Wondering what to read now? Here are all the hot new January 2026 book releases for you. I’ll let you know what I’ve read, what I can’t wait to read, and what’s getting all the attention this month.
In case you’re new to Booklist Queen, every month I cover all the hottest new book releases. I try to read as many new book releases as I can to give you an honest perspective on what to read and what to skip.
However, I realize that my to-read list might not exactly match yours. That’s why I’ve also included some of the most popular January 2026 book releases from your favorite authors.
Enough from me, let’s get on to the January 2026 book releases so you can fill up your to-read list.
Top January 2026 Book Releases
Anatomy of an Alibi
Ashley Elston
Camille Bayliss suspects her husband Ben, a hotshot lawyer, has been hiding dirty secrets for years but she can’t prove it because he tracks her every move. Aubrey Price blames Ben for the worst night of her life a decade ago. Together, Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan to switch places for twelve hours so Camille can spy on Ben. When Ben is found murdered the next morning, only one of them as an airtight alibi.
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Learn More: Goodreads | StoryGraph
Buy Now: Amazon | Apple Books
My Husband’s Wife
Alice Feeney
Eden Fox returns home from a run to find her key doesn’t fit in the lock at Spyglass, the enchanting old house she recently moved into with her husband. Stranger still, her husband is claiming a woman who looks a lot like Eden is his wife. Meanwhile, six months earlier, Birdy inherits Spyglass and moves to the seaside town where she discovers a clinic that can predict a person’s date of death. With a tangled web of deception, Alice Feeney will keep you guessing in her newest psychological thriller.
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Learn More: Goodreads | StoryGraph
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A Box Full of Darkness
Simone St. James
Fell, New York, is known for bizarre occurences. A fact that hit home for the Esmie siblings when their little brother Ben disappeared during a game of hide and seek in their home. Haunted by the ghosts of their home, the siblings all left home to never look back. Until decades later when the ghost of Ben calls them home to finally find answers.
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
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The First Time I Saw Him
Laura Dave
In a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter Bailey have settled into a new life five years after Owen disappeared. When Owen suddenly reappears at one of Hannah’s exhibits, she knows that she and Bailey are in danger. Forced to run, Hannah must do everything she can to protect Bailey from Owen’s past while realizing there might be only one way out for the three of them.
Publication Date: 6 January 2026
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Half His Age
Jennette McCurdy
After her bestselling memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy is ready to try her hand at fiction. In her debut novel, Waldo is a naive, lonely, impulsive teenager who sets her sights on Mr. Korgy, her married creative writing teacher. Obsessed with her middle age teacher, Waldo is willing to go to any lengths and try to overcome any obstacles to get what she wants.
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
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The Most Anticipated January 2026 Book Releases
The Storm
Rachel Hawkins
St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is known for its hurricanes, its historic Rosalie Inn, and its local girl Lo Bailey who was suspected of the the murder of politician Landon Fitzroy during Hurricane Marie in 1984. When Geneva Corliss hears a true crime writer is researching Fitzroy’s murder, she sees an opportunity to bring more business to the struggling Rosalie Inn. When the writer arrives with Lo Bailey, Geneva wonders if Lo is there not to clear her name but to settle old scores. With another hurricane making its way toward town, Geneva suspects Lo’s secrets might be even more destructive than any hurricane.
Publication Date: 6 January 2026
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Vigil
George Saunders
From the author of Lincoln in the Bardo comes a story of the last hours at the deathbed of an oil baron as he prepares to move to the next life. Jill “Doll” Blaine arrives on earth to fulfill her assignment to usher yet another soul to the afterlife. Unlike all her other charges, K.J. Boone lived a big bold life which he doesn’t regret in the least, fully believing the world is better for his actions. Vigil examines capitalism, corporate greed, environmentalism, and the question of good vs evil.
Publication Date: 27 January 2026
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All the Little Houses
May Cobb
In a Texas town in the 1980s, Nellie Anderson is the queen bee at school. She has the glossy life and her mother Charleigh will ruthlessly do anything to keep their family on top. When the Swifts move to town, they are the polar opposite of the Andersons: old-fashioned Southern vibes with Bibles and modest dresses. Suddenly Nellie and Charleigh find themselves in a vicious battle to stay on top in a thriller about mean moms and mean girls.
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
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Dear Debbie
Freida McFadden
For years, Debbie has been the voice of reason in her advice column to the wives of New England, helping them overcome being belittled and abused by their husbands. When Debbie loses her job and suspects her husband is cheating, she decides she is done being reasonable. Now Debbie is ready for payback against all the people who have wronged her.
Publication Date: 27 January 2026
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Graceless Heart
Isabel Ibañez
In 15th century Italy, sculptor Ravenna Maffei desperately enters a competion held by the city’s immortal family hoping to save her brother. When Ravenna reveals her forbidden magical ability, the Luni family steals her away to Florence. There, Ravenna must do a dangerous task for the enigmatic dei Luni heir all while the Pope’s crusade against magic is closing in on the city.
Publication Date: 13 January 2026
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Woman Down
Colleen Hoover
Petra Rose used to ride high as an acclaimed author but after a disastrous film adaptation, the internet has turned against her. Ever since, she’s struggled to write, missing deadlines and getting behind on her mortgage. In a last ditch effort to save her career, Petra retreats to a remote lakeside cabin to finish her novel with the help of Detective Nathaniel Saint. When Petra’s fictional detective and Nathaniel start to blur together, she learns that inspiration comes at a cost.
Publication Date: 13 January 2026
Learn More: Goodreads | StoryGraph
Buy Now: Amazon
UPCOMING JANUARY 2026 BOOK RELEASES BY DATE
January 6th Book Releases
January 13th Book Releases
Camilla Sten and Viveca Sten
January 20th Book Releases
January 27th Book Releases
What January 2026 Book Releases are You Most Excited to Read?
What books can you not wait to get your hands on this month? Did I miss any January 2026 book releases that you are anticipating? As always, let me know in the comments!
More New Book Releases:
Recommended
The Most-Anticipated Upcoming Book Releases
The New York Times Fiction Bestseller List
The Latest Celebrity Book Club Picks
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