Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing is launching Sarah Barley Books, an imprint that will be part of the Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers imprint, led by publisher Justin Chanda. The new imprint will publish "vibrant literary and commercial books that appeal directly to readers eight and up. It will focus on innovative titles with distinctive writing and great storytelling that instill wonder, inspire conversation, and above all, entertain teens and children." The first titles will appear in the spring of 2026.
Editorial director Sarah Barley joined S&S last year and earlier created the YA line at Flatiron Books and worked in children's publishing at HarperCollins Children's Books, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, and Random House Children's Books.
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| Sarah Barley | |
She said, "I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join Simon & Schuster, whose list I've long admired, to publish a broader range of books. I was ready for a new challenge and to have a bigger palette!... I'm starting with YA on this first list, but I've got some terrific middle-grade titles forthcoming that I can't wait to talk about soon. I hope the list will grow organically, but I'd like to publish around ten books a year."
Chanda said, "I have long been a fan of Sarah's work--her editorial vision, passion for books, and market savvy. I had a hunch that she'd be an incredible asset to Simon & Schuster, but now having worked with her and having seen the range of books she is about to bring to shelves... that hunch was an understatement! So very proud to have Sarah Barley Books on our list!"
Sarah Barley Books' initial acquisitions include three YA novels:
Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet (January 6, 2026), a contemporary reimagining of Little Women in which Beth dies in the first chapter, and her sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer--until they begin to suspect one another.
Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean (February 3, 2026), a funny and deeply moving rom-com about a girl who starts receiving letters from the love of her life, writing to her from years in the future, by the author of Tokyo Ever After.
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee (March 17, 2026), a gothic mystery about a girl racing to uncover a killer--who may or may not live in the sea--before she is the next victim, from the author of The Downstairs Girl.