New Releases and More for March 24, 2026

The Mercies is Kiran Millwood Hargrave's debut novel for adults, set in Norway at the beginning of the 17th century. Inspired by Louise Bourgeois' installation piece 'The Damned, the Possessed and the Beloved,' which commemorates the 1621 execution of 91 people for witchcraft on the Norwegian island of Vardø, the novel explores the true historical events behind this tragedy. The book debuted at number 1 on The Times Bestseller Chart and number 5 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List, was named an NYT Notable Book of the Year, and won a Betty Trask Award.

In her adult debut, NYT-bestselling YA author Karen M. McManus delivers Dying to Be Us, a gripping story centered on former college friends whose lives remain intertwined due to a murder from their past. Acquired in a major seven-figure, two-book deal, the book is set for publication in 2027.

From the bestselling author of Strange Houses and Strange Pictures comes Strange Buildings, the second or third installment in the Strange series, presenting eleven haunting cases involving unusual deaths, cults, child murderers, and bizarre architecture. Through interviews, journal entries, and analyses by a Sherlock-like draughtsman named Kurihara, the stories reveal a monstrous pattern of human horror embedded in design and silence. While praised for its addictive riddles and creepy atmosphere, some critics note the mystery as convoluted and the narrative as the weakest in the series.

Amal El-Mohtar's collection gathers her acclaimed short fiction into a suite of modern fairy tales that revisit and transform old motifs. The stories emphasize emotional complexity, intimate character work, and lyrical prose, often reframing familiar legends through queer and melancholic lenses. Several award-winning pieces are included, showcasing her range from quiet, elegiac tales to sharper, uncanny fables. The collection highlights how mythic frameworks can illuminate contemporary desires, griefs, and acts of resistance. El-Mohtar's writing is noted for its precision, musical sentencecraft, and the way small moments accrue into profound emotional effects.

In 'Wolfworm', T. Kingfisher returns to atmospheric horror with a late-19th-century setting where an artist-illustrator takes a position at a reclusive entomologist's estate. As strange animal behavior and grotesque insect phenomena escalate, the protagonist confronts unnerving discoveries tied to the estate's past and the previous illustrator's disappearance. The novel foregrounds vivid, sometimes visceral descriptions of bugs and nature, blending scientific curiosity with creeping dread. Kingfisher's background in art and anthropology informs detailed sensory writing and believable depictions of entomological work. The result is a tense, unsettling tale that balances character-driven interior anxieties with body-horror elements.

Andy Stevenson's 'Scarlet Morning' is a middle-grade fantasy notable for its fast-paced plotting and adventurous tone, designed to keep young readers engaged. The book follows youthful protagonists through a vividly imagined fantasy world with high stakes and little downtime. Stevenson's background in comics and animation informs dynamic scene construction and strong visual imagery. The novel concludes on a cliffhanger, suggesting an ongoing series or continuation. Its appeal rests on energetic storytelling, relatable young characters, and imaginative worldbuilding.

Roland Orzabal's memoir offers an insider's look at the creation and cultural life of Tears for Fears, recounting formative moments, songwriting, and the personal histories behind their music. The book blends anecdotes about touring, recording, and industry experience with reflections on artistic collaboration and public reception. Orzabal situates the band's work in broader cultural moments, offering perspective on songs like 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' and their enduring resonance. The memoir speaks to fans and readers interested in music history, creativity, and the challenges of sustaining a long career. It balances nostalgia with candid assessments of success and personal cost.

Karen Millwood Hargrave's 'Almost Life' traces an intense summer affair between two women in Paris and the subsequent decades marked by marriage, children, and secret meetings. The narrative examines how choices shape identity and the small alternate paths—'almost lives'—that haunt people's decisions. By moving through time, the novel explores regret, longing, and the possibility of rekindled connection later in life. Hargrave's prose often attends to moral complexity and the quiet pressure of societal expectations on intimate relationships. The book meditates on the tension between duty and desire and how love persists in altered forms over years.

Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s memoir, "Colored People," offers a deeply personal and insightful account of his upbringing in Piedmont, West Virginia, during the era of segregation. The book explores his experiences navigating a racially divided society, highlighting the complexities of race relations and the resilience of the African American community. Gates recounts his childhood friendships, his family's history, and the challenges and triumphs he faced growing up in a small, predominantly white town. The narrative weaves together personal anecdotes with broader social commentary, providing a rich tapestry of life in the American South. The book's intimate portrayal of family life and community dynamics offers a powerful testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

Shelley Page's YA novel follows Monroe Bennett, a junior recruit at a supernatural Bureau who must contain a runaway love charm at her high school. Balancing duty, romantic tension, and the pressures of proving herself to senior staff, Monroe becomes entangled in a fake-dating setup with her boss's daughter that complicates her assignment. The book combines paranormal worldbuilding, agency politics, and coming-of-age emotional stakes with lighthearted romantic tropes. Themes include responsibility, identity, and the messy consequences of magic intersecting with teenage life. The tone mixes charm and humor with the heat of sapphic attraction and institutional expectations.

Nivo's 'Scarlet Ball' centers on a woman hired to take the place of a missing socialite at a supernatural ball where marriage to a demon confers power or death. The plot explores themes of performance, survival, and the moral compromises of seeking influence in a magical society. The narrative promises intrigue, high-stakes romance, and a blend of courtly and demonic worldbuilding. With stakes that include literal consumption by a rejected demon, the book leans into dark, fantastical tension and scheming social structures. It appears positioned as the start of a series or standalone with sequel potential.

Hemlock & Silver is a dark reimagining of Snow White steeped in poison, intrigue, and magic. The story follows Anja, a skilled 35-year-old healer and poison expert who regularly experiments with poisons and their antidotes. When the king arrives at her workshop asking her to save his daughter Snow from a mysterious illness, Anja embarks on a quest that leads her to discover a secret world hidden inside a magic mirror. The novel blends elements of fairytale fantasy, portal fantasy, and dark humor, told from the refreshingly unconventional perspective of a blunt, headstrong, plus-size protagonist.

This book explores the complexities of infidelity and its impact on relationships. It provides insights into the emotional and psychological dynamics of affairs, helping individuals and couples understand the underlying causes and consequences. The book offers guidance on navigating the aftermath of an affair, fostering healing, and rebuilding trust. It emphasizes the importance of communication, empathy, and forgiveness in repairing damaged relationships. It also provides practical strategies for preventing future infidelity.

In 'Light and Thread', Nobel laureate Han Kang collects essays, poems, diary fragments, and visual elements to meditate on creativity, perception, and connection. The pieces consider how moments of wonder and the act of writing bind individuals and readers, often returning to the motif of a golden thread linking disparate experiences. The volume includes her Nobel lecture and earlier writings that illuminate her literary preoccupations with embodiment, memory, and ethical attention. Han Kang's style in nonfiction retains her evocative, elliptical prose, blending philosophical reflection with intimate anecdote. The collection offers readers insight into her artistic process and the small luminous moments that shape narrative and meaning.

string

In Black Out Loud, Jeff Bennett explores the historical arc of Black comedy in America, from early minstrelsy and mid-century pioneers to the flourishing of 1990s sitcoms and sketch shows. The book examines how performers and creators used humor to address race, class, gender, and politics while expanding representation on television. Through interviews with comedians, actors, and producers, it contextualizes the creative and commercial forces that made shows like In Living Color, Living Single, and The Fresh Prince culturally significant. Bennett situates the 1990s moment within a longer lineage of Black performers who negotiated industry constraints to reshape popular entertainment. The work highlights the importance of cultural memory and argues that these shows transformed public perceptions and opened pathways for new storytellers.

Rae Lynn Barnes's 'Darkology' examines how blackface minstrelsy became a foundational American entertainment form that shaped music, comedy, and politics from the 19th through the 20th centuries. The book traces institutionalization of these practices—in schools, the military, civic clubs, and federal programs—and explains how catchy songs and routines taught white supremacy across generations. Barnes connects historical spectacle and hoax-driven media practices (exemplified by P.T. Barnum) to modern political showmanship and racist tropes. She also foregrounds Black resistance, profiling figures and movements that fought to remove minstrelsy from public life and reclaim dignified representation. Ultimately, the book argues that confronting this censored cultural past is essential to understanding and strengthening American democracy.

No description available.

Alex Partridge shares his journey living with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), an emotional dysregulation affecting many with ADHD, from his entrepreneurial successes with UniLad and LadBible to personal relationships and mental health struggles. He offers practical steps informed by top ADHD experts to rebuild boundaries, confidence, and self-belief, reassuring readers they are not 'too sensitive' or broken but always enough.

In How Flowers Made Our World, David George Haskell delves into the profound influence of flowering plants, revealing how they have shaped ecosystems, evolution, and human life through their innovative biology and beauty. Drawing on his expertise as a biologist and poet, Haskell illuminates the story of these 'nature's revolutionaries' from their origins to their role in modern biodiversity and sensory experiences.

Louise Erdrich's 'Python's Kiss' is a collection of short stories published after a long career of novels and other works; the pieces were written over approximately two decades. The book includes stories that range in tone and genre, including ghostly tales and speculative or near-future pieces, reflecting Erdrich's interest in the boundaries between the ordinary and the uncanny. Many stories arose from fragments and notebooks, sometimes taking years to complete, and showcase her characteristic focus on family, memory, Indigenous life, and moral complexity. The collection demonstrates Erdrich's patience with form and her willingness to let stories evolve outside strict authorial control. It adds to her body of work that often blends lyrical prose with attention to cultural and historical specificity.

No description available.