The Books We Cannot Wait to Read in 2026
New book roundups are especially complex. That's because a great list must include a variety of genres, just as it warrants an array of authors that range from the cult-followed to the burgeoning star. Plus, there's the ultimate question: How do you choose among the sea of forthcoming titles?
That question is one we take seriously at The Sunday Paper. As devotees of great literature, we seek books that expand the soul. We want to believe in the author's mission and feel a shift in ourselves when we read their words. That is the case with each of these forthcoming novels, cookbooks, and nonfiction reads.
Soon to be hot on the shelves in 2026, these are the books we're most eager to buy, gift, highlight, and dog-ear. Each one varies in topic but shares a critical pillar: Reading it will stretch your soul and help you live a more deeply meaningful life.
Nonfiction
The New Rules of Women's Health
by Meghan Rabbitt
From revered health journalist (and The Sunday Paper's very own senior editor) Meghan Rabbitt comes this “vital guide to the most pressing health concerns women face—including fertility, menstrual health, chronic pain, menopause, and beyond.” This forthcoming title from The Open Field is one to gift your loved one, friend, sister, colleague, and beyond. A truly groundbreaking resource for women.
Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster
by Jacob Soboroff
From the frontlines of the devastating firestorm that consumed Los Angeles in early 2025 comes this acute report from veteran journalist and Los Angeles native Jacob Soboroff. Firestorm is the story of a city with a beating heart and a forecast of more natural disasters yet to come, all told with intellect and heart.
Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women
by Oona Metz
Nationally recognized divorce expert and therapist Oona Metz offers the culture a deeply needed guide for navigating the end of a marriage with strength, clarity, wit, and self-worth.
How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most
by Sonja Lyubomirsky, Harry Reis
A happiness scientist and a top relationship researcher collaborate to offer readers a unique look at human connection and reveal a framework for helping readers nurture and value what makes them feel loved.
American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology
By Jon Meacham
In American Struggle, Pulitzer prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham offers a comprehensive look at our nation’s long-running debates and divisions from the 1600s to the current day.
The Story of You: A Life Rewritten
By Blake Cooper Griffin
In his debut book, which reads partly like a memoir and partly like a life guidebook, actor Blake Cooper Griffin takes readers on an insightful journey toward reinvention, truth, and authenticity.
Let's Get Cooking: Everyday Meals, Tipsy Favorites and Comfort Food Cravings
By Remi Cruz Parsons
The wildly popular social media star shares tips, recipes, and more for having more fun around the table and in the kitchen.
Your Last First Date: Secrets from a Hollywood Matchmaker
By Jaydi Samuels Kuba
What could you learn about your love life from a Hollywood matchmaker? Turns out, a ton! Entertainment industry dating coach Jaydi Samuels Kuba—a veteran in her work—shares the wisdom she's gained from her years setting up the most famous of single hearts. This is the book toward getting your own "Hollywood ending."
By Andrea Gutiérrez-Glik
Somatic therapist Andrea Gutiérrez-Glik sheds light on an aspect of trauma healing way too under-represented: that of queer and trans people and people of color. This essential guide offers an anti-oppression lens toward healing that is inclusive, impactful, and true.
By Kate Bowler
Bestselling author and professor Kate Bowler has an unparalleled knack for reminding us that we do hard things, find the meaning in the banal, and carry many things at once—including joy in the face of hardship. We can’t wait for her latest pages of wisdom.
Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go—and Embracing Who We Are
By Stacey Lindsay
For too long, society has illustrated our forties as a decade of decline and predictability. But the truth is, our forties are a thrilling intersection shaped by possibility, change, and self-discovery. In Being 40, a title from The Open Field, journalist Stacey Lindsay (a longtime Sunday Paper editor!) crafts a new narrative that captures the diverse experiences of women entering midlife today, shattering limiting stories and offering an unapologetic and honest look at being a modern woman.
Zariz: 100 Easy, Breezy, Tel Aviv-y Recipes
By Adeena Sussman
From the beloved cookbook author of Shabbat and Sababa comes this thoughtful, vibrant, simple guide for cooking Israeli-inspired meals at home. Absolutely delicious and endlessly warm, this is your next go-to in the kitchen.
Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans
By Sheinelle Jones
Today show host Sheinelle Jones offers a powerful compilation of stories, lessons, and truths from matriarch’s of some of the world’s most beloved figures, including Matthew McConaughey, Venus and Serena Williams, and Steph Curry.
The Company We Keep: Friendship, Connection, and Redefining What It Means to Grow Together
By Alex Elle
From acclaimed author Alex Elle, whom we have followed for years, comes this tender, powerful, and honest look at one of life’s greatest anchors: friendship.
The First Lady Next Door: A Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure
By Eliza Reid
Iceland’s former First Lady Eliza Reid offers the world an inside look at her life during her time as one of the Nordic nation’s most prominent public figures. Given how Reid is a brilliant writer (we loved her 2022 book The Secrets of the Sprakkar, which you can read about here), we cannot wait to devour more of her stories about resilience, humor, personal power, and navigating extraordinary opportunities.
Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression
By Howard Schubiner, MD
For two decades, Howard Schubiner, MD has been researching the true root of pain, from migraines to back pain to fibromyalgia and beyond. In his forthcoming book from The Open Field, he shares his life-changing program steeped in the science of neuroplasticity that has proven effective for treating chronic pain, fatigue, and more. A groundbreaking book that will help you live a healthier life.
Fiction
By Anna Quindlen
An English teacher, a book club, and an unexpected ancestry test result all convene in this witty, lovely novel from one of our favorite writers of all time.
By Yasmin Angoe
“Orphaned young, she spent her formative years in a group home where she met her best friend, Eden Galloway. At sixteen, they decide to run away to LA… but Eden never makes it.” So goes the plot of Yasmin Angoe’s anticipated thriller.
By Rebecca Serle
What if you could redo one moment in your life? This question anchors the plot of bestselling novelist Rebecca Serle’s forthcoming novel that explores the choices we make and the consequences we live with.
By Patmeena Sabit
When a life-altering tragedy strikes one hardworking immigrant family, its members are suddenly thrown into the public eye. Questions about who they really are and what they truly want surface, revealing a spinning story of family, facade, and truth.
By George Saunders
From global bestselling and Booker Prize–winning author George Saunders comes this book about serious issues facing humanity, including "the menace of corporate greed, the toll of capitalism, [and] the environmental perils of progress."
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