New Book Releases | April 7, 2026
Including print, ebook, and audiobook editions
April opens with a week tailor-made for readers who live in the overlap of romantasy, atmospheric fantasy, and emotionally devastating romance. Devney Perry returns to the world of Shield of Sparrows (and yes, there's a deluxe edition), a cottagecore debut about bee farms and Appalachian magic is about to become your new obsession, and Peyton Corinne is going to ruin you with a second-chance hockey romance. Oh, and Patrick Radden Keefe the author of Say Nothing has a new investigative thriller.
If you're catching up, start with New Book Releases March 31, 2026.
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⭐️ Featured Release
Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry
(Shield of Sparrows, #2 )
📖 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org | 🎧 Listen on Libro.fm
If Shield of Sparrows wrecked you, take a breath, because this one goes harder.
The sequel picks up in the aftermath of a devastating attack. Calandra has been separated from the man she loves, driven into an unfamiliar part of the realm, hunted by monsters, and kidnapped by a powerful priest. The only thing keeping her going is a little girl counting on her for survival. But this isn't a rescue-me story. Calandra's arc here is about discovering what she's capable of when everything familiar has been stripped away and deciding whether to embrace the crown, the sacrifice, or the monster within.
Perry built her career on contemporary romance, but Shield of Sparrows proved she could world-build with the best of them. Rites of the Starling deepens that world significantly. Higher stakes, more dangerous magic, and the kind of slow-dawning revelations that change everything you thought you knew about Calandra's realm. Early readers are calling it gripping, emotional, and impossible to put down.
Why you'll love it:
- The Shield of Sparrows sequel readers have been desperate for
- A heroine who evolves from frightened to formidable
- Comps to Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros for a reason, this delivers
- Deluxe limited edition with collector's features (first printing only, U.S. and Canada)
If you haven't read Shield of Sparrows yet, now's the time. We covered it in depth here.
Fantasy & Romantasy
Honey in her Veins by Ruth McKell
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A cottagecore fantasy debut about a man with a monster in his head who returns to the Appalachian bee farm where he grew up, hoping their sacred honey can heal him. The woman he finds there is Eva, his first love. A woman with flora magic she can't control, a father she accidentally harmed, and absolutely no interest in forgiving him.
Together, they trek into the forest to find the source of her family's magic. But something is haunting those woods, and it won't let them leave without confronting the secrets of their past.
Why you'll love it:
- Cottagecore fantasy meets second-chance romance meets Appalachian folklore
- A hero with a literal monster in his head and a heroine with out-of-control plant magic
- Lyrical prose, atmospheric setting, ghosts in the woods
- For fans of Adrienne Young, Alix E. Harrow, and The Honey Witch
Stitcher by Tobias J. Rooke
📖 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org
Everyone craves immortality. Very few can afford it.
In a world where immortality goes to the highest bidder, two struggling resurrectionists must stop a murderous cult intent on destroying the Death Trade and raising a beast of nightmarish proportions.
Year of the Mer by L.D. Lewis
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A dark, bloody epic fantasy reimagining of The Little Mermaid that goes far beyond the fairy tale to explore family legacy, war, and what we will sacrifice for vengeance.
The fairy tale mermaid Arielle might have gotten her happily-ever-after, but her granddaughter Yemi is having a much harder time. Her father, the king of Ixia, was assassinated years ago, her mother is slowly dying of a poisoned wound, and she faces whispers and slights from her own people.
When the kingdom’s discontented rumblings reach a fever pitch, a coup erupts and Yemi’s throne is usurped, stripping her of her family and forcing her into exile. Now, only one being has the power to help her, Ursla.
Devil of the Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois
📖 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org
Lu watched the love of his life walk the plank and sink into the inky-black depths of the sea. Nnenna was dead... or so he thought.
Five years later, Lieutenant "Lu" Ortega, dutiful fleet officer, embarks on a mission to hunt down a powerful talisman now in the hands of a runaway mermaid. On his quest, he discovers the impossible. Nnenna is still alive.
Thrillers & Mystery
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
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A spellbinding account of a family devastated by the sudden death of their nineteen-year-old son, only to discover that he had created a secret life which drew him into the dangerous criminal underworld that lies beneath London’s glittering surface.
As the Brettlers set about investigating their son’s death, they were pulled into a different and more dangerous London than the one they’d always known, and came to believe that something much more nefarious than a suicide had claimed Zac’s life. But to their immense frustration, Scotland Yard seemed unwilling to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a bravura feat of reporting and writing, Patrick Radden Keefe chronicles the Brettlers’ quest, peeling back layers of mystery and exposing the seedy truths behind the glamorous London of posh mansions and private nightclubs, a city in which everything is for sale, and aspirational fantasies are underwritten by dirty money and corruption.
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
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Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.
Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter–for a mind-boggling sum–they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers.
The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus.
Girls Trip by Ally Condie
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Hope, Ash, and Caro met at an online book club. Over the past two years, they’ve been there for each other in every way. Except in person. When each of their lives reach a crossroads, they decide to meet in real life at the gorgeous Sonnet Resort at Eden National Park.
Hope, an actress, has become entirely too famous and needs to get away from it all. Ash, a successful online entrepreneur, isn’t sure what has happened to her marriage. Caro, a doctor, has lost a patient and doesn’t know if she wants to carry on or start all over. And none of them are telling each other the full story …
A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad
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An intoxicating drama set in the world of New York City’s elite, A Killer in the Family explores the underside of the American dream and asks, what happens when you marry into a family that keeps secrets?
To uncover the truth, Ali launches his own investigation, which takes him deep into Abbas’s dealings and past. As he closes in on the truth, Ali must decide: Can he remain part of the Khan family, and pay the moral price demanded by unimaginable wealth and power?
Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For by Leonie Swann
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The Agnes Sharp mystery series ends with a bang in this explosive finale from the author of Three Bags Full.
The octogenarian housemates at Sunset Hall are busy preparing for the wedding of one of their own, the blind and blushing bride Bernadette, but as the big day approaches, they must fend off a mysterious killjoy from the past. If you've been following this series, you know the vibe: witty, charming, and just dark enough to keep you guessing.
A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham
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Special Agent Chloe McMurray has been asked to do many things in the name of her job. Going undercover on a cruise ship leaving from her home port of Miami, however, is a new one. Not only that, but she's tasked with posing as the wife of her federal counterpart, Special Agent Wesley Law.
A Cruise to Die For is exactly what the title promises: a suspenseful mystery set on the high seas. Reliable, entertaining, and perfect for readers who devour a book a week.
Harmless Women by Rebecca Sharpe
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In this pacy thriller, a female con artist chooses the wrong woman as her target, and both women end up on the run for their lives. On paper, Prim is the perfect target: wealthy, workaholic, and distracted by her cheating husband. But when Avalon finds Prim's husband dead, she can't escape so easily. Not when she's been mistaken for Prim who's now wanted for murder. The two women who are opposites and enemies-are suddenly on the run together, and must learn to get along, to depend on each other in order to get away. And then, what starts as a cat-and-mouse run to the coast of England becomes a fight for their survival
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Romance
Unbound by Peyton Corinne
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Peyton Corinne doesn't write romance, she writes emotional devastation that happens to include a love story. Unbound is the third book in her Undone series, and if you've been waiting for Bennett and Paloma's story, prepare yourself.
Bennett Reiner is the carefully controlled, neurodivergent goalie whose OCD and anxiety make routine essential. Paloma Blake is the girl behind the walls, antagonistic on the surface, deeply traumatized underneath. They were each other's first love, and their breakup shattered them both. The book moves between their freshman year (falling) and their senior year (trying to find their way back), and Corinne doesn't pull a single punch. The rep for OCD, anxiety, and abuse survivorship is thoughtful and specific.
Early readers are comparing this to Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, but with significantly more emotional depth and darker subject matter.
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn
📖 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org | 🎧 Listen on Libro.fm
Kate Clayborn writes romance for readers who want beautiful prose and emotional intelligence alongside the chemistry. The Paris Match delivers exactly that. A romance set against the backdrop of Paris, from one of the most quietly brilliant voices in the genre. If you loved Love Lettering or Georgie, All Along, you're going to want this immediately.
The Name Game by Beth O'Leary
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A man and a woman with the same name land the same job at a remote farm shop on the Isle of Ormer. Beth O'Leary (The Flatshare, The No-Show) does high-concept rom-com premises better than almost anyone, and the "stranded on a wild island together" setup is peak forced-proximity. Charming, funny, and the kind of book you'll finish in a single sitting. This one is perfect for enjoying outside with an ice coffee.
Nonfiction
The Noma Guide to Building Flavor by René Redzepi
The chef behind Noma, arguably the most influential restaurant of the 21st century, shares his approach to building flavor. Redzepi's previous book (The Noma Guide to Fermentation) became a modern kitchen classic, and this follow-up promises to be the kind of cookbook that changes how you think about cooking. If you're someone who reads cookbooks cover to cover like me this is a must buy.
Burn the Haystack by Jennie Young
📖 Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org | 🎧 Listen on Libro.fm
It’s time for a dating revolution! How do you find a needle in a haystack? You burn the haystack to the ground.
As Dr. Jennie Young’s followers will tell you, the “needle” is a long-term, committed partner and the “haystack” is the group of men available to date. So often women are advised to “give the guy a chance,” to take seriously men whose app bios tell women not to take themselves seriously. Young’s refreshing approach to online dating turns this advice on its head: Give almost no one a chance.
Homesick Nomad by Brianna Madia
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Brianna Madia's first memoir (Nowhere for Very Long) was a surprise hit. Honest, adventurous, and deeply personal writing about life on the road with her dogs, her van, and eventually the dissolution of her marriage. Homesick Nomad continues her story. Madia writes about freedom and loneliness and identity with the kind of clarity that makes you underline entire paragraphs.
Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry by Ada Limón
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The current U.S. Poet Laureate on why poetry matters. Not as an abstract idea, but as a survival tool. Limón's voice is warm, accessible, and deeply human. If you loved her poetry collection The Carrying or her viral inauguration poem, this prose meditation on what poetry can do for us is a perfect companion.
Waiting for Dawn by Marisa R. Lee
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A memoir about living with uncertainty. Lee guides you through the hard times that arise unexpectedly and disrupt your life for indeterminate periods. Uncertainty and fear impact how you interact with the world and understand your place in it. You manage the loneliness and isolation by convincing others that you are fine. Lee debunks the idea that you must force positivity and, instead, helps you learn how to hold compassion for yourself in hard times.
This is the kind of book that helps you understand your own life through someone else's story.
In Trees by Robert Moor
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Robert Moor's On Trails was one of the best nature books of the last decade. A book about paths that became a meditation on how humans navigate the world. In Trees applies the same curious, deeply researched approach to forests. If you love nature writing that makes you see familiar things differently, this is your next spring read.
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Also Out This Week
Blood Trail by Matt Query and Harrison Query: The Query brothers (Old Country) are back with another high-octane thriller. If you like your suspense with a rural, almost horror-adjacent edge, this delivers.
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer: From the author of The Wishing Game. Shaffer writes the kind of warm, whimsical fiction that feels like a hug in book form. Perfect for readers who love stories about the magic of books themselves.
Diver's Heart by K.A. Knight: K.A. Knight bringing her dark romance/fantasy energy to a new story. If you're in her reader ecosystem, you already have this preordered.
Dog Person by Camille Pagán: A feel-good novel about finding yourself through the unexpected. For readers who loved A Man Called Ove or similar heartwarming fiction.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What books are coming out April 7, 2026?
This week's biggest releases include Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, Honey in her Veins by Ruth McKell, Unbound by Peyton Corinne, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, and American Fantasy by Emma Straub, plus 15 more titles across romantasy, romance, thrillers, literary fiction, and nonfiction.
What is the best romantasy releasing this week?
Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry is the standout — the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Shield of Sparrows, featuring a princess navigating a cursed realm, separated from the man she loves. If you love Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros, this is your book.
Are there new fantasy books releasing this week?
Yes — Rites of the Starling (Devney Perry, romantasy sequel), Honey in her Veins (Ruth McKell, cottagecore Appalachian fantasy debut), Stitcher (Tobias J. Rooke), Year of the Mer (L.D. Lewis), and Devil of the Deep (Falencia Jean-Francois) are all out this week. For readers who loved Shield of Sparrows, check out our character guide.
Are there new romance books releasing April 7?
This is a loaded week for romance. Unbound by Peyton Corinne (second-chance hockey romance), The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn, The Name Game by Beth O'Leary (forced-proximity rom-com), Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak, and How to Fake a Southern Gentleman by Mayra Cuevas are all strong picks. If you're looking for more sports romance, check out Books That Will Wreck Your Weekend.
Are there new thrillers releasing this week?
Yes, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (investigative nonfiction/thriller), Girls Trip by Ally Condie (friends-trip-gone-wrong), A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad, Burn the Haystack by Jennie Young, and Harmless Women by Rebecca Sharpe are all out April 7.
What are you reading first? Drop your pick in the comments. I love seeing what rises to the top each week.
