The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Young Adult Fiction

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid

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A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
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Dive deeper into the world of A Study in Drowning, into the dreams of Preston Héloury and the lore of the Sleepers, as Ava S. Reid’s Welsh folklore-infused dark academia fantasy continues! With the lush literary romance of Divine Rivals and the incisive magical dark academia of Babel, this series is a must-read, and A Theory of Dreaming only swept me further off my feet and out to (a palace beneath the) sea.

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063421677, July 2025)

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

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Identical by Ellen Hopkins

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Identical by Ellen Hopkins
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Brilliant work by the author. This one is dark and hard to read, but the shock at the end… It’s a doozy!

Identical by Ellen Hopkins, (List Price: $24.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781416950059, August 2008)

Reviewed by Courtney Niederer, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle

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The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle
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Stella Sedgwick is a young black woman in late 19th-century England. She wants to be a writer and an independent woman. When a surprise inheritance brings her into London society, she resurrects her mother’s newspaper advice column anonymously in this fun YA historical romance.

The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle, (List Price: $19.99, Isabelle, S., 9781335006967, July 2025)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones

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Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones
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A hidden society of witches? An orphan with a strong lineage to a long-gone family? Cute queer romances and yearning? Tarot card foreshadowing? What more could one want? This is a world where witches work to keep the balance between natural and unnatural forces, and the Arcana is one of the specific societies that does this. But when four students’ lives are thrown together, they realize there is something connecting their blood, and it smells like murder, it smells like power, it smells like secrets. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Arcana: The Lost Heirs by Sam Prentice-Jones, (List Price: $19.99, 8. Feiwel & Friends, 9781250290229, June 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy

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Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy
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This is the power writing couple we didn’t know we needed! Murphy and JVN have crafted the most adorable rom-com with a ghosty twist! It’s sweet, spicy (but appropriate for YA spice!), and timely. Sully has just graduated high school, and they’re ready to take NYC by storm with their dream internship – until it gets canceled at the last minute. Sully finds a gorgeous vintage bag in their local thrift store and gets more than they bargained for when Rufus, a queer ghost from the 50s, appears. Sully and their crush hunt to find out what happened to Rufus and find some town secrets and a little romance along the way. I say this about every Juile Murphy collab, but I will read as many books as this pair creates.

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy, (List Price: $22.99, Storytide, 9780063346246, May 2025)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

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The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
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This adorable graphic novel about a shape-shifting selkie and a teen lesbian who hasn’t fully accepted her queerness is heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is a great book for young queer people with a diverse cast of characters and a lovely sapphic romance that you can easily devour in one sitting. Can’t wait to get this into the hands of young readers!

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag, (List Price: $14.99, Graphix, 9781338540574, June 2021)

Reviewed by Candice Huber, Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Book Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana

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A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury

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A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury
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Amazing amazing amazing!! From the first chapter, I was immediately drawn into the story and only put it down when absolutely necessary. If you love Legendborn like I do, this is the book for you. I loved!! the main ensemble, and watching each of their dynamics grow against the backdrop of the story was beyond enjoyable. The budding forbidden, slow-burn romance alongside the steady increasing tension was chef’s kiss. Can’t wait for the second one!

A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury, (List Price: $24.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665957366, July 2025)

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

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Espada by Anabel Colazo

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Espada by Anabel Colazo
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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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Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

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Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone
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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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A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

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A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek
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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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I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase

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I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 by Umi Takase
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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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A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C. B. Lee

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A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C. B. Lee
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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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Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku

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Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku
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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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Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

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Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales
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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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Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman

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Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman
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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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