The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Young Adult Fiction

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

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The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
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I loved Once Upon A Broken Heart and was very excited to receive a review copy of The Ballad of Never After. Stephanie Garber has done an amazing job of bringing fairy tales to life along with the curses intertwined within them. Garber didn’t just bring one story to life but a story within a story, within another story. Fairy tales are not all gold and glitter, and you see this more so in The Ballad of Never After. You fall in love with all the characters, whether they are “good” or “bad.” I really hope there is a third book in this series, and I am impatiently waiting for it.

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber, (List Price: $13.99, Flatiron Books, 9781250268433, March 2024)

Reviewed by Mandy Harris, Angel Wings Bookstore in Summerville, North Carolina

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Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

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Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
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This definitely crosses over to adult readers who grew up on Patricia Wrede and loved Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. Extremely well-written and smart fantasy.

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, (List Price: $17.99, Balzer + Bray, 9780062742322, October 2018)

Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood

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Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
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Underwood’s bold reimagining of Penelope’s hanged maids cements her among the ranks of Rick Riordan and Jennifer Saint. Lies We Sing to the Sea is a a magical take on feminine rage that girls of all ages can empathize with. The love story is ephemeral, and my pages were tear-soaked by the end. I will never look at daffodils the same way.

Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood, (List Price: $15.99, HarperTeen, 9780063234499, April 2024)

Reviewed by Laura Taylor, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
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To say I’m obsessed is an understatement. Sade arrives at a boarding school, escaping her past, when her new roommate disappears the next day. Layers of secrets and twists are uncovered as Sade tries to find her roommate. I couldn’t put this down and will immediately read anything she writes!

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, (List Price: $19.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250800848, March 2024)

Reviewed by Kayla Matykunas, Bookmarks in , North Carolina

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Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

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by Gabe Cole Novoa
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As someone who adores Pride and Prejudice, I am very protective of its main characters, and I am happy to report that Gabe Cole Novoa gave them brilliant new lives in this retelling. My little queer heart was bursting at the seams!

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa, (List Price: $19.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250869807, January 2024)

Reviewed by Rachel Randolph, Parnassus Books in , Tennessee

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Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer

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Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer
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This is a fun YA book that has an interesting take on zombies. I love the idea of science being able to reverse the effects of zombification and what ramifications would come with that. What if your loved one had killed your family when they weren’t themselves? Could you forgive them? It’s a fascinating take. The love story is well done. Only reason I didn’t rate it higher was that it didn’t have me on the edge of my seat like some of my favorite apocalyptic novels, but it’s still a solid read that I believe teens will especially enjoy.

Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer, (List Price: $19.99, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780593698327, April 2024)

Reviewed by Kelley Dykes, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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by Trung Le Nguyen
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This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel deftly weaves traditional fairy tales into the life of a young, gay teen just trying to figure everything out.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, (List Price: $17.99, Random House Graphic, 9781984851598, October 2020)

Reviewed by Shauna Sinyard, Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina

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We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

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We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
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In We Are Okay Nina LaCour carefully reveals Marin’s grief and coming of age with depth and clarity. LaCour’s work is striking and memorable, with a singular attention to detail and arresting emotional honesty. This novel is beautifully executed and will resonate with every one of its readers.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, (List Price: $17.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9780525425892, February 2017)

Reviewed by Johanna Albrecht, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina

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Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis

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Under This Red Rock by McGinnis, Mindy
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Mindy McGinnis has a way of taking contemporary and turning it so thrilling that I forget that I’m reading contemporary and think it’s fantasy because it’s so exciting. Neely is painfully relatable with her mental health struggles. Her desire to hide her problems from those she loves and her “rules” for coping will strike anyone who’s ever struggled with mental health, even if it’s not the same as hers. The story hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or do anything but read this book as soon as I started it. My heart raced with adrenaline every second I was reading it.

Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis, (List Price: $19.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063230415, March 2024)

Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story on the Square in McDounough, Georgia

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek
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Meet the darker, gothier little sister of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale—with a hint of Howl’s Moving Castle! Rooted in Polish folklore and set in a wickedly magical wood full of dangers and wonders alike, this grim yet romantic young adult fantasy marks the debut of a writer to watch.

Where the Dark Stands StillWhere the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek, (List Price: $19.99, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781665936477, February 2024)

Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

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Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
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Val believes that her family is cursed and they will always be unlucky in love. I loved the sweet and charming graphics and learning about the art of lion dancing. Val’s courage and determination to try and open her heart even if it may end in heartbreak is inspiring. I truly enjoyed this book!

Lunar New Year Love StoryLunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, (List Price: $25.99, First Second, 9781626728103, January 2024)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

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by Adib Khorram
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This is one of the best YA novels I have read recently. Darius is an utterly relatable character who just feels like he never fits in: he’s too Persian for America, too American for Iran. When he travels to Iran for the first time, Darius could not feel more out of place, yet he meets a boy who finally makes him feel okay. This book is a powerful story of friendship and does a beautiful job of normalizing depression and discussing the experience of growing up with multiple cultural identities.

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, (List Price: $8.99, Dial Books, 9780593857052, April 2024)

Reviewed by Tenley Soergel, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

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Snowglobe by Soyoung Park

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Snowglobe by Park, Soyoung
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I am not generally a sci-fi reader but this book grabbed me! It’s a chilling tale of dystopian future where those that live in the Snowglobe trade comfort for privacy. Their lives are broadcast on TV constantly and in exchange, they get warmth and safety. Chobahm longs to be a Director, the most coveted role in Snowglobe. When her chance to get out of her family’s poverty arises, she leaps without looking, regardless of the cost.

Snowglobe by Park, Soyoung, (List Price: $20.99, Delacorte Press, 9780593484975, February 2024)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

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Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo
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Adamo’s Not Like Other Girls pairs the emotional power of Speak with a mystery full of plot twists a la A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. This would be a great pick for teen book clubs.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo, (List Price: $19.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547614004, April 2024)

Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell

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by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell
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I love a horror anthology and a final girl story is even better! This book is a mix of powerhouse authors of color that portray strong black women triumphing over baddies – both human and not. Don’t worry, not EVERYONE survives, so you’ll still get lots of heart-pounding terror, thrills, and chills – plus a side of humor in some tales!

The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell, (List Price: $19.99, Flatiron Press, 9781250871657, April 2024)

Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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