Read Harder With These New Books Out in April
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It’s a new month, which means it’s time for a fresh batch of new releases! As always, there are more books I want to read than I can read. If you’re looking for help prioritizing, here are seven new books available in April Read the 2026 challenge Work.
We’re starting with some Gothic novels, then a weird romantic book, two graphic memoirs, and some mysteries in translation.
Task #6: Read a Gothic novel published in the last ten years
Japanese Gothic By Kylie Lee Baker (April 14)
In the present day, Lee has fled New York and is hiding at his father’s house in Japan. He knows there is something wrong with him and that he has committed a crime, but he cannot remember the details. In 1877, Sen, a female samurai, hides from imperial soldiers and attempts to protect her family. As the two find themselves communicating with each other over time, they realize that they are living in the same house, a house built on deep secrets. -Emily Martin
dead people keep you safe By Jill Baguchinsky (April 21)
Loosely inspired by Wuthering HeightsThis atmospheric Gothic YA novel follows Katie East, a lonely person who finds solace in the redwood forest surrounding her family home, The Heights. She then meets Hunter Solis, who has moved into the cabin next door with his scientist father. Hunter fascinates and thrills Katy. But the closer she gets to him, the more strange things start happening around The Heights. It turns out that the home Katy has always known and loved hides a dark and painful past. -Emily Martin
All Access members, read five more new books coming in April that check out the 2026 Read Harder Challenge tasks.
Task #9: Read a romantic book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
Clara Thorn’s Improbable Garden Summer N. by England (7 April)
It promises to be a “sweet and spicy cozy romance” with a languid romance, set in a backdrop. queernorm World. Clara Moss is perfectly happy living a quiet life as a talented gardener in the city. However, the goddess has other plans for her: Clara has been chosen to go to the cursed city of Dwindle and grow a garden for them. She is also accompanied by the annoyingly whining Hesper, who acts as her bodyguard. Clara has been keeping it a secret that her gift only works in moss, but Hesper says she is capable of more. As they travel to Dwindle together, the two grow closer, and Hesper may be able to convince Clara that she is the one who will save them from a creeping, ancient evil. -Danica Ellis
Task #13: Read a non-fiction comic
until we meet again By Lily Kim Qian (April 21)
In this lavishly illustrated graphic memoir, Lily recounts her childhood with her loving but sometimes uncommunicative single father. Occasional intrusions from his mentally ill mother add to his sense of dislocation and instability as he matures, and his struggles with mental illness help him accept the past and embrace the future. -Eileen Gonzalez
mixed emotions By Sara Amini and Shadiya Amin (April 7)
In this middle grade graphic memoir, as a mixed-race girl, Sarah never felt at home anywhere. When she starts middle school, everything starts to get worse, until the drama club comes to her rescue. Pretending is an invaluable outlet, but how long will it take for reality to intrude into Sarah’s happy fantasy life? -Eileen Gonzalez
Task #21: Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
mrs shim is a murderer By Kang Jeong, translated by Paige Morris (April 21)
For fans of dark humor, contract killer stories, and Korean crime novels!
As a widow responsible for taking care of her family, Mrs. Shim needs to find a job immediately after losing her job at a butcher shop. But when she goes to interview for what she believes to be a cleaning job, she discovers they’re only interested in the skills she learned at the butcher shop. Turns out they want to make him a contract killer. -Jamie Canvas
Crime (Detective Godai #1) by Keigo Higashino, translated by Giles Murray (April 7)
spy galileo The author is back with a new series! As the title suggests, this crime novel highlights the lingering effects of crime, resulting from the murder of a lawyer. Detective Godai of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department receives a quick confession from Tatsuro Kuraki, who also confesses to a decade-old murder where the accused died before trial. This is a case that needs to be closed soon, but something isn’t quite right with Godai… -Jamie Canaves
For more information, visit march new releases Read 2026 difficult challenge tasks!