There is so much push and pull in this story of a magical Princess who does not believe she alone should have the power she’s been given by her adopted mother, the queen. A beautifully illustrated graphic novel that focuses on the stories that are told.
Espada by Anabel Colazo, (List Price: $19.99, Oni Press, 9781637157596, May 2025)
Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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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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An enchanting, action-packed retelling of Swan Lake! I was completely enthralled in this vividly told, magic-infused fantasy filled with a cast of unique, engaging characters, each navigating a labyrinth of power struggles, evil sorcery and court intrigue. I soaked up every page!
A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek, (List Price: $19.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665936507, June 2025)
Reviewed by Anderson McKean, Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama
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This story was delightful from start to finish. It isn’t very often that I’ve seen trans representation from the very beginning, non-passing stages. I was immediately enamored with the casualty of exploration and the support between friends. 10/10 recommendation!
I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase, (List Price: $12.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593902929, July 2025)
Reviewed by Eden Haymon, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
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I am very much a fan of these Remix Classics. I read several of these as a kid, and I never saw anyone who resembled me, and I’m sure other people of various backgrounds, abilities, and sexual orientations did not see themselves either. Just providing a slight twist to these stories breathes new life into these classic tales, and they feel great to read.
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C. B. Lee, (List Price: $14.99, Square Fish, 9781250853509, September 2022)
Reviewed by Kim Brock, Joseph-Beth Booksellers Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky
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A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!!!!The illustration and the color palette immediately drew me in. Cheesy was done in the best way possible. Cute little love story with loads of diverse characters. Representations mentioned: dyslexia, color blindness, stutter, and vitiligo. So happy to see at the end that the story will be continuing. Will definitely be following along with this series!
Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku, (List Price: $24.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593711170, April 2025)
Reviewed by Stephanie StJohn, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
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Forbidden romance? Multi-class relationship? AND it’s Sapphic?! I knew from the get-go that I would LOVE this book. While I obviously found the relationship between Danni and Rose endearing, Nobody in Particular also offered an unexpectedly heartwarming exploration of grief and the pressures of expectation.
Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales, (List Price: $21, Wednesday Books, 9781250352491, June 2025)
Reviewed by Eden Haymon, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
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This might be a hot take, but I love when queer representation is handled so casually. As a queer person myself, I enjoy seeing the signs and knowing that their identity is a simple fact of their character. This title was truly one unfortunate event after another, mixed in with extensive character lore and world-building. Dragons, a plague, a spy. And, of course, the ghosts.
Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman, (List Price: $20.99, Random House Books for Young Readers, 9780593813720, June 2025)
Reviewed by Eden Haymon, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana
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This is my second time reading this book, and even though it’s been over 15 years since I read it the first time, it still is as honest and poignant as ever. I adore Charlie, and his bluntness and naivety. This book perfectly captures being 15 and experiencing life for the first time. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking and is a must-read.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, (List Price: $15.99, MTV Books, 9781665982412, September 2025)
Reviewed by Sarah Blackwell, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Albertalli’s newest, about chaos bisexuals and para-social relationships, hits ALL the right notes! Amelia’s a wee bit obsessed with YouTuber Walter, whose bisexual coming out made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t before. Now he’s doing a meet and greet just a car ride away and she just needs to get her friends on board so she can go meet him.
Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063045927, June 2025)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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Kill Creatures is the exact reason why I love teen thrillers. Impossible-to-put-down from the very first page with a twist that will leave readers of all ages reeling, Kill Creatures is a sun-soaked-fever-dream thriller that’s perfect for summer reading.
Kill Creatures by Rory Power, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593302316, June 2025)
Reviewed by Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books in Rogers, Arkansas
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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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This wild ride of a YA novel follows (D)Wayne, a high school student invited as a participant in a bizarre experiment that may or may not be part of an undercover government plot. Sort of a Mysterious Benedict Society meets the Tuskegee experiment, this quirky tale tosses together a mix of family dynamics, neurodivergent challenges, and teen drama with some Andrew Smith-ish humor thrown in for spice. I couldn’t put this one down.
This Moth Saw Brightness by A. A. Vacharat, (List Price: $20.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780593698600, May 2025)
Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
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Underhill once again pens a delightful queer romcom. Arden is moving from LA to Michigan and isn’t happy about it at all. He’s used to being invisible as a trans person, and that’s not going to be possible in his new home. Meanwhile Gabe is moving from Illinois to Pasadena and is ecstatic to finally have some queer friends and where he won’t stand out as the only queer, let alone trans, person. As both boys are moving cross-country, they spend one perfect evening together at a hotel in Nebraska. They leave without exchanging information and immediately regret it. What follows is their journey to fit into their new lives, as well as trying to find each other when all they have are their first names and their favorite band. Another five-star read from this author cements him on my “always read” list!
In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill, (List Price: $19.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780063373778, May 2025)
Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia
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I can still remember reading The Wrath and The Dawn for the first time, and how much the beautiful world, and incredible romance affected me. Today I’m gushing about Renee’s new book about vampires in 19th century New Orleans! The best part of it is, she doesn’t stick strictly to vampires, at all, nor the normal glittering, sometimes scary vampires we’re used to today! Ahdieh takes the vampire mythos and shapes it into something all her own, making it beautiful and lush and terrifying. But even without the vampires, our protagonist, Celine, is a french girl with passions and whims considered inappropriate for a girl of any age, let alone a young girl trying to find a proper husband. But truthfully, Celine comes to New Orleans to flee from a dark secret in her very near past, and from herself too. Celine is an incredibly interesting and complex protagonist that demands your love even as she pushes everyone away, because you the reader are the only one that knows her thoughts and can see beyond her actions. Sebastian is a powerhouse of a love interest, and when we do get a point-of-view chapter from him, he just continues to baffle and break hearts, but in more depressing ways. These two together make for an incredibly frustrating slow burn that grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let up. I also had no idea where the story was going to go. Ahdieh managed to keep me in the dark about many things, and that was perfect because it meant I was able to dive in further and really dig for clues and such. This all made The Beautiful an incredibly enchanting read that kept me on my toes the entire time and absolutely delivered on a delicious romance set in a New Orleans ruled by the supernatural.
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh, (List Price: $5.99, Nancy Paulsen, 9781524738198, August 2021)
Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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