New Book Releases | February 26th 2026
Including print, ebook, and audiobook editions
This week’s new book releases deliver a powerful mix of literary prestige, high-confidence commercial thrillers, feminist historical fiction, buzzy memoirs, and timely cultural nonfiction. Below, you’ll find the new books coming out February 26th, thoughtfully curated and sorted by genre with standout picks for readers who prefer literary depth, political relevance, dark romance, or page-turning suspense.
Looking for more? Browse last week’s new books that came out February 17 to catch anything you may have missed.
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⭐ Featured February 26th Release ⭐
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy
A rivals-to-lovers newsroom romance set during a record-breaking snowstorm, Borison’s latest pairs professional tension with emotional vulnerability in a way that feels sharp, timely, and irresistible.
Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover a once in a life time snowstorm, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- forced proximity during live storm coverage
- competitive banter with real emotional payoff
- perfect for fans of workplace romance with heart
This was one of my favorite ARC's of last year and I cannot wait to listen to the audiobook.
If rivals-to-lovers tension is your favorite trope, don’t miss our deep dive into a true enemies-to-lovers done right.
A Quick Book of the Month Note
If you’re building your TBR anyway, this is a great time to try Book of the Month. New members can grab their first book for $5. I’ve found it’s one of the most affordable ways to purchase new release books.
Historical Fiction
Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi
Genre: Historical Fiction / Feminist Retelling
Cleopatra has long been reduced to myth: seductress, villain, spectacle. Saara El-Arifi reclaims her as strategist, ruler, and woman navigating a world determined to distort her. Structured in three provocative sections this sweeping epic examines how power rewrites women’s histories.
Rather than centering the men who surrounded her, this novel foregrounds Cleopatra’s political intelligence, emotional complexity, and the cost of ruling in a violent empire. It’s immersive, ambitious, and perfectly timed for readers who crave bold feminist retellings.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Feminist reclamation of a legendary figure
- Sweeping historical scope with emotional depth
- Ideal for fans of character-driven epics
If stories about power and narrative control resonate with you, don’t miss our essay on When Survival Requires Obedience in Dystopian Fiction.
All in Her Hands by Audrey Blake
Genre: Historical Fiction
Set in 1849 London, All in Her Hands follows Dr. Nora Gibson, the only female surgeon in England, as she fights both institutional prejudice and a deadly cholera epidemic sweeping through the city. As she works alongside midwives to reform the male-dominated medical establishment, Nora’s fragile professional standing comes under attack just as the disease begins devastating London’s most vulnerable communities.
Audrey Blake blends medical history with emotional resilience, spotlighting women who were written out of official narratives. It’s a story about perseverance under scrutiny, the politics of healthcare, and the cost of standing at the frontlines when society would rather see you silent.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Strong women in overlooked by history
- High-stakes epidemic backdrop
- Historical fiction with feminist themes
The Determined
Genre: Historical Fiction
Based on the real lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, this sweeping Golden Age of Pirates novel reimagines two women who refused to accept the limits imposed on them. From colonial Ireland to Nassau’s notorious pirate stronghold, the story traces their separate rebellions before fate binds them together aboard the Revenge.
Through prison cells, naval raids, and the looming threat of execution, this novel reframes pirate lore through female ambition, survival, and defiance. It’s less about swashbuckling spectacle and more about autonomy and what freedom costs when the world insists you don’t deserve it.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Real historical women reimagined
- High-seas adventure with feminist undercurrents
- Perfect for readers who love bold, character-driven historical fiction
Literary Fiction & Book Club Picks
More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen
Genre: Literary Fiction
Anna Quindlen returns with an intimate novel about identity and belonging. When a high school English teacher receives an unexpected DNA ancestry result, her understanding of family begins to shift in quiet but seismic ways. What unfolds is not sensational, but deeply human. A meditation on IVF, adoption, chosen family, and the fragile architecture of certainty.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Thoughtful exploration of identity and belonging
- Quiet, character-driven storytelling
- Ideal for book clubs and reflective readers
If you love stories about women challenging systems of power, you may also enjoy our list of Books on Immigration, Identity, and the Cost of Belonging.
Brawler by Lauren Groff
Genre: Short Story Collection
Lauren Groff’s latest collection spans decades, examining humanity’s simultaneous capacity for tenderness and brutality. Her characters are volatile and vulnerable swimmers with tempers, caretakers stretched thin, mothers navigating devastating loss.
Groff’s gift lies in her ability to write moral ambiguity without judgment. These stories linger.
📌Why you’ll love it:
- Lyrical prose with sharp emotional edges
- Stories that examine moral complexity
- Perfect for readers who savor literary short fiction
I Give You My Silence by Mario Vargas Llosa
Genre: Literary Fiction
The final novel from Nobel Prize-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa follows a failed writer obsessed with proving that Peru’s Creole waltz tradition can unify the nation. His cultural devotion slowly turns into fixation, blurring satire and tragedy.
Part farewell, part reflection on national identity, this novel carries the gravity of legacy.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Cultural satire with emotional undercurrents
- Literary event status
- Meditative exploration of art and nationalism
Thrillers, Mystery & Suspense
Trust No One by James Rollins
Genre: Thriller / Historical Conspiracy
An encrypted diary from the legendary Comte de Saint-Germain rumored to have discovered immortality sends an American student on a globe-spanning chase. Pursued by law enforcement and a shadowy cabal, she must decode centuries-old secrets before they’re weaponized.
With its Da Vinci Code style premise and commercial momentum, this standalone thriller is perfect for readers who want pace, puzzles, and high stakes.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Fast, puzzle-driven suspense
- European settings and secret societies
- Ideal for airport reads and binge reading sessions
The Crossroads by C.J. Box
Genre: Crime Thriller
In the 26th Joe Pickett novel, the beloved Wyoming game warden is shot and left for dead. As he fights for survival, his daughters step into the investigation, uncovering hidden tensions in their rural community.
- 📌 Why you’ll love it:
- High emotional stakes anchored in family
- Tense rural crime atmosphere
- Great entry point if you enjoy long-running mystery series
Fantasy & Speculative Fiction
Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox
Genre: Fantasy / Romantic Fantasy
Yue may be the last of her kind, a nine-tailed fox who walks the streets in human disguise. When she’s captured by the demon hunter Sonam and banished to Hell, she drags him down with her in one final act of vengeance. Trapped in the underworld and forced into a reluctant alliance, demon and hunter must navigate increasingly deadly trials to escape.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Mythological creature + demon hunter dynamic
- Banished-to-Hell quest structure
- Romantic tension layered over survival
For more stories where survival reshapes identity, read our essay on When Survival Requires Obedience in Dystopian Fiction.
Romance
Joey by Sadie Kincaid
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Joey Moretti, a Mafia princess, falls for her brothers’ best friend, the fiercely loyal enforcer who has always kept his distance. Forbidden attraction, possessive intensity, and guaranteed emotional payoff drive this standalone installment in the Chicago Ruthless series.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Brother’s-best-friend trope
- Age gap with emotional stakes
- Guaranteed HEA for dark romance fans
If morally gray romance is your lane, you might also love our breakdown of true enemies-to-lovers done right.
Nonfiction
A World Appears by Michael Pollan
Genre: Science / Cultural Nonfiction
Michael Pollan turns his curiosity toward consciousness itself, blending neuroscience, philosophy, spirituality, and psychedelic inquiry. Following the cultural success of How to Change Your Mind, this new work tackles the “hard problem” with accessibility and rigor.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Big ideas made accessible
- Blends science, philosophy, and culture
- Perfect for readers who enjoy intellectually expansive nonfiction
Young Man in a Hurry by Gavin Newsom
Genre: Political Memoir
From dyslexia to national prominence, Newsom traces his upbringing, Irish immigrant roots, and early political risk-taking including the 2004 decision to authorize same-sex marriages in San Francisco.
- 📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Behind-the-scenes look at modern politics
- Personal narrative intertwined with public change
- Ideal for readers who follow contemporary political debates
We the Women by Norah O'Donnell
Genre: History / Biography
Timed for America’s 250th anniversary, this collection profiles more than thirty overlooked women who shaped U.S. history. O’Donnell reframes foundational narratives through a female lens, highlighting stories long minimized in the history books.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Reclaims erased history
- Timely anniversary release
- Ideal for history enthusiasts
Tell Me How You Eat by Amber Husain
Genre: Memoir / Cultural Criticism
Husain explores hunger in its many forms. Drawing from her own recovery journey and weaving in histories of protest and survival, she examines food as power.
Literary and intellectually ambitious, this book sits at the intersection of memoir and theory.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Food writing with cultural weight
- Personal narrative + political analysis
- Ideal for literary nonfiction readers
Picky by Helen Zoe Veit
Genre: Food History / Parenting
Veit challenges the idea that picky eating is inevitable. Through food history and cultural analysis, she argues that modern “kid food” is largely a marketing invention.
This reframes a common parenting frustration through a broader lens of advertising, culture, and consumer behavior.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Fascinating food history revelations
- Challenges assumptions about childhood eating
- Great for curious parents and culture readers
Nonfiction & Cultural Commentary
Red Dawn Over China by Frank Dikötter
Genre: History / Political Nonfiction
Frank Dikötter delivers a meticulously researched revisionist history of the Chinese Communist Party’s rise, arguing that Soviet financial and military support — not grassroots revolutionary energy — was the decisive force between 1921 and 1949. Drawing from newly available archival material, he challenges the foundational mythology the Party has long promoted.
At a time when geopolitical tensions dominate headlines, this book lands squarely in the intersection of history, diplomacy, and global power analysis. It’s not casual reading but it’s essential for readers who want to understand the historical roots of modern China.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Deep historical analysis of modern global power
- Clear, argument-driven nonfiction
- Ideal for readers who want context behind today’s headlines
The Kids Who Aren’t Okay by Ross W. Greene
Genre: Psychology / Education
Child psychologist Ross Greene tackles the youth mental health crisis with a proactive, collaborative framework. Rather than focusing on controlling behavior, Greene argues we must identify and solve the underlying problems causing it.
With schools and parents alike seeking alternatives to punitive discipline models, this book arrives at the exact moment educators are rethinking structure, empathy, and mental health infrastructure.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Practical tools for navigating challenging behavior
- Empathy-centered parenting approach
- Especially helpful for educators and parents
Hormone Healthy Eats by Lauren Chambers
Genre: Wellness / Cookbook
Organized by menstrual cycle phases, this collection of 100 gluten-free recipes offers a practical introduction to cycle-syncing nutrition. Chambers combines accessible wellness advice with recipe-forward usability, targeting symptoms like mood swings, painful periods, and fatigue.
📌Why you’ll love it:
- Structured, easy-to-follow recipe framework
- Focused on balancing energy and mood
- Great for readers exploring cycle-based wellness
Get Home Safe by Rana Abdelhamid
Genre: Self-Defense / Social Justice
Rana Abdelhamid expands the concept of self-defense beyond physical techniques to include emotional resilience, economic autonomy, and community organizing. Drawing from her experience founding Malikah which has trained over 20,000 people. This book blends practical instruction with systemic analysis.
It’s not just about learning how to block a strike. It’s about understanding how safety intersects with policy, power, and community.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Empowering, holistic approach to safety
- Blends personal experience with practical advice
- Ideal for readers interested in community-centered activism
It’s Never Too Late by Marla Gibbs
Genre: Memoir
At 93, Marla Gibbs chronicles her rise from turbulent beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in television history. Beyond nostalgia, this memoir details her behind-the-scenes fight for fair pay, creative control, and representation in Hollywood.
Part career retrospective, part industry critique, it blends resilience with sharp insight into what it meant to demand space in an industry not built for you.
It’s Never Too Late by Marla Gibbs
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Hollywood history from a firsthand voice
- Inspiring story of resilience and reinvention
- Ideal for fans of classic television and memoir
You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It by Lisa Rinna
Genre: Celebrity Memoir
Reality television’s most unapologetic personality offers her first full memoir, blending career highs, personal grief, motherhood, and public controversy. While fans may come for the behind-the-scenes stories, the book also explores aging in Hollywood and maintaining identity in a culture built on reinvention.
📌 Why you’ll love it:
- Candid celebrity storytelling
- Vulnerability beneath the public persona
- Perfect for reality TV fans
Final Thoughts
February 24 closes the month with range. From high-stakes fantasy and political intrigue to literary reflection and emotionally layered romance.
As always, I’d love to know which of these are you adding to your stack!
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are coming out Febuary 26th?
This week’s new releases include Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi, thrillers from James Rollins and C.J. Box, literary fiction from Anna Quindlen and Lauren Groff, and major nonfiction from Michael Pollan and Norah O’Donnell.
What is the most anticipated release this week?
Cleopatra stands out as the week’s most anticipated title, combining feminist historical fiction with sweeping narrative scale.
Are there new romance books releasing this week?
Yes, dark romance readers will want to grab Joey by Sadie Kincaid.
Are there major nonfiction books releasing this week?
Absolutely. Michael Pollan’s A World Appears and Norah O’Donnell’s We the Women headline a strong nonfiction lineup.
