Chad Harbach to Release New Novel The Brightness
The 672-page follow-up to The Art of Fielding is scheduled for release on October 27, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Books
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Author Chad Harbach will publish his second novel, The Brightness, on October 27, 2026. Published by Little, Brown, the story returns readers to Westish College in rural Wisconsin.
Why it matters
The release marks a significant return for the author following his 2011 debut, The Art of Fielding. This new work continues his exploration of the college setting while introducing female main characters.
The Brightness arrives 15 years after Chad Harbach released his debut novel. The new book spans 672 pages and returns to the setting of his 2011 work.
The players
Chad Harbach
He is a writer and co-founder of the literary magazine n+1 who achieved acclaim for his 2011 debut novel.
Little, Brown
This publishing company is responsible for the release of The Brightness.
The details
The novel features characters from The Art of Fielding and centers on female leads. Little, Brown is the publisher for this long-awaited second entry from the n+1 co-founder.
Timeline
The Art of Fielding was originally released in 2011.
The Brightness is scheduled for release on October 27, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This release follows the precedent set by the 2011 release of The Art of Fielding, signaling a return to the author's established narrative universe. It highlights the long lead times often associated with literary fiction sequels compared to mass-market series.
Readers can anticipate the book's availability through standard retail channels starting October 27, 2026. Fans of the author's previous work can expect to encounter familiar characters within the 672-page text.
The takeaway
The publication of this novel ends a 15-year wait for a new full-length work from the author. Readers familiar with his previous college-set narrative will see those elements expanded through new central characters.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest literary trends in the Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
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