The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Personal Growth

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

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How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks
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A fascinating treatise on the art of communication, deeply researched but easy to read with its emphasis on the stories of real people. If you’ve ever wondered how to connect with others on a deeper level, or really understand your spouse or your friends, read this book!

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks, (List Price: $20, Random House Trade Paperbacks, 9780593230077, October 2025)

Reviewed by Fisher Nash, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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Loud by Drew Afualo

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Loud by Drew Afualo
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For readers looking to unlearn internalized misogyny whilst also laughing out loud. I enjoyed how Afualo explains where certain misogynistic paths of thinking come from, and how to unlearn them without making the reader feel guilty for needing to do the work in adjusting those lines of thinking. Her reflections on her own journey to unlearning her internalized misogyny made me feel so seen and I especially loved how she discussed the roots and effects of misogyny on an intersectional level.

Loud by Drew Afualo, (List Price: $19, Picador, 9781250390530, August 2025)

Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Farmer’s Wife by Helen Rebanks

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The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks
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Jointly, The Farmer’s Wife and The Shepherd’s Life (written by Helen’s husband James), provide a unique look at both the travails of small farm life and married life. On its own, The Farmer’s Wife reminded me of Laurie Colwin with deep insights into daily life and the joys of cooking good food. Thoughtful, challenging with delicious recipes and beautifully illustrated, this will be a go-to gift book for me.

The Farmer’s Wife by Helen Rebanks, (List Price: $29.99, Harper Horizon, 9780785290483, September 2023)

Reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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Start, Stay, or Leave by Trey Gowdy

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Start, Stay, or Leave by Trey Gowdy
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It’s always fun to get behind-the-scenes insight into famous people and Trey uses his great storytelling ability to not only captivate but to educate — to get the reader to think about the power of decisions and what makes a great life. This book is a great read for the new year or for anytime you are entering a new chapter of your life — whether as a grad, switching careers, becoming a parent, or once your kids leave the nest.

Start, Stay, or Leave by Trey Gowdy, (List Price: $28.99, Forum Books, 9780593240977, January 2023)

Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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