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Reporter Clare Mulroy shares bookish news and recommendations.

Thu Aug 13 2026

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

Happy Thursday, booklovers!

Can’t get away from “Yesteryear” and “Strangers” discourse? You’re not alone. These 2026 debuts are everywhere, especially the tradwife satire by Caro Claire Burke, which has sold more than a million copies since its April release.

My book club hardly ever chooses newly released books, but both of these have ended up on our docket this year. And both have caused arguments. No one could agree on how they felt about “Strangers” by Belle Burden. Some found it deeply resonant. Others felt she wasn’t forthcoming enough about her privilege and financial security. We’re on “Yesteryear” now, and the conversations are similarly feisty. Some loved to hate the unlikeable protagonist; others didn't feel she’s believable. And don’t even get us started on the twist.

Two 2026 debut books have everyone fighting this year. What is it about "Yesteryear" and "Strangers" that have us fascinated?

Alan Nguyen, Adobe Stock, Penguin Random House

Which brings me to my point: The biggest bestsellers are often the ones we love to argue about. Divisiveness feeds discourse. Disagreement makes for the meatiest book club discussion. These are the books that launched a thousand think pieces.

The two debuts are wildly different, but they share a surprising similarity: the downfall of perfection. In “Yesteryear,” we see deceit catch up with our protagonist. In “Strangers,” we watch Burden discover it. Nothing is as it seems – not on social media, not in affluent country club circles and maybe not even to those we love. The morbid curiosity and drama can make these stories feel like a train wreck we just can’t look away from.

And with “Yesteryear” there is, of course, the tradwife of it all. Why are we so fascinated with it? I asked Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a historian, professor and the author of the upcoming “Live, Laugh, Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made.”

See what she said in our full story here, and vote in our poll to see what other readers thought of “Yesteryear” and “Strangers.”

What has your book club fought over most? Let me know at cmulroy@usatoday.com or reach out on Instagram. Thanks for checking out USA TODAY Books this week!