Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week

Mid-April has that breezy, just-fell-in-love kind of feeling, and this week’s book mail arrived like the sweetest surprise. My TBR pile has grown into a sunlit stack of possibility, thanks to a delightful book haul filled with new book releases that feel made for reading with the windows open and a cup of something iced nearby. Each package carried thoughtful book recommendations, like charming little notes slipped across a café table, saying, you’re going to adore this one. And as I line them up, I can’t help but believe that somewhere in this stack are the best books of 2026, just waiting to turn an ordinary spring day into something unforgettable.

Where to Buy These Books:

Shop This Stack on Bookshop.org to Support Local Bookstores

Shop This Stack on Amazon

I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.

This Week’s Book Mail Includes:

Day at the Zoo by Estrela Lourenco – A playful peekaboo adventure invites little readers to help find a mischievous guinea pig hiding among the zoo animals.
My First Book of Affirmations by Becky Cummings – A sweet and empowering board book that helps little ones build confidence and self-love through simple, magical “I am” affirmations.
Small Wonders by Jennifer Shoop – A beautifully crafted blend of prose, poetry, and photography that celebrates the quiet, everyday moments that bring meaning to our lives.
New Moon Life Design by Yesbelt Fernandez – Harness the power of lunar cycles, astrology, and tarot to create a deeply intentional and aligned life.
The Days of Miracle and Wonder by Irene Zabytko – A group of travelers share extraordinary stories on a post-Soviet pilgrimage, revealing the complexities of hope, history, and human resilience.
Backstitch by Marian Mitchell Donahue – Two sisters unravel their family’s past and their mother’s artistic legacy in a layered, emotionally rich exploration of memory and truth.
Fast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell – A rule-following Regency heroine dives into scandalous night races and espionage, risking everything to save her country—and her heart.
Start at the End by Emma Grey – A sweeping, emotional love story that asks what happens when fate rewrites a romance before it even has the chance to begin.
Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Camille de Peretti – Inspired by a mysterious Klimt painting, this sweeping saga traces secrets, love, and identity across generations and continents.
The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner – A cozy, clever fantasy where a witch must sabotage her own son’s royal destiny to save the kingdom from ruin.
How to Make a Pirate Laugh by Chris Cate – A treasure chest of silly jokes and puns guaranteed to have kids giggling like a crew of happy pirates.
How to Make an Elephant Laugh by Chris Cate – Packed with playful puns and adorable humor, this joke book is sure to delight animal lovers and early readers alike.
The Case Study by Nicole Lundrigan – A chilling psychological thriller where obsession, memory, and truth collide between a doctor’s wife and his infamous former patient.
Two Truths and a Lie by Mark Stevens – A relentless journalist is pulled into a deadly game with a copycat killer who turns her own investigations into a personal threat.
The Good Mother Test by Michael R. French – A gripping exploration of motherhood, ambition, and identity as two women clash over what it truly means to raise a child.
Ultranatural by Candice Wuehle – A haunting, genre-bending story of fame, identity, and betrayal as a young girl is transformed into a manufactured pop icon.
In Wonderland by Joyce Maynard – A summer of privilege and secrets at a Maine estate spirals into betrayal and tragedy beneath its glittering surface.
The Curse of Hester Gardens by Tamika Thompson – A mother fights to protect her sons from both real-world violence and a chilling supernatural force haunting their community.
The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake by Mara Rutherford – In a world where creativity summons demons, one inventor risks everything to change her fate—and her world.
The Lie You Don't Know You Believe by Jennie Allen – A powerful guide to uncovering the hidden lies shaping your life—and breaking free into truth and transformation.
Mr. Chow's Night Market by Sun Li – A whimsical tale of how one grumpy shop owner transforms his world—and creates Taiwan’s first night market.
The Secret, 4th Edition, Revised and Expanded by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller – A timeless leadership fable reveals the simple yet powerful secret behind truly effective leaders.
The Art of Pacing by Elizabeth Svoboda – A science-backed guide to balancing ambition and rest, helping you sustain energy and build a meaningful life.
City of Windows by Nadia Hashimi – A powerful, urgent novel following Afghan women navigating survival, resistance, and reinvention in a rapidly changing world.
Tenderness by Rowan Beaird – A tense, slow-burn mystery set at a 1970s island wedding where secrets—and a cult—threaten to unravel everything.
The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom – A heartwarming escape to a Greek island where a new beginning uncovers long-buried wartime secrets.
The Silver Fish by Connor Martin – A high-stakes espionage thriller where a journalist uncovers a global battle over the world’s most vital—and vulnerable—technology.
The Take by Kelly Yang – A sharp, provocative novel about ambition, power, and identity as two women strike a dangerous deal to trade youth for success.
The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch – Four sleepless strangers form an unlikely bond—until a sudden disappearance pulls them into a mystery that tests everything.
Butt or Face? Ador-a-Butts! by Kari Lavelle – A laugh-out-loud guessing game that challenges kids to spot whether they’re looking at an animal’s face…or its butt.
Start Your Engines! by Katy Duffield – A high-energy racing adventure that teaches friendship and teamwork when winning isn’t the only goal.
Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach by Scott Rothman and Linzie Hunter – A hilariously grumpy bunny discovers that even the “worst” experiences might just turn out to be the best.