Most Anticipated Books of Late 2026: 8 New Releases to Preorder

The second half of 2026 is stacked. Beloved authors are returning to the worlds readers love, breakout names are launching new series, and several of the biggest names in fantasy, romantasy, thriller, and literary fiction have major releases on the calendar. Here are the new books worth preordering now — with verified release dates — so they land the day they publish.

Fantasy & Romantasy

Six of Crows: A Darker Shore by Leigh Bardugo — June 30

The Grishaverse return fans have wanted for nearly a decade. Six of Crows: A Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam is a new story set after the events of Crooked Kingdom, told through letters and found documents from Ketterdam and packaged as an immersive collectible edition with illustrations, original music, and in-world artifacts. It’s a shorter, beautifully made return to Kaz Brekker’s crew rather than a third full novel — and for anyone who loved Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, that’s reason enough to preorder. New to the Grishaverse? Start with our Leigh Bardugo books in order guide.

The Sweetest Fiend by Raven Kennedy — September 22

The author who reimagined the King Midas myth in the Plated Prisoner series turns to another piece of folklore. The Sweetest Fiend launches Played by the Piper, a dark fantasy romance of fae magic and captive romance inspired by the Pied Piper. Expect Kennedy’s signature lush prose, morally complex slow burn, and dark fairy-tale atmosphere — and, as the first book of a new series, a ground-floor entry point for new readers. If you loved Gild, this is your most-anticipated read of the fall.

Tempest by Victoria Aveyard — September 8

The Red Queen author makes her adult fantasy debut with Tempest, the first book of the Lyrian Sea duology (Harper Voyager). Originally conceived as a single 1,000-page epic and split into two, it’s been billed as Aveyard’s most romantic book yet — a pirate-flavored adventure with a sweeping romance at its center. For readers who came up on Red Queen and are ready for something darker and more grown-up, it’s one of the season’s biggest romantasy events.

Thrillers & Mystery

The Unknown by Riley Sager — August 4

One of the most anticipated thrillers of summer 2026. In The Unknown (Dutton), struggling actress Marin Keane lands a role in a major film about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on a sprawling Vermont lake — and finds the past has a way of refusing to stay buried. Sager has become a reliable engine of twisty, atmospheric, page-turning suspense, and this one carries the buzz to match.

The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden — June 23

A note for Housemaid fans: The Housemaid’s Wedding, the winter-set short story that bridges the gap between The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching, gets a print edition on June 23, 2026. Originally released as a digital short, it’s a quick, twisty interlude in McFadden’s bestselling domestic-thriller series — and a good excuse to revisit the books before whatever comes next for Millie.

Literary & Book Club

Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang — September 8

After the dark-academia ambition of Babel and the publishing satire of Yellowface, R. F. Kuang turns inward. Taipei Story (William Morrow) is a wryly funny, deeply moving coming-of-age novel about grief, language, and culture shock, set over one summer in Taipei. It’s a more intimate register than her fantasy and satire — and, given that every Kuang release becomes a cultural moment, one of the most talked-about literary books of the fall.

Romance & Cozy

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston — June 16

From the author of The Dead Romantics, The Someday Garden (Berkley) is a magical romance set at Lilymoor House, an enchanting estate where the past and present blur. Poston has carved out a niche in warm, lightly magical, emotionally satisfying contemporary romance, and this looks set to deliver exactly that — perfect for readers who want their love stories with a touch of wonder.

Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts — November 17

The ever-prolific Nora Roberts closes out the year with Birth of the Witch (St. Martin’s), the first book of a new Coven of Three trilogy. Roberts blending romance with magic and a touch of the supernatural is a long-proven formula, and a fresh trilogy launch is an easy preorder for her enormous readership and for anyone who likes their fantasy romance with a cozy, witchy bent.

How to Use This List

These eight cover the spread of late-2026 publishing: a Grishaverse return, two big romantasy launches, a literary heavyweight’s new direction, a buzzy thriller, and warm romance from genre stalwarts. Preorders matter more than ever — they help books hit bestseller lists in their first week and guarantee you a copy on release day — so if any of these are on your radar, locking in a preorder now is the move.

We’ll be publishing full reviews as each book releases. In the meantime, our preview pages for Six of Crows: A Darker Shore, Taipei Story, and The Sweetest Fiend cover what’s known so far and where each fits in its author’s wider work.

More Reading Guides

• Leigh Bardugo Books in Order: Complete Grishaverse Guide
• Plated Prisoner Series in Order: Raven Kennedy’s Gild to Gold

Affiliate disclosure: Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our editorial recommendations.