The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Romance

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

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The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly
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I am undone! This book was a hurricane, and I was sucked into it at full force. Excellent debut. It felt like reading The Selection, The Hunger Games and These Hollow Vows all in one. Book 2 is officially going on my most anticipated release list. What to expect: High stakes, fast-paced, tall dark and broody, tending to wounds, sexy time, slow burn, political intrigue, secrets galore, he falls first, lots of death and violence and a whole lot more. (Mind the trigger warnings) – Definitely an upper YA read.

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly, (List Price: $21.99, Sarah Barley Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Yo, 9781665989510, July 2026)

Reviewed by Brianne, Main Street Books in Davidson, NC

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The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

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The Missed Connection by Tia Williams
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Man, Tia Williams knows how to write a stellar romance! After a chance encounter on a flight, guarded — but delightful — Sasha enlists the help of former detective turned BBQ-ist Wes to help her find her missed connection. I loved the banter between the two main characters and found their predicaments so entertaining and unique. Truly, I’ve never read anything like this before! If you’re feeling burnt out on romance, you can always turn to Tia Williams, who will never disappoint.

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams, (List Price: $29, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538770269, June 2026)

Reviewed by Hallee, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR

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Father Material by Alexis Hall

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Father Material by Alexis Hall
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Hall’s hilarious dialogue is front and center in his newest addition to the London Calling series and you won’t be able to put this one down! Luc and Oliver have been through it in Boyfriend Material and the Husband Material. But you know, “first comes love, then comes marriage” so you know what’s next! That’s right, an adorable rescue dog that looks like a big potato! And maybe if they can get dog parenting down, they might be ready for more?

Father Material by Alexis Hall, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 9781728264295, June 2026)

Reviewed by Jennifer, Bookmiser in Marietta, GA

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Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

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Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
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Darcy tries to keep her head down and stay under the radar in her high school. No one can ever know that she’s the person behind Locker 89, the place her schoolmates write for anonymous relationship advice. Handsome and popular Alexander Brougham catches her collecting letters one afternoon and turns to blackmail – he will keep her secret if she helps him win back the girl that broke his heart. Desperate to keep her past less-than-great advice to her BFF (with whom she’s secretly in love) under wraps, she goes along with the scheme – with surprising results. This is a sweet, funny book about queer love and facing up to mistakes to try and be a better person. It’s the perfect snuggly read for cold winter months when you’re too stressed to read anything too heavy.

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales, (List Price: $13, Wednesday Books, 9781250830081, December 2022)

Reviewed by Andrea, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne

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Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne
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LOVED this one! So cute and cozy. I’m not normally the type to pick up a lot of sci-fi, but I’m so glad I picked up Moss’d in Space. I really enjoyed seeing our characters develop throughout the book, especially Moss. What an incredible life support system! The interactions between Moss and Torian varied so much from sweet and emotion-filled to witty, with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. And the ending page of the epilogue?? Very fitting that they were all still getting into mishaps ‘til the very last second.If you are looking for a cozy sapphic read that has an amazing found family (from all over space) and will keep you laughing along the way, definitely give this a go!

Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne, (List Price: $18.99, Bramble, 9781250414144, June 2026)

Reviewed by Ellie, A Novel Romance LLC in Louisville, Kentucky

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Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa

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Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa
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This was everything I hoped it to be and more! A perfect sapphic tale that reminded me of my days of getting into romance books as a teen, reading about changelings. This book was so cozy and sweet, but it definitely had some dark moments that really elevated the storyline. I absolutely LOVED the color palettes. Just wow. The color of blood in different panels was in such stark contrast to everything else and just worked so well. Forget-Me-Not was so snarky and sarcastic, but I feel like she just needed her space to be herself, and she found it with Aisling. Sobbing. 5 stars.

Forgive-Me-Not by Maria Costa, (List Price: $26.99, First Second, 9781250784162, April 2026)

Reviewed by Ellie, A Novel Romance LLC in Louisville, Kentucky

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You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

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You Won't Forget Me by Mazey Eddings
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In this contemporary romance, we meet Cubby and Darcy, best friends navigating life in a chaotic indie band full of breakups, fake dating, and internet drama. One drunken night changes everything, even though they both pretend it never happened. Between touring, social media spirals, and years of buried feelings, the tension keeps building. Funny, emotional, and full of heart, this queer friends-to-lovers romance delivers music, messy feelings, and the kind of love story you will not want to miss.

You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250343840, June 2026)

Reviewed by Sandra, Hills and Hamlets Bookshop in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia

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Puck by Samantha Allen

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Puck by Samantha Allen
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Allen’s latest is a modern-day A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a queer delight! Puck is a reality dating show producer, and they know that they aren’t exactly creating great art, but they’re good at what they do. A surprise destination wedding turns into a matchmaking and match-breaking scheme, and Puck can’t help but catch the eye of the uptight Maid of Honor, which just complicates things more.

Puck by Samantha Allen, (List Price: $18, Zando, 9781638933410, June 2026)

Reviewed by Andrea, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA

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Decomposition Book by Sara van Os

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Decomposition Book by Sara van Os
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Ooooh, yes. The premise grabbed me immediately, the cover is perfection, and the story is engrossing, if a wee bit unfulfilling at the end. College student Savannah is reeling (well, spiraling) after a friendship breakup and has retreated to an isolated cabin to drink away her woes. It’s not going particularly well, given her OCD and other mental health challenges. One morning, she wakes up next to a corpse in the woods. Awkward. There’s a journal next to the corpse, which recounts the harrowing set of circumstances that led to the young woman’s death. Instead of reporting the body, Savannah…bonds with it? For lack of a better phrasing. She starts reading the journal and visiting the corpse, and before long, she has formed an emotional attachment with the ghost of the dead hiker. If it sounds trippy, it is. It’s wild and unhinged and occasionally messy and gory. And I’m here for the mess. We also get to read along in the hiker’s journal. Her name is Ava, and watching her story unfold keeps you on the edge of your seat, even as you know where the story ends. The ending was a bit unsatisfying, but not so much that it detracts from the thrill of the story to that point. Great themes of mental health, toxic friendship, and how we heal.

Decomposition Book by Sara van Os, (List Price: $30, Hanover Square Press, 9781335001894, May 2026)

Reviewed by Kate, Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, KY

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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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Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley

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Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley
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I love all of Allison Ashley’s books and was so excited for a young adult book by her! The summer setting in this is just absolutely perfect, and the way she writes the love triangle is so well done!! I love her writing, the emotional connection in her books, and the family dynamics. Allison is just one of my favorite authors ever, and I am so excited for everyone to be able to read this!!

Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley, (List Price: $12.99, Simon Pulse, 9781665982214, May 2026)

Reviewed by Bethany, Court Street Books in Florence, Alabama

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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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Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh

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Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh
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I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. The longing, the YEARNING, so so so good. Reading about messy queer characters in a queer-normative world is so satisfying. I feel seen, I feel like it’s okay if I don’t have everything figured out because maybe that’s normal. Maybe we grow and find answers as we go. Mal, in particular, was my favorite character. I connected so much with the way he just wanted to be accepted for who he was. Truly, though, all of the characters weaseled their way into my heart, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them in future books. Alys! Alys, with her mushrooms, deserves only good things. Griff rounds out the main trio, and he was so fun to read, just a sweetheart who knows what he wants and takes exactly that as soon as the opportunity presents itself. The world-building is very contained in this story, with glimpses into the wider world that have me itching for more. We got a slice-of-life adventure that was the perfect way to introduce both the characters and the world. Tastes of more to come, peeks at higher stakes in the future. The romance is at the forefront here, but the larger conflicts going on in the background make this feel like just one quest that will lead to many more, and that is exactly what I want from this sort of fantasy book. I can’t wait for Our Rogue Fates to release so I can push it into the hands of every romantic fantasy reader I know. Fans of Dragon Age? Check this book out. Fans of wandering quests like The Hobbit? This is the book for you. Looking for more queer love stories in fantasy? Marsh has delivered a book just for us, and it feels like coming home.

Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh, (List Price: $19.99, Alcove Press, 9798892424301, April 2026)

Reviewed by Katie, A Novel Romance LLC in Louisville, Kentucky

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
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I really loved Simon’s voice, but I loved all of the characters and truly wish that there were more folks like Simon’s group of friends and supporters. Becky Albertalli has given us a beautiful coming-of-age story that leaves the reader with much to think about. Through the voices of her characters, she has done a fine job of pointing out the many outdated prejudices and assumptions still held by too many in today’s world and how unfair and unnecessary they are. I have long believed that it will be the current generation that will finally achieve the change that we need and allow issues of sexual identity to become a thing of the past, and this book and these wonderful characters give voice to many insights that are spot on. Absolutely everyone should read this book!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, (List Price: $17.99, HarperCollins, 9780062839701, January 2018)

Reviewed by Emoke, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North 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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