Your Winter Is Booked: New Novels to Curl Up With This Season

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New year, new reading goals.

With so many books to choose from, it’s great to see some new releases hitting shelves – especially the sequel to a popular title! That’s exactly what we have with The First Time I Saw Him, the follow-up to Laura Dave’s 2021 bestseller, The Last Thing He Told Me.

I’m completely hooked on Dave’s latest book! It throws Hannah Hall’s life into chaos again when a deal protecting her falls apart after a shocking death. Now, she and Bailey, her husband Owen’s daughter, are on the run, desperately trying to uncover the family secrets that started everything. It’s a thrilling chase across the U.S. and even overseas as they race to find Owen and finally be reunited.

Fans of the book will soon be able to watch it come to life as the story forms the basis for season two of Jennifer Garner’s Apple TV+ series, The Last Thing He Told Me.

Popular BookTok author Colleen Hoover has a new release called Woman Down, which is a suspenseful novel based on her short story, “Saint.”

This novel tells the story of an author who withdraws from public life following a negative reaction to a film based on their book. It’s natural to see similarities between the plot and the real-life controversy surrounding the movie adaptation of It Ends With Us, but those connections are purely coincidental and part of the fictional narrative.

She recently explained to People magazine that readers might assume the book is based heavily on her own experiences, but in reality, her life and the story have very little in common.

That’s just a small taste of the great books coming out this winter. Beloved authors George Saunders and Tayari Jones both have compelling new releases. Saunders’ Vigil, available January 27th, is a sweeping story about life, regret, and a death doula guiding an oil tycoon through the afterlife. And Tayari Jones’ Kin, coming February 24th, offers a moving portrayal of a close-knit, chosen family between two girls growing up in the segregated South.

Release: Dec. 2

With the return of shows like Traitors and the upcoming 50th season of Survivor, now is the perfect time to read a novel set in the intense world of reality TV competitions. The story centers on Luke, a former contestant on the show Endeavor who now stays at home with his family. He’s pulled back into the spotlight for the show’s 20th season, forcing him to face a past tragedy and new heartbreak within the complicated world of reality television. The novel jumps between Luke’s experiences on the show in both timelines.

Release: Dec. 2

Lexi left her life as a member of the British royal family to start a new life in Australia. But when she learns her father and brother have passed away, she unexpectedly becomes next in line for the throne. Now, pulled back into a world she tried to escape, Lexi must navigate her royal duties, deal with her complicated family, and ultimately decide if she wants to embrace this life.

Release: Jan. 6

A sudden and upsetting event shatters the fragile peace Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter Bailey have found after the events of The Last Thing He Told Me, launching them on a journey that could bring healing – and finally allow Hannah’s husband, Owen, to come home.

Release: Jan. 13

Maggie O’Farrell returns with her latest novel, building on her 2020 short story “Saint.” The story centers on Petra, a writer who withdraws from public life after a film adaptation of her book receives negative reactions. Hoping to rebuild her career and personal life, she becomes fascinated with a detective, and their connection quickly becomes complicated, potentially creating even bigger problems than she’s already facing.

Release: Jan. 20

Loved Daisy Jones & The Six? You might enjoy Future Saints, a band struggling after losing their manager, who get one final opportunity to achieve success. A record executive named Theo is brought in to help, and everyone clashes as they attempt to create a hit album – with everything on the line.

Release: Jan. 20

Four years after releasing her candid memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy, known for her role in iCarly, is publishing her first novel, Half His Age. The book tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who has a relationship with her teacher.

Release: Jan. 27

Get ready for a compelling story about death and its consequences. The author of Lincoln in the Bardo introduces us to a wealthy oilman who, after dying, is guided to the afterlife by a companion. Along the way, they both grapple with the impact the oilman’s life had on others and the world.

Release: Feb. 3

Natalie has a troubled past – all of her former partners have mysteriously died. Now, her marriage to James is falling apart, and secrets from her past are resurfacing. To make matters worse, she’s battling a dark force within herself. The Exes is a captivating and fast-paced story that’s impossible to put down.

Release: Feb. 3

Years after the death of actress Susan Bliss, her grown children are still coming to terms with the contrast between her famous television image and the mother they lost when they were young. The story jumps between Susan’s career in the 1980s and how each of her children has dealt with her death and the impact she had on their lives.

Release: Feb. 17

Writing can be incredibly challenging, something Peggy and Drew, a family living on a canal boat, understand firsthand. When Peggy’s writing career begins to flourish, Drew struggles to cope, and his reaction pushes them toward isolation, widening the gap between them until their relationship finally falls apart.

Release: Feb. 17

The author of The House of Eve delivers another compelling historical novel. This story connects three individuals across time: Ozzie, a Black soldier who finds love with a German woman after WWII; Sophia, a young woman in the 1960s who discovers a family secret; and Ethel, dedicated to caring for the children of mixed race left behind in Germany following the war.

Release: Feb. 24

This heartwarming story portrays the friendship between Vernice and Annie, two girls navigating life in the segregated South. Though they share a similar start – both raised without mothers – their lives take different turns as they grow up. Despite the challenges and sadness they face, their connection remains strong.

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2026-01-19 11:17