Read the latest reviews and recommendations from Copperfish Books featured in the The Southern Bookseller Review
I don’t read a lot of YA, but after loving Laura Steven’s adult debut, I came across this book billed as a reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray, and I knew there was potential for something great. Thankfully, I was right! This is the type of YA novel I would give to my 14-year-old daughter to read because the author holds to the tenets of YA writing without “dumbing down” the prose. She also put a modern spin on the classic themes to make them more relevant to Gen Z teenagers. The exploration of themes like body image, identity, and self-discovery is handled deftly. Steven takes her time building the characters so the denouement has a deep impact. The characters could have been plucked from real life, and the author takes care in making the cast diverse. The setting was haunting and twisted, just as a gothic horror should be. I would absolutely recommend this book for teens.
Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven, (List Price: $15, Wednesday Books, 9781250346797, May 2026)
Reviewed by Lara, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, FL
An introspective and entertaining story of an unusual bond between a woman and a hare – and you learn a lot about hares! I enjoyed the author’s sens of wonder and curiosity and how her thoughts about nature and life changed through this experience. Quietly transformative, a joy to read!
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, (List Price: $27, Pantheon, 9780593701843, March 2025)
Reviewed by Cathy, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
How far would you go for freedom? Addie’s story is told across continents, over centuries, as she grapples with the consequences of choice. I love a morally gray heroine and seeing her desperation and the lengths she’d go to leave a mark on the world (influencing art and music). Achingly tender as she’s caught between the only man who ever remembered her – and the devil who won’t let her go.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, (List Price: $26.99, Tor Books, 9780765387561, October 2020)
Reviewed by Ellie Hirsch, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
Stacy Willingham has done it again; she seems to never fail to write a great thriller mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. This one intertwines the past of the main character’s parents’ generation, then her sister, who was murdered 20 years prior to the story, and then the main character, Claire. Claire seems to be following right in the footsteps of her big sister as she returns home to help her mom, but then finds herself working at a vineyard, the same one her sister worked at. There are definitely a lot of secrets hiding at this farm, and her career as a journalist has her wanting to uncover them. The diary she found tucked away in her cabin seems to be the key to solving everything, but the more she learns, the more she should turn around and run, but she doesn’t. Super bingeable, and you will be wondering how often history repeats itself in real life.
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham, (List Price: $29, Minotaur Books, 9781250887979, August 2025)
Reviewed by Kelli Dynia, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
Emily Henry just GETS IT. She has the perfect recipe for a book that has just the right amount of humor, romance, and the kind of real-life hurdles that hit close to home. What sets this book apart are the characters, who are grappling with life’s ups and downs in a way that feels incredibly real. It’s the “just one more chapter” book that you’ll actually stay awake until 1 AM to finish. And hey, maybe I’m speaking from personal experience.
Funny Story by Emily Henry, (List Price: $19, Berkley, 9780593441213, February 2025)
Reviewed by Janisie Rodriguez, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
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