Must Love Pets: Romance Novels with the Best Animal Characters
The article spotlights romance novels that elevate their stories with memorable animal characters, ranging from dogs and cats to fantastical baby dragons. It highlights five titles—*The Re‑Do List*, *Get a Life, Chloe Brown*, *Alice Rue Evades the Truth*, *The Baby Dragon Café*, and *With Stars in Her Eyes*—detailing how each pet influences plot and romance. The piece emphasizes the emotional boost pets provide to protagonists and readers alike. It also links to related lists, underscoring a broader appetite for pet‑centric romance reading.
Author Spotlight: Matthew Kressel
Matthew Kressel, featured in Lightspeed Magazine’s March 2026 issue, discusses how his short story “Espie Droger Dreams of War” emerged from anger over the fictional DOGE crisis that destabilized U.S. institutions. He explains his writing process—sometimes subconscious, sometimes meticulously planned—and how...
“The Art of Living in Avant-Garde Paris”: A Playlist by Rachel Silveri
Rachel Silveri, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, has released *The Art of Living in Avant‑Garde Paris*, a new monograph that examines how interwar Paris artists wove creative practice into everyday life. The book is paired with a...
Two Playwrights Tackle Father Figures
Two recent New York theater productions revisit father figures in unconventional ways. Clare Barron's revived “You Got Older” at Cherry Lane, under A24’s management, depicts a tender, realistic bond between an adult daughter and her ailing father, highlighted by Peter...
On the Power of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, One of the Most Banned Books of Its Era
Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir *Gender Queer*, first published in 2019, has become a cultural flashpoint, topping the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books from 2021 to 2023 and ranking second in 2024. The memoir chronicles Kobabe’s non‑binary journey,...
On Lio Min’s Beating Heart Baby as “Portable Fortress of Dreams”
Lio Min’s debut novel *Beating Heart Baby* follows Santi, a queer Filipino high‑school senior, as he navigates love with Suwa, a trans‑masculine Korean‑American trumpet star, within a vibrant Los Angeles marching band. The story shifts to Tokyo, where Suwa performs in...
On the Pure Pleasure of Plot in Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Manhunt
Gretchen Felker‑Martin’s horror novel *Manhunt* has emerged as a breakout work that re‑centers plot and visceral storytelling in a literary market dominated by experimental autofiction. The book situates itself within the “gender apocalypse” subgenre, but flips the script by foregrounding...
DNA of Authoritarianism | Interview with Anne Applebaum on Her Book Autocracy, Inc.
Anne Applebaum’s new book Autocracy, Inc. maps how authoritarian regimes—Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and formerly Venezuela—collaborate by sharing surveillance tech and financial tactics to sustain power. She argues these practices, from internet control to offshore money laundering, transcend ideology...
Review of The Corpse Collector by Vinu P. And Niyas Kareem
The Hindu review highlights *The Corpse Collector*, a memoir by Vinu P. and Niyas Kareem that chronicles Vinu’s 25‑year career retrieving unclaimed bodies across Kerala. Vinu’s work, performed with reverence, has saved thousands of families the trauma of unknown deaths, yet he...
Noelle W. Ihli on Reading Survival Thrillers in a World of Real Danger
Noelle W. Ihli explains why she writes survival thrillers despite living in a world saturated with real‑life danger. She argues that the genre gives anxiety a clear beginning, middle and end, offering readers a finite story arc that real life...
London Book Fair 2026: At the LBF’s Literary Translation Center, Panels Address Ongoing Concerns for Translators
The London Book Fair’s Literary Translation Center hosted two packed panels highlighting ongoing translator concerns. One session reviewed the five‑year #TranslatorsOnTheCover campaign, noting that cover credits have become far more common, especially among independent publishers. A second panel explored translators...
Exploring New Revenue Opportunities Through Licensing
At the London Book Fair, a panel of publishing leaders highlighted licensing as a critical growth engine, especially as large language models demand high‑quality text. They urged publishers to adopt a pragmatic stance—accepting imperfect licenses rather than forgoing deals—to capture...
Media Control and NielsenIQ BookData to Publish BookTok Charts for the U.K.
Media Control and NielsenIQ BookData have launched an official BookTok Charts for the United Kingdom, extending the successful German model. The monthly list merges verified retail sales data with #BookTok engagement metrics to rank the top titles. By providing real‑time,...
Why Populists Are Winning and How to Beat Them by Liam Byrne Review – a Surprisingly Original Prescription
Liam Byrne, former New Labour minister, releases a sharply written book diagnosing Britain’s right‑wing populist surge and proposing centrist counter‑strategies. He argues austerity and elite disconnect fueled voter disillusionment, while populists succeed through clear, informal messaging that resonates with “sixth‑sense”...
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Olivia Waite’s novella *Murder by Memory* follows detective Dorothy Gentleman aboard the thousand‑year‑long generation ship Fairweather, where a mind‑backup system called the Library normally guarantees seamless reincarnation. When a magnetic storm sabotages the Library, Dorothy awakens in a stranger’s body,...
7 Life-Changing Books that Can Transform Your Mindset
YourStory highlights seven books that consistently reshape readers' mindsets and drive personal growth. Each title—from James Clear’s *Atomic Habits* to Eckhart Tolle’s *The Power of Now*—offers distinct strategies for habit formation, purpose discovery, effective leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, spiritual awareness, and...
Patricia Cornwell on Crime and Creativity
Patricia Cornwell, author of over 40 novels and 120 million copies sold, is preparing the launch of her “Scarpetta” series on Amazon starring Nicole Kidman. She announced her upcoming memoir, “True Crime,” slated for May, in which she shares lessons on...
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Catriona Ward’s latest thriller, *Nowhere Burning*, intertwines three eras around an isolated Rocky Mountain estate called Nowhere. The novel follows a 1920s movie star’s sinister architect, 1970s orphaned siblings fleeing abuse, and contemporary filmmakers hunting a rumored community of feral...
Rebecca Solnit Says the Left’s Next Hero Is Already Here
Rebecca Solnit’s New York Times interview, tied to her book *The Beginning Comes After the End*, frames hope as a form of defiance and argues that real change emerges from collective civil society rather than a single heroic figure. She...
Richard Hell on and Poetry as a Way of Life
Richard Hell, the seminal punk‑rock figure, joins NYRB’s Private Life podcast to discuss his novel *Godlike*. The book, first published in 2005, has been reissued by NYRB Classics with a new afterword by Raymond Foye. *Godlike* fuses Hell’s 1970s New York...
The National Book Trust’s India@75 Series Brings Forgotten Figures Into the Limelight
The National Book Trust’s India@75 series has spotlighted overlooked Indian women scientists, releasing a biography of meteorologist Anna Mani that details her design of over 100 weather instruments and contributions to renewable energy research. Authored by neuroscientist Asha Gopinathan, the book aims...
From the Archive: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Measure of Constraint
In 1974 a lost diary of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, covering June 1831‑April 1832, was published, offering a vivid portrait of her constrained upbringing. The entries detail her rigorous self‑education in Latin and Greek, a passionate yet platonic attachment to the...
The Latest Author Protest Against AI
Around 10,000 UK authors have jointly released an empty volume titled *Don’t Steal This Book* to protest the use of their works in training AI systems. The book, containing only a roster of contributors, will be distributed at the London...
The Perils of Adapting Kazuo Ishiguro
Japanese director Kei Ishikawa’s new film adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel “A Pale View of Hills,” which the Nobel laureate has long described as technically unsophisticated. The movie foregrounds Etsuko’s daughter Niki, a journalist who records her mother’s recollections, while...
Jill Biden to Publish Memoir About Her Tenure as First Lady
Jill Biden is set to release her second memoir, *View from the East Wing*, on June 2, 2026, published by Gallery Books, with an audiobook narrated by Biden herself. The book offers a candid look at her tenure as First...
Help Me, Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates, a six‑decade literary titan and four‑time Pulitzer finalist, remains active on X, offering candid commentary on culture and creativity. In a recent i‑D interview, she shared practical advice ranging from job hunting to overcoming writer’s block, even...
Bolaño’s Heresy: On Distant Star
Roberto Bolaño’s introduction to *Distant Star* deliberately withholds any actual poems, replacing them with paraphrased descriptions and sky‑writing fragments. The narrator recounts three brief verses by the mysterious Ruiz‑Tagle, then shifts to the surreal aerial messages of Carlos Wieder, a...
Dan Simmons, Genre-Leaping Author of ‘The Terror,’ Dies at 77
Dan Simmons, the celebrated author behind the genre‑spanning Hyperion Cantos and more than 30 novels, died at 77 after suffering a stroke. His work traversed science fiction, horror, fantasy, crime and historical fiction, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success....
Orbiting
Cambridge University Press has released *Elizabeth Bowen in Context*, an edited collection that assembles newly sourced essays, letters, and criticism on the Anglo‑Irish novelist. The volume, edited by Allan Hepburn, brings together contributions that probe Bowen’s engagement with technology, comedy,...
Review – Bleeding Hearts #2: The Other Side
Bleeding Hearts #2, written by Deniz Camp and illustrated by Stipan Morian, earns a 9.5/10 rating for its daring narrative pivot. The issue abandons the series’ initial focus on zombie society and instead follows a pregnant mother fighting to protect...
This Brutal Moon by Bethany Jacobs
"This Brutal Moon" concludes Bethany Jacobs' Kindom Trilogy, a multi‑planetary space‑opera that follows the Jeveni laborers' revolt against a corrupt tripartite Kindom. The narrative centers on characters like Chono and Six, whose personal moral choices drive the political intrigue. Jacobs...
Blood Cancer Has Not Abated the Verbose, Sardonic, and Unpredictable Will Self’s Rage with the Literary World
British novelist Will Self, 63, is battling secondary myelofibrosis, a blood cancer. He is halfway through his 64th year while completing a new work titled "The Quantity Theory of Morality," positioned as a sequel to his 1991 debut. The book...
Elaine Scarry Says Pain Unmakes Language. Jan Steyn, Begs to Differ — or at Least Keeps Translating and Typing
The essay intertwines a personal bout of gout with the craft of literary translation, illustrating how chronic pain shapes the translator’s voice. It surveys gout’s medical profile—affecting 1‑2% of adults, driven largely by genetics, and disproportionately impacting men, post‑menopausal women,...
Why You Should Not Fear Snakes: Rom and Zai Whitaker on Understanding the Fascinating Creatures
Romulus and Zai Whitaker have released *The Book of Indian Snakes*, a colour‑rich guide that confronts long‑standing myths and highlights snakes’ role in natural rodent control. The volume notes that India now hosts roughly 368 snake species, with over 100...
On My Mind: The Mary Janes I Wore on My Book Tour
Editor Ailbhe Malone embarked on a multi‑stop press tour to promote the short‑story collection Banshee, juggling a launch party, media appearances, and a podcast recording while traveling with only hand luggage. She detailed a streamlined wardrobe and makeup routine, highlighting...
The Longreads Questionnaire, Featuring Julian Brave NoiseCat
Julian Brave NoiseCat, an Oakland‑raised writer, journalist and the first Indigenous North American filmmaker nominated for an Oscar, released his debut book *We Survived the Night*. The work weaves memoir, Indigenous myth, oral tradition and reportage to portray contemporary Indigenous...
The Knot: My Upcoming New Book (and a Course That’s Already Here)
Entrepreneur and author Seth Godin announces his upcoming book, “The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved,” slated for September release. The book aims to shift readers from feeling stuck to actively solving problems, offering a portable bundle of ideas that spark...
The Greatest Dangerous Female Characters in Literature
The article examines the evolution of dangerous female characters in literature, from early one‑dimensional villains like the Wicked Queen to modern, trauma‑driven antiheroes such as Cersei Lannister and Annie Wilkes. It highlights a poll of bestselling authors who name their...
Book Review: ‘In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man,’ by Tom...
Tom Junod’s new memoir, *In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man*, delves into his tumultuous relationship with his charismatic father, a post‑war handbag salesman whose larger‑than‑life persona embodied mid‑century notions of...
Book Review: ‘The Golden Boy,’ by Patricia Finn
Patricia Finn’s debut, *The Golden Boy*, follows disgraced TV executive Stafford Hopkins, exiled to Maui after a failed gamble, as he wrestles with his philosophical ego and a haunting past. The narrative pivots when a letter summons him back to...
Do Not Go Gentle by Kathleen Stock Review – the Case Against Euthanasia
Philosopher Kathleen Stock’s new book, Do Not Go Gentle, argues against state‑sanctioned assisted dying, targeting the UK’s pending end‑of‑life bill. She warns that legalising euthanasia creates a slippery‑slope, citing expansions in Canada and the Benelux that now cover non‑terminal and...
Stella Prize 2026 Longlist Celebrates the Power of Memory, Truth and Creative Fiction
The 2026 Stella Prize longlist, announced today, features 12 works by Australian women and non‑binary writers across poetry, memoir, fiction, non‑fiction and graphic novels. The prize received 212 entries, and each longlisted author will receive $2,000, with the ultimate winner...
The Hindu on Books Newsletter
The Hindu on Books is a weekly newsletter delivering curated book reviews, reading recommendations, and author interviews. Launched in 2022, it aggregates a rich archive of literary coverage, including prize announcements, festival previews, and cultural commentary. The newsletter highlights Indian...
Program Picks: What’s on For Tomorrow’s London Book Fair
The London Book Fair’s final day on March 12, 2026 features a packed agenda targeting the most pressing industry challenges. Sessions cover indie publishing cost pressures, AI‑driven author‑rights threats, and the growing influence of Black and Latin American literature. Panels on...
A Call to Action – Closing the Gender Gap in Nonfiction Publishing
A panel at the London Book Fair highlighted the gender gap in nonfiction publishing, citing that women account for only 26.5 % of newspaper reviews, 33.3 % of major nonfiction prize wins, and earn 36 % less than male peers. Despite overall nonfiction...
Full Set and Fuller Partnership to Publish Journalism in Book Format
Full Set, an independent book publisher, has teamed with Fuller, a global newsroom focused on women and gender‑diverse voices, to release a series of long‑form journalism essays in ebook, audiobook and paperback formats. The pilot launches in Spring 2026 with three...
Rasputin: Untangling the Man From the Wild and Complicated Myth
Antony Beevor’s new biography, *Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs*, separates the Siberian mystic’s legend from fact, showing his real influence was largely symbolic. Rasputin’s charisma won Empress Alexandra’s trust, especially after allegedly easing her son Alexei’s haemophilia crises, which...
Please, No More Disaffected White Girls
Anika Jade Levy’s debut novel Flat Earth (2025), released by Catapult, satirizes the disaffected white‑girl archetype that dominates contemporary art‑world narratives. The book’s clipped, emotion‑less prose mirrors the numbness of modern digital culture, weaving references to QAnon, fertility anxieties, and...
K.K. Venugopal Biography an Attempt to Come to Terms with Himself: N. Ram
Senior lawyer K.K. Venugopal’s memoir, *An Accidental Lawyer—My Adventures in Law and Life*, was highlighted by The Hindu’s N. Ram as an effort to “come to terms with himself.” The book mixes personal anecdotes, family stories, and reflections on landmark...
The Spokesperson for NYU Law Wrote a Novel Skewering Law Schools
NYU Law’s public affairs director Michael Orey released a satirical novel, *Dean’s List*, that lampoons the obsession with rankings and fundraising in elite law schools. The 321‑page book follows a fictional dean at a made‑up Brown‑affiliated law school as he...