Are vampires making a comeback? This week, Eve Laren sinks her teeth into the return of our favorite undead icons—from new bestselling books like Blood Slaves and Blood Moon to Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking film Sinners.

We trace how vampires evolved from monsters to icons, explore the diverse voices redefining the genre, and unpack why 2025 might just be the start of a new vampire era.

Books Mentioned:

Blood Slaves - Markus Redmond
Blood Moon - Britney S. Lewis
A Cruel Thirst - Angela Montoya
Bride - Ali Hazelwood
So Thirsty - Rachel Harrison
A Dowry of Blood - S. T. Gibson
The Gathering -C. J. Tudor
Immortal Dark - Tigest Girma
Vampires of El Norte - Isabel Cañas
A Tempest of Tea - Hafsah Faizal

This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings

The Vampyre — John William Polidori
Dracula — Bram Stoker
Interview with the Vampire — Anne Rice
The Queen of the Damned — Anne Rice
Twilight — Stephenie Meyer

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This week on Now in Books, Eve Laren dives deep into Netflix’s new thriller The Woman in Cabin 10, based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel.

From a luxury yacht to a chilling mystery at sea, Eve breaks down what the movie got right, what it changed, and why the adaptation might just outshine the original book.

Tune in for a smart, spoiler-filled review that compares both versions, explores the biggest story changes, and answers the question every reader wants to know—was the movie better than the book?

🎬 Featuring: Keira Knightley, David Ajala, Lisa Loven Kongsli

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This week, Eve Laren sits down with Markus Redmond—the actor, writer, and filmmaker whose credits include Doogie Howser, M.D., Fight Club, and NYPD Blue—to talk about his bold debut novel, Blood Slaves.

Described by Eve Laren as "one of the best books released this year", Blood Slaves reimagines history through a dark and gripping vampire tale.

Tune in to this riveting conversation to learn about African mythology, the history behind the story and the anger that fueled its creation, and find out what readers can expect next from the Blood Saga.

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Want to share your feedback, have a question, or suggest a topic/author for the show?⁠⁠ Contact us.

What happens when justice becomes a spectacle?

That's the question we explore in this week’s episode with debut author Helena Haywoode Henry who joins the show to give a behind-the-scenes look into her electrifying new young adult novel, Last Chance Live!—a dystopian story where death row inmates compete for public forgiveness on a live reality show.

Tune in to the thought-provoking conversation that left me inspired and contemplating all the ways I need to work on myself to be a better person!

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Join our ⁠⁠Listener Club⁠⁠

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Join our Book Club to get new and diverse books every month. Visit ⁠⁠Now in Books⁠⁠ for more info and find past ⁠⁠Book Club Picks⁠⁠.

Want to share your feedback, have a question, or suggest a topic/author for the show?⁠ Contact us.

In today’s episode, I'm sharing the best new releases arriving this month—five powerhouse titles that you should be most excited for and that deserve a spot on your TBR!

From YA thrillers to adult debuts, this month brings stories that are twisty, haunting, and perfect for book clubs. Plus, I’m announcing our October Book Club Picks, and you're the first to hear them.

📚 Don’t forget: check out our full October release list on Instagram @nowinbooks and share this episode with your book-loving friends!

Join our Listener Club newsletter and find your next book obsession. Sign up at ⁠⁠nowinbooks.com/podcast⁠⁠.

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This week, we delve into the concerning decline in reading habits in America and recent industry news, including the closure of Fabled Co and upcoming book releases.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Decline of Reading in America

• 00:10:45 Charlie Kirk Fall Out

• 00:13:14 Fabled Co's Closure and Industry Concerns
• 00:18:43 Upcoming Book Releases

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Award-winning senior editor and debut novelist Amber Oliver joins Now in Books to discuss her compelling new book When the Music Hits—a story about Black women in corporate America that's as relevant as today's headlines.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How the music industry A&R process really works behind the scenes
• What it's like being a Black woman in publishing and other creative industries
• The real-life music industry drama that inspired the novel's storylines
• Amber's journey to becoming a published author

• The challenges facing diverse voices in publishing

Perfect for listeners who love: Contemporary fiction, music industry insights, discussions about workplace diversity, publishing industry conversations, books by Black authors, stories set in New York City.

Stay in the loop:

Join our ⁠Listener Club⁠

Follow us ⁠@nowinbooks⁠

Join the Club to get new and diverse books every month. Visit ⁠Now in Books⁠ for more info and find past ⁠Book Club Picks⁠.

Want to share your feedback, have a question, or suggest a topic/author for the show? Contact us.

In this powerful conversation, debut author Kristen L. Berry joins Now in Books to discuss her new bestselling novel We Don’t Talk About Carol—a suspenseful, emotionally charged story about family secrets, generational trauma, and the forgotten cases of missing Black girls.

Together, we dive into the novel’s complex characters, the weight of silence in families, and the research that shaped it.

If you’re looking for a story that’s as gripping as it is thought-provoking, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

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Join the Club to get new and diverse books every month. Visit Now in Books for more info and find past Book Club Picks.

Welcome back, book lovers, for part two of our September book roundup!

In this episode, I'm diving deeper into the literary goodness of the month, what I'm calling "The Met Gala Season of Books," and sharing five incredible new fiction releases guaranteed to grab your attention.

This episode is packed with recommendations for every kind of fiction fan, from those who love a happily ever after to readers who enjoy a good scare.

Join our podcast newsletter and find your next book obsession. Visit ⁠nowinbooks.com/podcast⁠ to choose how often you want to be alerted to new episodes.

Welcome back, book lovers! We' re kicking things off with a bang.

September is the best month for books (and you can't convince me otherwise!). So today, I'm sharing my top 5 most anticipated young adult book releases of the month.

This episode is packed with recommendations for every kind of reader, from die-hard romantasy fans to those looking for their next deeply impactful read.

Enjoyed the show? Don't miss out on the next one. Join our podcast newsletter and choose how often you want to be alerted to new episodes. Visit nowinbooks.com/podcast.