In this surprisingly humorous historical fiction debut, Sven Ormson retreats to the Arctic Circle after a disfiguring mining accident, seeking refuge from the world.

As he struggles to survive the harsh conditions, he unexpectedly finds companionship with a Finnish trapper and a Scottish geologist, who bring excitement to his otherwise quiet life. But, as the years go by, the arrival of a relative forces Sven to confront the possibility of living a different kind of life than he planned.

I had to bring this book back to the forefront for the season, so you can hear Nathaniel Ian Miller discuss his former Arctic Circle Expeditionary Program residency, during which he visited the little hut that inspired this story. Don't miss the fun on today’s Book Gang podcast episode.

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Set in Maine in 1789, this historical mystery follows a real 18th-century midwife whose detailed diary serves as the lens through which this story unfolds.

When a body is discovered in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha is summoned to determine the cause of death. Convinced it was murder, she finds herself at odds with a local physician who insists the man died by accident.

Over the long winter, whispers, prejudices, and mounting pressures make Martha’s pursuit of the truth both personal and perilous. As her diary becomes central to the scandal, she must decide where her loyalty lies.

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Lange documents the rise and fall of a seemingly perfect marriage between two people who find a new purpose through their community's middle school hockey team in this winter story.

When Kyle learns that his father has suffered a debilitating stroke, he reluctantly returns to his hometown of Potsdam, New York—a place he fled without warning two and a half years ago. Now, he plans to help his dad recover and disappear again, especially after realizing the love of his life is not ready to forgive and forget.

However, when a chance to jointly coach their struggling middle school hockey team arises, the couple find new purpose and unexpected answers about why they have both struggled to find each other again.

In this powerful, emotionally layered debut, Dixon — a once-elite runner turned school psychologist — answers his older brother Nate’s challenge for them to be the first Black American men to summit Mount Everest.

But what begins as an exhilarating adventure turns into something far more complex when disaster on the mountain reshapes Dixon’s body, identity, and purpose.

Back home, he struggles to reconnect with his life, the students he left behind, and the version of himself he thought he knew in this dramatic winter story.

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In this Wuthering Heights retelling, Katarina and Heath, childhood friends turned skating partners, rise from humble beginnings toward their Olympic dreams, only to discover that the path to greatness is paved with sacrifice, pressure, and sometimes heartbreak.

Fargo builds a juicy drama set against the intensity of competitive figure skating, which is made all the more spectacular as an audiobook with a big cast. Don't miss this one!

There is a reason Goodman's novel has been on the NYT best books of the year list- this story is exceptional.

A noblewoman is abandoned on a remote island, suddenly at the mercy of nature, her survival dependent on her own ingenuity and inner strength. Goodman's story unspools like a riveting Survivor episode as three abandoned people try to live off the unforgiving land, from failed gardens to bear battles.

As the brutal Canadian winter sets in, Marguerite, mourning many losses, finds an unexpected faith in God that she had never before embraced, discovering comfort in unexpected places.

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Koval's debut offers a deeply reflective story.

When thirteen-year-old Nora Sheehan kills her brother, her family is forced to confront grief and secrets they never expected. Martine, a steadfast and compassionate lawyer, steps in to guide them through the legal and emotional storm, joined by Julian, Angie’s first love, who must face the past he left behind.

The snowy mountains of Colorado and the bustling streets of pre-9/11 New York provide this story’s backdrop with a novel that lingers long after the last page for its readers.

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Evison’s novel follows Abe and Ruth Winter, a couple who have built a life together over seventy years, from a disastrous blind date in college to a long marriage together.

When Ruth is confronted with a serious illness late in life, Abe must learn how to care for her in new ways and reckon with who they’ve become.

The story moves between the couple’s rich past and their present‑day struggles, offering a deeply reflective and big‑hearted story on the smaller moments that sustain a lifetime. Grab your tissues for this one!

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Hannah's sister story pulls together the sensible Meredith, who has taken over the family business, and her sister Nina, who chooses to be a traveling photographer. When their father brings them together on his deathbed, he makes them promise to take care of their seemingly unemotional and detached mother and to listen to one of her Russian fairy tales in its entirety.

This fairytale takes the three women on a journey that none of them expected. What starts as an innocent story about a girl swept off her feet by a handsome prince becomes altogether too real as it unfolds.

Hannah pulls every heartstring, showing the fragility of life and the human spirit's heart. I loved this one!

This atmospheric story takes us to the remote Appalachian Mountains, where a father and daughter live a completely isolated existence.

They face a turning point when their food and supplies don’t arrive. Forced to go out and get their stockpile themselves, they risk being discovered and reopening an old case.

As it turns out, it also opens the doors for an unexpected visitor who reminds Cooper of the beauty of companionship and what he has been missing for many years.  

Grant's writing is haunting, suspenseful, and thoroughly engrossing.

The Arctic terns will soon be extinct in this novel, and Franny Stone is determined to follow their final migration. Getting there is a hurdle, but she manages to talk her way onto a fishing boat that happens to be sailing out that way.

On this voyage, Franny's tragic life spills out in haunting memories that leave the reader breathless, revealing that she is boarding this boat for profound reasons we will soon discover through her flashbacks.

I found this story to be uniquely told, enthralling, and disturbing. The themes of a world left behind by the devastation of climate change feel altogether too close, and that might be why this storyline was so compelling. Magnetic on audiobook, it was a warm introduction to McConaghy's storytelling.

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This daring, emotionally charged novel is set in a small, snowbound town where hockey isn’t just a game, but its very identity.

The local team, the Bears, is on the brink of their biggest victory yet, but everything changes when a shocking act of violence rocks the community.

The incident puts the town’s star player and his family at the center of a moral storm, forcing everyone—parents, coaches, neighbors—to confront loyalty, ambition, and the limits of silence.

Backman’s empathetic storytelling explores how people respond when everything they believe in is on the line and how courage sometimes looks like standing alone. It made for a memorable book club discussion.

Malcolm’s bar is the heart of his world—a place where he’s learned everything from fixing pipes to listening to his regulars’ endless worries. But the dream he sees for it feels just out of reach, held back by finances and circumstance.

Meanwhile, Jess faces a different kind of struggle. A successful lawyer, she has spent years trying to start a family and is coming to terms with the possibility that motherhood may never be hers. Her life is consumed by the quiet, relentless pressure of time.

When a regular goes missing during a fierce winter blizzard, Malcolm and Jess are forced to confront their dreams, their limits, and each other. With a moving blend of past and present, Keane’s novel is a tender, suspenseful story of love, ambition, and the storms—both literal and emotional—that shape our lives.

Readers who enjoy inventive storytelling and nontraditional structure will find a lot to admire in Keane’s novel.

I will never stop talking about my love for this winter mystery and Holly Kennedy. A gentle story with a few explosive f-bombs for good measure explores the collision of good intentions when Denny, a neurodivergent adult, finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery in which he is the only suspect for a prestigious man in their small town.

It’s not every day that you see a man walking with a sled full of guns on a winter day, and you will be surprised by how this case all plays out in the most beautiful, human way. We will be sharing this book as part of our book club year in 2026. I hope you can join the fun!

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Found family enthusiasts will eat this quiet book up with a spoon, offering three interconnected stories of characters facing loss and self-discovery in the winter seasons of their lives.

Joella's strong sense of place and character development make every person in this small town feel like someone you might stumble upon in real life.

It’s a thread that unites all of Joella’s novels, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us with his upcoming release.

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Few stories feel like home quite like Little Women. Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic follows the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—through the joys and heartaches of growing up in Civil War–era Massachusetts.

From tender moments of sisterly devotion to dreams pursued against all odds, this is a story about family, resilience, and the small, profound ways love shapes us. Generations have returned to its pages, and in the quiet of winter, it’s the perfect companion to curl up with.

Alcott's scene-setting around the Christmas holiday, with a special family homecoming, makes it a positively perfect read for this season.

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This delightfully quirky fantasy follows a 14-year-old whose magic is intertwined with her baking. Her life in her aunt’s bakery gets seriously shaken when she discovers a dead body on the morning shift and is thrown into a mystery that spirals into danger and adventure.

With a sourdough starter familiar named Bob and enchanted gingerbread men at her side, Mona must use her small-scale magic, sharp wit, and courage to defend her city against threats both human and magical.

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This is a bittersweet, beautifully human holiday romance about second chances and healing after loss. Both Grace and Henry are navigating their first holiday season without their spouses when their well-meaning moms push them together.

They form a tentative friendship and decide to watch a classic Christmas movie each night leading up to Christmas—old favorites that remind them of love, their own desires, and the stories that shape them.

Beautifully narrated through dual narration audiobook with two narrators, it is the perfect book to pop in your ears while gift wrapping this year. Don't be surprised if it inspires a movie marathon of your own.

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In this swoony story, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Nolan Callahan, is assigned to haunt an earnest antique-shop owner who isn’t exactly Scrooge but seems to have unfinished business of her own.

As Nolan and Harriet unravel what connects their lives, they discover that looking back can sometimes be the key to moving forward.

If you can’t get your hands on this new release, start with Lovelight Farms, the author’s debut, which offers a cozy winter setting.

Cousens absolutely adorable holiday story centers on Minnie Cooper, who has had an unlucky New Year’s birthday ever year of her life thanks to a man she's never met.

Their mothers gave birth to them at the hospital, just after midnight, and Quinn’s mother stole the cash prize for being the first baby born on New Year's Day, and what should have been her given name.

Since this historic day with Quinn Hamilton, Minnie has had one bad birthday after the next. After another disastrous party, she meets Quinn, and her world is forever changed in this impeccable rom-com story.

Neighbors Andie and Leo end up sharing the first night of Hanukkah when he notices her bag of Hanukkah candles and happens to have ordered enough takeout for two in this hallway meet-cute.

The two begin eight nights together, experiencing all the beautiful Jewish customs and rituals, shared in conventional and sometimes unconventional ways, that are a feast of sensations, from food to familial dreidel rules.

As Andie gets to know Leo better, she faces a tough decision when her dream job in a different state becomes available. Will she leave behind Leo and his charming family, who have formally enveloped her into the fold, or will she set out on a new adventure to begin a career where she is given fantastic perks?

What I love the most about this beautiful story is the Deaf representation of the male character. As someone not Jewish, I also had a lot of fun looking up words, customs, and celebration rituals I didn’t know about before. It was a delight!

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In this winter story, a college student is assigned to write a biography of a stranger as part of his English class project. Joe chooses Carl Iverson, a dying Vietnam War veteran who has spent decades in prison for the brutal murder of a young woman.

As he begins to interview Carl, Joe uncovers inconsistencies in the story and starts to suspect that he might not be guilty after all.

Becoming more entangled in the case, he must confront his own painful past while racing against time to bring justice to a man who may have been wrongfully convicted.

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Trapped during a blizzard at a highway rest stop, Darby Thorne discovers a kidnapped girl locked in a van, but no one believes her. With time, visibility, and options rapidly dwindling, Adams holds readers hostage at this rest stop as  high‑tension suspense unfolds on the page through thrilling twists and turns.

It's the kind of wild thriller ride that will make you forget real life. I know I did!

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A backdrop of snow and ice makes this fast-paced story the perfect winter thriller.

Mr. & Mrs. Wright have won a weekend getaway to Scotland and are hopeful this is the balm their fractured marriage needs. Right away, Feeney creates a bit of instability in the story, since Adam has lived with face blindness his whole life, meaning he can't recognize friends, family, or his own wife.

Each anniversary, they exchange traditional anniversary gifts, which become the story's structure, and these gifts hold an annual letter that Adam's wife writes but never lets him read... until now.

Dig into a decade of marriage fun with these two, all set against a spooky winter backdrop in a crumbling old house that doesn't bring the cozy Airbnb vibes they expected.

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Eowyn Ivey's debut novel was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and is one of my all-time favorite books.

Jack and Mabel, navigating their grief with pregnancy loss, decide to take up a homesteading journey in Alaska to begin anew.

One night, they sculpt a child from snow and to their surprise, a magical girl who looks unexpectedly similar to the imagined snow girl appears on their doorstep.

During the coldest winter in decades, a twenty-eight-year-old Chinese American journalist boards a military flight to cover a battle in North Korea’s mountains when her plane is shot down.

After the crash, Ellie steps out onto an icy field, surrounded by the enemy and convinced she’ll never see her parents again. Then, a woman appears, claiming Ellie as the daughter she’s been searching for since the last war.

The only problem: Ellie doesn’t speak any Korean.

The Young Will Remember pays tribute to women whose strength holds families together in tough times. Chung, a 2026 MomAdvice Book Club author, draws on her human rights background crafting fast-paced historical fiction. I love being Chung's new unofficial fan club president.

Release Date- 5 May 2026

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Christina Baker Kline shares a bold and personal retelling of a lesser-known part of American history, inspired by her own family.

When the famous Siamese twins Eng and Chang Bunker arrive in North Carolina, their quick rise from performers to landowners stirs up a community full of gossip.

Sisters Adelaide and Sarah Yates are pulled into the twins’ world, facing their own dreams and limits as their lives unexpectedly connect.

The Foursome spans five decades and promises an exciting exploration on how strict societal rules often shape people’s lives. I really can't wait for this one!

Release Date- 12 May 2026

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After Margot Cooper discovers her famous husband’s betrayals, she leaves Los Angeles with her teenage daughter and goes back to her childhood home.

There, she finds a box in the attic with clues about the legendary vigilante Lady X, and a photo that hints her own mother might be involved. The story shifts from gritty 1970s New York to modern Los Angeles in this fast-paced feminist thriller.

Summer reading guide prep starts now and I loved this book so much. I can't wait for you to read it and hear Molly's story.

Release Date- 5 May 2026

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In 1964, America’s beloved TV family, the Newmans, faces falling ratings, hidden secrets, and personal strife as the once-perfect on-screen image begins to crack.

After Del’s mysterious car accident, Dinah hires a fiery young reporter to help write the show’s final episode, igniting clashes over a woman's place in a changing era. What unfolds is a deeply human family drama about shifting cultural norms and the costs of fame.

Blending humor and heartache in an homage to both television’s golden age and the complexities beneath the spotlight, readers are excited to see if this one hits the same notes as Lessons in Chemistry.

Release Date- 6 January 2026

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ReShonda Tate, author of The Queen of Sugar Hill, brings to life the dazzling and turbulent world of jazz icon Hazel Scott in this sweeping, emotionally charged historical fiction novel.

At just twenty-three, Hazel is a prodigy, film star, and civil rights advocate, breaking barriers while refusing to follow anyone else’s rules.

When the charismatic Adam Clayton Powell Jr. enters her life, their electrifying, decades-long relationship propels them to the center of a cultural and political revolution—but behind the glamour lies a battlefield of ambition, ego, and impossible choices.

Lynnette Freeman lends her voice again to this audiobook, rich in Black history; you will be transported down another rabbit hole to discover more about these well-known figures.

Release Date- 27 January 2026

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In post-war Germany, Ethel Gathers, who is married to an American officer, finds an orphanage full of mixed-race children born to German women and Black American GIs. Touched by their situation, she is determined to help them find homes and better futures, especially when one story becomes personal for her.

Jumping ahead to 1965 in Maryland, Sophia Clark leaves a cold home behind to attend a prestigious, all-white boarding school. There, she discovers a secret that changes how she sees herself and sends her on a journey to find her true identity.

Keeper of Lost Children moves through different times and places, sharing a powerful story about all kinds of love—family, parental, forbidden, and self-love—and how one woman’s courage can change many lives. This sounds incredible!

Release Date- 10 February 2026

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In 1927 Detroit, Marjorie Lennox is the youngest daughter in a wealthy but distant family. Creative and impulsive, she secretly applies to an exclusive arts retreat, hoping to find her own path and get away from her controlling father and siblings.

But the retreat holds secrets. Doors lock at odd times, whispers fill the halls, and some women go missing. The mysterious benefactor is rarely seen but always present. As Marjorie tries to fit in, she must decide who to trust and how far she’ll go to be seen.

I can't wait to get my hands on Supety's first book for adult readers.

Release Date- 2 June 2026

Set in mid-19th century Ireland during the Great Famine, Land follows a father and son working on the Great Ordnance Survey to map the country as widespread hardship and political tension unfold around them.

The father hopes the maps will serve as a record of a nation in crisis, but an unsettling encounter alters the course of his life.

Rich with ghostly presences, deep emotional stakes, and historical resonance, it promises to be both personal and epic in scale. Arising from O’Farrell’s own family history, the story reflects on how the past persists in our present. I can't wait to dive into this story from one of my favorite storytellers!

Release Date- 2 June 2026

Heather Marshall returns with a gripping mystery about the secrets of a famous 1960s women’s prison.

Young editorial assistant Emily Radcliffe chases a big story inside Mercer Women’s Prison, only to learn that getting in was the easy part—and that some stories come at a high price.

Decades later, Detective Rachel Mackenzie is asked to identify a woman in an unmarked grave, sending her back to Mercer and the past she tried to leave behind.

Inspired by true events, Liberty Street is one of our top historical fiction picks for 2026.

Release Date- 16 June 2026

In 1933, Mississippi, with Prohibition ending and the Great Depression tightening its grip, life leaves little room for freedom — especially for women on the margins.

But when a headstrong woman named Birdie, a sharp‑witted orphan named Meg, and a worn but fiery soul named Charlie cross paths, they hatch a daring plan to seize control of their lives. United by desperation, hope, and fierce loyalty, this unlikely sisterhood dares to change their fate even if the cost is high.

The Calamity Club is described as a bold, big‑hearted tale of grit, friendship, and the power of women fighting to reclaim hope. I can't wait to check this one out!

Release Date- 5 May 2026

I always look forward to a Mary Kubica thriller.

In her latest, a scream shatters the calm at a lakeside resort, and Courtney Gray rushes to her brother’s cottage to find a terrible scene: her brother and sister-in-law are dead, and her niece is missing.

As police investigate and secrets surface, Courtney has to consider that the danger might have come from someone close.

I’m eager to read this new book from one of my favorite Midwest authors.

Release Date- 3 February 2026

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Five offers a gripping, inventive novel that puts you in the impossible position of judge, jury, and executioner.

Five strangers wait for a train to London, and in just minutes, one of them will die—but before the train arrives, their lives unfold in all their messiness.

Bannister tackles big themes on motherhood, addiction, and disability. Who should live and who should survive? This novel sounds like it was grown in a book club lab for readers to confront their hidden assumptions.

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Maggie, a broke young Asian American writer, needs a lifeline when Ingrid, a veteran white Hollywood producer with her career on the edge, offers an irresistible deal. $3 million for ten experimental medical sessions to reverse her aging, using Maggie as a transfusion partner.

Their deal quickly becomes a tense, high-stakes psychological dance that blurs the rules of aging, influence, and ambition. As their bond deepens, both women must confront how far they’re willing to go—and what they’re willing to risk—to rewrite their stories.

This story concept is so intriguing!

Release Date- 4 April 2026

I’m a big fan of Rob Hart, and I’m excited to return to the Assassins Anonymous world, where family and crazy chaos always mix.

When Valencia’s brother goes missing, she leaves her baby, Lucia, with three of the world’s most dangerous and unusual assassins. Babysitting quickly turns into a wild race for survival as a Russian mob boss, urgent-care mishaps, and the NYPD get involved.

Three Hitmen and a Baby is funny, action-packed, and full of heart, showing that saving the day is never easy, especially with a toddler in tow. If you haven’t tried this series, it’s a great one to buddy read with a friend or partner!

Release Date- 16 June 2026

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Little One is a tense, emotional thriller about identity, control, and what it means to be “good.”

Years after escaping a cult-like Florida farm, Catharine West’s secrets resurface when a journalist starts digging. As her past and present collide, she must ask herself how far she’ll go to survive and protect who she used to be.

Muenter says this is her most personal novel, and I can’t wait to read this new release from the Bad on Paper podcast host and author. It's been a joy to connect with her this year.

Release Date- 3 February 2026

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Twelve years ago, Carrie and Johan got married on a beach in Thailand, but Johan vanished just four hours later.

Now, Carrie has a family and a steady life, but everything shifts when she sees Johan again. As old memories and secrets come back, she obsessively searches for the truth about that day.

Readers are promised plot twists galore in this suspenseful love story. I can't wait to read this one!

Release Date- 19 May 2026

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This darkly twisting novel centers on Ruby Cooper, a woman with a fragile grip on reality whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel in shocking ways.

Expect psychological suspense, unreliable narration, and revelations about identity and truth. Liz Nugent is known for layered thrillers that upend reader expectations, and this gripping character study will keep you questioning what you think you know about Ruby and her world.

Yup, that's all we know. I appreciate a thriller with sparse synopsis details, especially since Strange Sally Diamond surprised me so much. Looking forward to embracing this story as a blank slate.

Release Date- 12 March 2026

Set in both modern New York and 1877 Japan, Japanese Gothic follows two people separated by centuries: one haunted by a forgotten murder, the other a female samurai on the run.

They’re drawn through a mysterious door into a strange house surrounded by sword ferns. As time and reality blur, both must face horrors linked to war and family trauma through the home.

The novel blends mythology, psychological suspense, and ghost stories, building a world where nothing is certain and every detail hints at hidden sins. This sounds so, so good!

Release Date- 21 April 2026

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Jessica George returns with a tender, funny, and insight-rich story about two women who collide at rock bottom and slowly begin to rebuild something luminous together.

Remy, a debut sensation suddenly abandoned by her muse (and her friends), can’t seem to write her way out of heartbreak. Simone, a beloved teacher whose secret side gig has cost her the support of her own family, has closed herself off to everyone.

Their chance encounter in a bookstore isn’t exactly meet-cute material, but something in each woman recognizes the loneliness in the other, and an unexpected friendship begins to take root.

As Remy weighs a life-changing decision and Simone confronts all she’s lost, the two discover that the most transformative love stories are often the ones that don’t involve romance at all.

I am so intrigued by this magical friendship story description!

Release Date- 7 April 2026

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Vivi and Calla couldn’t be more different—Vivi, orderly and cautious, preserves the past as an art conservator; Calla, bold and impulsive, is an artist with a flair for drama.

When a lost sketch and letter from their late father point to a mysterious painting by a forgotten Vietnamese artist, the sisters are drawn on a journey from Wisconsin’s ghostly woods to the French countryside and the ancestral home in Việt Nam, confronting the fractured past and discovering how the gravity of family endures across generations.

Thao Thai is one of my favorite new storytellers and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this new story.

Release Date- 4 August 2025

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In this bold, darkly comic, and deeply moving novel, Pepper Mills discovers that life can still surprise her at seventy-seven.

Forced into a retirement community by her grown children, Pepper finds friendship and love, only for the unimaginable to happen.

She’s pregnant.

As the news spreads, journalists, activists, and well-meaning strangers descend, leaving Pepper to navigate choices that may no longer be entirely her own.

Enormous Wings is a provocative, urgent exploration of female agency, bodily autonomy, and the enduring power of love, family, and friendship—even when life throws the most extraordinary curveballs. I am obsessed with Frankel's storytelling and very excited about this story concept!

Release Date- 5 May 2026

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Vernice and Annie start as inseparable, motherless daughters in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but adulthood sends them down wildly different paths: one toward opportunity and sisterhood, the other toward danger and survival.

When tragedy strikes, their stories collide in ways neither could’ve predicted in this sweeping meditation on the fierce love that shapes us from the author of American Marriage.

I'm thrilled to have this in my stack this weekend and can't wait to dig in.

Release Date- 24 February 2026

In this family drama, when the Rubinsteins’ beloved sister passes away, old misunderstandings erupt into decades of silence, leaving siblings and their children caught in the crossfire of grudges, divorces, dating dramas, and life’s everyday upheavals.

With sharp observation, humor, and heart, Goodman explores the weight of parental expectations, the bonds between sisters, and the love that quietly binds a family across generations.

Interviewing Goodman was certainly a highlight of my 2025, and I can’t wait to see what she has crafted for us next.

Release Date- 10 February 2026

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Adora is a divorcée, living a contented life while relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being solo, and her job as a tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family.

But her carefully curated life is upended when she meets a handsome stranger.

Soon, her ordered world is filled with black-market art deals, a secret rendezvous, and international intrigue. Yet, it's her past that suddenly comes to the forefront in this midlife awakening.

With Semple’s trademark humor and insight, Go Gentle is a smart romance about second chances, starting over, and finding love at any age. Sign me up!

Release Date- 14 April 2026

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When Daphne unexpectedly reunites with Eddie, her former stepfather, their brief childhood bond proves more enduring (and more life-altering) than she ever understood.

As they revisit the event that shaped them both, the novel becomes a quiet meditation on the tiny choices that redirect entire lives.

Patchett reminds us that connection isn’t about length of time but impact, and that love, however fleeting, can echo across decades.

Early readers are raving about this one and I'm excited to see who will be chosen for the audiobook narrator this time.

Release Date- 2 June 2026

When a midnight fire consumes April and Leo’s home, their escape with two young children marks just the beginning of a reckoning.

Retreating to April’s childhood home in Dallas, they confront the hidden fractures in their marriage, while her spirited family adds both comfort and complication to their emotional journey.

Told through alternating perspectives—April, Leo, and April’s resilient mother, Deb—alongside flashbacks tracing the couple’s relationship from its earliest sparks, The Burning Side examines how love endures.

This family saga holds so much promise for all we loved from Damoff’s debut, The Bright Years.

Release Date- 16 June 2026

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Biologist Laurel Salter is stationed at an isolated Antarctic research base, washing dishes and hiding from her past, when a strange visual phenomenon called the Arc brings physicists — and her former husband, Eli — back into her orbit.

As the mysterious Arc’s glow hints at possibilities that stretch beyond conventional science, Laurel confronts the question of whether she can risk everything to rewrite her own life’s regrets.

As a big fan of The Immortalists, I can’t wait to revisit Benjamin’s storytelling this year.

Release Date- 15 September 2026

When a local mother goes missing, estranged sisters Frankie and Mere are forced back into each other’s lives, confronting old wounds and the past that has long defined them.

Set against a quiet Northern California mountain town, this nuanced novel explores addiction, motherhood, marriage, and the redemptive power of facing the truths we’ve been avoiding, showing how connection can emerge even from the deepest divides.

Gueirrieri stunned with her emotional debut filled with messy family dynamics, and I welcome settling into another family drama with this writer.

Release Date- 19 May 2026

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Record executive Theo is sent to check on a struggling rock band after their manager dies, expecting to shut things down. Instead, he finds The Future Saints barely hanging on and becomes their last hope.

Lead singer Hannah channels her grief into a new, raw sound that goes viral, giving the band another shot at fame. But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister undermine Theo at every turn. 

Winstead proves her skill at writing across genres, and I can’t wait to read this one.

Release Date- 20 January 2026

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Prepare for another poignant, witty, and deeply moving story from Steven Rowley.

College professor Jesse del Ruth has been left behind—his husband Norman vanishes one night into a strange beam of light, leaving Jesse to navigate grief, confusion, and the dizzying possibilities of reinvention.

As friends, family, and curious neighbors close in, Jesse must reckon with his own desires and the real gravity of a love that has defined him for decades.

Take Me With You is an unforgettable exploration of devotion and the forces that hold two people together—or pull them apart. This sounds like it would make the perfect pair with the new TJ Klune release!

Release Date- 20 May 2026

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Emma Straub sets sail with a sharp, big-hearted novel that revels in nostalgia while charting a fresh course for midlife reinvention.

Annie, newly divorced and staring down fifty, boards a ’90s boy-band cruise as a favor to her sister—only to find herself swept up in the fizzy chaos of slushy cocktails, throwback anthems, and thousands of women reliving the glory days.

As the music shakes something loose in her, Annie rediscovers a version of herself she thought adulthood had erased. And when she unexpectedly connects with one of the band members—not as a fan, but as a friend—new possibilities begin to shimmer on the horizon. SOLD!

Release Date- 7 April 2026

Joella, known for his quiet stories, returns with another bittersweet tale set in a small town.

In the summer of 1975, recent high school graduate Maggie Bishop is still reeling from the death of her older brother, Chip, whose final months remain a mystery. Her search leads her to the Red Maple Inn, a mountaintop resort in the Poconos, where Maggie discovers a close-knit community that knew and loved her brother—and in doing so, begins to uncover the secrets of his last days.

Over two transformative summers, she learns that understanding can help repair even the deepest grief.

This sounds like another winner from one of my favorite storytellers.

Release Date- 30 June 2026

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In the summer of 2000, AJ dreams of writing for SNL but finds herself stuck in a small Massachusetts town—until she meets Noah Drew, the intense heir of a Hollywood acting dynasty.

Their bond grows first as friends, then as collaborators, until Noah disappears without a word. Seven years later, reunited on a hit intergalactic TV series, their on-screen chemistry reignites, forcing AJ and Noah to confront past betrayals, long-buried secrets, and the unshakable pull that continues to draw them together.

For the record, this sounds amazing!

Release Date-- 14 July 2026

For over eighty years, Joy Bridport has played it safe—devoted wife, dutiful mother, pillar of her Hudson Valley community.

But when her adventurous best friend Hazel faces her final months, Joy realizes she’s spent far too long following the rules. Determined to embrace life boldly, she steps into mischief, petty crime, and a series of laugh-out-loud escapades, all while asking what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind.

Brammer, known for her richly grief-stricken, hope-filled themes, delivers another book to remind us of our shared humanity in these moments.

Release Date- 19 May 2026

In rural Alabama, Leigh Wilde is the last of her family—she’s watched them all die, and survival has become her instinct. Grief follows her like a shadow, but survival runs deeper than fear.

When a transport bus carrying her to prison veers off the road, claiming every life onboard but hers, Leigh does what comes naturally. She survives.

On the run, she discovers an unexpected refuge—a flower farm tucked quietly away from the world.  Jackson, the farm’s owner, sees through Leigh’s defenses, offering small acts of kindness, quiet encouragement, and moments of tenderness that slowly draw her toward hope.

Among the blooms and routines of the farm, Leigh begins to imagine a life where she isn’t defined by tragedy, a life where healing might finally be possible. But the past cannot stay buried forever.

I am so intrigued by this story concept- it sounds magical!

Release Date- 17 February 2026

Told with charm from Harold’s point of view—an elderly dog who understands people well—this novel follows his mission to help his grieving owner.

Harold promised his owner, romance writer Amelia May, that he’d help Miguel find love again after she was gone, but Miguel can barely leave the house, let alone imagine a future without her.

When a missed author event puts their bookstore at risk, Harold encourages Miguel to take a road trip, during which they meet incredible people who bond with Harold. Could a new love be in store for his owner?

Dog Person promises a heartwarming story about second chances, found family, and the wisdom of our furry friends.

Release Date- 7 April 2026

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In the Novak family, every woman is born with a remarkable gift, the magical ability to redo one moment in her life. Lauren has long lived in the shadow of her mother and grandmother's bold examples, never knowing when—or if—her own chance will come.

Returning home to Malibu, she reconnects with her father, her past, and Stone, her first love, who shattered her heart years ago. As old patterns resurface and desire collides with memory, Lauren must reckon with the decisions that have defined her... and the possibility that one pivotal choice might be hers to change.

Release Date- 10 March 2026

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Confino is back with another funny, thrilling, and undercover romantic comedy set in 1962 Washington, D.C. Judy Greenberg, a bright and ambitious reporter, isn’t looking for a husband.

She’s chasing a scoop.

When a cryptic Russian-accented message lands on her boss’s private line, Judy teams up with a charming reporter to follow a trail of secrets from hotel bars to Cuban nightclubs, uncovering a mystery that could turn the Cold War hot.

Between espionage, romance, and career-defining danger, she must decide if ambition is worth risking everything…including her heart.

Release Date- 9 June 2026

Wade Rouse delivers another poignant, hilarious, and heartwarming story about the joy of chosen family.

In sunny Palm Springs, Theodore “Teddy” Copeland and his three friends have turned their golden years into a golden era, hosting monthly drag tributes to The Golden Girls and savoring life together.

But when Teddy’s estranged sister Trudy arrives with her dramatic granddaughter, long-buried secrets and old wounds resurface, testing the bonds of their unconventional family.

This Wade’s first fictional novel under his real name and the first novel he’s written about gay characters. So this project is a deeply personal and meaningful book for him. It sounds perfect for The Guncle fans!

Release Date- 3 March 2026

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Sasha Cruz, a powerhouse casting agent who avoids relationships, ends up next to a broodingly gorgeous Italian stranger on a flight to Paris—and their spark is instant.

When they part ways without swapping info, Sasha becomes convinced she let something real slip through her fingers. Now, convinced that she's lost out on her soulmate, Sasha is on a manhunt to find Seat F.

Her search snowballs into a global manhunt thanks to an unfortunate reply-all, a meddling workplace, and one dangerously charming detective.

I am already obsessed with this book, and I haven’t even read it.

Release Date- 16 June 2026

From acclaimed romance writer Kennedy Ryan comes a scorching, emotionally charged second-chance romance delivering the long-awaited second installment in the Hollywood Renaissance series that fans have been clamoring for.

Verity Hill has never forgotten her first love, Wright “Monk” Bellamy, haunted by the passion and betrayal of their college years.

More than a decade later, they are reunited on the set of a Harlem Renaissance biopic—Verity writing the script, Monk composing the score—and the chemistry between them is undeniable.

As past wounds resurface, they must navigate heartbreak, ambition, and the chance for something more, proving that some loves are unforgettable, and some sparks never fade.

Sign me up immediately!

Release Date- 19 May 2026

Related- Kennedy Ryan Interview (Book Gang Podcast)

JoJo has always found love difficult, but at her sister’s wedding on a cruise ship, she decides to face her fears. Surrounded by the beautiful ocean, she tries to reconnect with a childhood crush who broke her heart when he moved to London four years ago.

As their playful “Project Conquest” kicks off it soon leads to slow dances, sunburn rescues, off-key singing, and quiet moments that bring up old feelings.

Center rarely misses for me, and I can't wait to read this one!

Release Date- 19 May 2026

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When nineteen‑year‑old Larissa slips into the car of the wrong guy after a concert, she never imagined that split‑second decision would shape her future.

Now, years later, she lives a seemingly settled life with Chris, a beloved friend turned partner, co‑parenting a rescue Yorkie and sharing quiet routines and inside jokes.

But Chris isn’t the one who drove her home that night — and for him, staying silent has become unbearable.

As old feelings rise and hidden truths threaten to unravel their cozy life, Larissa and Chris must navigate what’s right and what’s real, asking if the comfort of “good enough” ever matches the pull of what might have been?

Release Date-24 March 2026

Annabel Monaghan serves up a fizzy, big-hearted romance about a single mom who goes home to save her family—and accidentally tumbles into a fake-dating mess with the town’s most inconveniently handsome heir.

Dolly has always handled everything alone, but helping Stewart Whitfield through a humiliating public breakup pulls her into a summer of staged appearances.

What starts as a simple arrangement turns into sunset boat rides, high-society chaos, and a few kisses that become more tantalizing than expected.

Fans of the fake dating trope are in for a fun one with this one!

Release Date- 26 May 2026

This is a cozy, crackling opposites-attract romance about two meteorologists who can’t seem to stop forecasting disaster… or chemistry.

Jackson is all structure and calm, while Delilah lives for the thrill of the unknown—so getting paired to cover a once-in-a-generation snowstorm feels like a cosmic joke.

But as they trade skills, barbs, and late-night confessions, their reluctant partnership melts into an unexpected friendship. When feelings start to blur the professional lines, they’ll have to decide whether this storm ends in heartbreak or a brand-new beginning.

Borison fans are being fed this year!

Release Date- 24 February 2026

Shaffer returns with her third cozy fantasy novel dedicated to our childhood classics.

Rainy March is a third-generation Book Witch, sworn to protect stories from rogue heroes and malicious alterations—but falling for a fictional detective is strictly forbidden. Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series.

If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

When her grandfather disappears, and a priceless book is stolen, the two team up and journey through beloved classics like Alice in Wonderland and King Arthur, uncovering hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets along the way.

I'll be reading this one as soon as possible.

Release Date- 7 April 2026

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In this new standalone novel, Don and Rodney have been together forty years and are now embarking on a cross-country road trip as a rogue black hole hurtles toward Earth, leaving them just a month to tie up unfinished business.

Along the way, they encounter people confronting mortality in every imaginable way—those who deny it, those who embrace it, and those who burn their final days with joy,

Against a backdrop of ball lightning, kaleidoscope skies, and cracked moons, the couple reflects on a life lived fully, asking whether love and courage can outshine even the looming darkness.

PASS THE TISSUES PLEASE!

Release Date- 28 April 2026

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