Cover Reveal: Smash by Penelope Ward | Vi Keeland

Title: Smash

Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Forbidden Romance

Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Photographer: Michelle Lancaster, @lanefotograf

Model: Callum Arnold

Release Date: October 25, 2026

BLURB

A new, shockingly forbidden standalone from New York Times bestselling authors Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland…

Sometimes one floor is all that separates the life you planned from the life you never saw coming…

Moving to New York with my boyfriend, Calder, was supposed to be a fresh start.

A new city. A new job. A beautiful brownstone in Brooklyn we'd call home. The beginning of our forever.

There was just one catch: Calder’s best friend lived in the apartment downstairs.

Rafe—a gifted artist who smashed glass into masterpieces. With his unruly blond hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me, he was impossible to ignore.

He was also completely off-limits.

Yet somehow, every walk past his apartment or trip to the basement laundry room turned into another deep conversation neither of us ever wanted to end.

At first, it was innocent.

Then I found myself looking forward to running into him again.

Before long, I was creating opportunities to be around him.

Somehow, Rafe and I made each other feel seen in ways neither of us expected.

I tried to ignore our connection, reminding myself that Calder’s best friend was the last man on Earth I could ever fall for.

But with every stolen moment, that lie became harder to believe.

Maybe some love stories aren't about finding the right person—but what happens when you find them too late.

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PRE-ORDER LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

ALTERNATE COVER PAPERBACK

AUDIO PREORDER TO COME

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PENELOPE WARD

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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VI KEELAND

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

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 NARUTO Takes the Stage at New York Comic Con 2026

 

Special Panel to Feature Franchise News, First-look Footage and Appearances by Japanese Voice Actors and a Studio Pierrot Producer

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO, September 9, 2026 

 

 

WHAT:   

VIZ Media will present a special NARUTO panel at New York Comic Con 2026, featuring updates across animation, and the NARUTO CARD GAME. The program is expected to include new announcements and first-look promotional videos.

 

WHO:

Junko Takeuchi, Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki; Noriaki Sugiyama, Japanese voice of Sasuke Uchiha; and Yoshihiko Tominaga, Executive Producer at Studio Pierrot.                    

 

WHEN:

Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 5pm to 6 pm EDT

 

WHERE:

Empire Stage, North Javits, Level 5, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th St., New York

 

Panel Highlights

• An announcement related to a new animated film and its worldwide premiere.
• New information and the first promotional video for the NARUTO CARD GAME.
• Surprise announcements regarding other media developments

 

Available Interview Participants

• Junko Takeuchi, Japanese voice of Naruto Uzumaki
• Noriaki Sugiyama, Japanese voice of Sasuke Uchiha
• Yoshihiko Tominaga, production producer at Studio Pierrot
• A Bandai representative for NARUTO CARD GAME interviews

 

Media Interview Opportunities

A limited number of media interviews will be available Friday, October 9, 2026, from 1pm to 3pm EDT at the Javits Center. Interview requests and questions are required to be submitted in advance. Available time slots will be confirmed with approved media.

 

About NARUTO

A shonen manga by Masashi Kishimoto serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump. It gained immense popularity after its serialization began in 1999, concluding its run in 2014 with the 700th chapter.

The protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, is a ninja who overcomes deadly battles with rivals and past grudges with the goal of becoming the Hokage, the leader of The Hidden Leaf Village. The cumulative sales of the volumes, distributed in over 60 countries and regions, have surpassed 250 million copies.

 

The anime aired on the TV Tokyo network starting in 2002, and from 2007 it aired as NARUTO SHIPPUDEN until March 2017. In October 2022, the series marked the 20th anniversary for its TV debut. Eleven theatrical anime films have also been released. The anime is currently broadcasted in over 145 countries and regions worldwide, making it a beloved national work that is cherished globally.

 

Beyond numerous developments such as with apps, games, and merchandise, its reach extends across diverse fields including exhibitions, 2.5-dimensional musicals, music festivals, and kabuki.

 

 

To keep up with the latest news on NARUTO and more from VIZ Media follow all the action on VIZ Media’s social media platforms: 

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Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

 

 

About VIZ Media:

Wherever manga and anime fans are, we are! VIZ Media is No. 1 in Japanese pop culture, introducing fans to what’s now, new, and next. Home to the world’s most influential and groundbreaking storytellers and artists, who today drive multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming. If it’s big in Japan, you can find it at VIZ.

 

 

VIZ Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America and Inc Magazine’s Best Workplace. For more information on VIZ Media visit: https://www.viz.com/ 

 CRUNCHYROLL’S NEW YORK COMIC-CON PROGRAMMING LINEUP

CRUNCHRYOLL SHOWCASE

Thursday, Oct. 8 | 3:30PM -4:30PM ET

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Room 405 

Whether you’re a lifelong anime fan or just getting started, Crunchyroll brings you closer to the action with sneak peeks, studio spotlights, announcements, and surprises along the way.

THE APOTHECARY DIARIES PRESENTED BY CRUNCHYROLL & NTV

Friday, Oct. 9 | 12:15PM - 1:15PM ET

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Room 409

Join the voices of Mao Mao and Jinshi to talk about the hit new season of The Apothecary Diaries. Watch special guests Aoi Yuki and Takeo Otsuka recreate some of your favorite scenes live, and discuss their experiences working on the series!

SENTENCED TO BE A HERO: REFLECTING ON SEASON 1 FT. CREATOR, ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGNER AND VOICE CAST 

Friday, Oct. 9 | 6:30PM - 7:30PM ET

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Room 405 

Join Crunchyroll in welcoming the creative minds and beloved voices behind Sentenced to Be a Hero! Original Author Rocket Shokai, Original Illustration Mephisto, Yohei Azakami (Xylo) and Mayu Iizuka (Teoritta) will join the stage to reflect on Season 1 with a special talk session and exclusive live dubbing performance. 

BLACK CLOVER SEASON 2 SCREENING & LIVE DUBBING WITH VOICE CAST 

Saturday, Oct. 10 | 12:45PM - 1:45PM ET  

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Empire Stage 

Join Crunchyroll and the voice actors for Asta, Gakuto Kajiwara and Dallas Reid, for exclusive behind the scenes stories, a live dubbing session, and screening in celebration of the highly anticipated return of Black Clover!

CRUNCHYROLL PRESENTS: SHANGRI-LA FRONTIER SEASON 3 U.S. PREMIERE

Saturday, Oct. 10 | 3:45PM - 4:45PM ET

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Room 408 

Return to the world of Shangri-La Frontier with the U.S. Premiere of Season 3! Experience Episodes 1 and 2 on the big screen and get an early look at the next chapter of Sunraku’s adventure before the new season begins.

• Shangri-La Frontier Season 3 - Episodes 1 & 2 U.S. Premiere

CRUNCHYROLL PRESENTS: FIREFLY WEDDING & DENGEKI DAISY EARLY SCREENINGS

Saturday, October 10 | 7:30PM - 8:20PM  

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center  – Room 408 

         

Be among the first to catch two highly anticipated series with a lineup of exclusive premiere screenings! From action-packed battles and captivating romance to unforgettable drama, don’t miss this special showcase featuring our upcoming anime.

• Dengeki Daisy – Episode 1 U.S. Premiere
• Firefly Wedding – Episode 1 Screening

CRUNCHYROLL PRESENTS: UPCOMING ANIME PREMIERES

Saturday, Oct. 10| 8:30PM - 9:30PM ET  

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Room 408 

         

Be among the first to catch exclusive early looks at exciting upcoming anime! Don’t miss this special screening featuring premieres of highly anticipated new series, with more details to be revealed soon.

BLACK TORCH ENGLISH DUB PANEL 

Sunday, Oct. 11 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM ET

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – Empire Stage

Join Crunchyroll in celebrating BLACK TORCH with English dub stars AJ Beckles (Jiro Azuma) and Keith Silverstein (Rago)! Look back on the action, laughs, and standout moments from the season with guest Q&A, and a rare chance to see Jiro and Rago come to life with a special live dubbing performance.

HERE U ARE EPISODES 1 & 2 EARLY SCREENINGS

Sunday, Oct. 11 | 3:30PM -4:40PM ET 

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center  – Room 405 

Be among the first to experience Here U Are on the big screen! Catch Episode 1 in its East Coast Premiere, followed by the U.S. Premiere of Episode 2, as this heartfelt story begins to unfold. Don’t miss this special screening and the chance to experience what’s next before anyone else.

Details subject to change. Updates can be found on Crunchyroll News!

For those who cannot attend Anime Expo, Crunchyroll will be posting highlights on its X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Channel! 

About Crunchyroll®

Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Review Tour: The Challenge by Penelope Ward

Title: The Challenge

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Single Dad, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

Friends to Lovers, Small Town, Found Family

Release Date: August 30, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

Nothing says welcome home like accidentally moving in with your first heartbreak…and his little girl.

Coming back to my small Wyoming hometown was supposed to be temporary. I only planned to stay long enough to help my ailing mother and sort through the mess of my family’s old belongings.

Instead, I somehow ended up living in Evan Ricci’s house. The single dad now owned a bunch of properties and one of them was the place I’d rented. He’d taken it off the market and moved in before I got there. I just never got the memo. Unfortunately, there was no other place in town available, so Evan let me stay.

Evan—the guy my parents took in years ago after his mother died.

The same Evan who used to dare me into ridiculous challenges that somehow always made me stronger—a game we’d dubbed The Challenge.

The same guy who ultimately rejected me before I left for college after I’d finally garnered the courage to shoot my shot.

Now Evan was a rugged single dad with an eight-year-old daughter, a cocky attitude, and a dangerous ability to make me forget every reason I should still hate him.

Sharing a house with him should’ve been unbearable. Instead, it felt dangerously familiar, nearly making me forget that I had a life and a job to get back to in Chicago. I realized the biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

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PURCHASE LINKS

Special release price of $3.99

for a limited time only!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

DUET AUDIO

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

A model-cover paperback will be live on release day

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

SINGLE DAD

SMALL TOWN

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

SECOND CHANCE

FORCED PROXIMITY

FOUND FAMILY

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Penelope Ward does it again!!  As always I went into this book completely blind and was thoroughly entertained.

The story starts with Chloe heading home to her small town to be there for her elderly, ailing mother.  When she arrives at the place she’s rented, she finds Evan Ricci, her long time crush from years ago and his daughter, Effie.  She also happened to get to down during peak deer hunting season and there is no other place available to rent. I absolutely love a good second chance, close proximity, small town romance. 

I fell in love with the characters and their banter, I especially love little mischievous and hilarious Effie. She added another layer of fun to this book. So many emotions, and the chemistry is off the chart between Chloe and Evan. 

I listened to the audio and Desiree Ketchum and Connor Crais did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. I love the duet dynamic!

I’m giving this book a 4.5 and can’t recommend it enough. I listened to it in one sitting. 

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

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OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

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Miami Be Among The First To See PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

Do you want to watch  PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 before anyone else? Click on the poster above to grab your complimentary passes to an Advance Screening for Tuesday, 9/8 at AMC Sunset. 

SYNOPSIS: A multi generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other.

Tampa Be Among The First To See PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

Do you want to watch  PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 before anyone else? Click on the poster above to grab your complimentary passes to an Advance Screening for Tuesday, 9/8 at AMC Veterans. 

SYNOPSIS: A multi generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other.

Orlando Be Among The First To See PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

Do you want to watch  PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 before anyone else? Click on the poster above to grab your complimentary passes to an Advance Screening for Tuesday, 9/8 at AMC Altamonte. 

SYNOPSIS: A multi generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other.