Welcome to The Book Briefing, your weekly wrap-up of everything happening in the book world. From major announcements and cover reveals to new releases, literary news, and the moments everyone’s talking about, this is where you’ll find it all in one place. If it’s trending in books, it’s probably in here.
Amazon's Audible opens first-ever ‘bookless bookstore'
Audible has opened Audible Story House in New York, a three-level space designed entirely around audiobooks, with immersive listening rooms and interactive displays instead of physical shelves. It’s definitely a cool, futuristic concept, but we can’t help feeling a bit conflicted. There’s just nothing like being surrounded by real books, flipping through pages, and that unmistakable smell that makes a bookstore feel like home. Innovative? Yes. But are we ready to give up the magic of actual books? Not quite.
Robert Greene announces new book after seven year hiatus
Robert Greene has officially announced his next book The Law of the Sublime, and it’s been seven years in the making. Set for release this November, the book promises a shift in perspective, exploring how to see beyond everyday reality and tap into something deeper without relying on anything external. Blending stories, exercises, and meditations, it’s shaping up to be a more reflective and immersive read, focused on changing how we experience the world around us.
May Celebrity Book Club picks just dropped
All the celeb book clubs have announced their May picks and our TBR is officially out of control. From Reese’s Book Club and Belletrist to Dua Lipa’s Service95 and beyond, the lineup is stacked with buzzy new fiction, emotional reads, and must-talk-about titles. Whether you’re in the mood for something dramatic, thought-provoking, or just a really good story, there’s something in here for everyone and we’re already planning which one to start first.
Catherine Chidgey teases new book
Catherine Chidgey is building major buzz for The Starving Bride after teasing the manuscript on Instagram. Set in a near-future England, it follows Hazel Whitlock in a chilling Blackpool sideshow where she’s watched as she starves. Dark, unsettling, and very Chidgey, this October release is one to watch.
Starside sequel is HUGE (800 pages confirmed)
Starside sequel is over 800 pages and we’re not okay. Alex Aster’s first adult romantasy hit the New York Times Best Seller list in March 2026, and now she’s confirmed the sequel is already finished and absolutely massive. 800 plus pages of drama, romance, and chaos incoming and yes, we will be reading every single one.
2026 Pulitzer Prize winners just dropped
The 2026 Pulitzer Prize book winners have just been announced, and it’s a seriously stacked lineup across fiction and nonfiction. Daniel Kraus took out the Fiction prize for Angel Down, a bold, genre-blending World War I novel told in a single sentence, while Yiyun Li won for Memoir with Things in Nature Merely Grow. In nonfiction, Brian Goldstone’s There Is No Place for Us was recognised for its powerful look at homelessness, and Amanda Vaill’s Pride and Pleasure won in Biography. Jill Lepore’s We the People claimed the History prize, and Juliana Spahr’s Ars Poeticas took out Poetry, rounding out a list that highlights everything from experimental storytelling to deeply human, real-world issues.
Emma Galloway announces new cookbook
Emma Galloway is back with a brand new cookbook coming in September 2026, Thyme to Cook, and it sounds like a dream for anyone into slow, nourishing food. The book blends simple vegetarian, gluten-free recipes with practical gardening tips, showing how to grow, harvest, and cook your own ingredients at home. It’s a natural next step from her much-loved My Darling Lemon Thyme books, and we’re already imagining cosy meals straight from the garden.
The Sweetest Fiend cover reveal just dropped
Raven Kennedy has officially revealed the cover for her upcoming novel The Sweetest Fiend, and it is genuinely so stunning we can’t even deal. The book is set to release on September 22, 2026 and kicks off her new Played by the Piper duology, marking the start of a fresh story for fans to get into. If this cover is anything to go by, we’re already obsessed.
Ruin Bound is officially on the way and we can’t wait
Sable Sorensen has officially announced their upcoming novel Ruin Bound, set for release on July 27, 2027. The book will be the third instalment in The Wolves of Ruin series, continuing the story fans have been following, with the cover reveal still to come.
New Tonies are landing in NZ this month and they are seriously cute
Six new Tonies are about to land in New Zealand and the lineup is lowkey iconic. Think The Dinosaur That Pooped, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Lion Inside, plus a penguin, Trolls’ Viva, and Shaun the Sheep. It’s giving stories, songs, and chaos in the best way, all in those little collectible characters you just pop on the Toniebox. Perfect for keeping kids entertained without screens and honestly… we kind of want them too.
Auckland Writers Festival is almost here and we are so ready!
Kicking off next week, it genuinely feels like book Christmas. With over 170 events and more than 220 writers from Aotearoa and around the world, the whole city is about to turn into one big hub of stories, ideas, and bookish chaos. From huge international names like Helen Garner, Dav Pilkey, and Patrick Radden Keefe to an incredible lineup of local voices, the energy is already building and we cannot wait to be in the middle of it all, surrounded by books, conversations, and people who love reading just as much as we do.
That’s it for this week’s Book Briefing. Whether you’re adding to your TBR, keeping up with the latest book news, or just here for the chaos, we’ve got you covered. Check back next week for more updates, and in the meantime, happy reading!