It's a new year! Time for reading challenges to be reset and brand new stories to discover. Start out your 2026 with some of these fabulous books that are releasing early this year and come Bee-recommended.
January Releases:
This is not an enjoyable story. It's not fun to read. But it is important and undeniably compelling. Following the story of three women and girls whose lives have been forever changed by 'The Colony' - an institute where men could send any woman they didn't agree with. It explores the violent misogyny that happened, and still happens from the systemic control to the society-approved abuse. Well-researched, impeccably written and unforgettable.
Galentines Day by Rebecca Anderson
Three girls, one tradition that spans years. Galentines Day follows three friends as they grow up together and apart, navigating adult life and all the difficulties it brings. It's a beautiful snapshot of life in all it's messy glory with relatable characters and so much heart. It explores how friendship can change over time and is a simply stunning love letter to female friendships that can last a lifetime.
This is Not a Test (Directors Cut) by Courtney Summers
This new Directors Cut brings a decade old story into a brand new light. Sloane was going to end her life, but then the world ended instead and she finds herself trapped in a school with six other survivors, trying to decide if she wanted to survive in this new world. It's a dark, tense, nervous zombie story that forces us to confront what it means to be alive.
February Releases:
Books and Bewitchment by Isla Jewell
Rhea's life was a mess, and now she's been summoned to the middle of nowhere to read her estranged grandmothers will. But not only is her gran not 'exactly' dead, she's a witch, the magic in the town is broken and her new crush is technically an old family nemesis. A small town, cosy story full of magic, love and bookish goodness.
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
Natalie doesn't want to kill her husband, but every man she's ever loved has died a violent death and she can't say for sure that she didn't do it. But she needs to find out so it doesn't happen again. This is pure chaos - erratic, frantic and mysterious with a quick pace and a nervous energy throughout. The Exes is a KILLER debut and I just ate it up.
Motherfaker by Anna Brook-Mitchell
Barri's going on maternity leave - or she would be if she was pregnant. It was an accident at first, but now the plan is to take a break, get some money and disappear into the night. A ridiculous, riotously funny journey that spirals from one awkward moment into madness, desperation and a madcap adventure including shellfish thieves, foam bumps and conniving ex husbands. Surprisingly warm and so funny.
She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva
When a young vampire hunter enters a small Bulgarian village, she finds an unlikely friend in Anka, a girl shunned, abused and vilified by the townsfolk by their own superstition. Yana is meant to find the monsters, but they're not who she expected. This unique gothic vampire tale is unlike any you've read before, deeply rooted in slavic folklore and full of characters who feel like something from a history book.
Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce
Matthew is called for Jury Duty but finds more than he expected. Two girls are accused of the occult murder of their friend, but as the trial moves on, Matthew starts to wonder if there's something to their claims of devils and bewitchment. A blindingly brilliant mixture of courtroom drama and thriller, with anxiety-inducing fly-on-the-wall narration and layers of secrets just waiting to be discovered.
March Releases
Black Bag by Luke Kennard
A caricature of the broke artist takes a strange acting job, wearing a full body black bag and existing in silence as part of a psychology experiment to see how people treat him. But soon enough, he finds a new sense of self and legend of Black Bag begins. A book that should be pretentious, but is so full of heart, entertaining writing and strange comedy. Think Blind Date directed by Franz Kafka.
Your Behaviour Will Be Monitored by Justin Feinstein
Step inside the company on the forefront of AI innovation - and watch from the inside as it all goes wrong. This unique sci-fi is told like a live stream, through work chats, emails, CCTV streams and AI training notes, creating a strange, wickedly smart and oddly human cautionary tale about what happens when we lose our humanity.
We Call Them Witches by India-Rose Bower
Post-apocalyptic Britain, ravaged by eldritch terrors of the old religions of the Isle. Sara and her family survive on superstition, moving around and not really sure how they've made it this far. But their biggest test is still coming - an dark, mysterious tale of endtimes, of family, of our will to survive told through the eyes of a young girl.
Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose
Jenna books a break in a horror-themed cabin only to find it's much more … immersive than she'd expected. Set in the location of a real-life serial murder spree, with a killer that seems to be coming back to finish off the town. A masterclass of B-movie, slasher stories with the perfect small-town spooky vibes, a stunning final girl MC and a love letter to our favourite horror tropes.
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Benny and Joy have been best friends forever, and cohost a comedy survival podcast together. But when Joy and her husband go missing, Benny is a suspect so it's a race to clear his name - but in doing so, he uncovers secrets in their friendship that have been hidden for years. Crime, friendship, comedy, mystery, romance - this book has a little of everything and somehow does it all well.
Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett
You know the story of Odysseus, but what of the women who were written into the background? This story follows Queen Penelope and servant Melantho in Ithaca as they create a forbidden friendship, keep the city alive and thrive - giving a voice to the forgotten women of mythology. A stunning sapphic love story with a transporting setting, another story brought to life by Rosie Hewlett.
April Releases
I Think We Should Kill Other People by L.M. Chilton (April)
Hazel ran away from her wedding on an AI-based dating show, but now she's stuck in a snowed-in airport with her ex, his angry family - and a murderer. A masterclass of locked-room mysteries, isolated, exciting, layered and full of possible suspects with smooth writing and wicked humour. Another whip-smart thriller from Chilton.
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