The Most Anticipated 2026 Book Releases by Month

This blog post is all about my most anticipated 2026 book releases.

2026 book releases

2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year for readers, with an exciting lineup of new titles spanning thrillers, romance, literary fiction, and more.

From gripping page-turners to heartwarming tales, these 2026 book releases promise something for everyone.

Whether youโ€™re looking for your next beach read, a must-have thriller, or a deeply moving story, this list will help you plan your reading year in advance.

These are the 2026 book releases I’m most looking forward to!

And if youโ€™d like to keep up with my reading in realtime, you can follow me on Goodreads here!

RELATED 2026 Book Releases blog posts to read:


Table of Contents

January 2026 Book Releases

Kick off the year with suspenseful thrillers, emotional dramas, and compelling narratives that will have you hooked from the first page.

Januaryโ€™s 2026 book releases are perfect for starting the year with unforgettable stories you wonโ€™t want to put down.

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

Five years after her husband vanished without a trace, Hannah Hall has built a quiet new life in Southern California with her stepdaughter, Bailey. Just as they begin to feel safe and settled, the past crashes back in when Owen suddenly reappears, bringing danger and unanswered questions with him.

Forced on the run once more, Hannah and Bailey must stay one step ahead as old secrets threaten to unravel everything theyโ€™ve rebuilt. As the tension escalates, Hannah risks everything to protect Bailey, all while confronting the possibility that the man she lost may also be the one she canโ€™t let go of.

Read my review of The First Time I Saw Him here.

Release Date: 6th January


The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson

The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson

Carwyn and his wife, Rhian, have spent their lives farming sheep on a remote stretch of Welsh mountain land that has belonged to Carwynโ€™s family for generations. But their once-quiet world is fraying at the edges. Debts are mounting, neighbours are disappearing, and an influx of careless tourists is putting both the land and their livelihood under strain.

When Carwyn uncovers a strange stone head buried on the farm, his curiosity quickly turns into obsession. As he digs deeper, the farm begins to suffer, the sheep grow sickly, and Rhian is left to shoulder the consequences alone. What Carwyn believes will save them may instead unleash something ancient and dangerous, revealing why some parts of the past were meant to stay buried.

Release Date: 8th January


Woman Down by Colleen Hoover

Woman Down by Colleen Hoover

Once a bestselling author, Petra Rose has been left reeling after a viral backlash derails her career, drains her savings, and silences her creativity. With deadlines looming and her reputation in tatters, she escapes to a secluded lakeside cabin in a last attempt to finish her next suspense novel and save whatโ€™s left of her life.

When a detective arrives with unsettling news, Petra finds her inspiration roaring back to life. As fiction and reality begin to blur, their connection deepens and her writing grows darker and more dangerous. But the muse who reignited her talent may also be the one who threatens everything sheโ€™s trying to rebuild.

Read my review of Woman Down here.

Release Date: 13th January

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Colleen Hoover Books to Read in Order


Strangers by Belle Burden

Strangers by Belle Burden

In March 2020, Belle Burden was safe and secure with her family at their house on Martha’s Vineyard, navigating the early days of the pandemic together. Then, with no warning or explanation, her husband of twenty years announced that he was leaving her.

Overnight, her caring, steady partner became a man she hardly recognized. He exited his life with her like an actor shrugging off a costume.

Read my review of Strangers here.

Release Date: 13th January


Catch Her if You Can by Tessa Bailey

Catch Her if You Can by Tessa Bailey

A star baseball player has been quietly in love with his best friendโ€™s sister for years, stepping in to protect her whenever life gets messy. When she suddenly finds herself caring for two kids and in need of stability, he offers a solution that sounds purely practical on paper: a secret marriage for the benefits, no strings attached.

But buried feelings and simmering chemistry refuse to stay hidden for long. As their marriage of convenience heats up, both are forced to confront old loyalties, insecurities, and the fear of risking everything for love. What began as a private arrangement soon becomes impossible to keep pretend.

Read my review of Catch Her if You Can here.

Release Date: 20th January

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Tessa Bailey Books to Read in Order


Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch.

Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved.

Read my review of Half His Age here.

Release Date: 20th January


My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Eden Fox, an artist on the cusp of her big break, returns home one morning to find her key doesnโ€™t fit, and a woman who looks exactly like her answering the door. Her husband insists the stranger is his wife, and suddenly Eden is caught in a web of deception and lies.

Six months earlier, Birdy, a reclusive Londoner facing a life-changing diagnosis, inherits the seaside house in Hope Falls. But when she discovers a mysterious clinic claiming to predict the exact date of her death, long-buried secrets start to surface. As the truth and lies collide, both women must navigate betrayal, identity, and the chilling question: who can they really trust?

Read my review of My Husband’s Wife here.

Release Date: 20th January

RELATED blog post to read: The 8 Best Thriller Books to Read At Halloween


The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

When record executive Theo discovers the Future Saints bombing at a dive bar, heโ€™s tasked with turning the struggling band around, or letting them go. But lead singer Hannah has gone off script, debuting a raw new sound that quickly goes viral, giving the band a chance at a comeback.

As Theo pushes for a new album and tour, Hannahโ€™s grief and impulsive behaviour threaten to derail everything. With her sister Ginny at her side, the stakes grow higher, threatening the bandโ€™s success, her budding closeness with Theo, and her relationship with Ginny. Fame, family, and love collide in a story of second chances and unexpected breakthroughs.

Release Date: 20th January


The Re-Do List by Denise Williams

The Re-Do List by Denise Williams

After a very public breakup, Willow wants a chance to relive all her big firsts. And dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment gives her the perfect opportunity. Spending time with his best friend Deacon, she begins checking items off her โ€œRe-Do List,โ€ from first dances to first kisses.

Deacon promised to keep his distance, but as their shared moments turn into something more, the connection between them grows impossible to ignore. With Willowโ€™s time in town limited and loyalty to his best friend complicating everything, the pair must decide whether their second-chance romance can survive beyond the list.

Release Date: 27th January


The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams

Spanning seven generations, The Seven Daughters of Dupree follows the women of the Dupree family as they navigate love, loss, and the weight of their heritage. From the struggles of Jubi in 1917 to Tati in 1995 uncovering her fatherโ€™s identity, each generation grapples with secrets, resilience, and the unyielding ties of family.

Bound by a mysterious malediction and shaped by the legacy of an enslaved ancestor, the Dupree women face the enduring challenges of identity, survival, and love. Nikesha Elise Williams delivers a sweeping, multi-generational story that explores trauma, empowerment, and the enduring strength of Black women across decades.

Release Date: 27th January


Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Debbie Mullen has spent years giving advice to the wives of New England through her popular column, Dear Debbie, but lately her own life is unraveling. Job lost, teenage daughters acting strangely, and a husband keeping secrets, Debbie has had enough.

Now itโ€™s her turn to follow her own guidance, and deliver some long-overdue payback to the people whoโ€™ve been causing her problems. Witty, sharp, and full of twists, this story proves that sometimes taking charge means turning the tables.

Read my review of Dear Debbie here.

Release Date: 28th January

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Freida McFadden Books Ranked In Order


February 2026 Book Releases

February brings a mix of romance, family sagas, and gripping mysteries to cozy up with.

These 2026 book releases are ideal for readers seeking both passion and intrigue as winter begins to thaw.

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood Review

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

Viola Bowen lands her dream job designing a video game based on her favourite book seriesโ€”but her co-lead is her longtime arch nemesis, Jesse F. Andrews. When their bosses send them to a remote winter retreat for team-building, Viola expects disaster.

But as the snow piles up and theyโ€™re forced to work side by side, she discovers thereโ€™s more to Jesse than she knew, and sparks begin to fly in more ways than one.

Read my review of Two Can Play here.

Release Date: 10th February

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Ali Hazelwood Books You Need to Read In Order


A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai

A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai

Dr. Sanjay Patel, once a doctor with dreams of serving those in need, now treats billionaires in luxury. But a sudden call from his estranged mentor pulls him back to Bostonโ€™s Mount Beacon Hospital.

There, he reunites with Emma Carpenter-Flores, the woman whose heart he broke, and together they uncover a trail of disturbing cases. As a powerful medical-industrial complex closes in, they must risk everything to expose the truth before lives, and the foundation of medicine, are destroyed.

Release Date: 24th February


And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have always clashed, but when theyโ€™re forced to cover a historic snowstorm together, sparks start to fly.

Tasked with working as a team, their banter and clashes give way to an unexpected friendship, and a chemistry neither can ignore. As the storm rages around them, Jackson and Delilah must decide if their feelings are just for the mountainsโ€ฆ or something more.

Release Date: 24th February


One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith

One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith

August Caine is shocked when she learns her Aunt Helen, who her mother said died fifteen years ago, has passed away.

Returning to the deep South, August must confront the ghosts of her past and unravel the mystery surrounding her fatherโ€™s unsolved murder. Amid memories both protective and imprisoning, she discovers that facing the truth may be the only way to reclaim her life.

Release Date: 24th February


Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity

Leena Al-Sayer has spent years hiding her ability to see the dead. When her brother falls gravely ill, she must strike a dangerous bargain with the ruthless Saint of Silence to save him.

Sent to the mysterious estate of Weavingshaw to find a lost ghost, Leena faces a house that seems alive and a growing attraction to the enigmatic Saint. As secrets unravel and time runs out, she discovers that some truths are better left buried.

Release Date: 24th February


March 2026 Book Releases

Spring into reading with Marchโ€™s exciting 2026 book releases, featuring new novels that explore love, friendship, and thrilling twists.

From heart-pounding suspense to heartfelt stories, this month has something for every reader.

The Water Women by Bonnie Blaylock

The Water Women by Bonnie Blaylock

In 1930s Sardinia, Allegra and her daughters carry on the tradition of the water women, weaving precious cloth from mollusk threads. Their quiet lives are disrupted in 1942 when war comes to their village, bringing fear, secrets, and unexpected encounters.

Over generations, love, loss, and resilience bind Allegra, her daughter Zaneta, and granddaughter Mira, as they navigate the turbulence of war and the enduring strength of family traditions.

Release Date: 1st March


Just Friends by Haley Pham

Just Friends by Haley Pham

Blair and Declan were inseparable as kids, until an impulsive kiss turned their friendship into heartbreak. Four years later, Blair returns to Seabrook to care for her great-aunt, and finds herself working at a coffee shop managed by Declan.

As old wounds resurface and sparks reignite, Blair and Declan must decide whether their future can overcome the mistakes of the past.

Read my review of Just Friends here.

Release Date: 3rd March

RELATED blog post to read: 9 Incredible Book YouTubers You Need to Watch on YouTube


This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Benny and Joy have been saving each otherโ€™s lives since they met, hosting a popular podcast about survival stories. But when Joy disappears and Benny becomes the prime suspect, their next story may be their own.

As secrets unravel and the clock ticks, Benny must uncover the truth before itโ€™s too late, and before the world discovers just how much theyโ€™ve been hiding from everyone, even each other.

Release Date: 10th March


Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami

Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami

Fifteen-year-old Hana has nothing, just her mother and a tiny apartment in Tokyo. When the older, vibrant Kimiko enters her life, Hana finally finds friendship, purpose, and a sense of belonging at their small bar, Lemon.

But in the narrow streets of Sangenjaya, life is never simple, and Hana soon learns that hope, optimism, and dreams can be tested in ways she never imagined.

Release Date: 17th March


The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

In everyoneโ€™s life, thereโ€™s a split-second decision that can change everything. For Larissa, it came when choosing who to ride home with after a concert.

That night, she had no idea sheโ€™d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great friends, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread.

But she didnโ€™t choose Chris to drive her home all those months ago, she went with his best friend, and he became her boyfriend.

Read my review of The Night We Met here.

Release Date: 24th March

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Abby Jimenez Books Ranked in Order


The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin

The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin

This collection of eleven stories from Colm Tรณibรญn explores the quiet, often painful moments that shape our lives. From a mother delivering tragic news to a family in Galway, to brothers grappling with illness and grief in Dublin, each tale captures the complexities of love, loss, and family.

Tรณibรญn illuminates the emotional intensity in everyday life, showing how the past, desire, and duty quietly define who we are.

Release Date: 26th March

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Books Set in Ireland You Must Read


April 2026 Book Releases

Aprilโ€™s 2026 book releases include a mix of literary fiction, romance, and thought-provoking thrillers.

These books promise fresh perspectives, unforgettable characters, and stories that linger long after the last page.

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

On a four-day โ€œAmerican Fantasyโ€ cruise, Annie, a newly divorced woman turning fifty, finds herself surrounded by screaming fans and the members of her favourite โ€™90s boy band. What begins as a nostalgic getaway soon becomes a journey of rediscovery, as music, memories, and unexpected connections awaken a long-submerged part of herself.

Amid the chaos and excitement, Annie finds friendship, possibility, and a chance to embrace life, and herself, anew.

Read my review of American Fantasy here.

Release Date: 7th April


London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

After their son Zacโ€™s sudden death, Rachelle and Matthew Brettler are plunged into grief, and a world they never knew he inhabited. Under a secret identity, Zac had become entangled with a slippery businessman and a dangerous gangster, and his death may have been far more than a suicide.

As the Brettlers investigate, they uncover a hidden, perilous side of London, facing deception, danger, and a justice system seemingly unwilling to protect them.

Release Date: 7th April


Love by the Book by Jessica George

Love by the Book by Jessica George

Remyโ€™s debut novel was a hit, but with her friends drifting away and creative inspiration fading, she struggles to find her next story. Simone, a successful kindergarten teacher, faces isolation after her family cuts her off, leaving her in need of connection.

When the two women meet in a bookstore, their initial friction hides a deeper compatibility. Through laughter, secrets, and support, they may just help each other reclaim what theyโ€™ve lost, and discover the transformative power of friendship.

Release Date: 7th April


The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Six struggling authors are invited to a private Scottish island to finish the final, unfinished novel of reclusive bestseller Arthur Fletch. With just seventy-two hours to write an ending, the prize promises a massive payout and a career reboot.

As the clock ticks, tensions rise, secrets surface, and the race to craft the perfect ending becomes a suspenseful, and deadly test of wit, ambition, and survival.

Release Date: 7th April


Don't Fall in Love With Me by Paige Toon

Don’t Fall in Love with Me by Paige Toon

Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen, sharing summers in the scenic Ardรจche region of France, until he married someone else. Three years later, a newly single Jackson offers her the dream job in the very town where their story began.

As old memories resurface, Grace and a longtime friend devise a scheme to make Jackson jealous, but playful games quickly spark real feelings, and a secret threatens to shatter everything.

Release Date: 14th April


Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter

Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter

Astrid, the last Nachstern witch and heir to the Queendom of Arturea, is cursed to duel the heir of Vatra for the Heart, the source of all magic. Facing Prince Zryan with only her wits, potions, and familiar, her life, and her queendomโ€™s chance to cure the Blight, hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, Skylar and her traveling troupe arrive in Vatra, drawn into the spectacle of the duel while hunting for her missing friend. As Astridโ€™s and Skylarโ€™s paths collide, they must confront rebellion, personal demons, and the stakes of love and loyalty to determine the fate of their world.

Release Date: 28th April


Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu

Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu

Elizabeth Zhang has always played by the rules, excelling academically while staying unremarkable in looks and likability. But when Harvard rejects her for being โ€œtoo boringโ€ and a classmate gets in instead, Elizabethโ€™s carefully ordered life unravels.

Determined to reclaim what she feels is rightfully hers, she begins scrutinizing her rivalโ€™s life, uncovering what it takes to stand out in a world stacked against her. Layered and subversive, this novel explores ambition, societal pressures, and how far someone will go to achieve the success they believe they deserve.

Release Date: 28th April


May 2026 Book Releases

May offers a lineup of captivating reads, from emotional family dramas to romantic escapades and edge-of-your-seat thrillers.

These 2026 book releases are perfect for readers ready to explore new worlds and compelling stories.

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

Daphne Austen has built her life around tradition and her grandmotherโ€™s tearoom, Tea Thyme, in the charming town of Wisteria, North Carolina. Her carefully ordered world is disrupted when Finn Dashwood, a handsome Brit with a complicated past, opens a pub next door, sparking rivalry and endless bickering.

As prank wars and a high-profile wedding force them to work together, Daphne and Finn discover that their differences might just brew unexpected chemistry. Charming, funny, and full of heart, this story blends small-town antics with the sparks that fly when opposites collide.

Release Date: 5th May


Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Simone will do anything to protect her daughter, Lucy. On a vacation to Texas before Lucy leaves for university, Simone wakes to find her daughter missing, and a ransom demand delivered via a mysterious cell phone. Ignoring advice to involve the police, Simone must confront a kidnapper with shocking and unthinkable demands.

As she navigates remote towns and the harsh desert, Simoneโ€™s courage and morality are tested at every turn. Tense, gripping, and morally charged, this thriller explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child, and the devastating consequences that follow.

Release Date: 5th May


John of John by Douglas Stuart Review

John of John by Douglas Stuart

Out of money and with little to show for his art school education, John-Calum Macleod takes the ferry back home to the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides to find that little has changed except for him.

He returns to the windswept croft and the two pillars of his childhood: his father John, a sheep farmer, tweed weaver, and lay preacher in the local Presbyterian church, and his maternal grandmother Ella, a profanity-loving Glaswegian whose steady warmth helped Cal weather the sudden departure of his mother.

Cal privately wonders if any lonely men might be found on the barren hillsides of home, while John is dismayed by his sonโ€™s long hair, strange clothes, and seeming unwillingness to be Saved. But Cal isnโ€™t the only one in the croft house who is keeping secrets.

Read my review of John of John here.

Release Date: 5th May


Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Frankie and George have been best friends since childhood, always clashing and coming back together. On the eve of Frankieโ€™s wedding, George arrives to stand by her side, only for her fiancรฉ to leave her the next morning.

Crushed, Frankie retreats home, but George has a different plan: a weeklong trip to the rainforests and beaches of Tofino to help her heal. What begins as a chance to repair their friendship turns into a journey of long-buried feelings, secrets, and the possibility of something more.

Release Date: 5th May


First and Forever by Lynn Painter

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyote football. So after she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internetโ€™s villain following an awful encounter with the teamโ€™s beloved mascot, she is disgruntled, to put it mildly.

Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesnโ€™t expect a co-guest to join her, especially not the Coyotesโ€™ star tight end.

Read my review of First and Forever here.

Release Date: 12th May

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Lynn Painter Books to Read: In Order


June 2026 Book Releases

Summer reading season begins with Juneโ€™s 2026 book releases, featuring page-turners, romances, and novels that spark conversation.

This monthโ€™s books are ideal for vacations, long weekends, or simply escaping into a good story.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Whistler by Ann Patchett

When Daphne Fuller and her husband visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she encounters Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, for the first time in decades. Their brief childhood connection had left a lasting mark, and now reunited, they must navigate the echoes of the past and the choices that shaped them.

Whistler is a tender story of memory, bravery, and the small yet consequential moments that define a life. It explores how love endures, and how being truly known, even briefly, can change everything.

Release Date: 2nd June


Land by Maggie O'Farrell Review

Land by Maggie O’Farrell

On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomรกs and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland.

The year is 1865, and in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by the Great Hunger, the task is not an easy one. Tomรกs, however, is determined that his maps will be a record of the disaster.

Release Date: 2nd June

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Books By Irish Authors You Need to Read


The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston Review

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summerโ€”for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor Houseโ€”she doesnโ€™t expect to fall in love.

But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.

And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.

Release Date: 16th June


The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

Sasha Cruz, a busy casting agent, has perfected the art of finding the right person for every role, but relationships arenโ€™t part of the plan. On a flight to Paris, a chance encounter with a mysterious man sparks an instant connection, but they never exchange contact details. Determined not to let him slip away, Sasha launches a worldwide search that quickly spirals out of control.

As she enlists the help of a familiar and dangerously charming detective, sparks fly in unexpected ways.

Release Date: 16th June


It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell Review

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Jane Trevally is walking her dogs on her country estate when a small white terrier appears, alone and with no sign of the teenaged girl heโ€™d been staying with nearby.

When the teenager is reported missing, Jane offers to return the dog to his registered owner, hours away in London. Arriving at a run-down house called Thornwood in the deepest backwaters of Hampstead, she is immediately on alertโ€”because Jane has a dark history with this house.

Release Date: 23rd June


The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson Review

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie.

Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.

Release Date: 30th June


July 2026 Book Releases

July heats up with highly anticipated releases that promise suspense, romance, and literary excellence.

The 2026 book releases this month are perfect for readers looking to make the most of summer reading.

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren Review

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

Three years ago, scientist Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca, the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made he dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top research, missing dinners and forgetting anniversaries. Then the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule, using the classified technology sheโ€™s developed to bring him back to life. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built togetherโ€ฆall of it is gone.

Release Date: 14th July

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Christina Lauren Books You Need To Read: In Order


Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

Jill and Ted love their New York brownstone like a member of the family, meticulously curating every detail to reflect their taste and status. But when a bad investment leaves them in financial peril, they hatch a deadly plan: the death of a wealthy relative could solve all their problems.

As their scheme unfolds, the couple must navigate secrets, lies, and the smallest mistakes that could unravel everything. Getting Away with Murder is a tense, darkly clever thriller about greed, trust, and just how far people will go to protect the life theyโ€™ve built.

Release Date: 16th July


Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead

Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead

In early 1980s New York, Ray Carney, a successful Harlem business owner, is forced to take one last heist when his wife is denied a loan for her new travel agency. Partnering with his friend Pepper, a seasoned thief with a talent for navigating the cityโ€™s underworld, Carney is drawn into a world of crime, danger, and high stakes.

As years pass, past mistakes haunt Carney, and he faces a final chance to protect his family while confronting the violent forces of the city. Cool Machine is a gripping, vividly imagined portrait of New York in transition, blending suspense, crime, and the human cost of ambition beneath the glittering skyline.

Release Date: 21st July


August 2026 Book Releases

August is bringing plenty of exciting new books to add to your TBR, from highly anticipated romances and gripping thrillers to captivating literary fiction.

If you’re looking for your next great read, these are the August 2026 book releases to have on your radar.

The Unknown by Riley Sager Review

The Unknown by Riley Sager

Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. Sheโ€™s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.

Because New Avalon isnโ€™t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediumsโ€”until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman.

Release Date: 4th August


Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty Review

Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty

The last time we saw the women of Big Little Liesโ€”Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnieโ€”their children were five years old. If someone wasnโ€™t invited to a birthday party, feelings were hurt.

But ten years have passed and the kids are in high school, navigating all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).

Release Date: 25th August

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Liane Moriarty Books to Read: In Order


September 2026 Book Releases

September is shaping up to be another brilliant month for book lovers, with plenty of highly anticipated new releases across a range of genres.

Here are the September 2026 book releases I’m most excited to add to my reading list.

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley Review

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley & Agatha Christie

High in the Swiss Alps, accessible only by a single, winding railway, stands the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel. With glorious mountain views and exclusive access to powdery slopes, it draws guests from far and wide.

But not everyone is here for a winter holiday. Beneath the champagne and furs, dark histories simmer; old grudges emerge like cracks in the ice.

And someone is watching from the shadows. A polite, unassuming woman with an extraordinary mind: Miss Marple.

Release Date: 22nd September

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Lucy Foley Books to Read: In Order


Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros Review

Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros

The next book in the blockbuster Empyrean series, Threshing Day contains thirteen stories starring your favourite characters and their dragons.

The deluxe first edition includes sixteen beautiful original full-colour illustrations by artist Joe Requeza.

Release Date: 29th September

RELATED blog post to read: Review of the Viral Fourth Wing Book Series by Rebecca Yarros


Trust Fall by Lynn Painter

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter

Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighborโ€”who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaireโ€”leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.

It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesnโ€™t fit in at her new school; worse, sheโ€™s failing.

Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Juliaโ€™s family.

Release Date: 29th September

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Lynn Painter Books to Read in Order


October 2026 Book Releases

Spooky season isn’t the only thing to look forward to this October, with plenty of exciting October 2026 book releases arriving alongside the autumn chill.

From atmospheric thrillers to swoony romances and unputdownable fiction, these are the books I’m most excited to read.

Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey Review

Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey

Magnolia Brown loves Friday night football games, volunteering and dominating at high school swim meets. Just your average everyday eighteen-year-old. Except for one thing:

Sheโ€™s from fifty years in the future.

Magnoliaโ€™s parents, two brilliant scientists, are the inventors of time travel, but due to widespread destruction and rampant abuse of the technology from a corrupt few, time travel is outlawed and punishable by death. When Magnoliaโ€™s parents are seized and executed for illegally traveling to the past, they leave Magnolia stranded in 2026 without a way to get home.

Release Date: 6th October

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Tessa Bailey Books to Read in Order


The Witch by Freida McFadden

The Witch by Freida McFadden

When Julia Barlow loses her job and her apartment, she has nowhere left to go but Pemberton, her family’s sprawling seventeenth-century estate in rural Massachusetts. Officially, she’s there to check in on her aging grandmother. Unofficially, she’s hoping the old house will give her a place to disappear.

Instead, Pemberton begins to unravel her.

Every night, the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m. The lights flicker without warning. And a disembodied voice cries for help outside Julia’s bedroom door.

Release Date: 6th October

Read my review of The Witch here.

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Freida McFadden Books Ranked in Order


A Married Little Christmas by Abby Jimenez Review

A Married Little Christmas by Abby Jimenez

Anna thought only the food would be a disaster at her Christmas dinnerโ€•until her high school ex shows up and they quickly have to hatch a fake-dating scheme to save face with their families. For Matty, the idea of sitting in a diner all day dressed as a zombie Santa after losing a bet has zero appeal. But his cute and funny server might just make him change his mind.

And finally, will Lauren be able to convince her best friend that getting married after a three-day relationship is absolutely ridiculous? Or will the town called Little Christmas pull her in with its happily-ever-after magic once she meets the best man.

Release Date: 20th October

RELATED blog post to read: The Best Abby Jimenez Books Ranked in Order


The Most Exciting 2026 Book Releases

With so many exciting novels coming out throughout the year, 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year for book lovers.

From thrilling mysteries to heartfelt romances and literary gems, these 2026 book releases offer something for every readerโ€™s taste.

Bookmark this list, mark your calendars, and get ready to discover your next favourite read.

RELATED 2026 Book Releases blog posts to read:


Orlagh Claire New York

By Orlagh Shanks

Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and moved to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.

60 Shares

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.