Book Reviews

10 Books I’m Excited for in 2026

I know this is a few months late, so some of these books will have already come out. But there are a ton of books that I am excited about that are coming out this year. I’m thinking this will be a part 1 that focuses on the first half of the year. Also, this list will probably be trad pub heavy because indies don’t tend to announce their releases too far in advance. Without further ado, here are ten books I am excited about that are coming out in 2026 that you should add to your TBR pile.

  1. The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman- (Jan 27th) A Bisclavret retelling where an exiled noble becomes entangled with the new king who falls for his knew knight only to lose him once more. I love a queer retelling of courtly love stories.
  2. Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake- (Feb 3rd) I love Blake’s sapphic books so much, and in this one, we have a struggling artist who ends up cabin-mates with the woman her ex left her for. Meanwhile, the poor woman has no idea why she hates her. During camp, they compete for a gig in London, but soon realize they may be better together than by themselves.
  3. Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian- (Mar 3rd) Two actors on a long-running show are forced to play nicely after years of finding the other horrifically annoying as they go on a road trip to promote the show. The more they’re together, the more they realize how well the other knows them and how well they are getting along. As with all Cat Sebastian books, I’m sure this will be deliciously emotionally devastating and intimate.
  4. Metropolis Down by Vesper Doom- (Mar 3rd) Two ex lovers must join forces in order to save a city ship that has been sending distress signals, but the distress signals are more than they appear. The two men hear haunting songs from their pasts, and the ghosts have followed them home only to sow chaos.
  5. Blood and Sand by Jordan L. Hawk- (Mar 13th) An assassin is targeting bootleggers, so a hexman and a fellow bootlegger have to leave the speakeasy behind in order to figure out how to work a hex dredged up from Ancient Egypt that might be the key to solving everything or bring more bloodshed to their world.
  6. The Lost Lovelies by Vanora Lawless- (Mar 23rd) A journalist must team up with a mage to find his missing brother and sister-in-law. The mage harbors secrets: he loved the journalist years ago and he comes from a line of blood mages, which are forbidden.
  7. How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles (Apr 28th)- Nico is on the run from French ex-nobles who want him dead, and he has set his sights on English society to help him return to his former position (through scams, of course), but the suddenly wealthy man he has set his sights on may be falling for him and the feeling is, unfortunately, mutual.
  8. Platform Decay by Martha Wells- (May 5th) I love Murderbot so much. If you want an autistic robot who would rather be watching their shows than doing their job, Murderbot is for you. In this episode, Murderbot must go on a rescue mission and deal with more humans they don’t know, including children. The horror.
  9. A Long and Speaking Silence by Nghi Vo- (May 5th) In this entry, we get to see Cleric Chih at the beginning of their journey to become a cleric at Singing Hills when they become stranded in a town where refugees from across the sea appear. Chih is meant to record stories, and the stories they are told are brutal enough to make them question everything.
  10. We Could Be Anyone by Anna-Marie McLemore- (May 26th) McLemore is an auto-buy author for me (as are many of these authors). This story appears to be about the golden age of Hollywood with two siblings who scam rich people out of their money by playing ghost and spiritualist only to find they have gotten in over their heads.
Book Reviews

10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26

This week I thought I would make a little post about some books that I am really looking forward to that are coming out later this year or early next year. You will notice that the list skews toward traditional publishing, but this is because many indies do a very short preorder period or don’t announce their release dates that far ahead of time. Disclaimer: all links to the books are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything, I get a small kickback.

  1. Pantomime (#1) by L. R. Lam- If this book sounds familiar to you, it came out years ago and is being re-edited and released. This book was one of my absolute favorites when I read it in college. You have an intersex, trans MC who runs away from their family and societal expectations to join the circus and discover themselves. Throw in a dose of magic, romance, and danger, and Pantomime is a must-read. Out 9/9/25
  2. To Clutch a Razor (#2) by Veronica Roth- I have been on a bit of Veronica Roth short book/story kick, and I am dying to get my hands on this one. You have magical Chicago filled with Slavic magic and creatures, a queer MC, horrific family obligations, and a cast of intriguing characters, and this series is un-put-down-able. Out 9/16/25
  3. What Stalks the Deep (#3) by T. Kingfisher- I absolutely love this series. It’s horror that is gross yet intriguing without being too scary for chickens like me. The main character is a nonbinary soldier in the 1800s, and in this edition, Alex is headed to America to go to a spooky mine that is probably filled with horrors. If you enjoy Jordan L. Hawk’s books, I highly recommend this series. Out 9/30/25
  4. America’s Most Gothic: Haunted History Stranger than Fiction by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- I absolutely loved their first book, A Haunted History of Invisible Women. This volume goes into the parts of the Gothic that titillate us and explores the real history that is potentially far spookier and fascinating. Hieber and Janes have a lively style that is all at once informative and entertaining. Out 9/30/25
  5. All of Us Murderers by K. J. Charles- Maybe I am biased but I don’t think K. J. Charles has written a bad book yet. This one takes us to a Gothic manor where a fight over a young ward’s hand turns murderous and scorn queer lovers reunite. It sounds chef kiss and messy, and if you are into Gothic vibes, the cover for this book is right on the money. Out 10/7/25
  6. A Mouthful of Dust (#6) by Nghi Vo- The Singing Hills Cycle is one of my favorite series, and this one sounds a little similar to the K. J. Charles book in terms of creepiness of houses. Chih is trapped in the house of a sinister magistrate in a town where famine has hit hard and the things beyond and within the walls are growing hungry. If you like lush yet economical stories, Vo’s work is top knotch. Out 10/7/25
  7. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow- We have a lady knight, a historian, and time doing weird shit to ensure she plays her role. This is based off a short story Harrow published a few years ago that I absolutely devoured. I am dying to get my hands on this, especially because I have been in a medieval mood, so I hope this scratches that itch. Out 10/28/25
  8. A Wild and Hungry Place by E. E. Ottoman- It has been quite some time since Ottoman published, and I am so excited. His books are filled with trans characters, rich descriptions, and stories that tug at the heartstrings and soul. This one has a woman trying to break a curse, a man with a garden full of poisonous plants, and a ghost woman. What else could one want?
  9. The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman- I am including this one because it was originally scheduled to come out in November but was pushed back to January of 2026. This is a retelling of “Bisclavret” by Marie de France, and as a Marie de France fan, I am so in. Of course, this book is queer, has werewolves, knights, kings, magic, and so much more. Out 1/26/26
  10. Through Gates of Garnets and Gold (#11) by Seanan McGuire- If you haven’t read The Wayward Children series, now is the perfect time to start. Nancy, who is the MC of book one, finally is getting her own book! I am so excited to return to the Halls of the Dead with Nancy and the misfit crew from the school for wayward children. This is one of those settings that sounded so intriguing even though we saw little of it, and I look forward to what McGuire creates in this one. Out 1/6/26