40 more of the best new books in 2026

July

Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim

What would you sacrifice for a different life?

When you emigrate, you leave a version of yourself behind. Literally. One instance crosses the border; the other instance stays trapped behind it.

Sublimation by Nebula Award-winning author Isabel J. Kim is a story of doppelgängers and corporate intrigue, heartbreak and betrayal, capturing the longing for another life and twisting it into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves

Travis lives an unassuming life with his cat in a small English town. Travis also happens to be the cosmic force of Death, visiting people in their final days and hours of life, before shepherding them into whatever happens next.

Full of compassion and deep magic, Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt might be a novel about Death, but it's also about the joy of being alive – appreciating each day we have, from the people around us to the strange wonder of our spinning world.

The First House by Avni Doshi

A woman's husband walks into their bedroom one evening and tells her that he wants a divorce. She is stunned. They have always had a happy marriage, an almost perfect marriage. In the following days, marooned with two young daughters in a hostile suburb, the woman starts coming apart.

This is a novel about unhappy families – about poison seeping through the domestic space. Stiletto-sharp and darkly hypnotic, it is a gripping psychodrama of unravelling and rebirth from the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Burnt Sugar.

Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. For her protection, her mother gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.

After the war, when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever...

A Fatal Legacy by Charlotte Vassell 

There are rules to first dates: don't talk about your ex, do ask lots of questions, always meet in a public place.

Digby Coombe-Watson didn't think they applied to him. He had other worries: how to get rid of his great-grandfather's crumbling property, and whether his family would let him.

So he ignored the rules, and invited someone in.

Now he's dead. And he won't be the last.

August

Agrippa by Robert Harris

Julius Caesar is dead, and the lives of two teenaged boys are about to be changed forever. To claim their inheritance, they must fight the giant figures of the Roman Empire – and, against all odds, they win. 

Now Agrippa is fifty. Ailing and alone, he takes refuge in his house on the Bay of Naples and begins to write his memoirs. Yet to stir up the past can be dangerous. When it comes to power, does friendship exist at all?

Agrippa is the explosive new novel from the bestselling author of Conclave.

This Door of the Seas: Darkland Tales by Val McDermid & Jo Sharp 

The Darien Venture was the singular event at the end of the seventeenth century that fundamentally altered Scotland's future. And most of us know next to nothing about it.

Award-winning novelist Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland Jo Sharp unite to remedy that. Written as a series of letters home from expedition scientist Dr James Wallace to his wife Eliza and Sir Robert Sibbald, the first Geographer Royal, this epistolary novel offers a devastating account of the forces that doomed the endeavour and completely changed the history of the British Isles in the process.

Where are the Kings by Donal Ryan

From the winner of the Orwell Prize for Fiction and the An Post Irish Book of the Year.

Jack is just twelve years old when he rushes down the hill after his mother's car on his bike. What happens next cannot be undone.

Jack's life changes just at the moment he is entering those dizzying years when he will transition from boy to man; when nothing makes sense at the best of times. Without his mother to ground him on the earth, will he spin off into the stars?

Life of M by Rachel Cusk

The film star M is one of the most recognizable faces of our time. Her image is everywhere. It has been like that since she was a child.

Now, a writer has decided to pay close attention to M's life, in the hope of understanding who she really is. But what truths – about the very experience of living – might this proximity allow the writer to briefly capture? Is M to play a character in the book, or is it the writer who is acting the role of M?

In this astonishing novel, critically-acclaimed author Rachel Cusk hunts for the nature of truth. Life of M is a beautiful piece of music, audible in a world of noise and spectacle.

September

Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel

2031. America is at war with itself, but for the first time in weeks there is some hope: the Republic of California has been declared, the curfew in Los Angeles is lifted, and everyone in the city is going to a party.

But there are people at the party who shouldn't be there. Something is very wrong...

Exit Party from the bestselling author of Station Eleven is an electrifying new novel about freedom and surveillance, art and survival, love and loss in a broken world.

Stations by Louise Kennedy

In 1982, Róisín and Red meet as teenagers in their hometown in Ireland. 

Two years later, their lives have unfolded in wildly different directions. Róisín enrolls in college, while Red has disappeared into a vacant flat in London, squatting with four other people and a maladjusted greyhound. 

Stations is an unforgettable story of love, friendship, and the choices that map out the course of our lives, from the bestselling author of Trespasses.

Taipei Story by Rebecca F. Kuang 

When Yale student Lily arrives in Taipei for a summer's study at the National Taiwan University, she's looking forward to working on her Chinese language and finding her Chinese self. If only it was that simple. When her grandfather suddenly dies, Lily discovers a past so profoundly heartbreaking that she finds herself stuck, unable to move forward. 

Taipei Story is an intensely moving exploration of identity and language, love and grief, from the mega-bestselling author of Babel, Yellowface and Katabasis.

Mestra by Madeline Miller

A cursed father, a gifted daughter.

Mestra, daughter of the King of Thessaly, is gifted a unique ability by Poseidon: metamorphosis into any being she can imagine.

A jewel-like tale of human fallibility, Mestra confirms Madeline Miller – celebrated author of The Song of Achilles and Circe – as our high priestess of mythology.

The Disappearers by Marlon James

When eight gay men meet for the first time, in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1988, answering the casting call for an openly queer play, they are already taking a big risk. But that is nothing compared to what rains down on them when a mob descends on one of their rehearsals.

Epic and intimate, violent and forgiving, The Disappearers is a tour de force by the Booker Prize-winning Marlon James – both an unflinching portrait of hatred and shame faced and a deeply human story of acceptance and insight.

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee 

Min Jin Lee, the acclaimed author of the million-copy bestseller, Pachinko, returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic.

John and Helen Koh and their three children – Bo, DH, and Mido – are building new lives in Korea when they find their worlds upended, first by a shocking betrayal by John's oldest friend, and then by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

But with each new sacrifice and each fresh horizon, larger questions begin to open up before the children: What are we willing to give up to secure the happiness of the ones we love? And, what is truly important for a worthwhile life?

October

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver 

Livia Bohusz is eleven when her beloved older brother, Cyrus, takes his own life, leaving her family consumed by grief and silence.

A gifted pianist, Livia's only escape is the quiet rapture it brings as she practices. She clings to the hope that her talent can carry her beyond the isolation of the family farm and towards a different future.

Partita is Livia's story: it is a tale of thwarted ambitions, accumulated pain, of newfound hope. It is as compelling and profound as the pieces Livia has mastered, and as heart-rending and engrossing as the music that makes, breaks and mends her.

Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson

This rivalry is setting the literary world on fire – but who will survive the flames?

When Selina Chan, New York's fiercest literary critic, slams Parker Navarro's latest novel, he is pushed to his breaking point.

What begins as a private feud quickly erupts into a viral online spectacle, captivating a bookish audience who are eager to fan the flames.

But it's what's left unsaid that could ruin them both…

In One Brief Moment All Eternity by Elif Shafak

Spanning decades and continents, from revolutionary 19th century France to Istanbul, Egypt and Beirut, In One Brief Moment All Eternity is a profound meditation on creativity in times of political crisis and war, asking what literature can hope to offer when the world feels broken.

Building a fascinating bridge between Western prose and Eastern poetry, this story offers a luminous portrait of the life of an iconic writer, Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, told through the lives of the women – both real and fictional – who shaped him.

November

The Animals We Became by Finn Longman

Blodeuedd never asked to be made.

Created from flowers of oak, broom, and meadowsweet to marry a man cursed never to have a human wife, Blodeuedd has no knowledge of the world, no family outside the marriage, and no power to choose. But a caged animal still has claws, and Blodeuedd will find a way to be free, whatever the cost.

A spellbinding new medieval fantasy standalone retelling the story of Blodeuedd from Welsh mythology in a profound exploration of cyclical trauma and transformation.

December

The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson 

From fantasy legend and #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes a blistering new standalone novel.

In a forgotten land sustained by colorful rivers of demon blood, a young woman named December learns a devastating plague is on its way. But who will believe her?

Against impossible odds, she sets sail up the River Violet to warn the king's court. She must navigate incredulous royal officials, twisted court intrigue, and a roguish count who might hold the key to her quest – and her heart.

July

How an Egg Changed my Life: A Memoir by Mikey Bell

Blending memoir, recipes and gentle humour, Mikey Bell reflects on growing up gay, chasing success and searching for happiness that lasts. From the Welsh valleys to Italy's kitchens, this uplifting read celebrates food, identity and discovering that a fulfilling life often begins by rewriting your own definition of enough.

Opening Night by Sara Baume

After a chance encounter with a painting at a pop-up exhibition in a renovated shed in rural West Cork, author Sara Baume began an unlikely friendship with the artist that grew through wild swims, shared meals and a love of creativity. This thoughtful memoir explores art, nature, connection and the unexpected ways friendship can change how we see the world.

With My Own Hand: The secret life of Marie Maitland, Scotland's sixteenth-century Sappho by Ashley Douglas

Discover the remarkable story of Marie Maitland, a sixteenth-century Scottish woman who defied convention as her blind father's scribe, then secretly embedded courageous lesbian love poetry within the celebrated Maitland Quarto. Drawing on newly uncovered records, Ashley Douglas reveals a hidden literary legacy of resilience, love, and remarkable self-expression reclaimed.

The Vanishing Girl of Kabul: Betrayal, Hope and an Extraordinary Fight for Women's Rights by Zahra Joya with Amie Ferris-Rotma

When the Taliban returned to power, journalist Zahra Joya lost the freedoms she had fought to claim. Blending memoir with investigative reporting, this moving account traces her journey from hidden schoolgirl to fearless reporter, offering a powerful testament to courage, resilience and the enduring fight for women's rights everywhere.

From Scratch: 80 Foolproof Recipes by @fromscratchbaker, from Easy Traybakes to Showstopping Cakes by Alice Kelly

Alice Kelly purchased a disused horsebox for €600 in early 2022… then turned her renovation project into a successful business. After sharing her successes and failures on TikTok as @fromscratchbaker, she became a baking sensation. Here, she shares the recipes and techniques behind her viral success. With 80 approachable bakes, clever tips and easy-to-follow guidance, this joyful cookbook helps home bakers build confidence, master new skills and create delicious treats from scratch.

August

Mexican Soul: A New Style of Cooking by Santiago Lastra

Mexican Soul proves that authentic Mexican flavour is about technique, balance and creativity, not hard-to-find ingredients. Mexican-born chef Santiago Lastra, owner of KOL in London's Marylebone, shares inspiring recipes, clever swaps and essential flavour principles, empowering home cooks to embrace the spirit of Mexican cooking with confidence, wherever they are and whatever's in the cupboard.

The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men by Jon Ronson

When unsettling messages lead Jon Ronson to a mysterious New England castle, he uncovers a strange world of isolated men, internet culture and modern masculinity. Blending sharp humour with gripping investigation, this compelling true story from the bestselling author of The Psychopath Test and The Men Who Stare At Goats explores identity, influence and the unsettling forces shaping today's increasingly fractured society.

September

Journey Across Japan: Adventures Off the Beaten Path by Chris Broad

The bestselling author of Abroad in Japan – which won both the Non-Fiction and Readers' Choice categories at the 2024 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards – is back with a new exploration of the Land of the Rising Sun. From hidden festivals to unforgettable local food, Chris Broad journeys through all 47 of Japan's prefectures, uncovering the stories beyond the usual tourist trail. Packed with humour, travel tips and fascinating discoveries, this entertaining adventure will inspire both first-time visitors and lifelong lovers of Japan to explore further.

The Pen: A Human History by Simon Garfield

From ancient reeds to modern ballpoints, Simon Garfield – bestselling author of On the Map and Just My Type – celebrates the remarkable history of the pen and its enduring influence on our lives. Packed with fascinating stories, curious inventions and literary connections, this engaging history reveals how one everyday object has shaped creativity, communication and culture across the centuries.

Letters to Our Sons by Stephen Graham with Orly Klein

What would fathers say if they could find the right words? In this heartfelt collection, award-winning Adolescence actor Stephen Graham and psychology lecturer Orly Klein gather deeply personal letters exploring love, regret, pride and hope. Honest, moving and uplifting, these reflections celebrate the complexities of fatherhood and the conversations that matter most.

Down Burrow Lane: Life & Love on the Farm by Michael Morpurgo

In his most personal – and eagerly awaited – memoir yet, beloved author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo reflects on fifty years of family life, love and storytelling on a Devon farm with his wife, Clare. Full of warmth, wisdom and compassion, he shares the people, landscapes and experiences that inspired his beloved books and transformed countless young lives through nature.

Vigilauntie: A Memoir - Innit? by Meera Syal

In this warm and witty memoir, multi-award winning writer, actor and comic Meera Syal reflects on the offhand remarks and everyday moments that shaped her life and career. Known for her sharp intelligence, fearless humour and deeply human storytelling, she brings a distinctive voice to every page. From family expectations to breaking barriers in comedy, she shares a heartfelt journey through identity, ambition and heritage, blending humour with powerful insight into changing times.

Queens and Kings: An Unusually Personal History by Lucy Worsley

With warmth, wit and an eye for irresistible detail, Lucy Worsley uncovers the human stories behind Britain's monarchy. Drawing on decades spent inside historic royal dwellings as Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, she reveals the love, scandal, heartbreak and eccentricity of kings and queens, bringing a thousand years of royal history vividly to life.

October

I Think My Name is Brodie: A straight from-the-dog's-mouth memoir written by Clive Anderson and illustrated by Mark Bardsley

Ever wondered what your dog is really thinking? Told through the eyes of the lovable Brodie, this funny, charming memoir explores the joys, mysteries and everyday adventures of canine life. Full of warmth, wit and wonderfully relatable observations, it's a treat for dog lovers and anyone needing a smile.

The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television by Russell T Davies

From groundbreaking dramas to beloved television classics, Russell T Davies reflects on a career spent transforming British TV. Funny, candid and full of creative insight, this memoir explores the ideas, determination and passion behind his work, celebrating storytelling, queer representation and television's unique power to bring people together.

My Rangers: How I Changed Scottish Football For Ever by Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness tells the gripping inside story of the years that transformed Rangers and reshaped Scottish football. Candid and insightful, he reflects on bold decisions, fierce rivalries and the pressures of leadership, offering a revealing portrait of a manager whose vision changed a club – and left a lasting sporting legacy. Whether you've been following Scotland's fortunes in the men's FIFA World Cup, or love to indulge your passion for sports through books, you'll love this candid memoir from the former Scotland captain and one of football's most influential figures.

Come Rain or Shine: The fascinating facts and surprising science behind our weather by Laura Tobin

We all like to talk about the weather, but how much do we really know about it (except that it rains… a lot)? Award-winning meteorologist Laura Tobin reveals the fascinating science behind the weather, showing how everyday forecasts are shaped and how to spot nature's clues for yourself. Blending expert insight with surprising facts, folklore and personal stories, this engaging read will transform the way you look at the world outside.

November

Decline and Falling Over by Jo Brand

With her trademark wit and refreshing honesty, Jo Brand takes a delightfully irreverent look at growing older. Rejecting self-help clichés and impossible expectations, she celebrates ageing on her own terms, finding humour in life's indignities and reminding us that getting older can be liberating, ridiculous and unexpectedly joyful.

Blood on the Thames: Murder, money and the making of the modern detective by Thomas Morris

When a powerful shipyard magnate is found murdered on the London docks, suspicion falls immediately on his business partner. But as doubt creeps in, three pioneering figures of justice are drawn into a case that will help shape modern detective work. Rich in atmosphere, this gripping true crime tale blends Georgian history, courtroom drama and suspense – perfect for fans of true crime and narrative non-fiction.

Don't Mess Up Your Rice: 70 Recipes to Impress Uncle Roger by Nigel Ng

Internet favourite Nigel Ng, better known as Uncle Roger, brings his trademark humour and passion for authentic Asian cooking to this lively cookbook. Packed with flavourful recipes, practical techniques and plenty of laughs, it's an entertaining guide to mastering favourite dishes while understanding the traditions behind them.