Welcome to this week's Book Briefing where Sacha rounds up the news for the week! A new Emily Henry novel is on the horizon, Rebecca Yarros is back writing dragons, ACOTAR is getting its own Monopoly game, and there are plenty more bookish updates to get excited about. Here's everything readers have been talking about this week.
Debut Authors Take Top Honours at the 2026 Women’s Prizes
The 2026 Women’s Prizes winners have been revealed, and it was a big night for two debut authors. Virginia Evans won the Women’s Prize for Fiction for 'The Correspondent', while BBC journalist Lyse Doucet took home the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction for 'The Finest Hotel in Kabul'. Judges praised both books for their compelling storytelling and fresh perspectives, proving that first-time authors can make just as much of an impact as established literary names.
ACOTAR is getting the Monopoly treatment
Sarah J. Maas fans are getting a new way to visit Prythian, with Hasbro announcing special ACOTAR-themed editions of Monopoly. Inspired by the first three books in the series, the game swaps classic Monopoly locations and money for iconic ACOTAR settings, characters and lore, with players tasked with protecting Prythian from the King of Hybern.
The collector's editions will be released on 1 October, and it's safe to say plenty of ACOTAR fans (us included!) are already excited to get their hands on a copy and bring a little bit of Prythian to game night.
'Careless People' gets a major sales boost after Hay Festival drama
Sarah Wynn-Williams' memoir 'Careless People' has seen UK sales soar by 305% after the former Meta executive was unable to speak freely during a Hay Festival appearance because of legal restrictions linked to the tech giant.
The controversy appears to have sparked a wave of curiosity, sending readers straight to the book and pushing it to the top of the paperback nonfiction charts. Sometimes the fastest way to get people interested in a book is to tell them they can't hear the full story.
Stephen King announces final 'Talisman' trilogy novel
Stephen King has announced 'Other Worlds Than These', the long-awaited third and final instalment in the 'Talisman' trilogy. The novel reunites readers with Jack Sawyer and brings to a close a story that began with 'The Talisman' in 1984 and continued with 'Black House' in 2001.
King completed the book using material developed with his longtime collaborator Peter Straub before Straub's death in 2022, making it both a major new release and a tribute to their decades-long partnership.
Rebecca Yarros Is Back in the Empyrean World
Good news for 'Fourth Wing' fans: Rebecca Yarros has officially started writing the fourth book in her blockbuster Empyrean series. While there's still no title or release date, Yarros has been teasing her progress online and has hinted that the book will be on the longer side as she works toward the series' planned five-book conclusion.
Readers are also expecting answers to some of the biggest questions left hanging after 'Onyx Storm', making this one of the most anticipated fantasy releases still on the horizon.
Macmillan Backs Major 'Gruffalo Granny' Literacy Campaign
We love this one! Macmillan Children’s Books will distribute 140,000 books through a nationwide literacy campaign in the UK tied to the launch of 'Gruffalo Granny', the new picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
In partnership with the National Literacy Trust’s Early Words Matter initiative, the campaign aims to improve access to books for children and families while encouraging reading together for fun ahead of the book’s publication this September. Making a positive impact on kids whilst buying a great book? We’re totally on board!
Emily Henry teases her next novel
Emily Henry has shared the first details about her next novel, though fans will have to wait a little longer for the title.
Speaking on Today, the bestselling author described it as “the book that you would write after taking a year off” and compared it, in a small way, to the beloved rom-com film The Holiday. “It is not a holiday book, but it kind of feels a little bit like my take on ‘The Holiday’ in a very small way,” Henry said. While plot details remain under wraps, the tease has already sparked plenty of excitement among romance readers eager to see what she does next.
Dark romantasy sequel 'Mortal Minds' officially announced
Leigh Rivers has officially announced 'Mortal Minds', the highly anticipated sequel to 'Satanic Shadows' and the second instalment in 'The Broken Realms' series.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, fans of the dark romantasy series now have confirmation that the story will continue. Rivers has yet to reveal the cover or an official release date, but the announcement has already generated excitement among readers eager to return to the series.
Mavericks fans, mark your calendars!
Kate Crew has officially confirmed that 'Joker & Jinx', the third book in her bestselling 'The Mavericks' series, will be released on 2 March 2027.
The dark romance promises the series' signature mix of sharp banter, enemies-to-lovers chemistry and plenty of tension. With book two, 'Ace & Ember', arriving in July, fans won't have long to wait before diving back into the world of the Mavericks.
RecipeTin eats introduces new chief taste tester
RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi has introduced Jaffle, an 11-week-old golden retriever puppy who has quickly become the site's newest taste tester. Nagi shared that she did not expect to get another dog so soon after losing her beloved Dozer, but Jaffle, the son of one of Dozer’s beach friends, brought instant happiness back into her life.
Readers can now look out for a new “Jump to Jaffle” button on recipes as the adorable pup takes over taste-testing duties from his predecessor. Its such a sweet update with Jaffle's fluffy charm already winning over fans and helping continue Dozer's much-loved legacy.
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!