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Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
The Most Anticipated Books, According to USA TODAY
It’s becoming evident which books are anticipated by multiple outlets. Take, for example, Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy, which now feels as familiar to me as any book I’ve actually read and is among USA TODAY’s recent list of most anticipated books. Kin by Tayari Jones is another big repeat, and of course it is because Tayari Jones, y’all. I hadn’t come across Queen of Faces by Petra Lord, a dark academia by a trans author. If I read any dark academia next year, it’ll be that one. One of my most anticipated picks for next year also made the list, but I’ll let you guess which one it is since our own list of 2026 reads we’re excited about is still impending (keep an eye out!). Find out what else USA TODAY selected here.
These Books are Entering the Public Domain
A new year means new works entering the realm of the public domain. This is how we end up with necessary takes on classics, like Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. NPR wrote up the cultural works that “will be free to use, share and adapt after nearly a century.” This includes movies, like All Quiet on the Western Front; music, like “Georgia on My Mind”; and characters like Betty Boop whose likeness is already set to compete with Pooh in the horror movie category. The works we’re most interested in are literary, and the big news for me, personally, is found in the world of mystery with the first four books of the Nancy Drew series and Agatha Christie’s The Murder at the Vicarage, the first Miss Marple book. Brace yourself for the many and varied adaptations of these beloved works, and check out NPR’s highlights here.
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Everyone’s Still Nerding Out About Jane’s 250th
For the millionth time, this year marked Jane Austen’s 250th birthday (December 16th was the date), and the Los Angeles Times recounted a sold-out event at New York’s famous bookselling establishment, The Strand. Brandon Taylor, Sandra Cisneros, and other esteemed authors who will write new introductions for six Austen titles that will be reissued in fresh packaging gathered to talk about the incomparable writer who really does it for me when it comes to prim sexual tension. The best thing about this piece by Leigh Haber is Mathilda, a fifth-grader in attendance, who represents all of us Austen fans in our youth. I, too, remember endless quests for classics centering women and girls and reveling in my first read (call me basic, Eleanor Shellstrop, but it was Pride and Prejudice). Continue to bask in the Jane Austen love and cosplay while it lasts these dwindling days of the year.
Your Personal Curriculum for 2026
Hey, have you signed up for our big, feature newsletter yet? If you’re in the club, you got a big dose of all things related to enriching your reading life in the new year in your inbox this morning. From reading more and better to a more contrarian–and refreshing–take on reading goals, Rebecca and Jeff lay it all out for you. You can sign up here for interesting and informed takes on the world of books and reading.
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