Need something new to dive into? Each month, BookSparks and She Reads’ CEO Crystal Patriarche highlights the books, shows, and stories that have her hooked. From fresh releases and perfect re-reads to must-watch series and the latest book buzz, her picks help you stay on top of what’s worth your time.
Must Re-Read
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Production has begun on East of Eden, Netflix’s new limited series based on the 1952 novel by John Steinbeck. The seven-episode series is written and executive produced by Zoe Kazan and will be filmed in New Zealand. Florence Pugh will star in the series and also serve as an executive producer. The project also has a personal connection for Kazan. Her grandfather, Elia Kazan, directed the 1955 film adaptation starring James Dean.
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New Must Reads
The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey
In a quiet valley surrounded by a towering wall, seventeen-year-old apothecary Rose Allgood has always believed her community is safe. No one leaves, no one fights, and no one questions the rules. But everything changes when her mother is murdered—the first killing the valley has ever seen—and her twin brother is blamed. Convinced he’s innocent, Rose sets out to find the truth. As she uncovers hidden messages and long-buried secrets, she begins to realize her mother’s death wasn’t random, and the wall protecting their home may actually be hiding something far more dangerous within.
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Go Gentle by Maria Semple
Adora Hazzard has built a life she believes is perfectly under control. A divorcée living on New York City’s Upper West Side, she focuses on what she has: her teenage daughter, her independence, her job tutoring for a wealthy family, and a close group of women she calls her “coven.” But when she meets a charming stranger, everything starts to unravel. She’s pulled into a world of secrets, risky deals, and buried parts of her past. As her desires grow, Adora has to decide how much she’s willing to risk for a life that feels bigger than the one she planned.
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Base 37 by JD Walker
BASE 37 is a true story by JD Walker, one of the early pioneers of BASE jumping. It follows his journey from a difficult childhood to becoming part of one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Through close calls, near-fatal accidents, and unforgettable moments in the air, Walker shares what it was like to be part of the early BASE jumping community. Along the way, he writes about the risks, the friendships, and the losses that came with pushing limits. It’s a raw and honest story about survival, adventure, and what kept him going through it all.
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Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West
Sutton’s running a new restaurant from afar, caring for her difficult, sick mother, and dealing with a fresh breakup. So when she agrees to fake an engagement with a stranger named Elijah as part of her friend’s relationship experiment, she knows it’s a bad idea… but goes along with it anyway. The plan is simple: prove a therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. But as Sutton and Elijah keep up the act, their chemistry starts to feel a little too real. Soon, Sutton is forced to question what she actually wants, and whether this fake relationship might be turning into something real.
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Into the Blue by Emma Brodie
In 2000, AJ Graves dreams of writing for Saturday Night Live, but instead she’s stuck working at a video store in her small town. Her life changes when she meets Noah Drew, a talented actor from a famous family. They grow close, but just as things deepen, Noah suddenly disappears. Seven years later, AJ runs into Noah again in New York City when they’re cast in the same TV show. Now a rising star, he’s impossible to avoid, and as they work together, old feelings come back. But to move forward, they’ll have to face the past and the secret that once tore them apart.
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Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez
In the spring of 2007, twenty-six-year-old Alicia Canales Forten feels trapped by her planned future. She’s living at home, in a long-distance relationship, and saving for her wedding to a future doctor. Everything changes when she moves to Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Across the street, the charismatic fashion designer La Garza lives a life of fearlessness and epic parties that Alicia can’t help but watch and envy. When her wealthy banker cousin also moves nearby, Alicia finds herself pulled deeper into their complicated worlds.
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More than fifteen years after it first aired, Parks and Recreation has become a fan favorite, known for its humor, heart, and even creating Galentine’s Day. But it didn’t start as a hit. In fact, its first season struggled with ratings. Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong tells the story of how the show grew from The Office’s success, found its voice with political and romantic storylines, and became the cultural phenomenon it is today.
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The Name Game by Beth O’Leary
Charlie Jones is ready for a new beginning, leaving her grief behind to manage a farm shop on the remote Isle of Ormer. Jones, recently out of a breakup, is seeking peace away from his city life. But when both arrive to claim the same manager position, confusion (and sparks) ensue as everyone tries to figure out who the real Charlie Jones is.
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The Write Off by Kara McDowell
Thirteen years after their first meeting on a bench outside of their writing class, Mars Darling and West Emerson reunite at a book festival at their college campus. Once friends, rivals, and briefly lovers, their past is filled with heartbreak. West was the inspiration for the heartthrob in Mars’s bestselling YA trilogy and the man who betrayed her. Mars is determined not to let him derail her comeback, but as they navigate the campus full of shared memories, old feelings resurface. Told across two timelines—college days and the present—The Write Off explores second chances, lingering desire, and the possibility of rewriting your past.
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The Boots Beneath Her Bed by Taylor Esposito
Grace Underwood has been carrying a dark secret about her parents’ death, one only her cruel uncle Bellamy knows—and he’s used it to control her for years. When his cruelty goes too far, Grace walks away with nothing, until she lands a job as a horse trainer at Halcyon Ranch. For the first time, she begins to imagine a life of her own. But fitting in isn’t easy. Crew Caldwell, the ranch owner’s son, doesn’t trust outsiders, especially someone connected to Bellamy. As Grace proves herself with her skill and determination, Crew remains distant, yet impossible to ignore. With her secret always at risk of coming out, Grace must decide how far she’s willing to fight for the only place—and the only man—that feels like home.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon
Must Watch
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is an upcoming comedy-drama series from David E. Kelley, based on the 2024 novel by Rufi Thorpe. Starring Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear, Thaddea Graham, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman, it premieres on Apple TV on April 15, 2026. The series follows Margo Millet, the daughter of a Hooters waitress and a former wrestler, who turns to OnlyFans to support herself after an unexpected pregnancy. Reconnecting with her estranged father, Margo learns from his wrestling wisdom and finds surprising success, navigating fame, family, and her own ambitions.
Beef Season Two
Following the acclaimed first season of Beef, which starred Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as two strangers whose road rage incident spirals into a bitter feud, the second season is set to premiere on Netflix on April 16, 2026. Created by Lee Sung Jin, the new season will introduce a fresh cast and story, delivering more laughs and high-stakes clashes between strangers.
Season Two of Running Point
Following its 2025 debut, Running Point returns for a second season on Netflix, premiering April 23, 2026. Created by Elaine Ko, Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, the series stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, a reformed party girl who’s handed control of her family’s pro basketball team and quickly learns that running a team comes with unexpected challenges on and off the court.
New Series Big Mistakes
Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy returns with Big Mistakes, premiering April 9. The new series follows two inept siblings who are unexpectedly pulled into organized crime, promising a wild, chaotic, and hilariously dysfunctional ride.
New Series DTF St. Louis
DTF St. Louis is a seven-part miniseries starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Richard Jenkins, Joy Sunday, Arlan Ruf, and Peter Sarsgaard. It premiered on HBO on March 1, 2026. The series follows a love triangle between three adults facing middle-age crises, which ends in murder. Two detectives investigate and discover the crime is linked to a dating app, “DTF St. Louis,” that enables affairs.
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