This weeks Literary Ledger 17 to 24 April 2026
Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world.
I) Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlist Announced
This is a really exciting one, especially as four out of the six novelists are debuts, and four of the six are also published by independent presses. It’s a great achievement all round, and it’s lovely to see them getting recognition rather than being overshadowed by the larger publishing houses.
Here are the books:
Flashlight by Susan Choi - After a mysterious night by the sea leaves a young girl alive but her father missing, a family struggles to live with the uncertainty of what happened and the lasting impact it has on their lives.
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (debut) - In a tightly controlled Mississippi town, a pastor’s authority is shaken when his gifted son begins to question everything, forcing the women around them to confront the quiet harms upheld within their community.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (debut) - An elderly woman who has long kept others at a distance through her letter-writing is forced to confront a painful past when unexpected correspondence compels her to finally seek closure.
The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson (debut) - Growing up in a strict and volatile household, a young girl turns to imagination and ultimately quiet defiance as she begins to shape a future beyond the limits imposed on her.
Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly (debut) - A writer’s growing obsession with a charismatic poet begins to unravel his relationship and sense of self, forcing him to confront the emotional cost of desire and control.
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King - A collection of intimate stories in which characters grapple with complicated relationships and moments that reshape how they understand themselves and others.
The winner will receive £30,000 and will be announced in June in London.
II) Bonnier Books UK Names New Chief Commercial Officer
Bonnier Books UK has announced that Anna Derkacz is the new Chief Commercial Officer, a senior executive role responsible for the company’s overall commercial strategy and revenue generation. Derkacz has worked at Penguin (in both UK and international sales) and HarperCollins (as Group Sales and Rights Director), where she spent nine years before making this move. She will start on 5 May 2026.
III) Mass Author Walkout at French Publisher Grasset
This is significant international publishing news: there has been a major protest and mass resignation of authors from the French publishing house Grasset. In total, 230 authors have resigned. The move appears to have been triggered by the departure (or more likely dismissal) of the publisher’s long-time CEO, Olivier Nora. Grasset is ultimately controlled by billionaire Vincent Bolloré through the wider media group Vivendi.
The reasons behind the protests come down to a loss of editorial independence, increasing influence from ownership over publishing decisions, and a broader political and ideological shift within the publishing group. Because Grasset appears to be steered by Bolloré, it raises serious concerns that its literature is being shaped by external political and commercial interests, which is something literature should never be about.
This is also, in my view, a deeply worrying direction for publishing. You cannot separate extreme wealth and media control from questions of power and motivation, and the idea of an “ethical billionaire” is, frankly, hard to sustain. When profit and influence sit too close to editorial decision-making, it inevitably creates pressure for shortcuts and compromises that should be completely removed from literature.
In response, the authors involved have signed an open letter stating they will not publish future books with the publisher. Some are also reportedly considering legal action to regain rights to their works.
And if anyone understands how to organise protest, it’s the French. Fair play to them, they know their worth, and they are clearly standing firmly in their values as writers committed to protecting the integrity of their work.
IV) Book Adaptations Continue to Drive Novel Sales Surge
Book adaptations have appeared on Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists every week so far this year, and unsurprisingly, that success is also feeding back into the sales of the books they’re based on.
We’ve seen this effect across multiple titles. Alice Feeney’s psychological thriller His & Hers, originally published in 2020, shot back up to #15 on Amazon’s bestseller list following its TV adaptation. Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation has seen a similar resurgence in popularity. Jennifer Iacopelli’s 2022 YA romance Finding Her Edge, whose Netflix adaptation reached the Top 10 in 81 countries, also experienced a noticeable boost in readership.
Then there are adaptations and screen-linked titles such as Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery, Bridgerton, Vladimir, and Remarkably Bright Creatures, with more expected later this year.
So, if the formula for success is simply: write a hit book, secure a film or TV adaptation, and watch sales soar… easy, right?
Speaking of book-to-film adaptations, Elle Kennedy’s hit hockey romance series Off Campus has just released its trailer ahead of its release on Prime Video. The first instalment, The Deal, is set to launch the series.
The story follows Hannah Wells, a young woman who struggles with confidence in romance. She agrees to tutor cocky hockey captain Garrett Graham in exchange for his help getting another guy’s attention. As their fake arrangement becomes physical, Garrett realises he wants something real with Hannah and has to convince her to choose him instead.
The two leads are Ella Bright (Hannah) and Belmont Cameli (Garrett), with the series dropping on 3 May.
Now, I’ve never read any of these books, but I’ve heard about them plenty, especially through BookTok. I’ve also seen the trailer, and it looks fun. Who doesn’t love a cheesy fake-dating trope?
And hey, if I really enjoy this one, I might even end up reading the rest.
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