April book‑club picks
Publishers Weekly’s April roundup notes that Good Morning America and Read with Jenna are spotlighting debut novels this month, including titles by Caro Claire Burke and Woody Brown. Those selections are part of a broader slate of April book‑club recommendations circulating now. (publishersweekly.com)
April’s highest-profile TV book clubs both landed on debut novels: Good Morning America chose Caro Claire Burke’s “Yesteryear,” and Read With Jenna chose Woody Brown’s “Upward Bound.” (publishersweekly.com) Publishers Weekly’s April 14 roundup said those picks were part of a wider monthly slate that also included selections from Oprah’s Book Club, Reese’s Book Club, Belletrist, and other reading groups that can move new releases quickly onto store tables and recommendation lists. (publishersweekly.com) Good Morning America announced “Yesteryear” on April 8, calling it the show’s April pick. The novel is Burke’s first book and follows Natalie Heller Mills, a social media “tradwife” influencer whose pioneer-style persona turns into a harsher 19th-century reality. (goodmorningamerica.com) Read With Jenna named “Upward Bound” its April 2026 selection in a story published about two weeks earlier. TODAY said the book is Brown’s debut novel, and Brown told the outlet he felt “nervous and excited” ahead of publication. (today.com) The April picks keep a pattern in place for both clubs: television-backed selections are still functioning as launch platforms for new writers, not just established names. Publishers Weekly’s January roundup also noted a Read With Jenna debut pick, while Good Morning America’s January selection went to Paula McLain, a veteran novelist. (publishersweekly.com) That mix matters in publishing because these clubs do more than recommend a title once. Good Morning America runs its book club as a monthlong feature tied to on-air segments and Instagram discussion, while TODAY maintains a dedicated Read With Jenna hub and running list of monthly picks. (goodmorningamerica.com) (today.com) The two April books are also arriving with distinct hooks that fit the clubs’ audiences. Good Morning America framed “Yesteryear” as a satirical novel about an influencer’s “seemingly perfect life,” while TODAY described “Upward Bound” as a book Jenna Bush Hager said would “open hearts and change minds.” (goodmorningamerica.com) (today.com) Brown’s selection also brought author visibility beyond the novel itself. In a TODAY interview, the network said Brown has autism and communicates with the help of a letter board alongside his mother, Mary Brown, adding another personal dimension to the month’s book-club rollout. (today.com) For April, the immediate result is simple: two debut novelists now have the kind of national television placement that publishers chase for years, and booksellers are already treating the month’s club lists as a roadmap for what readers will be asking for next. (publishersweekly.com)
