You’ll Spring Into Action With These New Books Hitting Shelves

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Just take on that ever-growing TBR list step by step.

Lots of exciting new books are coming out in the next few months! Many are from popular authors, especially those loved on BookTok. For example, Carley Fortune is releasing her fifth book in just five years.

In her new novel, Our Perfect Storm, releasing May 7th, author switches her typical Greater Toronto and Muskoka/Prince Edward Island settings for the beautiful Vancouver Island. The story follows Frankie, who, after being unexpectedly dumped right before her wedding, decides to take her planned honeymoon to Tofino with her long-time friend George. Over the course of a week, they must either mend their strained friendship or confront the issues that have been causing problems for years.

This book offers a fresh take inspired by Little Women, exploring the age-old question of whether Jo and Laurie were truly a bad match for each other.

If you enjoy non-fiction, Patrick Radden Keefe has a new book you won’t want to miss. “London Falling,” which comes out April 7th, began as an article in The New Yorker and investigates the puzzling death of British teenager Zac Brettler. In the months before his death in 2019, Brettler was strangely pretending to be the son of a wealthy Russian businessman.

Keefe describes how Zac’s parents tried to understand what caused this tragic event and sought justice. He also reveals the larger financial world that enabled Zac’s obsession to grow, and the questionable people Zac became involved with.

If the mention of “Step by Step” brought back memories of New Kids on the Block, you’ll love Emma Straub’s new book, American Fantasy, coming out April 7th. It tells the story of a divorced woman who goes on a cruise with the popular boy band she adored as a teenager. Emma Straub, who also owns the bookstore Books Are Magic, made sure to portray the experience of being a fan with a lot of thoughtfulness and detail.

In an interview with TopMob, the author explained that she wanted to avoid criticizing the way fans connect with their interests. She realized, like her character Annie, that those early passions – whether for boy bands or anything else – stay with you for life.

For more new books you may just love forever, keep reading…

Release: March 10

T Kira Madden’s book opens with Birdie escaping to the isolated island of Whidbey, near Seattle, hoping to leave a painful past behind – specifically, the childhood abuse she suffered at the hands of Calvin Boyer. But her plans are disrupted when she learns Calvin has been murdered. The story then unfolds through the eyes of three characters: Birdie, Linzie – another survivor who publicly shared her story in a successful book – and Calvin’s mother, Mary-Beth, who remains fiercely loyal to him.

The author of Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls, Whidbey, makes her fiction debut with a novel that isn’t always easy to read, but is handled with remarkable sensitivity. The result is a thought-provoking and powerful story.

Judy Blume has been a constant companion for generations of readers, from beloved childhood books like Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to her novels for adults such as Wifey and Summer Sisters. Now, readers will have a chance to learn about Blume’s own life, thanks to a new biography by Mark Oppenheimer. Interestingly, the writing process wasn’t without conflict, as the author and subject reportedly disagreed during the book’s creation.

Published on March 31st, the latest novel from beloved thriller writer Tana French continues the story of Cal Hooper. Known for her gripping and unpredictable plots since her debut, In the Woods, French returns with what she suggests will be Hooper’s last case: investigating a young woman’s death in his quiet Irish town. The investigation stirs up deeply rooted conflicts within the community, bringing long-held tensions to the surface.

Natalie Heller Mills appears to have it all: a loving husband, beautifully homeschooled children, and a picturesque farm that’s perfect for Instagram. She presents an image of traditional family life to her many followers. But her carefully crafted online persona is turned upside down when she suddenly finds herself transported back to 1805, with no memory of how she arrived and no idea how to return. This novel follows Natalie’s journey through both her modern rise to social media fame and her struggles to survive in the past, creating a fast-paced and surprising story about the world of “tradwife” influencers.

Radden Keefe’s article in The New Yorker, published on April 7, 2024, explores the tragic story of Zac Brettler, a British teenager who lived a double life pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch. Given Keefe’s reputation as the author of acclaimed books like Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, readers might have wondered if there was anything new to uncover. However, Keefe delivers a compelling and honest look at the dangerous world of wealth and influence that Zac became involved in, and the tireless efforts of his family to understand the circumstances surrounding his death in 2019.

Charlie Jones starts a new job managing a farm shop on a remote island, only to discover another person with the exact same name has also been hired! Both are hoping for a fresh start, but the owners can’t decide which Charlie is the right fit. They come up with a solution: both Charlies will manage the shop for a few months, and whoever does the better job will get to keep it. As they compete to prove themselves, they begin to realize they have more in common than just a name.

Coming April 7th, “Rainy March” introduces a book witch with a unique power: she can enter the worlds of books to repair damage and alterations. Book witches have one rule, though – they can’t stay inside a book for very long. When Rainy’s grandfather and a treasured book disappear, she teams up with the fictional detective, the Duke of Chicago, and travels through classic novels to find him. Along the way, she uncovers hidden family secrets and begins to develop feelings for the Duke.

Coming April 7th, Emma Straub’s new book offers a charming look at fandom. It follows Annie, a 50-year-old divorced woman, on a cruise celebrating Boy Talk, the boy band she loved as a teenager. The book honestly explores themes of aging, celebrity, and the impact of pop culture on our lives, all while celebrating the passion of dedicated fans.

Honestly, what really gets me about this book is how Straub just nails that feeling of being completely obsessed with a boy band. It doesn’t even matter which one—she perfectly captures that magical, teenage feeling, looking at everything through the eyes of Annie, Keith, and even a cruise ship employee named Sarah. It’s not about the specific band you loved, it’s about that feeling, and she gets it so right, it feels like it could be about any of them, forever.

Let’s talk about navigating heartbreak and finding your footing again. Picture this: your ex takes your relationship and turns it into a wildly popular graphic novel, launching him to internet stardom. That’s exactly what’s happening to Cherry, and she’s trying to rebuild her life after everything fell apart. Thankfully, she reconnects with someone from her past, Russ, who might just be the fresh start she needs to heal and move forward. It’s a story about picking up the pieces, rediscovering yourself, and opening up to new possibilities, even after a painful experience.

Coming April 21st, “The Caretaker” offers a spring scare from the author of “We Used to Live Here.” Macy, needing a job, takes on a three-day caretaking position at a property in the Pacific Northwest, even though she senses something isn’t right. It doesn’t take long for her to realize something is seriously wrong.

Released on April 21st, this novel takes us back to 2007 Brooklyn, where Alicia Canales has returned to her neighborhood in Fort Greene and is starting a new phase of her life. She finds herself drawn into the orbit of a captivating, enigmatic artist who’s known for throwing incredible parties. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing neighborhood and the looming financial crisis, Xochitl Gonzalez delivers another compelling story.

Released on May 5th, this story follows John-Calum as he returns to his close-knit, religious community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, after struggling in Edinburgh. His father, John, is a highly respected figure there, but his grandmother, Ella, who was born in Glasgow, has always been seen as an outsider. Back home, Cal is trying to hide his sexuality while dealing with a difficult relationship with his father, which is filled with a mix of love, frustration, and occasional outbursts of anger.

Despite their differences, the core connection between the characters is what they both avoid recognizing. The story is a powerful and honest look at father-son relationships, the weight of the past, and the challenges of growing up gay in 1990s Scotland, further establishing Douglas Stuart as an essential author.

Scheduled for release on May 5th, this story follows Frankie, who receives a shocking note from her fiancé canceling their wedding just one day before the ceremony. Determined to still take her prepaid honeymoon, she heads to the peaceful rainforests of Tofino, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. She’s joined by her childhood friend, George, who agrees to come along somewhat reluctantly. The trip gives them a chance to reconnect after years of drifting apart—and perhaps even discover a romantic connection.

Premiering on May 5th, this story begins with the arrival of American actress Monica Logue in Derry, Northern Ireland. She’s there to prepare for a new TV show about The Troubles, but she quickly goes missing. Her disappearance becomes the talk of the town, sparking rumors and theories. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of various people connected to the show and the historical events it portrays, all while the show’s stressed screenwriter struggles to finish the scripts.

This film is a moving and often humorous look at how The Troubles continue to affect Northern Ireland, and the strange feeling of seeing a difficult past turned into a tourist attraction.

Coming May 19th, the author of the popular Hollywood Renaissance series returns with a new novel. This time, the story follows screenwriter Verity, who must work with the composer who once broke her heart. They’re collaborating on a film about the Harlem Renaissance, and the project could be a turning point in both of their careers. As they create the story and music, they might also have to confront their shared history and find a way to move forward.

Released on May 26th, this new book from historian Hugh Ryan follows up on his acclaimed work, When Brooklyn Was Queer. It’s a candid account of his personal journey as a queer person during the 1990s and early 2000s. Ryan blends his own experiences – from early internet chatrooms to navigating the nightclub scene as a student – with a thoughtful examination of what it meant to come of age during the Y2K scare and the rise of the internet. The result is a compelling and unfiltered look at a complicated time.

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2026-04-05 13:18