Book clubs seem to be more popular than ever, which is good news for bookworms and casual readers alike. But what are the best books for book clubs in 2026?
When it comes to picking your book club books, we’ve got you covered. We consulted with an array of authors, book influencers, publishing professionals, and of course, the Glamour staff, to come up with a list of 2026 books you might want to consider for your book club this year. These titles range from thriller to fantasy to speculative fiction, but they all have one thing in common: They’ll definitely spark a great conversation.
If you don’t belong to a book club yet, there’s always the option of starting one of your own, either online or IRL. You could have a cohesive genre theme, or change it up monthly, because if there’s one thing that’s great about book clubs, it’s that there are no hard-and-fast rules. Five readers in your living room with wine and apps? Dozens of romantasy fans over Zoom? The possibilities are endless.
Without further ado, here are our picks for the best books for book clubs in 2026!
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
I loved Borrison’s take on Sleepless in Seattle in her previous novel, First-Time Caller, which is part of her Heartstrings series of novels inspired by Nora Ephron films. I am so excited to see how she approaches the be-all and end-all of banter, When Harry Met Sally, with And Now, Back to You. It’s a perfect film, but I trust this spin will honor Ephron’s timeless characters while exploring new ground.
—Ella Cerón, journalist and author of Viva Lola Espinoza
Release date: February 24, 2026
Don’t Tell Me How It Ends by Adrienne Thurman
This is a witty adult contemporary rom-com about a commitment-averse woman who agrees to be the first client in her sister’s matchmaking venture and unexpectedly finds herself confronting love, fear, and letting go. Don’t Tell Me How It Ends is a stellar book club pick because it sparks the kind of conversation that lingers—powerful, honest, and necessary.
—Ashley Mathias Root, author of The Drowning Daze of Astraea
Release date: April 14, 2026
The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott
I’m eyeing The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives for a 2026 book club pick. I feel like it has everything I’m looking for: an unlikely setting (1966), a cast of intriguing characters (the wives of murderers), and an intriguing plot (said wives trying to catch a killer). I think this would be a great read for a group, as everyone will latch onto a different character and have a million and one thoughts to share about the premise and overarching themes.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, journalist
Release date: March 3, 2026
Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana
This first thrilling novel in a new adult romantasy duology follows Audra, a human who knows that magic exists beyond “the mist.” One day the mist comes to shore, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely. She’s kidnapped and taken to a school to be trained as a soldier by the Priestesses, who are Fae beings with an ominous presence and a cult-like mentality. Audra must band together with a group of other prisoners to survive their new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger.
—Tina Mars, bookstagrammer and author of This Wretched Alchemy
Release date: August 25, 2026
The Adjunct by Maria Adelmann
This novel is a tense yet witty exploration of the ups and (mostly) downs of adjunct life at the most elite colleges; it will open up discussions about labor rights, institutional stratification, and academia on the whole. The book also contains interesting discussions of gender and sexuality, both in the context of systems and the individual. Adelmann provides impeccably written prose, meaning book clubs will have plenty of passages to dissect and digest for days.
—Eshani Surya, author of Ravishing
Release date: March 31, 2026
To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast
Slated for release in the US in March 2026, this book is set in a dystopian society, and I’ve always found dystopian books to be fast-paced, full of action, and great for book club conversations! For people like me who loved books like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, and Matched, To Cage a Wild Bird is going to be a captivating dystopian read!
—Olivia Brynn, book influencer
Release date: Original release, September 9, 2025; Deluxe Edition, March 3, 2026
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Graceless Heart is truly a new and refreshing piece of fantasy that I couldn’t put down! It intertwines my love for fantasy and art history while sprinkling in unpredictable plot twists and rich romance. The writing is lush without being overwhelming, and the politics are easy to digest while adding a layer of complexity to the plot. Lastly, the cover of Graceless Heart is absolutely stunning!
—Maddie Weibelt, book influencer
Release date: January 13, 2026
When I Was Death by Alexis Henderson
When I Was Death by Alexis Henderson is the author’s young adult debut, which alone makes it worthy of a book club. However, Henderson herself is an incredible writer, with a mastery of prose, story, tension, and character. From Year of the Witching to An Academy for Liars, she knows how to build atmosphere, to weave speculative elements naturally into a narrative, and how to deliver an ending that will keep you up at night thinking about it.
—Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of An Arcane Inheritance
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer
I first was interested in this book based on the title alone! Add some deliciously creepy social commentary, and I’m hooked. In this novel, a “traditional wife” influencer is desperate to become pregnant at any cost and keep up her picture-perfect social media trad wife aesthetic. “Any cost” quickly becomes a terrifying bargain with a demonic creature.
—Molly O’Sullivan, author of The Book of Autumn
Release date: February 10, 2026
Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
Isabel J. Kim is a short-fiction powerhouse, and I’m hugely excited for her debut novel, which has already been picked up for adaptation by Universal. It is my favorite kind of speculative fiction, which uses the fantastical to dissect something intensely real—in this case, immigration, and the selves that we become and leave behind when we depart for another place.
In Sublimation’s world, crossing a border literally creates a copy of yourself, called an Instance, and a woman who left for America as a child is forced to reconnect with her Instance when she returns to Korea for a funeral—but her Instance has dreams and motives of her own.
—Wen-yi Lee, author of When They Burned the Butterfly
Release date: June 2, 2026
Seek The Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth
Roth is obviously known worldwide for the Divergent series, but as those who have followed her since know, she’s developed hugely as a writer. With dystopian fantasy making a resurgence, I can’t wait to see what Roth’s new book holds for us. I’ve seen reviewers describe it as “for those of us who loved Dune but wished it had a bit more romance” and I am 100% sold! Lots of great material for book clubs to discuss, from the dystopian Earth divided by attitudes to the deadly fever sweeping the planet, as well as the intricacies of the enemies-to-lovers romance.
—Sophia Vahdati, author of The Girl With the Fierce Eyes
Release date: May 12, 2026
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
When Eden returns home after a run, she doesn’t expect her life to unravel. Inside, her husband declares the stranger at his side, who looks eerily like Eden, as his wife. Locked out. Confused. A stolen identity. Who is the real Eden Fox? And who is the woman next to her husband?
Early reviews praise My Husband’s Wife as an unforgettable must-read, curiosity and tension building with each turn of the page. Prepare to be invested as you desperately try to make connections and slowly unravel the threads of deception.
—Stacey Martini, book influencer
Release date: January 20, 2026
Soon by You by Dahlia Alder
As someone who has read every single one of Alder’s astonishing YA contemporary novels—books packed full of humor and heart—I’ve been anxiously awaiting her first novel for adults. It promises to be a delightful ride, from one of the best writers out there.
—Eric Smith, literary agent and author of With or Without You
Release date: May 19, 2026
De Elizabeth is a journalist and author. Her YA dark fantasy novel This Raging Sea was published in 2025, and her upcoming adult debut, She Haunts Me Still, will be published in August 2026. You can follow her on Instagram @WordsByDe.
