I love the fresh feeling of a new year. Yes, it’s a totally arbitrary date, not tied to anything physical—but the feeling of turning a new page, a blank canvas onto which we can paint our intentions for the next 12 months, is exactly the inspiration I need in the darkest months. So I want to take a moment to look ahead and share what I’m most excited about in the coming year, for all things reading, puzzly, and bookish.
The worlds I can’t wait to revisit…
Let’s start with the books. I wish I could say I had perfect visibility into all the standalones and debuts coming next year, but looking at my list, I’m mostly enthusiastic about spending more time in worlds I know and love. In order of publishing date, here are the books I’m most excited to read in 2026:
1. The Starseekers by Nicole Glover (1/6)
Nicole Glover, author of The Conductors, is back—and she’s writing a magical mystery take on the Space Race. I really loved the world and magic systems Glover created in The Conductors, and I’m excited to see how it all intersects with science and space. If the magic, science, and mystery weren’t enough, there’s a history museum involved. (Be still my cozy academia heart!) The Starseekers looks like the perfect companion for a hazy winter morning.
2. Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson (3/17)
Ernest Cunningham returns, and this time, he’s stuck in a bank heist. I’ve been a fan of the Ernest Cunningham series since the very first entry—in fact, it’s one of the first ARCs I ever reviewed, and it set a very high standard for modern mystery stories. These books are funny and puzzly, with excellent character work. Each installment has involved increasingly distant relationships (from family to colleagues to now relative strangers), and I’m excited to see what Stevenson has thought up for them this time.
3. Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (4/21)
Interwar feminism! A ramshackle manor! Mysterious faerie encounters! I have a huge soft spot for fae fantasy, and I’ve been looking for something to scratch that itch since the Emily Wilde series wrapped up. I’m hoping Corrigan’s anthropologist protagonist—stuck renovating a crumbling English manor—will hit the spot. The only danger I foresee is that it will inspire a bout of renovation or home-improvement fever right around spring cleaning time, which feels well worth it.
4. Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty (5/17)
I loved The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and have been eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series. The prior novel stood out not only for Chakraborty’s creative worldbuilding—pirates! genies! peris!—but also for Amina’s story as an adventuring mother. It looks like both of those elements will return in this installment, as Amina pursues an adventure for the benefit of her family. I can’t wait to return to this world and these characters, and the timing is perfect for kicking off the summer travel season.
5. A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett (8/11)
Robert Jackson Bennett continues to be one of my favorite fantasy authors working today. His Ana and Din stories strike the perfect balance between mystery structure and political fantasy. I find them perfectly (if painfully) tailored to the current political moment, and I’m excited—and a little fearful—to see what reflections on society this next adventure will bring.
6. The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett (8/25)
Janice Hallett is returning to the Fairway Players in her upcoming epistolary, The Silent Appeal. To sweeten the deal for mystery lovers, the Players have chosen to put on Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, promising layers upon layers of fall literary vibes. By this point, y’all know I will read anything Hallett writes, and I’m excited to see this kooky cast back together.
This may also be the first continuation of an epistolary novel I’ve encountered—an epistolary series!—and I’m thrilled by the possibility that we might get more in this vein. I cannot wait to curl up with this one on a crisp autumn morning, mug of tea beside me, puzzling out a mystery with Femi and Charlotte as we read through the Players’ antics.
7. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (9/8)
I love Miss Marple. She’s such an iconic sleuth, and I find her stories strike the perfect balance of wry humor, gentle understanding, and crisp, character-based mystery—making me feel cozy while still engaging with a real puzzle. Lucy Foley has been tapped for this next mystery, and I’m cautiously optimistic about spending more time with this homage to my favorite sleuth. I’m not entirely sure how Foley’s plotting and pacing will translate here, but I’m willing to give it a shot.
8. Dark Reading Matter by Jasper Fforde (9/17 – UK)
2026 looks to be a great year for my favorite authors. Fforde’s latest, Dark Reading Matter, is the final installment of the Thursday Next series. I’ve loved these books since high school—the creative worldbuilding and the steady heartbeat of Thursday and Landon’s love and family make them feel like home. I’m sad to see the series end, but grateful we’ll get one last outing with some of my favorite bookish, metafictional characters.
…and the moment between the pages
There’s a lot to look forward to in reading in 2026, but I’ve also got some exciting experiences coming up. Here are the moments and practices I’m hoping will elevate my reading life and create even better bookish memories:
Left Coast Crime – San Francisco
I’ve never been to a convention before, but that will change in 2026. Conveniently for me, Left Coast Crime will be in San Francisco this year. (Even better, it’s happening while my partner is traveling, so my time is wholly my own—no need to decide whether to drag him along.)
I’m a bit nervous, if I’m honest. I don’t always do well in big crowds. But I’m also excited to try something new and be surrounded by other West Coast mystery lovers. Perhaps I’ll see some of you there?
52 Book Club Challenge 2026
This will be my third year participating in the 52 Book Club Challenge. Each year, I can feel my reading tastes evolving as I pick up books outside my comfort zone. I’ll be continuing my approach of monthly roundups, since they worked so well last year.
I’ve already started planning different reads, but what excites me most is that this year the planning feels less like forcing prompts to fit my reading, and more like genuine exploration. I’m not sure I’ll ever be an avid literary fiction reader, but this challenge always surprises me—and I can’t wait to see how I change and grow as a reader in 2026.
Journaling – one sentence a day
I’ve gone back and forth on journaling over the years. Some years I’ve kept a beautiful, intensely decorated bullet journal; most years, that’s just too much for me. In 2025, I found success decorating a calendar with stickers that reflected my weekly experiences. By the end of the year, I had a cozy, colorful compilation of memories annotated with what I actually did.
This year, I’m taking it one step further—without going full bullet-journal craft craziness. I’ve found a lovely pre-drawn journal with space for daily writing. It’s meant for the bullet journal system, but I’ll be using it for a line a day, plus book and gratitude journaling. My 52 Book Club Challenge tracking will live there too, with my tracking stickers finding a new home.
I’m hoping this adds to my sense of intentionality and reflection without overwhelming me with hobbies. I’ll check back in later this year to see how it’s going.
Travels – international and domestic
I’ve loved reading while traveling—so much so that this year’s travel reads sparked a new interest in historical nonfiction. I have some wonderful trips coming up in 2026, both near and far, from Portugal to Peru to Pennsylvania. I can’t wait to see what I learn about the world, and how those adventures influence my reading tastes.
If you have recommendations for books set in Lisbon, Cusco, Pennsylvania, or Boston, please share!
Notes on a beginning
Compiling this list has made me feel both excited and a little overwhelmed by all that 2026 holds. So much to read and do and learn. I’m excited to see how it all unfolds—and hopeful that I’ll grow right along with it.
I’ll see you back here next week! Until then, stay cozy and stay curious.
