The Watermark Weekly
September 12, 2026
We hope that you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend! Here at Watermark Books, our children and middle grade sections were well loved by the many families that stopped in. With all of the amazing places to visit in Beaufort, we are so grateful that you chose to spend time with us.
Kristy Woodson Harvey stopped by the store this week and graciously signed many books, including her highly anticipated Falling for Peachtree Bluff, which releases on Tuesday! Just like many of you, we are looking forward to Kristy Harvey’s “Town Takeover” on September 19th and 20th! Check out Kristy’s website (www.kristywoodsonharvey.com) and the Beaufort Historic Site (beauforthistoricsite.org) for more information.
In addition to Kristy’s new book, there are some great titles coming out next week. We know that many of you are eager to grab a copy of Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult; unfortunately, due to some shipping delays from Labor Day weekend, Hollow Bones is not in our hands yet, but we are hopeful that it will be in the store soon! In this book, Picoult does not hold her punches. With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 as a touchstone, Hollow Bones explores the deep yet sometimes toxic bond that can exist between mothers and daughters, as well as the way grief forever undulates. Emily St John Mandel, author of Station Eleven (2014) and Sea of Tranquility (2022), is releasing Exit Party. This novel follows several timelines and places–from America to Greece to Paris to the moon! It teaches us about “the price of safety” and “the perils of the surveillance state” (Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel). You can get into the fall spirit (pun intended) with B.K. Borison’s Grim Tidings—an enemies-to-lovers, simmering romance between a grumpy grim reaper and an even grumpier guardian angel.
Looking ahead, get excited for John Green’s return to fiction with Hollywood, Ending! You’ll also see authors like Rick Riordan, Hernan Diaz, Raven Kennedy, Lynn Painter, and Sarah Langan with new releases on our tables by the end of September.
Don’t forget that Lisa’s book club In the Margins is meeting on September 27th to discuss Land by Maggie O’Farrell! Our other book club, Off the Map, will meet on October 4th for All Them Dogs by Djamel White. White’s novel is on the Booker longlist; the Booker shortlist is coming out soon, so keep your eyes out! Spots are limited for both book clubs, so please click this link to sign up.
In addition to the Watermark Weekly, Lisa and Sierra will be launching their own book blogs soon! You’ll get to see what they are currently reading, a dash of literary analysis, and how the stories are impacting their lives. Check back soon!
September 1, 2026
Welcome to The Watermark Weekly! This blog will provide you with updates on new releases, bestsellers, staff picks, events, book clubs, and more. This week, we are excited to share that several major fall publications are already on our tables: The Disappearers by Marion James, which is on the Booker Long List; the gothic romantasy queen, Rachel Gillig, recently published Knave and the Moon; for Middle Grade readers, the anticipated third installment of the Impossible Creatures series has arrived. Brandon Sanderson’s Blightfall has already sold out, but there are more copies on the way.
We are very excited for next week’s publications. The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman is the September Read with Jenna’s Book Club pick! Sierra, our Assistant General Manager, recommends Victoria Aveyard’s Tempest—a slow-burn, swashbuckling pirate romantasy perfect for Beaufort. One of her favorite authors, R.F. Kuang, is releasing Taipei Story; this novel cements Kuang as a generational writer, flexible in her ability to write in several different genres, styles, and tones.
We have launched two new book clubs hosted by Lisa, our General Manager. In the Margins focuses on novels that demand conversation, while Off the Map takes you on an adventure to darker—maybe even unruly—places. Sierra is developing book clubs as well; these will be announced soon! Check out our Book Club page to RSVP for our September or October offerings.
Thanks to our staff, especially Denise, our Children’s Section is looking fabulous! We offer Board Books, an assortment of transportation and animal books (including the recently published Dragon Dog), and books with beautiful illustrations. The children’s nook now includes a beanbag chair that your kids will love!
Finally, we would like to welcome Denise and Rose to the Watermark staff! When she isn’t substitute teaching at local schools, Denise joins us and shares her expertise in children’s literature. Recently, she loved Riley Sager’s The Unknown and she is looking forward to reading Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult, releasing on September 15th. Rose is a Beaufort local and loves literature from all different genres. She is currently reading through Sarah J Maas’s work in preparation for this year’s biggest releases: A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody. And yes—you can stop by the store to preorder a copy!
