E.L. James needs absolutely no introduction. The author has changed the romance game with her debut novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, and has since delighted us with her Mister & Missus series. Since then, we’ve been waiting for what she was working on next and we’re delighted to share that she’s finally revealing it for the first time. And trust us when we say, you never would have guessed what her next book is all about.
Cosmopolitan is exclusively revealing her next book, Land of Ghosts, which is set to be released on October 20, 2026. The new novel is E.L. James’s first YA fantasy book, bringing the author to a totally different age group and genre.
“This tale has haunted me (see what I did there!) for a long time.” James revealed.
Here’s some more info from our friends at Bloom Books:
In a single, devastating moment, I lost everyone I loved.
Now I'm in London, living with my sort-of-uncle Dylan.
And the only thing we have in common is loss.
This new life isn't a life. It's unbearable.
Except––there's someone else here.
A young man.
He can’t be real. Can he?
He's funny, cool, infuriating... and he understands me in a way no one else does.
But only I can see him.
Before I know it, he's all I can think about. All I can dream about.
I just wish I could touch him.
And I wish he could touch me.
Am I falling in love… with a ghost?
One thing we’re definitely falling for? This incredible cover that features main character, Emily Beauchamp. The cover design by Fay Lane, while the concept was created by Erika Mitchell and Jason Smith. Check it out below:
While you’re going to have to wait until October 20 to find out what happens to Emily, we got an exclusive Q&A with E.L. James below that will give more of a hint as to what you can expect next in this fantastical story.
Can you tell us a little of what the Land of Ghosts is about?
Land of Ghosts is an impossible love story - a tale of grief, healing, love, loss, and fantastical worlds. Emily Beauchamp, the gifted daughter of a loving family, loses everything in an instant – her parents, her brother, her future, and her hope. Forced to move London and move in with a distant relative, Emily arrives carrying unbearable loss, only to discover that his house has secrets of its own. There’s a presence there, something she can’t explain. I think what I loved about this story is that at its heart, it’s about love after loss, and the possibility that even when everything is taken from you, the universe can still surprise you.
What made you decide to write Land of Ghosts?
This tale has haunted me (see what I did there!) for a long time. Years ago, when I was working in TV, we were discussing whether a project might happen or not, when a colleague said, “We might all end up in the Land of Ghosts.’’ Just that offhand remark struck a spark in my imagination that quickly sprang up into a blaze of images and ideas. What is the land of ghosts? What might such a place look like? Is it a place of sorrow or joy, of hope or despair? What happens when you get there? I’ve tried to write this tale at least four times, but slowly over the years and after much daydreaming and noodling, these broken but lovable characters and their story came into focus, and took me on a wild ride. I’m thrilled to share that journey with my readers.
What can readers expect from Land of Ghosts?
It’s very different from anything I’ve written before, but readers can expect a whirlwind of feelings, a passionate but fraught love story, and some amazing twists and turns. There are some signature thriller elements; threats and dangers, and of course, a slow-burn romance with a pinch of spice.
What are you most excited for readers to experience in Land of Ghosts?
I think I’m most excited for readers to experience the sheer emotion. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, and to enjoy all of this through the eyes of a beautiful young woman who is coming into her own. There’ll be sorrow, love, lust, some serious chemistry, and a whole heap of UST.
Land of Ghosts, by E.L. James will be released on October 20, 2026 from Bloom Books. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:
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