Southern Review of Books

01/07/2026

"The buzz surrounding The Star Society and the knowledge that Ada’s character is loosely inspired by Audrey Hepburn proves that we still long for a Hollywood that is not our own: a world of glitz, glamor, and mystique that feels unreachable today, given how radically the industry and our access to the private lives of celebrities have changed."

New review of THE STAR SOCIETY by Gabriella Saab.

A review of Gabriella Saab’s latest historical novel, “The Star Society.”

01/06/2026

"Kanwal’s characters are in constant flux. They move across continents and cities and even within the confines of their own homes. Motion becomes an act of survival and self-definition for those whose lives are circumscribed by expectation."

New review of TALKING WITH BOYS by Tayyba Kanwal, out today from Black Lawrence Press!

In Tayyba Kanwal’s story collection, “Talking with Boys,” characters are in constant flux. Motion becomes an act of survival and self-definition for those whose lives are circumsc…

01/01/2026

We can't wait to spend another year celebrating books with you all!

12/29/2025

If you’ve ever wondered what the SRB team is reading or watching in their spare time, this post is for you! Check out our year in books (and more) here:

12/22/2025

"Teixeira’s original page compositions frequently take advantage of white space to make you slow down in each scene, and the warm color palette interrupted by a black, grainy background heightens the visceral suspense with every page turn."

New review of HEAVEN, WEST VIRGINIA by Ravi Teixeira.

A review of Ravi Teixeira’s recent graphic novel, “Heaven, West Virginia.”

12/19/2025

"While the stories are set in the present day, Riggs eschews linearity in her storytelling in favor of a circular structure that loops seamlessly back and forth between past, present, and future."

New review of EXTINCTION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD by Mariah Rigg. Ecco Books

Rather than a static snapshot, these ten interconnected stories share a portrait of Hawaii as a living, evolving organism.

12/18/2025

Looking for last-minute holiday gifts? Check out this non-exhaustive list of fantastic LGBTQ+ Southern books from the last half of 2025.

(Find the first half of 2025 here! https://southernreviewofbooks.com/2025/06/13/books-to-celebrate-in-june-2025/)

A non-exhaustive list of q***r Southern books published in the second half of 2025.

12/16/2025

"Famished is a fast, heartbreaking read about the perfect storm of diet culture and purity culture and the deleterious effects of that storm on the lives of girls and women."

New review of FAMISHED by Anna Rollins.

A review of Anna Rollins’ memoir, “Famished.”

12/12/2025

"If the tropes DeMeester deploys feel like familiar staples of the feminist horror genre, I’d argue that is also their power. Because like all of the best horror, we come to understand that the true nightmare is not the monster haunting the woods. ... It’s the fact that when it comes to violent, patriarchal oppression, there truly is nothing new under the sun."

New review of DARK SISTERS by Kristi DeMeester. St. Martin's Press

A review of Kristi DeMeester’s eerie, propulsive novel, “Dark Sisters.”

12/09/2025

“While thrilling, this is more than the sensational tale of a drug smuggler in the 80s – this is the story of a daughter making meaning out of what she once considered a senseless accident which left her fatherless and changed her and her family’s lives. Through vivid scenes recreated from first-hand accounts, news articles, and government reports, Henderson alchemizes the shame and confusion she’s carried since her father’s death while introducing him to us.”

New review is NO ORDINARY BIRD by Artis Henderson.

A review of Artis Henderson’s second nonfiction book, “No Ordinary Bird.”

12/05/2025

"I love braided and mosaic novels. I think it is the truest way to tell a story, the best way to illuminate conflicting perspectives and undisclosed secrets."

Wes Blake interviews Julie Hensley on FIVE OAKS.

An interview with author Julie Hensley on her recent novel, “Five Oaks.”

12/03/2025

"I, Medusa isn’t just an adventurous tale about the origin story of a classic Greek 'monster.' It’s a commentary about the many ways women are oppressed in their lives, the varied forms in which sexual harassment and assault take place, and ultimately the resilience of a survivor’s spirit."

New review of Ayana Gray's I, MEDUSA. Random House

Ayana Gray’s “I, Medusa” is full of complicated women with rich personalities who exist in a gray area.