GMA Book Club List 2026

The Exes

Author: Leodora Darlington

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Genre: Thriller

More info: February 2026 GMA Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This debut thriller is sure to kick the winter doldrums away. Natalie is searching for her soulmate, but all she has is a lot of exes. When she finds and marries James, she realizes she’s struggling with being a normal wife, but she loves him, and so she takes stock of her former relationships. All her exes are dead, and she can’t figure out if she’s the monster or if there is someone else who is the villain in her story. Can she figure it out before James ends up dead?

Trigger Warnings

Murder, domestic abuse, rape

Jackie’s Thoughts

From the beginning, Natalie is extremely mentally unstable. She has stalker tendencies, which were extremely disturbing for me to read. There was also a rape early on in the plotline. It is a testament to the writing that I felt this way, but the plot was not for me, unfortunately.

Find this book in: GMA Book Club LIst 2026

The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives

Author: Elizabeth Arnott

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Genre: Thriller
More: March 2026 GMA Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Beverly, Elsie, and Margot are all wives of convicted killers. The three women form an unlikely friendship while trying to make a new future for themselves. Everyone around them wonders how they could not have known what their husbands were doing. When a new killer hits the news, the three women decide to join forces to catch the killer. Who could be better than people who have shared their lives with one?

Trigger Warnings

description of murder

Why Jackie loves it

This book is well-written and unique, with a cast of characters that I loved. I love the way the women came together. I listened to my copy of this book and the narrator is fantastic. #gifted from PRH audio

Find this book in: Best Fiction Serial Killer Books

Yesteryear

Author: Caro Claire Burke

Year: April 2026

Genre: Fiction / Historical Fiction

More info: April 2026 GMA Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Natalie Heller Mills is a tradwife, but don’t say that to her. She has millions of followers on social media, showing her lifestyle of collecting eggs from the chickens (The Ladies) and preparing beautiful meals for her 6 children. She prides herself on living a faithful, antifeminist lifestyle.

So what if behind the scenes, she has multiple nannies, a producer, a ranch hand, and more staff to help her life appear effortless. Natalie is convinced the haters are jealous.

When Natalie wakes up one morning in 1855 with children who look like hers, but are not the same, and a husband who is Caleb, but not her Caleb, she thinks it might be a sick prank. Until the realities of living without electricity finally hit her.

Trigger Warnings

Domestic Abuse, Detailed description of pregnancy and childbirth, Sexual assault, child abuse/neglect, and animal abuse.

Why Jackie loves it

I loved this book from the start to the finish. I could not put it down. The book is told in multiple timelines: The present, the past, and Natalie’s time in school leading up to her influencer days. Natalie is a totally unlikeable character, and yet, I rooted for her anyway. The story is complex and had me questioning our society, the pressures on women, and our obsession with tradwives. The book is very well-written. Thank you, PRH Audio, for my copy of this book.

Adaptation Information

Currently, an adaptation starring Anne Hathaway is in development.

Find this book in: GMA Book Club List 2026 / Best Time Travel Books / Best Beach Reads 2026/ Summary of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke / Fictional Books About Influencers / Best Thought-Provoking Books

Homebound

Author: Portia Elan

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Genre: Literary Fiction

More info: May 2026 GMA Book Club Pick

Age Range: 15+

Plot

This is a story of five interconnected lives across centuries. The story starts in 1983 with a nineteen-year-old named Becks and a partially finished video game from her uncle. Throughout, there is a script of the video game play

The story spans the future lives of a scientist named Dr. Portman, who is trying to solve the world’s climate crisis in 2090, and a sea captain named Yasiki, who is trying to survive in 2586. Yasiko has Chaya, a 400-year-old automaton, to keep her company on her ship.

Trigger Warnings

Dystopian future

Why Jackie loves it

This book is beautifully written and so original in its premise. I love the subtle addition of some Jewish customs and sayings. I was never sure where the book was going and stopped trying to work it out. The dichotomy between those trying to use technology to save the planet vs those who want to save themselves is haunting. Thank you for my copy of this book #gifted Scriber, S & S Audio

Find this book in: Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time / GMA Book Club List 2026

Dolly All the Time

Author: Annabel Monaghan

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Genre: Romance

More info: June 2026 GMA Book Club Pick

New York Times Bestselling Author

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Dolly is a single mom who moves back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and her brother, who had a TBI when he was much younger. When she comes across Stuart Whitfield, with a flat tire and a dead phone battery, she decides to help him.

He needs someone to help him overcome his recent humiliating public breakup, and proposes that they fake date. Soon, Dolly and Stuart learn to lean on each other for friendship and support. Can Dolly finally depend on someone else?

Why Jackie loves it

This is my favorite book Monaghan has written. I loved the relationship between Dolly and Stuart. They learn to understand what the other needs in the relationship. This is not a knight in shining armor situation- even if there are parts that give “Pretty Woman” vibes. #gifted

Find this book in: Annabel Monaghan Books / Best Beach Reads 2026

YA GMA Book Club List 2026

The Swan’s Daughter

Author: Roshani Chokshi

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Genre: YA Fantasy

More info: January 2026 YA Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Plot

Prince Arris believes that marriage will lead to his murder because of the curse that the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir are all you need to rule. Desperate to save his own life, he enlists Demelza, a veritas swan whose song sings the truth. Determined to get through the tournament of brides that his parents have announced by finding true love (and keeping himself alive), he enlists Demelza to help him achieve his goal.

Find this book in: GMA Book Club List 2026

Sibylline

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Genre: YA Fantasy

More info: February 2026 Good Morning America Ya Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Sibylline is the most prestigious magical university with an acceptance rate that make the Ivy league schools look like a cake walk. Raven, Atticus, and Dorian dream of attending. But when none of them are accepted, they are determined to get a magical education. They get job as the school so they can learn magic.

When a strange things start happening at the school, and a student dies, the trio have to save the university they aren’t even a part of!

Trigger Warnings

unexpected sexual content

Jackie’s Thoughts

I was enjoying this book about a magical school. Each of Raven, Atticus and Dorian have unique magical abilities. However, towards the end of the book, the entire feeling of the book shifted. It’s suddenly felt like a weird throuple situation with sexual content thrown in unnecessarily. This does not feel like a YA choice.

Her Hidden Fire

Author: Clíodhna O’Sullivan

Release Date:

Genre: YA Fantasy

More info: March 2026 YA GMA Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

It’s another dragon YA story – this time the first in a duology – for lovers of Fourth Wing and Red Queen. This romantasy is about Éadha, a servant with a rare magical talent, who wants to save Ionáin, the heir to the ruling family, from embarrassment because he has no magic.

She decides to pass her magic off as his, and so they are both sent to the magical academy. Can they keep up the ruse or will they even want to once they learn the dark side to possessing such power?

Why Jackie loves it

I love this YA dragon story for lovers of Fourth Wing and Red Queen. I am also obsessed with duologies recently. There is so much packed into the story. It feels like it moves quickly and I love the strong female character, which is finally trending in books over the last number of years.

Find this book in: Dragon Books for Adults

Legendborn

Author: Tracy Deonn

Year: 202

Genre: YA Fantasy

More info: The Legendborn Cycle #1, Coretta Scott King Book Award, April 2026 YA GMA Book Club Pick

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Bree Matthews’s mother died in a tragic accident and she cannot seem to recover. When she has a chance to attend a special program for bright high school students at UNC-Chapel Hill, she jumps at the chance.

When Bree witnesses a magical attack on her first night there, her world is thrown upside down as she enters the world of the Legendborn. It is a secret society of students with powerful magic who are also descendants of King Arthur! This is one of the best re-tellings I have read.

Trigger Warnings

Racism, Death of parent

Why Jackie loves it

Why did I not read this book before now? In a way, I’m glad I just read this because I only have to wait a few more months for the sequel. If you love YA fantasy books, this King Arthur re-imagining is a must-read. While Bree is technically still in high school, she is attending a college program which means, I get to scream about this book from the rooftops in both college and high school book lists.

Find this book in: Books About Secret Societies / Dark Academia / Books Set in College / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books / Books Like Ninth House

Change of Plans

Author: Sarah Dessen

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Genre: Romance

More info: May 2026 GMA YA Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 13+

Plot

GMA has finally broken their streak of YA fantasy picks by choosing a romance! Finley is quieter than her gregarious, fun-loving boyfriend, Colin. But when she’s swept on an unexpected trip to her distant mom’s soon-to-be-sold vacation home, she has to have her own adventure.

While meeting her estranged family, she also meets Ben and other teens with whom she quickly bonds. When her relationship with Colin goes south, Finley’s carefully laid post-graduation plans go out the window, and she is left figuring out what she should do next.

Trigger Warnings

Cancer

Why Kirsten loves it

This charming YA romance reminded me of a Carley Fortune novel with it’s slow burn romance and lake setting. The growth Finley experienced over the course of this novel felt accurate and appropriate for the age group, but also it was entertaining enough for adults! I also fell hard for Ben and Finley’s relationship. #gifted by Simon and Schuster Audio

Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / GMA Book Club List 2026 / Lake Books / Best YA Romance Books / Best Beach Reads 2026

Goldenborn

Author: Ama Ofosua Lieb

Release Date: June 2, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

More info: June 2026 GMA YA Book Club Pick

Plot

Akoma Addo has entered a world of gods and monsters – a world she always wanted to avoid. But with her father in a coma, she needs to make a bargain with a god. Help him and save her father. This story is based on Ghanaian myth.