4 books coming out this year that you need to read!

2026 is shaping up to be a killer year for book lovers! So if you're looking for a fresh read for 2026, I want to share some more books that I've been lucky enough to read ahead of time that you will need to put on your TBR this year.

1. Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews

If you’re all about swoony banter, laugh‑out‑loud moments and the kind of “oops… that happened” situations that keep you turning pages, Engaged, Apparently by Amy Andrews is your next rom‑com obsession. 

When childhood besties Finn and Sweeney head home for a family birthday surprise, they are not expecting to be announced as engaged to each other. Things get delightfully chaotic and hilariously real as life starts to unravel following the news. What starts as a reluctant fake engagement (thanks to some meddling mums) quickly spirals into viral mayhem and unexpected feelings. It’s equal parts quirky, warm and totally addictive, perfect if you love a real‑world story wrapped in feel‑good, friends‑to‑lovers fun.

Release date: 28th January 2026

2. Good Boy by Michelle Wright

Prepare to grab the tissues (I literally sobbed through the ending...) with Good Boy by Michelle Wright. It's a deeply moving story about second chances, unlikely friendships and the kind of unconditional love only a dog can teach us. 

Set in 1997, we follow Cookie, an inmate with six months left to serve, who gets signed up for a dog rehabilitation program and is paired with an anxious rescue he names Good Boy. What starts as a reluctant assignment becomes something far more profound as Cookie risks everything to save his four‑legged companion from a heartbreaking fate. 

It’s gut‑wrenching and inspiring, showing how hope, loyalty and the healing power of a loyal pup can change not just one life, but two. This is probably my MUST read for 2026, it's phenomenal!

Release Date: 31st March 2026

3. The General Hospital by Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion

Ever wondered what really goes on behind hospital doors? The General Hospital  gives you all the chaos, drama and awkwardly hilarious moments of life on the ward, without needing a medical degree.

You follow trainee psychiatrist Hannah Wright as she juggles tricky patients, messy relationships and the kind of family drama that makes you wince and laugh. It’s smart, funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and packed with just enough real‑world grit to make it feel like it could actually happen to someone you know.

Release Date: 31st March 2026

4. The Other Child by Susi Fox

If you want a book that you can't put down, this is it!

The Other Child follows Lauren, an obstetrician who thought she had finally put the heartbreak of losing her first child behind her. That is until returning to work and caring for her new baby, Charlotte, unleashes a fresh wave of anxiety, fear and creeping doubt about the people closest to her. One offhand comment from a neighbour is all it takes to spark Lauren’s worst suspicions, blurring the line between real danger and the fragile shadows in her mind. 

It’s psychological, gripping and brimming with tension. You'll likely hate half the characters, but feel caught up in the whirring of Lauren's brain alongside her. 

Best of all, this book is out today, so you can already grab this one!

Release Date: 6th January 2026