Humorous

Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: The Grinch Takes a Vacation by Kaeti Vandorn Read More »

Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: The Grinch Takes a Vacation by Kaeti Vandorn, (List Price: $10.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593703069, September 2024)

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

Adult Fiction, Banned Books, Coming of Age, Family Life, Humorous

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Read More »

What Jonathan Evison has done in Lawn Boy is give us an unlikely hero in Mike Muñoz, who tells it like it is and just wants a fair shake. Only twenty-two but already beaten down, Mike knows what it means to go hungry, to share a house with too many people, to never get ahead. Lawn Boy covers issues like racism, immigrant rights, and homophobia in the same breath as dating misadventures, Mike’s fledgling topiary carving artistry, and the pretentious writing MFA candidates produce. It is just this type of book (relatable, funny, entertaining) that could get us talking about social justice.

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, (List Price: $17.99, Algonquin Books, 9781616209230, March 2019)

Reviewed by Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Fiction, Humorous

The Wedding People by Alison Espach Read More »

A big-hearted, smart story about figuring out who you want to be when you grow up when you are already a grown-up! Phoebe, queen of the sad girls, arrives at a posh wedding by mistake to the irritation of the micromanaging bride, and things take off from there. A deep and charming story of family drama, wedding guest gossip, and how women can support each other in surprising ways.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach, (List Price: $28.99, Henry Holt and Co., 9781250899576, August 2024)

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

Mismatched: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma by Anne Camlin, Isadora Zeferino (illus.)

Classic Adaptation, Comics & Graphic Novels, Emotions & Feelings, Humorous, LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult Fiction

Mismatched: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma by Anne Camlin, Isadora Zeferino (illus.) Read More »

Very cute! I struggled a little in the beginning because the MC (Evan) was driving me insane. Luckily he was redeemed and a lot better very quickly. Loved the characters, the artwork, the ENDING!!!, all of it. It was super cute, full of LGBTQIA rep, and a fun take on Emma by Jane Austen.

Mismatched: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma by Anne Camlin, Isadora Zeferino (illus.), (List Price: $17.99, Little Brown, Ink, 9780316704106, September 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Humorous, Juvenile Fiction

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin Read More »

The New Girl is a delightfully funny story about change, perseverance, and embracing those who are different than us. I absolutely fell in love with the adorable pictures and loveable characters. This was so much fun to read, and I highly recommend diving into it!

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin, (List Price: $12.99, Graphix, 9781338762457, June 2024)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Adult Fiction, Family Life, Fiction, Humorous, Marriage & Divorce, Women

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Read More »

A wonderful romp of a debut novel. Lauren’s search for “the right man” becomes hilarious drama when she discovers her attic has the magical ability to spit out one “husband” after another for her to “try on.” She sends one man after another back up the attic stairs, hoping the next one will be that “perfect man.” Every page is both fun and funny and the suspense for how she’ll finalize things will keep you reading.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, (List Price: $29, Doubleday, 9780385550611, April 2024)

Reviewed by Patience Allan-Glick, Underground Books and Hills & Hamlets Bookshop in Carrollton, Georgia

I Must Be Dreaming by Roz Chast

Comics & Graphic Novels, Humorous

I Must Be Dreaming by Roz Chast Read More »

Roz Chast gives us a deeply personal (and, naturally, hilarious) view of the meaning of her own dreams and their influence on her work, in cartoon form, of course. Includes a fascinatingly nerdy section on the history of dreaming and dream interpretation, across many cultures.

I Must Be Dreaming by Roz Chast, (List Price: $27.99, Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781620403228, October 2023)

Reviewed by Anne Peck, Righton Books in St. Simons Island, Georgia

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney

21st Century, Adult Fiction, Coming of Age, Fiction, Humorous, Ireland, Literary, World Literature

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney Read More »

I feel very fortunate to have had read this beautiful book. Autism is so hard and not having anyone in my family with it, I only know what I hear. When these 3 characters come together to help build a boat they bond and learn so much about themselves and each other. People are afraid of what they don’t understand and autism is one of those things we just don’t know enough about. It’s hard enough to be a freshman in high school, compound that with being different. This is a love story for the 3 generations involved. I guarantee you will see the world a bit differently after.

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney, (List Price: $17.95, Biblioasis, 9781771965859, November 2023)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Duel by Jessixa Bagley

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Humorous, Juvenile Fiction

Duel by Jessixa Bagley Read More »

I loved the creativity in the book. I really like how they included other kids of people in the story. It shows that you have to have courage to do something even if you don’t win. I enjoyed the mostly black-and-white illustrations in the book. I love graphic novels. Overall I really liked this book and recommend it!

Duel by Jessixa Bagley, (List Price: $14.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534496545, November 2023)

Reviewed by Mandy Harris, Angel Wings Bookstore in Stem, North Carolina

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt

Comics & Graphic Novels, Humorous, Juvenile Fiction

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt Read More »

Children (and their adults) will love reading about Scaredy Squirrel’s approach to the holidays! Once again, Melanie Watt gives us a way to treat a child’s nerves with gentleness and humor. We love displaying our Scaredy Squirrel books alongside the plush stuffed animal at Main Street Books!

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt, (List Price: 12.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593307618, October 2023)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Wellness by Nathan Hill

Adult Fiction, Family Life, Fiction, Humorous, Literary

Wellness by Nathan Hill Read More »

Nathan Hill has done it again! Wellness is so good, I think my heart both broke and grew at the same time, while reading it. Hill’s ability to capture both the beauty and horror of life are astounding. There is so much more I could say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil the magic of it for other readers! "Behind curtains, this, he thinks, is what lovers do-they are alchemists and architects; they invent the world around them." Indeed, this is what lovers do. Thank you for this wonderful book!

Wellness by Nathan Hill, (List Price: 30, Knopf, 9780593536117, September 2023)

Reviewed by Jessica Osborne, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

My Shadow Is Yours by Edoardo Nesi

Adult Fiction, Cultural Heritage, Fiction, Humorous, Italy, World Literature

My Shadow Is Yours by Edoardo Nesi Read More »

It is rare that I burst into tears reading the last sentence of a novel. I can count the number of times it has happened on one hand. Bawdy, ballsy, and brainy, My Shadow Is Yours is also tender and wise. A recent college graduate is hired to accompany a reclusive middle-aged novelist on a road trip to Milan. There he is scheduled to speak to an audience for the first time in 25 years when his one and only cultural landmark of a novel was published. As they travel across Italy, they bond over women, wine, and have violent, intensely personal arguments about life. Crushing and raw, caustic and funny. For me, it was perfection!

My Shadow Is Yours by Edoardo Nesi, (List Price: 16.99, Other Press, 9781635420685, September 2023)

Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

The Mighty Bite by Nathan Hale

Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Humorous, Juvenile Fiction

The Mighty Bite by Nathan Hale Read More »

A trilobite has a dream to become famous and it gets silly from there; what’s not to love? Nathan Hale has crafted a delightfully wacky, hilarious, and clever graphic novel filled with ape gods, extinct animals, Amber the walking whale, a video-making contest, and a floating talking cat head. Pure fun!

The Mighty Bite by Nathan Hale, (List Price: 14.99, Harry N. Abrams, 9781419765537, April 2023)

Reviewed by Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita

Comics & Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Humorous, Manga, Media Tie-In