New Release Books You Must Read
Want to see our picks for the best new release books? We have them all right here. You will not want to miss a single page of these books! Sometimes it can be intimidating looking through dozens of books. That is why I have chosen only a handful of books from each month to give you a preview
Of course, there are so many amazing books that come out each month, but these new book releases are the ones that we have read or will be reading (so you can always find a review soon). We have done all the hard work for you!
Be sure to come back often as we will be updating the page as soon as we find books we cannot wait to get our hands on!
New Release Books 2026
New January Books
Dandelion is Dead
Author: Rosie Storey
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Debut Author
Plot
Poppy makes a split second decision to respond to a stranger on her late sister’s dating app. She chooses to meet him on what would have been Dandelion’s 40th birthday and tell Jake the truth. But when they meet, the connection is palpable. Poppy becomes stuck living a double life and will have to decide if she can risk telling Jake the truth or keep her sister’s memory alive. This book is on my TBR.
Meet the Newmans
Author: Jennifer Niven
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: For fans of Lessons in Chemistry
Plot
The Newmans, Del, Dinah, and their sons, have been America’s Favorite Family on television for two decades. By 1964, the ratings were dropping, and the picture-perfect family seemed to be out of touch with real family life. When Del is in a car accident, Dinah has to hire someone to help write the final episode. Juliet is young and full of ideas that are very different from what Dinah envisions. Will the Newmans be able to change TV history, or will they be canceled before they have a chance?
The Charmed Library
Author: Jennifer Moorman
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Genre: Magical Realism
More info: USA Today bestselling author
Plot
Stella works in a library in Blue Sky Valley, North Carolina, where she feels frustrated, overqualified for the job, and in emotional turmoil over the loss of her father. She hasn’t yet noticed that in this library, the fictional characters jump off the page and into the real world.
When she burns her journal, everything changes. Words begin to appear to her, and she bumps into Jack Mathis, a fictional character who also happens to be Stella’s first book crush. When Stella realizes Jack only has a limited time out of his book, she will have to figure out what the words are telling her before it’s too late.
The Water Lies
Author: Amy Myerson
Release Date: January 1, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: International bestselling author of The Book of Yesterdays
Plot
Tessa is pregnant with her second child when her son starts having a meltdown in a coffee shop, calling to a woman Tessa has never seen before. When that same woman is found dead the next day outside of Tessa’s Venice Beach home, Tessa does not think this is a mere coincidence. Barb Geller does not believe that her daughter’s death was an accident. Now the two mothers work together to find answers.
My Husband’s Wife
Author: Alice Feeney
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
I love Alive Feeny’s books, so I cannot wait to read this pick from the January 2026 book releases. Eden Fox comes home to Spyglass from a run to find that the key to her house doesn’t fit in the lock. When a woman who looks like her answers the door, her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.
Six months earlier, Birdy inherited Spyglass from a long-lost grandmother. She finds a clinic that can predict anyone’s date of death. Secrets begin to spill, and Birdy wants to right some past wrongdoings.
The Elsewhere Express
Author: Samantha Sotto Yambao
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Genre: Romance magical realism
More info: Deluxe edition from the Nationally bestselling author of Water Moon
Plot
I can’t wait to read this book from the January 2026 book releases. Raya is a lost soul who dreamed of becoming a songwriter until her brother died. Since then, she has been living out his dreams. One day, she finds herself on the Elsewhere Express, a special train that carries a sense of purpose and peace. There, she meets Q, someone who also lost his purpose. They will travel through the train cars together to find their true purpose.
Nothing Random: Bennet Cerf and the Publishing House He Built
Author: Gayle Feldman
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: The Ultimate Book About Publishing
Plot
This is the amazing true story of Bennet Cerf, the founder of Random House. He signed some of the greatest writers of all time and made Random House into an institution in the publishing world. This is a must-read book from the January 2026 book releases.
Beth is Dead
Author: Katie Bernet
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Genre: YA Thriller
More info: Retelling of Little Women
Plot
This is a retelling of Little Women from the January 2026 book releases. When Beth March is found dead, the sisters vow to find her killer. But as they search for who could do such a thing, they realize that there is more than one person who would benefit from her death, including each one of the March girls. Beth’s story is told in flashbacks next to Meg, Jo, and Amy.
New February Books
Plot
Tilly is trying to navigate life without her husband Joe, who died five months ago. When she gets a call from a local bookstore saying a birthday gift from her husband is waiting for her, she is shocked. Alfie, the owner of the bookshop, explains that her husband left her a year’s worth of books. He carefully chose one book a month to help her navigate the first year without him and included a note with each one.
The Fourth Princess
Author: Jamie Chang
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author
Plot
A gothic novel set in old Shanghai? Sign me up! It’s 1911 and Lisan Liu is the newly hired secretary for wealthy American, Caroline. She’s moved into Lennox Estate, which will be Caroline and her husband, Tom’s, new home. But the estate holds dark secrets, and both women soon get caught up in its deadly history.
The Red Winter
Author: Cameron Sullivan
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Deluxe Edition
Plot
I keep hearing about this debut fantasy everywhere, and with a huge first-run printing as part of a two-book deal, I knew I had to read this book. It is a twist on history! In 1785, the beast of Gévaudan has returned to the French countryside. Professor Sebastian Grave, a monster slayer, knows the beast and its bloody history.
The centuries-old Professor has his own inner demon, literally, named Sarmodal, and yet, the beast nearly cost him his life. Now the beast is leading the continent into war.
Cameron reimagines European history from Rome to Joan of Arc and the French Revolution.
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
Author: Heather Fawcett
Release Date: February 17, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Bestselling Author of the Emily Wilde series
Plot
If you have been following the blog for a while, you know that I love Heather Fawcett. I am so excited to read this book about a cat rescue in Montréal in the 1920s and the magician who helps save the shelter. Many of you may know that I was born in Montreal and my son is living there. But add in some magic and cats and I am sold on this cozy fantasy book.
How to Get Away With Murder
Author: Rebecca Philipson
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Debut Novel
Plot
Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen has been on leave from Scotland Yard for six months. When a 14-year-old is murdered, she knows it’s time to return to work and find the killer. The only clue leads to a self-help book in the victim’s backpack called “How to Get Away With Murder” by a man named Denver Brady. He claims that he is the most successful serial killer of all time. Each chapter in his book describes his perfect murders. Sam knows she needs to find him before someone else dies.
Little One
Author: Olivia Muenter
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Bestselling author of Such A Bad Influence
Plot
Catharine grew up on the farm she loves, surrounded by her family, with her charismatic dad as the center of her universe. But when her community-focused farm turns into something more sinister, Catharine is forced to leave the home she loves. Now, she’s getting questions from a reporter asking if she knew about her former home turning into a cult – can Catharine go back to get answers and rescue the sister she left behind?
Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play
Author: Keza MacDonald
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction
Plot
Nintendo, the video-gaming company, was the cornerstone of many a childhood. This book dives into the history of Nintendo, game by game, as it looks at where the company started and where it’s going in the future.
New March Books
No Matter What
Author: Cara Bastone
Release Date:
Genre: March 3, 2026
More info: Part of Dial Delights, bestselling author of Promise Me Sunshine
Plot
Promise me Sunshine was one of Beyond the Bookends’ best romances of 2025. We cannot wait for this slow burn romance. Roz and Vin survived a life-altering accident, but have not been able to look at each other since. Now, Roz discovers Vin is planning on moving out so she signs up to do a drawing class. When Vin offers to be her model, the two start to see each other in a different way.
Judy Blume: A Life
Author: Mark Oppenheimer
Release Date: March 10, 2026
Genre: Biography
More info: Book about an author.
Plot
For more than 55 years, Blume has been changing the world of books for young adults. Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret was a pivital book for so many young women. This is the biography of the Blume’s life- from her childhood until now.
Daughters of Egypt
Author: Marie Benedict
Release Date: March 24, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
I cannot wait to read this pick from the spring 2026 book releases. It is the story of two women living 3,000 years apart. Hatshepsut was a pharaoh whose reign was nearly erased from history. Lady Evelyn Carter becomes obsessed with finding her tomb and determined to keep the artifacts in Egypt. When political tensions rise, Evelyn must make a choice between protecting her father’s legacy (for the discovery of King Tut’s tomb) or creating a legacy of her own.
New April Books
Love by the Book
Author: Jessica George
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of Maame
Plot
Remy is a best-selling author whose debut novel is based on her three best friends. Unfortunately, her friends feel more distant, and her creativity is suffering because of it. Simone is a kindergarten teacher who has a side hustle that cuts her off from her family. When the two women bump into each other in a bookstore, they just might be what the other needs. I cannot wait to read the story of friendship from our spring 2026 new releases.
The Book Witch
Author: Meg Shaffer
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: USA Today Bestselling author of The Wishing Game
Plot
I cannot wait to read this book from the April 20 26 book releases. Rainy March is a book witch. She can move in and out of novels to fix any alterations among the pages. All book witches have to abide by a strict code that does not allow them to eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world.
When Rainy’s grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there is only one person she can trust to help her. The Duke of Chicago is a British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. The problem? She has been forbidden to see him anymore because book witches are forbidden from falling in love with characters. Now, the two of them will hop from book to book to find the enemies and uncover secrets!
The Ending Writes Itself
Author: Evelyn Clarke
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Debut Mystery from Cat Clarke and V.E. Schwab
Plot
Six struggling writers are invited to spend the weekend on Arthur Fletch’s private Scottish island. Fletch is a bestselling author known for his books’ twists and shocking endings. When the six writers arrive, they are shocked to discover that Fletch is dead and his last book remains unfinished.
They are given 72 hours to complete the book. Whoever writes the ending worthy will be paid a huge sum of money and will be guaranteed a successful revival of their career. This is a locked room mystery that I cannot wait to read from the spring 2026 book releases.
Last Night in Brooklyn
Author: Xochitl Gonzalez
Release Date: April 21, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author of Olga Dies Dreaming, Most Anticipated Book of 2026
Plot
In the spring of 2007, 26-year-old Alicia Canales Forten feels trapped by the life she’s supposed to want. After she moves to Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, she gets swept up in the scene that is full of parties and people like La Garza, a fashion designer, and her wealthy cousin. This novel is set right before a major election and financial crash. The story looks at the cost of chasing the American dream.
New May Books
Summer State of Mind
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Harvey has become a must-read author for beach season. Her books are filled with beautiful relationships and lots of heart. Daisy Stevens has left her job as a NICU nurse and moved to Cape Caroline, looking for a different life. On her first day, the baseball coach, Mayson Thaysden, finds an abandoned baby. Sparks begin to fly between Daisy and Mason as they bond over the baby they saved. Daisy begins to feel more attached to the child, but has to face her own demons from her past. When a discovery is made, the entire town of Cape Carolina may be ripped apart.
Liberty Island
Author: Virginia Hume
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of Haven Point
Plot
Kirsten and I loved Haven Point, so it is not suprise that this book is at the top of our list of spring 2026 book releases. Anna Bradley is 28 in 1900. She spends her summers supervising three little girls, including her niece, as they run around off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. She allows them to run free rather than preparing them to be mothers and wives. They became the inspiration for the book “Liberty Island” that Anna writes under a pen name.
In 1922, Julia Demarast used to love her aunt’s book, but now views the book and her family as relics of the past. When her mother calls her back to Haven Point, Julia must rediscover what it means to be happy.
The Calamity Club
Author: Kathryn Socket
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Author of The Help
Plot
Meg Lafleur, at 11-years-old, is an unadoptable “big girl” at the Lafayette Country Orphan Asylum. Birdie Calhoun comes to Oxford, Mississippi to ask her sister for help, but discovers that her sister’s charmed life is a lie as the Depression continues. When Birdie encounters Charlie, another woman with nothing to lose, and Meg, the three of them come up with a plan to claim what is theirs. This pick from the spring 2026 book releases is a must-read.
Caller Unknown
Author: Gillian McAllister
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Plot
Simone and her daughter are renting a cabin in Texas for some quality time together before Lucy leaves for university in the fall. When Simone wakes up in the morning, her daughter is gone, and there is a cell phone waiting with a demand to come to a location and tell nobody. Simone’s husband, back in the UK, urges her to tell the police, but she will not risk her daughter’s life.
When she gets to the location, the demand is not for money; rather, Simone must do something unthinkable. Now, Simone must weigh the consequences of going against everything to save her daughter
Our Perfect Storm
Author: Carley Fortune
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
This spring 2026 book release looks like a friends-to-lovers romance that only Carley Fortune could write. Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Their relationship has always had ups and downs, which is why Frankie is not sure if George will come, even though he is her best man. When he shows up, she thinks everything is going to be perfect until her fiancé breaks up with her via a note. George convinces Frankie that the two of them should go on her honeymoon together as the perfect way to heal her broken heart.
Expert Reading Tip
- Looking through a big list can be difficult so I narrowed down the choices to my top picks every month.
- Look for books that are in genres you love to read to help decide which new release books to add to your TBR
- Do you have an author you love? Check to see if they have new books coming out and add those to your TBR
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Epilogue
I hope I have narrowed down some choices to help you pick your next book. Are there new book releases that you are interested in reading? Let us know and we can give you more info!
