Boots Riley wants to 'compel and repel' you

In 'Pemi Aguda's stunning 2026 debut, Yosoye, a lonely young woman starting an internship at a prestigious architectural firm in Lagos, discovers she is pregnant just as pregnant women across the city begin mysteriously drowning themselves in open waters. As her firm pushes forward with Omi City—a luxury development on reclaimed ocean land—protests erupt over class divides, and Yosoye is haunted by a supernatural presence threatening her unborn child and dreams of connection. Blending horror, lyrical prose, and themes of motherhood, loneliness, belonging, and the perils of unchecked progress, the novel delivers a fast-paced, reflective thriller that lingers long after the final page.

'Pemi Aguda's Ghostroots explores parallel worlds collapsing into one another in Lagos, Nigeria, where everyday life—births, markets, family talks—is infused with spectral horror and ancestral hauntings. Stories like 'Manifest' depict a woman possessed by her abusive grandmother's spirit, 'Breastmilk' follows a new mother's eerie lactation failure, and 'The Hollow' reveals a vengeful house hiding generational secrets. The collection masterfully blends literary horror with emotional depth, examining lineage, identity, and the inescapable pull of the past.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout's new novel follows Artie, a teacher plagued by isolation despite his outwardly normal life on the Massachusetts coast. A chance incident reveals a devastating secret that upends his world, forcing him to reassess his closest relationships and grapple with grief, friendship, parenthood, and unspoken truths. With exquisite prose, Strout explores human frailty, the reverberations of past events, and the sustaining power of love and understanding.

Published in 1987, 'Beloved' is a work of historical fiction that delves into the aftermath of the American Civil War. The novel centers around Sethe, a Black woman who escaped from slavery in Kentucky and now lives in Ohio. However, her life is haunted by the ghost of her two-year-old daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being taken back into slavery. The story is deeply intertwined with themes of mother-daughter relationships, the power of family and community, and the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and society. The novel introduces a mysterious figure named Beloved, who is the physical manifestation of Sethe's murdered daughter, and explores how this presence disrupts and ultimately transforms the lives of Sethe and her surviving daughter, Denver. Through a complex narrative that includes flashbacks, stream-of-consciousness monologues, and multiple voices, Morrison examines the trauma and resilience of those affected by slavery.