There’s lots of things to love about the new year. New people, new experiences, new memories to make. But as an avid book lover, the thing I’m most excited for in the new year are all the new books I’ll get to read. With 2026 less than a month away, here are five of the books I’ll be reading next year.
“Half His Age” by Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy is making her novel debut with her upcoming book “Half His Age,” which is set to be released Jan. 20. The book will follow Waldo, a lonely and angry 17-year-old girl who begins an affair with her married high school teacher, Mr. Korgy.
Though I first saw McCurdy in her role as Sam on “iCarly,” I became a fan of her writing after reading her 2022 memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” The title may be blunt, but McCurdy’s writing was funny and intriguing, tackling more serious topics with a refreshing take that had me hanging on to her every word. After reading about her upcoming novel, I am confident “Half His Age” will follow suit and deliver a fascinating, if not also heartbreaking and twisted, story of a young, hurting girl who just wants to be seen. With only about a month until its release, I am excited to dive into what I hope will be another stellar book from McCurdy.
“Superfan” by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Boy bands take on a much darker light with Jenny Tinghui Zhang’s upcoming novel, “Superfan.” Scheduled for a release date of Feb. 3, “Superfan” will tell the story of Minnie, a lost college student in Austin, Texas, who seems to find everything she has been looking for in the boy band HOURglass, as well as the army of fans who worship them. So, when a potential scandal threatens to harm her favorite member, Halo, Minnie decides she is the only one who can come to his rescue. But Halo is keeping a secret darker than anyone knows and, haunted by a tragic accident from his past, this scandal has the potential to ruin everything he has worked so hard to build.
I’ve never read any of Zhang’s other work but, growing up in the age of One Direction and The Vamps, I am very familiar with the concept of a boy band. As of recently, I have been more drawn toward coming-of-age books, especially those with a darker theme, and “Superfan” should be an exciting opportunity to dive deep into the more twisted side of fandoms.
“Innamorata” by Ava Reid
After wrapping up her last duology, “A Study in Drowning,” in July this year, Ava Reid is back with a new book titled “Innamorata,” set to be released March 17. “Innamorata” will be the first book in her upcoming duology, “The House of Teeth,” and will follow Lady Agnes, one of the last living members of the House of Teeth and the only person who can unlock the buried secrets of necromancy. To uncover these secrets, Agnes arranges a marriage between her cousin and Prince Liuprand, heir to the conqueror’s throne, to gain access to his library where this knowledge is kept. However, something strange happens when she meets the prince and Agnes finds herself drawn to him in unexpected ways, but a love like that can be dangerous. And if she isn’t careful, she could risk tearing her world in two.
Since reading “A Study in Drowning” for the first time last year, I have become a huge fan of Reid’s work. Her writing style is dreamy and poetic, and while she excels at building immersive worlds, where Reid truly shines is in her characters who are full of the kind of depth that really draws you in. Ahead of her upcoming novel, I am excited to dive back into a world of Reid’s creation.
“The Book Witch” by Meg Shaffer
Meg Shaffer brings many books lovers’ dreams to life in her upcoming romance novel “The Book Witch.” With a release date of April 7, the book will follow Rainy March, a third-generation book witch who has been tasked with protecting works of fiction from any foe, real or imaginary. As a book witch, Rainy can jump in and out of novels, but there’s one rule she must follow: real people belong in the real world, so staying in a story too long is out of the question. But when her grandfather goes missing, and a priceless book disappears along with him, Rainy has no choice but to turn to the Duke, the dreamy detective of her favorite mystery novels, to solve the case. For Rainy, exploring the worlds of her favorite classic novels is easy — it’s not falling in love with them, and the Duke she’s exploring with, that’s the challenge.
I absolutely adore a fun, cheesy romance novel. Add the magical element of being able to jump into different stories, and it doesn’t take any convincing to sign me up for Shaffer’s upcoming book. While I may already have a good idea of how this novel is going to end, fitting cleanly into that classic trope of “love conquering all,” I’m excited to see what Shaffer has in store for her book and all the stories inside of it.
“A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam” by Leigh Bardugo
On June 30, fans of author Leigh Bardugo will be able to venture back into the fantasy world of the “Grishaverse” with her upcoming book “A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam.” Told through found documents, the novella takes place just a few years after Bardugo’s 2016 novel “Crooked Kingdom” and will follow two investigators as they try to uncover the truth behind a massacre on the shores of Ketterdam. Alongside illustrations by E.K. Belsher, “A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam” will include in-world items such as wanted posters, sheet music and letters sent between the beloved “Grishaverse” characters Kaz and Inej.
When it comes to authors on this list, I may be a fan of many of them, but no one comes close to how much I love Bardugo and her work. After first discovering Bardugo in 2020 during a massive reading slump, the “Six of Crows” duology got me back into books and became an instant favorite. Though it’s been a long time since I first read the series, my love for the books hasn’t changed. With this continuation of the universe, I can’t wait to journey back into the fictional world of Ketterdam in 2026.
