For Your Consideration: January 2026 LibraryReads Titles

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Posted on by Margo McCoy

Download, read, and vote for your favorite January titles for the January 2026 LibraryReads list!

VOTES DUE DECEMBER 1ST!

WRECK YOUR HEART by Lori-Rader Day | 9781250393739 | 1/6/26
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“Suspense novelist Rader-Day changes pace with this sharply funny, heartfelt mystery, and every bit of it works. Its exploration of family secrets will delight fans of Nina Simon’s MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT and Nita Prose’s THE MAID.”—Library Journal, starred review

“Rader-Day excels at conjuring the sights and sounds of her Chicago setting, and Dahlia is a spunky, unforgettable heroine. The result is a consistently surprising mystery that readers will be hard-pressed to put down.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

GRACELESS HEART by Isabel Ibañez | 9781250376695 | 1/13/26
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“Written with expressive turns of phrase and set amidst the lush backdrop of a magical Renaissance Italy, Ibañez’s page-turning adult debut is a fantasy romance about a woman torn between familiar but limiting expectations and the tempting darkness of the unknown. Filled with an intoxicating slow-burn romance, complex characters, and surprising reveals, GRACELESS HEART will leave readers wanting more from this world.”—Booklist, starred review

“This captivating historical romantasy set in Renaissance Italy features expert worldbuilding that makes 15th-century magical creatures and magic-infused statues feel possible.”—Library Journal, starred review

LOST LAMBS by Madeline Cash | 9780374619237 | 1/13/26
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“Cash has a hit debut on her hands based on the guffaw-inducing, deadpan humor alone… In addition to the generous portions of humor, Cash weaves in a fun romp in which the family members get to exercise their strengths. An entertaining and breezy read reminiscent of the best of Kevin Wilson.”—Booklist, starred review

“Loaded with snarky one-liners and absurdist set pieces, Cash’s glittering debut novel (after the collection EARTH ANGEL) follows the middle-class Flynn family as they try and fail to find a sense of purpose… Cash has a finely tuned ear for the silliness of modern language (volunteer events have names like Apple Bobbing for Autism and Knitting for Narcolepsy), and she serves up wild slapstick and a twist of nasty horror before sending things out on a sweet and surprisingly sentimental note… It’s unforgettable.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE POET EMPRESS by Shen Tao | 9781250406811 | 1/20/26
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“Tao’s haunting debut immerses readers in a famine-stricken empire where poetry is power… The many political threads become fascinatingly tangled, Tao’s prose gleams with poetic precision, and climactic revelations strike with devastating inevitability. Fans of R.F. Kuang’s THE POPPY WAR and Shelley Parker-Chan’s SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN will be enthralled by this fierce meditation on love, power, and survival through art.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE BOOKBINDER’S SECRET by A. D. Bell | 9781250412645 | 1/13/26
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“In this stellar debut from Bell, a British bibliophile courts danger while seeking answers about a mysterious note she found in a book… Bell exhibits a superior gift for crafting an engrossing puzzle and a complex, sympathetic protagonist. Admirers of Charles Palliser’s THE QUINCUNX will love this.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

RULES OF THE HEART by Janice Hadlow | 9781250129468 | 1/20/26
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“In this sweeping and gorgeous tearjerker of a historical romance, Hadlow (THE OTHER BENNET SISTER) fictionalizes the scandalous relationship between Lady Harriet Bessborough and Lord Granville Leveson Gower against the turbulent close of the 18th century, when older married women often took young lovers while their husbands conveniently looked the other way… Hadlow makes both Harriet’s passion and her grief leap off the page, creating a stirring portrait of a woman driven by her heart instead of her head. Readers should have tissues at the ready.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

LAST FIRST KISS by Julian Winters | 9781250326263 | 1/27/26
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“Winters makes Jordan’s coming-out story feel authentic and emotional, surrounding him with supportive family members who help convey the bighearted message that ‘no one gets to decide what [your] love story looks like.’ This smart, sexy romance will have readers swooning.”—Publishers Weekly

THE ODDS OF YOU by Kate Dramis | 9781250393678 | 1/6/26
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“Romantasy author Dramis (the Curse of Saints series) pivots to contemporary fiction with this nuanced romance… Dramis ably captures the intricacies of healing. The result is both sensitive and sexy.”—Publishers Weekly

WHEN TREES TESTIFY: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery | 9781250335166 | 1/20/26
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“Plant biologist Montgomery (LESSONS FROM PLANTS) mixes memoir, history, and science in this unique examination of the significance of trees in Black history… Throughout, Montgomery weaves in her scientific expertise and her experiences growing up around trees in Arkansas to deliver a poignant and singular retelling of Black American history. This will resonate with fans of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s BRAIDING SWEETGRASS.“—Publishers Weekly

CROSS YOUR HEART AND HOPE HE DIES by Jenny Elder Moke | 9781250355010 | 1/20/26
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“This amusing romantic mystery from Moke (SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE) follows the misadventures of Juliette Winters, marketing director of Seattle publishing house Simon Says…. mystery fans looking for a brisk and bawdy whodunit will walk away satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly

JANAE SANDERS’ SECOND TIME AROUND by LaQuette | 9781250773418 | 1/6/26
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“Janae and Adam’s budding romance is sweet and sexy, and it’s satisfying to watch them advocate for themselves and each other in this story that showcases the importance of being true to oneself and encouraging loved ones to pave their own paths. A gratifying romance between kind, confident, deserving leads.”—Kirkus Reviews

MOST ELIGIBLE by Isabelle Engel | 9781250396204 | 1/13/26
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“Engel’s fast-paced, witty debut is a great addition to the reality-TV romance genre. Perfect for fans of ONE TO WATCH by Kate Stayman-London and IF THE SHOE FITS by Julie Murphy and a must-read for all Bachelor devotees.”—Library Journal

MEET THE NEWMANS by Jennifer Niven | 9781250372444 | 1/6/26
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“Jennifer Niven gives us an intimate look into a television family at a moment of secret upheaval, when their deepest fears and most urgent desires collide and nothing will be the same again. Set in a historical moment that resonates with many of our current cultural concerns, MEET THE NEWMANS is moving and engaging–and a complete delight.”—Nina LaCour, national bestselling author of YERBA BUENA

THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross | 9781250394552 | 1/27/26
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“Just when you think a mystical typewriter that grants wishes would be fabulous, comes THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC, a cautionary story about being careful for what you wish for. Brimming with reminders that family is worth fighting for, staying true to yourself is everything, and forgiveness goes a long way toward healing, Harper Ross has written a heartfelt, magical, memorable novel sure to captivate.”—Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFÉ

IF I RULED THE WORLD by Amy DuBois Barnett | 9781250378125 | 1/27/26
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“Funny, sexy, witty, and full of grit, IF I RULED THE WORLD is for anyone who’s spent a lifetime climbing a ladder that keeps adding rungs. This fierce, unputdownable, guilty pleasure of a novel steps back into the uniquely fabulous and ruthless New York hustle at the turn of the century, through the eyes of a real Working Girl and industry insider, when the biggest players moving the needle of culture were grinding for recognition in a society that would rather look away. An utterly intoxicating debut.”—Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of OLGA DIES DREAMING

THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND by Jessie Garcia | 9781250364456 | 1/20/26
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In this riveting thriller from the author of THE BUSINESS TRIP, Jessie Garcia’s signature multi-POV, rapid-fire style will propel you into the heart of a mystery no one could have forecasted. It’s always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as “The Fair Weather Friend” by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning. The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth.

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