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The week of March 18, 2025 Read independently! March is Indie Press Month.  Last week in SBR we told readers what indie booksellers had to say about some of the books on that week’s Southern Indie Bestseller List. In honor of Indie Press Month, this week we’ve collected some bookseller recommendations of books less likely to be on bestseller lists because they come from small, independent presses. But no less likely to be great reads! Celebrate the month by discovering one of the many hidden gems you can find in indie bookstores. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Ros Schwartz (trans.), Transit Books The Café with No Name by Robert Seethaler, Katy Derbyshire (Trans), Europa Editions
Heart is a Star by Megan Rogers, Central Avenue Publishing A Perfect Day to Be Alone by Nanae Aoyama, Jesse Kirkwood (Trans.), Other Press Swanna in Love by Jennifer Belle, Akashic Books Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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Propaganda Girls by Lisa Rogak Adult Nonfiction, History, Military, United States Once again, another fascinating piece of women’s history details a hidden history of spycraft in World War II. This time, it is the tale of four women who were central to the OSS’s propaganda machine. Women who risked their lives and used their talents to undermine enemy countries. A bonus is seeing more of the history of disinformation. A must for WWII buffs. Reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
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Luminous by Silvia Park Adult Fiction, Crime & Mystery, Fiction, Science Fiction An absolutely stunning debut that will enthrall literary and sci-fi readers alike. Luminous is set in a future unified Korea filled with robots, but at its heart it is a novel about three fractured siblings: robot personality programmer Morgan, who struggles to make meaningful human connections; robot crimes detective Jun, haunted by his past in the war, and their robot brother Yoyo, forever twelve, who lives in a scrapyard and makes friends with nearby schoolchildren. This novel is a rush to the senses, gorgeous, glorious, luminous. Reviewed by Fisher Nash, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky |
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Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh Adult Fiction, Psychological, Thrillers Eddie’s back and he’s better than ever! Eddie Flynn, conman turned defense lawyer, tears it up in this rip-roaring caper that has him defending a doctor accused of murdering his neighbor. Weaving in multiple plot lines that in lesser hands would leave a reader dazed and confused, Steve Cavanagh pulls the greatest sleight of hand magic of his already superb career. Reviewed by Pete Mock, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry 
For me, stories begin with a curiosity, a question that won’t let me go. For The Story She Left Behind, that question was: What happened to Barbara Newhall Follett and her language? I was captivated by the real-life mystery of this child prodigy who published a fantasy novel at twelve years old, invented a language, and then vanished without a trace at twenty-five. I knew I would fictionalize her so I started imagining a daughter left behind by a mother’s disappearance (the real Barbara never had a child), and a book that daughter could not decipher as it was written in her mother’s made-up language. The more I thought about it, the more I knew—this wasn’t just a story about a missing woman, it was a story about how we find ourselves in the things left behind. ― Patti Callahan Henry, Interview, Fresh Fiction What booksellers are saying about The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry 
Patti Callahan Henry is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of several novels, including Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer of the Year Award, and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year. She is the cohost and cocreator of the popular weekly online live web show and podcast Friends and Fiction. She lives in Alabama and South Carolina with her family. Find out more at PattiCallahanHenry.com. |
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Among the Bros by Max Marshall Adult Nonfiction, Organized Crime, True Crime An amazing true crime story involving a group of people who seemingly felt they were untouchable, privileged fraternity brothers at a traditional Southern university. I live in a college town, and the stories of drug use among students were terrifying… if I had kids, I’d sit them down immediately and talk to them about this! Reviewed by Jamie Fiocco, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction Gothic readers rejoice; What Wakes the Bells is exactly what you are looking for! This young adult fantasy boasts a vivid fantasy world filled with ominous bells, luminous Saints, and a sinister city that lives and breaths alongside its citizens. The story follows Mina Strauss, a Bell Keeper, as she learns the secrets and complexities to her family’s bell-keeping legacy. Within Mina’s journey, the story deals with toxic family relationships, the effects of grief, issues of autonomy and consent, and the pressure to protect those you love. From the acme of Lyndell Hall’s bell tower to the shadowy halls of the catacombs, this Czechian myth-inspired tale will captivate you! Reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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Sunday by Marcelo Tolentino Childrens, Imagination & Play, Juvenile Fiction A beautiful story about a child’s imagination. I loved the illustrations and the way this story felt like a classic from my childhood. The subtle attention to generational family members is of of my favorite reminders for young readers. Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta Comics & Graphic Novels, Juvenile Fiction Speak Up, Santiago! is so much more than a bilingual graphic novel. It’s a coming-of-age story that reveals the struggles of how to connect with different generations, break barriers within a new friend group, and build up self-esteem and confidence. The pure magic between the storytelling and illustrations helps readers understand the challenges of learning a second language. Readers will be cheering for Santiago as he finds a way to communicate both at home and on the pitch. Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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The Tea Dragon Society by K.O’Neill Animals, Banned Books, Children, Dragons, Juvenile Fiction, Unicorns & Mythical This book is one of the most wholesome I’ve ever read. Reading it is like being wrapped in a blanket. Adorable art, whimsical writing, and a sweet story make for a cute and comforting read about friendship and finding your niche. I try to read this book AT LEAST once a year because of how heartwarming it is. Reviewed by Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
Parting Thought “I love the solitude of reading. I love the deep dive into someone else’s story, the delicious ache of a last page.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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