Read the Room Ch. 3
closing the book on March 2026
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If today is a holiday for you, Happy Easter! I feel like I start every one of these monthly recaps with I can’t believe it’s [enter month], but literally - I can’t believe it’s April. I’m working on this three days into the month, and Connecticut is staying true to the stereotypical rhyme: April showers are in full effect (we better have gorgeous May flowers).
With April also comes the start of Q2. The first quarter - three months, about 12 weeks - is in the rearview. How’d it go? My Q1 theme was foundational organization, which led to a lot of granular updates and day-to-day shifts. I ended the quarter feeling buttoned up in business, messaging and expectations. Now that my foundation is solid, I'm excited to take a step back this quarter, and give the Big Picture the space it needs to bloom…hopefully with those May flowers.
Welcome to Read the Room, a monthly newsletter landing in your inbox on the first Sunday of every month - all about how books are published, promoted, and passed along.
Books in Circulation
There is nothing more special than the shared love of reading. The section captures the flow of books through my bookshelf and into other reader's hands.
Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
In one sentence: In a near-future America where prisoners compete in televised death matches for their freedom, two women gladiators fight to survive a system designed to make sure they don't.
Rating: 4 stars
How I discovered it: A recommendation from a friend/colleague
Who I’m recommending it to: readers who love dystopian storylines and have a passion for social justice
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
In one sentence: When a reclusive Irish woman does exactly what her late father always joked she should — puts him out with the trash — the media frenzy that follows slowly unravels a past she has no memory of.
Rating: 3 stars
How I discovered it: TikTok!
Who I’m recommending it to: my sister Natalia, who enjoys books with a psychological twist
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
In one sentence: A young woman barely scraping by stumbles into a hidden door at the Boston Public Library, and discovers a secret world where ‘the lost and desperate’ can literally live inside their favorite books.
Rating: 2 stars
How I discovered it: Bedford Books new releases newsletter
Who I’m recommending it to: the Third Glass book club podcast audience :)
How these books are shaping my thinking: All three of these books made me uncomfortable in the same way, which is usually a sign that something important is being said.
The dystopian reality of Chain Gang All Stars isn’t too far off, when you think about it. My social media is feeding me theories and pleas for ABC to air The Bachelorette, even though it was pulled because of domestic violence charges. Sally Diamond moves through the world differently than everyone around her, and her community deems that dangerous. Nobody can see who she actually is, because they’re too busy watching her. The people who find the Astral Library are desperate and trying to disappear, and they are, of course, being hunted.
The sad truth is that vulnerable people get watched, studied, and consumed, both for observation and for entertainment.
Ask yourself: What uncomfortable realities have made their way into your writing?
Third Glass Podcast
One book. One wine. And way too many opinions. Third Glass is a book club podcast hosted by BB Corcoran and Jessica Sorentino. Each episode, we discuss one book - what worked, what didn’t, and what we can’t stop thinking about… all over a paired bottle of wine.
Season 2 continues this month with two episodes:
April 4: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
April 18: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
What we’re seeing in the chat: The book club is officially active! We’re doubling down on community this season and want YOU to be a part of every book, wine pick, and discussion. Head over to WhatsApp, and share which of these books are you most excited to read with us!
Follow on Instagram and join the book club chat:
Publishing Industry Updates
The New York Times Bestseller List is Getting an Update
For the first time in quite some time, the New York Times announced their Bestseller List was evolving, effective April 2026. Two new audiobook lists are being added, Mass Market is being retired, and Paperback Nonfiction is shifting from weekly to monthly. The audiobook additions make sense because audio is no longer an add-on (we talked a little about this in Chapter 2), Mass Market being retired aligns with the discontinuation of the format, and Paperback Nonfiction moving to monthly is interesting, because memoir and narrative nonfiction operate on a different business timeline than fiction.
AI in Publishing: The Industry is Taking a Stance
We live in a world where AI support has become more common than not, and authors are not exempt from that reality. That said, AI is already creating skepticism among writers, readers, and publishers. Hachette made headlines earlier this year when they canceled Shy Girl by Mia Ballard over suspected AI use — one of the first times a major publisher has publicly pulled a contracted title for this reason.
Industry-Wide Layoffs: Workflows Are Changing
Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and others made significant cuts to start the year, largely on the editorial side. It’s easy to read layoffs as a signal that the industry is failing, but that is not the case here. We know more bookstores are opening up, film adaptations are high, and so are book club communities. Instead, these layoffs signal a change in internal structure. Workflows are enhanced — or affected — by AI systems, depending on your view. The industry that was always considered a slow-moving giant is doing its best to keep up in today’s world.
What this means for authors: Hold your line. Let the industry update itself as necessary; it’s inevitable that it does. Your job is to focus on your book and the community you’re building around your authorship and your titles.
FYP: Authors who Stopped the Scroll
Each month, I'm rounding up the author content that caught my attention — and breaking down why it works. Consider this your content inspiration, with a side of strategy.
01. Author’s Name: Jeffrey Binney The post: view on Instagram
Why it stopped my scroll: A relatable hook paired with familiar audio is one of the most reliable combinations in content, and Jeffrey used both well. You don't need a complicated concept when the entry point feels like something your audience has already felt. Best for: Any genre authors with an established community of millennial-aged followers, running a launch campaign or sharing an announcement.
02. Author’s Name: Kyleigh Leddy The post: view on TikTok
Why it stopped my scroll: Text-over-video is simple, but the execution here was smart — leading with two well-known author comparisons gave readers an immediate frame of reference. Comps aren't just for query letters. Best for: Debut authors looking to find their readership through well-known author comparisons.
03. Author’s Name: Via Strong The post: view on TikTok
Why it stopped my scroll: The concept made me curious enough to read through the comments, which is its own metric. Content that pulls your audience into the conversation rather than just past it is worth studying. Best for: Mid-sized authors with a community of readers ready to buy in.
If you see anything you love or that you would be interested in learning how to create, feel free to share it with me, and I can include it in this monthly roundup.
Since today is Easter, we’re spending some time with family. This month is a busy one, so I’ve been enjoying these little pockets of personal connectivity when everyone can be together.
On the reading front: client drafts, podcast prep, and my TBR (literally copied this line from earlier chapters because it's still true). First up is Lady Tremaine, Rachel Hocchauser’s debut, bestselling title. Curious to see what themes unfold!
If you’re interested in sharing:
Did you read any of the books I finished in March? What stood out to you?
What are you reading as we move into April?
What threads and conversations are shaping your choices and thoughts?
xx
Jessica Sorentino specializes in branding and marketing for authors, helping them connect with readers and position their work for agents and publishers. With over a decade in publishing, she transforms stories into lasting brands through strategy, connection, and visibility.
