middle place. I have no desire to write this character that’s a repudiation, because that in and of itself is a stereotype. That is defined by white marketing, I think—the dominant race marketing whatever they think “good Asian people” or “cool Asian people” are supposed to be. I don’t want it to be that tidy. I don’t want people to dismiss Joan—I want them to really stay with her and see how she’s managing this difficult year in her life. ” "—Weike Wang (via Electric Lit)

What booksellers are saying about Joan is Okay

• An insightful story about a woman living life on her own less-traditional terms and facing the pushback from society and family as a result. I really enjoyed getting to know Joan and was routing for her throughout the book, which was a compelling and thoughtful read. ― Melissa Summers from Main Street Books in Davidson, NC
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• Joan is the youngest child and only daughter of Chinese immigrants, a brilliant intensive care doctor, a workaholic for whom the hospital is the closest she’s ever had to feeling at home – and one of the most different and memorable characters you’re likely to encounter this year. Joan is Okay is full of subtle wit as she navigates both her relationships with her family following her father’s death, and her identity as a Chinese American. Joan may be okay – but this gentle, nuanced novel is most definitely more than okay. ―Jude Burke-Lewis from Square Books in Oxford, MS
  Buy from Square Books
  
  
• Joan is Okay is so, so good! I loved this contemporary story about family, immigration, and life expectations. As unique as her experience is, it was easy to relate to Joan’s struggle against the pressures to conform that come at her from all sides. Wang’s smart prose sparkles with spare intensity, just like Joan herself. I can’t wait to tell readers about this book!   ―Serena Wyckoff from Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL
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• Like many readers I adored Weike Wang’s debut novel Chemistry and have been eagerly awaiting her next book. In Joan is Okay Wang builds on what made Chemistry so successful—not only her exploration of the intersection of race and gender in spaces predominantly inhabited by men (in this case moving from the chemistry lab to the ICU) but also her ability to capture the quiet sadness underlying the lives of her characters. I won’t be able to stop thinking about this clever, poignant novel for weeks to come. ―Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
  Buy from Bookmarks
  

About Weike Wang

Weike Wang was born in Nanjing, China, and grew up in Australia, Canada, and the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry and her doctorate in public health. Her first novel, Chemistry, received the PEN/ Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction, the Ploughshares John C. Zacharis First Book Award, and a Whiting Award. She is a “5 Under 35” honoree of the National Book Foundation and her work has appeared in The New Yorker. She currently lives in New York City.

Reclaim the Stars by Zoraida Córdovas
Wednesday Books / February 2022

Fantasy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Books and Books

Reclaim the Stars is a knockout collection of young adult SFF short stories from voices of the Latin American diaspora. Each story feels personal, powerful & stands strong on its own, but I love the marvelous tapestry this book creates by binding them all up.

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

Bird Brother by Rodney Stotts
 Island Press / February 2022

Adult Nonfiction, African American & Black, Biography & Autobiography, Birds, Environmentalists & Naturalists, Nature, Personal Memoirs
More Reviews from Novel.

Bird Brother is the fascinating journey of Rodney Stotts from growing up in the projects of Southeast DC to becoming a conservationist. inner-city youth mentor, and one of the few Black master falconers in the U.S. The book is written in a conversational style, and though reading his history can be emotional/difficult at times, it’s easy to see that his love for nature is the reason that he’s alive today. He’s also very honest about his mistakes, his perseverance in avian education/rehabilitation, and the obstacles that he overcame with the help of his friends & family. Most importantly, he champions the responsibility that we humans have as caretakers of the nature/wildlife around us… and in his own words, to serve something bigger than ourselves.

Reviewed by Stuart McCommon, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee

Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / February 2022

Adult Fiction,  Literary Fiction
More Reviews from Malaprop’s

Defying the traditional framework the novel, Sheila Heti proves once again she is one the wisest and most imaginative active writers. The story begins innocently enough and then wonderfully morphs, with ruminations on loss, companionship, religion, and the physical form. Ever since reading the book, it has echoed in my brain continuously.

Reviewed by James Harrod, Malaprop’s in Asheville, North Carolina

A is for Oboe: The Orchestra’s Alphabet by Lera Auerbach and Marilyn Nelson
Dial Books / December 2021

Children, Juvenile, Music, Performing Arts
More Reviews from Bookmarks

This is a fun twist on an alphabet picture book, with each letter conjuring up the parts of the orchestra, from the tuning A given by the oboe to the well-earned snoozing after a successful performance. My favorite thing about this book was the way it highlighted so much more than just the instruments of the orchestra—even the music librarian gets to make an appearance!

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Philomel Books / February 2022

Europe, Historical, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
More Reviews from Parnassus Books

A February 2022 Read This Next! Title

Ruta Sepetys tackles the little-known subject of communist Romania with the gut-wrenching, suspenseful story of Cristian. He dreams of writing but instead is blackmailed to turn on everyone he loves. His story explores the endurance of the human spirit even in the toughest circumstances.

Reviewed by Chelsea Stringfield from Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

Small World by Jonathan Evison
Dutton / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction
More Reviews from Square Books

The only thing that’s small about this book is its title. Clocking in at just under 500 pages, Small World is a continent-spanning, era-hopping epic. In the present day, a group of strangers find themselves bound by fate on a train hurtling up the west coast, while in the 19th century their pioneering ancestors – immigrants, Native Americans and former slaves – struggle for survival. Despite juggling a large cast, Evison handles the multiple narratives with aplomb, creating an engrossing page-turner that also raises important questions about the American dream and what it means to be American.

Reviewed by Jude Burke-Lewis, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

"What I really like about SFF is how it can offer meaningful representation of marginalized identities in a gentler and more cathartic way than realistic contemporary fiction…SFF is really good at is creating types of otherness that don’t exist in the real world. Readers can project aspects of themselves into these characters without having to have the character accurately represent all of our real-life experiences. It helps sidestep that reaction of “oh, that isn’t my experience of my identity.” "–Shelley Parker-Chan (via Locus Magazine)

What booksellers are saying about She Who Became the Sun

• What a powerful book and an epic of a debut! The exploration of gender and gender identity wrapped in the epic fantasy package is just *chef’s kiss* This book is so magically queer, and it was extremely powerful to see these amazing genderqueer characters take center stage in such a sweeping and beautiful story. The writing is immersive and lyrical, the characters are compelling, and I was sucked in right from the beginning. It’s brutal, it will wreck you, and you will finish wanting so much more. A must read of the summer!! ― Candice Huber from Tubby & Coo’s Mid-City Book Shop in New Orleans, LA
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• This powerful, sweeping debut tracks female monk Zhu Chongba as she refuses to succumb to nothingness in 1345 Mongol-ruled China. The side characters are complex, the world building is immense, and Zhu’s quest to be great is filled with unexpected twists and turns. ―Chelsea Stringfield from Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN
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• She Who Became the Sun is a grim military fantasy about identity, gender, public versus private perception, and most of all ambition: who are you when you force destiny to take notice of you? What horrors will you commit to keep destiny’s attention? Zhu Chongba disguises herself as a man (specifically, a monk) in order to stave off death by starvation during a drought. Along the way, she gets involved with fighting the invading Mongols, using her cleverness rather than military brawn to gain power. —   ―Whitney Sheppard from The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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• I can say without a doubt, right now, this is my number one book of the year. And I’ve read a lot of books already and have many more to read. I’m a history person, I have a bachelors in history, so when this book was pushed to me as the reimagined story of the founder of the Ming dynasty but Sapphic, I, a Sapphic history lover was very intrigued. It takes a little bit to properly slide into the flow of the book and the main character, but once you’re in, you are IN. The dialogue flows so beautifully and snappy, the characters fold around each other as the history we already know unfolds around them. And the betrayals! The hunger for destiny and revenge! I loved every single second of this absolutely golden book, and can’t wait for the next! ―Caitlyn Vanorder from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
  Buy from Bookmarks
  

About Shelley Parker-Chan

Shelley Parker-Chan is an Australian by way of Malaysia and New Zealand. A 2017 Tiptree Fellow, she is the author of the forthcoming historical fantasy novel She Who Became the Sun. Parker-Chan spent nearly a decade working as a diplomat and international development adviser in Southeast Asia, where she became addicted to epic East Asian historical TV dramas. After a failed search to find English-language book versions of these stories, she decided to write her own. Parker-Chan currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she is very grateful to never have to travel by leaky boat ever again.

The Sunny Nihilist by Wendy Syfret
Chronicle Prism / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy
More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

The Sunny Nihilist will open your mind to the brighter side of meaninglessness. (Hear me out.) Embracing nihilism–or at least being open to it–can free you from the constant messages we receive about how every. single. thing. must. have. DEEP. meaning. As someone who detests the phrase “everything happens for a reason” but is grateful for what past mistakes and successes have taught me, Wendy Syfret’s book is just what the doctor ordered.

Reviewed by Janet Geddis, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

The Stars Are Not Yet Bells by Hannah Lillith Assadi
Riverhead Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction
More Reviews from Righton Books

Stamper brings his trademark storytelling, full of heart and magic, to his story of 4 boys and one incredible summer. Sal, Gabriel, Heath, and Reese are the best of friends, but they’re all headed their separate ways for the summer. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator. Gabriel is headed to Boston to work for a nonprofit and save the trees. Heath is headed to Daytona to work with his aunt and cousin while his parents work out their divorce. And Reese is off to Paris for a summer design school. They’ve always been inseparable, so how will they make it through the summer?

Reviewed by Anne Peck, Righton Books in St Simons Island, Georgia

Golden Boys by Phil Stamper
Haymarket Books/ February 2022

Friendship, LGBTQ+, New Experience, Romance, Social Themes, Young Adult
More Reviews from Bookmiser

Stamper brings his trademark storytelling, full of heart and magic, to his story of 4 boys and one incredible summer. Sal, Gabriel, Heath, and Reese are the best of friends, but they’re all headed their separate ways for the summer. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator. Gabriel is headed to Boston to work for a nonprofit and save the trees. Heath is headed to Daytona to work with his aunt and cousin while his parents work out their divorce. And Reese is off to Paris for a summer design school. They’ve always been inseparable, so how will they make it through the summer?

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

Hilda: The Wilderness Stories by Luke Pearson
Flying Eye Books / November 2021

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fairy Tales, Folklore, Juvenile, Legends & Mythology
More Reviews from Foggy Pine Books

Hilda: The Wildnerness Stories is a fun journey through a vast world rich with magic and Pearson expertly captures the childlike sense of wonder one might experience within in. Since these stories feature less dark tones than those seen in some other Hilda storylines, they make a great light read which allow you to test the waters before you decide to swim.

Reviewed by Deion Cooper, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
Random House / February 2022

Business, Careers, Children, Juvenile Fiction, Occupations
More Reviews from Bookmarks

A February 2022 Read This Next! Title

Nigel and the Moon will make your heart swell in the best way! Sure to be a beloved book, Nigel’s story resonates deeply with those who are scared to share their dreams. When Nigel looks up at the moon, anything is possible; but in school he’s hesitant to share. Career week in school is tricky when you want to be an astronaut, dancer, and a superhero! I loved Nigel and his story, and applaud Antwan Eady on this superb debut!

Reviewed by Lauren Kean from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“My alma mater was books, a good library…. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”
– Malcolm X

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

Honor by Thrity Umrigar
Algonquin Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Hispanic & Latino
More Reviews from Bookmarks

Honor is the kind of book that makes me want to sit for hours and read. Thrity Umrigar transports the reader to India through both the eyes of an Indian American journalist and the subject of her article, a Hindu woman who was the victim of a horrible attack at the hands of her own family. The result is powerful and poignant.

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

"It was the sense of possibility, of how easily America could have been something else, how easily it could become something else, that I wanted to explore in all three of these books. Because there have been certain moments in America’s creation, certain turning points where the country could have gone another way. "–Hanya Yanagihara (via The Bookseller)

What booksellers are saying about To Paradise

• A deeply resonant and astoundingly beautiful novel, Yanagihara’s To Paradise is a book to savor and is sure to satisfy readers who loved A Little Life. Told in three distinct parts that all speak to each other in interesting ways, Yanagihara’s powerful prose once again takes center stage and I loved getting "lost" in her beautiful writing. A gorgeously somber and powerful novel that I can’t wait for readers to get there hands on. Bring tissues! ― Caleb Masters from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
  Buy from Bookmarks
  
  
• To Paradise is complex, thorny in that specific Yanagihara way, heartbreaking, wonderful. Masterful. The author is definitely reaching for Big Ideas, asking Big Questions. Actually, the Biggest Question: what is the meaning of life?…To Paradise is a celebration of and call for full, expansive humanity and human connection. To Paradise is the best thing I’ve read in…a long time. It’s truly, in my estimation, a great work. ―Matt Nixon from A Cappella Books in Atlanta, GA
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• The brilliant author of A Little Life creates three novels that echo one another: one that creates alternative 19th century New York City; another set during the 20th century AIDS crisis; and a final dystopian novel that takes place about seventy years in the future. This book is massive in size and scope, and deals with issues of politics, race, sexuality, and global pandemics, but is at its most powerful when describing the everyday lives of people who intend to do good, but don’t always succeed.   ―Anne Peck from Righton Books in St Simons Island, GA
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About Hanya Yanagihara

Hanya Yanagihara is an American novelist, editor, and travel writer. She grew up in Hawaii and currently lives in New York City.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Minotaur Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Crime, Thrillers
More Reviews from Page 158 Books

A January 2022 Read This Next! Title

“I was twelve years old when those shadows started to form a shape, a face. Started to become less of an apparition and more concrete. More real. When I began to realize that maybe the monsters lived among us.”In the deep South, Chloe Davis is a therapist with a secret. Her father is in jail for the murder of multiple young girls who disappeared from her rural town when she was only a child. But now it is happening again and this time it seems the girls have connections to Chloe herself. But can Chloe find the truth and stop the killer, even if they are someone close to her?Stacy Willingham’s A Flicker in the Dark is a solid debut thriller, full of the thick humidity of Southern summers spent running through the woods. Readers will race to the end to find who is at fault and may discover that no one can be trusted.

Reviewed by Faith Parke-Dodge, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

MonsterMind: Dealing With Anxiety & Self-Doubt by Alfonso Casas
Ablaze / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Comics & Graphic Novels
More Reviews from Foggy Pine Books

Casas’ most recent graphic novel is a wonderful, poignant dive into living with mental health issues. Creating monsters out of feelings, Casas gives a visual representation of how trauma, anxiety, fear, and other pests affect daily life, especially in the midst of a pandemic. I really appreciated the hopeful but realistic ending of this. It’s a reminder that though these things will always live with us, there are ways to fight them.

Reviewed by Grace Quinn, Foggy Pine Books in Boone, North Carolina

Hansel and Greta by Jeanette Winterson
Haymarket Books/ January 2022

Adaptations, Children, Fairy Tales & Folklore
More Reviews from Oxford Exchange

This book felt like a fever dream in all the wildest ways. From comedic to angering, this book covered an abundance of feelings and topics that made it whole. A fun and much needed adaptation to a classic fairytale. Will stay with you a long time after reading.

Reviewed by Stephanie Carrion, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

The Big Reveal by Jen Larsen
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) / December 2021

Dating & Sex, Social Themes, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

Addie is a fat dancer, and proud of it–not letting her peers or anybody else allow her to feel shame or inferiority because of her body. She has a group of truly excellent friends, who throughout the book are self-affirming, endlessly supportive, and outright hilarious. I wish I’d had anything close to these friends when I was in high school. Scratch that, I wish I had these friends now. Together, they hatch a plan to financially support Addie’s potential post-graduation job with a dance company in Milan that involves an underground burlesque show, and through it, Addie discovers the self-affirming and body-positive power of burlesque, which she and her friends had previously cast aside as creative stripping. But she also has, and does, stand up to misogyny, slut-shaming, and fatphobia from her peers and superiors, and Larsen is truly excellent at illustrating exactly how internalized bigotry can hurt you even when you think you love who you are, just because we live in a world where anything that isn’t the default is constantly assumed to be aberrant. The best YA I’ve read all year!!

Reviewed by Akil Guruparan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Read This Next!

Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz
Random House / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs
More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

A January 2022 Read This Next! Title

An exquisite view into the inextricable relationship among love, grief, and hope, Kathryn Schulz’s Lost & Found is a masterpiece. It’s been a while since I’ve underlined so many sentences and created marginalia—from page one, it felt as if I myself was part of Schulz’s story. Her metaphors are spot-on and stunning; her fondness for research and etymology manage to deepen our relationship to the work instead of distancing us. Five stars. I’ve already created a mile-long list of loved ones who will, like me, treasure this memoir.

Reviewed by Janet Geddis, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“The library is inhabited by spirits that come out of the pages at night.”
– Isabel Allende

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
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The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Flatiron Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Hispanic & Latino
More Reviews from Parnassus Books

Written with sharp humor and a keen eye, Olga Dies Dreaming is one the most exciting debuts I’ve read in a long time. Xochitl Gonzalez has given us an unforgettable cast of characters—I loved unraveling the Acevedo family history in all of its messiness and tenderness. Don’t miss this one!

Reviewed by Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: The Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

"I really enjoy writing girls that aren’t nice. I don’t know what it says about me that they’re easy to write! I just think that girls don’t get as much permission or as much forgiveness to be this range of different things."–Rachel Lynn Solomon (via Kirkus)

What booksellers are saying about Weather Girl

• Weather Girl has become an automatic cozy romance favorite for me, much like THE Ex Talk. Ari and Russell are so lovable, and this story is full of all the heart, nuance, swoons and steam I’ve come to expect from Rachel Lynn Solomon.. ― Cristina Russell from Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL
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• Is it too early to say that this will be one of the best romances of 2022? Rachel Lynn Solomon blew me away with this thoughtful romance. I loved the frank yet careful way Solomon dealt with so many real-world hurdles to finding love in adulthood: everything from depression to religion (both characters are Jewish) to single parenthood to having sex with a new person for the first time in a long while. Solomon is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance novelists, and I know Weather Girl is a book I’ll return to again and again. ―Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• This sweet romance does a great job of highlighting some areas that you don’t see a lot of in romcoms: Judaism, depression, and a larger man with a smaller woman. Each item doesn’t feel heavy-handed or preachy, but is handled so well, making this a great read!   ―Jennifer Jones from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA
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About Rachel Lynn Solomon

Rachel Lynn Solomon writes, tap dances, and collects lipstick in Seattle, Washington. She is the author of the YA novels You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Our Year of Maybe, and the forthcoming Today Tonight Tomorrow (June 2020). Her debut adult romantic comedy, The Ex Talk, was published in spring 2021.

I’m Hungry!, ¡Tengo hambre! by Angela Dominguez
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) / January 2022

Adult Nonfiction, Murder, Serial Killers, True Crime
More Reviews from Bookmarks

I’m Hungry! / ¡Tengo Hambre! is a great picture book with two adorable characters at its center. It’s an excellent teaching tool for Spanish or English, and would make for a great introduction to bilingual books for young readers. Easy to follow, clear, and cute as a button, this book is sure to be a beloved addition to any library.

Reviewed by Lauren Kean, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
Tordotcom / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Apocalyptic Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
More Reviews from Cavalier House Books

Goliath sets us down on a not-so distant future Earth destroyed by disease, climate change, and war. Those left behind to inherit the skeletal remains of society fight each day to survive as they watch their communities waste away. As dark and grim as the world is, though, Tochi Onyebuchi gives us characters fully alive with voices to lend to the fight against racism and gentrification. On every page is a deeply profound honesty and poignant thoughtfulness that cannot and should not be ignored. I am once again blown away by the magic of his words and the power of his stories. Everyone needs to read Goliath.

Reviewed by Sophie Giroir, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

PEN: An Illustrated History by Carles Torner
Interlink Publishing Group Inc / November 2021

Adult Nonfiction, History, Social History
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

PEN International believes as I do that freedom of speech is the fundamental tool against repression, racism, and terror. I congratulate them on their 100-year anniversary! 

Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Wednesday Books / January 2022

Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Anatomy: A Love Story is a dark and deadly tale about just how far you’d go to achieve your dreams in a world designed for you to fail. I fell in love with Hazel and Jack. This was a gothic story of resurrection men and women surgeons in disguise that had me guessing until the last moment.

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
William Morrows / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction
More Reviews from Snail on the Wall

A January 2022 Read This Next! Title

When I started reading Sequoia Nagamatsu’s How High We Go in the Dark, I would have hesitated to call it hopeful, but now I think that’s a perfect description. This novel reads like a series of connected short stories, and part of the joy of this book is finding the threads that connect these characters. Each chapter centers on people struggling through their own slice of a world steeped in death and damaged by plague and floods. But by the time I got to the end of this novel, I felt hope that we can get through calamity; there are possibilities, and there is hope.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Hardin, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else’s mind.”
– Anna Quindlen

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor
Harper Perennial / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Biographical, Historical Fiction
More Reviews from Wordsworth Books

What a fun read! This book and the fictional tales of the women surrounding Gatsby actually makes me want to re-read The Great Gatsby with these imagined back stories in mind. Cantor’s writing is both creative and compelling. Her insights about the lives and struggles of women were woven perfectly into this fictional expansion and made me appreciate the characters of Daisy, Myrtle, Catherine and Jordan way more than before. If you are a fan of The Great Gatsby I think you’ll love this book and its ability to help you revisit the world of West Egg. If you’re not a fan of The Great Gatsby, I still think you’ll enjoy this story of three women and what could have led to the murder of Jay Gatsby. Either way, it’s a creative, fun read for both those who have an appreciation for the old classic and those who just enjoy a good period piece of fiction!

Reviewed by Lynne Phillips, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

"Every book I write is for myself. My YA is for my teen self, who hungered for magical stories. My middle grade is for the painfully shy kid I once was, one who wanted adventure. My adult romance is for the version of myself that denies being a romantic (though I am). The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is for the person I am now. . I wanted to pose the question, ‘What price would you pay for survival?’” –Zoraida Córdova via Bookpage

What booksellers are saying about The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

• Cordova’s writing echoes the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez in this epic family tale that sweeps across countries and time. I loved the atmospheric quality of the book and the incredible beauty of her writing. ― Jamie Southern from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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• If you thought your family tree was complicated, wait till you meet the Montoyas. When their grandmother Orquídea summons them to collect their inheritance, they don’t realize they’re about to dive into a family history of magic, loss, and resilience. ―Abby Rice from Foggy Pine Books in Boone, NC
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• I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I was so intrigued with Orquidea Devina and the magical force surrounding her that I hardly wanted to put this book down, because I needed to hurriedly piece together all of the interconnected pieces. Blending a bit of mystery and fantasy, Zoraida Cordova does an excellent job developing this story with complex multi-generational characters connected by magical roots that make them stronger together than they ever are apart!   ―Nicole Granville, The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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• A playfully mesmerizing, meaningful story about family! The matriarch, Orquidea Divina, summons her relatives from far and wide to attend her funeral and to receive their inheritance. But the inheritance is not what everyone expected, nor is the funeral anything ordinary. Over the next several years, secrets are revealed and special gifts are given, and each one must figure out how they want to live their lives individually and as a family. Magical, fun and heart-warming! ―Cathy Graham from Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL
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• The cosmic battle between good and evil plays out, not on the grand scale, but within a family where love, longing and belonging have consequences beyond the ordinary. This enchanting tale of magical realism grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go. With unforgettable characters and surprises twisting like stems and roots throughout the story, this book is almost impossible to put down. (OK, I got so involved, I totally forgot my husband and I were going out, until he came to get me.) For fans of Isabel Allende and Erin Morgenstern. ―Lia Lent from Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, AR
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About Zoraida Córdova

Zoraida Córdova is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen novels and short stories, including the Brooklyn Brujas series, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate, and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. In addition to writing novels, she serves on the board of We Need Diverse Books, is the coeditor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old, and is the cohost of the writing podcast Deadline City. She writes romance novels as Zoey Castile. Zoraida was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and calls New York City home. When she’s not working, she’s roaming the world in search of magical stories. For more information, visit her at ZoraidaCordova.com.

A Killer by Design by Ann Wolbert Burgess
Simon & Schuster / December 2021

Adult Nonfiction, Murder, Serial Killers, True Crime
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

You probably know the names of John Douglass and Robert Ressler, the mind hunters of the FBI. But it was Ann Burgess who helped develop a more scientific way to interview serial killers and serial rapists in order to catch future criminals. Burgess caught the eye of the FBI because of her groundbreaking research into rape offenders, and she brought her analytical mind to what is now the Behavioral Science Unit. A must read for any true crime buff, and a fascinating look into the early days of profiling.

Reviewed by Kate Towery, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol
Soho Press / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Asia (General), World Literature
More Reviews from Oxford Exchange

Apostol softly launches you into a landscape of memories and gently reminds book lovers of what it first felt like to envision possibility thanks to literature. Apostol’s reflections on their time during the EDSA rebellion of 1986 teach us just how nuanced and expansive human connections can form if we let them.

Reviewed by Eden Hakimzadeh, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray
HarperCollins / December 2021

Fantasy & Magic, Juvenile Fiction
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Perfect for middle readers with a sense of adventure, this book is a fun ride from the first page! The mystery of learning the identity and nature of the Enemy is captivating, and the tight bonds between both friends and siblings are explored beautifully. I’d absolutely recommend this book to young readers, and I hope to see more from this author, and in this world!

Reviewed by Kate Wilder, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Medusa by Jessie Burton
Bloomsbury YA / January 2022

Adaptations, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Young Adult
More Reviews from Bookmiser

Burton’s feminist retelling of Medusa is filled with wonderful illustrations, and a story with which we’re all somewhat familiar. Medusa has been exiled to a remote island with her two sisters. But they are immortal and have wings, so Medusa’s existence is fairly lonely. But one day, a beautiful boy named Perseus arrives by boat and he and Medusa strike up a friendship, talking while each is on the other side of a giant rock. They each find themselves heartbroken, telling the other their story.

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds, Jason Griffin (Illustrator)
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books / January 2022

African American & Black, People & Places, United States, Young Adult
More Reviews from Bookmarks

A January 2022 Read This Next! Title

A beautiful and unconventional book capturing what the year 2020 felt like to the youngest child of a fictional Black American family, told in three long sentences and a notebook’s worth of art. Haunting and gorgeous, the unnamed narrator’s observations speak powerfully to a wide range of emotions, from the despair felt watching the world crumble and seeing the country’s betrayal of its Black citizens, to the balm that family connections can provide in the darkest times.

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.”
– Louis L’Amour

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
Berkley / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Biographical, Historical Fiction
More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

I enjoyed the novel of Sylvia Beach, who founded Shakespeare and Company book store in 1919 Paris and published James Joyce’s initial edition of Ulysses. It is full of the details of Sylvia’s life with Adrienne Monnier, who owns a French bookstore across the street, and the many trials Beach endures dealing with Joyce until she finally lets her interest in the book go.

Reviewed by Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

"When I think about writing a book I think about the situation first and then I try to think of a character who is going to have the most difficult time doing what I want her to do." –Diane Chamberlain

At a launch event with Friends & Fiction for the paperback release of her last book, Big Lies in a Small Town, Diane Chamberlain was asked about how she created such psychologically complicated characters. She answered that she starts with a situation, something she wants them to do such as paint a mural, or start their life over in a new house, and then she throws obstacles at them:

"it’s not that I set out to create these screwed up characters. As I’m writing I’m just trying to figure out how more difficult for them so that they have to really work harder to succeed."

Trouble and difficulties is just what Kayla Carter has in The Last House on the Street. She has just lost her husband in an accident building their dream home and now must raise her four year old daughter in the house that cost him his life. But the house is built in a new development that sits on top of some very old and tragic history that is still festering and won’t let itself be buried in the past.

Meet Diane Chamberlain at Reader Meet Writer!

What booksellers are saying about The Last House on the Street

• To read a Diane Chamberlain novel is to be on a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. This one lives up to expectations and the story line is a hot topic right now. Dealing with voting rights back during Jim Crow in North Carolina, this book has you see both sides and deftly makes you sway to each side. This is one for everyone who wants a book to take you away with a bit of romance, mystery, and love of the characters. Great book club book! ― Suzanne Lucey from Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, NC
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• The Last House on the Street begins with Kayla, a recently widowed single mother, in the present day, when strange and eerie things begin happening at her new home. There is also Ellie who becomes a Civil Rights activist in 1965 and falls in love with a fellow worker, bringing danger to them both. I loved how the story bounced between Kayla and Ellie’s perspectives and how Chamberlain weaved the story into one narrative. Overall, great storytelling and a wonderful read! Perfect for readers who like mystery or history. ―Katie from The Snail on the Wall in Huntsville, AL
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• Diane Chamberlain’s newest novel couldn’t be more relevant for our current times. It is hard to believe that we are still fighting the battles for the right to vote that were being fought in 1965. Told from two story lines – one in 1965 North Carolina right before the signing of the Right to Vote act and one in 2010 – the separate stories of Ellie and Kayla and what they have endured merge together when Ellie comes home for the first time in 45 years and Kayla prepares to move into the house at the end of the street. A definite must read for fans of Big Lies in a Small Town.   ―Nancy McFarlane from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC
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• I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! The dual timelines were a perfect fit for this suspenseful journey. The novel follows the life of Ellie in the summer of 1965 when she becomes part of the SCOPE program to encourage the black community to register to vote. She is a full supporter of the civil rights movement which alienates her from her family. The 2010 timeline follows Kayla, who has just lost her husband in a freak accident while building their dream home. When Kayla and her three-year old daughter move into the house, very frightening and strange things begin to happen. Chamberlain masterfully spins the timelines to keep readers hooked to the very end. ―Sharon Davis from Book Bound Bookstore in Blairsville, GA
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About Diane Chamberlain

DIANE CHAMBERLAIN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-eight novels published in over fifteen languages. Her books include Big Lies in a Small Town, The Stolen Marriage and The Dream Daughter. She lives in North Carolina with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca, and her sheltie, Cole.

Between the Lines by Uli Beutter Cohen
Simon & Schuster / October 2021

Adult Nonfiction, Essays, Literary Collections
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

From the creator behind Subway Book Review, this is the newest Humans of New York, but for book lovers. This is a collection of short interviews Cohen conducted on the subway of New York City, documenting not only everyone’s reading list but also creating a conversation and connection. From beloved classics to niche dog-eared, worn books, this covers just about every genre you could think of. What I really love about this book is that it could’ve just as easily been a book full of tiny book reviews, but it’s something much more intimate. Cohen does a great job of telling these people’s stories all in about 400 words each. There’s representation of everyone; queer, trans, all races, all occupations. It’s raw, gorgeous and executed so flawlessly I can’t get enough of it.

Reviewed by Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Love Con by Seressia Glass
Berkley / December 2021

Adult Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy
More Reviews from Flyleaf Books

From friends-to-lovers, mutual pining, and fake dating, The Love Con has all the makings of a superb romance. Kenya and Cam’s sizzling chemistry and wonderful communication elevate this romance novel to the next level. Along with Seressia Glass’s spot-on humor and wit, The Love Con is a near-perfect romance novel.

Reviewed by Gennifer Eccles, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Let’s Be Friends by Violet Lemay
HarperFestival / December 2021

Friendship, Juvenile Fiction, Social Themes
More Reviews from Page 158 Books

Violet represents so many different types of people in this magical picture book. In the end we are more alike than we think. Cute fun illustrations and happiness throughout this book make a a winner.

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Wednesday Books / January 2022

Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult
More Reviews from Parnassus Books

Millie’s summer is turned upside down when she finds her father’s old Livejournal that hints at her absent mother’s identity. Already obsessed with Mamma Mia! and all things Broadway, Millie tracks down three women and wedges herself into their lives. With a great cast of secondary characters and a slow-burn romance, Millie’s journey of self-discovery and growth is a delightful read.

Reviewed by Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

The Maid by Nita Prose
Ballantine Books / January 2022

Adult Fiction, Cozy, Mystery & Detective
More Reviews from Fiction Addiction

A January 2022 Read This Next! Title

The Maid is a cozy mystery the way cozies should be written. It is beautifully written, extremely entertaining, has a great mystery, twists you don’t see coming and most of all one of the most endearing and interesting characters you will ever meet. Molly Gray is on the autism spectrum. She does not react to people and circumstances like normal people do because she doesn’t understand their facial expressions and their emotions. But her Gran has taught her over the years to be honest, to be a hard worker and to be very, very polite. Molly is a maid in a luxury hotel. A job she loves and is very, very good at because she loves order, and neatness, and routine. When she finds a dead body in one of her rooms it is not surprising that the police keep thinking that she is hiding something because, while always answering truthfully, she takes things very literally. It is also not surprising when she is eventually arrested for the murder. What is surprising is everything else that happens. I normally like more thriller type books but this was one of the most delightful books I have read in ages and the mystery was top notch.

Reviewed by Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

Southern Bestsellers

What’s popular this week with Southern Readers.

Parting Thought

“Harriet never minded admitting she didn’t know something. So what, she thought, I could always learn.”
– Louise Fitzhugh

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
The Southern Bookseller Review is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, in support of independent bookstores in the South | SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805

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Recommended by Southern indies…

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Ballantine / November 2021

Adult Fiction, Women
More Reviews from The Country Bookshop

Diana is going to the Galapagos with her doctor boyfriend when the pandemic hits and he tells her to go on without him. Stuck on the island, her life takes a different turn, and then…she wakes up with Covid in a NYC hospital. Both experiences, one real, one not, change her. And she discovers it doesn’t really matter what happened to you in the past, it’s what you do with the rest of your life. This book brings the pandemic up close and personal and yet gives a great perspective to it. I loved it!

Reviewed by Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Bookseller Buzz

Spotlight on: Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson

"Recently, while moving several piles of books (31 titles) from the floor to another place on the floor to make space for my office chair, I experienced a moment of clarity," writes Antoine Wilson in an essay on Lit Hub which ran over the summer, "I felt like I had arrived at the end of a manic episode and was confronting the aftermath."

Wilson had discovered tsundoku — the Japanese word for the habit of buying books and letting them pile up unread. The "piling up" is key — as every book lover with a teetering TBR stack knows. Tsundoku is a description, a philosophy, a lifestyle. Or, as Wilson regards it, "a get-out-of-jail-free card."

Right now, booksellers are adding Wilson’s new novel to their own book piles. But Mouth to Mouth does not seem destined to tsundoku-existence in piles of unread books. "A compact tour-de-force," "you won’t be able to put it down," "absolutely deserves to be read in one sitting" — the story has been inviting comparisons to Patricia Highsmith at her most unsettling. Picking up the book is easy. Putting it back down may be much much harder. Leaving it unfinished once you start? All but impossible.

What booksellers are saying about Mouth to Mouth

• Warning: once starting the first page of this gripping novel, you won’t be able to put it down. Breathlessly, you will want to find answers even while you secretly wish this tale will never end. ― Nancy Pierce from Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA
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• A beach, an art gallery, a ski slope, a first class lounge and a wild ride of an ending combine to make a damn good story that absolutely deserves to be read in one sitting. I absolutely devoured this tale that really puts the novel back in novels. ―Angie Tally from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC
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• As a Patricia Highsmith superfan, I’m always drawn to a sleek novel about the harrowing secrets and misdeeds of the upper class–I’m pleased to say that Antoine Wilson delivers. His latest, Mouth To Mouth , is a compact tour-de-force featuring an intoxicating antagonist with a level of self-delusion that would make Highsmith proud.   ―Lindsay Lynch from Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN
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• Mouth To Mouth is the kind of book you should read in one sitting. When our narrator meets a former college classmate in an airport, he finds himself listening to the tale of how his classmate came to be a prominent and wealthy art dealer — a tale that soon begins to sound more like a confession. This book is unassumingly clever, with an unsettling ending that will stick with you for a while. ―Kate Storhoff from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
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About Antoine Wilson

Antoine Wilson is the author of the novels Panorama City and The Interloper. His work has appeared in The Paris Review, StoryQuarterly, Best New American Voices, and The Los Angeles Times, among other publications, and he is a contributing editor of A Public Space. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and recipient of a Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellowship from the University of Wisconsin, he lives in Los Angeles.

The Nation on No Map by William C. Anderson
AK Press / November 2021

Adult Fiction, Race & Ethnic Relations, Social Science
More Reviews from Square Books

In this inviting, direct manifesto, William C. Anderson outlines the influences and differentiating points about Black anarchism, outlines its necessity, and offers rebuttals to naysayers across the political spectrum. The Nation on No Map is concise, yet powerful and perfect reading if one is looking to charter further ideological horizons.

Reviewed by Conor Hultman, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi

The Last She by H. J. Nelson
Wattpad Books / December 2021

Young Adult, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
More Reviews from Story on the Square

Arabella is the last girl on earth, well as far as she knows. A terrible virus wiped out many children and women, and no one’s sure why. When her father tells her to run “back to the beginning” she tries to make her way home only to be captured by the infuriating and handsome Kaden. While she might not like him, she’ll have to ally with him to find what her father wanted her to know. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel! While this book was a quick and easy read, I really enjoyed the plot and find myself looking forward to the next one!

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair
Bloom Books / November 2021

Adult Fiction, fantasy, Romance
More Reviews from Bookmarks

This book is exactly everything I’ve been craving from a vampire book. Been starving for, even, because I’ve been digging for at least a year now for a vampire book that scratches every itch the vampire academy series gave me many years ago as a young teen, but one that I can really appreciate as an adult. Isolde and Adrian are the most perfect, incredibly vicious pairing of human and vampire, and those twists and turns of the plot just set them up so well. I love that Isolde is heavyset and muscular and confident in her body and sexuality, while Adrian is just so very aware of the monstrosity of his nature, and does not care that people are scared of him. And the fact that Scarlett does queernorm society so well is just, chefs kiss. I felt so utterly comfortable while reading this book. It might sound strange, but reading King of Battle and Blood felt like coming home. A very bloody, very sexy home, but a home nonetheless.

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates by Cheryl Klein
Dial Books / November 2021

Children, Animals, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Mice
More Reviews from Avid Bookshop

This should be required reading for any and all roommates (from siblings to college freshmen)! Featuring an odd diametrically opposed hamster duo, this vibrantly illustrated, darkly funny tale will leave even the crankiest readers holding in giggles as they learn all about the art of compromise.

Reviewed by Julie Jarema, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

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Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies…

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Grove Press / November 2021

Adult Fiction, Holidays & Celebrations, Literary Fiction
More Reviews from Fountain Bookstore

A Fall 2021 Read This Next! Title

This tiny gem is destined to be a Christmas classic. Think in terms O’Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Alice Munro and Raymond Carver also come to mind. Based on actual events in Irish history only recently brought to light, the story follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, husband, and father to five daughters, and his discovery of a coverup by the church. The town is largely controlled by the church in this 1985 setting, but he still risks his livelihood, reputation, and marriage to right a wrong. Readers who enjoy stories of characters confronting their pasts, embracing hope, and being quiet heroes will find much to love here. When I first read it I thought: “good story”. But I have picked it up over and over again, read and reread it, marveling at its depth charge emotional impact.

Reviewed by Kelly Justice from Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Parting Thought

“All books are either dreams or swords,
You can cut, or you can drug, with words. ”
– Amy Lowell

Publisher: The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance / siba@sibaweb.com
Editor: Nicki Leone / nicki@sibaweb.com
Advertising: Linda-Marie Barrett / lindamarie@sibaweb.com
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