Afleveringen
-
This week, Eve Laren breaks down the Hot Girls Read trademark controversy that had BookTok in a chokehold, Anna Kendrick's move to direct Netflix's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Shatter Me's new movie deal, and Netflix's series order for the hockey romance Icebreaker.
In this episode:
The Hot Girls Read trademark backlash Anna Kendrick directing The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoThe Love Hypothesis gets a release dateShatter Me's movie adaptation Icebreaker ordered to series Simon & Schuster's deal with The Black ListSherri Shepherd's debut novelSarah Wynn-Williams' silent protest at the Hay FestivalListen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Looking for book festivals to attend in 2026?
The 2026 book festival season is here, and this week Eve Laren highlights 18 upcoming book festivals happening this summer and fall worth adding to your calendar—from the Bronx Book Festival and Harlem Book Fair in New York, to the Essence Book Festival in New Orleans, Texas Book Festival in Austin, Brooklyn Book Festival, and Miami Book Fair.
Whether you're searching for book festivals 2026, free literary events, Black literature festivals, or major book fairs across the United States, this episode serves as your complete guide to the biggest and most exciting literary events of the year.
Grab a pen, get the dates and locations, and start planning your next bookish adventure.
MAIN EVENTS
Bronx Book Festival | June 20, 2026 | The Andrew Freedman Home, Fordham Road, Bronx, NYEssence Book Festival | July 3–5, 2026 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LANational Book Club Conference | July 31–August 2, 2026 | Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta, GAKPBS San Diego Book Festival | August 22, 2026 | University of San Diego, San Diego, CAHarlem Book Fair | August 29, 2026 | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Harlem, NYBIPOC Book Fest | September 19, 2026 | Houston, TX (exact location TBD)Brooklyn Book Festival | September 20–28, 2026 | Brooklyn Borough Hall & venues throughout NYCMississippi Book Festival | September 26, 2026 | Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson, MSDecatur Book Festival | October 2–3, 2026 | Decatur, GAMorristown Festival of Books | October 9–10, 2026 | Morristown, NJBoston Book Festival | October 17, 2026 | Copley Square, Boston, MATexas Book Festival | November 14–15, 2026 | Texas State Capitol & Downtown Austin, Austin, TXMiami Book Fair | November 15–22, 2026 (Street Fair: November 20–22) | Wolfson Campus, Miami Dade College, Miami, FLHONORABLE MENTIONS
NYC Poetry Festival | July 18–19, 2026 | Nolan Park, Governors Island, New York, NYSan Diego Comic-Con | July 23–26, 2026 | San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CASix Bridges Book Festival | September 27–October 4, 2026 | Arkansas (exact location TBD)New York Comic Con | October 8–11, 2026 | Javits Center, New York, NYLas Vegas Book Festival | October 17, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
This week, Eve Laren breaks down the federal court ruling against Anna's Archive and New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger's rally cry to defend their journalism before AI companies permanently reshapes the industry.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
June is bringing some of the year's most anticipated book releases!
This week, we're breaking down the must-read new books hitting shelves this month.
From Isabel J. Kim's highly anticipated debut to Tia Williams' latest romance, Mara Brock Akil's first novel, and Elle Kennedy's surprising YA debut, this month's lineup has something for every reader.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
• The Missed Connection by Tia Williams
• The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil
• Valley of the Moms by Hannah Selinger
• A Voice Like Mine by Deb Haaland
• The River She Became by Emily Varga
• The Winged Game by Sophie Kim
• Thornbird by E. KennedyWhether you're looking for a mind-bending sci-fi debut, a summer romance, a twisty thriller, romantasy adventures, or an inspiring memoir, these are the June 2026 book releases you'll want on your radar.
📚 Subscribe to the Now in Books Podcast for weekly book recommendations, publishing news, reading trends, and conversations about what's NEW and what's NOW in books.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Four stories. One exhausting month.
This week, Eve Laren unpacks the biggest stories and conversations buzzing among the book community.
Tune in for:
🔥 H.M. Wolfe's latest controversy 🔥 Barnes & Noble sparks backlash after comments about AI-generated books🔥The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature issues an apology🔥 A new reading app launch leads to community investigation and concerns surrounding digital Blackface
Follow Now in Books Podcast for weekly conversations on what’s new and what’s now in books.Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
This week, Eve Laren breaks down the explosive copyright infringement lawsuit against Meta, the internal emails revealed in the complaint, and why this lawsuit could reshape the future of AI in publishing.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
This week, Eve Laren sits down with critically-acclaimed author Veronica G. Henry to discuss her latest novel, The People's Library.
Set in a future where human consciousness can be digitally preserved, the novel follows Echo London, a reluctant librarian tasked with curating a revolutionary library filled not with books, but with living digital archives of real people.
If you love speculative fiction that feels both timely and terrifyingly plausible, this episode is for you.
The People's Library is perfect for fans of philosophical sci-fi, dystopian fiction, AI-centered stories, and books that explore humanity, memory, and the future of knowledge.
About the Author:
Veronica G. Henry is the author of Bacchanal, The Quarter Storm, and The Foreign Exchange in the Mambo Reina series, and The Canopy Keepers.Her work has debuted at #1 on multiple Amazon bestseller charts, was chosen as an editors’ pick for Best African American Fantasy, and shortlisted for the Manly Wade Wellman Award.
She is a Viable Paradise alum and a member of SFWA and MWA. Her stories have appeared in Many Worlds, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and FIYAH Literary Magazine.
Veronica's novels are available at bookstores and libraries everywhere.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
This week, Eve Laren dives into the biggest must-read books releasing in May 2026—and this month’s lineup is packed.
Tune in for:
a buzzworthy feminist rage thrillera courtroom drama being adapted for Apple TVa psychological suspense novel literary fiction picks for AAPI Heritage Month and moreWhether you’re in your thriller era, your romance era, your horror era, or your “messy women making questionable decisions” era—May has a book for you.
Follow Now in Books Podcast for weekly conversations on what’s new and what’s now in books.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
BookCon returns—and sparks major backlash.
This week, Eve Laren breaks down the 5 biggest book news stories.
From the long-awaited return of BookCon—and the chaos that came with it—to Kennedy Ryan landing a major TV deal for Before I Let Go, there’s a lot to talk about.
Tune in to find out what's new and now in books.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
In this week's episode, Eve Laren breaks down the latest moves from major publishers—and why they prove the industry isn’t resisting A.I., it’s actively integrating it.
Plus—what Reese Witherspoon’s recent comments on A.I. signal about where things are headed next.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
This week, Eve Laren sits down with USA Today bestselling author Jaclyn Rodriguez to talk about her breakout romantasy, A Vow in Vengeance.
This enemies-to-lovers fantasy follows Rune, a young woman driven by revenge who enters a deadly magical academy where power is drawn from tarot cards. Blending romance and a unique tarot-based magic system, this debut is quickly becoming a must-read in the romantasy genre.
If you’re looking for your next romantasy read with magic, tension, and depth, this episode is for you.
Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romantasy, magical academies, and richly built fantasy worlds with unique magic systems.
About the Author:
Jaclyn Rodriguez is a biracial author of Puerto Rican heritage and has been madly in love with fantasy since before she could walk, forever drawn to magic and the impossible. If there are high stakes and intricate world-building, she’s in, and she adores a strong romantic subplot, the more complicated the better. She spends her non-writing time practicing archery and deconstructing her favorite TV shows and films. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, son, and two quirky dogs. A Deal in Death is the sequel to her debut A Vow in Vengeance.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
Amazon USA I Bookshop.org I Barnes & Noble I Books A Million
-
April is stacked with new releases—and in this week's episode, Eve Laren breaks down the books everyone is buzzing about.
From a high-stakes romantasy featuring witches and dragon riders, to stories exploring female friendship, grief, masculinity, and our relationship with media—this month’s lineup has something for every kind of reader.
Consider this your spoiler-free guide to what’s worth adding to your TBR.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Looking for a viral dark romance worth the hype?
In this week's episode, Eve Laren dives into Daggermouth by H. M. Wolfe—the dystopian enemies-to-lovers story that went from self-published release to a massive 7-figure book deal.
Set in a brutal, class-divided city where love across social lines is a death sentence, Daggermouth blends high-stakes tension, political power struggles, and emotionally charged relationships.
If you love The Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, dark dystopian romance, morally complex characters, and chaotic, high-tension storytelling—this one’s for you.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
The A.I. witch trials have officially begun…
In this week's episode, Eve Laren dives into the breaking news controversy surrounding Shy Girl by Mia Ballard, the decision by Hachette Book Group to cancel its release, and how this moment will redefine how books are written, published, and judged.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Was Medusa ever truly the villain of her own story?
In this week's episode, Eve Laren sits down with New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray to discuss her bold new mythology retelling, I, Medusa.
Ayana shares the inspiration behind reimagining one of the most infamous figures in Greek mythology, the research that shaped Medusa’s story, and insights into her transition from young adult fantasy to adult fiction.
In this conversation, we explore:
• The inspiration behind retelling Medusa’s story
• The research that shaped the world of I, Medusa
• Reframing villains and morally complex characters in fantasy
• Ayana Gray’s transition from YA fantasy to adult fiction
• What readers connect with most in Medusa’s story today
If you love fantasy, mythology retellings, and stories that reexamine the villains we thought we knew, this conversation is for you.
Perfect for fans of fantasy books, Greek mythology retellings, Medusa stories, and author interviews with fantasy writers.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
About the Author
Ayana Gray is a New York Times bestselling author. Her works have been translated in a dozen languages across five continents and have received critical acclaim at the state and national level. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives and writes in Arkansas.
-
What if the people we’ve lost never truly leave us?
In this week's episode, Eve Laren sits down with debut author Jenny Robinson Clark to talk about grief, healing, and the powerful inspiration behind her children’s book Are You Here? A Story About the Magical Signs All Around Us.
Written after the loss of her mother, Jenny’s book explores the quiet moments and “signs” that can help us feel connected to loved ones who are no longer physically with us. Through heartfelt storytelling and stunning artwork, Are You Here? opens the door for families to talk about grief in a way that is gentle, hopeful, and deeply meaningful.
In this conversation, we explore:
• The emotional story behind writing Are You Here?
• How parents and caregivers can help kids navigate loss
• The powerful companion song created by her husband, Travis Clark of We The Kings
• The surprising signs of connection people report after losing someone they love
• What Jenny hopes readers—both children and adults—take away from the storyWe also talk about the personal hurdles Jenny faced while bringing this deeply emotional book into the world and why the release date holds special meaning for her family.
If you’ve ever wondered how to talk about grief with children—or how stories can help us heal—this episode is a powerful reminder that love doesn’t end with loss.
🎧 Listen now and discover the story behind Are You Here?
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
About Jenny Robinson Clark
Author Jenny Robinson-Clark makes her debut with Are You Here? inspired by the passing of her mom and her longing to still be connected to her.
Jenny resides in Nashville, TN, with her husband and four children. She was a dancer and actor by profession and has always been creative at heart. When she's not writing, you can find her in hip hop dance class with her husband, homeschooling and baking with her kids, or exploring the outdoors.
Jenny believes that if you can open your heart, ask for a sign, and be willing to receive, then your loved ones will send you signs in the most unexpected ways. Jenny hopes that after you read this book that you are left with a spark of belief, a flash of hope, and an enlightened peace that encourages you to also ask for a sign.
Website: www.jennyrobinsonclark.com
Instagram: @jennyrobinsonclark
Amazon USA I Bookshop.org I Barnes & Noble I Books A Million -
March is bringing the celebrity stories—and everyone is about to have opinions.
In this week’s episode, Eve Laren breaks down the buzziest new releases, including headline-making memoirs, twisty thrillers, and standout romance and literary novels.
🎧 Whether you’re here for behind-the-scenes fame, psychological suspense, music-industry drama, or romance with heart, this month’s list is stacked.
✨ Spoiler-free
📚 New & noteworthy
🔥 Books you’ll be hearing about everywhere
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
Looking for the best hockey romance books right now?
In this episode, Eve Laren shares her latest obsession: sports romance novels featuring possessive heroes.
She dives into:
• Liz Tomforde’s Windy City series (Mile High, Play Along, Rewind It Back)
• C.R. Jane’s dark hockey romance series (The Pucking Wrong Number, The Pucking Wrong Rookie)
• The football spin-off series The Wrong PlayerFrom fake marriages and second-chance hockey romance to morally unhinged obsession, this episode explores why sports romance isn’t really about the sport—it’s about focus, discipline, and devotion.
If you love spicy hockey romance, protective MMCs, or “touch her and die” energy, press play.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
In this week's episode, Eve Laren reviews If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett—a coming-of-power story set in the glamorous and gritty world of late 90s hip-hop magazines.
From VIP lists to magazine covers, this novel explores what it truly costs a Black woman to rise in an industry that wasn’t built for her.
If you love workplace dramas like The Devil Wears Prada, The Other Black Girl, or Yellowface, this one’s for you.
Let’s talk about power, mistakes, and the industry tea behind the glamour.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
-
What do you watch when you want romance and tension?
This week, Eve Laren reviews the new Amazon Prime rom-com Relationship Goals and pairs it with three enemies-to-lovers book recommendations perfect for Valentine’s Day.
From career ambition and messy friendships to workplace tension and unresolved chemistry, this episode breaks down what Relationship Goals gets right (and where it falls short).
If your ideal Valentine’s night includes a cozy movie, a sharp romance novel, and a playlist to match—this one’s for you.
Relationship Goals stars Kelly Rowland, Method Man, and Robin Thede.
Listen to the Playlist: Apple
✨ Movie spotlight📚 Enemies-to-lovers book recs🎶 Book + movie pairing energy
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | wherever you get your podcasts.
Join our Listener Club and find your next book obsession. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.
Connect with me @nowinbooks. My DMs are always open for book chats, feedback, and special requests.
- Laat meer zien
