Hello, reader!

As we enter the new year, I have, of course, been thinking about what I’m looking forward to in 2026. Being who I am as a person, books were near the top of the list! There are a ton of books releasing this year that I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on but, today, I want to share my top 15 anticipated releases of 2026.

Going through my list, the big thing that stands out is that there are a lot of sequels or continuations of series that I’m eager to read this year. There’s also a lot more romance I’ll be talking about today than there would have been even a year ago. Dipping my toe into the genre has definitely left a mark! I definitely need to work on focusing on more diverse reads, but I think this list is a decent mix.

But enough talk! Let me share which 15 books I can’t wait to read in 2026.

1. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (pub date: Feb 17th)
   • I still haven’t read the Emily Wilde series, but I constantly hear how whimsical it is. And then I heard about this book and, like… come on! It’s like it was written to appeal to me in particular! Cats and whimsy and coziness? Please give it to me now 🥺
2. And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison (pub date: Feb 24th)
   • I read First Time Caller, which is the first book in this companion romance series, and absolutely loved it! The romance was so well-paced and sweet and I adored the main couple. I also adored Jackson, who was a background character in the first book and is now getting his own! I’m hoping it’s just as heartwarming as the first book.
3. The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (pub date: Feb 17th)
   • I’m not a huge historical fiction girlie, but historical fantasy has really been pulling me in lately. I actually have a couple of books by this author on my TBR, but this one has immediately knocked them down the priority list, haha. It’s a portal fantasy centered around books that is set where I live… that’s three of my favorite things all in one book!
4. A Clash of Carnivores by Liselle Sambury (pub date: Aug 4th)
   • This is the sequel to A Mastery of Monsters, which was my favorite read of 2025! You know I’m chomping at the bit to pick this one up. This is a young adult fantasy that is dark and beautiful and thought-provoking in the best way. I cannot wait to see what August, our main character, gets up to after the events of the first book.
5. The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (pub date: Apr 7th)
   • I was already interested in this mystery novel before I even found out that one of my favorite authors, V.E. Schwab, is the “Evelyn” of Evelyn Clarke! The premise is what hooked me… there’s six authors on a private island tasked to finish the final book of a famous but deceased author and, of course, death ensues. Sign me up!