David McCullough’s posthumous collection, HISTORY MATTERS, is drawing wide acclaim ahead of its publication next week. Publishers Weekly praises it as “an enjoyable and warmhearted valedictory hymn to the American spirit,” while the Associated Press calls it “an enjoyable complement to McCullough’s canon” and a reminder of why he was “one of the greatest historians of our time.” The Boston Globe writes: “In his previous books, McCullough is delivering a classroom lecture… In this collection, he is at your dinner table, talking over a plate of asparagus and passing the butter.” National Review emphasizes McCullough’s belief that “knowledge of history was foundational for citizenship and patriotism,” and the Washington Examiner deems it “a delightful primer” for those anticipating America’s 250th anniversary. LitHub featured the book among its “Most Anticipated of 2025,” while Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan commended its “seriousness and simplicity” that “make for beauty.” Lastly, a warm review from Kirkus reads: “McCullough made a fine career of storytelling his way through past events and the great men (and occasional woman) of long-ago American history. In that regard, to say nothing of his eschewing modern technology in favor of the typewriter (‘I love the way the bell rings every time I swing the carriage lever’), he might be thought of as belonging to a past age himself. In this set of occasional pieces, including various speeches and genial essays on what to read and how to write, he strikes a strong tone as an old-fashioned moralist…At his best here, McCullough uses history as a way to orient thinking about the present, and with luck to good ends: ‘I am a short-range pessimist and a long-range optimist. I sincerely believe that we may be on the way to a very different and far better time.’ A pleasure for fans of old-school historical narratives.” HISTORY MATTERS will be published by Simon & Schuster on September 16, 2025.

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Kevin Moffett’s ONLY SON was longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction. The foundation writes: “Kevin Moffett’s debut novel delivers a bracingly intimate account of fatherhood, and discovery, and the experiences of two men far from home.” Finalists will be announced on October 7 by The New York Times, and the winners will be announced at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on November 19. Washington Square Press published the book on April 29, 2025.

Bestselling film historian Scott Eyman’s remarkable account of Joan Crawford's dazzling, turbulent life has landed on Fall round ups for AARP and Salon. Salon senior writer Andi Zeisler raves: “Scott Eyman’s new biography pulls together the layers of invention and reinvention that transformed malnourished Texas tomboy Lucille LeSueur into screen legend Joan Crawford with so much immediacy and Hollywood-insider detail that reading it feels like a cinematic experience in itself…It renders studio politics, contract-negotiation minutiae, costuming conflicts and production-code headaches with thrilling immediacy, note-perfect dialogue and the perfect amount of attitude.” Simon & Schuster will publish the book on November 18, 2025.

People hosted an exclusive cover reveal for A REAL ANIMAL, Emeline Atwood’s forthcoming debut novel. In an interview with People, Atwood said the book is about “that ‘thing’ in the distance that you believe will finally complete you.” Catapult publishes A REAL ANIMAL on July 7, 2026.

Deadline reported that Osun Group will adapt Yrsa Daley-Ward’s debut novel, THE CATCH, for TV. Daley-Ward is also making her TV screenwriting debut. Early stage work has begun on an adaptation for a returning series, marking Osun’s first book-to-screen acquisition and a first scripted project unveiled from a slate of projects. Liveright published THE CATCH on June 3, 2025.

Cathy Linh Che’s BECOMING GHOST was longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry. The foundation writes: “A reclamation that moves Vietnamese voices to the center of their own narrative, BECOMING GHOST is a testament to the complexities of forgiveness and a reminder that healing often requires us to revisit our history in order to move forward.” Finalists will be announced on October 7 by The New York Times, and the winners will be announced at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on November 19. Washington Square Press published the book on April 29, 2025.