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If you’re looking for some good reads to ease you into your New Year’s resolution to read more, look no further than this list of the best new releases
My 10 best new books for January
- Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden: Debbie Mullen is on the brink. For years, she’s been a confidante to the wives of New England, hearing from countless women who feel overlooked, belittled or even mistreated by their husbands. However, when her life begins to spiral out of control, she realises it’s high time she took some of her own advice. With its twisty plot and brisk pace, this gripping thriller is the perfect book to kickstart your reading journey in 2026.
- So, I Met This Guy… by Alexandra Potter: When Maggie’s relationship culminates in the supposed love-of-her-life swindling her out of her home and life savings, she does what anyone in her shoes would undoubtedly do: embark on a road trip with an ambitious young reporter seeking her big break to track down the fraudster as he flees. Featuring unexpected friendships, self-discovery and stunning views along the way, this book has all the makings of the ideal holiday read.
- Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon: If you’re partial to family sagas, Rebecca Fallon’s impressive debut is the book for you this January. The narrative centres around Susan, a soap opera star in the 1990s who divides her time between L.A., where she’s nurturing her acting career, and New England, where she’s a wife to a history professor and mother to young twins. Family Drama unfolds across two timelines, with the 2000s presenting a stark contrast. Susan’s untimely death leaves her teenage twins clueless about their mother’s fame. As they delve into the past, they begin to question their memories.
- Television by Lauren Rothery: An ageing A-list film star shocks everyone by giving away his entire blockbuster salary to a random viewer before starting a relationship with a much younger model. His non-celebrity best friend (and occasional lover) watches this unfold while reminiscing about their years of friendship. Unbeknownst to them, an ambitious filmmaker is working on a script about best friends and lovers.
- Vivian Dies Again by C.E. Hulse: At a family gathering full of people who hate her, Vivian is murdered – only to wake up and be murdered again. And again. Trapped in a perplexing time loop with a sleep-deprived waiter as her only ally, Vivian must solve her own murder as time resets, before her luck, and life, finally run out.
- Every Lifetime After by Jennifer Ross: Alone in the artificial glamour of Hollywood, A-list actress Claudia Baxter yearns for an escape. However, when she arrives at the Yorkshire estate of Doverley for her next project—a sweeping wartime romance—she finds herself slipping through time into the story. In a different era, radio operator Iris sits in the grounds of Doverley, watching planes traverse Europe, certain that the man she’s adored since her youth won’t return. A love story with a unique twist, this breathtakingly beautiful tale will be impossible to put down.
- The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead: Record executive Theo encounters The Future Saints as they’re floundering at a local dive bar in their hometown. Theo has been enlisted to help the struggling band, who are grappling with the tragic loss of their manager, fulfil their contract with the record label by producing another album. However, when one of their new songs unexpectedly goes viral, the plan shifts, and suddenly Theo finds himself steering the band through a rollercoaster of unforeseen highs and lows. Ideal for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and The Favourites, you’ll find yourself engrossed, turning pages well into the wee hours.
- Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven: Meet the Newmans tracks America’s beloved TV family as cracks begin to appear in their flawless exterior. Husband and wife duo Del and Dinah, along with their sons Guy and Shep, have always epitomised the ideal American family. But now it’s 1964, ratings are plummeting and each family member is harbouring secrets, leading to a rapid unravelling of their carefully curated image. When Del, the creative genius behind the show, finds himself in a mysterious car accident, it’s up to Dinah and Juliet, a forthright young journalist, to pen the final episode.
- Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez: In search of a fresh fantasy romance to fall head over heels for in 2026, but not ready to embark on a new series? Look no further than Graceless Heart, a captivating standalone novel set in Renaissance Italy. In an effort to rescue her brother, a young sculptress harbouring a dreadful secret enters a contest organised by Florence’s most dreaded immortal family. As alliances become unclear and attraction ignites, she must determine how much of her heart—and her humanity—she’s prepared to forfeit to survive.
- One Sun Only by Camille Bordas: A young woman takes inventory following a burglary. A teenager develops an obsession with the obituaries in a weekly magazine. Grandchildren grieve for the grandparents who cherished them and those who didn’t. Featuring previously unpublished stories alongside work originally featured in The New Yorker and The Paris Review, One Sun Only is a journey into the enigmas of life, death, and everything in between. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado of short stories or new to the genre, you’re bound to discover something to love here.
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