These Are the 11 Best Book Releases Coming in January 2026, According to Librarians
- - These Are the 11 Best Book Releases Coming in January 2026, According to Librarians
Chrissy CallahanDecember 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
0
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
As we say goodbye to 2025, the year ahead is a completely blank slate. Many of us ring in the new year by making a list of resolutions for the next 12 months, like embracing a more active lifestyle, spending extra time with loved ones or prioritizing travel. Reading is also often at the top of many people's lists. And if you'd like to lose yourself in a good book more often in 2026, you're probably looking for some recommendations. To help you get that journey started, Parade consulted a few librarians to get their picks for the best new book releases coming in January 2026.As it turns out, authors are wasting no time kicking off the new year with a plethora of new releases in the next few weeks. From dark thrillers to sweet romances and historical fiction, there's something for every reading personality. A new year is also the perfect time to step outside of your reading comfort zone and venture into uncharted territory with something completely new. Below, we've curated a list of 11 January book releases that you'll want to add to your bookshelf stat. Who knows? You might even find a new favorite author along the way.Related: The 44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, According to Librarians
11 Best Book Releases in January 2026, According to Librarians1. ‘Track of Courage' by Susan May Warren
Available Jan. 6Amanda Shaffer, a librarian who goes by the handle @adventuresofalibrarian on TikTok, says she's psyched about the release of this book, since she's a big fan of the author."Warren writes uplifting books that also keep you on the edge of your seat," she says.Readers follow a familiar character, former police officer Dawson Mulligan, as he returns home to Copper Mountain with his dog Caspian. Along the way, Dawson attempts to assist a downed plane, and Caspian finds the trail of a missing survivor in the woods. What follows is a dangerous pursuit as Dawson and Caspian come across pop singer Keely Williams, whose plane was hijacked."There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future," the book description reads.
2. ‘The Charmed Library' by Jennifer Moorman
Available Jan. 6This next book will be at the top of Shaffer's reading list once released."I love reading about readers and libraries/librarians," she shares. "A book 'where words come alive' and your book boyfriend literally steps out of the pages of the book? Yes, please!"The Charmed Library tells the tale of a fictional library in North Carolina where book characters "step off the page into real life," per the book description. When assistant librarian Stella Parker discovers this fun little secret, she's astonished to see that magic exists in the library. She quickly realizes how important it is to protect the library's secret.Along the way, Stella connects with one character, a man named Jack Mathis, who is the main character from her favorite book (and her first crush). Then she learns that all characters can only visit the library for 14 days.
3. ‘Most Eligible' by Isabelle Engle
Available Jan. 13Tara Gold—a high school librarian who is known by the TikTok handle @literallytara—is a fan of the reality dating series The Bachelor, and is pretty intrigued by this book."I’m particularly excited that the main character in this book wants to write a scathing exposé of the show by infiltrating it as a contestant," she shares. "I can’t wait to listen to this one on audiobook the day it drops because I’ve already preordered it."In the book, journalist Georgia Rose goes undercover as a contestant on a fictional reality dating series called Love Shack. When she arrives on set, she runs into country singer Rhett Auburn, with whom she had a one-night stand the year before, and realizes he's the new host of the show. As she tries to keep her identity and history with Rhett a secret, Georgia discovers that she has great chemistry with the singer and has to decide if she's willing to put her experiment at risk.Related: The 19 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited Right Now, According to Librarians
4. ‘Oxford Blood‘ by Rachael Davis-Featherstone
Available Jan. 13"This looks like a deliciously twisty young adult (YA) dark academia thriller. This one falls on the upper end of YA, so it could be a great read for adults as well," Gold says.The book is the first in a series of dark academic thrillers from Rachael Davis-Featherstone. In the novel, Eva dreams of studying English at Oxford University. Eva and her best friend George visit the campus for interviews and "find themselves in the cutthroat ultra-competitive world of elite academia, and at the center of gossip on anonymous student forum Oxford Slays," per the book description. When George is found dead on campus, Eva is the main suspect and only has a week to clear her name.
5. ‘A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang' by Lee Onhwa
Available Jan. 13Gold can't wait for this January release."I read (and loved) Before The Coffee Gets Cold last year, which has been compared to this cozy work of Korean speculative fiction," she says. "It combines delicious sweets and spirits passing through a pastry shop. It sounds like a short and (literally!) sweet read to help kick off the new year."A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang tells the story of Yeon-hwa, who inherits a bakery from her grandmother, then learns that she has to keep it open between the unconventional hours of 10 p.m. and midnight. Shockingly, the customers are actually spirits who need to accomplish unfinished business before being reincarnated. While running the shop, Yeon-hwa gets better at predicting which desserts will help the spirits and learns more about her family's secrets.
6. ‘The Shark House' by Sara Ackerman
Available Jan. 13"I love finding books where the main characters go through a time of self-discovery and have to confront their own past," Shaffer shares. "We all have things we love to hold onto, and for me, reading about people (whether fictional or real) being able to confront those things encourages me to face things in my own life."The new release is set in Hawaii in 1998. After a series of rare shark attacks, marine biologist Minnow Gray visits the Kohala coast to investigate. She has plenty of experience with sharks, especially since she previously witnessed a tragedy involving a white shark and her own father.While she searches for the great white shark that's responsible for the recent attacks, Minnow's "past and present collide, revealing shocking and unexpected truths that cut deep as the sea itself," per the book description.
7. ‘How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder' by Nina McConigley
Available Jan. 20"This book opens with a tween niece confessing to the reader that she has killed her uncle," Gold shares. "I’m a huge fan of murder mysteries that flip the story upside down. Instead of trying to figure out who committed a murder, we are trying to figure out why."The book is set in 1986 and introduces readers to the Creel sisters, Georgia and Agatha, who welcome their uncle, aunt and cousin from India to their home in Wyoming. Georgia and Agatha then decide their uncle should die.Throughout the book, she opens up to readers about the "violence hiding in their house and history, her once-unshakeable bond with Agatha Krishna and her understanding of herself as an Indian-American in the heart of the West," per the book description.
8. ‘The Lies We Trade' by Kristine Delano
Available Jan. 20This novel follows Meredith Hansel, who works at a well-known Wall Street firm. Behind the scenes, Meredith's marriage is struggling, her teenage daughter begins acting out and someone vandalizes her house. Oh, and she has to obtain a restraining order against her colleague, Betsey, who threatens to share a secret that could ruin Meredith's family. Meredith begins to question why her life is falling apart and wonders if Betsey is trying to harm or help her."I find it fascinating how so many people show off these 'perfect lives' on social media, yet for all we know, their lives could be falling apart behind the scenes, and we would never know," Shaffer says. "I find it interesting to read books about people whose 'perfect lives' start crumbling, whether it's due to things they did or something other people did."Related: Literary Hub Names the 2 Most Critically Acclaimed Books of the Year
9. ‘On Living Stone' by Heather Kaufman
Available Jan. 20Ever since Shaffer first heard this book announced, she's been looking forward to it."I love that Kaufman takes people from the Bible and gives them a full story, which in turn encourages me to go back to my Bible and read the original story of these people's lives," she says.This piece of biblical fiction was inspired by the Bible's New Testament story of Salome, the mother of Jesus' apostles James and John. When her sons decide to follow Jesus' ministry, Salome is left to decide if it's worth following such a risky path."With threats abounding, Salome must confront her fears, even as she discovers her own worth in this most unexpected rabbi," the book description reads.
10. 'The Quiet Neighbor' by J.D. Barker
Available Jan. 27Set to be released later in January, this book is one of the new releases Shaffer is most excited about. "Where do I begin? There's a missing daughter who somehow left school with someone not only unauthorized to take her out (can you tell I'm a teacher?) but who has a connection to the serial killer who destroyed her mother's life. I'll take the book now!" she gushes.The book follows Cynthia Burrows, whose 18-year-old daughter Tori vanishes. Tori was supposed to date a boy named Alexander Beaufort, which makes Cynthia nervous, since that's the name of the serial killer who murdered Cynthia's best friend and sent her into witness protection 20 years ago. The frantic mother then starts to get clues that bring her back to a dark period from her past.
11. ‘The Re-Do List‘ by Denise Williams
Available Jan. 27Gold has read several of Williams' romance novels and says she's talented at writing "strong, smart, confident, contemporary leading ladies.""I haven’t read a lot of books featuring the 'brother’s best friend' trope, so I’m excited to give this steamy romance book a try," she shares.The book introduces readers to Willow Lewis, who experienced "all her big firsts" with her high school sweetheart, per the book description. After they break up, Willow wants a "re-do" on those moments.Willow dog-sits for her brother while he's deployed and spends time with his best friend, Deacon, who encourages her to get a fresh start. Soon enough, a romantic connection builds, which is pretty awkward since Deacon told Willow's brother he'd keep his hands off of her.Up Next:
Related: 29 'Must-Read' Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians
Sources: -
Amanda Shaffer is a librarian who goes by the handle @adventuresofalibrarian on TikTok.
Tara Gold is a high school librarian who is known by the TikTok handle @literallytara.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
