Last week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme was Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2026, but I didn’t get my post done in time. This week’s theme is Goals for 2026, so I’m going to combine the two.
Goals for 2026 include reading for these challenges:
Most Anticipated New Releases in First Half of 2026 and Why
I looked at a bunch of book lists online to come up with my list. If you’re looking for one large list of most anticipated releases for all of 2026, including fiction and nonfiction by month, I recommend Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026 (314 Books To Read in the New Year).
My list is in order by pub date and goes through June 2026:
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz 12/30/25
Released 12/30/25, but close enough! A road trip novel and a Booker Prize finalist. I thought I had read a book by this author before, but I must be mixing him up with another Ben. Also…blurbed by Ann Patchett (“Feels less like reading a novel and more like sitting in a car beside a dear friend as he navigates the road up ahead. A profoundly moving experience.”)
Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid 1/6/26
Love the cover, the theme, and the author! Saw this on Lit Hub’s list of Most Anticipated Books of 2026 and bought a copy right away! This will go towards the MassBook Reading Challenge for January.
Land by Maggie O’Farrell 2/2/26
Got the heads-up on this one from The Guardian’s list, Books to Look Out For in 2026.
This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman 2/10/26
Another favorite author with a new novel! Sounds like it’s a multigenerational family saga, to boot! Saw this on BookBrowse’s list, Our Most Anticipated Books for 2026.
Kin by Tayari Jones 2/24/26
A new novel by one of my favorite authors! Saw this on NPR’s list of Most Anticipated Books.
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout 5/5/26
A new novel by Elizabeth Strout set in Massachusetts instead of her beloved Maine? Say no more!
Platform Decay by Martha Wells 5/5/26
Saw this on Book RIot’s Most Anticipated List. My husband and I both love listening to the Murderbot books on long car trips.
The Land and Its People by David Sedaris 5/26/26
Saw this on Oprah’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026
Whistler by Ann Patchett 6/2/26
I was very excited to see this on The Bookish Bulletin’s Most Anticipated Fiction Book Releases of 2026!
Departure(s) by Julian Barnes 6/20/26
Saw this on Lit Hub’s list of Most Anticipated Books of 2026. I haven’t kept up with this author’s books, but have liked the ones I’ve read.
I’m sharing this with Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. You’ll find many other book lists there! This week’s theme is 2026 Goals, so if you’re looking for more lists of Most Anticipated, look for last weeks link-up.
