Publishing & Events: National Book Store (NBS) is bringing back the Philippine Readers & Writers Festival (Aug. 14–16) in Araneta City Cubao, with free entry and 40+ events, plus a first-time partnership with Komikon for more storytelling and creator programming. Author Spotlight: Brenda Thurmond, a widow who began publishing children’s books at 82, is turning grief into a new career with a fall debut collection. Reading Habits: A new take on Gen Z argues reading isn’t collapsing—it’s shifting to multimodal formats and web platforms, with more young people identifying as readers. Privacy in Kids’ Books: Jessica Kingsley Publishers is rolling out removable “safety covers” so families can read gender-identity and other sensitive titles without unwanted attention. AI & Books: Multiple reports this week keep circling the same worry: AI systems are increasingly tied to book scanning and publishing disruption, raising fresh backlash. New Releases: Riley Sager’s The Unknown leans into immersive, eerie disappearance-mystery vibes, while River to Freedom offers a Christian historical adventure set under Soviet oppression. Tech in Everyday Life: Bolt adds a ChatGPT ride-booking plugin for South Africans, letting users plan trips in chat before finishing in the app. Book Industry Business: Barnes & Noble’s comeback is framed around empowering store-level teams instead of relying on headquarters control.