The Bookmark: New Year, New Books
From Staff Reports
January might be Readers, aka Booklovers, favorite month. It’s a fresh start on reading goals.
There’s new reading journals, lists of to-be-read, reading challenges, book bingos, best of 2025 lists, most anticipated for 2026 lists.
There are lots of new books in 2026 to be excited about. Here’s just a few that are coming out soon.
For those who wish to read more nonfiction in 2026 there are some interesting possibilities.
• Julian Sancton’s Neptune’s Fortune The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire will be published January 27. There’s lost treasures and ghosts! And it’s true!
• Mark Oppenheimer’s Judy Blume A Life is available March 10. Who doesn’t love Judy? That’s rhetorical! Don’t come with hate.
• If you do, you probably need more joy in your life and Kate Bowler will be here for you (figuratively) April 7 with Joyful, Anyway “Joy won’t cure you, but it will carry you.”
• If you’re into true crime Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth is available on April 7 as well. A young man is murdered and his family learns he might have had a secret life. It sounds intriguing.
For fiction fans …
Emily Austin, the author of Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, has a new novel coming in January: Is This A Cry For Help? Also in January award winner George Saunders Vigil A Novel is about an afterlife guide dealing with a difficult client . Paula McLain’s Skylark A Novel dual timelines (1664 and 1939) in Paris. Fan favorite Brad Meltzier The Viper continues his Zig & Nola series.
For the mystery / thriller folk Alice Feeney, Ashley Elston, Freida McFadden, Rachel Hawkins and Laura Dave have January releases.
Looking for romance reads? … Tess Bailey has a new one in January.
A few other upcoming releases to add to your To Be Read list …
• When We were brilliant Lynn Cullen’s latest historical fiction focuses on Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold relationship. Look for Lynn to discuss her latest at The Carnegie January 27. Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com.
• The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao features a train that may take you to your life’s purpose January 20. I’m on board for that!
• The Charmed Library Jennifer Moorman – a cozy romance with some magical realism about a heartbroken librarian, Stella, and books. Look for Jennifer to discuss her latest at The Carnegie February 3 at 11:30 a.m. Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com.
• Where the Wildflowers Grow A Novel Terah Shelton Harris – “a poignant story of survival and redemption, asking readers to question what it means to stop surviving and start living”. She’ll be at the Newnan Carnegie Library February 20 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss this book. Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com.
• Tayari Jones has a new book Kin coming out February 24. It’s about sisters, but it’s complicated. Jones is an Atlanta author of award winning An American Marriage dealing with the impact of incarceration on a marriage; Silver Sparrow bigamy and secret families; Leaving Atlanta: A Novel the Atlanta children murders, and The Untelling my favorite so far, but to tell you anything would be a spoiler. Just read it while we wait for February 24.
Obviously there’s a lot more books to look forward to in the reading world of 2026. This is just a small sample.
Check out Newnan Carnegie Library newnancarnegie.com for books, authors and more. Just down the street is Newnan Book Co. with books, book clubs and more. Corner Arts Gallery Studio & Gift Shop has local authors’ books! Morally Gray on Perry Street for some spicy reads. Don’t forget Senoia, Book Love.
Of course there’s your Coweta Public Library with 4 branches. Check their website for info cowetapubliclibrary.org.
Was one of your resolutions to join a book club? They most all have one or more. Check them out.
Wishing you all the success with your 2026 reading goals.
