Welcome back to another edition of 'The Book Briefing', your weekly round-up of all the latest news from the world of books! This week, we've got the surprising Booker Prize winner for 2026, boat loads of book cover reveals and announcements and more. Settle in for your bookish updates!
The End of Everything takes out The 2026 Booker Prize in surprise win!
Announced earlier this morning, M. John Harrison’s post-apocalyptic novel about a man making his living at the tideline took home The Booker Prize for 2026. It surprised people who had their bets on Marlon James or Douglas Stuart taking home their second Booker Prize awards, but chair of the judges, Mary Beard, said about the choice that “[The End of Everything is] a book that turns you upside down, raises a wry smile — and surprisingly, given the subject matter, leaves you with a twinge of optimism."
The new Emily Henry cover is a gorgeous departure from her trademark
A burned-out screenwriter, a fellow movie writer, and a sweet rescue dog = all the ingredients of the seventh Emily Henry romance that we have no doubt will be sweeping us all off our feet. Modern Classic is releasing in April next year, and Emily says that this was her burnout book, about the fantasy of leaving your life when you’re overwhelmed. The cover (very different from Henry’s six other novels so far) was designed to carefully balance the idea of a literary book club novel and a romantic comedy. Designed by Sandra Chiu, we think the Hollywood movie-inspired cover is absolutely gorgeous.
First headlining authors for the 2027 Auckland Writers Festival announced
The first headlining authors for the 2027 Auckland Writers Festival Schools Programme have been announced, which includes incredible authors Chloe Gong, Joseph Coelho, A. F. Steadman, and Aki Fukuoka. After historic ticket records from the 2026 Auckland Writers Festival, we can’t wait to see what else they have planned for 2027, and hopefully get tickets to these authors when they announce the programme for adults too!
New Freida McFadden thriller revealed with ‘The Sleepwalker’
The next psychological thriller from Freida McFadden is coming out next year in March, and we can’t wait to once again let her plot twists take us for an absolute ride. The Sleepwalker is about a nurse struggling with severe sleepwalking and bodies surfacing that she has no memory of killing. It’s about secrets and obsessions, and the justifications we make.
Follow up to popular murder mystery logic puzzle announced
The follow-up to the hugely popular puzzle book from Iris Starling, The Killer Isn’t Alice, has been announced for release next year and is available for pre-order. The Killer Isn’t Beth is about Beth, a woman on trial for the poisoning of 11 victims, and she needs your help with uncovering the truth. These books are addictive and unlike anything else, perfect if you’re into solving clues and losing yourself in a puzzle.
Rachel King has been nominated for one of the UK’s best-loved children’s book awards
Rachel King, Kiwi author of the children’s series Violet and the Velvets, has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing 2027 with her YA folk-fantasy book Song of the Saltings. The Carnegies are the longest-running children’s book award in the UK, and it’s so exciting to have a local author recognized internationally for her incredible storytelling. Margaret Mahy is another NZ author who won the award back in the 1980s.
New standalone romantasy announced from queen of the slow burn, Brigette Knightly
From the author of the popular enemies-to-lovers Dramione-inspired duology, Dearly Beloved, comes a brand new standalone story called Hedge Witch. Highly anticipated, this novel is scheduled for release in 2027 and is about a head-to-head clash between a witch and a witch hunter. We’ll read anything Knightley writes, but this one sounds spectacular.
Rachel Gillig announces an upcoming Stonewater novella all about Bartholomew!
We all fell in love with Bartholomew in The Knight and the Moth and The Knave and the Moon books from the queen of gothic fantasy, Rachel Gillig, so to hear we have a novella focused on him 100 years after the events of the Stonewater duology is an unexpected delight. Arriving in March next year, The Sprite and the Gargoyle has us wondering if we will see more in the Stonewater Kingdom.
A beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation is coming for The Summer I Turned Pretty
After its huge success on Prime with a series adaptation, it’s no surprise to see that the latest book to graphic novel adaptation is Jenny Han’s YA love story, The Summer I Turned Pretty. The story is being adapted by both Jenny Han and illustrator Sara Faber. We are so excited to see a new group of readers get introduced to Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad - and to return to Cousin’s Beach ourselves!
The next novel announced for Kiwi domestic thriller author Rachel Paris!
The author of See How They Fall from 2025 is back with another psychological thriller set in a clifftop mansion in Sydney. Rachel Paris’ Not That Kind of Family is about a high-profile family and the dark secrets surrounding a murder, bound to be another hard-to-put-down book perfect for picking up to devour over one weekend. The book releases in March next year, published by Moa Press.
The sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s The Tempest is coming!
Tyrant has been announced, Book Two of the Lyrian Sea duology by Victoria Aveyard, which started with the recent release, Tempest. Scheduled for release next year, Tyrant will continue the saga of Cat Rose, Valerian Kane, and Jasper Fell and will conclude the stunning fantasy duology set on the high seas and full of adventure.
Alice Osemon is sharing one last Heartstopper collection with The Mini-Comics!
In case you, like us, live in fear of a world where there’s no new Nick and Charlie, Alice shared good news with her upcoming Mini-Comics collection coming out in just under a year and packed with some of the online mini-comics as well as exclusive new stories of Nick and Charlie in full color. We can’t wait for the Regency version of our favorite couple, which Alice hinted might be included. Think Bridgerton but Heartstopper?! Sold.
You can no longer buy Sally Rooney books in the UK
The Irish novelist behind bestselling books like Normal People and Intermezzo has had all her books withdrawn by her UK publisher, Faber, from sale in the United Kingdom. After publicly pledging her book royalties to the pro-Palestine direct action group Palestine Action, Sally Rooney acknowledged that further publication of her books could be considered a “serious criminal offence” as the group has been proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK. This means that books currently in stores can be sold, but no new copies will be supplied to UK retailers leading to a massive jump in sales of her books both within the UK and also for online retailers in Ireland.
Cover and synopsis revealed for upcoming historical horror from Joe Hill
Scheduled for publication in June 2027, Hunger is the upcoming historical horror novel from Joe Hill, the American author of the bestselling King Sorrow (and son of Stephen King!). Hunger is set during winter 1776 and takes place in Boston during the American Revolutionary War, where a ravenous ghost is feeding on trapped colonists. With his signature blend of haunting atmosphere and compelling characters, Hunger promises to be a gripping read that will keep us on the edge of our seats until the very last page.
That's all for this book briefing! For more bookish news, new releases, staff picks and plenty more from all the team at Book Hero, follow us on Instagram at @bookheronz and check back here on our blog as we post regularly!
