New in Paperback January 2025

Poignant and darkly comic, smart and sharp, Akbar’s novel is a life-affirming story of addiction and art, love and loss. Centered on a young man in search of purpose, readers will embark on a quest to uncover life’s mysteries in faith, religion, history, home and art through these pages. This unraveling of mysteries will appeal to fans of Tommy Orange and James McBride. 

Bestselling, highly acclaimed and accessible, this is a landmark, comprehensive biography of Martin Luther King Jr. Long overdue, brilliantly researched and vividly told, King: A Life is a deeply satisfying biography, capturing the fuller dimensions of the life, thought and humanity of this complicated individual who so challenged and changed history.

How far would you go for your dream? June and Athena were meant to be twin rising stars in the publishing industry, but when Athena’s fame skyrocketed, June questioned the true nature of her fame — leading her to do the unthinkable. The bestselling author of Babel and The Poppy War trilogy now turns to a razor-sharp inquisition of the publishing industry and the trends we’d kill to follow…

No one writes horror like Tananarive Due, and her latest is her best yet. Sharp, tragic, heartbreaking and terrifying, The Reformatory takes readers back in time to an all-boys school in the 1950s American South. Centered on twelve-year-old Robbie, Due takes readers back to Jim Crow Florida where Robbie is faced with horrifying truths — from the living and the dead. This gripping mystery is perfect for fans of S.A. Cosby and Stephen Graham Jones.

Practical, comprehensive and essential, Your Brain on Art is ripe with insight. From painting to dancing to writing and so much more, art is a necessary tool for life, and Your Brain on Art gives us a brand-new way of seeing the world and ourselves. If you ever wanted to truly understand what art can do for the world, let this book be your guide.

The acclaimed author of Shiner returns with a vibrant story driven by a family mystery and terrific characters who mean well, but… don’t always make great choices. Amy Jo Burns takes readers back to 1990 Pennsylvania where one family’s loyalties are put to the test. With old wounds and buried secrets, this is perfect for fans of The People We Keep.

T. Kingfisher (What Moves the Dead) takes readers into a dazzling, moss-covered fantasy world where princesses get trapped in towers and fairies kidnap babies from their beds. When a knight comes across a tower housing a centuries old curse, he’s set on breaking it — and ruining everything Toadling has devoted her life to guarding. Thornhedge is the very example of a fractured fairytale: glittering, gruesome and endlessly enchanting.

Centered on a single mother’s encounter with a bizarre case of a traumatic brain injury and a serial killer on the loose, She’s Not Sorry takes readers on a terrifying chase to catch an elusive murderer and get to the bottom of his plans — before she winds up being his next victim. Cunning, clever and bingeable, this is perfect for fans of Nita Prose and Alice Feeney. 

After falling in love with When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect, we’re thrilled that Sarah Adams has finally returned with the third red-hot volume in her addictive romance series. Rival undercover authors and schoolteachers form an unlikely alliance in this enthralling forced proximity romance for fans of Book Lovers by Emily Henry.

Relationships that start in coffee shops are sure to be picture-perfect — right? When Isabella makes the uncharacteristic decision to swipe someone else’s coffee on her way to her first day at her dream job, she’s sure she’s gotten away with it — until she spills it all over her brand-new boss. This grumpy x sunshine workplace romance is guaranteed to make you and your besties swoon.

The riveting memoir of the indelible Sir Patrick Stewart, from his days on stage to his iconic roles as Captain Picard and Professor Charles Xavier. Sir Ian McKellan sums Stewart’s memoir up perfectly, saying, “He writes as well as he acts, with insight, truth and passion.” Stewart has brought life to countless characters, but this is the story of who he truly is.

This is your favorite show brought to life on the page. Campy, catty and clever, Astrid Dahl introduces readers to Hope, Renee, Birdie and Carmela — stars a of hit network reality show. When a starlet gets murdered and manicured nails start pointing, the show’s producer must race to catch the killer before another diva goes down.

First published in 1926, Lud-in-the-Mist has served as inspiration to a few of our favorite fantasy authors today (like Katherine Arden, author of The Bear and the Nightingale). The mayor of Lud-in-the-Mist embarks on a quest to find his town’s missing children and get to the bottom of nefarious faerie activity affecting his people. Get swept away to the world of the fae in this enchanting read.

The fourth installment in this fast-paced, highly addictive (and endlessly swoony) fantasy series is here. Continue the epic journey that began with A Broken Blade and find out if Keera has what it takes to save the Halflings — and her heart. Thrilling, action-packed and epic, this series is a #BookTok favorite for a reason.

A fantasy world ruled by celestial beings and a dazzling romance between star-crossed lovers meant to be enemies? We’re in. Elara has been cursed with a prophesy promising she’ll fall for a star one day, but their love will kill them both. Passionate and irresistible, this is great for fans of Carissa Broadbent and Kerri Maniscalco.

A haunting historical fiction standalone inspired by real-life stories from WWI, this is the tale of siblings separated by the war, and the search for reunion. The latest from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale tells a heartfelt story with a speculative twist; The Warm Hands of Ghosts weaves the historical with the supernatural with delightful ease.

The 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning book for history, No Right to an Honest Living highlights how injustice against Black Bostonian workers led to the struggle of securing equality for all. Acclaimed author Jacqueline Jones (Goddess of Anarchy) presents a carefully researched narrative of a dark time in American history through one major city and its pious promises to Black workers.

Bestselling poet r.h. Sin has crafted both a quietly devastating and immensely hopeful collection with themes of grief, healing and heartbreak. The first in a planned series, this is a profound collection from one of our favorite poets.