Books I’m already desperate to read: early 2026 releases

How are we already at the end of 2025?! I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. It feels like no time at all since I was writing up my most anticipated reads of 2025, and yet here we are again. I’ve been doing what I do best — watching endless bookish YouTube videos, scrolling Bookstagram, reading blogs, and saving so many upcoming releases that my TBR is already trembling. With an especially exciting batch of books coming out in the first few months of 2026, I simply had to put together a list… because if I’m going to be impatiently waiting for these books, I might as well do it with you. 📚✨

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon

Expected 8th January 2026

A homeless man with no memory finds unexpected kindness, community, and a second chance after a chance encounter with a convenience store owner in Seoul. This sounds quietly heartwarming, character-driven, and exactly the kind of story I know will sneak up on me emotionally.

The Briars by Sarah Crouch

Expected 13th January 2026

Fleeing a bad relationship, Annie heads north to work as a game warden in a remote mountain town – but when a body is found near the home of the one person she trusts, everything unravels. Moody, atmospheric, and quietly tense, The Briars sounds like the perfect slow-burn literary thriller, full of secrets, suspicion, and wilderness unease. I’m definitely getting into thriller more recently, with plenty on the TBR for 2026!

Hemlock by Melissa Faliveno

Expected 20th January 2026

I was immediately drawn in by the title and the cover, and Hemlock sounds like exactly the kind of dark, queered Gothic tale I can’t resist. Following Sam as she returns to the woods where her mother vanished, this novel is a strange, carnal, and utterly mesmerizing story of addiction, desire, and the sinister legacies we inherit.

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Expected 20th January 2026

I am seeing this everywhere on BookTube, so my curiosity is officially piqued. Following a seventeen-year-old desperate to be seen, wanted, and understood, this novel digs into desire, power, and class in a way that sounds sharp, uncomfortable, and darkly funny. Given how much people are talking about it, I have a feeling this one’s going to be a lot.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Expected 22nd January 2026

A band on the brink. A love worth playing for. When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re struggling to find their sound, but lead singer Hannah’s new music might just be the spark they need. With fame, grief, and love colliding, nothing in this story is predictable. The cover immediately gave me Daisy Jones & The Six vibes, which I absolutely gobbled up, so this had to go straight onto my TBR.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Expected 27th January 2026

On a crisp February morning, 24-year-old Ruth Foster is swept into the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women for a “crime” she didn’t commit, joining dozens of women imprisoned for poverty, perceived impropriety, or worse. Under the strict rule of Superintendent Dorothy Baker, they must endure harsh training and medical oversight, but not all of them are willing to submit. Gosh this sounds good!

Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray

Expected 29th January 2026

Nell has already accepted she’s destined to be friendless, until she meets Eve, and everything shifts. Following their intense, complicated bond from childhood into adulthood, this sounds like a tender, messy, deeply emotional exploration of friendship, love, and choosing each other again and again.

Little One: by Olivia Muenter

Expected 3rd February 2026

Catharine West’s seemingly idyllic childhood on a community-focused farm hides dark secrets, and a decade later, a probing journalist threatens to uncover them. With the promise of long-buried family ties and dangerous truths, Little One sounds like a tense, immersive read about identity, desire, and the lengths we go to protect ourselves.

Crux by Gabriel Tallent

Expected 5th February 2026

A heartstopping story of friendship, risk, and ambition, this novel follows Dan and Tamma, two Californian teens chasing legendary climbs in Joshua Tree. Their bond, and their dreams, are tested to the limit, making for a thrilling, raw, and unforgettable read.

This Is Not about Us by Allegra Goodman

Expected 10th February 2026

A beautifully observed story of sisters, family fractures, and the grudges that quietly stretch across decades, this novel follows the Rubinsteins as a small misunderstanding spirals into years of silence. I’m already sold on the big-hearted, quietly funny family drama – and honestly, the cover alone had me instantly adding this to my TBR.

Favorita by Michelle Steinbeck (author), Jen Calleja (translator)

Expected 12th February 2026

Part hallucinatory road trip, part feminist revenge fantasy, this follows Fila as she sets off across Europe with her mother’s ashes to untangle a messy, scandalous family history. Furious, strange, and a little bit feral, this sounds like the kind of bold, unforgettable read I know will stay with me long after the final page.

Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama

Expected 19th February 2026

Set in the charming Marble Cafe, Hot Chocolate on Thursday threads twelve small, everyday moments into a gentle, heartwarming story full of connection, kindness, and quiet magic. It reminds me so much of The Convenience Store by the Sea, which was utterly cosy and delightful, and I honestly can’t wait to dive in.

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Expected 19th February 2026

A lonely college student falls headfirst into the world of a K-pop–inspired boyband, late-night livestreams and all, and things quickly slide from comfort fandom into something far more unsettling. Told from both sides of the screen, this sounds addictive, messy, and a little bit dark … exactly the kind of book I know I’ll end up flying through.

Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward

Expected 19th February 2026

After running away with her younger brother, Riley seeks refuge at Nowhere – the burned-out ranch of a disgraced movie star, rumoured to be home to feral children and something far darker. A found-family horror set in the Rockies? This sounds deliciously unsettling and completely up my street.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

Expected 26th February 2026

The second I see a book compared to Fleabag, I’m in – no questions asked. This follows Dell, a chaotic, angry-funny misfit who livestreams herself for seven days to raise money for her sister’s life support, and things spiral fast. Darkly hilarious, uncomfortable, and a little unhinged, this sounds like exactly the kind of sharp, messy novel I love getting completely absorbed in.

Hooked by Asako Yuzuki (author), Polly Barton (translator)

Expected 12th March 2026

I read Butter earlier this year and absolutely loved it, so I couldn’t wait to pick up the next novel from Asako Yuzuki. Hooked follows Eriko, whose perfect life hides a growing obsession with a new friend, spiraling into a tense, thrilling story about friendship, loneliness, and the dark edges of desire. With food, womanhood, and Yuzuki’s signature psychological insight (the perfect combo??!), this one’s going straight onto my TBR.

Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey

Expected 12th March 2026

After her sister’s death, Poppy goes on one daring date using Dandelion’s identity and sparks an unexpected, complicated romance. Dandelion Is Dead sounds messy, emotional, and irresistibly risky, a love story wrapped up in grief, sisterhood, and bad behaviour.

Whidbey by T Kira Madden

Expected 12th March 2026

A chance encounter on a ferry sets off a devastating chain of events, connecting three women bound by one man and the violence he inflicted. Whidbey sounds gripping, unsettling, and deeply thought-provoking – less a whodunnit and more a powerful exploration of power, justice, and who gets to control the narrative.

Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami

Expected 19th March 2026

From an author I absolutely love, this novel follows fifteen-year-old Hana as she finds hope, friendship, and a sense of belonging in a shabby Tokyo bar run by the magnetic Kimiko. Years later, a trial forces Hana to confront the choices that shaped her life. Sisters in Yellow sounds intense, emotional, and beautifully written, a story of friendship, betrayal, and growing up far too fast.

The Soul Catchers by Naoko Higashi (author), Lucy North (translator)

Expected 19th March 2026

Eleven newly deceased souls are offered one last, unexpected chance to stay close to their loved ones, returning to the world by inhabiting the everyday objects they left behind. I absolutely love this concept – and it’s being compared to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, which I adored, so my expectations are already sky-high.

And that’s my roundup of the books I’m most excited for in the first few months of 2026! Honestly, my TBR (and bank account) is already groaning just thinking about all of these (but I’m excited!). I’d love to hear from you – are there any January–March releases that you cannot wait to get your hands on? Drop your recommendations in the comments so I can make sure nothing slips past me. Let’s share our TBRs and make sure we don’t miss any of the best new reads!