Every quarter on this blog, I share a list of releases that I’m anticipating. That doesn’t mean I recommend or plan or reading all of them – I’ve usually not read the books on this list, and I don’t have time to read all of them (at least not immediately), so I’ll pick a couple of key ones to try. They are, however, all books that I’m generally interested in and think sound like they might be worth the read.
This post is spelt into two sections: new releases, and paperback releases of books that are already out in hardback but that I want to mention briefly.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at my anticipated releases for January-March 2026. We’ll start with fantasy, move on to other fiction and end with some non-fiction picks!
This is technically not a Top Ten Tuesday post (since it’s more than 10 books and also not Tuesday), but it’s similar to this week’s topic same topic, so I’ll be making my way through the T10T posts from this week to share the love – feel free to leave your link in the comments for me to check out!
Fantasy
- 20/1 The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
Peasant girl turned prince’s concubine must compose a poem powerful enough to kill the future emperor. - 22/1 The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Lost souls wake up on a magic train offering them a sense of purpose, but a dark magic threatens to destroy the train. - 26/2 All We Have is Time by Amy Tordoff
An immortal woman and a time travelling man meet in 1605, and again a century later. - 5/3 The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine
A seer whose magic is corrupting her mind and whose country blames them for their problems goes on a journey to find an ancient relic that could cure what ails the lands. - 19/3 The Legend of Lady Byeoksa by Esther Park
A ghost-hunting woman with a demonic curse and a King’s official must work together to overcome the evil forces influencing the court.
Translated & Literary Fiction
- 29/1 The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin (France)
Two sisters reunite after fifteen years to clear out their old family home in the French countryside before it’s knocked down. - 19/2 Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama (Japan)
A woman writes in a notebook as the waiter prepares her favourite hot chocolate, each wandering about the other and the lives of the other customers of the quiet cafe. - 12/3 Hooked by Asako Yuzuki (Japan)
A lonely woman with the perfect work life but a messy home becomes fascinated with a housewife’s blog. Tracking the blogger down, the woman strikes up a friendship that quickly spirals into obsession. - 12/3 George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett
In a moment of extreme stress, a man falls through time from modern London to the year 1300. A servant named Simon helps him adapt to this simpler existence, until a summons from the King threatens to send his life up in his flames.
- 12/3 The Memory Bookshop by Song Yujeong (Korea)
The Memory Bookshop sells no books. Instead, you can give up time in your future to return to three chapters of your past. - 17/3 Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
Leigh is the only survivor when the transport bus taking her to prison careens off the road. She finds sanctuary with a family on a flower farm in Alabama and begins to hill, but the ghosts of her path threaten her newfound hope and home. - 19/3 The Soul-Catchers by Naoko Higashi (Japan)
Eleven recently deceased individuals find themselves met by a nameless ghost who offers them a joyous reunion with their loved ones, in the form of an object. - 24/3 Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar
A short story collection giving glimpses into worlds unlike are own through letters, diaries, reference materials, folklore, and lyrical prose. - 26/3 Troubled Waters by Ichiyou Higuchi (Japan)
New translation of the first professional Japanese woman writer’s short stories, revealing the beauty ands struggle of working class women in turn-of-the-century Japan.
Nonfiction
- 8/1 The Wild Within by Brigit Anna McNeill
Herbalist and trained therapist explains how the natural cycle of dispersal, growth and bloom can inspire our recovery from trauma, stress and illness. - 22/1 Two Women Living Together by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo (Korea)
In South Korea, two women reject both marriage and living alone, redefining what family means. Now in their late 40s, they reflect on society and the comfort of their cohabiting friendship. - 19/2 Starchild by Dr Maggie Aderin
Memoir of a Black British space scientist and science educator, from childhood dreams of space to motherhood, groundbreaking science and sharing the wonders of the stars with thousands of children across the country. - 26/3 The Beginning Comes After the End by Rebecca Solnit
A map of the revolution if ideas and rights over the last 50 years that have profoundly changed our word, including the recognition of the interdependent and symbiotic relationship in nature and humans that threatens to overthrow capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy and the human domination of nature.
New to Paperback
There are also quite a few books getting new life with a paperback edition this quarter, so if (like me) you missed them when they came out last year, now might just be the time to pick them up!
Shop this list on Bookshop.org UK and support independent bookshops.
If you are based in the UK and want to support independent bookshops, please consider buying the books on this list via my storefront on Bookshop.org UK. If you do, I get 10% commission and so do British independent bookshops (without affecting the price you pay).
If you can’t buy the books right now but want to read them, please check your local library (or request them)! Together we can keep these important community resources alive.
Which new releases are you most looking forward to? Did I miss any of your most anticipated off my list? Let me know down below!
Keira x
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