Penthouse Comics In The Daily LITG, 28th July, 2026

There was a great adaptation announcement over the weekend. David Jonsson, who did phenomenally in the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, will play T’Challa II in the upcoming Black Panther movie. Jonsson’s character is the secret son of King T’Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman. Despite Black Panther being a part of one of the most money-makingest franchises ever, I really appreciate how they handled the sudden loss of Boseman, which is to say that they did not rush to replace him for the next movie. Leading with an entirely new character allows space for Boseman’s legacy, as it does for fans to see more of the series.

Ryan Coogler says the new movie will be out in December 2028, which feels like both a long time and somehow right around the corner.

As for the new books this week, there’s a specific subset of our readership that will really appreciate the comics collection Birding Is My Favorite Video Game by Rosemary Mosco. For romance lovers, a librarian and a high school teacher get busy in Gabriella Gamez’s Second First Dates, and two paleontologists hunt for more than fossils in Fossil Feud by Maggie North.

More of the most notable new books out today include a mother-daughter duo starting a new life in Sicily, a fairy tale-inspired fabulist novel set in San Francisco, a science fantasy epic ruled by eldritch gods, and lots more.

Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli

“How do you begin again if you got the beginning wrong?”

A question the narrator asks herself as she and her daughter cook together, read together, and forge an altogether new life after having moved to Sicily, where one of their maternal ancestors worked on an archaeological dig. But then the focus shifts to the daughter, and, amidst the sudden storms, volcanoes, and fading memories, the narrative becomes more about the women’s mythical beginnings.

Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars) says it’s “A beautiful, maybe perfect, novel.”, Erica Ezeifedi

All My Dead Cats and Other Losses: Practicing Good Grief in a Culture That Fears Mourning by s.e. smith

Why are so many people afraid of discussing grief? s.e. smith asks that very question in their new book All My Dead Cats and Other Losses. Sure, there is a discussion of pet loss, but smith wants us to examine the bigger picture. If we all experience grief, then wouldn’t we all benefit from open discussions on how to move through it?, Kendra Winchester

Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

This fairy tale-inspired novel blends historical fiction with fabulism to tell the story of mothers and daughters grappling with a magical ability that is both their gift and their curse. Ha Yut Ying escaped the clutches of Japanese Soldiers during WWII by turning invisible, but her mother warns her of the family’s curse. Decades later, in San Francisco, Marigold’s discovery of her mother’s fantastical ability drives a wedge into their relationship. But as her condition begins to deteriorate, Marigold will have to dive deeper into their family’s past, uncovering dark truths that might help explain all her mother’s secrets., Rachel Brittain

All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir by Emilee Hackney

Emilee Hackney grew up in the ridges and coalfields of western Virginia. In the Appalachian Mountains, Hackney finds herself immersed in Pentecostalism and engaged to a man when she’s just 19 years old. But Sam hasn’t been telling the truth about who he is. In All That’s Unseen, Hackney describes how she began to disentangle her life from her partner and her church, slowly finding herself again and eventually leaving Virginia to attend Harvard., Kendra Winchester

Furious Violet by Sarai Walker

West identifies as a “low-brow” crime journalist, despite her status as the daughter of a poet and feminist icon. And now, as she nears the big 5-0, she’s doing worse than ever. She’s burnt out, experiencing writer’s block, and…it appears she has a stalker. In an effort to get a little writerly solitude to finish her book on the serial killer who cries for his mother after killing (aptly named “the Crying Killer), she discovers threatening messages that feel a little too intimate. The stalker says West is their mother, even though she’s never had kids, and now it feels like West can’t trust her own sense of reality., Erica Ezeifedi

The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon

I feel like this is going to do numbers across the science fantasy-obsessed parts of the book world. The world of Demon Star is suffering, it’s ruled by eldritch gods, and demons walk among mortals. There’s hope, but it comes at a great cost: Ysira Naktis’s son. After Ysira survives almost being “harvested,” she finds out that her son is chosen to house a god-killing demon in his body. This would allow him to free the planet from oppression, but Ysira may not be willing to give him up. On the other hand, not doing so could mean millions continue to suffer. As she, her son, and a guilt-filled exorcist travel through cults, demons, and all manner of cosmic oddities, they’ll all have to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for the greater good., Erica Ezeifedi

Black Girls Don’t Cry by Alex Travis

And here’s another Black sapphic YA horror novel out this month! Ida and JJ were the power couple of Banneker High, until JJ dumped Ida for being bisexual. When the Black Student Union runs a campaign for a prom queen at their predominantly white school, it pits Ida against JJ’s new girlfriend. Luckily, her captivating campaign manager, Amayah, is expertly running her campaign and stealing her heart. Unluckily, prom queen candidates keep getting murdered…, Danika Ellis

Other Book Riot New Releases Resources:

All the Books, our weekly new book releases podcast, where Liberty and a cast of co-hosts talk about the books out this week we’re most excited about.

The New Books Newsletter, where we send you an email of the books out this week that are getting buzz.

Finally, if you want the real inside scoop on new releases, you have to check out Book Riot’s New Release Index! That’s where I find 90% of new releases, and you can filter by genre, age category, and even LGBTQ new releases!