Ring in the new year with an extensive book goal
The new year arrives with its familiar weight—resolutions half-formed, routines waiting to be rebuilt—but within the pages of January’s most anticipated releases lies something far more enticing: escape. Whether you’re drawn to the pulse-pounding of thrillers or the passionate, fairytale-like romance, this month’s lineup will leave you with an extensive “to be read” list.
So, prepare to disappear into the books everyone will be talking about this January 2026.
Here are January 2026’s most anticipated book releases:
The Swan’s Daughter
Roshani Chokshi
Should the weight of another year prove unbearable, why not flee to lands of the magical? The Swan’s Daughter dives into the world, the Isle of Malys, where Prince Arris is on a hunt for a wife, but to single out those who are lusting for his powers, he enlists Demelza—a veritas swan who wrings out the truth. Striking a deal with her, she will need to use her truth-telling song to sort through all his potential brides, but when they get tangled up with each other, things go askew.
Release Date: 6 January
The First Time I Saw Him
Laura Dave
Laure Daves dives back into the world of The Last Thing He Told Me—a major blockbuster TV show now—as she continues Hannah Hall’s journey. Five years after her husband, Owen, disappears, Hannah and her stepdaughter, Bailey, have finally put the past behind them, until Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, causing them to go on the run to keep themselves safe. As the tension spirals and danger closes in, Hannah stakes it all on rescuing Bailey—only to discover that salvation might lead her back to Owen, and to the second chance they’ve been waiting a lifetime to claim.
Release Date: 6 January
Graceless Heart
Isabel Ibañez
Set in Renaissance Italy—the magical city of Florence in the 15th century—Graceless Heart is Isabel Ibañez’s mesmeric fantasy about a sculptress who enters a competition in hopes of receiving a boon if she wins. Instead of winning, Ravenna Maffei reveals a rare magical talent in a city where magic is forbidden. Captured by Saturnino dei Luni, she is forced to perform impossible, grim tasks to avoid death. But, as they spend more time together, Ravenna must decide between love, survival and duty—and only one can save her life as she becomes everyone’s potential weapon.
Release Date: 13 January
A Vow in Vengeance
Jaclyn Rodriguez
And, this month’s parade of imagined worlds continues with A Vow in Vengeance—a deadly tarot-driven magical world that ignites a brewing war. From wicked ruse to dangerous alliances, Rune Ryker is determined to find her family, her home and freedom. To do so, she must endure the Forge, a cutthroat college for the Immortal druids’ elusive tarot magic. Once there, it is revealed that her magic is one of the rarest and most powerful out there, causing her to move in with its only other wielder, Prince Draven—someone she can’t trust. He offers to train her, but everything comes with a price.
Release Date: 13 January
Catch Her If You Can
Tessa Bailey
If conjured worlds fail to stir you, the longing of love may yet prove irresistible. Set in New York City, Madden Donahue convinces his high school crush, Eve Mitchell on a marriage of convenience—health benefits for her, and to get the girl for him. After being left with her sister’s two children out of the blue, she says yes, reluctantly. But Madden isn’t about to let her go easily, so he needs to do everything he can to convince Eve that their connection is far more than fake.
Release Date: 20 January
My Husband’s Wife
Alice Feeney
If romance and enchanted realms fail to stir you, perhaps it’s the sharp edge of a crime thriller—with its shadows, secrets and the intoxicating pursuit of truth—that will finally quicken your pulse. A thriller laced with a masterclass in misdirection—a taut wire of tension that snaps just when you think you’ve found your footing—My Husband’s Wife is a psychological feat that will leave you questioning everything. The book follows Eden Fox, an artist, as she comes home to a house where a woman eerily similar to her opens the door—her husband insists that the strange woman is his wife—crashing her whole life. But someone is lying, and she needs to uncover the truth and lies.
Release Date: 20 January
Anatomy of an Alibi
Ashley Elston
If the other thriller bites the dust for you, then perhaps this will convince you. Unravelling deception, secrets and truths, the Anatomy of an Alibi is a nerve-wracking thriller following two women’s lives—Camille Bayliss and Aubrey Price—who believe Benjamin Bayliss, Camille’s husband, is hiding dirty secrets. But, as they find proof of his footsteps, he is found murdered, and only one of them has an alibi.
Release Date: 20 January
Dear Debbie
Freida McFadden
Global sensation, Freida McFadden, is back with another gasp-inducing fun. Dear Debbie follows Debbie Mullen as she spirals out of control after losing her job and finding out her husband is keeping secrets from her. After years of advising the wives of New England with her column, it’s time she takes her own killer advice and starts her revenge.
