The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Paranormal

Book Buzz: Midnight Manor by Sid Sharp

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Sid Sharp, photo credit the author“I’m drawn to mischief and mystery, the sense of something strange and eerie going on. I sort of wish that I could make children’s books as genuinely frightening and funny as R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps, but I can’t be serious enough to make something deeply terrifying. I go for that, and silliness naturally comes out in the process.”

  ― Sid Sharp, Interview, Publishers Weekly

Midnight Manor by Sid Sharp

What booksellers are saying about Midnight Manor

  • Kids are going to grow up and say, “remember that bedtime book you would read me about the weird, spooky creatures in different rooms of a mansion?” Sid Sharp is a genius. The aesthetics are inimitable, and they’ll leave an impression.
      ― Ryan, Dad Suggests Books, Fayetteville, Arkansas | BUY

  • What a funny, silly bedtime book! Makes the Halloween monsters endearing not scary. love the Good night moon reference!
      ― Jean, Thornwell Books, Morganton, North Carolina | BUY

  • This one is for all the littles and their bigs who dream of gossiping with gargoyles or gardening with ghouls. Simultaneously a wild rumpus and a quiet night in a great green room, it’s the ‘going to bed’ book for a post Halloween, sugared up nighttime routine.
    ― Michelle, Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, Louisiana | BUY

  • Packed with alliteration and evocative vocabulary, this is a must for Halloween or anytime! Sid Sharp creates such unique worlds that appeal to kids and adults alike. Midnight Manor is for anyone who loves spooky season and anyone who loves to see offbeat details in a book.
    ― Johanna, McIntyre’s Books, Pittsboro, North Carolina | BUY

About Sid Sharp

Sid Sharp is an Eisner-nominated author, illustrator, and bookseller of uncommon books. Their first book, The Wolf Suit, was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and has been translated into eight languages. Its beloved companion, Bog Myrtle, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Sid has been nominated for the German Youth Literature Prize and has been named a 2026 Sendak Fellow. Sid lives in Toronto, Ontario.

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Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray

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Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray
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Uhm, so that ending was crazy!! What a fun time I had while reading this. Truly, I was entertained the whole time! The full cast audiobook was amazing!! Definitely felt more engulfing and immersive. I won’t lie, I was rooting for the one romantic male lead that is pushed on the reader the whole time and was confused as to why the other romantic lead was even there, but then it hits you, and it hits you good. I genuinely cannot wait to see how Gray explores that relationship in the next book! Also, I understand why Vanessa would have so much rage throughout the book because of what happened to her, but sometimes it just felt too damn annoying. Like, we get it, girl, you have rage. The one thing I will say is this should definitely not be considered YA. Very much so adult themes throughout the whole book, but I digress.

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray, (List Price: $13.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316584555, August 2026)

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

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Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page

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Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page
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Charmed and Dangerous is a well-paced, cute romcom with a great blend of magic and fantasy. I loved the film and culture references throughout the story and was very fond of Monroe’s journey to understanding love and all the things that come with it.

Charmed and Dangerous by Shelly Page, (List Price: $12.99, Joy Revolution, 9780593897645, March 2026)

Reviewed by Faith, Resist Booksellers in Petersburg, Virginia

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The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

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The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
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Jackson really gets better with every book! I was hooked from page one on this updated version of Carrie, and I think Stephen King would be proud to have inspired this. Maddy is biracial and outcast from her peers and miserable at home with her abusive father. Racial tensions dividing the town of Springville come to a head on prom night, and the results are…explosive. Do not miss this amazing YA thriller!

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson, (List Price: $15.95, Quill Tree Books, 9780063029156, September 2023)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson

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The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson
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The second installment in Lana Ferguson’s Omegaverse romance series, as I call it, hits the mark! It’s hot, funny, and very endearing. For an Alpha, Hunter is such a cinnamon roll of a hero. He and Tess don’t get off on the right foot, but the attraction is immediate. Seeing them navigate their professional relationship while dealing with natural instincts is entertaining and balanced so well. Lana does an excellent job at maintaining boundaries in situations where it would seem impossible. I knew, having loved The Fake Mate, I would enjoy being back in this world, but I underestimated how much. I loved Mackenzie and Noah’s appearances and cameos in the story. It felt like visiting old friends. I really hope there are more Omegaverse romances to come, because they’re quickly becoming my favorites of Lana’s books to read!

The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson, (List Price: $19, Berkley, 9780593953693, December 2025)

Reviewed by Preet Singh, Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur, Georgia

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Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

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Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
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An amazing, well-rounded debut with a number of different identities represented. Elatsoe had an impressive combination of Indigenous practices and folklore, paranormal elements, and a classic murder-mystery with necessary discussions of injustice and colonization. PLUS lovable characters!

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, (List Price: $12.99, Levine Querido, 9781646142767, October 2023)

Reviewed by Mallory Sutton, Bards Alley in Vienna, Virginia

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Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum

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Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum
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What happens when your lover burns your immortal beloved’s art? You go on vacation to rekindle the flame (and hunt, obviously). Join Rebekah and Hugh as they navigate the emotional depths of a queer cruise and realize that they aren’t the only ones hunting. Merbaum’s storytelling perfectly captures the essence of ‘We’re on Vacation’ mode. Full of humor, glamour, and orgies, Vampires at Sea will expose the longevity of being an immortal in love.

Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum, (List Price: $18, Creature Publishing, 9781951971229, October 2025)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress, Jade Zhang (Illus.)

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Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress, Jade Zhang (Illus.)
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Ghost Circus has beautiful illustrations! I loved the characters in the Circus and I hope we see more of the creepy girl and find out more about her and her memories! I am also super excited her friend Casey gets to come back and see her more and they can uncover more of the mystery of the creepy girl!

Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress, Jade Zhang (Illus.), (List Price: $24.99, Union Square Kids, 9781454948285, August 2025)

Reviewed by sarah dimaria, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

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Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
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Growing up in a family of morticians, Meka isn’t exactly squeamish about death, but when her world is turned upside down by tragedy, life after death takes on a very different meaning. A Frankenstein reimagining with bittersweet romance and a menacing cult, this is well worth a read.

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron, (List Price: $19.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547615865, September 2025)

Reviewed by Matilda McNeely, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia

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Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina

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Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina
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Gorgeous cover and super intriguing premise. Sea ghosts? Absolutely yes. But Graciela is unlikeable in a very unlikable way. From the very beginning (it’s not a spoiler because, hello, sea ghost), she dies because she’s trying to spite her older sister. Her sister nicely cautions her away from the cliff. Graciela is like, “Stop bossing me around,” and she falls off the cliff and dies. Then when she reawakens as a sea ghost, she’s still jealous, disagreeable, and spiteful. Kinda like a Mary Lennox. But then there’s Jorge, who you immediately wrap your heartstrings around because he has the unfortunate fate to have horrible parents (and ancestors, which plays a big part in the plot of the dangerous enchanted harpoon) when all he wants to do is make toys instead of weapons at his family’s forge. He’s kind, thoughtful, resourceful, and brave, and is the perfect foil to Graciela. The underwater ghost-characters and world-building were super cool and inventive. I thoroughly enjoyed this upper-middle-grade novel!

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, (List Price: $18.99, Candlewick, 9781536219456, July 2025)

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry

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If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
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If Looks Could Kill has something for every reader. It is a cleverly plotted genre mashup with elements of true crime, fantasy, and historical fiction all rolled into one immersive read! And mythology, of course, as you would expect from the incredibly talented Julie Berry!

If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry, (List Price: $21.99, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534470811, September 2025)

Reviewed by Anderson McKean, Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama

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Zomromcom by Olivia Dade

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Zomromcom by Olivia Dade
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What a crazy ride! I mean, we were running into the arms of danger on page one! This book was hilarious, but also had me on edge because of the freaking zombies! Edie is amazing, and if I had the confidence to try to save someone with a burrito and pure determination, I think I would be considered a superhero. Max is prickly and a bit of a pessimist, but he treats Edie with such care, ahh, it is scrumptious. I mean if I could fall in love with a grumpy, flawless, not afraid to wear a thong vampire in the middle of an apocalypse, I would! Here for the adventure, staying for the romance, NO ONE….. does paranormal romance like ZOMROMCOM.!

Zomromcom by Olivia Dade, (List Price: $19, Berkley, 9780593818206, 2025-08-05)

Reviewed by Mekhala Villegas-Rogers, Tombolo Books in St Petersburg, Florida

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Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

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Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone
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Yearnful, beautifully haunting, and seeping with emotion, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is an exquisite blend of gothic fantasy and folk horror. This book is for those of us in our soft-goth era and was written to be read on a seaside cliff in the last rays of summer daylight.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone, (List Price: $19.99, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 9781250348906, July 2025)

Reviewed by Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books in Rogers, Arkansas

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A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

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A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
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I adore Sarah J. Maas’s writing and her characters. Throughout the ACOTAR series, I didn’t care for Nesta. This book completely changed my mind. Nesta is a complex and beautiful character and I can not wait to see her in future books.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, (List Price: $19, Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781635577990, September 2022)

Reviewed by Melissa Gray, Blytheville Book Company in Blytheville, Arkansas

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The Damned by Renée Ahdieh

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The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
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The Damned picks up right where The Beautiful left off and introduces a few new POVs to keep things interesting. With Bastien now a walker of the night and Celine’s memories forgotten, the intrigue and drama are thicker than ever. Bastien is determined to become better than his uncle, while his sister Emilie is back from the dead as the head of the wolves. Fans of the first won’t be disappointed with this next thrilling volume in the series. The only disappointment is having to wait for the next! Renee Ahdieh is a skilled writer who has beautifully brought back the classic vampire, along with the fey and werewolves, intertwined. This is a must read for anyone who missed the classy vampires of Anne Rice, but loved the romance of True Blood.

The Damned by Renée Ahdieh, (List Price: $13.99, Nancy Paulsen Books, 9781984812605, August 2021)

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

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