The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Young Adult Fiction

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

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Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
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This book was great. I loved the Hunger Games-inspired plot it took me back to reading dystopian YA from when I was a teenager. I loved the characters Reid created and how real they felt. I could not put this book down as I followed Inesa and Mel during the gauntlet. The commentary on climate change and big corporations was equal parts intriguing and terrifying. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced story with great characters.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063211551, March 2025)

Reviewed by Ruth Heckendorf, Pretty Good Books in LaGrange, Georgia

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In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

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In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
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This book is classic Zentner. With lovely prose, it make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the family you have—both by birth and by choice.

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner, (List Price: $13.99, Ember, 9781524720278, August 2022)

Reviewed by Amanda Gawthorpe, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Hunger’s Bite by Taylor Robin

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Hunger's Bite by Taylor Robin
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What should be another routine crossing of the Atlantic for Emery, Neeta, and their ship/home, the S.S. Lark, turns deadly when new management steps in, their intentions…less than good. Perhaps even a little demonic. Robin’s debut graphic novel is enthralling; the artwork in this book alone should catch your eye, every panel crafted with great color sense, expression, emotion, and such dynamic textures.

Hunger’s Bite by Taylor Robin, (List Price: $24.99, Union Square & Co., 9781454950240, February 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

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Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia
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The Shop Around the Corner vibes around in Ali Brady’s newest novel about rival bookstore owners! Josie manages a literary bookstore just two doors down from the romance bookstore that Ryan manages. But now, the owner of both stores is planning to combine them, but there’s only room for one manager. The one who has the best sales during the next three months wins. They clash instantly after they first meet. But neither realizes that this isn’t the first time they’ve met. They’re actually really good friends on a booksellers’ forum online.

Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia, (List Price: $19.99, Zando Young Readers, 9781638931492, January 2025)

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao
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In a world where the remains of civilization are menaced by enormous, spirit-powered monsters, boys with large spirit-force can become the pilots of the Chrysalises, giant machines that provide humanity’s only defense and the hope to retake the lost provinces. Girls with strong spirit-force can become concubine pilots: the second pilot necessary to power up the Chrysalises, but destined to be used up and die in battle. Wu Zetian’s older sister was sent to be a concubine pilot but when she died outside of battle no pay-out was given to the family. Now the family is sending Wu Zetian, but she’s not planning to go out by herself: she’s going to kill the pilot responsible for her sister’s death first. As Wu Zetian maneuvers through the machinations behind the scenes in both the military and the civilian media, she questions all the country’s received knowledge about the strength and value of women relative to men – and aims herself at a bigger opponent than one single pilot.

Iron Widow (Book 1) by Xiran Jay Zhao, (List Price: $11.99, Tundra Books, 9780735269958, February 2023)

Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa

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The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa
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Nothing is more awkward than a first kiss, and Ingrid Ochoa captures that so well and makes it interesting when senior student Sara Lin gets bet by her friend to kiss a stranger. What ensues is secret disguises, new crushes, and so many twists and turns. Will Sara get her kiss? Will she pass Calculus!? Can’t wait to see where this story goes!

The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa, (List Price: $18.99, WEBTOON Unscrolled, 9781998341146, February 2025)

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

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The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa

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The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa
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Just how far are you willing to go for a bet? Would you kiss a cute stranger on the subway? I have followed this comic for so so long and I’m elated to see it in print! Team subway boy all the way!

The Kiss Bet Volume One by Ingrid Ochoa, (List Price: $18.99, WEBTOON Unscrolled, 9781998341146, February 2025)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Where Shadows Bloom by Catherin Bakewell

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Where Shadows Bloom by Catherin Bakewell
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Bakewell writes fantasies that leave me feeling charmed, comforted, and optimistic. Where Shadows Bloom is as much a love letter to the power of storytelling as it is a fantastical romance between its two lovelorn leads. Compassion and sensitivity leaps off the page. A marvelous read for younger YA readers.

Where Shadows Bloom by Catherin Bakewell, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063359086, February 2025)

Reviewed by Isabel Agajanian, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

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Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
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I loved the Gothic setting of a castle with ancient roots on a desolate Scottish moor. I’m not really one to go after books about demons because I feel they can hem in the plot, but I loved the way Oak described them as elementals, and how he could see everything alive on the empty-looking moor just by knowing how to look. He was probably my favorite character. I also liked how Page took her chronic pain and made it her superpower later in the book. A big theme of the book is physical bodies versus the mind, and I think Wilkinson did an excellent job weaving that theme through every aspect of the book. From the lessons the Agathion professors taught, to Page’s endometriosis, to the LGBTQ characters, and to the ancient stories of the gods.

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593810989, February 2025)

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
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The Poet X is a piece of Acevedo’s heart that we cradle in our hands, an intimate portrayal of someone who isn’t quiet and easy and is all the more beautiful for her sharp edges. Every stanza, Acevedo seemingly challenges herself to improve on what was written before, creating a brutally bittersweet story of what it means to find your voice, both on and off the page. From my first read five years ago to my last, Xiomara continuously inspires me to occupy the spaces I’m told I cannot with my pen, and more importantly, my voice.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, (List Price: $15.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780062662811, April 2020)

Reviewed by Sydney Mason, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia

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Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia
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I’m noticing a trend with either my reading preferences or books coming out soon because this is the second locked-room, Glass Onion murder mystery Clue game book I’ve read this past couple of weeks. I AM NOT COMPLAINING. I loved how it opened up with Esther, then Mullory and the strange. I was instantly pulled into the intrigue. But then, when everyone came together at the Stoutmire Mansion for the game to begin, I couldn’t really get behind any of the characters. They were all “whimpering” or “screaming.” Like I get that it’s scary and we’re all angry but it just put distance between the reader, the characters, and the plot. (Seriously, if I had played a drinking game with those two dialogue tags I probably wouldn’t have made it through the start of the story. I’d be like Saffron Stoutmire with her martinis) Fortunately, those character arcs started kicking in and I began to really get into the story. Their worries were my worries, their stakes were my stakes sort of thing. I started caring about what happened to them, especially Mullory and Lyric. They turned into a grumpy x sunshine done right. So if you feel the same way, STICK WITH IT. Those clues won’t solve themselves.

Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia, (List Price: $18.99, Disney Hyperion, 9781368099080, January 2025)

Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

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Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
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I hardly know where to start…I loved everything about this book! Ramona is spectacular in her extraordinary ordinariness ( and I mean that in the very BEST way). She is every girl – sure of herself until she isn’t – and struggling to find her way back while remaining true to herself. Her cast of supporting characters are the kids we encounter every day. They are gay, straight, black, white, struggling, privileged, confident and questioning and they are NOT “issues.” They are just regular kids, and their stories are spectacular. This is the perfect addition to the #WNDB [We Need Diverse Books] canon and exactly what bookstore shelves should be filled with!

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy, (List Price: $11.99, Balzer + Bray, 9780062418364, May 2018)

Reviewed by Laura Donohoe, Spellbound Children’s Bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina

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Darkly by Marisha Pessl

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Darkly by Marisha Pessl
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5 STARS!! This YA mystery thriller is an unforgettable adventure with a fast-paced plot, buried secrets, hidden symbols, and intriguing puzzles. After winning a chance to intern at Darkly, a game-making empire, Dia and six other teens from all across America land in England and are taken to an abandoned island where they are thrown into a twisted game called Valkyrie that has never before been released to find the game’s presumed first victim, a teen boy. There were so many unexpected twists, and the shocking ending leaves you wanting more.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl, (List Price: $19.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593706558, November 2024)

Reviewed by Sandra Pinkney, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

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Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

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Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
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This was a stunning sequel to arguably the best YA romcom, Better Than the Movies. After facing the sudden death of his dad during his first year of college, Wes breaks up with Liz, believing he is holding her back. Now, two years later, Wes is more determined than ever to win her back. Lynn Painter always manages to build real characters and relationship dynamics and this book is no exception. This is a must-read!

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter, (List Price: $19.99, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665947138, October 2024)

Reviewed by Makayla Summers, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

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The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
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The Grace Year is the year that all girls in the county must take before they are married off in order to burn off their magic. Tierney isn’t looking forward to this year, especially when she finds out she’s going to be married when she comes back. This book is advertised as a mixture of Lord of the Flies and The Handmaid’s Tale. That is a fairly accurate description, but it also made it hard for me to see it as anything else. I enjoyed the story and was kept on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed how things that you thought at the beginning were carefully planted to reveal an overarching truth in a beautiful and meaningful way. I feel like The Grace Year has the potential to be just as impactful as The Handmaid’s Tale.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, (List Price: $10.99, Wednesday Books, 9781250145451, October 2020)

Reviewed by Kaitlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

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