My Most Anticipated Reads for 2026!
This year’s 'most anticipated' list is a blend of fiction I’m itching to sink into, reflective non-fiction I’ve been meaning to read for ages, and a few books that have come so highly recommended that I’m already invested before I’ve even opened the first page. It’s also, if I’m honest, a bit of a map of what I’m drawn to right now - connection, courage, change, rest, community, and what it means to be human. (Amazon Affiliate Links)
After reading six Kristin Hannah novels in 2025 and loving every one, I’m going into Winter Garden with genuinely high hopes. I don’t know too much about it yet and I’m keeping it that way. Sometimes the best reading experiences are the ones where you arrive with curiosity, not spoilers.
The bar is already sky-high because I’m a big fan of Brené Brown’s work. I’m looking forward to revisiting the idea of courageous leadership in a practical, grounded way, especially through the lens of real conversations, vulnerability, and values-led decision-making.
There’s been so much hype around Butter that I’m equal parts intrigued and wary (you know the feeling when a book is everywhere). Still, I’m really curious about this one and I’m hoping it lives up to the buzz.
This has been recommended to me by multiple people, which is often the nudge I need. I’m expecting a warm, human story with that unexpected connection feel, one of my favourite kinds of reads.
I know one of the contributors to this book, which makes it feel extra special. I have a strong sense it’s going to be an inspiring read, one of those books you don’t just finish, but carry with you in little ways afterwards.
Sarah Winman is one of my favourite authors, full stop. This one is also a book club pick for 2026, which felt like the universe giving me permission to buy it immediately when I spotted it in a bookshop. I’m excited for lyrical writing, tenderness, and that quietly magical Winman atmosphere.
I have this on pre-order and I’m excited. Backman has that rare ability to be witty and devastating in the same paragraph, and I’ve had so many recommendations for My Friends that it’s moved firmly into 'I need to read this ASAP' territory. While I’m here, I also want to read The Winners in 2026 to finish the Beartown trilogy while the first two books are still fresh in my mind. I’m not emotionally prepared, but I’m going anyway.
After reading We Begin at the End in 2025 and hearing endless praise for this one, I’ve made it a book club pick, partly for accountability, partly because I want a whole group of people to talk about it with afterwards.
I don’t know too much about this one, but I’d had a couple of recommendations and then I spotted it in a charity shop, which always feels like a sign. Sometimes the best reads are the ones that quietly find you.
I have been meaning to read this for years. I’m taking 2026 as my moment to finally pick it up, especially because the theme of rest as something purposeful (not earned or lazy) feels increasingly important.
I’ve read Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait and thought both were brilliant, so I’m hoping for more of the same here - sharp observation, emotional depth, and writing that makes you slow down because the sentences are doing something special.
I absolutely devoured Weyward in 2025, so this one is high on my list. If it’s even half as compelling, I’ll be very happy (and probably very sleep-deprived from 'just one more chapter'!)
Another book that has been on my 'I really must read this' list for a while. I’m looking forward to something that challenges assumptions and (hopefully) leaves me feeling a bit more optimistic about people.
I’ve heard so much about this book, and everyone I know who has read it has recommended it. I’m bracing myself for something thought-provoking, unsettling, and unforgettable.
I love The Little Book of Hygge and dip into it often, especially in the darker autumn/winter months so I’m really looking forward to reading this one. I suspect it’ll be one I keep nearby and return to in little moments.
A bold title, which I always enjoy. I’ve heard lots of good things about this collection, and I’m looking forward to dipping in and out, I think it'll be one of those books that’s ideal for reflective reading alongside fiction.
This has sat on my 'to read' pile for far too long. I’ve read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns and I’m expecting a similarly poignant journey here with beautiful storytelling that also breaks your heart a bit.
Another long-time resident of my 'to read' pile. I’m curious to see how it lands for me now, and what I take from it especially as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about change, people, and how we respond when the ground shifts under our feet.
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