Booksology Here are just a few great books coming out in 2026 that will be a hit with your book club.
Kin by Tayari Jones
A story of sisterhood, mothers, and daughters in the American South from the award-winning bestselling author of American Marriage. Vernis and Anne are two motherless girls who grew up as best friends in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but their lives follow very different trajectories. Vernice ends up at Spelman, where she enters the world of wealthy and well-connected black women. And then there’s Ann. The hole left by her mother’s absence drives her on an all-consuming journey that sets her on a path of love and hardship. Throughout, we see the various permutations and complexities of women and girls within the community.
Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
McCurdy, a former child star, released his memoir “I’m Glad Mommy Died,” which became a huge hit. It’s not just because people wanted to chat about the lives of celebrities. McCurdy detailed her experiences as a victim of child abuse within Hollywood and at the hands of her mother. Plus, she did it honestly and with a little appropriate humor. That’s why I believe that her next work, this time a contemporary novel with a similarly provocative title, will give us everything we need for a sensitive subject. The film follows Waldo, a 17-year-old girl who develops an inexplicable desire for her creative writing teacher. Or maybe it’s explainable. Maybe it’s because of his knowledge of literature or cinema, or maybe it’s the fact that he makes her feel like he understands her. In any case, this kind of desire only leads to confusion.
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Coccyx by Che Yeun
This is poised to be a breakout debut novel from a writer whose short stories have garnered praise and attention. Following an unnamed teenage girl who seeks safety from her abusive father in a boarding house for single women, Tailborn tells the story of two friends who survive the global financial crisis. There, survival depends on the patronage of wealthy men. By all accounts, this sounds like a tender story of friendship, identity, and soul-searching that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page. —S. Zainab Williams
“The Girl with a Thousand Faces” by Soon-Yi Dean
Soon-Yi Dean’s debut novel, people who eat booksI had a great time and it was one of my favorite books of 2022, so I was very excited to learn that her new book will be released in 2026! A historical dark fantasy set in Hong Kong that depicts a woman named Marcy Cheung. Mercy arrived in Kowloon many years ago with no memory of who she was and has lived as a Triad ghost talker ever since. But then a murderous spirit begins drowning people, drawing Marcy’s attention. The spirit claims to know about her and her unremembered past. And if Mercy can’t remember where she came from or how she got to Kowloon, it might drag her into the abyss forever. —Liberty Hardy
The Edges of Space and Time: Particles, Poetry, and Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod Weinstein
What can we learn about ourselves when we look to the edges of the universe? Theoretical cosmologist Dr. Chanda Prescod Weinstein is a professor of astronomy, physics, and gender studies, and her interdisciplinary approach to some of the biggest questions in space and time is nothing short of astonishing. From black holes to dark matter to the particle horizon, Dr. Prescod Weinstein introduces readers to the most fascinating conversations in astrophysics, with pop culture, music, and poetry. This is a great book that explores what we can learn about life on Earth by looking up. —Susie Dumond
“The Heir to Nowhere” by Stacey Lee
1918, Orcas Island, Washington. Lucy spent her life working in an eccentric shipyard. As a child, she washed ashore in a canoe and was taken in by a shipyard. Lucy was looking for answers she couldn’t get on the island, but she didn’t want to find them by stumbling upon the severed head of her employer. Not only must Lucy now dispel local rumors about the naughty child being a murderer, but she’s also unexpectedly named heir to a fortune, putting her future in jeopardy and raising suspicions that she might be the murderer. Stacey Lee does historical mysteries like no other, and this one seems like a standout. —Kelly Jensen
Spoiler Milk by Avery Curran
Sapphic Gothic novels have their golden moments, and I’m here for them. I can’t resist the combination of sapphic longing and a creeping sense of doom. Brierley School for Girls in 1928 is infested with something sinister that rots flesh and curdles milk. Then the body count begins to mount. Emily is convinced that the death of her charming classmate, Violet, was not natural, and she sets out to prove it. She teams up with her rival Evelyn to try to contact Violet from beyond the veil. Violet warns Evelyn that the danger is just beginning. It promises “teenage oppression, strange desires, and the everyday horrors of adulthood.” —Danica Ellis
All My Dead Cats by se smith
Grief is a perennially interesting topic, in large part because Western culture chooses to pretend that it isn’t a basic, universal human experience. Written by journalist SE Smith, this book explores the various manifestations of grief that almost everyone experiences at some point. Smith interviews a variety of experts in the field of grief and mourning, including funeral directors, death doulas, and therapists, to not only understand the complex process but also highlight the role communities play in supporting and healing those living through these experiences. —Kelly Jensen
For the most anticipated books of 2026, Goodreads has a roundup of the books its members are most looking forward to. Also, stay tuned to see the rest of what we have to look forward to on Book Riot.
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