There were many popular books released in 2025, such as “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” “Great Big Beautiful Life” and “My Friends.” In 2026, there are a number of highly anticipated book releases coming.
The highly anticipated books being released in 2026 have a variety of genres, including thrillers, literary fiction, historical fiction and fantasy.
Here’s a look at some of the books that will be released in 2026 that have both readers and critics excited.
10 highly anticipated books coming out in 2026
‘Behind These Four Walls’
Author: Yasmin Angoe
Release date: Jan. 1
Genre: Thriller
“A young woman weaves her way into a billionaire family’s estate to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend in a nail-biting thriller full of corruption, wealth, morality and revenge,” reads the book’s official synopsis.
Yasmin Angoe has also written the “Nena Knight” series and “Not What She Seems.”
The book follows Isla Thorne as she weaves her way into Corrigan mansion to discover why her best friend Eden disappeared 10 years ago.
“The more she digs, the more Isla discovers Eden isn’t who she thought she was. Was she even a victim, or did Eden plan this all along? Desperate for answers and to keep her identity hidden, Isla finds an ally in one of the Corrigan sons. But as she wades deeper into this power-hungry family’s secrets and lies, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a bloodline that’s more lethal than loyal,” according to Angoe’s website.
‘The Last of Earth’
Author: Deepa Anappara
Release date: Jan. 13
Genre: Historical fiction
“The Last of Earth” is Deepa Anappara’s second novel, following her debut, “Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line.”
According to PopSugar, “The Last of Earth” is set in 19th-century Tibet and follows two outsiders: Katherine, a 50-year-old English “lady” explorer who intends to be the first European woman to reach Lhasa; and Balram, an Indian schoolteacher spying for the British Empire while secretly searching for his missing friend.
“When their paths collide, they must contend not only with storms and bandits, snow leopards and soldiers, fever and frostbite, but also with their own ambitions, grief, and doubt.”
On Goodreads, the book is described as “A polyphonic novel about the various ways humans try to leave a mark on the world — from the enduring nature of family and friendship to the egomania and obsessions of the colonial enterprise.”
‘Dear Debbie’
Author: Freida McFadden
Release date: Jan. 27
Genre: Thriller
Freida McFadden is known for writing popular psychological thrillers like “The Housemaid” series, “The Teacher” and “The Perfect Son.”
Her newest novel is about Debbie Mullen, who writes an advice column called “Dear Debbie.”
According to the book’s synopsis: “Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.”
“Or at least, she did,” it continues. “These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.”
‘We Who Have No Gods’
Author: Liza Anderson
Release date: Jan. 27
Genre: Fantasy academia
“We Who Have No Gods” is Liza Anderson’s debut novel.
The book’s tagline reads: “In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.”
“We Who Have No Gods” follows Vic Wood, who finds herself intertwined in a secret society of witches, despite not having powers of her own.
“As she makes both enemies and allies in this mysterious realm, Vic becomes caught between the dark forces at play, with her mother at the heart of it all. What’s stranger is that Vic begins to be affected by the academy — and Xan — in ways she can’t quite understand. But with war between witches threatening the fabric of reality, Vic must decide whether to risk her heart and life for a world where power is everything,” reads the book’s synopsis.
‘The Astral Library’
Author: Kate Quinn
Release date: Feb. 17
Genre: Fantasy
Kate Quinn is a historical fiction author whose previous books include “The Briar Club,” “The Phoenix Crown” and “The Diamond Eye.”
Her newest novel, “The Astral Library,” poses the question: “Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.”
The book follows Alexandria “Alix” Watson, who grew up in the foster system and has relied on books as an escape her whole life. Each night after work, Alix goes to the reading room at the Boston Public Library, where she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: “the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives ... inside their favorite books.”
The Librarian takes Alix under her wing, but soon, a shadowy enemy threatens the Astral Library and everyone it protects.
“Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of ‘The Great Gatsby’ as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy — Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?” per Goodreads.
‘The Girls Before’
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Release date: Feb. 24
Genre: Thriller
Author Kate Alice Marshall’s previous works include “We Won’t All Survive,” “The Narrow” and “I Am Still Alive.”
“The Girls Before” follows Audrey, a search and rescue expert who has never stopped looking for her ex-best friend Janie after she disappeared when they were teenagers.
Audrey knows that Janie used to love a local legend of a forest witch who saves girls from bad men, “but Audrey knows now that for every one saved, there’s always another one lost.”
When she stumbles upon evidence that a teenage runaway may have been kidnapped on land belonging to her town’s most prominent family, Audrey “will have to dig through decades of secrets to reveal the biggest one of all: what happened to the girls before,” according to Goodreads.
‘The Night We Met’
Author: Abby Jimenez
Release date: March 31
Genre: Romance
Romance writer Abby Jimenez is known for her previous books “Just for the Summer,” “Say You’ll Remember Me” and “Yours Truly.”
Jimenez’s next book, “The Night We Met,” highlights split-second decisions that can change everything. For Larissa, hers was when she chose which guy to ride home with after a concert.
“That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.”
But Chris isn’t the one who drove her home that first night; Chris is her boyfriend’s best friend.
“All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy,” according to Goodreads.
‘Young World’
Author: Soman Chainani
Release date: May 5
Genre: Young adult mystery
Soman Chainani is the bestselling author of the “School for Good and Evil” series.
His new novel, “Young World, is “a geopolitical thriller that follows an average teenager thrust into power in a near-future America where headline anxieties like climate change, gun violence, and institutional failure have reached a breaking point,” according to the book’s tagline.
“Young World” takes place in an America on the brink of collapse and follows Benton Young, a high school senior, who impulsively uploads a video daring everyone to interfere with the election and write him in for president.
After the video explodes online, igniting chaos and revolt, the Supreme Court intervenes to put Benton in the White House.
Benton’s rise to power inspires global youth to take to the streets, causing more governments to fall until eight of the most powerful countries are led by teenagers.
“When these young leaders convene at their first summit in Sweden, they face the monumental task of setting a new course for history. But the first night, their unity is shattered when a leader is murdered in cold blood … and Benton is the only suspect,” according to Penguin Random House.
‘The Things We Never Say’
Author: Elizabeth Strout
Release date: May 5
Genre: Literary fiction
Elizabeth Strout is best known for her book “Olive Kitteridge” and her “Lucy Barton” series.
Her newest novel, “The Things We Never Say,” follows a high school history teacher, Artie Dam, who lives a relatively regular life with his wife in Massachusetts. He seems to be present and happy.
“But inside, Artie is plagued by feelings of isolation. He looks out at a world gone mad — at himself and the people around him — and turns a question over and over in his mind: How is it that we know so little about one another, even those closest to us?”
One day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, with the potential to upend his life, forcing him to chart a new course and reconsider his relationships.
“With exquisite prose and profound insight, ‘The Things We Never Say’ takes one man’s fears and loneliness and makes them universal. And in the same breath, captures the abiding love that sustains and holds us all,” according to Goodreads.
‘The Midnight Train’
Author: Matt Haig
Release date: May 26
Genre: Fantasy
Author Matt Haig’s previous works include “The Midnight Library” and “How to Stop Time.” His newest book takes place within the same world as “The Midnight Library.”
“When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there,” reads the synopsis for “The Midnight Train” from Penguin Random House.
The Midnight Train gives people the chance to relive the most meaningful moments of their lives.
The book follows Wilbur, who wishes he could go back to the best days of his life, which were spent with the love of his life, Maggie. Wilbur ends up risking everything to go back in time and live differently.