South Carolina Bookstores

The Spy by James Phelan

This book is the first in a new series featuring Jed Walker, a former deep cover CIA operative. On Jed’s last sanctioned mission, he learns that one of the primary goals of the mission includes making sure Jed Walker does NOT survive it. He escapes only by faking his own death and then strikes out on his own to track down the forces that are trying to remove him. That final mission was to infiltrate a mysterious group known as Zodiac, who are plotting a series of devastating terrorist attacks meant to destabilize the current world order. The first of these attacks is set to go off in a little less than 4 days, and Jed will need to use all of his skills and resources if he is able to stop it and at the same time identify those who are working to have him removed. Not knowing who he can and cannot trust, Jed has to rely on his wiles and the network he had developed in his previous life as a CIA operative. The question is, can he trust these resources or is he setting himself up for betrayal? This first in a new series is a blistering page-turner and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

The Spy by James Phelan, (List Price: $16.99, Blackstone Publishing, 9781094193205, August 2024)

Reviewed by Brent Bunnell, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

House of Glass is a terrifying story that you won’t be able to put down as Stella Hudson, a best interest lawyer for children during custody disputes, tries to learn as much as she can about nine-year-old Rose Barclay’s family and what really happened the day Rose’s nanny fell to her death from a third story window. The more she learns the more she questions the guilt or innocence of all of the family, including her 9-year-old client Rose. One thing is abundantly clear, Stella always has Rose’s best interest at heart and even if Rose has done something truly awful she, not her family, is the best chance for Rose to get meaningful help.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen, (List Price: $29, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250283993, August 2024)

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

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The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller

You know how sometimes you read a book so astonishingly good you can’t stop thinking about it … The Curse of Pietro Houdini is one of those rare books.War, art, violence, beauty, survival and a heroic mule, this story is so good.

The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller, (List Price: $28.99, , 9781668020883, January 2024)

Reviewed by Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Alex is the son of the first woman POTUS. Henry is a prince of England. Alex has considered Henry to be his archenemy pretty much since they met, and he’s convinced that Henry feels the same. Until one night at a party when Henry kisses Alex, and Alex has to reconsider all of his feelings. But as the children of powerful world leaders, they have to consider their image and decide what damage they could cause and whether it’s worth it to them to pursue a relationship. This is such a fun book, and I found myself laughing out loud in so many places. The world can be hurtful to people who are “other”, but this book is the hope that counters that.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, (List Price: $16.99, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250316776, May 2019)

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

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The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

This was one of the most unique magic systems I have ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed this, especially the development in the characters and the emotion with which they were written. I am already anxiously awaiting the next book as I now want to understand the concept of Lore being a deathwitch more. This was the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and gothic for my taste, and I got completely lost in the story wishing I could jump into the world and adventure through it myself – regardless of the dangers it held.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten, (List Price: $19.99, Orbit, 9780316435093, December 2023)

Reviewed by Charlotte Beck, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

Fates and Furies offers a sharp portrait of a modern marriage, an eminently flexible partnership, still full of dark corners and locked rooms. We follow first Lotto’s perspective and then Mathilde’s through the full arc of this for-better-or-worse, and the result is a dynamic and quick-footed novel, Lauren Groff at the height of her powers. Lotto and Mathilde’s physical connection is hot and brutal and sometimes strange. The echoes of Shakespearean tragedy, of mythology, even allegory give their relationship resonant heft, while the storyline keeps the dirt of real life under their nails. I really, really loved Mathilde: her sheer darkness and fierce love for Lotto, her deep flaws and careful veneer. She was sympathetic and awful and familiar and pragmatic and true. This book is smart—about women and wives, marriage and art—and beautiful, and going to be talked about for a long, long time.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, (List Price: $18.00, Riverhead Books, 9781594634482, September 2015)

Reviewed by Ashley Warlick, M. Judson, Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

This YA debut by Ali was not only riveting it was exceptionally written. This novel almost feels like chess when you’re reading it and watching how intricately Ali has weaved these characters together. Mallory, who loved chess until an unexpected tragedy in her family, now 18 and working to help support her family, beats a world champion, Nolan. Suddenly, everything in her life gets all mixed up as she stumbles into a romance she didn’t know she wanted. This novel, like her adult novels, does an AMAZING JOB touching on the sexism and expectations of a female vs male in the chess (STEM sport) community.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, (List Price: $14, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780593619919, November 2023)

Reviewed by Charlotte Beck, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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Chaos Theory by Nic Stone

Shelbi has resisted making friends at her new school since she’s had bad experiences in the past. But when she witnesses Andy at a low point, she can’t help but reach out to let him know she knows what it’s like. And like that, despite Shelbi’s best efforts, a friendship is born. But both Shelbi and Andy have demons, Shelbi’s in the form of bipolar disorder that has impacted relationships in her past, and Andy’s in the form of alcoholism that started after his sister died. This is a moving story of two teens, both together and individually, as Shelbi learns the maybe she can rely on other people, and Andy learns to prioritize himself and his mental health.

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone, (List Price: 18.99, Crown Books for Young Readers, 9780593307700, February 2023)

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

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The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic casts a spell! Can’t get enough witchy reads? Me neither! It has all the good things, family, true love, magic, and mystery. Get ready for spooky season with a great read.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall, (List Price: $18.99, Alcove Press, 9781639105731, September 2023)

Reviewed by Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie

Since I started this book I have been completely hooked. I am a big fan of Bon Crier’s Moon Duology but this one has taken first place as enrapturing, fantastical and captivating for me. I LOVE these characters and the way in which it spins off of fairytales. The spin on the fairytales are so unique. I absolutely love the use and importance of Red Rampion and how it ties into the fairytale retellings. I also love the plot in this book, how it tells not only a journey of a group of friends but a growth of the friends and how they have to deal with truth, loss, pain and hardship. I already CANNOT wait to find out what happens next and how they will (hopefully) break the Curse of the Grimm Forest. I could go on and on about this book but mostly I’ll just say, if you aren’t planning on reading this you are missing out on the journey of a life time and the most unique retelling of the classic fairytales I have ever heard of.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie, (List Price: 20, Wednesday Books, 9781250873002, September 2023)

Reviewed by Charlotte Beck, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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The Caretaker by Ron Rash

In The Caretaker, set in 1950s Appalachia, acclaimed Southern author Ron Rash examines the power of love and how it can drive us to reckless actions or can transform us into stronger versions of ourselves. Rash’s title character, Blackburn Gant, will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book and I’m campaigning for a sequel.

The Caretaker by Ron Rash, (List Price: $28, Doubleday, Wednesday Books, 9780385544276, September 2023)

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

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Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings

Tilly and Oliver first meet on an international flight, and their first impression is not great on either side. So it seems like the worst luck when Oliver shows up at Tilly’s sister’s place to start work as an intern with Tilly…and they’ll be spending the summer traveling together. Working together. Staying in hotel rooms together. Tilly struggles with her ADHD, as always, but Oliver’s autism allows him to understand her in ways no one else has, and the two grow close. Readers of Eddings’s adult romances will adore this story about Tilly growing into herself, and her relationships that grow with her, and Oliver’s enthusiasm for colors and for Tilly. Eddings has obviously put a lot of herself into this book, and it’s paid off.

Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings, (List Price: $20, Wednesday Books, 9781250847065, August 2023)

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

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The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

Elodie was going to be queen, until her youngest sister was born. The third daughter of a third daughter has been prophesied as the second coming of their deity. But there’s tension between the crown and the church, and Elodie, wanting to save her kingdom, accidentally puts her sister into an eternal sleep. The apothecary who sells her the potion, Sabine, is the only one who can help Elodie save her sister and the country, and the two set off to do just that. But while Sabine and Elodie grow closer, secrets have a way of coming out, and all is not as it seems among the clergy. An emotional adventure full of court intrigue that’s sure to appeal to fans of other YA royal reads like Three Dark Crowns and Dance of Thieves.

The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley, (List Price: 18.99, Christy Ottaviano Books, 9780316465694, July 2023)

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

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The Woods are Waiting by Katherine Greene

I really enjoy books about secluded mountain towns and the people who live there. The traditions are so rich, the community and family connections so strong. Like any town, especially one somewhat isolated from the outside your fate and reputation might be established before you are born. Cheyenne was an Ashby and the Ashby’s held a relationship with the forest. Rituals were established to keep children safe from the forest, silver in your pockets and dirt in your shoes. The rituals became more extreme when more children continued to disappear. Cheyenne cannot take the constant stress and leaves home. Called back five years later to care for her Mother by the only man she trusts after another child goes missing. She arrives to a Mother she barely recognizes and the animosity of Natalie and Jackson, her two best friends she left behind. Old friendships are tested and many secrets are uncovered. Sometimes you learn you really can’t rely on those you have trusted forever.

The Woods are Waiting by Katherine Greene, (List Price: $28.99, Crooked Lane Books, 9781639103805, July 2023)

Reviewed by Jackie Willey, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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Darkhearts by James L. Sutter

David has lived with regret for the past two years, ever since his middle school best friends’ band hit it big right after he walked away from them. Now one of the Darkhearts duo is dead, and frontman Chance is back in town and back in David’s life. David isn’t sure he’s ready to forgive Chance for the part he played in David’s FOMO, but as they open up to each other, they start to rebuild their friendship, and maybe something more. Fans of LGBTQ romance will adore David and Chance’s budding relationship.

Darkhearts by James L. Sutter, (List Price: 20, Wednesday Books, 9781250869746, June 2023)

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

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