New Releases September 2026

September is one of the best months for new book releases, particularly in literary fiction. Click the cover images to learn more about and purchase the books or scroll down for my brief blurbs.

fiction

Out September 1st:

The Disappearers by Marlon James is a powerful, propulsive novel of friendship, survival, identity, and violence set in 1980s Jamaica. "This masterpiece is the novel of the decade, if not the century." --New York Times

Under Story by Chloe Benjamin, author of The Immortalists, is an intimate yet epic love story set against the haunting landscape of Antarctica.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is now out in paperback! A mystery unfolds with a family on a remote island guarding a precious seed bank when an unknown woman washes ashore. This was a book club favorite!

Out September 8th:

Switzy is a mesmerizing portrait of an aging man’s last pilgrimage, by Emma Cline the New York Times bestselling author of The Girls and The Guest. Switzy probes the depths of human consciousness, revealing what a man is left with when the accomplishments and compromises that have defined him, and the illusions he's relied on, vanish.

Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang, the acclaimed author of Katabasis and Yellowface, is a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.

Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon, author of The Frozen River, is a sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people

In Acid Green Velvet by cult-favorite Grace Krilanovich, Californian freakiness meets Victorian preoccupations with the domestic, pollution and filth, haunted houses, fringe societies, living death, spiritualism, vampiric women, and class parasites. Acid Green Velvet is a surreal powder keg of nihilism, fathers and their failures, manifest destiny, and American identity, penned in rapturous prose by the fiercest writer of her generation.

KIDS

Out September 1st:

Witches of Brooklyn: S’Witch Back by Sophie Escabasse — Magic, friendship, and plenty of witchy mischief return in this charming graphic novel starring Effie and her ever-expanding magical world.

The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie is the latest installment of the magical Impossible Creatures series.

COOKBOOKS

Out September 1st:

The Dessert Table by Leah Koenig — 100 joyful Jewish desserts celebrating tradition, community, and the delicious diversity of the Jewish diaspora. Get ready for a great event with the author at The Good Witch on 11/29!

Out September 8th:

Food is a Feeling: Recipes & Stories, with Love by Carla Lalli is an intimate, story-driven cookbook that explores the idea of cooking and eating as an act of self-care. The 65 recipes and 30 essays in Food Is a Feeling are a powerful reminder of the nurturing, fulfilling, and joyful role that food plays in all of our lives, a very human account of beauty and challenges balancing each other like butter and salt.

Non-fiction

The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict by Priya Parker is a paradigm-shattering exploration of how we fight and how we build healthy conflict, from the bestselling author of The Art of Gathering

New Releases (August 2026)

Here are the new releases and new-to-the-shop books for we’re excited about this August. Click the cover images to learn more about and purchase the books or scroll down for my brief blurbs.

This month’s selection includes two cookbooks that will be your family’s go-to this Fall:

What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast — Caroline Chambers

A collection of 100 flavorful, complete meals designed for busy nights, with minimal prep, cleanup, and no more than 30 minutes of hands-on time.

More, Please!: Feel-Good Meals for Busy Families and Their Picky Eaters — Rachel Mansfield

A practical collection of quick, kid-friendly recipes designed for busy families, with flexible options for different dietary needs and plenty of make-ahead ideas.

In Fiction:

Cool Machine — Colson Whitehead

Set in 1980s New York, the final book in Whitehead's Harlem Trilogy (Harlem Shuffle, and Crook Manifessto) follows Ray Carney through heists, family struggles, and a city undergoing dramatic change.

200 Monas — Jan Saenz

A wild, darkly funny debut about a college senior who discovers 200 pills in her late mother’s closet and has 48 hours to sell them—or die. Part thriller, part romance, and part exploration of grief, sexuality, and self-discovery. This book is not new this month, but stood out to me on the newly announced longlist of The Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize Longlist, and is recommended to fans of Miranda July’s All Fours.

Life of M — Rachel Cusk (Aug 25th)

A writer observes the extraordinary life of M, a world-famous movie star, in this provocative novel about fame, beauty, power, identity, and the stories we create about ourselves. This book is rumored to be about Cusk’s real-life (perhaps former due to this controversy) friend Nathalie Portman, but promises to be so much more than a celebrity tell all. Isn’t it kind of fun that this summer’s scandals are so literary?

Etna — Paul Yoon

After years of war, an ex-military dog sets off across a devastated landscape to find his way home. A spare, moving story about survival, loss, trust, and hope. This book is receiving lots of critical acclaim, and you may want to snag the last copy off our shelves right away because it is selling out everywhere.

Kitten — Stacey Yu

A young woman fresh out of college becomes unexpectedly obsessed with her boyfriend's cat, prompting her to question her relationship, her family, and what she wants from adulthood. A witty, unsettling debut about love, loneliness, and finding yourself. This is another standout from the longlist of The Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize Longlist.

You Won’t Get Free of it: Stories of Mothers and Daughters — Rachel Aviv

A collection of reported stories that explore the relationship between mothers and daughters, from the finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing for her work in The New Yorker. Aviv’s 2022 book, Strangers to Ourselves, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and a New York Times bestseller

Summer Book Recommendations

This summer’s heavy hitting recommendations from President Barack Obama, The Center for Fiction, and The Booker Prize are out now! Click the links below to see the full longlists and you can order directly from Bookshop.org to have the books shipped nationwide. If you prefer to pick up the books in store, email Sara with your requests.

 
 
 

Highlights from June 2026 New Releases

Highlights from the most anticipated books coming out in June 2026

Click on the cover images for more information



EBOOKS & NaTIONWIDE SHIPPING

AUDIOBOOKS

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's picks for great reads this Spring, with literary fiction, a few fun thrills, and compelling non-fiction

View playlist on Libro.fm

Most Anticipated Books May 2026

Highlights from the most anticipated books coming out in May 2026

Click on the cover images for more information

Highlights from new releases include:

The Things We Never Say tells the story of a chance incident that sparks a powerful realization in a beloved teacher’s life—a poignant meditation on loneliness, friendship, parenthood, and the importance of truth in a capsizing world by beloved writer Elizabeth Strout, author of Olive Kitteridge. 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is newly released as a beautiful collector's edition with gilded edges & beautifully patterned endpapers, making it the perfect gift.  This story of the robot Roz who learns to care for the creatures around her on a deserted island, including an orphaned bird she raises as her own, makes a perfect mother's day gift as a parent-child bedtime story.

Abundance, a debut novel by Hafeez Lakhani brings to life two generations of a Muslim Indian family as they grapple with what parts of life we control and what we must humbly accept in pursuit of the American dream as owners of a Dunkin’ franchise in suburban Miami.

Ms. Marvel and Ghost-Spiderteam up in Chase the Infinity Stonethe latest illustrated chapter book in the Marvel After-School Heroes series by local super writer MacKenzie Cadenhead. Look for signed copies out on the table this week!

EBOOKS & NaTIONWIDE SHIPPING

AUDIOBOOKS

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's picks for great reads this Spring, with literary fiction, a few fun thrills, and compelling non-fiction

View playlist on Libro.fm

Most Anticipated Books April 2026

Highlights from the most anticipated books coming out in April 2026

Click on the cover images for more information

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke -A “tradwife” influencer suddenly awakens in the brutal reality of 1855. “An absolutely unhinged (in a good way) novel about a lifestyle influencer. . . . When I tell you the ending is off the rails, I am telling you the ending is off the rails.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author of Bad Feminist

Now I See Spring by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen -A new board book from this multi-award winning, bestselling duo.

American Fantasy by Emma Straub -a cruise ship sets sail for a four-day themed voyage, aboard are all five members of a famous, nineties-era boy band and three thousand screaming women who have worshipped them since childhood

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe -From the bestselling, prize-winning author of Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, 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

Go Gentle by Maria Semple -Orpah’s Book Club pick from the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette, gives us Adora Hazzard’s journey of self-discovery which will grip you from the start. Romantic, hilarious, intelligent, and bursting with the stuff of life, Go Gentle is a thrilling story of one woman’s mid-life transformation, her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet

Art Book of Peace by Shana Gozansky -the latest in this board book series pairing important art works with simple text, a tender, lyrical celebration of peace in all its forms

Dawn on the Coast: A Graphic Novel (the Baby-Sitters Club #19): Volume 19 -Dawn is a California girl at heart, but could she really leave Stoneybrook -- and her mom and The Baby-sitters Club -- for good?

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez -a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past set in Brooklyn in Spring 2007

The Caribbean Cookbook by Rawlston Williams -an exploration of Caribbean cuisine and culinary history, featuring more than 380 authentic home cooking recipes from across the region

Spy School Secret Service the Graphic Novel

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell -a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who lost everything — and isn't sure she wants it back

Famesick by Lena Dunham -rowdy, frank reflection on illness, fame, sex, and everything in between, the remarkable mind behind the hit series Girls

EBOOKS & NaTIONWIDE SHIPPING

AUDIOBOOKS

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's Spring Picks Playlist on Libro.fm

Picture Book's picks for great reads this Spring, with literary fiction, a few fun thrills, and compelling non-fiction

View playlist on Libro.fm

Most Anticipated Books Coming in March 2026

I’m so thrilled to highlight these March 2026 releases:

Sisters in Yellow From Mieko Kawakami, award-winning author of Breasts and Eggs, comes a bold novel of sacrifice and the tumultuous bonds of sisterhood, set in the gritty Tokyo of the 1990s.
“I can never forget the sense of pure astonishment I felt when I first read Mieko Kawakami.” —Haruki Murakami

Part epic, part alt-Western, Now I Surrender is Álvaro Enrigue’s most expansive and impassioned novel yet. It weaves past and present, myth and history into a searing elegy for a way of life that was an incarnation of true liberty—and an homage to the spark in us that still thrills to its memory. “This gifted Mexican writer … delivers novels that are steeped in history and have a hallucinatory sense of pageantry. … He’s one of the best we have.” –Dwight Garner, The New York Times

The Keeper by Tana French: From the iconic crime writer who “inspires cultic devotion in readers” (The New Yorker) and has been called “incandescent” by Stephen King, “absolutely mesmerizing” by Gillian Flynn, and “unputdownable” (People), comes the third and final book in the million-copy-bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy set in the remote Irish village of Ardnakelty

The Future Book: Every other book was written in the past. But this book? This book was written in the future. Do you want to know what the future is like? Turn the pages to get a glimpse at the world of tomorrow and its unexpected words, strange social customs, and mind-blowing colors! From the award-winning duo Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris comes a funny, visionary picture book that kids will want to read again and again. (Age 4-10, and all ages who appreciate a funny visual story)

The Hybrid Prince (Wings of Fire, Book 16) by Tui T. Sutherland: The #1 New York Times bestselling series is back with a brand new tale! Discover what happens next in this thrilling addition to the Wings of Fire saga. Chapter book ages 8-12

AUDIOBOOKS

See the audiobook playlist of the most anticipated books coming out this winter on Libro.fm

BUY TO SHIP & EBOOKS

In the Press: Picture Book in River Journal

Your Local Bookstore: Where History Waits Between Pages and a Coffee Mug 

Judith C. Mitchell
River Journal March 2, 2026

Excerpt below:

Picture Book
145 Palisade St., Suite 200
Dobbs Ferry 

Sara Davidson, Owner: “My career before the bookshop was in the contemporary art world (art galleries, auction house, and a publishing company owned by Pace Gallery), leading me to focus on both beautiful art monographs and children’s books with compelling illustrations as the signature of my shop. Engage with American history with: ‘Amy Sherald: American Sublime,’ edited by Sarah Roberts – the exhibition catalogue for the famed American figurative painter of First Lady Michelle Obama’s official portrait. This beautiful book shows Sherald’s method of selecting individuals she meets on the street and using facial expression, body language, and clothing choices to create paintings that transcend portraiture and expand the canon of American art.”  

“ ‘An Indigenous Present’ edited with an introduction by an artist of Cherokee descent, Jeffrey Gibson, gathers more than 60 Native North American contemporary artists, musicians, filmmakers, choreographers, architects, writers, photographers, designers and more around the issues of connection, influence, conversation and collaboration. ‘A History of Fashion for Kids’ by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft, illustrated by Rose Blake, is a fun way to engage with history (American and global) through the arts.  Local author Bob McKinnon recently published two picture books: ‘America’s Dreaming’ and ‘America Gives Thanks’ featuring a child named America who navigates their first day at a new school and a field trip to Washington, D.C., with the help and inspiration of important historical American figures like Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  Local author Veera Hiranandani wrote the moving ‘Many Things at Once,’ a picture book that dives into the story of the author’s heritage from each of her parent’s sides of history, from Pakistan and Brooklyn to meeting in Poughkeepsie, forming her unique American story.” (Stop at the onsite Boxing Day Café for coffee or signature lattes.” 

February's Most Anticipated Books

I’m so thrilled to highlight these February 2026 releases:

In Clutch by Emily Nemens, five women converge on Palm Springs for a long overdue reunion twenty years into their shared friendship. “Finally, we have a collective noun for a group of aging female friends, and only the great Emily Nemens could've declared it. Clutch is hilarious, philosophical, anthropological, polyphonic, with a keen eye for the specific foibles of our present American moment. Nemens is an expert chronicler of the subtle ways women wound each other, and also, the ways they offer love. The way a friendship can carry venom and antidote both. These pages made me laugh and broke my heart—yes, it had me in its clutches.” (Hilary Leichter)

Murder Bimbo is Gone Girl for the Luigi Mangione era, and Rebecca Novack is one of our funniest and most acerbic new writers.” (Catherine Lacey). The exhilaratingly twisty story of a sex worker turned political assassin on the run, Murder Bimbo is an unputdownable and wholly fresh take on truth, murder, and optics in our national moment.

Brawler is a new short story collection from one of my favorite authors, Lauren Groff. Precise, surprising, and provocative, anchored by profound insight into human nature, Brawler reveals the repeated, sometimes heartbreaking turning points between love and fear, compassion and violence, reason and instinct, altruism and what it takes to survive.

Kin -a magnificent new novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of An American Marriage—Tayari Jones has written an unforgettable novel that sparkles with wit and intelligence and deep feeling about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy.

AUDIOBOOKS

See the audiobook playlist of the most anticipated books coming out this winter on Libro.fm

BUY TO SHIP & EBOOKS

Root & Ritual Event Photos

Thank you to Edoardo Ballerini (yes the audiobook narrator extraordinaire!) for taking these beautiful photos of Root & Ritual

Photos from the HudCo Merry Festa Sip & Shop

We had a great time at the Merry Festa HudCo Sip & Shop on Saturday! It’s so remarkable to get to watch the talented Jessica Miller paint a portrait in real time. Boxing Day’s Alanna kept us fueled with delitful matcha and The Floral Society Holiday Shoppe down the hall was dreamy as ever. Thank you to everyone that came out and supported our small businesses. It was a delight to see you! Don’t miss the big market next Saturday with Wickers Creek!

Hudson Valley Market Guide by GoLoveNY

Picture Book is thrilled to take part in three of the wonderful markets highlighted by Robin Helman of GoLoveNY.

The Hudson Valley Holiday Market Guide 2025 by Robin Helman

Where to find the best local gifts, small-batch makers, and festive day trips this season.

Read on Substack
 

The Floral Society Holiday Shoppe is back this year, down the hall from Picture Book & HudCo, with an even more lush and beautiful lineup designed to inspire connection–with loved ones, your creative practice, and nature—.with a full line-up of events, and exciting pop-ins from makers and creative friends of the brand.

Picture Book is honored to be included with a special selection of thoughtfully chosen books to compliment The Floral Society’s offerings throughout the season.

This year we’re joined by
SIN
UNDERWATER WEAVING STUDIO
FLORA VINTAGE
THE GOOD WITCH COFFEE BAR
IMMODEST COTTON
WING MING FARM

145 Palisade Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Wednesday - Friday 10am - 5pm + select weekends

 

Austen Boland’s second annual holiday shop is open in Hastings-on-Hudson through December 21st. The pop-up is in collaboration with @therivertownrose and features vintage furniture, curated gifts from local makers, and delicious treats from @yellowbowlny. Picture Book is stocking beautiful coffee table books fit for the gorgeous art and furniture.

Friday - Sunday 11-6pm at 10 Spring Street

 

Building on the momentum of their first season at the Dobbs Ferry Waterfront, Wickers Creek Market is moving indoors for the holidays!

Shop vintage art, clothing, jewelry, furniture, and more — perfect for gifting or sprucing up your home this season. In partnership with HudCo, Picture Book will have an expanded presence at the entrance with giftable books for collectors of all ages.

Saturday, December 13 · 10 AM–4 PM at 145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry.

Dr. Kelly Casperson is coming to Joyful Dermatology!

 
 

From Dr. Alaleh Akhavan of Joyful Dermatology:

Big news: The Dr. Kelly Casperson is coming to Joyful. She’s a board-certified urologic surgeon, sex educator, TEDx speaker, CEO of The Casperson Clinic, and host of the hit podcast You Are Not Broken (with over 3 million downloads and counting). And now she’s on tour with her brand-new book, The Menopause Moment: Mindset, Hormones, and Science for Optimal Longevity.

Dr. Casperson cuts through the noise around hormones, intimacy, and aging with science, humor, and honesty. Whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or just want to feel more vibrant and connected, this night is for you.

I feel soooo lucky we get to catch Dr. Casperson on her book tour for one very magical evening at Joyful. Expect light bites, lively conversation, and the kind of clarity that leaves you feeling more at ease on your way home.

Dr. Casperson is available for one night only: Thursday, October 2nd. We'll start at 7pm to gather, conversation goes from 7:30pm-9pm (to hopefully allow those observing Yom Kippur to join us). As always, tickets are final sale.

This event is in partnership with the wonderful Picture Book, and you will each receive a copy of The Menopause Moment to take home. 

Date: Thursday, October 2nd: 7pm gather/7:30pm start 

Cost: $97 (includes a copy of the book) 

Location: Joyful Dermatology ~ 145 Palisade Street, Suite 222

 

Alaleh Akhavan, MD
Board-Certified Dermatologist
Joyful Dermatology
hello@joyfuldermatology.com
joyfuldermatology.com

The 2025 Booker Prize Shortlist

Congratulations to the Book Prize Shortlist winners:

Flashlight by Susan Choi

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny  by Kiran Desai

Audition by Katie Kitamura

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits

The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller

Flesh by David Szalay

The Booker Prize revealed it's Longlist on July 29,2025, 13 books "all alive with great characters and narrative surprises." Congratulations to authors Claire Adam, Tash Aw, Natasha Brown, Jonathan Buckley, Susan Choi, Kiran Desai, Katie Kitamura, Ben Markovits, Andrew Miller, Maria Reva, David Szalay, Benjamin Wood, and Ledia Xhoga.

The longlist in full:

Love Forms by Claire Adam
The South by Tash Aw
Universality by Natasha Brown
One Boat by Jonathan Buckley
Flashlight by Susan Choi
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
Audition by Katie Kitamura
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits (Not yet released in the US)
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller
Endling by Maria Reva
Flesh by David Szalay
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (not yet released in US)
Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga