I’ll always hang out where poetry and memoir meet. Beth Ann Fennelly twists the memoir genre upside down and inside out, weaving stories and memories into a satisfying whole.
The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly, (List Price: $22.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324117407, 2026-02-24)
Reviewed by Liz, E. Shaver, booksellers in Savannah, Georgia
The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly Read More »
I couldn’t put this book down! Set against the backdrop of Atlanta and the Jim Crow South, Jones’s beautiful prose transported me into the world of Annie and Niecey, two motherless, “cradle friends,” searching for their place in the world. The novel confronts race, class, and womanhood with honesty and nuance, while never losing sight of the tenderness and complexity of its characters. Equal parts devastating, hopeful, and unexpectedly funny, this coming-of-age story explores the lengths we go to discover who we are, and the sacrifices we make to become who we think we should be.
Kin by Tayari Jones, (List Price: $32, Knopf, 9780525659181, February 2026)
Reviewed by Tyler, Wild Aster Books in Chamblee, Georgia
Kin by Tayari Jones Read More »
This sweeping historical novel, set in 1930s Mississippi during the Great Depression and Prohibition, has the perfect title…what a calamity of circumstances for each of the female characters! You’ll be immersed in the plot of this both humorous and heartbreaking novel while also etching each of these women on your heart. It turns out that hard times can push ordinary people to take outrageous risks and I loved seeing how these women used all of the resources available to them, including their intelligence, wit, and hard work, to change their fate. I will be thinking about this book and these characters for a long time!
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, (List Price: $35, Spiegel & Grau, 9781954118812, May 2026)
Reviewed by Kandi, Wordsworth Books in Little Rock, Arkansas, MS
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Read More »
An arresting collection of stories that meditates on different forms of power and how humans wield it against one another. The characters, settings, and time periods are diverse, but every story—and one full length novella—depicts a fundamental struggle between our better natures and the hard realities of life. These stories operate with an incredible economy of words, making the depth and forceful nature of the characters’ emotions all the more impressive. There’s not a single one I didn’t enjoy, and some that I had already read elsewhere, but “To Sunland” stood out to me because it’s based on a real place with a complicated history that’s still standing in my hometown, where the author currently resides. I can already tell that this will be one of my top reads of the year.
Brawler by Lauren Groff, (List Price: $29, Riverhead Books, 9780593418420, February 2026)
Reviewed by Morgan, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers in Auburn, Alabama
Brawler by Lauren Groff Read More »
A swoony romance with a perfect touch of self acceptance!
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 2026)
Reviewed by Cameron, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters Read More »
Julian Winters writes another romance that is as funny as it is tender and sweet. I really enjoyed I Think They Love You, so I was really excited to read this, and it did not disappoint. With all of the same heart as the first book, we dive right back into this family that is, while nosy and opinionated, loving in their own way. Jordan and Jaime are a couple you will have you yelling at the pages sometimes, but only because you are rooting for them so hard. A second chance romance with more heat than the first book, this is a great read to enjoy as the weather warms up too.
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 20267)
Reviewed by Brianna, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters Read More »
Once again, Julian Winters gets right to the heart of learning to love and be loved exactly as you are. I also love seeing such beautiful demisexual representation on page in a romance novel and appreciate the care with which Julian wrote Jordan’s journey with his sexuality. This story was an absolute delight and I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone that I can!
Last First Kiss by Julian, (List Price: $19, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250326263, January 2026)
Reviewed by Jonlyn Scrogham, A Novel Romance in Louisville, KY
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters Read More »
In Kathryn Stockett’s latest, The Calamity Club, set in the early 1930s in Oxford, Mississippi, we follow the lives of several women and one young girl as they hope, dream, and work to build a better life and future for themselves from the scraps of the Depression. Birdie comes to town to borrow money from her sister, Frances, who recently married a rich boy but didn’t invite her family to the wedding. Frances is busy climbing the social ladder and doesn’t want anyone to know that her family is poor. Charlie moves to town for a job but disappears one evening, leaving her young daughter, Meg, alone. Meg is then forced into a new chapter of her life at the local orphanage, where the Chairwoman despises her and the wealthy white ladies of Oxford volunteer, including Frances. When Birdie is asked to help with the bookkeeping, she meets Meg and becomes involved in helping her get adopted. Then Charlie returns to town, looking for Meg and with a story to tell. When Frances’s new family, the Tartts, face severe financial hardship, the women join together on a money-making scheme, hoping that it will solve all their problems. But it may or may not work out the way they think. An entertaining story about the hardships and difficulties women faced as they tried to work and achieve some level of financial and personal freedom during the Depression.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, (List Price: $35, Spiegel & Grau, 9781954118812, May 2026)
Reviewed by Mary, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, VA
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Read More »
A new novel by Kathryn Stockett? Set in the town where I live (Oxford, MS)? About a group of independent, underestimated women? Yes, please! This big-hearted, often funny novel about a group of down-on-their-luck women who come up with an audacious plan to turn their lives around absolutely swept me off my feet. Despite its heft – over 600 pages – I raced through it in a matter of days. It would be a calamity to miss out on this wonderful novel.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, (List Price: $35, Spiegel & Grau, 9781954118812, May 2026)
Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, MS
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Read More »
As a Savannah local who loves everything ghost-related and was absolutely obsessed with the paranormal and ghosts tours as a kid (… and now), this book was a total delight from beginning to end! I loved our perceptive, clever, and imaginative narrator, Mony, and how she honored her authentic self with a level of confidence and self-assuredness I wish I saw in more female-led middle grade. It was a joy seeing Savannah through her eyes as a newcomer, a curious mind, and a girl experiencing liminality of all sorts: life and death, grief and celebration, childhood and adolescence, loss and discovery. Jackson, as always, writes a young voice with a sure, surgical hand, both validating the experience of young people and encouraging self-reflection and growth. I also adored Mony’s ghost-hunting pals: her skeptical pseudo-brother, Robby, and the fearless (but potentially untrustworthy) Myah. The three friends played off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses so beautifully, and even weathered a fight and uncovered secrets, while remaining whole individuals. The mystery itself provided historical facts about the city that will intrigue any young history buff, and kept the pace quick and the stakes high. The last few chapters absolutely flew by as tensions rose and the reveal was imminent. On the note of history, I particularly enjoyed the focus on Black and African ancestral history that this city is quite literally built on, and it’s a section of America’s past that is often ignored even now. I’d happily recommend this to any ghost story fan, history enthusiast, mystery devotee, or tween just looking to feel seen, heard, and understood.
Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson, (List Price: $18.99, Scholastic Press, 9798225017477, August 2026)
Reviewed by Abigail, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, GA
Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson Read More »
Connect with your inner wildflower in this richly textured, inspirational new novel by Terah Shelton Harris. The novel’s vivid imagery will transport you to a hidden refuge where flowers and people grow wild. Drawing on the healing power of nature, Harris explores how strength and hope can bloom even after intense tragedy. Leigh Wilde is a survivor. Running from her tragic past, she finds herself an escaped fugitive on a flower farm in rural Gee’s Bend, Alabama. On the farm, she meets others who, like her, are survivors of past trauma. As she gradually learns to trust those around her and, most importantly, herself, she realizes that to live, she must do more than merely survive. Like the Cahaba Lily that blooms fearlessly along the riverbank, Leigh too begins to flourish despite the fears that have held her back. Yet as the secrets of her past rush in to reclaim her, what will it take to stay true to herself? Freedom may be as simple as letting go. Leigh’s story will break your heart and rebuild it petal by fragrant petal. At the end, Leigh’s love reveals the most radiant flower. Like the gift of a rare lily, this is a novel you will cherish.
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, (List Price: $29.99, Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464229220, February 2026)
Reviewed by Laura, Bookmiser in Marietta, GA
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris Read More »
“But living is a run-on sentence never ending, a collection of experiences that strengthen you along the way…Even under the worst conditions, flowers will bloom where they are planted…Joy is simple, and it comes back if you let it”. My heart breaks for Leigh….but at the same time it as on fire to read her story a watch her bloom. A wildflower, a survivor! Wow I’m just in awe of her and her resilience even in fear she pushed to find and hold on to this new life an opportunity. She found peace and made peace with the troubles of her past.
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, (List Price: $29.99, Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464229220, February 2026)
Reviewed by Morgan, The Book Worm in Powder Springs, GA
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris Read More »
I’m going to go ahead and call it right now—Phoenix will be one of my favorite books of 2026. Bradley is one of the best children’s authors writing today. She doesn’t shy away from the hard situations that kids sometimes face. She clearly has great respect for her young readers. I’m so excited to read more from this new series!
Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, (List Price: $17.99, Dial Books, 9780593859865, March 2026
Reviewed by Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, AR
Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Read More »
Vignettes on middle age, aging parents, motherhood, grief, and acceptance. A touching and poignant yet breezy read. So obviously crafted with immense care.
The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly, (List Price: $22.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324117407, February 2026)
Reviewed by Hannah, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina
The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly Read More »
Oh, this is brilliant. The humor is delightfully absurd, there is earth science cleverly woven into the mystery, and I’d argue that there are great ELA tie-ins (common core writing standards for grades 2 and 3, maybe others). Plus there is a drawing guide and a search-and-find at the end for added value and inspiration. I love this so much!
Squirrel Lock Holmes #1: The Pet Rock Mystery by Ashley Belote, (List Price: $10.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593897829, March 2026)
Reviewed by Adah, Main Street Books in Davidson, NC
Squirrel Lock Holmes #1: The Pet Rock Mystery by Ashley Belote Read More »
