Life is hectic and tumultuous, and it can be difficult to find a moment for reflection. This week’s new books take a stand and make an argument for acceptance and love: learning to love your body and mind, delving into your family’s fascinating fight against an oppressive system or trying to find peace in the aftermath of a tragedy caused by your own flesh and blood. You’ll want to add these books to your shelves and bring them up at your next book club gathering.
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Millions of Americans tune into award shows like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys every single year. Yet, you may not know that the Newbery Medal predates all of them — and this great literary honor historically celebrated and exulted some of your favorite childhood reads.
The latest Youth Media Awards took place on January 27, 2025, at the LibLearnX conference in Phoenix, Arizona. There, this year's Newbery Medal winner was officially announced. Keep reading to find out the exciting new winner!
Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Newbery Medal winning book!
What is the Newbery Medal?
Amazon
The Newberry Medal is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children on a yearly basis. The American Library Association (ALA) gave the very first Newbery Medal to Hendrik Willem van Loon, author of "The Story of Mankind," in 1922.
This honor, named after John Newbery, an English children's book publisher, ultimately became the world's first children's book award.
Since its inception, the Newbery Medal has been awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children. Numerous revered works have been given this honor, ranging from The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle in 1923 to Summer of the Swans in 1971 and The Tale of Despereaux in 2004.
Who won the 2025 Newbery Medal?
The honor was given to The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. The book, which came out on March 5, 2024, is set in 1999 and follows a 12-year-old boy named Michael Rosario, who is consumed by anxiety as he prepares for a potential Y2K disaster.
Then, one day, Michael encounters a teenager named Ridge, who stands out with his unusual clothing and strange way of speaking. It turns out that Ridge traveled back in time from the year 2199 with the help of his mom's scientific experiments following a dare from his siblings.
Michael is tempted by the opportunity to find out about the future. However, he realizes that his priority is helping Ridge return to his own time.
This feat represents Erin Entrada Kelly's second Newbery Medal win. She previously won the honor for the first time in 2018 with her book, Hello, Universe.
Along with this prestigious award, the committee also awarded Newbery Honors to other books deemed attention-worthy. These titles included Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller, One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, and The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy.
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While the Newbery Medal is perhaps the most famous children's book award, the ALA also recognizes outstanding literature across a variety of categories. These awards, including the Randolph Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Award, the William C. Morris Award, and the Michael L. Printz Award, are determined by committees of children's librarians and other literary experts.
This year, the Randolph Caldecott Medal was presented to Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz. It's awarded to the most distinguished American picture book for kids.
Amazon
Twenty-four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds received the Coretta Scott King Book Award, which honors African American authors and illustrators who create exceptional books for both children and young adults. My Daddy Is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award.
The William C. Morris Award, given to books by debut authors writing for teen audiences, was presented to Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo. Finally, the Michael L. Printz Award, which recognizes excellent works across YA fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies, was awarded to Brownstone by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
I always get excited when I think about how many celebrity couples we don't know about yet. Glen Powell & Lily James generated some buzz when they hopped into a car together ahead of the BAFTAs, and Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline & Austin Butler (yes, Elvis himself) were just spotted out and about together. Let's dive in, shall we?
Here's everything we know about those Madelyn Cline & Austin Butler dating rumors.
Madelyn Cline & Austin Butler were allegedly spotted grabbing a meal.
"Seriously just saw Madelyn Cline and Austin Butler" at a celebrity-frequented restaurant in Los Angeles, a DeuxMoi source said at the end of January. One Instagram user commented that since Madelyn and Austin's exes (Pete Davidson and Kaia Gerber) are exes, "dating in Hollywood is 3 degrees of separation."
However, according to another DeuxMoi source, fans have been paying attention to Madelyn's Instagram activity. The actress previously dated her Outer Banks costar Chase Stokes, and has allegedly been liking posts about "the one that got away," and even posted on her Instagram story that she deserves happiness.
"The timing of Chase's relationship doing so great and her having a string of failed relationships, people are just assuming she's crashing out," the second source continues. Yikes, y'all.
I think it's so fascinating how fans allegedly jump to the conclusion that Madelyn is crashing out, and assume Austin (who is also recently single) is totally fine post-breakup. Listen, a girl can go on a few dates without spiraling, dating really doesn't have to be that serious. It's supposed to be fun!
It's also totally in the realm of possibility that they were having a business meeting. For now, we don't really know. But what I do know? Madelyn Cline and Austin Butler would make a cute couple, and even if they don't end up in a relationship, a delicious dinner and maybe a smooch or two never hurt anybody ;).
Stay tuned for more news on these Madelyn Cline & Austin Butler dating rumors, and while we're on all things lovey-dovey, check out the latest news on Madelyn Cline's New Romance The Map That Leads To You.
Who knew we'd fall deeper in love with reading while covering Jenna Bush Hager's book club last year? With her help, we learned to look beyond our love for rom-com tropes and embraced tales about forgiveness, finding one's identity, and looking in the past to see what shapes families.
So far, her 2025 picks feel timely as we make sense of an ever evolving world where everyone's thoughts about love are so different. At their core, these titles are powerful pieces of art that will make readers stop to consider how they want to remember their lives.
Learn more about Jenna Bush Hager's 2025 book club picks
March 2025
Amazon
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
The Dream Hotel starts off with oppressed women being held against their will and ends with a revolutionary act that dismantles the very system meant to keep them locked away. Readers will meet Sara, the main protagonist, and other women who have been detained by the Risk Assessment Administration for being possible "threats" to society. In her case, she's charged with the fact she might put her husband's life in danger.
As readers can surmise, the rules aren't consistent at the center they're being held and their "sentences" stretch out to the point it's impossible for them to ever leave. But the RAA makes a miscalculation when they bring a new face to the center. Soon, the women they held back will expose them and others.
February 2025
Amazon
This Is a Love Storyby Jessica Soffer
Central Park has been a place of solace for lovers Abe and Jane since the beginning of their journey together. They've been in each other's lives for five decades and have experienced the rollercoaster of life's changes. From young parents to career-minded individuals, they've been through it all.
But their story is coming to a close because Jane's life is slowly slipping away and Abe is doing his best to remember every moment of their lives. From watching a young student search for something that makes sense to her to dealing with their son's complicated feelings about Jane, This Is a Love Story is truly for the lovers who knows there's magic in the little moments we take for granted.
Jenna Bush Hager says, "THIS IS A LOVE STORY is a powerful, unforgettable tribute to love, marriage, and the enduring strength of art," (via Instagram).
January 2025
Amazon
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.
Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.
Jenna Bush Hager thinks readers will love The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus because "it's a rich novel" with themes of "friendship and motherhood" (via Instagram). It's so good, she's sure "it will sweep you off your feet (via Instagram).
We hope you enjoy reading about Penn's journey in The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus and encourage you to check out Reese Witherspoon's January book club pick next!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
Not only is Blake Lively speaking out about the "sexist" commentary on her legal battle with Justin Baldoni, she's also enlisting the help of...the CIA? Yes, you read that right. The actress just recruited an ex-CIA advisor to help with her case ahead of the March 2026 trial. Wow.
Here's what we know about Blake Lively's latest move in her legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
Blake Lively just involved an ex-CIA advisor in her case.
Blake Lively has enlisted Nick Shapiro, former CIA deputy chief of staff and senior advisor John Brennan (the former director), to help with her case, according to Page Six and Variety.
“The litigation team for Ms. Lively retained Mr. Shapiro to advise on the legal communications strategy for the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit occurring in the Southern District of New York,” Blake Lively's lawyers said in a statement.
This proves more than anything else that Blake is taking the trial really seriously because this is a major move on her part.
Recently, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni actually agreed on something when they spoke out against the "violent" messages Blake and her loved ones have been receiving.
Blake's legal team requested a stronger protection order (PO), considering Blake, "her family, other members of the cast, various fact witnesses, and individuals that have spoken out publicly in support of Ms. Lively have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications" (as the request states), "good cause exists for the Court to adopt the Proposed PO."
And Justin's legal team went on the record, saying they "do not condone dangerous rhetoric targeted toward anyone no matter the situation. Anyone receiving violent messages by anonymous parties is abhorrent."
“When private parties were wrongfully accused by Lively and her paid team of wrongdoing, they received continuous death threats and visits to private homes where young children reside after their addresses were leaked on her initial complaints," they continue. "No one should have to face that, especially private parties who do not have means for security detail. We do not condone dangerous rhetoric targeted toward anyone no matter the situation.”
Stay tuned for more news on Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's legal battle.
Look out Bridgerton fans — Simone Ashley is giving love another chance in her new rom-com movie Picture This! We'll always love her inspiring take on Kate Sharma, but it's nice to see her spreading her acting wings. Just don't expect the two worlds to collide!
Picture This has a modern feel that explores the life of a single woman who's more concerned about having a lucrative career than putting all of her eggs in one basket. It's an accurate depiction of dating in 2025 and takes outdated relationship rules to task! Let's dig into all the exciting details!
Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about Simone Ashley's rom-com, Picture This!
What is 'Picture This' about?
Amazon MGM Studios
Picture This is about a photographer Pia's (Simone Ashley) journey to living life on her terms, but she gets the surprise of a lifetime when she's given dating tasks. In order to truly have the life she wants, she has to go on a few dates which is the opposite of what she's trying to focus on.
Adding even more turmoil to the mix is the reappearance of an ex that sends Pia down of path of self-discovery that may or may not end with her falling in love.
Who's starring in 'Picture This'?
Amazon MGM Studios
Picture This will star:
- Simone Ashley
- Hero Fiennes Tiffin
- Sindhu Vee
- Luke Fetherson
- Nikesh Patel
- Adil Ray
- Anoushka Chadha
- Eben Figueiredo
- Kulvinder Ghir
- Asim Chaudhry
- Phil Dunster
And the film will be directed by Prarthana Mohan (Christmas Canceled).
When will it premiere?
Amazon MGM Studios
Picture This is set to premiere March 6, 2025 on Amazon Prime.
What The Trailer For 'Picture This' Here!
Picture This appears to be full of hilarious moments from a best friend who has witty one-liners to a family who's good intentions feel invasive. The only thing we'll have to wait to see is whether Pia and her ex will get a second chance at love or not.
Are you excited to see Picture This? Let us know on Facebook!