Book Beat aims to highlight other books that we may hear about through friends, social media, or other sources. We could see a gorgeous ad! Or find a new-to-us author on a list of underrated romances! Think of Book Beat as Teen Beat or Tiger Beat, but for books. And no staples to open to get the fold-out poster.
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I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200
Author: Robert Brockway
Released: January 27, 2026 by Page Street Horror
Genre: HorrorTo bright and anxious eight-year-old Kay Washington, the worst thing in the world is being alone with the quiet. That’s why Eddie Video makes the perfect imaginary He’s smart, he’s loud, he loves pulling pranks, and he’s always there to chase away the silence.
To mid-forties, down-on-his-luck Ivan, the worst thing in the world happened when he lost his imaginary friend. Now cursed with the ability to see everyone else’s, Ivan makes a living by killing the imaginary friends of adults who couldn’t let go. But when one of Eddie Video’s “pranks” goes too far, Ivan agrees to make an exception and help Kay.
Only Ivan will soon learn that Eddie Video is nothing like the talking ostriches, star bears, and goblin princesses he’s encountered in the past, and it’s going to take a lot more than clumsy haymakers and steak knives to bring him down. A balance of comedy and catharsis, this dual-narrative tackles both the fear of growing up and the scars our childhood leaves behind.
As someone who had a fondness for the movie Drop Dead Fred, I’m curious about this horror novel.
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The Poet Empress
Author: Shen Tao
Released: January 20, 2026 by Bramble
Genre: Science Fiction/FantasyDebut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.
In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.
Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.
Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.
But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.
To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death…and love.
The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.
I’ve heard this one is brutal and beautiful with courtly politics and an interesting magic system.
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The Sword of Light
Author: Heather Graham
Released: October 14, 2025 by MIRA
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyWill fabled objects of myth be enough to defend their emerald isle?
The mystical Tuatha Dé Danann walked the hills of ancient Ireland long before the first Rí, or king, ever ruled the land. Before they stepped back to make way for mankind, they left behind objects of incredible power that would reveal themselves when most needed. When invaders from the North arrive, it feels like the moment that has long been foretold has finally come.
Deidre, the daughter of a Rí, and Kylin, the son of a Northman who found peace and a home in Éire, have little in common, until they begin seeing visions of these fantastical gifts. The revelation that a traitor exists among the many Irish kings forces them to work together using their newfound powers in defense of their homeland. As all they hold dear comes under threat, it may be more than just dreams that the two begin to share…
Romance legend Heather Graham joins the fantasy romance party.
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Thighs Wide Shut
Author: Hayley Fleming
Released: July 21, 2026 by The Dial Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceA charming second-chance romance about a young woman determined to finally embrace vulnerability — A love letter to anyone who’s ever felt their body is a barrier to their happiness.
Emma thought her late twenties couldn’t get more complicated. But then she quit her teaching job and moved across the country—only to find herself living right below the man she tried for years to avoid.
Emma hasn’t seen Harrison since an explosive fight ended their college friendship and eliminated the possibility of anything more ever happening between them. Now that his apartment is right above hers, Emma is privy to every detail of his active (and noisy) dating life. She knows she has only herself to blame for their her inability to be honest with Harrison drove him away. It’s clear he’s moved on; why can’t she?
Presented with an opportunity to reignite the long-smoldering flames of their relationship, Emma realizes that to seize the moment, she will have to finally face the women’s health condition holding her back from intimacy and truly open up. But can she let her desires overcome the resistance in her mind and body?
Funny and tender, Thighs Wide Shut is an all-too-relatable story of how terrifying—and freeing—it is when we let our hearts take charge.
This romance is out next week and features a heroine with vaginismus.
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