New Releases and More for March 31, 2026

In this lively March 31, 2026 episode of All the Books, hosts Danica Ellis and Vanessa Diaz dive into a rich tapestry of new releases across genres, from speculative fiction and historical reimaginings to memoirs and cult-inspired horror. They kick off with a spotlight on Book Riot’s New Release Index, a curated database now available to All Access members, and share their personal reading picks, including the wildly imaginative *The Beheading Game*—a speculative tale of Anne Boleyn’s survival after execution—and *Hell’s Heart*, a queer, slang-filled retelling of *Moby Dick*. The hosts highlight a surge of Moby Dick-inspired sci-fi this month, with *The Celestial Seas* offering a space-faring revenge saga. Other standout titles include *Nothing Tastes Good* by Luke Dumas, a body horror novel about a weight-loss drug with sinister side effects, and *The Fourth Wife* by Linda Hamilton, a Gothic feminist take on 19th-century Mormon polygamy. They also celebrate *Now I Surrender* by Álvaro Enrique, a revisionist history novel reimagining the colonization of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. The episode wraps with a heartfelt discussion of *Phases*, Brandy Norwood’s memoir, and a nostalgic look at the upcoming *Murder, She Wrote* movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis, sparking debate over casting and legacy. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the emotional resonance of stories, the power of diverse voices, and the joy of discovery in a crowded literary landscape.