Get ahead of 2026’s biggest releases this year. We highlight ten must-read backlist books from authors with upcoming titles, so you have your best library day.
What could be better than a discussion on 2026’s biggest releases? We wanted to do something fun (and genuinely helpful) to help you plan next year's TBR. Today, Jessica Bearak is back, and she’s bringing her idea to pair readers with books we don’t want slipping through the cracks. We’ve gathered ten brilliant backlist titles from authors with major books arriving next year, so you can reserve your library holds, fill your Kindle, and feel delightfully ahead of the curve before celebrating their next book. Think of it as your literary pre-game for the year ahead.
In this fun conversation, we discuss:
📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's new book guide! 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve Now. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!
Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.” Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and regularly engages in many online discussions. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club.
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Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!
Join the December Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (James by Percival Everett)
NEW BOOK LIST: 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve Now
Once and Again by Rebecca Serle
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Friends Are For by Wade Rouse
Magic Season by Wade Rouse
A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist (Kathleen Carter Episode)
Off the Record by Sara Goodman-Confino
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman-Confino
Score by Kennedy Ryan
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart (Kennedy Ryan Episode)
Dog Person by Camille Pagán
The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips with Colleen Oakley (Podcast with Colleen Oakley)
A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
Stunning Books About Bookstores (Book List)
Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán
Meg Shaffer Interview (The Wishing Game)
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Last Story with Meg Shaffer (Interview with Meg Shaffer)
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
Cozy Fantasy Books to Lower Your Stress Levels (Book List)
Five by Ilona Bannister
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline
A Piece of the World by Christine Baker Kline
35 Books About Twins That Double the Drama (Book List)
Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
All You Have To Do Is Call by Kerri Maher
Eleanor of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier
With Love From Harlem by ReShonda Tate
The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate
Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
Sarah Damoff - The Bright Years Podcast Interview
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy
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