One of the most anticipated novels of 2026 for good reason. I thought “An American Marriage” but a good book, but I was wholly unprepared for how much I would love this. Jones’s writing is incredibly vivid, her characters and the dialogue feel so true… she broke my heart and mended it in equal measure. “Kin” is truly special, and I cannot wait for it to be released at the end of February. Just incredible. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is special. Translated from Italian, the story takes place between the Calabrian coast, England, and Morocco, moving through generations and across borders with grace and ease. In this political moment, it meant a lot to spend time with Mina as she decides for herself what migration and borders mean to identity and how the labels we apply to ourselves differ from those assigned to us. Many thanks to Europa and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We’ve got a threaded mystery, lots of plot, and a very calculated storytelling framework. It’s a bit of a literary thriller, which I hadn’t expected from the description. Once I got into the cadence of the story, the rapidly switching point of view chapters really worked for me. It’s a touch gothic, feeling a bit a step out of time. Finding out what would happen to the O’Leary siblings kept me reading late into the night. Always a joy to find myself in a “one more chapter” reading experience. Another ARC I’m grateful to have received.

Beautiful and sparse. I wish I could have read this in a single sitting to fully immerse myself in the chilled atmosphere of the world Dusapin builds. The relationship between the sisters. The relationship between Agathe and her partner, home in New York while she helps her sister clear out her recently passed father’s ruined house in rural France… It’s all beautifully rendered and so so tender. This is literary fiction at its introspective best. Just loved this.

Translated from Danish, these books continue to absolutely enthrall me. I purchased the second book the same day I finished the first—the thought of not continuing immediately was impossible. Knowing there are 7 of these, all taking place in the most unique time-looping universe I’ve encountered, is an endless delight. Balle continues to take a trope that could feel tired completely new at every turn.

Told in a kind of Greek chorus, it’s shocking how resonant Otsuka can be with such sparse language. The chapter “Traitors,” focusing on what it feels like to suddenly be an enemy of the state, how the different experiences all merge to combine into one horrific moment in time for an entire country… the lessons Americans need now could be found closer to home. This remains an important, powerful read.

It’s wild to watch history unfold knowing that you’ll find out the full story later… and then read a book like this. I listened to the audiobook, which is well produced and pulls clips from testimonies, media broadcasts, and video clips. The most distressing part, for me, was the moment detailing when the rioters left the Capitol. It’s chilling. This country continues to terrify and disappoint, and I’m grateful this record of the day exists.

When Doctorow was doing his initial press tour for this book, I actually planned to skip reading the book. It felt unlikely that the book would contain anything much different than his long-form interviews. So glad I gave it a try. Not everything in here works for me once he digs into the solutions, but this is solid, in-depth examination of how and why our current tech hellscape came about. His humor really comes through as he narrates the audiobook. A bonus in form!