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Thu Jan 23 2025

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

Hi, booklovers! I'm Clare Mulroy – USA TODAY's new books reporter. Every Thursday I'll be sending you a recap of the biggest news in books, including new releases, book-to-screen adaptations, author interviews and reader trends.

A little about me: I'm a Cape Cod native turned New Yorker and I come from a family of reading fanatics, booksellers and English teachers. I'll read pretty much anything, but I'm a sucker for sprawling family narratives and literary fiction with spunky protagonists. My favorite books are "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah and "Martyr!" by Kaveh Akbar – don't make me choose!

One of the year's most anticipated releases is here. On Monday night, I headed to Barnes & Noble to see how readers were celebrating the midnight release of "Onyx Storm," Rebecca Yarros' highly-anticipated follow-up to "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame." Check out our spoiler-filled guide to the third novel's biggest twists.

Readers pose with their newly-acquired copies of "Onyx Storm" at the Union Square Barnes & Noble in New York City on Monday night.

Clare Mulroy

TikTok is alive and kicking (for now), but in those fateful offline hours, we reflected on the impact of BookTok on the publishing industry. And leading up to the inauguration, we revisited a debate sparked by readers and authors about whether politics belong in online book spaces.

We also launched our Winter Book Challenge – if you fill out our bingo card and complete an entry form, you'll be entered to win a $100 Bookshop.org gift card!

USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist recap: "The Let Them Theory," by motivational speaker Mel Robbins tops the list, with horror master Grady Hendrix's latest "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" sneaking in at No. 5. "James" by Percival Everett and the "Dog Man" comics stayed strong in the Top 10.