Looking for your next great read? January 20th brings a powerful lineup of thrilling mysteries, unforgettable romances, and genre-bending fantasy releases.
Whether you love a good twist, a sweeping romance, or a touch of gothic intrigue, this week’s new books offer something for every reader!
Starting strong with one of my most anticipated releases of 2026!
Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Friends-to-Lovers / Sports Romance
A burlesque club owner. A Yankees catcher. A fake marriage for health insurance that turns into something very real in this sizzling romcom from the queen of spice.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Friends-to-lovers with sizzling tension and heart
- Fake marriage + hidden feelings = swoonworthy angst
- Perfect for fans of steamy sports romances with emotional depth
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Thanks for supporting my book-loving habits!
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense
The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists returns with a chilling new thriller about identity, obsession, and a marriage built on lies.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- A mysterious house, two women, and one man claiming they’re both his wife
- A twisty narrative told across timelines and identities
- Perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Last Thing He Told Me
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
Genre: Literary Fiction / Music Industry Drama
A viral new sound. A grieving band. A record exec with everything on the line. This story of fame, grief, and sisterhood is both heart-pounding and heart-wrenching.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- For fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and messy rock-band drama
- Emotional depth and found-family dynamics
- A love story that isn’t what you’d expect
I picked this one for my Book of the Month box and I am so excited to read it!
Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia
Genre: Historical Fiction / Gothic Romance / Gilded Age Mystery
A ballerina and a sculptor enter a marriage of convenience but what lurks beneath their elegant facade is darker than either expected.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Gothic vibes, buried secrets, and seductive danger
- A marriage of convenience meets psychological horror
- Perfect for fans of Rebecca and dark historical romance
The Elsewhere Express by Melissa McShane
Genre: Cozy Fantasy / Whimsical Fiction
When you lose your way, the Elsewhere Express might just find you. Raya boards a magical train and sets off on a journey to rediscover her purpose.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- A heartwarming adventure full of magical realism
- Cozy vibes with fantastical world-building
- For fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Water Moon
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah
Genre: Domestic Thriller / Psychological Suspense
A family faced with an impossible choice. A devastating diagnosis. And a decision no one will see coming.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Deeply emotional and morally complex
- Twists that hit like a punch to the gut
- Perfect for fans of The Push and We Need to Talk About Kevin
Rules of the Heart by Janice Hadlow
Genre: Historical Fiction / Regency Romance
Lady Henrietta Bessborough knows the rules: married women can have affairs, but never fall in love. Until Lord Granville changes everything.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- A swoony, scandalous love story
- Emotional and feminist take on Regency society
- Perfect for fans of The Other Bennet Sister and Bridgerton
Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Women’s Fiction / Bookish Coming-of-Age
Inspired by Anne of Green Gables, this novel follows a woman learning to be the heroine of her own story after life throws her off-script.
I am so excited for this one!
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Bookish main character + small-town setting
- Modern homage to L.M. Montgomery’s classic
- Perfect for fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva
Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance / Cottagecore Vibes
A halfling and a goblin both lay claim to the same magical cottage. Their forced proximity pact turns to love in this cozy romantic fantasy.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Wholesome fantasy meets romcom charm
- Cottagecore world-building and magical creatures
- For fans of Legends & Lattes and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Junglekeeper: What It Takes to Change the World by Paul Rosolie
Genre: Memoir / Nature Writing / Environmental Conservation
From giant anacondas to rainforest activism, Rosolie shares his extraordinary true story of protecting the Amazon and finding purpose.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Wild stories from deep in the jungle
- Real-life adventure and conservation urgency
- For fans of memoirs like The Soul of an Octopus or Into the Wild
When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen
Genre: Historical Fiction / Biographical Fiction
A sweeping story of friendship between Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold during the golden age of Hollywood.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Iconic stars reimagined with nuance and depth
- Behind-the-scenes glamour meets feminist storytelling
- For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Walk of Fame by Christina Capri
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Hollywood / Debut Novel
Emma never planned to be an actress but after a fluke casting, she finds herself opposite a Hollywood heartthrob in a romance that feels all too real.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Behind-the-scenes of a Hollywood romance
- Friends to lovers with sparkling chemistry
- For fans of Emily Henry and Carley Fortune
I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of this one and I cannot recomend it enough! Full review to come.
Which one are you adding to your TBR? Let us know in the comments & don’t forget to share this roundup with your fellow bookworms!
