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Just like that, March is already in the rearview and spring is in the air. Songbirds are hitting the bird feeders, plants are blooming, and the weather's growing more inviting by the day. Which of course means that the time for comfy outdoor reading sessions is at hand! Good thing we've got plenty of books to choose from this April to transport us to distant lands and imaginative realms, no matter where you choose to set up your picnic blanket.

April is a heavy month for the fantasy genre, but relatively light on science fiction. Fortunately, there's still plenty of variety. Want a dark fantasy epic? Check! Magical realism? Check! A highly-anticipated sequel or a speculative fiction mindbender? Done and done, we got you.

As we do each month, we've rounded up a bunch of the fantasy and sci-fi books hitting shelves in the next 30 days that we're excited for.

Romantasy, a subgenre of fantasy and romance, has become a largely popular genre for readers in recent years, as the narrative focuses on balancing its romantic plot with epic fantasy elements. It's no surprise the genre has become such a prominent choice among authors, as several of the best romantasy books of 2024 went on to become international bestsellers. The trend in romantasy is largely due to its abundance of readers, and, thanks to its popularity, means there will be several amazing additions to the genre in 2025.

Hundreds of romantasy novels are scheduled to release this year—with some coming from well-known authors, like Rebecca Yarros, and others making their debut in the genre, including Patrice Caldwell and Julie Johnson. While some of these novels are continuations from previously existing fantasy book series, there are several exciting standalone romantasy novels that are perfect for readers who can't yet commit to a multi-book series.

Whether you like it or not, Barney the Dinosaur is ready for his comeback. The purple, pudgy T-Rex is back with a new look, a new cartoon, and, as you might expect, plenty of new merchandise, courtesy of Mattel. Barney's World, an animated series featuring the characters from the original PBS series, is coming this fall. In addition, Barney will have a new voice, courtesy of actor Jonathan Langdon, whose appearance in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller Trap made him a viral meme over the summer.

Barneys World will premiere October 14 on Max, with a premiere on Cartoon Network on October 18. The first season will include 52 episodes of 11 minutes each, and select episodes will also be available to watch on YouTube, with the first episode premiering on October 11. The new series is a joint venture with Mattel and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Barney the Dinosaur Release Date 1992-00-00Main Genre ComedyCast Carey Stinson,...

Courtney Love claims she quit acting after experiencing several #MeToo moments. After releasing Hole's breakthrough album, Live Through This in 1994, Love set her sights on acting, which is something she did well before forming the band. Love appeared in supporting roles in Alex Cox movies Sid and Nancy (1986) and Straight to Hell (1987), but didn't pursue the Hollywood route. Love notes that it was director Milos Forman that brought her back into the world of acting.

Before teaming up with Milos Forman for The People vs. Larry Flynt in 1996, Courtney Love appeared in the Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic Basquiat and the drama Feeling Minnesota. She played Larry Flynt's late wife Althea in Forman's movie opposite Woody Harrelson, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. "For a few years, because of Milos Forman, I was a professional actress and a movie star," recalls Love in a new Instagram post. "It was fun as hell.

Evangeline Lilly, who stars as the Wasp in Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp, revealed that she flayed the skin off both of her forearms during a stunt that went wrong several years ago on the set of Lost. “There were open wounds, pus-y and oozing,” she said during a panel discussion Wednesday night on the Fox lot about women in the stunt business. “I looked like a mutant. My mom said, ‘You’ll never be able to wear an evening gown again!’”

Lilly also made it clear that the accident was no accident, accusing an unnamed stunt coordinator — who she described as “misogynistic” — of punishing her for defying his wish to have a stuntwoman do the stunt. It involved rolling off a thick tree branch high above the ground and hanging on for dear life, though there was no risk of falling because she was safely harnessed to the branch.