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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 2025 National Book Critics Circle Shortlists
The NBCC announced the shortlists for the six awards categories: Autobiography, Biography, Criticism, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. The organization also selected the finalists for their Barrios Book in Translation Prize and the John Leonard Prize. One of the most striking pieces of data about the shortlisted books is that they were published by 30 different presses/imprints with everyone from big names, like Penguin, to smaller presses, like indie nonprofit publisher Zone Books, represented. Highlights include Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy and Paper Girl by Beth Macy in Autobiography; A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America’s Disabled by Alex Green and Queen Mother: Black Nationalism, Reparations, and the Untold Story of Audley Moore by Ashley D. Farmer in Biography; One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad in Criticism; The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy and Audition by Katie Kitamura in Fiction; and King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution, a Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation by Scott Anderson and Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao in Nonfiction. Find the full lists here.
The 10 Most Popular Books Right Now, According to Barnes & Noble
Which books are sitting at the popular kids’ table? B&N has an answer, at least if you judge by which books have received the most views on the major bookseller’s site this week. Bet you won’t be surprised to learn that the Game Changers books (Heated Rivalry, etc.) dominated that list. Everyone is talking about this series and its mega-successful series adaptation. You’ll also find some of 2025’s bestsellers, a gothic romantasy, and one of the most successful contemporary thriller writers around. What you won’t find? BIPOC representation. No surprise there, but disappointing all the same. See for yourself who’s at the table.
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56 Days Adaptation Trailer
If you’ve been waiting for a good look at the series adaptation of Catherine Ryan Howard’s thriller, 56 Days, you’re in luck. We have a trailer for the Prime Video series following a new couple who move in together to carry on their intense romance during the COVID-19 pandemic only for secrets to be unearthed with the discovery of a decomposing body in the apartment. As if moving in with a romantic interest isn’t treacherous enough. The love story murder-mystery stars Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia, and premieres February 18.
The Most Anticipated Nonfiction of 2026, According to All the Lists
Find some of this year’s great nonfiction releases, pulled from numerous and notable lists across the internet. This is a great way to get a temperature check on the breakout books of the year and build your own true stories TBR. Check it out here.
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