For November 2026, we wanted to choose a novel that would bring something completely different to the PREM1ER collection: witty, original, wonderfully eccentric and utterly absorbing. Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus is all of these things and more.
Following the extraordinary success of her global bestseller Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus returns with a completely new cast of characters and a wonderfully chaotic literary world. Set in 1982 New York, the novel follows Batter Gray, a recent college graduate with an unusual talent: he has an "ear" for poetry. With few career prospects and even fewer reasons for optimism, Batter is hardly expecting his life to change when he lands a job at Peck & Peck, the world's most prestigious and most dysfunctional poetry journal.
But Peck & Peck is far from an ordinary workplace.
Batter soon finds himself caught between the journal's formidable twin Editors in Chief, whose rivalry has been simmering for years, while navigating a building full of eccentric editors, questionable decisions and a rather extreme approach to literary criticism. At the heart of it all is an obsessive belief in originality: find it, reward it, and dispose of anything that doesn't make the cut.
What makes Peck & Peck such a joy to read is Bonnie Garmus's extraordinary sense of humour and her ability to create characters who are as ridiculous as they are memorable. Beneath all the eccentricity, however, is a story with real heart; a true celebration of creativity, individuality and the power of words.
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about its 1980s New York setting, but the novel still feels timeless. It asks what happens when you don't quite fit into the world you've been given, and what it means to find somewhere, or someone, that makes you feel you belong. Batter's journey is filled with mishaps, unexpected friendships and plenty of literary chaos, making this a novel that is as warm and uplifting as it is funny.
We were particularly drawn to the way Peck & Peck celebrates the creative process itself. It is a love letter to writers, readers, editors and anyone who has ever cared deeply about the written word. Bonnie Garmus takes the often-serious literary world and gleefully turns it on its head, creating something wonderfully playful while never losing sight of the humanity underneath.
Above all, Peck & Peck has that rare quality we look for in every PREM1ER selection: it is immediately entertaining, beautifully written and completely distinctive. Bonnie Garmus has created a world readers will want to spend time in, populated by characters who are impossible to forget.
Following Lessons in Chemistry was never going to be an easy task, but Peck & Peck proves that Bonnie Garmus has plenty more to say and she does so with all the warmth and originality that made her debut such a phenomenon.
We are delighted to make Peck & Peck our November PREM1ER selection.
Become a PREM1ER Member
PREM1ER is more than receiving a beautiful signed book each month. It's becoming part of a community of passionate readers and collectors who love discovering exceptional fiction before anyone else.
Membership starts from £24.99 per month (plus shipping) with a six-month commitment.
As a PREM1ER member, you'll enjoy:
Beautiful Collectible Editions
Receive a hand-signed first edition each month, created exclusively for Goldsboro Books with bespoke finishes designed to become treasured additions to your collection.
Priority Access
Enjoy early access to many of our exclusive editions before they're available to the wider public.
Curated with Collectors in Mind
Every PREM1ER choice is selected for outstanding storytelling and lasting collectability, helping you build a library you'll treasure for years to come.
Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Content
Enjoy author interviews, editorial insights and commentary from Goldsboro co-founder and literary agent David Headley.
15% Off Throughout Your Membership
Receive 15% discount on almost everything else you purchase from Goldsboro Books while you're an active member.
Build Your Perfect Collection
Request matching edition numbers to create a beautifully curated personal library.
Even More Member Benefits
Including exclusive newsletters, collecting advice, early announcements and member-only opportunities throughout the year.
For more than twenty years, PREM1ER has celebrated exceptional storytelling while producing editions that become treasured collectibles. Many of our authors visit our iconic Cecil Court bookshop to sign their books in person, making every copy part of Goldsboro's own story.
Whether you're an experienced collector or simply love discovering remarkable books, we'd love to welcome you into the PREM1ER community.
To find out more, contact the team at premier@goldsborobooks.com.
Join PREM1ER today and discover your next favourite book before everyone else.
