Hi Bookworms, I hope you had a Merry Christmas and now soon we’re headed into the New Year. Happy 2026! Wow it sounds futuristic.
Last year was a tough one, so I’m hoping this year will be better. Will you be attending a party on New Year’s eve, or having a more quiet evening at home? We’ll be having dinner out with friends and then be back with these two dogs — Willow and Stella (the dynamic duo) — likely to watch the ball drop in NYC, Lol. I heard Central Park received some snow. It’s been really freezing here — below 0F a couple days — but it should be much warmer this week, fingers crossed.
I’m thinking of posting my Favorite Reads of 2025 next time as I’m still reading one last good one. I’ll look over my stats and write about those as well as which books were excellent for me. I hope you had a great reading year. I think my numbers felt pretty average for me, but we’ll see.
And now let’s talk about what’s coming out in January. There’s a slew of new books releasing, including novels by such popular authors as Laura Dave, Paula McLain, Ashley Elston, Alice Feeney, and Ashley Winstead among others. I’m looking at those and a few others, including author Gabriel Tallent’s second novel Crux (due out Jan. 20). It’s about two-down-and-out high school best friends who try to escape their hard family lives through their love of rock climbing in the Mohave Desert.
It’s said to be an intense story of friendship and grit … which Publishers Weekly calls “a brutal portrait of finding hope in an unforgiving landscape” and “a towering coming-of-age saga packed with muscle and heart.” So count me in.
Next up is a tossup between two previous Booker Prize-winning authors who have new novels releasing: Julian Barnes’ auto-fictional tale Departure(s) (due out Jan. 20) and George Saunders’ second novel Vigil (out Jan. 27). Barnes novel features a narrator named Julian Barnes who explores such issues as love, death, memory, and the merits of novel writing, while Saunders novel is about a ghost who attempts to guide an unrepentant oil executive toward redemption and the afterlife.
Coincidentally I read both authors’ previous prized novels in 2017 and they sound a bit similar to these. Like Saunders’ first novel Lincoln in the Bardo, his new one features ghosts and spirits as well, while Barnes new book appears to touch on memory and time a bit like his earlier work The Sense of an Ending. Both were quite good though, so I probably shouldn’t miss their new fiction.
I’m also looking at Thrity Umrigar’s latest novel Missing Sam (due out Jan. 27) about a woman who goes missing on a morning run and her wife’s determination to find her and also clear her own name from suspicion … particularly as a gay, Muslim daughter of immigrants. Apparently while the hunt for Sam propels the narrative, conflicting pulls of family, faith, sexuality, and culture affect the characters’ actions.
I’ve read a few of Umrigar’s other novels over the years and they often touch on the differences perceived by people and raise various modern-day issues. You get into the crosshairs and it’s hard to pull away.
On the screen in January, there’s the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11 and a slew of new and returning TV series. There’s so many that I can only feature a few that I’m interested in … (but if you like The Pitt, Season 2 starts Jan. 8 on HBO Max, the series Shrinking Season 3 begins Jan. 28 on AppleTV+, and the series Bridgerton airs on Netflix starting Jan. 29). I haven’t followed those shows, but I know many do.
Meanwhile I’m surprised and happy to see that The Night Manager, the le Carre spy thriller from 2016, will be returning on Jan. 11 to Prime for a six-episode sequel, Yay. Tom Hiddleston will return as Jonathan Pine who’s sent on a new mission in Colombia involving a dangerous arms dealer. He’ll team with Olivia Coleman again who’ll be back as well. Gosh where have they been? That was 2016 … so I might like to watch the original once more before the new season.
Also there’s Season 2 of the thriller Hijack starting Jan. 14 on AppleTV+ You might recall Season 1 featured Idris Elba as a corporate business negotiator on a scary hijacked flight from Dubai to London … now for Season 2 he’s on a Berlin underground train when its commuters are taken hostage and authorities are scrambling to save hundreds of lives. It looks intense and violent, but I am curious what Idris’s character will do. So I will cautiously board that train. Gulp.
Meanwhile I’ll keep in mind the British movie H Is for Hawk (due out Jan. 23) with Claire Foy as a woman whose grief over the sudden loss of her father is aided by the unlikely friendship with a wild goshawk named Mabel. The film, which is based on the popular 2014 memoir by Helen Macdonald, hasn’t received very strong reviews, but I plan to see it nonetheless. Some of the birding film shots look superb and Claire Foy is always pretty excellent, so what are we waiting for?
Finally in music releases for January, I don’t see a lot to peruse other than folk singer Courtney Marie Andrews’ new album Valentine (due out Jan. 16) and icon singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams’ new album World’s Gone Wrong (due out Jan. 23). Over the decades, I’ve seen Lucinda a number of times in concert and she’s quite the legend with so many great songs. I’ll pick her album World’s Gone Wrong for my pick this month … which you can hear the title track of and see performed live here.
Cheers. That’s all for now — what about you — which new releases are you looking forward to? Happy 2026.
I’m looking forward to the PBS miniseries of The Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve never read it although I love a good revenge story, so have persuaded my book group to read it in March when I am hosting. I’ve also been told I’d like Dept. Q. I saw a trailer for H is for Hawk – I had mixed feelings about the book but am curious about the movie, although not sure it is worth $20 or whatever movies cost these days.
As to books, I am looking forward to How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley, The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave, A Great Act of Love: A Novel by Heather Rose, and At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (I own this but have not had time to read it yet because of all the library books that came at once).
Happy New Year!
Thanks Constance. Glad to hear what books are on your agenda. And The Count of Monte Cristo wow! I’m glad you let me know that is coming to PBS in March. That’s going to be big. I have seen a couple different adaptations …. especially with Richard Chamberlain in the 1975 movie made a big impression on me. This new one sounds like it’ll be good too.
I will look for your reviews of the books you have on your list. Enjoy.
I have Vigil at the top of my list of books I want to read in 2026. Others I will be looking for are The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout; Whistler by Ann Patchett; Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg; Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken; and The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. I don’t remember why I put Dear Debbie by Frida McFadden on my list unless it was just because of the title.
We are having a very warm winter. Today and most days last week, the temperatures were in the 80s. I think we are getting something cold tonight, thank goodness.
Hi Deb, that’s a great list of what’s on your list to read. I will note some of those to read as well. 2026 looks like it’ll be a great year in reading. I like those authors.
And I can’t believe you still are in the 80s down south. That’s way (too) warm for winter. Have a great week.
There are a lot of good books coming out in 2026! I’m looking forward to it. My New Year’s Eve will be very quiet…I’m planning to stay at home, eat pizza, watch a favorite movie (probably When Harry Met Sally or The Big Year) and go to bed early. Not too exciting, I know, but what I like. ;D
Hi Lark, that sounds good. I like pizza and a movie on New Year’s. I can’t even believe that December has flown by. Enjoy your week. & Happy 2026.
Stella and Willow look adorable in that picture. Wow, already new year’s selection! I look forward to your post on “best of”. I would like to read Vigil, and probably the MacLain’s as well. I’ve enjoyed works by both authors before but I still want to read a lot of books I didn’t get to from this year’s crop, which was superb. I’ll finish Victorian Gothic tonight, and maybe read Train Dreams before the year is done. Let’s see if I can make it. Will have dinner at home for the 31st, and a family gathering on the 1st. Looking forward to the dropping of the crystal ball on Times Square; we tend to tune in as the last minute countdown begins. 🙂
Hi Carmen, thanks I think this is one of the best pictures I have of the dogs. My husband took the photo and they are paying attention for once!
I thought I’d get my January releases out of the way early (lol) so I can think about my year-end favorite list. I just finished Flesh today — last book of 2025. It’s good — I know you read it too. It’s good you are reading Train Dreams — I’m on the library wait list for that. The movie of it also looks good.
I know what you mean about waiting till the last minute to watch the Times Square ball drop. The Tv coverage isn’t always good — but I like the countdown.
Enjoy your family & have a fun time. Happy 2026?!
Don’t make me sign up for Apple TV+ again!!!! I loved the first Hijack!
Hi Jinjer …. sorry you might have to sign up for AppleTV+ once more (lol). The first Hijack was really good. So I’m back for more. It’s going to be a doozy.
Happy New Year’s.
2026 is futuristic-sounding, isn’t it? I remember thinking 2000 was so far off!
We are attending a NYE party, which our good friends throw every year. A lot of us are wishing we could celebrate with the ball dropping in Time Square rather than West Coast time… Getting home and to bed around 1 a.m. isn’t as easy as it used to be, even when we don’t drink much anymore! But it’s always a great party and I’m sure we’ll have a lovely time.
Brr, you are cold up there, aren’t you? We are hovering around the upper 40s, but it’s chilly at night. Almost too cold to have the window open very far.
I’ll get my Best of 2025 list up in early January. I just finished a wonderful book and need to get a review drafted & posted so I can include it. I had a very good year of reading, and am excited about all the great books awaiting me on my shelves.
I haven’t read Tallent or Saunders, but Umrigar has had a couple of novels that I’ve enjoyed, so I’ll look for Missing Sam. Thanks for the heads-up!
We are excited about the new seasons for The Pitt and Shrinking. I think we’ll also try to watch Lonesome Dove since I’ve never seen it before. We’re currently watching Death by Lightning, which is remarkable. Someone should make a mini-series about each President! Ooh, we’ll look for The Night Manager, too! Love that cast. Yeah, we may have to rewatch the original before the new one comes out. I love Claire Foy, so I’ll watch H Is for Hawk (I think you have a typo there.) I liked, but didn’t love, the book.
I have so many books to try that are coming out in 2026. I shared a collage of a bunch of them here but of course there are a lot more now.
Hi Lesley, yeah I like watching Times Square on NYE from the West Coast … ha. That’s much easier. I hope you enjoy the party then.
I look forward to your Best of 2025 list. You had a great year with many good novels. I’m still figuring mine and should have a post next Sunday.
Too bad we don’t get Netflix — I’d like to see Death by Lightning. Hoping these other shows will be good. Much to watch in January!
Thanks for the typo mention — I got it straightened out, lol. My mind is a bit of a sieve.
Your collage & list for 2026 is solid. Great stuff. Let’s make it a good year. Enjoy your week and have fun on New Year’s.
I’ve added Umrigar’s novel to my TBR list; I really like her books.
I do hope 2026 is a better year for you and your family! I’ll be at the local symphony on NYE, which ends by 10:00pm so I am not sure I’ll be awake at midnight.
Hi Helen, yeah Umrigar has some good books. I might have read 3 or 4 hers, so this one looks appealing too.
Enjoy your NYE night out at the symphony. Nice! Happy 2026.
We don’t have any plans for new years, will likely just watch the fireworks on TV as we do every year.
I’m definitely looking forward to the new series of Bridgerton, and the Pitt, and quite a few books though none of these here were on my list
Wishing you a wonderful reading week, and a very happy New Year
Thanks Shelleyrae, it should be a good start to the year. And the Sydney fireworks always seem amazing there … from what I’ve seen in pictures.
Enjoy the TV shows … I might check out The Pitt …. it looks intense though, lol.
Happy New Year.
We’ll have a quiet December 31/January 1, which is just the way I like it!
2025 was a slow reading year for me. I found myself distracted by the news of the world and it was hard to concentrate on books that I would normally love to read. I hope to do better in 2026.
Happy New Year to Willow and Stella, your lovely dogs. May all their doggy wishes be fulfilled in 2026.
Hi Dorothy, great to hear from you. I hope you’re well & better after the fall.
And thanks the dogs are good … and happy and they’ll get a biscuit or two for New Year’s, lol.
I can understand about the bad news being a distraction … it has been terrible this past year, Ugh. I have to stay away from too much doomscrolling or reading.
But stick to the good stuff. And Happy New Year.
Impressive list for reading in the New Year. I think I’ll read some of those books too.
Thanks Mae, I’m hoping these will be good. Much to read ahead. Enjoy your week and have a Happy New Year’s!
Wishing you a very happy 2026!!
We might go to the movies but other than that, just a quiet night here I think!
Thanks Marg. It should be a good start to the new year.
We went to the movies over the weekend and saw the movie Song Sung Blue — it’s a good one. And Happy New Year’s to you as well.
I love that photo of Willow and Stella and how Willow put her paw across Stella. Great reading buddies.
No parties for us. We like just chilling out here and not driving. Bet we hear fireworks though. I like the idea of the favorites for a 2025 post and maybe I will look through my planner and see if I can make a list.
I will be looking for the new releases by Paula McLain, Alice Feeney and Laura Dave. Didn’t know they had books coming out. I liked Laura Dave’s book 800 Grapes and may give that a place on my favorites for 2015. Crux does sound like ne I could dive into and I will see if the library has it preordered.
Absolutely on board for Shrinking and we are about to try season one of Hijack.
Hi Tina, thanks the photo of the dogs might be the best photo they’ve ever taken together (Lol) … Robert took it and got them to pay attention for once. Sweet how they look and Willow looks up to Stella so much.
The Crux novel looks a bit intense but I am a bit curious nonetheless. And rock climbing could take me elsewhere. I hope some of the other books might be good.
Oh have fun with Season 1 of Hijack. Little bit tense, lol. But hard to turn away from. Happy New Year & reading ahead. chat soon.
Look at those sweet faces (Willow and Stella)! We’ll be going to a dinner at the lodge in Montana and it’s a nice send off with Chinese lanterns and fireworks at the end! Hope you enjoy your dinner out! I’m always looking for something good to watch because I seem to land on the underwhelming so often! Hijack sounds good! Happy New Year, Susan!
Hi Rachel, great to hear. Your Montana trip & New Year’s sounds fantastic. And we have some milder temps this week up north …. so perhaps you won’t freeze there. I think you’d like Hijack Season 1. You must see it, ha! Then onto Season 2 … which I’m not sure will match it. We’ll see. Happy New Year to you as well.
Great list of books. I also love your beautiful dogs ❤️
Happy New Year to you from a retired lady living in Montreal, Canada ❤️
Hi Linda, welcome! Always great to hear from Canadians. & I love Montreal too. I was there for a week-long seniors tennis tournament years ago … and it was great. Fun city.
Thanks our dogs will like the compliment. They like attention and the spotlight, lol. Thx for stopping by and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Susan. It made me smile to click over here and see Stella and Willow – they are so sweet! We are going out for an early dinner tonight, then we’ll probably watch a movie at home. The January releases look good, but I’m hoping this will be the year I read more of the books I already own. Seems like I say that every year though. I’m already looking forward to your list of favorites!
Thanks JoAnn. So glad you enjoy dogs too. I hope you have a nice time on New Year’s Eve. Can’t believe it’s that time of year.
I think that’s a good goal to read from one’s own home stacks. I have a lot unread lying around too. But I hope to mix in a bit of both (new books & backlist) this year. We’ll see how it goes. Wishing you a very Happy New Year… & a happy trip & stay in FLA. Should be nice there!
Susan, Happy New Year!! May I say that I so look forward to your posts and hearing about what you’ve been up to and your lovely pictures. Hope you and your husband will have a nice 2026 and that you get some great reading, etc. And also hope that your rehab goes well. Take care, friend, and let’s enjoy this new year. Hugs!
Thanks so much Kay. Love your positive & kind note. Always so pleasing to hear from you. Wishing you also a very Happy New Year. My knee rehab is going okay just a long journey but hopefully I’ll make it to the end of the tunnel. Hope all is well with you & you too have a great year of reading! Cheers.
Hi Susan, Hope you and your family have a happy new year! And I hope that your knee after the surgery feels better and better each day.
I haven’t read George Saunders but Vigil sounds interesting. A contemporary version of the Christmas Carol. And Thrity Umgar’s Missing Sam sounds great and I know after reading The Secrets Between Us that Thrity Umgar is such a talented writer.
Stella and Willow they get along so well.
Thanks Kathy. My knee is finally starting to improve slowly, so I’m hopeful. And the dogs are happy. It’s good to hear from you and I hope you had nice holidays.
I agree Thrity Umrigar is a good storyteller — and I’ve liked a number of her novels. I’m wondering a bit about the George Saunders novel — but we’ll see.
Wishing you a Happy New Year as well and many great reads too!
Glad to hear that your knee is improving. And I love to see photos of the dogs. They are so photogenic.
As far as books go, I preordered S. J. Rozan’s book, the latest in her Lydia Chin / Bill Smith series, and it came out on January 6th, 2026. I will read that soon.
Otherwise I am fairly ignorant of what is coming out in 2026, so I will keep up with what you talk about here and see what you think. I might like the George Saunder book; I did like his first novel. I am looking forward to The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout but I won’t get a copy until later in the year.
Related to streaming, there is a new Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, which should be available soon. Often we rewatch older shows, like Columbo or police procedural series (NCIS, which is actually still airing; or Mentalist or Elementary).
Hi Tracy, thanks, my husband took the photo of the dogs and it’s a miracle they’re both looking at the camera for once!
I will try to keep up to date on new releases even if I like to read old books too. I was surprised Saunders has more ghosts in his latest, and I will pounce on the new Strout book when I can get it from the library.
I’m glad you mention the new Star Trek series … I didn’t note that in my post but I hope you enjoy it. And it’s great you can find Columbo to watch … I liked it in the 1970s. Recently we’ve been watching the old series The Six Million Dollar Man — it’s so fun to see it again from the 1970s. Lee Majors was a hot item back then, lol. I don’t know how we found it but its reruns air on regular TV … along with the Rockford Files. Those were the days! Have a great week, & I’ll look for your reviews.
We are rewatching Columbo on DVD; we bought a full set of all the seasons (I think)… way back when and it is very old. But so far they are holding up. We also have Rockford Files on DVD but every time we start watching we get through two or three seasons and then stop.
That’s cool you have the DVDs — fun. I remember that when Columbo aired in the ’70s the show rotated with the detective shows McMillan & Wife and McCloud. I liked them all. ha. But Peter Falk was especially good. I hope you enjoy it.