Our Most Anticipated Books For Winter 2025/2026

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Curated Pinterest moodboards and aesthetic Bookstagram feeds associate the act of reading with knitted blankets, scented candles, and warm drinks. While reality isn't quite as picturesque as these perfectly-edited snapshots, we have to admit that there's nothing quite like cuddling up with a good book on a snowy day, especially when accompanied by a crackling fire and furry companion. In this way, the colder months double as a great time to immerse yourself in great books and really make a dent in your to-be-read stack. 

Luckily, just as fall 2025 brings exciting new titles, the upcoming 2025/2026 winter promises some much-anticipated, TBR-worthy releases. These upcoming publications range from swoony debut romances to immersive historical fiction, offering every type of reader something to look forward to. For our list, we're keeping an eye on standout entries into some of the internet's most popular genres, including fantasy and dark academia, and checking in with some well-loved authors. Overall, these are some much-anticipated December, January, and February releases worth keeping on your radar.

Bestselling novels like "Legendborn" by Tracey Deonn and "Babel" by R. F. Kuang have put magical twists on the ominous atmosphere, tweed aesthetic, and literary reflections of the dark academia genre in recent years. Kamilah Cole's December release, "An Arcane Inheritance," has the potential to stand among these fantastical, internet-cherished titles, with the novel centering around Ellory Morgan and Warren University. Plus, as Cole made her mark on the fantasy genre with the YA title "So Let Them Burn" in 2024, we're excited to get our hands on the author's foray into dark academia for adults.

In this December 30 release, Ellory begins experiencing a sinister feeling of déjà vu as she embarks on her freshman year at her Ivy League university, becoming convinced that she's reliving past experiences. She needs the help of her academic rival to unravel the magical mystery, but ultimately discovers that the truth runs darker and deeper than she realized. At the time of writing, "An Arcane Inheritance" averages a 4.14-star rating on Goodreads, with early reviewers highlighting the unsettling atmosphere, rich prose, and BIPOC representation. In this way, we're excited to see if this upcoming release lands among the best dark academia novels to add to your book club reading list.

While we're always anticipating new novels from our favorite lovey-dovey authors, with 2025 bringing plenty of major romance releases, we love to see new names making their debut in the swoonworthy genre. Isabelle Engel is a great example of this, with the D.C.-based author's "Most Eligible" hitting shelves on January 13. The winter-releasing romcom is pitched as a cross between "The Bachelor" and "Miss Congeniality," making it a must-read for fans of reality TV.

When journalist Georgia Rose goes undercover on the hit dating show "Love Shack," her plan to write an exposé on the producers is complicated by the appearance of her swoony one-night-stand from the year before. Country singer Rhett Auburn is the host of the newest season, but Georgia's second chance at romance threatens her undercover role on the show. Featuring all the chaos and drama of reality TV, early reviewers of "Most Eligible" mark the book's ensemble cast as a standout element, while the humor and hijinks serve as a major appeal. Boasting a 4.07-star rating on Goodreads, we can't wait to get our hands on "Most Eligible" this winter.

Next, Ashley Winstead has a backlist of thriller-mysteries like "The Last Housewife" and romances such as "Fool Me Once," but her upcoming winter release promises something new. Scheduled for a January 20 release, "The Future Saints" is a romance and contemporary fiction novel centering around an up-and-coming rock band and their new record executive, with reviewers drawing comparisons to "Daisy Jones and the Six" and "Almost Famous." At the same time, the novel promises to explore themes of sisterhood, grief, and love, landing it squarely on our list of much-anticipated winter releases.

In this 2026 title, record executive Theo must work with the Future Saints, a pop-turned-rock band suffering from the loss of their manager, to produce an album. It's the group's last chance at success, but lead singer Hannah's destructive tendencies spell trouble for the band. Not only does her ongoing grief and burgeoning fame threaten the band's big break, but it also jeopardizes her own relationships and well-being. At the time of writing, "The Future Saints" maintains an average rating of 4.36 stars on Goodreads, with early readers noting how the novel deftly combines the music industry setting with reflections on grief and mental health. Overall, we're excited to see if this winter release lives up to the hype.

Fantasy books have seen a major boost in popularity in recent years, experiencing particular success in online spaces like #BookTok. For example, while romance-fantasy hybrids have established themselves as a new subgenre, "A Court of Thorns and Roses" has stayed a fantasy series that readers can't stop buying on Amazon. In this way, we're always on the lookout for new names and unique perspectives in the fantasy sphere, with "The Poet Empress" by Shen Tao being a promising winter release.

In this January 20 publication, Yin Wei, a rice farmer-turned-concubine, must navigate the imperial court of Prince Guan Terren. As the nation of Tensha suffers from famine and the cruel heir, who possesses a poetry magic, wars with his older brother, Wei must depend on her wit and confront challenging choices if she hopes to ensure the survival of herself and her land. Though "The Poet Empress" only has a handful of early reviews, the title currently boasts a 4.7-star rating on Goodreads. Readers praise the debut novel for weaving an epic fantasy tale filled with magical poetry and political intrigue, with the carefully crafted characters being another major standout. If you're an avid fantasy reader, this is definitely an upcoming release to keep on your radar.

Sadeqa Johnson made it onto our list of the best Reese Witherspoon book club picks of the 2020s with her 2023 release "House of Eve." Now, the bestselling author is delivering another historical fiction title this winter, with "Keeper of Lost Children" debuting on February 10. Highly rated by pre-release readers, this post-WWII novel weaves together three stories while deftly exploring themes of racism, parenthood, love, and poverty. In this way, the upcoming novel makes for a quick addition to our TBR pile.

Army wife Ethel Gathers's desire for a family is at the heart of the "Keeper of Lost Children," driving her to understand a group of mixed-race children under the care of a nun in war-torn Germany. Meanwhile, in 1948, Ozzie Phillips volunteers as a Black soldier, finding romance with a German woman named Jelka even as he's unable to escape racism overseas. Lastly, Sophia Clark is confronted with a life-changing secret in 1965, having traveled to a prestigious Maryland boarding school. With an average rating of 4.56 stars on Goodreads, reviewers praise "Keeper of Lost Children" for its fast, engaging pace and focus on a little-explored facet of history, marking it as a notable winter release for fans of historical fiction and readers interested in the time period.