2026 New Book Releases
This new year is full of exciting news for the book community. Many long awaited books are being released, so here is my list of the most anticipated book releases.
1) The Night We Met — by Abby Jimenez (Release date: March 31, 2026)
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Category: Adult |
This emotional, rom-com follows Larissa, whose life changes after an impulsive post concert decision that leads her to Chris who is also her boyfriend’s best friend. And neither of them is willing to cross that line, even as their connection deepens through shared routines and rescuing a dog (an “unhinged” Yorkie). Abby Jimenez is famous for her romance novels and this one is no different, it’s a highly anticipated read of mine. It’s also the second installment in the “Say You’ll Remember Me” world. I’m however expecting an insane amount of yearning, slow burn, along with humor and emotional moments. Although I am afraid of a cheating trope, just based on the premise of the book. I guess we’ll just have to read and find out!
2) The Shippers — Katherine Center (Release date: May 19, 2026)
Genre: Romantic Comedy | Category: Adult
The story takes place aboard a cruise ship that is also the wedding venue of her sister’s wedding. We follow JoJo Burton as she tries to “fix” her love life, after her own disastrous wedding, by pursuing her first crush that she allegedly imprinted on. Only she needs the help of her childhood best friend, Cooper Watts, to be her wing-man on this mission. I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of this book and I honestly couldn’t put it down. Katherine Center has always been one of my favorite romance authors, she never misses with any of her books. That being said this book might be her best one yet. Cooper is genuinely so sweet and emotionally intelligent (unlike a lot of male main characters) he is always caring towards JoJo. The friends-to-lovers trope really shines here, I haven’t been a big fan of friends to lovers but The Shippers changed my mind. I loved reading about their bond, back story, and plot twists that just reframe the entire narrative. I cannot recommend this book enough!
3) The Knave and the Moon — Rachel Gillig (Release date: September 1, 2026)
Genre: Fantasy / Dark Fantasy | Category: Adult
The long awaited sequel to The Knight and the Moth brings readers back into a kingdom where its faith, Aisling Cathedral being destroyed, and its identity are unraveling. The new king, Benji, has cemented his rule through brutal tournaments and taken Sybil Delling as his bride with the use of all kinds of force. When a mysterious knave with no name or memory rises through the ranks. Sybil’s determination to destroy the king’s rule, even at the cost of losing herself, creates an intense conflict. The first book ended on a crazy cliffhanger, I’m just so intrigued to see as to how Sybil and Rodrick will find their way back to each other. I mean Rachel Gillig is such a skilled writer all her books are so well written, with the world building, the premise, and the subplot of romance. She really is the queen of Gothic Fantasy, her previous duology, The Shepherd King, is still one of my favorite reads of all time. Anything she writes, I will read. I cannot wait to see how this will play out!
4) Release Me — Tahereh Mafi (Release date: April 7, 2026)
Genre: Dystopian / Sci-Fi Romance | Category: Young Adult
Set ten years after Shatter Me, this high stakes sequel of Watch Me in the New Republic series follows Rosabelle Wolff, an assassin driven by survival in a tightly controlled surveillance state, James Anderson who is the son of Paris Anderson and brother to the infamous Aaron Warner Anderson. He was trained by his brother and is a government official of the New Republic. We also get the POV of Aaron Warner, who is trying to navigate and prepare for the fresh new hell the Reestablishment will reign on their new world. Rosabelle’s connection to James complicates everything especially when trust is fragile. The tensions will be high in this book and it will be action packed, considering how the last book ended. I’m especially excited to see Rosabelle’s character development, I want to see her inner turmoil on her loyalty. She is such a complex character and has been through so much trauma I want her to finally be free! I’m counting down the days until April, I need to know what happens!
