What to read in 2026 (my TBR and new book releases) - Episode 85
As 2025 winds down, my reading list isn’t slowing down. In this episode of Create & Consume, I’m diving into the books I’m most excited to read in 2026, sharing one-sentence pitches for new releases, and revealing the titles I’ve recently added to my ever-growing TBR.
Create & consume:
What Austen’s creating this week: Fun short-form content! I’ve also created a new calendar system to track and plan my short-form content because I feel it has been lacking direction for the last few years
What Austen’s consuming this week: Finished Stranger Things season 5! WOW, lots to wrap up. Overall not my favorite season but well done finale episode. Epilogue went on a bit longer than needed I thought (like the main action finished and there were still 35 minutes left in the episode?) would have been cool to see in theaters, it was basically an action movie!
In this episode:
2026 reads, one-sentence pitches & my ever-growing TBR
If you’ve been following along on YouTube, you know I’m currently deep in my best books of 2025, but behind the scenes, my brain is already time-traveling to 2026.
In this episode of Create & Consume, I’m sharing the one-sentence pitches for the books I’m most excited about next year, plus a peek at the titles I’ve recently added to my TBR and the ones that somehow survived 2025 unread.
If you love talking about books the way people talk about movie trailers—vibes first, details later—this episode is for you.
New releases I’m excited for in 2026
These are the books that immediately made me stop scrolling, open Goodreads, and mentally rearrange my future reading life.
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston (January 13)
A tense thriller where two women attempt a dangerous identity swap to expose dark secrets—only to become trapped in a web of murder, deception, and a single shared alibi.
Woman Down by Colleen Hoover (January 13)
A bestselling author escapes to a secluded cabin to cure writer’s block, but when a detective shows up with unsettling news, reality begins to fracture into something far more chilling.
Yes, this would be my first CoHo book. Is that unhinged? Maybe.
Little One by Olivia Muenter (February 6)
A haunting, emotional story about a woman whose carefully buried past resurfaces when a journalist investigates the disturbing circumstances of her escape from a cult-like environment.
Missing Me by Ayana Lage (March 17)
After giving birth, a writer’s faith unravels into postpartum psychosis marked by vivid religious delusions, forcing a reckoning with belief, motherhood, and reality.
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (March 24)
A single moment changes everything as a slow-burn friendship threatens to upend Larissa’s relationship—and her future.
Abby Jimenez fans, I need guidance: how interconnected are her books, really?
American Fantasy by Emma Straub (April 7)
A newly divorced, empty-nest woman rediscovers desire and identity on a nostalgia-fueled boy-band cruise, where fandom, aging, and connection collide in unexpected ways.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune (May 5)
When Frankie’s wedding implodes and her childhood best friend reappears, the pair take her would-be honeymoon together, confronting years of unresolved feelings and the question of whether they were ever just friends.
Reality Bites by Amy Mass (May 12)
A sharp, funny romcom where a scientist joins a reality dating show to save her lab—and accidentally risks both her secrets and her heart.
Books I’ve recently added to my TBR
Because the TBR is not a list—it’s a living, breathing organism.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
A friends-to-lovers romance built around years of summer trips, emotional distance, and one final vacation.
Bonus: the Netflix adaptation drops this month.
Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza
A magazine writer reconnects with her influencer best friend—only for the reunion to spiral into a murder mystery when the influencer vanishes.
Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh
Succession-meets–Crazy Rich Asians with a K-beauty empire at the center, following a Korean-American lawyer navigating a high-stakes divorce case and her own complicated past.
Workhorse by Caroline Palmer
A debut set in the cutthroat early-2000s fashion magazine world, exploring ambition, class, and what women sacrifice to climb the ladder.
The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager
A museum employee discovers she can step into a Matisse painting, sparking a magical realism love story across time, art, and reality.
All the Cool Girls Get Fired by Laura Brown & Kristina O’Neill
A smart, funny nonfiction guide reframing job loss as a catalyst for reinvention, packed with practical advice and real-world stories.
One Star Romance by Laura Hankin
Two opposites are forced together at a wedding after discovering they share a deep mutual dislike—and a very inconvenient book review.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees in a quiet village investigate cold cases—until a real murder lands in their laps.
Also our January Book Club pick and now a Netflix film.
Still on my TBR from 2025
Some books simply refused to be rushed (or maybe I didn’t get around to them) so these are remaining reads from my 2025 TBR I’d like to get to this year!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – A lone astronaut must save humanity with no memory of how he got there. (Movie coming this year.)
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand – A widow hosts a reunion weekend that unearths secrets and shifting friendships.
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – A surreal premise where new husbands appear via an attic lightbulb.
Spiral (Off the Ice) by Bal Khabra – Fake dating, sports, ballet, and emotional vulnerability.
How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin – MLMs, journalism, and unexpected love. (Just finished, 4 stars for me!)
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten – A memoir I’m saving for audio, inspired by my love for Kelly Bishop’s narration.
A new genre in 2026?
Finally, I’m flirting with the idea of stepping outside my usual comfort zone. Romantasy feels inevitable (ACOTAR, Fourth Wing?), and historical fiction may be calling. If you have suggestions for either genre, leave them in the comments!
Summary
Whether you’re planning your 2026 TBR or just curious about the books that have caught my eye, this episode is a peek into the stories I can’t wait to explore.
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