Utah Bans 28th Book for All Public School Students
On March 2, 2026 Utah added John Green's *Looking for Alaska* as the 28th title banned statewide under the controversial House Bill 29, bringing the total prohibited books to 28. The ban follows a lawsuit filed by the Maya Angelou estate challenging the law’s definition of “sensitive material.” HB 29 mandates that once a book is removed in a few districts, all public schools must discard it, effectively centralizing local censorship. Two districts, Davis and Washington, account for the majority of removals, highlighting uneven enforcement across the state.
Whispering Walls and Haunted Halls: 8 Gothic Novels
The article spotlights nine recent gothic novels, ranging from the award‑winning Southern Gothic "Beloved" to the breakout hit "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno‑Garcia. It highlights how contemporary authors are remixing classic haunted‑house tropes with modern themes like consent, domestic violence,...
The 2026 Indies Choice Awards Shortlists Are Here
The American Booksellers Association has unveiled the shortlists for the 2026 Indies Choice Book Awards, marking the awards' return after a hiatus since 2019. The shortlists cover seven categories, including adult fiction, young adult, adult nonfiction, picture books, and middle‑grade,...
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...
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...
HBO Max and Paramount+ to Combine Into One Streaming Platform, Paramount Says HBO Brand Will ‘Operate With Independence’
Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global announced that HBO Max and Paramount+ will be combined into a single streaming service. The new platform will house HBO’s premium DC‑based series alongside Paramount+’s catalog of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek and...
One of These Writers Will Win $150,000
The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction unveiled its 2026 longlist of 15 titles, including Katie Kitamura’s *Audition* and Megha Majumdar’s *A Guardian and a Thief*, with a $150,000 award slated for June. Author Sarah J. Maas announced she has reclaimed the TV‑adaptation rights to...
I Get Why All The Book Clubs Chose This Book
Oyinkan Braithwaite’s novel *Cursed Daughters* was selected by several prominent book clubs in late 2024, earning a spot on the year’s most popular book‑club list. The story follows three cousins trapped by a generational curse, mixing saga‑like scope with contemporary...
Read Harder This Women’s History Month
To mark Women’s History Month, Book Riot curates two titles that also satisfy the 2026 Read Harder Challenge. Wendy L. Rouse’s *Her Own Hero* offers a micro‑history of the early 20th‑century women’s self‑defense movement and its racial contradictions. Edited by...
The Surprising Culprit Behind the Death of Reading
The piece links the decline of deep reading to deliberately engineered digital design that fragments attention, arguing that today’s delivery mechanisms are the real culprits. It also highlights Daisy Edgar-Jones’ casting in the upcoming film adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin’s gaming‑industry...
This Massive Fandom Is Screaming About a Major Reveal
Sarah J. Maas revealed release dates for the sixth (Oct 27, 2026) and seventh (Jan 12, 2027) *A Court of Thorns and Roses* novels, sparking massive BookTok excitement. Hulu released the trailer for *The Testaments*, a *Handmaid’s Tale* spinoff starring Chase Infiniti, highlighting Gilead’s...