As 2026 approaches, the literary world is gearing up for a slate of books that feel uncannily in tune with the moment. From intimate explorations of identity and desire to sweeping historical epics and long-awaited finales, these upcoming fiction and nonfiction releases promise stories that linger—provoking thought, emotion, and conversation long after the last page. Take a look at our hand-picked list of the best books to read in 2026 coming out in the next few months!
Kin by Tayari Jones
Coming soon from the multi-award-winning author of An American Marriage is a story set in the American South that revolves around motherhood, daughters, and sisterhood. In Honeysuckle, Louisiana, two little girls named Vernice and Anne have a bond as best friends despite the fact that they would go on vastly divergent paths in life. After some time, Vernice visits Spelman, where she becomes a part of a community of well-connected Black women who are wealthy. Anne is the next one. She embarks on a life-altering quest, shaped by love and tragedy, to fill the void left by her mother's death. Women and girls in all their complexity and variety are on full display here.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
This is the last book in Oseman's popular graphic novel series that chronicles the romance between two high school lads named Nick and Charlie. With the help of their friends, we have witnessed their relationship through its highs and lows, experiencing the excitement of first love alongside their struggles with mental health, homophobia, and familial concerns. Fans of the books and the hit Netflix series have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the story, which introduced Heartstopper to a new audience. Nick leaves for college in Volume 6; will he and Charlie be able to keep up a long-distance relationship? Add this to your list of must-read books in 2026!Â
Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
The memoir by the former child star McCurdy, titled "I'm Glad My Mom Died," was an instant hit upon its release. McCurdy spoke about how she was abused as a child by her mother and by others in the Hollywood industry. Plus, she accomplished it all while being very forthright and even using some comedy when appropriate. We have faith that her next work, which is contemporary fiction and also has a provocative title, will handle its difficult subject matter with the utmost care. Waldo, a girl of seventeen, has an unexplainable crush on her creative writing instructor. Alternatively, it may be explicable. Perhaps it's his extensive movie and literary knowledge, or perhaps it's just his ability to put himself in her shoes and understand her. This kind of ambition, in any case, will inevitably result in chaos. Truly one of the best upcoming books in 2026!Â
Land by Maggie O'FarrellÂ
With the upcoming release of the film adaptation of Hamnet in the new year, Maggie O'Farrell fans will have even more to look forward to in the summer: a new novel. This time, O'Farrell draws on his own family history as inspiration for Land, an ambitious and captivating novel by the popular author. O'Farrell returns to themes of loss, migration, and survival in this epic that spans generations, set in Ireland in 1865, following the terrible Great Hunger. Despite O'Farrell's prior admission that she is "more than a little nervous" about her most recent work's publication, we don't think she has anything to worry about given her track record of accomplishment. This is one of the must-read books of 2026!Â
The Last of Earth by Anappara
Author and former journalist Anappara returns with The Last of Earth after the phenomenal success of her debut novel, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line. Time, The Washington Post, and The New York Times all listed it as one of the best books of the year. In this epic historical adventure, Anappara shifts the setting from India to Tibet. The protagonists, an Indian teacher spied for the British Empire and an English female explorer who was expelled from the all-male Royal Geographical Society, face a wide array of dangers, including snow leopards, bandits, storms, frostbite, fevers, and soldiers. In the midst of colonialist expansion in 1869, this gripping and fascinating story unfolds, reaching the depths of hidden personal ambitions. An engaging read and one of the best books in 2026!Â
Tailbone by Che Yeun
Che Yeun, a well-received author of short stories, is on the verge of releasing his first novel, poised to captivate the literary world. At Tailbone, we follow an anonymous adolescent girl as she escapes her violent father and finds refuge at a boarding home for single women. The plot thickens during a worldwide economic collapse, when the only way to stay alive is to rely on the generosity of rich men. Everything I've heard makes the plot sound like the type of story about friendship, coming of age, and introspection that leaves a lasting impression.Â
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee
Lucy has devoted her entire life to tending to the estate of a peculiar shipbuilder on Orcas Island, Washington, in the year 1918. The shipbuilder took her in after she washed ashore as a toddler in a canoe. Despite the island's lack of answers, Lucy remains determined to overcome the obstacle of her boss's severed head. Unexpectedly chosen heir to the estate, Lucy finds her future jeopardised and faces accusations that she might be the killer, on top of fending off local stories of a wicked ghost being the culprit. This book is going to be Stacey Lee's masterpiece of a historical mystery.Â