The spring publishing season is in full swing, and there are exciting new books out April 14, 2026 — including the latest in The Captive’s War series by The Expanse authors James S.A. Corey. The new sequel offers incentive for sci-fi lovers to head out to the bookstore, but it’s far from the only title to watch out for this week. Another bestselling author returning with a new title is Maria Semple, known best for 2012’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
There are also a couple of debuts hitting shelves, from a lit-fic novel for readers who love mess to a romantasy that’s selling us with its cover alone. There’s also an exciting new horror book, so this Tuesday has all its bases covered. April 2026’s new release list may be overwhelming, but these are must-reads for the week of the 14th.
The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey
The Faith of Beasts, the second book in The Captive’s War, hits shelves this Tuesday, and it’s one of the biggest new titles arriving on April 14. After The Mercy of the Gods, The Faith of Beasts promises to take the stakes of this story of subjugation and survival up a notch. Scientist Dafyd Alkhor will continue to straddle the line between fighting for his people and being useful to their alien oppressors. And the tensions between humanity and the Carryx are poised to reach a boiling point. Early Goodreads reviews promise greater complexity and more world-building in this sequel. It’s one The Mercy of the Gods fans will already be on the lookout for, but it should be on every sci-fi reader’s radar.
Go Gentle by Maria Semple
Maria Semple’s Go Gentle has a grabbing cover, and its premise is just as compelling. Go Gentle follows Adora Hazzard, a woman whose contentedness is carefully constructed using one philosophy: “desire only what you have.” Naturally, the book goes out of its way to throw Adora’s peaceful life out the window. Thanks to “a chance meeting with a handsome stranger,” Go Gentle‘s lead finds herself navigating an increasingly chaotic present, the harsh realities of her past, and a future she’s willing to lean into the dangers of desire for. It sounds deeply entertaining and likely to resonate with any reader.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
There are many exciting horror books out in 2026, and April 14 welcomes one of them: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker. The novel promises to blend two narratives: one set in October 2026, during which a young man kills his roommate, then flees to a house in Japan, and another in October 1877, which centers on a samurai hiding in a house from imperial soldiers. Both are interrupted by the appearance of the other, but the book’s synopsis teases a story that’s not as straightforward as it sounds: “One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.” That sentence alone offers incentive to pick this one up. I need to know more!
Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola
Tolani Akinola’s debut, Leave Your Mess at Home, marks the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good familial drama. The novel tells the story of four siblings grappling with individual problems, from failure in careers and love to improving their self-image or parenting. When Sola, the eldest daughter, returns home, the group reunites for Thanksgiving dinner at their parents house. The book’s description promises “a decade’s worth of secrets and a lifetime of resentments” will come spilling out, which they’ll then need to recover from. Consider me seated.
Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe
Winter might be over, but that doesn’t mean you cant pick up a cozy fantasy book. And Amy Coombe’s debut, Stay for a Spell, offers the perfect one to fall into. Pitched for “anyone who’s ever lost — or found — themselves in a bookshop,” Stay for a Spell follows a princess cursed to stay in a bookshop until she uncovers her heart’s desire. That sounds like every reader’s dream, and as it turns out, it’s precisely what Princess Tanadelle needs. The bookshop itself may just prove her destiny. But with her royal duties unattended, she’ll deal with her parents sending princes her way as well. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that none of them break the curse in question…
Which new release do you have your eye on this week? Watch out for more new release news and reviews on Backtalk Books.
