Adolescence writer Jack Thorne's TV version of the classic novel is a hit

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day and Friday the 13th, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with Booklist, Book Riot, iREAD, and NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), is delighted to announce the eighth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and library workers and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.

This year, Summer Scares welcomes New York TImes Bestselling author Jennifer McMahon as the 2026 spokesperson. 

“We need horror now more than ever. Stories to unsettle us, to make us question what we think we know, to show us how to confront the darkness and come out the other side,” said McMahon. “Stories that we will put down and feel changed by. This collection of books chosen by the Summer Scares committee perfectly showcases the true diversity of horror today, and is more evidence that we are at the peak of a horror renaissance. These are books to get lost in, books to share with others in your life, books to talk about and ponder over. So come along, take my hand and prepare to step into the darkness with me this summer. Yes, there’s plenty of scary stuff in these books. But there’s also a whole lot of hope. Oh, and don’t close your eyes — you don’t want to miss a thing along the way.”

Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade. For 2026 those selected titles are:

Adult Selections:

Leila Green Little was the lead plaintiff in Little v. Llano County, a court case that has had and will continue to have significant bearing on the kinds of materials that public libraries offer their patrons. In an en banc decision out of the Fifth Circuit last May, the ruling was that government officials have the ultimate say in public library collections in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. It was the first loss for the plaintiffs, who appealed the case to the Supreme Court. The Court ultimately decided not to take it up.

But what does the ruling in this case actually mean? What have people with a vested interest in library censorship decided that it means? Those are just two of the questions that continue to emerge as we move forward with the ruling from the Fifth Circuit. Little v. Llano County has already been cited numerous times as proof that the government can decide what people do and do not have access to in public libraries. One such citation–and one worth watching–is Florida’s government in their current appeal of a lawsuit to the 11th Circuit. Last summer, a judge ruled that no, the books that the state insisted were “obscene” and needed to be removed from school library shelves did not, in fact, rise to that definition. The state has leaned heavily into the Little v. Llano County ruling in their defense.

Little v. Llano County will continue to have an impact on library materials decisions and your right to access books in your public libraries. Today, lead plaintiff Leila Green Little is here to share the impetus for the lawsuit when the case began, how it progressed through the judicial system, and what the immediate and future impact of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling will be for public libraries nationwide.

**

Four years ago, a storm of censorship in public libraries began brewing in Llano, Texas, and a lawsuit ensued.  The case bearing my name, Leila Green Little, et al., vs. Llano County, et al., essentially reached its conclusion on December 8, 2025 when the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear it.  This means the en banc ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stands.  But what does this all really mean for public librarians, patrons, and local elected officials?  

Nothing keeps audiobook listeners as engaged as an intense mystery or thriller filled with surprises and shocking secrets. The first few months of 2026 are offering up an enticing array of thrilling listens that are sure to keep mystery thriller book lovers of all sorts rapt by every word. Expect shocking surprises, secrets to be revealed, mysteries to unfold, and everything else you love about the mystery/thriller genre, told by some of the most talented audiobook narrators there are.

There’s a new title in the top five this week: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney, the latest thriller from the author of His & Hers, which was adapted into a Netflix show. That puts the genre breakdown of this list as three-fifths thrillers.

One title that jumped out to me this week was in the #6 spot: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. We don’t often see a classic in the top ten, but obviously the movie is responsible for raising its profile. I wonder how many readers were surprised by the book’s contents—it’s definitely not the romance that the movie marketing would lead you to believe.

Two New Books Out This Week You Should Know About

Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a couple of new books out this week that deserve wider readership.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but since it’s February 13, it’s time to focus on celebrating the gals. If you’re a horror fan and you love stories about female friendships, here are three must-read books that are perfect for celebrating the girls in your life.

Read them today for Galentine’s Day, or read them any day you want to explore the intensity and complexity of female friendships. Cue “Girl, So Confusing” by Charli XCX featuring Lorde, and get your hands on these books.