Welcome to this week's Book Briefing where we round up the news for the week!
Another busy day in the reading world with new book announcements and reveals, events happening locally (YAY) and heaps of amazing author updates. We hope you enjoy this week's round up!
Nicky Hager releases new book exposing the Taxpayers’ Union and their reach
Announced on Tuesday evening, Nicky Hager’s new investigative work of journalism is titled ‘Dirty Work’, and is another piece of essential reading in the lead up to this year’s election. An expose about the lobby group of the Taxpayers’ Union, Hager explained at his book launch that this was largely informed by insiders from TPU and National Party members, and that it is a follow up to his 2014 book, ‘Dirty Politics’.
Beloved Australian illustrator, Terry Denton, passes away at 76
Terry Denton has passed away surrounded by his family, with outpourings of love for him and his whānau across social media. Famous for his work on the Treehouse series with author Andy Griffiths, as well as many other collaborations and his own extensive collection of books, it’s a huge loss to the literary world, but his legacy of delighting adults and children with his magical sense of humour will continue to live on.
New Katherine May book announced about the hidden labour of care
Author of ‘Wintering’ and ‘Enchantment’ Katherine May is back with another gorgeous non-fiction book, ‘Tending’, being published by Faber in March 2027. This newest book is a timely exploration of connection and community and how we care for others, and receive care in return. Katherine May shared about the book that it’s “a book about care - not the sentimentalised version, but the visceral experience of keeping other bodies alive, the drive and obsession, the transcendence and exhaustion.”
Booker Prize Shortlist for 2026 has been selected!
Featuring previous Booker Prize winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart, this year’s shortlist is a strong one, and we were stoked to see Elizabeth Strout on the shortlist again with one of our team’s favourite reads of the year. Featuring a delightful range of different kinds of novels, if you haven’t yet started reading your way through the Booker novels this year, these six remarkable stories are well worth your time. Chair of the 2026 judges said about the shortlist that “This is writing at its best” with “plenty here to change the way we see the world, to surprise us and to challenge our certainties”.
Bookshop Day Penguin Figurines will be arriving a little late!
Penguin announced this week that unfortunately our tiny, adorable penguins for bookshop day are delayed at sea and won’t be here in time for Bookshop Day on October 10th! Don’t stress though - if you buy two Penguin books from a participating bookshop (like us!) you’ll get a limited edition Personal Penguin Book Nook Card and can collect the figurine as soon as it lands!
Coco Mellors announced her new novel, ‘Grenade’, and we are SO excited
The author of ‘Blue Sisters’ and ‘Cleopatra and Frankenstein’ is back her third gorgeous cover and incredible sounding novel. ‘Grenade’ releases in April next year, a novel about a filmmaker who travels to Paris to present her first feature in the midst of trying to become a mother. The book is inspired by Mellors own trip to Paris and her own experience of being torn between motherhood and the longing to create and be free.
Harper Collins drops the entire back catalogue of David Walliams
The entirety of the multi-million-pound print and digital stock of David Walliams’ work will be eliminated from the publisher, Harper Collins, following the misconduct allegations and backlash from his caricatured minority characters. Despite Walliams’ denial of any wrongdoing, HarperCollins has stated they will publish no further works by the comedian after selling over 60 million copies of his children’s books worldwide.
Rebecca Ross announces her new stunning novel, ‘A Bittersweet Spell’
The bestselling author of ‘Divine Rivals’ is back with a new novel about magic, secrets, and longing. ‘A Bittersweet Spell’ is expected to be released in April 2027 and Ross is already teasing us with the first line which she says was so strong that it stuck with the manuscript from the very start, as well as the rest of the first few paragraphs: “Of course, he traveled to the edge of the realm to find her.” This will be the first in a trilogy and we cannot wait to experience book one of Lorne and Avalene’s story.
Emily Henry’s new book is being has a date and title!
As we wait for a new Emily Henry rom-com to satiate our TBR, a couple of suspicious details arrived that seem like hints or straight up reveals. Firstly, the date seems to be April 6th, 2027, after a couple of retailers accidentally included that detail on their websites. More excitingly, the seventh novel may well be titled ‘Modern Classic’ after being shared on a theatre in Massachusetts. After the hint that this book is inspired by ‘The Holiday’, April 2027 cannot come soon enough.
AI Imposter Book Scams on Amazon
Thriller author, Noelle W. Ihli, is one of many authors who are having their novels taken and shared on Amazon as an AI generated version. The content is not the same as the novel itself, but the product page is realistic enough to unfortunately trick buyers who are just looking for their next read. Ihli says that it’s “incredibly frustrating to think that after all the work that went into writing, editing and publishing an unsuspecting reader might accidentally order and AI version”.
Author of ‘Educated’ announces her new memoir
Penguin Random House is publishing the new memoir from Tara Westover in April 2027, after the incredible success of ‘Educated’ which became a global phenomenon after it was released in 2018. ‘Brothers and Sisters’ will focus on the reaction of Westover’s family members to ‘Educated’ and it’s huge impact, exploring the aftermath and the legal battles that took place after she shared the story of her extreme upbringing.
Exciting event for Romantasy readers in Tāmaki Makaurau
Tickets are on sale now for the inaugural Brimstone and Bookshelves, a fantasy-themed book signing and event for romantasy readers everywhere! Happening in Auckland on the 22nd and 23rd of May next year, tickets are on sale now and with an incredible line up of authors and an evening surrounded by fellow bookish people, we think it’s going to be an absolute highlight.
Josh Silver visiting Pōneke, Wellington soon!
If, like us, you are obseed with the author Josh Silver thanks to his incredible books like ‘Fruit Fly’ and ‘Happyhead’, you will either be delighted or incredibly jealous to hear that the charismatic author is visiting Wellington on Thursday 22nd October for a special event as part of the Verb Wellinton festival, in conversation with Tendai Mutambu, a fellow writer and curator.
Cover revealed for Scandals & Whiskey by Victoria Wilder
The Whiskey Women are back with the second standalone novel in the small-town romantic suspense series! Set to release in March 2027, ‘Scandals & Whiskey’ and bound to be full of all the steamy drama that we loved from Book One, and the book itself will be another stunner featuring limted edition sprayed edges to match!
Brynne Weaver gets an eight-figure deal for upcoming new books!
An extraordinary amount of money has been signed over to Brynne Weaver with New York Publisher Zando securing a major multi-book agreement for 2 untitled duologies. After the breakout success of both her ‘Ruinous Love Trilogy’ and her newer ‘Seasons of Carnage’ series, we are not suprised her upcoming books are a hot commodity in the publishing world and can’t wait to find out more about what is coming our way!
Singapore is paying it’s citizens to read more!
In a battle against doomscrolling, Singapore is paying people to choose a book for at least 15 minutes per day and hoping that this initiative will improve the nation’s ability to think critically and use their imagination. With a gamification strategy that has been launched this month, readers can gain points through logging reading sessions, which can then be redeemed for money. This is not the first time Singapore has used financial incentives to encourage healthier habits for its citizens.
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!
