The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

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My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa

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My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa
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I loved it! I’ve been looking for a standalone manga and this scratched all my itches. The art is gorgeous, and I love the mysterious vibe it has. The mystery around the twins and their relationship was very well done. I think the main character, John, could’ve been explored a little more and made him more important. “Hyde” kept telling him how important John is to him and his brother, but I wish we saw a bit more of that. The pacing and writing were both great, and the ending made me satisfied, even though it’s a little bittersweet.

My Gemini by Yuu Morikawa, (List Price: $15, Yen Press, 9781975366322, April 2024)

Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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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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Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan

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Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan
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The story is already so creative with its twists and turns, but the illustrations are key to understanding this lively story. The weird little kid? The weird townspeople? The weird spider? Perfect combo. Jess Hannigan is definitely someone to keep an eye on!

Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan, (List Price: $19.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063289475, March 2024)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, 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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The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson

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The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson
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Well! I was so excited to be asked to be a part of this book! I wasn’t sure what to expect but it exceeded expectations! I am humbled to be in such great company. One of the best things about my job is the people. Book people are the actual best! This book proves it. Fierce, intelligent people across the country were interviewed about their jobs in the book world. We may live far apart, but the message is the same. We care about people reading. We will move heaven and earth to get children to read. We are compassionate and empathetic people who take the time to listen to customers’ stories. I love this world and am so excited to get people to understand how important books and their book pimps are.

The Secret Lives of Booksellers and LibrariansThe Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson, (List Price: $30, Little Brown and Company, 9780316567534, April 2024)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash

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Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash
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I know it’s still early in the year, but Rainbow Black is going to be on my Top Ten of 2024! Lacey is only thirteen when the Satanic Panic sweeps through her life, leaving her family in shambles. Despite the legal firestorms, the conniving therapists, and the loss of her entire support system, Lacey finds a way to survive, and years later, she’s living in Canada as Jo, a smart, capable lawyer with more secrets than she can stand. But America hasn’t forgotten her, and soon she’s the target of another witch hunt, but this time for a crime she did commit. This book will leave you outraged and weary of a legal system that abuses its power for nothing more than public appeasement. Five rainbow-colored stars for this one!

Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash, (List Price: $18.99, Harper Perennial, 9780063286870, 2024-03-19)

Reviewed by Kate Towery, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia

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The Brush by Hernández-Pachón, Eliana

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The Brush by Eliana Hernández-Pachón
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Powerful and devastating. The language is so concise and brilliantly moving. Every word makes a massive impact in this slim, arresting poem.

The BrushThe Brush by Eliana Hernández-Pachón, (List Price: $17, Archipelago, 9781953861863, March 2024)

Reviewed by Emily Tarr, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama

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The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell

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The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
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I am a devoted follower of the cult of Amanda Montell, and The Age of Magical Overthinking is the psychological balm I didn’t know I needed right now. Amanda Montell has the unique ability to give us perspective on the current cultural zeitgeist that we are too close to to see wholly and to equip us with the tools and language to have important conversations about them. The Age of Magical Overthinking is an astute examination of the cultural moment of now and how we as individuals exist within it…all told with her signature wit and enthusiasm that makes Amanda Montell one of my perennially favorite authors to hand-sell at our bookstore.

The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell, (List Price: $28.99, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 9781668007976, April 2024)

Reviewed by Caroline Barbee, Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi

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Would You Dare Put a Diaper on a Bear? by Kinsman-Chauvet, Lillias

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Would You Dare Put a Diaper on a Bear? by Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet
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This silly sing-songy book will have your child bubbling over with laughter. The pictures are funny colorful animals outfitted in diapers and are sure to make your little one cover their mouths trying to keep from giggling. It is the perfect book to help encourage potty training.

Would You Dare Put a Diaper on a Bear? by Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet, (List Price: $18.99, Boxer Books, 9781915801654, April 2024)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North 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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Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

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Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
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Between the ephemeral sense of dread that vanishes as quickly as it appears and the all too well-known terror of family vacation, Diavola kept me both frightened and intrigued! It’s a great read for anyone who loves haunted houses, with a dash of family drama!

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne, (List Price: $27.99, Tor Nightfire, 9781250826121, March 2024)

Reviewed by Courtney Ulrich Smith, Underbrush Books in Rogers, Arkansas

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The Mars House by Natasha Pulley

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The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
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Goodness, was this good! Where to start? The power politics and marriage of convenience love story put me in mind (in a good way) of Winter’s Orbit, but there’s also talking mammoths, climate crisis commentary, twists, tidbits for language nerds, and delightfully fleshed-out characters! Highly recommend!

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley, (List Price: $32.99, Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639732333, March 2024)

Reviewed by Angela Trigg, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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Poetrees by Douglas Florian

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Poetrees by Douglas Florian
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Perfectly positioned for Poetry Month and Earth Day, Poetrees is a poetry book, an art book, and a science primer all in one. From the humble seed to the Giant Sequoia there’s sure to be an ode to your favorite forest giant.

PoetreesPoetrees by Douglas Florian, (List Price: $8.99, Beach Lane Books, 9781665957946, April 2024)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

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Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne
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I read Beetle & the Hollowbones in one sitting over morning coffee. The art and story charmed me to no end! This middle-grade graphic novel is a perfect recommendation for fans of Corpse Bride and Halloweentown, a creepy-cute and sweet tale of growing up, friendship, magic, and love. A must-read for fellow year-round Halloween lovers!

Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne, (List Price: $12.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781534441545, April 2020)

Reviewed by Cristina Russell, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida

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Fervor by Toby Lloyd

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Fervor by Toby Lloyd
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Is it nature? Nurture? Unacknowledged familial trauma? Kabbalah? God? Does it matter? Toby Lloyd’s stunning novel debut feels like a long-lost dream, rippling with uncertainty for the best kind of unsettled reading experience — just after finishing, I wanted to read it all again.In a London, modern Ashkenazi Jewish home, our intersecting narrators offer multiple realities, inviting us to hold them amidst reflections on tradition, power, and existence with heart-wrenching beauty. Impressively succinct writing that unfolds in the mind like a flower in bloom with heart-wrenching beauty and depth – the rest of 2024’s reads are up against a powerhouse.

FervorFervor by Toby Lloyd, (List Price: $28, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster, 9781668033333, March 2024)

Reviewed by RC Collman, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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