The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Southern Book Prize Finalist 2026

On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada

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On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada
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First loves and crushes are always awkward, but never have they been this awkward. From raging bowels to horrible allergy attacks, Star Trek references and Vanilla Ice, Pacy and Cecil are two hot messes. This story of nerd love will leave your heart full as you can’t help by root for these two to get together, but you also can’t help feeling a little vicarious embarrassment as things go horribly wrong.

On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada, (List Price: $19.99, Amulet Books, 9781419775635, April 2025)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

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Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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It is late on a Thursday evening, and I just finished this absolutely exquisite book. If I could give the author a hug right now, I would. I loved the highly detailed history. I was gripped by the family drama. I was seduced by Luella and William and Robert! I embraced the poetry of the cry-inducing ending. This book is truly exquisite storytelling. In a case of purely delightful coincidence that made this book feel so personal and special, there is a post-Civil War community near my hometown called The Promised Land that had been settled by formerly enslaved people. As I read this book, I kept imagining the story taking place there. If anyone reading this would like to know more about these communities, check out the nonfiction book titled The Black Utopians by Aaron Robertson!

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, (List Price: $29, Berkley, 9780593337721, April 2025)

Reviewed by Thomas Wallace, Reading Rock Books in Dickson, Tennessee

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Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo

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Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo
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Gopo weaves themes of family heritage, the joy of anticipation, and the small pain of waiting into a sweet story of purchasing plantains and watching them ripen before the family can fry them up for a delicious treat. Gopo’s poetic talent meets kids and families in a sweet spot that is not heavy-handed, but wonderfully inspiring. I can’t wait to share this with our readers.

Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo, (List Price: $18.99, WorthyKids, 9781546005391, April 2025)

Reviewed by Adah Fitzgerald, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett

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Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett
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Don’t let the title fool you – you haven’t heard this one before. Kristen Arnett pratfalls her way into our hearts with a more gay, more unhinged, more Florida version of a John Hughes movie of a book. The absurdity only makes the characters more real. Sometimes, being funny is serious business. This novel treats it as such.

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett, (List Price: $28, Riverhead Books, 9780593719770, March 2025)

Reviewed by Dominic Howarth, Book + Bottle in St. Petersburg, Florida

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Black in Blues by Imani Perry

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Black in Blues by Imani Perry
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A stunning, kaleidoscopic work of intense research and imagination, spanning centuries, disciplines, and profoundly moving possibilities, from one of our most innovative thinkers. Perry’s writing deserves its own rich shade of blue. I was totally transported by this book, and the depth of love and feeling that created it.

Black in Blues by Imani Perry, (List Price: $28.99, Ecco, 9780062977397, January 2025)

Reviewed by Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama

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The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case

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The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case
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As far as music memoirs go, the supremely talented Neko Case brings a new and often mind-blowing perspective to an often paint-by-numbers genre. Mostly centered around her harrowing childhood and teen years and her fraught relationships with her parents, there’s loads to unpack, with shocks and trauma you will not believe. And the music! Her influences, how she got her start, and the joy and sorrow of the life on the road. Highly recommended!

The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case, (List Price: $30, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538710500, January 2025)

Reviewed by Seth Tucker, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case

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The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case
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Electric, angry, joyful, scrappy, and full of life – I could not get enough of Neko Case’s memoir. The Harder I Fight the More I Love You is a powerful work that is moving and inspiring even if you are not familiar with Neko or her music. A celebration of the power of art and the power that comes from being our true selves in the world – an unforgettable read!

The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case, (List Price: $30, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538710500, January 2025)

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

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