Avon Lands Raven Kennedy Duology
In a seven-figure preempt, Raven Kennedy, the bestselling author of the Plated Prisoner series, has sold North American rights to an as-yet-untitled romantasy duology to Julia Elliott at Avon. The deal was negotiated by Kimberly Whalen at the Whalen Agency. Avon said the story is “loosely inspired by the Pied Piper myth” and “is centered on a woman living in a ruined world who finds herself connected to a mysterious fae who will unleash terrible secrets and a ruthless desire within her.” Kennedy’s six-book Plated Prisoners series was a TikTok sensation, and Avon said the new duology will feature the same “high-stakes tension, steamy chemistry, and sensory worldbuilding.” A 2026 publication is planned.
Hogarth Takes Imprisoned Journo’s Memoir
In her first acquisition for Hogarth, Helen Thomaides has bought North American rights to journalist and translator Abdelrahman ElGendy’s memoir Huna. Jin Auh at the Wylie Agency brokered the deal. Hogarth said the book chronicles ElGendy’s “six years as a political prisoner in post–Arab Spring Egypt, following his arrest at age 17, alongside his father, at a protest against the 2013 military coup.” It explores “the politics of dissent and erasure, the bonds of family and community, and the power of education and language as a form of resistance.” No pub date has been announced.
Atria Explores ‘Love Island’
In a preempt, Kate Napolitano at Atria has acquired North American rights to Enter the Villa, by Vanity Fair contributing editor Anna Peele. Atria said the book “is a love letter to, and an examination of, Love Island, taking readers behind the cameras to show the mechanics of the bombshell reality series, from its casting to its editing to the stakes of its competition, ultimately revealing what the show says about sex, fame, and entertainment in our cultural climate.” Gary Morris at David Black Literary Agency brokered the deal. Enter the Villa will be published in summer 2026.
Bloomsbury Buys Housing Crisis Treatise
After an auction, Harriet LeFavour at Bloomsbury has taken North American rights to NIMBY Nation, the debut book of political history by Cornell Klarman fellow Jacob Anbinder. Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal. Grinberg said the book will appeal to readers of The Color of Law and Evicted. Bloomsbury called it a “provocative” work that chronicles “the pro-growth and anti-growth strains of liberalism that collided in the 20th century to create our modern housing crisis” and explores “how to reconcile liberals’ conflicting policy priorities with America’s urgent need for housing.” NIMBY Nation is slated for publication in fall 2027.
Haddad’s Iraqi British Epic Goes to Europa
In an exclusive, Michael Reynolds and Millie Guille at Europa Editions have acquired world English rights to Floodlines by Saleem Haddad, author of the widely praised debut Guapa. Anjali Singh at the Anjali Singh Agency negotiated the deal. Singh said Floodlines is “a sweeping multigenerational novel that traces the fractured bond between three estranged Iraqi British sisters, each an artist in her own right, as they grapple with the legacies of war, exile, and family secrets.” The book is scheduled for a spring 2026 publication.
Ballantine Discovers ‘Mudlark’
After an auction, Texas author Mary Helen Specht (Migratory Animals) has sold North American rights to Mudlark to Jesse Shuman at Ballantine. Ballantine said the novel is a “speculative mother-daughter story,” pitched for fans of Station Eleven and A Visit from the Goon Squad, “about a troubled rock star who goes missing in the wake of a hurricane that floods New York, and her daughter, a ‘mudlark’ who salvages art and supplies in the ruined city, who discovers the original master of her mother’s long-lost solo album and embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries of her disappearance.” Haley Heidemann at WME negotiated the deal. A summer 2026 publication is planned.
