Indies Introduce Winter / Spring 2025

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Independent Booksellers’ Debut Picks of the Season

 

Do what indies do best—find and showcase undiscovered authors and compelling books. Two panels of booksellers chose the Indies Introduce titles—10 adult and 10 children’s—as the best of the Winter/Spring 2025 debuts. Read the full announcement.

Publishers offer special terms on these books just for participating indie booksellers.

For stores that have taken part in past Indies Introduce promotions, there’s no need to sign up to take advantage of publishers’ offers; stores that are
new to the program must complete the form below (viewable to logged in member booksellers only) by October 14, 2024 in order to participate.

By signing up, booksellers agree to:

  • Promote at least 8 of 20 titles (adult and kids combined).
  • Order at least 3 copies of hardcover adult and kids’ titles or 5 copies of paperback titles (display allowance titles may have different order requirements).
  • Promote the debut titles through social media, staff picks, and the like.

 

Marketing Assets:

Promotional terms are visible to logged-in ABA Bookseller Members only.

Fiction

  • Blob: A Love Story, Maggie Su
    Harper, 9780063358645, January 28, 2025 (Fiction)

    “I can’t remember the last time a depressing story was so uplifting. The absurd premise of Blob made it impossible to put this book down. Vi finds her life in complete disarray when she discovers a mysterious blob. What follows is a journey through self-destruction and ultimately finding her true path in life. The writing is exceptional, and this book is poised to be a big hit.”

    —Dave Suiter, {pages} a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, CA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Deep Cuts, Holly Brickley
    Crown, 9780593799086, February 25, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Deep Cuts is the ultimate love letter to music. Structured like a mixtape, each chapter is named after a different track, and listening to the songs while reading greatly enhances the experience. Percy is an unforgettable protagonist — messy in the best way — and I couldn’t get enough of her will-they-won’t-they with Joe. A must-read for anyone who knows the definition of ‘Indie Sleaze.’ ”

    —Sophie Chen, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Fundamentally, Nussaibah Younis
    Tiny Reparations Books, 9780593851388, February 25, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Nussaibah Younis’ witty debut novel fetches a focus on relevant topics on today's societal views of women and what they are capable of. Read it through and embrace the character arc — you won’t put this book down until the very last page.”

    —Desirae Wilkerson, Paper Boat Booksellers, Seattle, WA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • The Passenger Seat, Khurana Vijay
    Biblioasis, 9781771966306, March 4, 2025 (Fiction)

    “A coming-of-age novel for today — a shocking, poignant picture of despondency. Exceptional read.”

    —Shelley Lowe, Monkey and Dog Books, Fort Worth, TX
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Tilt, Emma Pattee
    Marysue Rucci Books, 9781668055472, March 4, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Tilt is a desperate, undeniably beautiful novel about disappointment and promise and the cataclysmic shift of childbirth. Part Lydia Kiesling, part Lydia Millet, entirely poignant and timely — Emma Pattee’s debut novel is the cli-fi motherhood book we’ve been waiting for.”

    —Austin Carter, Pocket Books Shop, Lancaster, PA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • 33 Place Brugmann, Alice Austen
    Grove Press, 9780802164087, March 11, 2025 (Fiction)

    “33 Place Brugmann is a masterpiece. A kaleidoscopic story about residents in a Belgium apartment complex leading up to and during World War II. Alice Austen depicts humanity through the lens of art and philosophy, and reminds the reader that times of crisis and trauma reveal both the depravity and the bravery of man. An absolute triumph.”

    —Jessica Nock, Main Street Books, Davidson, NC
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • The Sea Gives Up the Dead: Stories, Molly Molly Olguín
    Red Hen Press, 9781636282718, April 29, 2025 (Fiction)

    “The Sea Gives Up the Dead offers readers a delectable assortment of fantastical, queer, wildly inventive stories with much to say about the intersections of gender and race. If you’ve been looking for a jewel box of tales a la Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber, then this is for you!”

    —Austin Carter, Pocket Books Shop, Lancaster, PA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • The Original Daughter, Jemimah Wei
    Doubleday, 9780385551014, May 6, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Family failures, both real and perceived, have a lasting impact on our lives. Full of pain and betrayal, anger and resignation, and ultimately love, The Original Daughter is a wonderful debut about reconciling all of these before it’s too late. I absolutely loved it!”

    —Randy Schiller, Left Bank Books, St. Louis, MO
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Great Black Hope, Rob Franklin
    Summit Books, 9781668077436, June 3, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Great Black Hope is a confident, original debut that provides a nuanced look at an intersection of race, privilege, and addiction that is rarely explored. Set in New York City, the novel follows Smith, a young Black man arrested for cocaine possession whose sense of self is at odds with how he is perceived by the world. A must-read.”

    —Sophie Chen, Belmont Books, Belmont, MA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • When the Cranes Fly South, Lisa Ridzén
    Vintage, 9798217006731, August 5, 2025 (Fiction)

    “Such a moving look at one man’s life as he reaches the end. It is about reconciliation, power to maintain control over one’s life, regrets, how we see ourselves in the end and how others see us. So touching, so emotional in subtle and profound ways.”

    —Kim Brock, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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Middle Grade

  • Kaya of the Ocean, Gloria L. Huang
    Holiday House, 9780823457885, January 7, 2025 (Middle Grade)

    “Kaya of the Ocean is an absolutely gorgeous story, shining a light on the very real struggles of growing up and feeling like you are different. With incredibly heartfelt writing and a vivid setting, Kaya’s story can help young people that struggle with anxiety feel seen and heard.”

    —Jonathan Pope, Prologue Bookshop, Columbus, OH
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum, Alasdair Beckett-King
    Candlewick Press, 9781536241662/9781536241679, February 11, 2025 (Middle Grade)

    “Where was this book when I was young? I loved Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and later Agatha Christie. Montgomery Bonbon has it all. Quirky, smart, characters and laugh out-loud-funny schemes. Bonnie Montgomery and her grandfather are never seen with Montgomery Bonbon, yet they work so well together. This fun new series is the perfect fodder for inspiring kids to do great things. Fun, imaginative, and downright silly. This will turn the most reluctant reader into a super sleuth, and parents will jump right in the story too.”

    —Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Whale Eyes, James Robinson, Brian Rea (Illus.)
    Penguin Workshop, 9780593523957, March 18, 2025 (Middle Grade)

    “With heart and humor, James Robinson shares his story of learning to live with a vision disability. In this illustrated memoir, he invites readers to visualize his point of view with honest anecdotes and interesting, interactive images that truly make his words sing.”

    —Claire Margetts, Weller Book Works, Salt Lake City, UT
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Ollie in Between, Jess Callans
    Feiwel & Friends, 9781250331342, April 8, 2025 (Middle Grade)

    “Hand this to any kid who’s experienced or will experience puberty, any kid who’s navigating their gender, any who’ve endured shifting friendships, and to any kid who’s so much braver than they realize. (That is, hand this to any kid!) I was certain by the end of the second page that I’d love Ollie, and I was absolutely correct. A fierce, honest, and moving addition to queer middle grade fiction collections everywhere.”

    —Tanvi Rastogi, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, IA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • The Queen Bees of Tybee County, Kyle Casey Chu
    Quill Tree Books, 9780063326958, April 15, 2025 (Middle Grade)

    “A truly authentic story with characters who come alive. Young readers will recognize their fears, worries, questions, hopes, dreams, confusion, and courage. Kyle Casey Chu does a miraculous job showcasing the importance of equality and open-mindedness, as well as fabrics and sequins and being fierce!”

    —Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill, Buttonwood Books & Toys, Cohassett, MA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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Young Adult

  • Mystery Royale, Kaitlyn Cavalancia
    Hyperion, 9781368099080, January 7, 2025 (Young Adult)

    “A mysterious and perilous game is afoot at the Stoutmire Estate as seven candidates gather to determine the inheritor of a magical legacy. Sharp-edged characters inhabit a labyrinth of curious rooms, seeking the answer to a strange riddle: What does death fear? This atmospheric mystery was brimming with red herrings and conspiracies, all shrouded in a sinister fae mist; perfect for fans of Holly Black and Melissa Albert. If you’ve ever wanted to smash Knives Out with Labyrinth, this book is for you!”

    —Jessica Hahl, Books Inc., San Leandro, CA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • Honeysuckle and Bone, Trisha Tobias
    Sweet July Books, 9781638931027, January 14, 2025 (Young Adult)

    “Don't let the duppy get you…Honeysuckle and Bone transports you to the canicular heat of Jamaica as the secrets heat up with each turning page. Tobias tactically uses this evocative horror to pay homage to the rich oral history that is Caribbean folklore. From the secrets to the lies, you’ll feel like our main character, Carina, eavesdropping behind every wall.”

    —Morgan Haywood-Joy, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • All the Noise at Once, DeAndra Davis
    Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665952651, April 15, 2025 (Young Adult)

    “All the Noise at Once is a captivating read about Aiden — a Black, autistic teen — and his love of football, his struggle with identity, and his fight against injustice after a jarring experience with the police. I cheered Aiden on to the very end.”

    —Kalli King, Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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  • One of the Boys, Victoria Zeller
    Levine Querido, 97816461450270, May 13, 2025 (Young Adult)

    “In this tale of acceptance and redemption, Zeller tethers us to our main character Grace, who finds herself shunned by her former football teammates and the sport she loved when she transitions. When things don’t go as planned for the team, they realize exactly what they’re missing and beg for Grace’s return. How much and what parts of Grace is she willing to give up to be ‘one of the boys’ again, or will she realize showing ‘grace’ to the ones who turned their back on her is a bigger feat than expected?”

    —Morgan Haywood-Joy, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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Young Adult Non-Fiction

  • Trans History: A Graphic Novel, Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
    Candlewick Press, 9781536219234, May 13, 2025 (Young Adult Non-Fiction)

    “Trans History: A Graphic Novel pulls off the miraculous by presenting an overview of transgender history that manages to be both comprehensive and concise. There’s so much to discover in this compendium, so many launch points for those itching to learn more about a particular aspect of trans history that it’ll almost certainly be referenced again and again by readers. Accessible, beautifully illustrated, and necessary.”

    —Tanvi Rastogi, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, IA
    Additional blurb(s) available here

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