12 novels and nonfiction books to read and add to your TBR for spring Erik Pedersen, The Orange County Register Mar 18, 2026 Mar 18, 2026 0 1 of 8 "Brawler: Stories," by Lauren Groff. (Penguin Publishing Group/TNS) Penguin Publishing Group/Penguin Publishing Group/TNS "Go Gentle," by Maria Semple. (Penguin Publishing Group/TNS) Penguin Publishing Group/Penguin Publishing Group/TNS "The Palm House," by Gwendoline Riley. (New York Review Books/TNS) New York Review Books/New York Review Books/TNS "London Falling," by Patrick Radden Keefe. (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/TNS) Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/TNS "The Left and the Lucky: A Novel," by Willy Vlautin. (HarperCollins/TNS) HarperCollins/HarperCollins/TNS "Kin," by Tayari Jones. (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/TNS) Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/TNS "Son of Nobody: A Novel," by Yann Martel. (Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc./TNS) Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc./Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc./TNS "A Suit or a Suitcase: Poems," by Maggie Smith. (Washington Square Press/TNS) Washington Square Press/Washington Square Press/TNS Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Erik Pedersen, The Orange County Register These are challenging times by any metric, but here’s something that’s also true: 2026 is shaping up to be a great year for books.kAm$@>6 @7 @FC >@DE E2=6?E65 HC:E6CD 2C6 56=:G6C:?8 ?@G6=D[ ?@?7:4E:@? 2?5 A@6ECJ :? E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D] x7 J@F H2?E E@ =@D6 J@FCD6=7 :? 2 8@@5 3@@< @C ;FDE E2<6 2 3C62< 7C@> H92E6G6C :E :D J@F ?665 2 3C62< 7C@>[ C6DE 62DJ <?@H:?8 E92E E96C6 :D 2 DE6==2C =:?6FA @7 E:E=6D 4@>:?8 E@ J@FC =@42= :?56A6?56?E 3@@<DE@C6]k^AmkAm$@[ 96C6 2C6 `a 3@@<D E@ AFE @? J@FC 42=6?52C 2?5 J@F 42? 36 2DDFC65 @7 2E =62DE @?6 E9:?8i %9:D C6AC6D6?ED ;FDE D@>6 @7 E96 E:E=6D x’> =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ C625:?8 2?5 D92C:?8 H:E9 J@F 2D H6 2AAC@249 DAC:?8] $@ =6E’D 86E DE2CE65]k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts Spring Craft Crawl coming up in downtown Marion. Here's where and when. Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Railroad conference in Morganton focuses on passenger trains, rebuilding from Helene Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire NC Gov. Stein kicks off rural listening tour in McDowell County, visits Marion business kAmkDEC@?8m“p (@C=5 pAA62CD”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci |:4926= !@==2?k^AmkAm!@==2? 92D E2<6? C6256CD @? 2== <:?5D @7 EC:AD E9C@F89@FE 9:D 42C66C[ 2?5 E9:D >2J 36 @?6 @7 9:D >@DE 25G6?EFC@FD] x? E9:D ?@?7:4E:@? :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 96 2EE6>AED E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E 9F>2? 4@?D4:@FD?6DD :D[ 6G6? 2D H6 7246 492==6?86D 7C@> p]x] 2?5 A@?56C E96 BF6DE:@? @7 H92E :E >62?D E@ 36 2 A6CD@?]k^AmkAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i ~FE ?@Hk^Am kAm—k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“z:?”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci %2J2C: y@?6Dk^AmkAmx? E9:D 7@==@H\FA E@ 96C DFA6C\DF446DD7F= 36DED6==6C[ “p? p>6C:42? |2CC:286[” y@?6D C6EFC?D H:E9 2 ?@G6= 23@FE E96 5:G6C86?E A2E9D E2<6? 3J EH@ J@F?8 H@>6? 8C@H:?8 FA H:E9@FE E96:C >@E96CD :? E96 $@FE9] W%96 2FE9@C H:== 36 E2=<:?8 E@ FD 23@FE E96 3@@< :? 2? FA4@>:?8 DE@CJ]Xk^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i ~FE ?@Hk^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“qC2H=6C”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci {2FC6? vC@77k^Am kAmvC@77 :D D@ H6== <?@H? 7@C 96C }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5\?@>:?2E65 ?@G6=D “u2E6D U2>Aj uFC:6D” 2?5 “|2EC:I” E92E J@F 4@F=5 2=>@DE 7@C86E D96 :D 2? 6I46AE:@?2= D9@CE DE@CJ HC:E6C] w6C 4@==64E:@? “u=@C:52” H2D 2=D@ 2 7:?2=:DE 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5 WE92E’D E9C66 ?@>:?2E:@?DPX 2?5 :E H@? %96 $E@CJ !C:K6[ D@ J@F 42? 6IA64E “qC2H=6C” E@ 9:E 92C5] W(6 92G6 2? :?E6CG:6H FA4@>:?8 H:E9 96C[ E@@]Xk^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i ~FE }@Hk^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“!JE9@?’D z:DD”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci {@F:D6 tC5C:49k^Am kAmx? 96C ?6H 4@==64E:@? @7 D9@CE 7:4E:@?[ }2E:@?2= q@@< pH2C5 2?5 !F=:EK6C !C:K6 H:??6C tC5C:49 4@>A@D6D DE@C:6D E92E 56=:G6C C:49 6IA6C:6?46D :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 D6EE:?8Di 2 8:C= 2?5 96C 2F?E 5:D4FDD:?8 H655:?8 5C6DD6Dj 2 A2CE\E:>6 D49@@= 3FD 5C:G6C ?2G:82E:?8 2 3=:KK2C5j 2? 27E6C=:76 762EFC:?8 F?6IA64E65 9@=5@G6CD 7C@> 62CE9] tIA64E E96D6 A:646D E@ 56=:89E[ DFCAC:D6 2?5 EC2?DA@CE J@F] Wp?5 H6’== 36 DA62<:?8 H:E9 96C 23@FE E9:D 3@@<[ E@@]Xk^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i |2C49 ack^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“p $F:E @C 2 $F:E42D6”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci |288:6 $>:E9k^Am kAmz?@H? 7@C 96C 56G2DE2E:?8 A@6>[ “v@@5 q@?6D[” $>:E9 92D 7@F?5 DF446DD H:E9 96C >6>@:C[ “*@F r@F=5 |2<6 %9:D !=246 q62FE:7F=[” 2?5 ?@?7:4E:@? H@C<D @? 4C62E:G:EJ 2?5 :?DA:C2E:@?[ “s62C (C:E6C” 2?5 “z66A |@G:?8]” %9:D ?6H 3@@< :D 2 C6EFC? E@ A@6ECJ[ 2?5 :ED E:E=6 A:646 2=@?6 92D FD 6I4:E65 E@ C625 >@C6]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i |2C49 ack^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“$@? @7 }@3@5J”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci *2?? |2CE6=k^AmkAmx? 9:D 7:CDE ?@G6= :? 2 564256[ E96 36DED6==:?8 2FE9@C @7 “{:76 @7 !:” C6EFC?D H:E9 2 DE@CJ 23@FE 2 D49@=2C H9@ 7:?5D 2 =@DE 6A:4 A@6> 23@FE E96 %C@;2? (2C[ H9:49 92D F?42??J 4@CC6=2E:@?D E@ 9:D @H? =:76 2D 96 H@C<D @? EC2?D=2E:?8 :E]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i |2C49 b`k^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“{@?5@? u2==:?8i p |JDE6C:@FD s62E9 :? 2 v:=565 r:EJ 2?5 2 u2>:=J’D $62C49 7@C %CFE9”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci !2EC:4< #2556? z6676k^AmkAmpFE9@C @7 @?6 @7 E96 36DE H@C<D @7 ?@?7:4E:@? @7 E96 a`DE r6?EFCJ[ “$2J }@E9:?8[” z6676 AC6D6?ED 96C6 H92E 2E 7:CDE 2AA62CD E@ 36 2 H@C< @7 ECF6 4C:>6 – E96 DE@CJ @7 2 J@F?8 >2? H9@ 76==[ ;F>A65 @C H2D AFD965 7C@> 2 9:89\C:D6 2A2CE>6?E :? {@?5@?] qFE 2D E96 2FE9@C :?G6DE:82E6D[ 2 =2C86C[ >@C6 E2?8=65 DE@CJ 23@FE >@?6J[ 4C:>6[ 4=2DD 2?5 :?7=F6?46 6>6C86D]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= fk^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%C2?D4C:AE:@?”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci q6? {6C?6Ck^AmkAmp A@6E 2?5 2FE9@C @7 >F49\25>:C65 ?@G6=D[ :?4=F5:?8 “%96 %@A6<2 $49@@=” 2?5 “`_i_c[” C6EFC?D H:E9 2 H@C< @7 7:4E:@? 23@FE 2 HC:E6C H9@ EC2G6=D E@ :?E6CG:6H 9:D 28:?8 >6?E@C – @?=J 96’D H:E9@FE 2 C64@C5:?8 56G:46 27E6C 5C@AA:?8 9:D A9@?6 :? E96 9@E6= D:?<]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= fk^Am kAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“|J s62C *@F”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci #2496= z9@?8k^AmkAm%96 2FE9@C @7 E96 244=2:>65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^_c^ab^H9J\C2496=\<9@?8\D2JD\?@G6=\C62=\2>6C:42?D\6IA=@C6D\:DDF6D\D@4:6EJ\DE:==\7246D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm“#62= p>6C:42?D”k^2m 2?5 “v@@53J6[ ':E2>:?[” H9:49 H@? E96 r2=:7@C?:2 q@@< pH2C5 7@C u:CDE u:4E:@?[ C6EFC?D H:E9 2 4@==64E:@? @7 D9@CE 7:4E:@? E92E 6IA=@C6D =@G6[ 52E:?8[ C246[ 42A:E2=:D> 2?5 >2?J @E96C E9:?8D]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= fk^Am kAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 !2=> w@FD6”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci vH6?5@=:?6 #:=6Jk^AmkAm#:=6J :D E96 2FE9@C @7 E96 >F49\AC2:D65 ?@G6=D “|J !92?E@>D” 2?5 “u:CDE {@G6[” 2?5 E9:D ?6H @?6 4@?46C?D E96 7C:6?5D9:A 36EH66? EH@ {@?5@?6CD[ 2 HC:E6C 2?5 2? 65:E@C[ H9@ >66E FA E@ 5:D4FDD H@C<[ =:76 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= `ck^AmkAm–k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m“v@ v6?E=6”k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmpFE9@Ci |2C:2 $6>A=6k^AmkAm%96 2FE9@C @7 “(96C6’5 *@F v@[ q6C?256EE6” C6EFC?D H:E9 2 ?6H ?@G6= 23@FE 2 5:G@C465 $E@:4 A9:=@D@A96C ?2>65 p5@C2 w2KK2C5[ H9@D6 H6==\@C56C65 =:76 2?5 566A=J 4@?D:56C65 6I:DE6?46 86E D92<6? FA 3J 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 D<6E49J 2CE 562=D 2?5 96C @H? D925J A2DE]k^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= `ck^AmkAm–k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 {67E 2?5 E96 {F4<J”k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmpFE9@Ci (:==J '=2FE:?k^AmkAmx’> 2=C625J @? C64@C5 2D =@G:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^_h^`b^5:D4@G6C:?8\2\?6H\4=2DD:4\?@G6=\5FC:?8\E96\962E\@7\E96\DF>>6C^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm'=2FE:?’D AC6G:@FD ?@G6=[ “%96 w@CD6[”k^2m 2?5 E9:D ?6H @?6 D@F?5D =:<6 2 32=> 7@C 5:77:4F=E E:>6D] s:G@C465 9@FD6A2:?E6C t55:6 367C:6?5D #FDD6==[ 9:D g\J62C\@=5 ?6IE\5@@C ?6:893@Cj #FDD6==’D >@E96C 92D 96C 92?5D 7F== E2<:?8 42C6 @7 96C 28:?8 >@E96C 2?5 #FDD6==’D EC@F3=65 @=56C 3C@E96C] tG6CJ3@5J 42? FD6 8@@5 7C:6?5D – @C 2 3@@< 23@FE E96>[ C:89Enk^Am kAm!F3=:42E:@? s2E6i pAC:= `ck^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Lizzo writes a children’s book and, of course, it’s about a flute MINNEAPOLIS — Singer, rapper, flutist, dancer, actor, reality TV star. Lizzo will add another title to her resume — author. The Minneapolis-la… ‘Eradication’ author Jonathan Miles opened for the Rolling Stones Jonathan Miles, author of the novels “Dear American Airlines” and “Want Not,” has just published “Eradication: A Fable.” As well as fiction, M… This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, March 14, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesaler… ‘The Copywriter’ author Daniel Poppick composed text for a queen Daniel Poppick has published two collections of poetry, the National Poetry Series-winning “Fear of Description” and “The Police.” “The Copywr… ‘Infinite Jest’ at 30: Why its editor says it’s ‘more valuable than ever’ ANAHEIM, Calif. — Years ago, I taught English as a Second Language at a pair of schools in Southern California that drew learners from around …
Lizzo writes a children’s book and, of course, it’s about a flute MINNEAPOLIS — Singer, rapper, flutist, dancer, actor, reality TV star. Lizzo will add another title to her resume — author. The Minneapolis-la…
‘Eradication’ author Jonathan Miles opened for the Rolling Stones Jonathan Miles, author of the novels “Dear American Airlines” and “Want Not,” has just published “Eradication: A Fable.” As well as fiction, M…
This week's bestsellers from Publishers Weekly Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, March 14, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesaler…
‘The Copywriter’ author Daniel Poppick composed text for a queen Daniel Poppick has published two collections of poetry, the National Poetry Series-winning “Fear of Description” and “The Police.” “The Copywr…
‘Infinite Jest’ at 30: Why its editor says it’s ‘more valuable than ever’ ANAHEIM, Calif. — Years ago, I taught English as a Second Language at a pair of schools in Southern California that drew learners from around …
