Thursday, January 15, 2026

Rapid fire book recs👐

Plus, Colleen Hoover is back. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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Books

Thu Jan 15 2026

 

Clare Mulroy Books Reporter

Happy Thursday, booklovers.

This week I'm thinking about the power of the library. I recently interviewed Emily Austin, bestselling author and former librarian. Her new book, "Is This a Cry For Help?", is an ode to the public library and meditates on grief, queerness and community. It also touches on the scrutiny some librarians are facing today. 

Austin and I talked extensively about the role of public libraries as democratic institutions. More than books, they provide internet access, resources and a safe, warm place to sit. Just last week, I went to my local library and scored free seeds for my hydroponic garden. How cool?

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The public library is good for more than just borrowing books.

Visual Generation, Getty Images

And, of course, where would we be without the tireless guidance of local librarians and their endless knowledge? So as an ode to our community of readers and the power of a good recommendation, I asked some of my well-read colleagues to share what they're reading. Think of it as a mini USA TODAY pop-up library in your inbox:

Books and music editor Jennifer McClellan is reading "Brimstone" by Callie Hart: "Immersive. Twisty. Spicy."
National correspondent Phaedra Trethan just finished "M Train" by Patti Smith: "Beautiful, poetic, sad, full of grief and loss but ultimately hopeful"
Audience fellow Sam Woodward is reading "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman: "A perfect snowy read," she says. "Intense, tender and lyrical."
Trump reporter Kinsey Crowley calls the Crimson Moth duology by Kristen Ciccarelli "the ultimate enemies to lovers" full of conflict, high stakes and yearning
Travel editor Joshuan Rivera liked "The Names" by Florence Knapp: "It starts as a clever what-if about how a single name might shape a life, then reveals itself as something much heavier — an exploration of how childhood abuse, parental choices, and the environments we're raised in can echo across every version of who we might become."
New England politics reporter Margie Cullen just finished "Orbital" by Samantha Harvey, full of "awe, introspection, cosmic insignificance."
Trending reporter Greta Cross binged all six "Heated Rivalry" books in record speed: "I nearly frightened myself."
Newsletter writer Nicole Fallert is reading "The Coin" by Yasmin Zaher: "Obsessive, fashionable and conscious."

Colleen Hoover hosts a fan screening of "Regretting You" at AMC NorthPark 15 on Sept. 26, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.

At face value, Colleen Hoover's new book seems to mirror her hiatus after the "It Ends With Us" controversy. She doesn't want fans to believe that.

A New York City bookstore is allowing customers to exchange books for pickles
 

Books for pickles? This NYC bookstore exchanges treat for donations

Sweet Pickle Books, located in the Lower East Side, has been making pickles since it opened in 2020.

Kenan Thompson
 

Kenan Thompson talks feeling 'unfunny' in new picture book

With a new book, Kenan Thompson has armed a new generation of jokesters. He talks honing his comedy and his lengthy 'SNL' career.

Victoria Jackson, left, and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, right, cofounded Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, Calif.
 

Oprah named this bookstore. Meet her fellow Godmothers

Oprah Winfrey told her to name this bookstore Godmothers. Then Jennifer Rudolph Walsh teamed up with friend Victoria Jackson to make a dream come true.

USA TODAY booklist returns
 

USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist

The top-selling titles each week provides book lovers with the most accurate snapshot of what people are reading.

 

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