Welcome to this week's Book Briefing where we round up the news for the week!
This week is a whopper edition - we get the cover reveal for John Green's novel, new book announcements from Kazuo Ishiguro and Percival Everett, as well as amazing local books on the horizon and SO much more. Here's everything readers have been talking about this week.
Jon Toogood Shares His Story in New Memoir ‘Home Again’
Shihad frontman Jon Toogood is releasing a memoir, ‘Home Again’, on 25 August 2026. The book looks back on his life and career, from growing up in Wellington and finding music, to fronting one of New Zealand’s most iconic rock bands. Along the way, Toogood opens up about the highs and lows of fame, creativity, mental health and finding his place beyond the music industry. We're looking forward to getting our hands on this one and hearing more of the stories behind the music.
New Indie Game Turns Library Shelving Into a Surprise Hit
If you've ever found satisfaction in putting books back in the right place, ‘Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library!’ might be your dream game. The cosy indie game recently reached an impressive 29,000 concurrent players. Players are tasked with sorting more than 3,000 books throughout a sprawling magical library, turning what sounds like a simple shelving job into a surprisingly relaxing and rewarding puzzle.
Children’s Book Creators Launch Campaign Against AI
A group of children’s authors and illustrators have launched We Are Better Than This, a new campaign calling for greater protection of human creativity in the face of growing AI use in publishing. Backed by well-known creators including Chris Haughton, Benji Davies and Momoko Abe, the campaign describes itself as a “creative uprising” and highlights the value of original storytelling and illustration created by people, not machines.
New novel from Kazuo Ishiguro announced!
Set to be published next year in March, Kazuo Ishiguro has announced his ninth novel, ‘Miss Lambert Steps Aboard Danger’. Celebrated author of best sellers like Klara and the Sun, and Never Let Me Go, this new novel promises something different - a spy caper set in the 1930s following an enigmatic Miss Lambert on a train bound for Scotland. We’re intrigued already!
YA Book Prize 2026 Shortlist Announced
The shortlist for the YA Book Prize 2026 has been revealed, showcasing ten standout young adult novels spanning fantasy, romance, thrillers and contemporary fiction. This year's list includes three Penguin titles and the first-ever shortlisted book from Welsh independent publisher Firefly Press. The winner will be announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 27 August.
Major Publishers Take Action Against Pirate Book Site
Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and several other publishers have joined a new lawsuit against WeLib, a website accused of illegally distributing millions of copyrighted books. The case, brought by 13 publishers and supported by the Association of American Publishers, aims to stop the mass sharing of protected works and protect authors' and publishers' rights. The lawsuit follows similar recent legal action against pirate library site Anna’s Archive.
Percival Everett announces next novel
Following his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, James, Everett has announced his next book, ‘Serious Music’. Scheduled for release in March 2027, this is set to be a sweeping, darkly funny novel about Arthur Champion, a gifted Black music scholar attending college in 1918 who gets drafted unjustly into the U.S. Army. A stunning new addition to his incredible list of work, this novel is about art and it’s role in society, the idea of ownership of ideas, and the way culture can change.
Penultimate book in ‘The Bone Season’ series is on the way!
The sixth and penultimate novel in the bestselling urban fantasy series, The Bone Season, has been announced with it’s name finally revealed as ‘The Moth Reborn’! Expected to be released in February 2027, the book will continue to follow Paige and Arcturus as they travel to Iceland and France in their journey to save the revolution. We‘re expecting epic action, heartbreaking moments, and the usual chaos in the fight against Republic of Scion.
Waterstones Debut Fiction Shortlist for 2026 Announced
Six debut fiction novels have been annouced on the shortlist for the fifth Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize - a yearly award for the most exciting and stunning first novels. Voted on by booksellers, this year’s shortlist contains a fascinating mix of stories including two of Book Hero Lizzy’s favourites of the year ‘Under Water’ by Tara Menon, and ‘Lost Lambs’ by Madeline Cash. The winner will be announced next month on July 16th.
Kiwi influencer Louis Davis to release a book about fatherhood
We are so excited to hear that Celebrity Treasure Island star and much loved Kiwi influencer is bringing us a book later this year. Louis Davis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) brings his effortless and authentic storytelling to sharing his experience of being “The Modern Dad”, a stay at home father who often feels like he’s just making it all up but is doing his best.
Women's Prize Win Sends ‘The Correspondent’ Soaring
Virginia Evans’ debut novel The Correspondent is enjoying a major sales boost following its 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction win. According to NielsenIQ BookScan data, sales jumped by more than 500% in the week after the award was announced, highlighting the powerful impact literary prizes can have on book discovery. This title is a Book Hero favourite and deserves every bit of praise it's getting. If you haven't already picked it up, consider this your sign to move it straight to the top of your TBR.
For real life! Bluey joins the tonies whanau!
Good news for Bluey fans! Bluey, Bingo and Muffin are now available as Tonies characters for the popular screen-free Toniebox. Kids can enjoy stories, songs and adventures featuring their favourite Bluey characters, while parents get another fun screen-free entertainment option. The new Bluey Tonies are available to pre-order now ahead of their release on 15 July, with Bluey-themed accessories and activities also joining the range.
Matt Haig teases third book in the "Midnight" series
Bestselling author Matt Haig posted enigmatically on his Instagram account a teaser that there will be a third book in The Midnight series and has invited his followers to guess what it will be called! The Midnight Library and The Midnight Train are both amazing novels about life and the choices we make, and we can’t wait to see what Book 3 will be!
New book in the bestselling Orphan X thriller series
Last Man Standing has been announced to be hitting bookshelves in early 2027 and is the latest installment in the hugely popular Orphan X series. Following government assasin Evan Smoak (or The Nowhere Man), Last Man Standing is teased as “his most dangerous mission yet”. Greg Hurwitz says he lost sleep over planning this novel, and soon it will be our turn.
‘Obsidian’ revealed as title for Valmora Academy Book #2
Kiwi romantasy author Ashley Andersen has officially revealed ‘Obsidian’ as the title of the second book in her Valmora Academy series. After falling hard for the delicious slow-burn enimies-to-lovers tension in the first book, we're beyond excited to see what's next for Aria and Sebastian. The cover is still to come along with more details about the story, but we already know that Valmora Academy is fast becoming one of our favourite romantasy series.
New podcast ‘Wodcast’ celebrates the love of words
A new long-form interview series, Wodcast, has launched with acclaimed novelist Elif Shafak as its first guest. Created by Benjamin Aston and Mabel Evans, the podcast has been described as a “Desert Island Discs for words”, featuring in-depth conversations about the language, ideas and stories that shape influential cultural figures. Guests include Stephen Fry, Tim Rice, David Larbi, Professor David Nutt and Waad Al-Kateab. Born from Aston’s hugely popular “Word of the Day” project, Wodcast celebrates literature, creativity and human connection.
Cover for ‘Hollywood Ending’ revealed
John Green’s first novel in almost 10 years, and his first every Adult fiction novel - we were SO excited to finally get a cover reveal for the story about two young actors in an Andy Warhol biopic. Designed by the talented Cassie Vu at Penguin Random House, the cover is incredibly beautiful and we can’t wait to have stacks of Hollywood Ending the bookshop.
Bookstore Documentary is premiering at festival here in Aotearoa
A new documentary premiering at Doc Edge 2026 tells the story of Elizabeth’s Books, a unique bookshop in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, that only opens at night. Run by 83-year-old former sailor Chris Webb, the store welcomes readers from around 8pm until the early hours, creating a warm gathering place for night owls and book lovers. ‘The Bookstore That Never Sleeps’, directed by Justin Zoras, celebrates the charm, community, and enduring magic of independent bookshops, offering a glimpse into a literary haven unlike any other. We’re so excited for this one! Tickets are on sale now.
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!