Read the latest staff reviews and recommendations from E. Shaver Booksellers featured in the The Southern Bookseller Review.
That was an absolutely wild ride that I wish I could do all over again. Lost Girls of Hollow Lake is a fantastic addition to the emerging YA horror-thriller genre. I’m generally pretty proud of the fact that horror doesn’t get to me and that it takes a lot to get under my skin, but this book REALLY got to me at some points. The gore descriptions were especially potent and made me squirm in a way no other book has. There’s one scene later on in the story that I had to read through squinted eyes as if it were a movie I needed to watch through my fingers, and I love that I had such a strong reaction. The lore and legend surrounding the island the girls were stranded on were so deeply unsettling that I felt a sense of genuine dread whenever I’d get to a point in the novel where it was time to learn more about it. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the island itself was very much the main character, which is why its history and mythology were so alluring. Additionally, I loved the point-of-view character, Evie, and had a lot of fun inside her head. She’s so funny in this biting, caustic way that endeared me to her very quickly. And the sapphic relationship that blooms within the terror is beautiful and complicated and filled with the perfect amount of yearning–not too much, not too little. Finally, the mystery entwined with the dread and terror was so effective. I was turning pages so quickly that I’d glance at the page numbers and wonder where 70 pages went. Even though I’d say the story overall falls more in line with horror than mystery, the back-and-forth between whodunnit and “what the heck happened on that island???” was gripping. An absolutely stellar debut perfect for anyone who loves to stay up late and scare themselves silly with ghost stories that blend seamlessly into nightmares.
Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593900437, January 2026)
Reviewed by Abigail, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
I don’t know if it’s the fact that I was living Normal People while reading Normal People, but this book sticks with me, and I recommend it highly to adult readers of all ages. A beautiful and complicated book on growing up and experiencing extreme highs and (mostly) lows in your relationships. I am both a Collin and Marianne apologist; those kids just wanted love!!!!
Normal People by Sally Rooney, (List Price: $17, Crown, 9781984822185, February 2020)
Reviewed by Sarah, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
Spend a year in Wyoming in this one sitting read and you might just end up blaming the British, too. Dark, quirky, and complete with all the snarkiness of ’80s tween energy, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder will force you to confront the uncomfortable experiences of The Others. Agatha and Georgie’s story is so much more than a murder mystery; it’s about saving yourself and creating your own independence. Nina McConigley’s storytelling will stay with you for a long time — but most of all if teen magazine quizzes could be the solution to all things.
How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley, (List Price: $26, Pantheon, 9780593702246, January 2026)
Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
If you are a fan of Margaret Atwood, and specifically The Handmaid’s Tale, this book is a must-read. Erdrich’s storytelling feels very intimate, which I prefer in a dystopian novel. A larger picture comes into focus through the perspective of Cedar’s individual experience. Quietly disturbing, this story will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page. Though this book is not a new release, I would put it in league with The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng.
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich, (List Price: $17.99, Harper Perennial, 9780062694065, November 2018)
Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver, Booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
The back cover of this new and highly anticipated novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite has a quote by the New York Times, calling it “brilliantly perceptive” and “sharp”. It is those things. But the review also calls this novel “wickedly funny” and “hilarious”. To me, this is misleading. This novel is more complicated than that, and it is certainly no rom-com. There were moments you could chuckle at, yes. When you have a big family sharing a home together, funny and ironic things happen all the time. To me, this is a family saga. In it, there is a lot of heartbreak, a lot of love, some superstition, and some questionable choices. Braithwaite is immensely talented, and her stories will keep you on the edge of your seat, craving the knowledge of what will happen next. She is a gifted storyteller, and I will eagerly read anything she writes. This story is very different from her first novel and is perfect for anyone interested in multigenerational stories woven together with otherworldly elements.
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, (List Price: $29, Doubleday, 9780385551472, November 2025)
Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
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