News and Reviews

MISSISSIPPI CLARION-LEDGER

“Debut novel contains themes of encroachment, persistence,” Matthew Guinn, July 14, 2026

SOUTHERN REVIEW OF BOOKS

“Loss Shapes the Characters in Should the Waters Take Us,” July 14, 2026

FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE

“Surviving an Oil Spill in Louisiana, and More New Fiction for July,” July 10, 2026

KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Twenty Best Books to Read in July”

INDIE NEXT: BOOKSELLERS RECOMMEND

Should the Waters Take Us makes the Indie Next list for July

AMAZON EDITORS’ PICKS

Handpicked Reads from Amazon’s Book Editors: Best Books of July

KIRKUS REVIEWS

“20 Best Books to Read in July”

SOUTHERN LIVING

“8 New Books Everyone Will be Talking About This July”

NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE

“Book Club: Pride and Place, a Louisiana Love Affair”

GARDEN & GUN

“Bayou Culture Bewitches in Stephanie Soileau’s Louisiana Literary Triumph” (June/July 2026)

KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Starred Review. Should the Waters Take Us: ‘A gorgeous meditation on the forces that create and destroy communities, families, and lives.’”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“Starred Review: Should the Waters Take Us”

BOOKLIST

“Starred Review: Should the Waters Take Us”

BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES

“Haguillory” chosen for Best American Short Stories: 2021, ed. Jesmyn Ward

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“5 new works of fiction by Chicago authors,” August 18, 2020

SOUTHERN REVIEW OF BOOKS

“Soileau’s Longing, Hopeful Inhabitants of Southwestern Louisiana in Last One Out Shut Off the Lights,” July 13, 2020

SIERRA CLUB

“Life in the Shadow of the Oil Economy: Stephanie Soileau’s short stories create an intimate tableau of southwest Louisiana,” July 9, 2020

SOUTHERN REVIEW OF BOOKS

“The Best Southern Books of July 2020,” July 6, 2020

BOOKLIST

“Starred Review: Last One Out Shut Off the Lights,”June 1, 2020

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“Last One Out Shut Off the Lights: Review,” June 2020

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“Summer 2020 book preview: Books to read in our Chicago quarantine,” May 24, 2020

LIT HUB

“Most Anticipated Books of 2020,” January 2020