Berkley XO Acquires REAP & SOW by Debut Author Charlotte B. Plumb
Berkley XO, an imprint of Penguin Random House U.S., has acquired Reap & Sow by debut novelist Charlotte B. Plumb, a steamy, slow-burn romantasy full of illicit pacts and dark magic about a young woman who bargains with a demon to save her brothers only to lose her heart. Reap & Sow was one of this year’s most sought-after manuscripts, generating multiple offers around the world, with Penguin Random House winning publication rights in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Spain, Latin America, and Brazil.
Charlotte B. Plumb, courtesy of Berkley XO.
The book will have a global laydown of October 2026 and will be one of three carefully selected novels on Berkley XO’s inaugural list. Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara, Park, Fine, & Brower Literary Management brokered the deal with Jen Klonsky and Ruta Rimas, Berkley XO for North American rights.
Jen Klonsky, President and Publisher, Putnam Books for Young Readers and Dial Books for Young Readers said “Reap & Sow was an absolute must-have for Berkley XO. The read is smart, surprising, sly, and sexy, filled with characters you love (or love to hate) and set in a completely realized world. I don’t know how Charlotte was able to give us such a satisfying story that pairs high stakes and poignant scenes, raw heat and a most tender love story, with appeal for readers around the world, but I’m so glad she has as we are thrilled to partner with the UK, Spain, Brazil, and Germany in this PRH global publication!”
Carmen McCullough, Publisher, Penguin Random House Children’s UK remarked, “Gothic, atmospheric and heart-achingly romantic with characters you feel entirely invested in, I was completely swept up in Reap & Sow from the very first page and knew at once that we had to publish it. In a market bursting with fantasy titles, Reap & Sow stands out with a completely fresh and distinctive voice and a love story that I know every romantasy reader will fall head over heels for. We are delighted to be working in close collaboration with our Penguin Random House colleagues from around the globe to launch Charlotte as a phenomenal new writing talent and to introduce readers to their next fantasy obsession.”
“We are absolutely excited to publish what feels like the start of not just a new series in YA but an international author phenomenon,” added Carina Mathern, Publishing Director for Children’s and YA, Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe. “Reap & Sow is everything you look for in a romantasy – and it adds a unique freshness, a contemporary voice that stands out and resonates long after finishing the book. With the joint forces of our global YA teams, Charlotte B. Plumb is bound to enthrall readers around the world!”
“We are thrilled to be publishing Reap & Sow in Spanish,” said Laia Zamarrón, Literary Director of Alfaguara IJ, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, Spain. “The love story is one of those intense and profound ones that leaves you sighing and wanting more. The atmosphere is creative, dark, magical, rich… it’s a very immersive world. And Charlotte B. Plumb’s writing style is clever and incredibly addictive, keeping you hooked until the last page. I’m sure we have here the next great romance phenomenon.”
Júlia Moritz Schwarcz, Publisher, Companhia das Letras, Brazil added, “Reap & Sow has all the elements of love stories that transcend our existence. The world-building is unexpected and the romance hits all the right notes. Who doesn’t love a morally gray love interest who is rude to everyone but the protagonist? No wonder that it has won over colleagues from PRH in many countries. It is a great joy to share this story with them all.”
Author Charlotte B. Plumb remarked, “Working with PRH to bring Reap & Sow to readers is a genuine dream come true—and getting to be part of Berkley XO’s launch is the icing on the cake. This is the romantic fantasy I always wanted to write, full of gothic spires and dark magic, inopportune banter and unexpected love. It is a story about humanity’s imperfect nature, and how sometimes it takes an outside perspective—even a demon’s—to remind us of all the ways we’re brilliant. I’ve been blown away by the passion and excitement from the PRH team, and cannot wait to share Eda’s story with the world.”
Charlotte B. Plumb is a fantasy author living in the UK with her husband, cat, and slightly mad dog. She believes books are the closest anyone can get to real magic, and when she isn’t daydreaming about fictional characters, she’s at her laptop writing them—if the cat isn’t already sitting on it.
Berkley XO is a boutique imprint dedicated to crossover readers who enjoy adult and young adult fiction. The imprint combines the editorial, marketing, and sales expertise of two Penguin Random House divisions—Berkley and Penguin Young Readers—and will be thoughtfully curated to include novels that capture the special intensity, emotion, and excitement of the threshold period that encompasses the late teen years and early adulthood. The imprint will debut in Fall 2026 with three highly anticipated titles.