The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Adult Fiction

And Side by Side They Wander by Molly Tanzer

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And Side by Side They Wander by Molly Tanzer
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Is it a space opera? A heist escapade? A retelling of the Orpheus myth? Yes! Yes! Yes! The best thing about this book is that I can’t classify it: it hits on so many levels. One of my favorite aspects of it is the examination of art, the reproduction of art, and what defines art’s value. Is a perfect reproduction as good as the real thing? If not, what makes them different? Tanzer manages that theme and several others, along with a strong depth of character and a moving love story. Also action. Also sentient fungi. Also clones and replicants? And in only 96 pages??? Enjoy!

And Side by Side They Wander by Molly Tanzer, (List Price: $24.99, Tordotcom, 9781250382054, May 2026)

Reviewed by Kelly, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee

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Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee
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I absolutely loved Pot Shot by Laura Pipper Lee. This book was so well written, with incredible character and plot development that kept me fully invested from start to finish. There’s a bit of spice, but it never overpowers the story—which I really appreciated. The emotional depth and growth of the characters are what truly shine. Julian starts off as closed-minded and a little uptight, but through his rotation in family medicine—and seeing firsthand how people benefit from medicinal marijuana—his perspective begins to shift. Watching him confront his own biases and personal demons added so much depth to his character. Nomi, on the other hand, is more of a free spirit, though she carries her own private struggles with her bowel disease. She’s compassionate, forgiving, and grounded in a way that perfectly balances Julian. Together, they just work. Their dynamic felt authentic and meaningful, and I found myself really rooting for them. Laura also did a fantastic job with the side characters—they weren’t just background noise, but added real depth to the story. I genuinely cared about these people, which made the whole reading experience even more impactful. I’ve already recommended this book across my social media platforms, and it’s definitely one I’d love to own a physical copy of. Such an enjoyable and memorable read!

Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee, (List Price: $18.99, Union Square & Co., 9781454965558, May 2026)

Reviewed by Savannah, Story Hollow in Madisonville, Tennessee

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Book Buzz: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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Kylie Lee Baker, photo credit Greg Samorski“I thought about setting the historical timeline before the Meiji Restoration, when the samurai still would have had social standing and power. But ultimately, I liked the idea of Sen’s family desperately clinging to the past glory of the samurai, because desperate characters do irrational things. I also liked that because Sen’s father essentially wants to start a whole new samurai rebellion from scratch. The stakes feel much more like a personal vendetta than a political movement. I think this decision fit better with the story I was trying to tell — I’m more interested in talking about the mistakes of one family who happened to be samurai rather than commenting on the samurai at large.”
  ― Kylie Lee Baker, Interview, Polygon

Japanese Gothic

What booksellers are saying about Japanese Gothic

  • Japanese Gothic is a beautifully written, atmospheric, and haunting novel blending horror, historical fiction, and mystery into one truly captivating story. I found myself sucked into both Lee and Sen’s individual POVs immediately, eager to learn about both of their lives and what brings them together…Baker is able to jump from descriptive, lyrical prose to gruesome, terrifying scenes masterfully, while at the same time, keeping you invested in two very different people and their journeys without losing momentum. I ate it up and feel like I could talk about the symbolism, the reveals, and the ending for both characters for hours.
      ― Sarai, Spellbound Bookstore in Sanford, Florida | BUY

  • I am haunted by this story – trapped in its hazy despair, the threads of death woven through each page, the crushing weight of time and boxes and underwater graves. I am trapped in its pages, in the house behind the sword ferns. You want heavy, emotional gothic? This is it. You want unreliable narrators, spiraling depression, trauma, and deaths that echo across time? Bam. Right here. Japanese Gothic is a gorgeous blend of horror, mythology, and science fiction.
      ― Rachel, Friendly City Books, Columbus, Mississippi | BUY

  • This book is beautiful, and sad, and I finished it in one sitting. A true Gothic tale, complete with a creepy house and ghosts literally in the walls. Baker crafts her story so well, weaving and blurring timelines together until you can’t figure out who is haunting what. And that ending – WOW. Real contender for my favorite book of 2026.
    ― Meagan, Righton Books, St Simons Island, Georgia | BUY

  • Wow, you know a book is good when you’re left speechless. I can definitely see myself rereading this in the future just to dive into the story a bit more!
    ― Jordan, A Novel Romance, Louisville, Kentucky | BUY

  • Japanese Gothic is a blood soaked slice of a blade too fast; a read-in-one-sitting experience that chills you to the hilt. Superb in every way.
    ― Dominic, Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg, Florida | BUY

About Kylie Lee Baker

Kylie Lee Baker is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Night duology and The Scarlet Alchemist duology. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Irish), as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and a teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and a master’s of library and information science degree from Simmons University.

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Coyoteland by Vanessa Hua

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Coyoteland by Vanessa Hua
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If you love a character-driven suburban drama, Coyoteland delivers with a timely, pandemic-era story full of urgency and relevance. Each character is navigating something big — family conflict, economic pressure, systemic bias — creating a web of tension that feels very of-the-moment. Thoughtful, messy, and compelling, it’s a novel that tackles a lot and does it well.

Coyoteland by Vanessa Hua, (List Price: $28.99, Flatiron Books, 9781250395511, May 2026)

Reviewed by Jamie, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
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I am haunted by this story – trapped in its hazy despair, the threads of death woven through each page, the crushing weight of time and boxes and underwater graves. I am trapped in its pages, in the house behind the sword ferns. You want heavy, emotional gothic? This is it. You want unreliable narrators, spiraling depression, trauma, and deaths that echo across time? Bam. Right here. Japanese Gothic is a gorgeous blend of horror, mythology, and science fiction. It’s also a murder mystery, mental health commentary, and a nuanced exploration of Samurai history, all wrapped in a reimagining of the tale of Urashima Taro. Two people. One house. A door that opens across time. How can you know what’s real? 5/5 stars. Absolutely recommend.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001559, April 2026)

Reviewed by Rachel, Friendly City Books in Columbus, MS

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Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

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Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
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Have you ever read a book that is so timely and effective in its message that you do not feel the slightest bit qualified to review it? This is that book. It’s eye-opening. It’s ballsy. It’s crass. It’s wild and brilliant. This is a book worthy of discussion.RF Kuang basically said, “Talk about the publishing industry? How about the racism, misogyny, xenophobia, plagiarism, pretty-privilege, and everything else revolting that comes along with it? You don’t want to acknowledge that? Welp, too bad. Cause I’m gonna write it so well, you’ll be begging to publish it.” And she delivered. This is a compelling, cynical, and thought-provoking satire that delves into themes of plagiarism, racism, and internet trolling. The story revolves around an anti-heroine driven by power and insecurity, who assumes the identity of her deceased friend to publish a masterpiece. Loneliness and the desperate desire for recognition serve as driving forces, pushing the protagonist to extreme measures. The character evokes strong emotions, including frustration towards her misogyny, blind ambition, and obnoxious justifications for her actions. In this book, nobody is a saint, as being good-hearted does not guarantee financial security, career success, fame, or power. The author skillfully portrays flawed and complex characters who challenge the reader’s perceptions. Unflinching, uncomfortable, and absolutely necessary reading. Kuang holds up a mirror to the publishing industry and forces us all to look.

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang, (List Price: $18.99, William Morrow Paperbacks, 9780063250857, January 2025)

Reviewed by Taylor, Baldwin & Co. in New Orleans, LA

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The Take by Kelly Yang

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The Take by Kelly Yang
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Switching between the two main characters, Yang gives us a story of ambition, of dreams, of time. The big question: Would you take time from another, and if so, to what lengths would you go? There’s a bleak approach to race, gender, and age that winds up being The Take’s foundation. The first half, pacing-wise, works and flows, but it stalled a bit in the latter half—when I expected it to pick up. The character voices are strong and sound authentic to each character, age and life experience-wise. You aren’t meant to like either of them, but Yang does a great job of making you understand them and their perspectives. One thing I wanted to know more about—and I understand it wasn’t the point, since this was character-driven—is the actual process of the procedure. I wanted to know MORE, even just a little bit. It would have made the act of “taking” that much more captivating. Overall, this spoke volumes about what humans are willing to take in order to get what they want and what prices they’re willing to pay in order to get it all.

The Take by Kelly Yang, (List Price: $30, Berkley, 9780593953372, May 2026)

Reviewed by Tamara, M Judson Booksellers in Greenville, SC

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The Take by Kelly Yang

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The Take by Kelly Yang
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Unputdownable! So much taking and giving between Maggie and Ingrid. Yellowface meets Substance vibes for sure.

The Take by Kelly Yang, (List Price: $30, Berkley, 9780593953372, April 2026)

Reviewed by Cristen, Long Story Books in Atlanta, GA

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The Library of Flowers by L.C. Chu

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The Library of Flowers (Deluxe Edition) by L.C. Chu
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A multi-generational story of mothers, daughters, and the heavy weight of expectation: those we think are placed upon us, and those we place on ourselves. What do you do when it is too much to carry alone?

The Library of Flowers by L.C. Chu, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781728275710, May 2026)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, GA

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Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow

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Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
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Names Have Been Changed unfolds through a first-person podcast confession during the 2020 shutdown, as a woman calling herself Ophir recounts a decade-old crime and her years on the run across the globe. Moving from Singapore to cities around the world, her story is as compelling as it is unsettling, drawing you into her choices and their consequences. She’s a fascinatingly messy protagonist — part anti-hero, part adversary, part spoiled and sympathetic — the kind you may not like but can’t stop listening to.

Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, (List Price: $30, Tiny Reparations Books, 9798217176595, June 2026)

Reviewed by Jamie, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
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Lee and Sen live in the same house, centuries apart, but their timelines keep overlapping and the more it happens, the more they realize their lives are more deeply entwined than they thought. An unreliable narrator, a shocking twist, and a pervasive sense of dread throughout the entire novel make for the perfect gothic formula. The house behind the sword ferns is not what it seems, and finding the truth may cost Lee and Sen more than they bargained for. I sacrificed sleep to get to the end of this book, desperate for the elusive answers that Kylie Lee Baker masterfully strings along.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001559, April 2026)

Reviewed by Charlie, Square Books in Oxford, MS

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

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Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
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Japanese Gothic is a blood-soaked slice of a blade too fast; a read-in-one-sitting experience that chills you to the hilt. Superb in every way.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001559, April 2026)

Reviewed by Dominic, Book + Bottle in Saint Petersburg, Florida

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Afternoon Hours of a Hermit by Patrick Cottrell

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Afternoon Hours of a Hermit by Patrick Cottrell
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The long-awaited follow-up to Sorry to Disrupt the Peace has surpassed my wildest hopes! “Bernardian” gets tossed around a lot but Cottrell has truly earned the comparison, blending heaviness with lightness, darkness with pure radiance, in a way that feels pretty miraculous to me. An existential noir about suffering, suicide, family, and self, and equally about seeking and living one’s truth, whatever the cost. Life-affirming, funny, touching: if true humor kisses grief, this is a makeout sesh.

Afternoon Hours of a Hermit by Patrick Cottrell, (List Price: $27.99, Ecco, 9780063435063, April 2026)

Reviewed by Kristen, Thank You Books in Birmingham, AL

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Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

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Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell
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Equal parts tender and hot. like being wrapped in a warm midwestern hug and everyone’s cheeks are wet with tears. Love, love, loved!

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell, (List Price: $32, William Morrow, 9780063380264, April 2026)

Reviewed by Shelby, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, LA

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Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

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Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
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Beautiful, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. This absolutely broke me and yet stitched me back together all the same. Aciman does an amazing job capturing the love and fascination we have with other humans when we are young and awestruck. It is an absolutely brilliant coming-of-age novel about sexual identity, deep-rooted connections, and everything in between. It’s frustrating, it’s delightful, it’s utterly absorbing, and I need everyone to read this as well; to know how much it means to me.

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman, (List Price: $18, Picador, 9781250169440, October 2017)

Reviewed by Itzy, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

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