With the end of the year fast approaching, I’m already looking ahead to the books I can’t wait to read next! November and December 2026 have plenty of promising new releases to look forward to, and I’ve picked out eight books that have caught my attention. From what sounds like heartwarming holiday reads to intriguing stories that promise to keep me turning the pages, these upcoming releases have definitely earned a spot on my reading list. Introduced by release date, here are the November & December 2026 New Book Releases: 8 Books I Can’t Wait to Read.
The Other Side of Starting Over by Mara Williams:
After her husband’s sudden death, Beatrice Bell returns to her childhood home in California’s Sierra mountains with her teenage twins, hoping to rebuild her life by taking over her parents’ antique store. But she clashes with Simon, the gruff store manager, and their animosity soon develops into an unexpected attraction. As Bea struggles with grief and adjusts to her new reality, a local boy who resembles her late husband and a shocking revelation from her estranged mother-in-law threaten everything she thought she knew about her marriage. To find healing and embrace a second chance at love, Bea must confront the secrets of her past and discover whether it’s possible to begin again. Expected Publication: November 3.
Sunflower Season by Danica Nava:
Burnt out from her demanding tech job, June Walker quits and returns to rural Oklahoma to restore a struggling sunflower farm near the town where she grew up. Hoping for a fresh start, she soon discovers that repairing the farm is only part of the challenge, especially when she comes face-to-face with Noah Abbott, her first love, whom she left behind without explanation when she was seventeen. While Noah is determined to uncover why June disappeared, their old heartbreak gives way to renewed attraction as they confront the past and consider whether their first love deserves a second chance. Expected Publication November 3.
All She Wants for Christmas by Lisa Jewell:
Fiddy and Louise Stone’s once-perfect marriage begins to unravel after Louise becomes a bestselling author, leaving her with the fame, money and power while Fiddy grows resentful and turns to his younger colleague, Kate, for understanding and appreciation. But Kate has been quietly observing the couple for years, learning their secrets and weaknesses while gradually weaving herself into their lives. When Louise mysteriously falls ill and a disturbing manuscript arrives at her publisher’s office, the carefully concealed truths behind their relationships begin to surface, blurring the line between fact and fiction in a dark tale of obsession, ambition and betrayal. Expected Publication November 3.
If They Knew by A.J. Wooding:
After his father’s death, Theo Parrish inherits Parrish Cruise Lines, the ambitious cruise company his father built, and takes responsibility for its future when his twin brother declines to get involved. Determined to honour his father’s legacy, Theo boards the company’s first vessel for a training voyage, but a violent storm cripples the ship’s communications and power, leaving it stranded at sea. As days turn into months and supplies dwindle, Theo must make impossible decisions to keep everyone alive while tensions rise, alliances form and dangerous secrets emerge, including one passenger’s shocking hidden truth. With rescue uncertain, the passengers and crew face a desperate fight for survival, unsure who will make it home alive. Expected Publication: November 3.
Set Your Life on Fire by Maggie Dawson:
After leaving her cheating husband, Tasha Jensen heads to the airport hoping to escape to Los Angeles, only to find her flight grounded by an ice storm. There, she meets Carter McGee, an annoyingly optimistic stranger determined to stop his ex-wife’s wedding, and the two embark on a chaotic 1,700-mile road trip in a questionable rental van. Amid vehicle breakdowns, emotional turmoil, arguments and an irresistibly fluffy Pomeranian puppy, the heartbroken pair develop an unexpected connection. Their journey eventually leads them to Carter’s matchmaking grandmother’s welcoming beachfront motel, where Tasha and Carter must confront their pasts, rediscover their self-confidence and decide whether they’re ready to take a chance on love again. Expected Publication: November 10.
Solace in Winter by Mary Lawson:
🇨🇦 Set in the small Canadian town of Solace during the deep winter of 1969, this poignant novel follows widower Jack, whose quiet life is disrupted when he rescues an injured dog and discovers a seriously wounded draft dodger fleeing the Vietnam War. As his cabin fills with unexpected visitors carrying their own hopes, fears and secrets, Jack’s daughter Sally becomes suspicious of what she finds and makes a decision that changes everyone’s lives. Against a beautifully wintry backdrop, the story explores connection, compassion, moral complexity and the unexpected ways people can shape one another’s lives. Expected Publication: November 19.
The Magic of Chamomile Cottage by Heather Webber:
After a devastating diagnosis and a painful breakup leave popular storyteller Sunny Callaway struggling to write, a surprising discovery leads her to a small town fighting for survival after its tea factory closes, where she finds family she never knew she had. There, she reconnects with her long-lost cousin Nova Frances Clark, a tea shop owner whose special chamomile blends have healing properties but who has little hope of saving her struggling hometown. As the cousins work together to revitalize the community, they discover the power of family, friendship and shared traditions, learning that sometimes the greatest magic comes from opening their hearts, embracing new beginnings and finding the stories that matter most. Expected Publication December 1.
Just Her Holiday Type by Brisa Carleton:
Heartbroken Christmas movie writer Plum Hayes has stopped believing in holiday magic, but with just two weeks to finish her latest screenplay, she travels to the snowy town of Pine Tree and discovers a magical typewriter that brings her ideal leading man, Zach, to life. He seems to be everything she could want, until she meets Ethan, the stubborn, practical owner of the antique shop downstairs, who is nothing like the romantic hero she would have created. As Christmas Eve approaches, Plum must decide whether to hold on to her perfect fictional man or take a chance on an unexpected real-life romance. Along the way, she discovers that second chances, true love and a little Christmas magic can lead to a happily ever after she never imagined. Expected Publication: December 8.
There you have it— the November & December 2026 New Book Releases I Can’t Wait To Read. With a mix of intriguing stories and seasonal possibilities, I’m excited to see which ones will live up to my expectations and which might become new favourites. Of course, my reading list always has room for a few more surprises, so I’m sure there will be other releases that catch my eye along the way. Are any of these books on your reading list, or are there other November and December releases you think I should add to mine? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Thanks SO much for the heads up about the Lisa Jewell book, Jodie💜 Turns out it’s free with my Audible membership.