This publisher enlists ‘bookfluencers’ to choose its titles. Is it working?

Inside: Jesse Jackson's war on Hollywood; L.‍A.‍ Times Book Prize honorees and finalists; the Hollywood Bowl lineup.‍  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   ADVERTISEMENT February 19, 2026 | View in browser Entertainment This publisher enlists 'bookfluencers' to choose its titles. Is it working? At Bindery Books, a publishing startup, online influencers work as acquiring editors. The model offers a new path for surviving the social media era. Read More ADVERTISEMENT Amy Tan, Ekow Eshun and Michael Connelly among L.A. Times Book Prize honorees and finalists Novelists Amy Tan ("The Joy Luck Club") and Adam Ross ("Playworld") are among this year's L.A. Times Book Prizes honorees, while finalists include Michael Connelly, Stephen Graham Jones and Molly Jong-Fast. Read More Jesse Jackson had onscreen charisma. But when he waged war on Hollywood, it had few results The late civil rights leader launched protests against the lack of movie and TV diversity, accusing the industry of "institutional racism," but they fizzled out over time. Read More ADVERTISEMENT Gustavo Dudamel delivers his 'love letter to L.A.' in his final summer at the Hollywood Bowl The L.A. Phil's 2026 summer season at the Hollywood Bowl features the four-day Dudamel tribute 'Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl.' Read More Teddy Riley is finally getting his flowers. Will he risk it all to work with R. Kelly? In a new memoir, the Grammy-winning R&B musician and producer looks back over his trailblazing career. Read More Keep up with California Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe Now How a trip to Monet's garden inspired Takashi Murakami's new show in L.A. Japanese master Takashi Murakami took inspiration from a trip to Monet's Giverny for his L.A. solo show at the Perrotin, which features 24 new paintings that explore the link between Impressionism and the historic Japanese art form ukiyo-e or "floating world pictures." Read More '56 Days' sometimes forgets it's a thriller, but detectives keep the story afloat This Prime Video series starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia is billed as an erotic thriller, and sometimes leans on the erotic part to the point of silliness. Read More Jefferson Mays' complex portrayal of Salieri ignites new revival of 'Amadeus' at Pasadena Playhouse Tony winner Jefferson Mays stars in a new revival of Peter Shaffer's "Amadeus," directed by Tony-winner Darko Tresnjak, at Pasadena Playhouse. Read More 'Sentimental Value' isn't a critique of Netflix. 'It's an encouragement' Writer-director Joachim Trier and actor Stellan Skarsgård reflect on their friendship, the importance of cinemas and making the year's most-nominated international feature. Read More Tom Noonan, 'Manhunter' character actor who also wrote and directed films, dies at 74 Tom Noonan, the actor best known for playing villain Francis Dolarhyde in "Manhunter" and the Ripper in "Last Action Hero," has died. He was 74. Read More ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading Entertainment Digest from the Los Angeles Times Sign up for more L.A. Times newsletters. Sign Up You received this email because you opted to receive email communications from L.A. Times. Unsubscribe | Manage marketing email preferences | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | CA Notice of Collection Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. Place an ad or classified. Copyright © 2026, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, CA 90245 1-800-LA-TIMES latimes.com