This summer, BookSwell is bringing back Read Local SoCal — our spotlight on books by authors writing about our own backyard. Each month, we feature one book with a discussion guide, reading recs, and ways to dig in together. Think of it as a book club you can join from anywhere.
For August, we want you to choose the featured book. Vote below on one of four incredible 2026 releases with connections to Southern California.
Cast your vote: [The poll is closed.]
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You can also email us at contact@bookswell.club with your suggestion.
Orbital Bebop
Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett
A daring collection of speculative stories set from the Moon to the edge of the solar system and back again with queer people of color at the center. Romance, memory, and desire collide with billionaire overlords and fractured futures. Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett is an award-winning author and activist. His debut Dark Corners was named Best Indie Fiction of 2019 by Kirkus.
My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser
Jamie Jo Hoang
Told in dual POV, this gripping companion piece to My Father, the Panda Killer, follows a teenage son who defies his sister’s wishes by searching for more information about their absent mother. Meanwhile, his mother’s poignant backstory reveals her struggle with grief and longing, culminating in her heart-wrenching decision to leave her children. Jamie Jo Hoang grew up in Orange County as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees. An LA Times Book Prizes finalist.
The Killing Spell
Shay Kauwe
In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name. Shay Kauwe was born and raised on the island of O’ahu and grew up on the Hawaiian Homelands in Waimanalo.
Nerve Damage
Annakeara Stinson
A riotous revenge novel about a woman’s quest to escape her stalker ex-boyfriend—by stalking him herself. ANNAKEARA STINSON is a writer whose work has appeared in Bustle, Brooklyn Magazine, The Inquisitive Eater, IndieWire, Paste, Marie Claire, and more. She has an M.F.A. in fiction from The New School and currently lives in L.A.
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