Buzz List: New Books We Are Stoked About
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There’s nothing like the thrill of a brand new year and a fresh book release season, and January 2026 has me buzzing! My TBR is growing faster than my free time, and honestly, I’m not mad about it. From twist-your-brain thrillers to emotional heart-punch stories and immersive fantasy worlds, this lineup is stacked.
What excites me most is the range: new titles from authors who never disappoint, long-awaited sequels I’ve been waiting for, and buzzy debuts that readers are already raving about. These are the books that make you stay up way too late saying just one more chapter until suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
This year, I’m here for:
High-stakes thrillers with jaw-dropping twists
Fantasy and romantasy with rich world-building and dangerous magic
Stories that linger long after the last page
These are releases people are already counting down to, predicting favorites of the year. If you love discovering new reads before everyone else, keep scrolling.
Grab your wine, clear some shelf space, and get ready — here are 12 new books we are seriously stoked about!
Thrillers
1. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
This one absolutely explodes off the page with its bold twist on revenge and justice. I can already picture myself cheering and gasping as Debbie finally takes her own advice and flips the script. With McFadden’s sharp plotting and addictive pacing (that we all know and love), this feels like the perfect kickoff thriller of the year.
2. My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Paper & Vine LOVES Alice Feeney. If a mystery that keeps you guessing until the last breath is your jam, this is it. Two women, one husband and a house full of secrets! Feeney’s signature atmospheric tension means I’m ready to stay up way too late unraveling every twist.
3. The First Time I Saw Him (The Last Thing He Told Me Sequel) by Laura Dave
I loved the first installment and this sequel promised all the emotional depth action and heart racing moments that made it a favorite. I am so here for Hannah’s next chapter! The danger, the family bonds and the way it looks like the past keeps catching up in stunning ways has me READY.
Fantasy/Romantasy
Vampires with fresh lore romance and a heroine rediscovering her power, this one feels like the perfect blend of supernatural and heartfelt. I’m so excited to sink into a world where magic, family and danger collide (bonus points for the forbidden romance vibes).
5. A Vow in Vengeance (Immortal Desires #1) by Jaclyn Rodriguez
Magic betrayal and enemies who might just be something more… this feels like the year’s next big romantasy obsession. The fierce heroine and high stakes magical school setting promise the kind of spellbinding read that’s impossible to put down. HIGH ON MY TBR, LADIES!
6. Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Bring on the lush historical fantasy romance vibes. Set in Renaissance Italy (with danger hidden beneath) this feels like the perfect escape. Epic stakes, forbidden magic and an enemies to something more energy. (I will likely devour this one).
Contemporary Romance
8. Catch Her If You Can (Big Shots #5) by Tessa Bailey
I am SO excited for this one because Tessa Bailey knows exactly how to blend humor heart and chemistry in a way that makes you laugh and swoon at the same time. It has all the Big Shots energy I crave light fun and absolutely addictive.
9. The Odds of You by Kate Dramis
I am so here for this January release. Witty banter, Hollywood chaos, and a fake-dating mess that’s basically begging for sparks to fly. Sage and Theo’s romance looks like trouble, fun, and swoon all rolled into one! Exactly my kind of late-night read. ✨
10. Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen
A second‑chance romance that literally sets love to sea?! Anything sea related after I read Swept Away by Beth O’Leary: SIGN ME UP. Roslyn and Liam are navigating grief, pretend‑dating on a Hawaiian cruise, and whether their marriage is worth saving. Fake it till you feel it? Yes please. Bring on the waves and the swoons! 🌊❤️
Memoir/Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction/Self Dev
10. Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
I adored Jennette McCurdy’s heartbreaking memoir and cannot wait to hear from her again (audio was a must, IMO). This release promises raw honesty, wit, and those moments that make you laugh and cry all at once... exactly why I’m adding it to the TOP of my TBR. ✨
It sounds like a wild, wise, and wildly imaginative ride through the twilight hours of a complicated life, but with ghosts, reckonings, and that signature Saunders blend of heart and humor. This is the kind of book that’ll make you think and feel long after the last page, or at least I hope it will be! ✨
12. The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
WE LOVE ASHLEY WINSTEAD AT PAPER & VINE!! A music‑industry love story that feels like Daisy Jones & The Six meets emotional heart pull. A scrappy band on the brink, a record exec determined to save them, and grief, fame, love, and sisterhood tangled in every chord. I cannot wait to turn these pages. This is my #1 TBR pull for Jan, I have a feeling I will DEVOUR this one.
Not feeling any of these but love Contemporary Romance? Hate picking your next read? Looking for more self-care in 2026? 💖 Join our Contemporary Romance Book of the Month Club! For just $35 when you subscribe, get the book, a matching bookmark, and fun goodies — delivered to your door or ready for pickup. Your next favorite read awaits! ✨
