Anticipated 2026 Book Releases and Reading Goals with Jordan Loft

2026 Reading Goals

• 🎯 Jordan has set three reading goals for 2026: to read more translated fiction, to read a biography of a Revolutionary War figure in honor of the 250th anniversary, and to read every single day, even if it's just two pages.
• 💡 Allison's personal goal is to read whatever catches her eye at her local bookstore, emphasizing the joy of discovery.
• 📚 The importance of local bookstores and their staff recommendations is highlighted as a great way to find new books.

Highly Anticipated New Releases

• 📖 T. Kira Madden's debut novel, Whidby, is a thriller about three women connected to an abusive man who is found murdered, exploring their intersecting lives during the investigation.
• 🖋️ George Saunders returns with Vigil, a short novel set at the deathbed of an oil CEO, exploring themes of life, death, and the afterlife with a guiding spirit.
• 🏡 Anne Patchett's Whistler focuses on the reunion of a woman with her former stepfather and their exploration of their past relationship and the dissolution of his marriage to her mother.
• 🎖️ Black Messiahs by Steven A. Holmes is a historical fiction novel about the all-Black 761st Tank Battalion during WWII, detailing their combat role and the racism they faced, including their role in liberating a concentration camp.
• 💰 How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden offers accessible, long-term financial guidance and strategies specifically for women.
• 🏙️ Ousiel Gonzalez's Last Night in Brooklyn is set in Fort Greene in 2007, exploring themes of class and gentrification through the lives of neighbors.
• 🚢 American Fantasy by Emma Straub is set on a cruise ship for fans of a '90s boy band, where the protagonist, reluctantly attending with her sister, might find a connection with one of the band members.
• 🤝 Kin by Tari Jones follows two friends who grow up without mothers, exploring their diverging life paths and the complexities of female friendship, particularly within elite Black women's circles.
• 🐶 Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabelle Cle features heartwarming stories from the dog rescue world, focusing on healing and finding forever homes for rescued dogs.
• 🇦🇹 Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger is a motivational read for immigrants, emphasizing the importance of contribution and usefulness in various life scenarios.
• ⚔️ Nunuch by Francis Bufford is a thrilling novel set during the London Blitz, involving a young woman entangled in a dangerous situation with time-traveling Nazis.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Douglas Stewart's John of John is set on a small Scottish island, following a man who returns home to grapple with his relationship with his sheep farmer, preacher father.
• 🌃 Coulson Whitehead concludes his Harlem trilogy with Cool Machine, set in the 1980s, where protagonist Ray Carney considers one last heist to fund his wife's new business.
• 🗺️ Maggie O'Farrell's Land is set in Ireland post-Great Famine, about a father and son mapping the island, with the father having an unsettling encounter that changes everything.
• 🕵️ Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling investigates the mysterious death of a 19-year-old who fell from a luxury apartment, uncovering a secret underworld life.
• 💔 Ghost Stories by Siri Hustvedt is a memoir about her life with the late Paul Auster, exploring grief and their marriage, including parts of his unfinished work for his grandson.
• 🏰 A Kingdom and a Village: A 1000-Year History of Moscow by Simon Morrison offers a historical perspective on Russia through the lens of its capital city.
• 🔪 Joe Nesbø's standalone thriller Wolf Hour is set in Minneapolis, featuring a police officer hunting a serial killer and a Norwegian crime writer who may have a personal connection to the case.

Special Announcement: Get Lit Newsletter

• 💌 A new newsletter, Get Lit with All of It, is launching for book lovers.
• 📧 It will feature updates on Get Lit events, author spotlights, highlights from show conversations, and curated book recommendations.
• ✍️ Listeners will have opportunities for participation and to share their own recommendations.
• 📧 To pre-register and ensure you receive the first installment, sign up at wnyc.org/getlit.