The world of books has been abuzz with exciting news lately that has left us eagerly anticipating what’s next! With popular authors and famous personalities starting their book clubs and much-loved books getting adapted for the silver screen, there’s never a dull moment in the literary world. Take a look at this week’s book news round-up and make sure to stay tuned for more updates as they come in weekly.

Jennette McCurdy is Starting a Book Club

Jennette McCurdy, the actress, writer, and director, has recently started a book club and is inviting fans to join her. Each month, McCurdy will pick one fiction and one non-fiction book, post about them, and eagerly await comments and thoughts from readers. Her picks for May are Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls for fiction and The Anti-Cool Girl by Rosie Waterland for non-fiction. McCurdy is particularly excited about Hang the Moon as she was lucky enough to receive an early copy and write a blurb for it. In addition to commenting, McCurdy also encourages fans to share their own story posts while holding one of the book club picks. McCurdy’s own book, I’m Glad My Mom Died, is a memoir that explores her complicated relationship with her mother and the impact her mother’s death had on her life.

Kristin Hannah Announces Her Latest Novel

Best-selling author Kristin Hannah, with St. Martin’s Press, is set to release her next novel on February 6, 2024. The Women, which is a war story set in the 1960s, follows the life of nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath, whose decision to volunteer for the Vietnam War upends her traditional upbringing and creates bitter divisions in the US. The novel aims to highlight the stories of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others and whose sacrifices and commitment to their country have often been forgotten. Hannah’s previous works include popular best-sellers like The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds.

The Official Trailer for Dune: Part Two is Here

Dune, the movie adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel directed by Denis Villeneuve, was a hit in 2021, and its sequel, Dune: Part Two, is already one of the most anticipated films of 2023. The film was moved up two weeks to release on November 3, 2023. Although the first Dune was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming platforms, the sequel will be exclusively available in theaters. The film’s synopsis teases a plot that will focus on the mythic journey of Paul Atreides, as he unites with Chani and the Fremen to seek revenge against those who destroyed his family. Florence Pugh has joined the cast to play Princess Irulan Corrino as well as Austin Butler as warlord Feyd-Rautha. The sequel will also feature returning stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, and Charlotte Rampling.

Theo James to Star in Stephen King’s The Monkey Adaptation

Theo James will star in the horror movie The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s short story, produced by James Wan and directed by Osgood Perkins. The Monkey follows twin brothers Hal and Bill, who find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, leading to a series of gruesome deaths. After throwing the monkey away, they grow apart, but when the mysterious deaths begin again, they must come together to destroy the monkey before it takes more lives.

Gabrielle Union to Star in Pretty Little Wife 

Bestselling suspense novel Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane is being developed into a series by Amazon Studios. The series is about two very different but equally brilliant Black women – the pretty wife accused of killing her husband, and the detective on the case. Gabrielle Union will star in the series as well as executive produce with Meredith Lavender, Marcie Ulin and Kristen SaBerre.

Erotic thriller Behind a Closed Door Hitting the Big-Screen

Forthcoming novel Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker has already been sought out by QC Entertainment, producers of BlacKkKlansman and Get Out, with plans to adapt the novel for film. In the book, Abby and Brendan Hollander download the popular app Sugar & Spice, which plunges them into a perilous game of life and death as they are given increasingly taboo tasks involving seduction and violence.

A Companion for a BookTok Favorite

Ten years after its release, Laura Nowlin’s novel, If He Had Been With Me, is getting a companion book set for October. The first novel, which has acquired a cult-like following on BookTok, depicts a girl named Autumn’s contemplation of the alternate life she could have had with her former best friend Finn, after a tragedy strikes their community, and the unresolved feelings that resurface when they meet again. The book is full of intense emotions and authentic characters, something that Nowlin says teens have always craved, and now recommend her book for a good cry.

Taika Waititi to Direct Klara and the Sun Adaptation

Taika Waititi is reportedly in talks to direct the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel Klara and the Sun, for Sony’s 3000 Pictures, with the screenplay written by Dahvi Waller. Klara and the Sun is the story of a robot girl designed to prevent loneliness, who tries to save the human family she lives with from heartbreak. The adaptation is expected to attract young actresses given the awards success of previous adaptations of Ishiguro’s work.