21 new releases to cozy up to as summer turns to fall, all from Southern authors.
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Angels at the Gate by Sheri Joseph
At remote Rockhaven University, the shocking death of student Brantley Simms beneath the bell tower shattered the illusion of safety on campus. A year later, Leah Gavin, who knew Brantley under uneasy circumstances, becomes study partners with his former roommate and begins to uncover secrets about Brantley’s life, his fraternity and the events leading to his death.
Her search for answers draws her into hidden societies, dangerous loyalties and complicated feelings for two very different boys, while she is still haunted by the one who is gone. Set to the soundtrack of a 1980s mixtape, Angels at the Gate is both a campus mystery and a haunting exploration of love, loss and the darker currents that run beneath college life.
Bees in June by Elizabeth Bass Parman
It’s 1969 in Spark, Tennessee, and while the rest of the country celebrates the moon landing, Rennie Hendricks is grieving the loss of her infant son and enduring an abusive marriage. Hoping to ease financial strain, she takes a job cooking at the local diner, where she rediscovers her love for making food and begins to imagine a life beyond her husband’s control.
Rennie also finds comfort in caring for her aging Uncle, Dixon, who once shared a home with her late Aunt Eugenia, a woman the town dismissed as a witch but who was, in fact, a gifted healer. When Rennie notices Dixon’s bees glowing and guiding her to safety, she realizes Eugenia may have left behind something magical. With the unexpected support of her new neighbor, Ambrose Beckett, Rennie learns to trust herself, the bees and the possibility of a brighter future.
The Deliverance of Barker McRae by Stacia Pelletier
In April 1833, 14-year-old Barker McRae is living with her cruel uncle, militia captain Wiley Wood, in Watkinsville, Georgia, while waiting for her Methodist circuit rider father to return. But when a land lottery messenger named Matthew Higgenbotham arrives with shocking news, that Barker has won 40 acres in the state lottery, his announcement sets off a chain of violence that forces Barker to flee.
What follows is a desperate escape and a dangerous chase across frontier Georgia, set against the backdrop of the nation’s first gold rush and the illegal seizure of Cherokee lands. With Higgenbotham as her reluctant ally, Barker must decide if her true goal is reuniting with her father or breaking free from both men who define her past. The Deliverance of Barker McRae blends gripping historical detail with a coming-of-age tale of faith, resilience and moral choices in a profoundly turbulent era.
Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits by Arlon Jay Staggs
Trudy Beaumont has kept her head down ever since her high-school pregnancy and marriage to star quarterback Jimmie Beaumont shocked Bailey Springs. Years later, after Jimmie’s tragic death, the town still hasn’t forgiven her. Now engaged to blue-blood politician Haskel Moody, Trudy takes a job teaching chemistry to help his mayoral campaign, only to find herself back in the spotlight and face-to-face with Coach Shug Meechum, whose easy charm stirs more than just her frustration.
Meanwhile, Trudy’s mother, Leta Pearl, is serving up more than biscuits; her mysterious, love-inducing recipe is changing lives across town. In a place where football, tradition and appearances matter more than truth, long-buried secrets and new desires force Trudy to choose between playing by the rules or risking everything for the life she really wants.
The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan
Former Air Force investigator Annie Gore joined the military to escape her troubled childhood. Now working as a private eye, she takes a case in an Appalachian holler much like the one she left behind. Ten years ago, three little girls vanished. One returned, two never did. With the town still silent, the brother of one of the missing girls hires Annie, an outsider who understands mountain people and their secrets.
As Annie digs into a decade-old mystery, she unearths whispers of witches, crows and a town that would rather forget. But the past doesn’t stay buried. Annie’s search for answers stirs old wounds and awakens someone determined to keep the truth hidden.
SEPTEMBER
Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee (Sept. 9)
1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her struggling family. Though she knows little about her assignment, she’s told her work will help America win the war. But when her roommate hints at disturbing secrets about Oak Ridge and then vanishes, Mae’s search for answers leads her to a shocking revelation that will change her life forever.
1979. In Boston, graduate student Laurel Willett stumbles on the history of Oak Ridge, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Hoping to connect her research with family history, she spends the summer with her Aunt Mae, who refuses to speak of her past in the “Secret City.” As Laurel digs deeper, Mae’s friends begin to reveal long-buried stories, forcing Laurel to confront a decades-old mystery and threatening to expose the guilt Mae has tried so hard to hide.
Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries by Jeremy Jones (Sept. 16)
In 1975, a box of fragile, hand-sewn notebooks was discovered in a North Carolina home slated for demolition. Written in code, the diaries were later deciphered by a retired NSA cryptanalyst, revealing the secret life of William Thomas Prestwood, a 19th-century farmer from the Appalachian region. His pages captured everything from eclipses and planetary orbits to clandestine encounters in barn lofts, presenting what one codebreaker called “the very essence of Everyman’s life from the cradle to the grave.” But to author Jeremy Jones, Prestwood was no Everyman; he was his great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Cipher reanimates Prestwood’s complicated legacy, tracing a man who fathered children with both his wife and an enslaved woman, mined for gold, sheltered runaway slaves, befriended Daniel Boone’s great-nephew and raised sons who fought and died at Gettysburg. Through meticulous research and lyrical storytelling, Jones layers his own journey of identity and inheritance atop Prestwood’s coded life, revealing not only a vivid portrait of a flawed ancestor, but also unsettling truths about family, history and self.
House of Smoke by John T. Edge (Sept. 16)
In this unflinching memoir, John T. Edge embarks on a quest for home in a South that has both nurtured and rejected him. Born in a house tied to a Confederate general and raised on the myths of the Lost Cause, Edge carried the weight of inherited stories and the scars of violence he witnessed as a boy. As the founding director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and a widely published journalist, he sought to reimagine the South through its foodways, telling stories that hinted at the possibility of a better, more inclusive region.
However, as his influence grew, Edge confronted the limitations of his work and the backlash from the very audience he had once sought to guide. His journey takes him from Georgia to Mississippi, weaving personal history with cultural critique in a profoundly American story of reckoning, truth-telling and the hard work of learning how to love both people and place.
The Waterbearers by Sasha Bonét (Sept. 16)
Sasha Bonét grew up in 1990s Houston, far removed from the Louisiana cotton plantation that raised her grandmother, Betty Jean, and the Texas bayous that shaped her mother, Connie. Each generation improved materially, yet all carried the complex legacy of Black American motherhood rooted in slavery; the same hands that combed hair, shelled pecans and soothed weary muscles had once whipped children into submission.
Determined to break this cycle, Bonét brought her own daughter, Sofia, to New York and embarked on a journey through her family history and the lives of Black women in history and literature—Betty Davis, Recy Taylor and Iberia Hampton—to understand the love and pain passed down through generations. The Waterbearers is a dazzling, transformative work that reimagines Black womanhood, inviting us to reconsider how we understand ourselves as individuals, parents, communities and a nation.
Dead Man Blues by S. D. House (Sept. 30)
Once a respected man in Shady Grove, a small town on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, Dave Hendricks loses everything when his wife leaves him for his best friend, his job, his reputation and nearly his sense of self. With only his houseboat and his dog for company, he drifts through odd jobs and the blues. But when murder strikes their town, Dave must team up with Sheriff Victor Burns, the man who betrayed him, to catch the killer.
Two bodies turn Cedar Lake into a place of fear, drawing old friends and foes back into Hendricks’ life. As the investigation unfolds, he must confront his past and reckon with betrayal, or risk watching justice slip away. Dead Man Blues establishes Silas House as a knife-sharp, compelling voice in the crime genre.
OCTOBER
I’ll Follow You by Charlene Wang (Oct. 1)
Faith and her charismatic best friend, Kayla, always dreamed of escaping their dead-end trailer park. When their social media persona, Hannah Primrose, goes viral, their fates seem inseparable until Faith is accepted to prestigious Harkness College and must choose between keeping her promise to Kayla or forging her own path.
At Harkness, Faith struggles to fit in with wealthy classmates while reinventing herself, even drawing the attention of an enigmatic art history professor. But when Kayla appears on campus, posing as a student, the thrill of their reunion quickly turns dangerous. As Hannah Primrose takes over their lives, Faith realizes Kayla may be playing a deadly game, and she might be too late to reclaim control.
Over Yonder by Sean Dietrich (Oct. 7)
Woody Barker steps out of prison, hoping for peace on his houseboat along the Alabama Gulf Coast. A defrocked priest with a heart condition and an ex-wife who still runs his life, he seeks redemption but finds it in unexpected ways when he crosses paths with 17-year-old Caroline Boyer, pregnant and reeling from her mother’s death. At the funeral, Caroline discovers a father she’s never known, and her life is instantly changed.
Soon, Woody, Caroline and an emotional support goldfish named Gary are on a whirlwind journey through the Deep South, chased by those desperate to uncover Caroline’s mother’s secret. Along the way, they navigate danger, former enemies and the challenges of forming a new family, learning to redefine hope, faith and what it truly means to belong.
Sister Creatures by Laura Venita Green (Oct. 7)
In the muggy, insect-ridden town of Pinecreek, Louisiana, college dropout Tess Lavigne is watching two bickering siblings when a feral, mysterious girl known as Sister Gail emerges from the woods, convincing Tess to take her in for the night. That strange evening sets the course for Tess’s future and Sister Gail’s ultimate fate. Meanwhile, other residents navigate their own struggles, from sisterly rivalries to uncertain relationships, all under the shadow of the town’s secrets.
At the heart of Pinecreek is Thea, a malevolent shape-shifting entity whose rage and despair stem from a history of misogyny, maternal loss and stolen ambitions. As Tess forges a new path for herself, she confronts what cannot be left behind, learning to build resilience from the bonds that connect them all. Sister Creatures is all at once eerie, atmospheric, and achingly real.
The Stories We Carry by Robin W. Pearson (Oct. 7)
Glory Pryor has built a life and community around her bookstore, By the Book, in Gilmore, North Carolina, but carries the weight of her own untold stories. She hopes her estranged brother will one day return, while her husband, Eli, urges her to let go of the store as they approach retirement. Glory isn’t ready to give up her dream—until Adelle Simonette arrives with her young son, Bennett, threatening to unravel the carefully controlled life Glory has built.
Newly widowed Adelle seeks to confront Glory and those who know her, convinced that the truth must come out. But facing long-buried secrets is never simple, and once revealed, there’s no turning back. Amid grief and loss, both women must navigate a path toward healing, hope and restoration.
Boom Town by Nic Stone (Oct. 14)
Nic Stone’s adult thriller debut is about two missing erotic dancers from Atlanta’s most notorious gentlemen’s club and the woman committed to finding them. When Damaris “Charm” Wilburn, a new daytime dancer, is missing for her shift at Boom Town, former headliner Michah “Lyriq” Johanssen suspects something more than a “no call, no show.” As Lyriq’s former headline partner and lover—Felice “Lucky” Carothers—also vanished under similar circumstances, Lyriq decides she’s going to find them.
Delving deeper into Charm and Lucky’s disappearances, Lyriq uncovers a tangled web of deceit, privilege and power. The line between friend and foe blurs, forcing Lyriq to confront the question: Is finding for these women worth the threat to her own life?
If You Leave by Margaret Hutton (Oct. 21)
In the final year of World War II, Audrey clings to her dream of becoming a painter while falling deeply in love with a naval doctor. After their marriage, he is sent overseas, leaving her alone in Washington, DC. Audrey rents a room to Lucille, forming an unlikely friendship that brings comfort to them both—until Lucille abruptly abandons their makeshift family, including her child, and returns to her orchard in North Carolina.
When the women reunite in 1973, Lucille seeks to mend the past, Audrey is determined to leave an unhappy marriage and Lake, Lucille’s daughter, struggles in an abusive relationship. If You Leave is an intimate, immersive story of motherhood, love and art, following three women as they navigate loss, reconciliation and the paths they carve for themselves.
Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd (Oct. 21)
From the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd explores the mysteries, frustrations and triumphs of being a writer, offering an instructive guide to awakening the soul. In high school, Kidd’s home economics teacher listed potential occupations for women: teacher, nurse, librarian, secretary, but “writer” was not among them. She set aside her ambitions until years later, when she declared to her family that she would become a writer, beginning a lifelong exploration of the writerly life.
In Writing Creativity and Soul, Kidd draws on her own experiences and those of writers such as Virginia Woolf, Maya Angelou and Harper Lee to offer a roadmap for anyone who has felt lost in their craft. At its heart is the belief that writing is a spiritual act, tapping into the soul: the wellspring of imagination, feeling and creativity. Equal parts memoir, guidebook and spiritual quest, this book illuminates the courage, insight and inspiration required to write with authenticity and depth, as well as the creative genius that lies in the unconscious.
Poison Wood by Jennifer Moorhead (Oct. 28)
From the author of Broken Bayou, a haunting psychological thriller about ambition, secrets and the cost of pursuing both. Crime reporter Rita Meade is riding high after her docuseries on the Broken Bayou serial killer, but an anonymous tip about a skull found deep in the Louisiana forest gives her pause; this one hits too close to home. As a teenager, Rita attended Poison Wood Therapeutic Academy for Girls, a school that was later closed due to disturbing incidents. Now, with her father ill and a former killer recanting, she must return to the haunted woods.
Navigating a decaying schoolhouse basement and the emotional wreckage of her past, Rita confronts buried secrets about her mother, her family and herself. As her investigation entangles her family tree and draws the cameras’ scrutiny, she must decide how far she’s willing to go for a story that could destroy everything—and everyone—she loves.
Sonora by Jenni L Walsh (Oct. 28)
Penniless but plucky, Sonora Webster follows her wanderlust into a world of diving with horses, unaware of the danger, excitement and fierce competition that await. As she navigates the cutthroat realm of show business, with trapeze acts, juggling bears and relentless pressure, her talent and dedication catapult her into the limelight. After marrying the show runner, her life becomes entwined with the act and the horses she loves. But she soon learns that a diver—and her horse—are only as good as their last show, and some are determined to see it fail.
When a tragic accident threatens everything, Sonora must find the courage to climb the 45-foot tower and dive once more, risking her life to save the show and the horses from ruin. In Sonora, Jenni L. Walsh vividly captures the spirit of a woman who defied societal norms, pursuing her dreams with bravery, resilience and unwavering determination.
NOVEMBER
The Lady on Esplanade by Karen White (Nov. 4)
Nola is ready to start over in New Orleans, focusing on renovating her Creole cottage and launching a murder-house-flipping business with contractor and part-time nemesis, Beau Ryan. After a near-death ghostly encounter and the return of Beau’s missing sister, they believe Beau’s mother’s restless spirit can finally find peace. Nola’s first project, a shotgun house on Esplanade Avenue, seems perfect for newcomer Cooper Ravenel, despite his role in Nola’s first heartbreak, and its dark history of murder and disappearance only adds to the challenge.
But the house has its own deadly secrets. An angry young woman’s ghost follows Cooper, and another spirit grows increasingly dangerous as it hides dark truths. With Beau’s mother leaving wet footprints as a warning, Nola must convince Beau to confront the lingering spectral threats before it’s too late.
Good Hair Days by Grace Helena Walz (Nov. 11)
The Louise women have long quarreled, but they always believed Georgia would make them proud. Years later, Georgia just wants to return to Whitetail, her small Southern hometown, and the family salon, June’s Beauty Shop, but doing so would mean admitting she’s fallen short of their expectations. When little sister Junie lands the shop in hot water after a renovation mishap, Georgia steps in to save the day. To the town, the shop is sacred; to the sisters, it’s a family legacy passed down to every first-born daughter, always named June in honor of their mother’s legacy.
With funds running short, the sisters and their aunts launch a series of wild money-making schemes, from gambling tables at June’s to selling Aunt Tina’s pies at the fair. But when Junie receives a life-altering diagnosis, the world they relied on is upended. Forced to confront truths and lean on each other, the Louise women discover that the most enduring part of their legacy is the profound love that binds them together.
