Welcome to this week's Book Briefing where we round up the news for the week!
A Return to ‘The Whale Rider’ is coming next month
Witi Ihimaera Smiler is taking us back to the world of ‘The Whale Rider’, almost 30 years after it’s release, with a brand new novel titled ‘The Star Path’ that is expected to release next month. The story follows a teenager who is on an epic adventure, voyaging across the South Pacific to Antarctica. A breathtaking novel about myth and reality, past and present, we cannot wait to dive back into this realm and discover what will no doubt become another Aotearoa classic.
Obama’s Summer Reading List is out
Each year we wait for President Obama to release his Summer Reads list, and 2026 is full of gems like ‘Kin’ by Tayari Jones, Booker Prize nominated ‘The Things We Never Say’ by Elizabeth Strout, ‘Cool Machine’ by Colson Whitehead, and even non-fiction like ‘A World Appears’ by Michael Pollan. Always a selection of diverse voices, and thought provoking stories, that’s our next months of reading sorted!
We are excited to return to ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ again!
Sunday times bestselling author, Deborah Moggach, is back with a follow up to her much loved novel ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’. In ‘The Marigold Forver’ we return a generation later to the hotel where pensioners retire to soak up the sun, but now there are also Instagrammers everywhere, marital troubles, and ilicit affairs happening! Releasing in July and next year we can’t wait.
Suspected AI use leads to collaps in major book deal
A huge crime novel that had been sold for $2.4m in a 14-way auction in the US has been withdrawn due to possible AI use. The author to the manuscript ‘Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body’, has replied to these claims saying that he is “definitely innocent”. Unfortunately this experience is part of growing concerns about how we determine AI usage in publishing and what the response is, and demonstrates the challenge with determining how AI is involved in a manuscript.
Author of beloved ‘Aristotle and Dante’ novel passes away at 71
Celebrated Latino author, Benjamin Alire Saenz has passed away at the age of 71, leaving the many fans of his heartfelt YA novels grieving. Born in New Mexico, Saenz’s books were important for many due to their LGBTQ+ characters and his understanding of loneliness and grief. Awarded with many awards, Saenz was busy writing right up until the end with his last book ‘When the World Was Happy’ due for release later on this year.
New children’s book inspired by the little penguins of Timaru
The little penguins of Caroline Bay have not only become a popular favourite for the Timaru locals, they are now the inspiration for ‘Kahu’s Busy Day in Caroline Bay’ by Violet Lemay, a beautiful new picture book that is being published by Timaru Suburban Lions Club Charitable Trust later on this month.
Alarm over the destruction of classic novels in order to feed the AI supply chain
In a process called ‘destructive scanning’, millions of physical books are being used to train large language models. Companies like Anthropic are purchasing hundreds of thousands of used and out of print books which are then sliced and separated to be scanned, before being pulped. Booksellers and archivists are concerned about the way that rare texts are at risk of permanent disappearance.
Japanese author of 106 novels passes away
Known for his intricate mystery novels, Keigo Higashino, passed away at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer. Only a small fraction of his long list of work are currently translated into English, but almost twenty of his novels were turned into films and TV series, and he was the 13th President of Mystery Writers of Japan from 2009 to 2013. His last translated novel was ‘Guilt’.
Jeanette McCurdy announces third book!
4th Estate is publishing Jeanette McCurdy’s third book, a guided journal and goal-setting guide called ‘the examined year’. About the book Jeanette says she has designed “every piece of this journal” to help readers live her dream life, like she gets to do. Releasing in December, we can’t wait for this beautiful book - it’s going to be gorgeous.
Book Doofs are the newest activity that we need to try!
Bibliophiles in Melbourne have started a new craze and we are so on board. A Book Doof is an event that brings readers together for a reading party, a social event with perfectly selected music and even sometimes live DJs, for readers to come together and sit in silence (perfection). We can’t wait to see this all over NZ as well.
Lauren Graham and Amy Sherman-Palladino are writing a 'Gilmore Girls' book
There's more from Stars Hollow on the way, with 'Gilmore Girls' star Lauren Graham and creator Amy Sherman-Palladino teaming up to write an official behind-the-scenes book. Set for release in 2027, the book will feature personal reflections, never-before-shared stories and an inside look at how the beloved series came to life, making it a must-read for longtime fans.
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!
