Podcast Summary: From the Front Porch

Episode 575 || April 2026 New Release Rundown
Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Annie Jones, with Olivia and Erin
Produced by: The Bookshelf, Thomasville, GA

Overview

In this episode of From the Front Porch, Annie Jones (owner of The Bookshelf), operations manager Olivia, and floor manager Erin gather for their monthly "New Release Rundown." The team discusses their favorite new books releasing in April 2026, spanning literary fiction, mysteries, middle grade, memoir, and speculative fiction. The vibe is witty, warm, and full of personal anecdotes. The trio dives into each pick in depth, offering candid reactions, comparisons, and plenty of laughter, while highlighting titles suitable for a wide range of readers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Seasonal Discombobulation & Life Updates (00:01–07:00)

• The hosts commiserate about the confusing shift between reading upcoming summer titles while still in spring, and recount the oddity of Georgia weather swinging from 90 to 20 degrees ("my brain, everything feels a little out of sorts..." – Annie, 03:52).
• Memorable bee anecdote: Annie recounts her husband discovering a carpenter bee in his pajama pants, leading to laughter and relatable horror.
  • “That bee was in my pajama pants.” (Annie/Jordan relayed, 05:00)
  • “That is a new nightmare unlocked for Leo.” (Olivia, 05:45)

April 2026 New Release Picks

1. The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne

Presented by Annie (07:01–12:35)
Release: April 7
Category: Literary Fiction/Thriller

• Oral history format following a fictional 1980s New York comedy show—clearly inspired by SNL.
• Layers in interviews, emails, and documents; mystery centers on a vanished improv comedian at the show's peak.
• Annie praises the detailed depiction of the comedy scene and its treatment of women pre-Me Too.
• Quote: "It is that oral history format ... a documentarian in the modern era working on this piece about The Midnight Show." (Annie, 08:15)
• Loved the setting and recommends the audiobook for the format.
• Memorable Moment: Discussion about casting Gilda Radner in their imaginations (11:32).

2. The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clark

Presented by Olivia (12:41–16:22)
Release: April
Category: Mystery

• Six authors invited to a private island by a famous, now-dead author to finish his series’ final novel; winner gets a $2 million deal.
• Although a familiar setup, fresh in execution; focus on character depth and writers' personalities.
• Slow build, with major twist at 50%.
• Not billed as a thriller but a character-driven mystery.
• Quote: "At the 50% mark, a huge plot twist happens and everything picks up from there." (Olivia, 15:29)

3. Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Kanter

Presented by Erin (17:00–20:47)
Release: April 7
Category: Literary Contemporary

• Hollywood comedy writer (Caroline) accidentally pitches a show based on confidential details from her psychologist husband’s files. Boundaries blur, anxiety escalates.
• Satirical, semi-autobiographical, and pokes fun at the entertainment industry from an insider’s view.
• Quote: “We love it in fiction, don’t we? But … lots of blurry lines here, lots of boundaries being crossed.” (Erin, 19:22)
• Kirkus starred review; recommended for fans of dry, neurotic humor.

4. Love by the Book by Jessica George

Presented by Annie (20:47–25:09)
Release: April
Category: Literary/Contemporary Friendship

• Sophomore novel, following two women—Remy, an author losing her friend group, and Simone, a teacher whose secret life as a sex worker is outed at a family dinner.
• Focus on platonic love and the healing power of friendship.
• Annie appreciates rare focus on friendships over romance.
• Quote: “It’s kind of about how friendship can save us and how the right friend at the right time can be a real gift.” (Annie, 24:02)

5. Anna Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classy

Presented by Olivia (25:09–30:22)
Release: April 28
Category: Middle Grade, Verse

• Coming-of-age at summer camp; blends traditional friendship/identity struggles with a survival twist—a viral outbreak isolates the camp.
• Written in verse; comparisons to Alone by Megan E. Freeman.
• Quote: “And then all of a sudden … none of their phones are working… and they have no communication with the outside world. It’s just gone dark.” (Olivia, 27:24)
• Described as gripping and unique.

6. Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips

Presented by Erin (31:25–34:54)
Release: April 21
Category: Nonfiction Essays/Memoir

• Pulitzer-winning novelist’s first nonfiction; essays blend family, growing up in a West Virginia coal town, caring for her mother, and literary reflections.
• Anticipated by Oprah and others; praised for literary insight and perspective.
• Quote: “She’s taking her prowess at fiction and really applying it to her life, to nonfiction, to storytelling.” (Erin, 33:15)

7. Cleo Dong Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Gwyn

Presented by Annie (35:16–40:44)
Release: April 14
Category: Dark Literary Comedy

• Follows Cleo after losing her newborn daughter; unexpectedly starts working at a funeral home.
• Profoundly sad yet darkly funny; compared to Emily Austin’s novels.
• Author wrote the novel after her own loss—powerful and poignant.
• Quote: “It is so well written… I sat at my dining room table and sobbed over this book.” (Annie, 36:23)
• The funeral home boss, Kenneth, is a standout character.

8. We Burn So Bright by TJ Klune

Presented by Olivia (40:44–45:32)
Release: April 28
Category: Speculative Fiction Novella

• Earth faces imminent destruction from a black hole; couple Don and Rodney traverse the country to reconcile with their estranged son.
• Emotional, philosophical, and character-driven; likened to “Under the Whispering Door” and the film “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.”
• Quote: “You do get to meet people at these final moments … it’s the rawest form of them because it’s the end of the world. So who else are you gonna be?” (Olivia, 44:05)
• Less fantasy than prior Klune works; highly moving, likely to induce tears.

9. The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva

Presented by Erin (46:28–50:10)
Release: April 28
Category: Literary Science Fiction/Family Drama

• 1980s West Virginia: A mother, Carol, struggles with postpartum isolation as the world discovers signals from intelligent life on a distant planet (Ross 128b).
• The world becomes united by the cosmic event; the narrative follows multiple generations as personal and cosmic scales intersect.
• Explores family rifts, otherworldly communication, and existential meaning.
• Quote: “…It’s about the ways we interact with each other, like, on this small scale, and then also … on a planetary scale. …How those choices impact your relationships for generations to come.” (Erin, 49:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “One bee in my pants is too many.” (Olivia, 06:31)
• “My pants would have been off so fast.” (Erin, 06:22)
• “You kind of want to keep reading to let Mai Gwyn know I’m sitting in this with you.” (Annie, reflecting on reading hard grief narratives, 39:14)
• “Sometimes you need a good just lay on the floor moment. It’s okay.” (Erin, 17:32)
• “It’s also Don and Rodney at the end of the world and who they want to be.” (Olivia, 44:28)
• “Don’t you want to know how you would be at the end of the world?” (Olivia, 45:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01–07:00 — Opening banter, weather, life updates, "bee in pants" story
• 07:01–12:35 — The Midnight Show
• 12:41–16:22 — The Ending Writes Itself
• 17:00–20:47 — Like This, But Funnier
• 20:47–25:09 — Love by the Book
• 25:09–30:22 — Anna Jane and the Endless Summer
• 31:25–34:54 — Small Town Girls
• 35:16–40:44 — Cleo Dong Would Rather Be Dead
• 40:44–45:32 — We Burn So Bright
• 46:28–50:10 — The Radiant Dark
• 51:43–51:56 — What We're Reading Now

Tone and Style

• Conversational, warm, and often laugh-out-loud funny.
• Honest about emotional impact: serious books are discussed with both gravity and humor.
• Focuses on what makes each book unique and why specific readers may enjoy them.

Additional Information

• All books mentioned are available to pre-order or purchase at bookshelfthomasville.com (search: episode575). Use code “new release please” for 10% off these titles.
• Various subscription services and audiobook options are available through The Bookshelf.
• End-of-episode “What Are You Reading?” choices:
  • Annie: The Amateur by Chris Boylehan
  • Olivia: Young World by Simone Chanami
  • Erin: Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

For a deep-dive into April’s best new releases, delivered with charm, heart, and humor, this episode is not to be missed—bee stories and all.