23 January Releases We’re Excited About

And what you can read in the meantime

Reading ahead

Our TBR piles may be taking over the house, but we keep finding new books we want to add to the mix. From impressive debuts to thrilling sequels to sexy fantasy romances, January's most anticipated list is filled with must-reads! Here are 23 upcoming releases across a mix of genres. These titles are available for preorder, but in the meantime, peruse our recommendations for similar reads that you can enjoy now.

Literary fiction 

River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure (Jan. 9)
Shanghai, 2007: Raised by her American expat mother, fourteen-year-old Alva has always longed for more. This mesmerizing literary debut alternates between Alva's coming-of-age story and that of the Chinese father she's never known as they both search for belonging and opportunity in a rapidly changing world.

What to read first: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Behind You is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (Jan. 16)
This exciting debut novel confronts stereotypes to portray the complex social fabric of the diverse residents of a Palestinian-American community in Baltimore. The Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars are three families of Palestinian immigrants who've all found a different welcome in America.

What to read first: Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

Family Family by Laurie Frankel (Jan. 23)
"Not all stories of adoption are stories of pain and regret. Not even most of them. Why don't we ever get that movie?" When actress India Allwood criticizes her own movie because of its treatment of adoption, she finds herself at the center of a media storm that threatens to unearth her own history.   

What to read first: Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford (Jan. 30)
After fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband's health declines, Jenny decides—uncharacteristically—that she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on a baking competition show. This charming coming-of-old-age novel is both a love story and an ode to good food. 

What to read first: What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy

Mystery, thriller, and horror

The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz (Jan. 9)
Talia March, Pallas Llewellyn, and Amelia Rivers, bonded by a night none of them can remember, are dedicated to uncovering the mystery of what really happened to them—an experience that amplified innate psychic abilities in each of them. Book #2 in the The Lost Night Files series.

What to read first: Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz

The Fury by Alex Michaelides (Jan. 16)
This is a tale of murder. But at its heart, it's a love story. Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her private Greek island. You may think you know this story. But you don't.

What to read first: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Random in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel by J. D. Robb (Jan. 23)
When aspiring musician Jenna is killed by a toxic injection at a rock concert, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is brought in to investigate. But there are no obvious clues why this levelheaded sixteen-year-old would be targeted in such a vicious way. Was she just a random, unlucky victim? Part of the In Death series.   

What to read first: Naked In Death: An Eve Dallas Novel by J. D. Robb

Dead Man's Hand: A Pike Logan Novel by Brad Taylor (Jan. 23)
In this topical edge-of-your-seat thriller, veteran operative Pike Logan goes head-to-head with Putin's henchmen when he's sent to investigate the Russian dictator's plan to assassinate a foreign diplomat. As he strikes a delicate balance between Russia and Ukraine, he uncovers Putin's devastating end game.

What to read first: One Rough Man by Brad Taylor

Sci-fi and fantasy

The Sunlit Man: A Cosmere Novel by Brandon Sanderson (Jan. 2)
The fourth in a set of standalone fantasies Sanderson surprised fans with this year, this is the story of Nomad. After barely staying ahead of his pursuers for years, Nomad finds himself trapped on a deadly planet and caught up in a desperate struggle between a heartless tyrant and the brave rebels who defy him. 

What to read first: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake (Jan. 9)
In the much anticipated conclusion to this thrilling trilogy, the six Alexandrians find themselves vulnerable to the lethal terms of their recruitment. It's a race to survive as they're faced with the question of what they're willing to betray for limitless power—and who will be destroyed along the way. 

What to read first: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher (Jan. 9)
Get in on the beautiful limited first print run of this thrilling new fantasy romance. For humans, the circus is a place of wonder and amazement. For Harrow, though, it's a place to hide. Disguising her abilities are part of her act has kept her true identity safe for years. Until he arrives.

What to read first: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

House of Flame and Shadow (Special edition!) by Sarah J. Maas (Jan. 30)
Stranded in a strange new world, Bryce wants only to get back to Midgard. Hunt is desperate to help her, but, imprisoned by the Asteri, his hands are, quite literally, tied. This special edition of the stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series features an exclusive Bryce and Danika bonus scene.   

What to read first: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Historical fiction 

Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh (Jan. 9)
After surviving a shipwreck and two sinkings, no one can understand why Violet keeps returning to the sea, but something keeps drawing her back to the tumultuous waters. This World War II novel was inspired by the true stories of Violet Jessop and the women of the Special Operations Executive.   

What to read first: The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh

Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili (Jan. 30)
Amid rubble and rebuilding in a former Soviet land, a family must rescue one another and put the past to rest in this stirring debut novel. "This novel annihilated me. I gasped, laughed, and wept my way through it . . . Left my heart bruised and battered and aching for more." —Khaled Hosseini 

What to read first: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate (Jan. 30)
A fascinating fictional portrait of Hattie McDaniel, one of Hollywood's most prolific but woefully underappreciated stars—and the first Black person to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind. Hattie's is an unforgettable story of resilience, dedication, and determination. 

What to read first: Marlene by C. W. Gortner

Romance 

Upside Down by Danielle Steel (Jan. 2)
Oscar-winning actress Ardith Law is a Hollywood icon. But her success has come at a price: She has a strained relationship with her daughter, Morgan, who still blames Ardith for putting her career before being a mother. An unforgettable story of bold choices, second chances, and the hope of reconciliation. 

What to read first: Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel

Barbarian's Touch by Ruby Dixon (Jan. 2)
Waking up on the ice planet of Rokan, Lila has never been more frightened in her life. The horned locals look like blue devils to her and one of them has taken her captive. When she escapes, her situation gets even more dangerous, but everything changes when Rokan shows up. The latest in a sexy series.  

What to read first: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis (Jan. 16)
Despite her wary nature, Willow has found a community she loves at the charming Apple Ridge Farms. But when the farm's owner dies, her carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened. Return to Sunrise Cove with this heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives.   

What to read first: The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr (Jan. 23)
The realities of modern love are far from easy, but there's no better group to have in your corner than friends who will lift you up and hold fast in the face of any storm. Four women find themselves at a crossroads, each navigating the challenges of dating, marriage, loneliness and love.

What to read first: Virgin River by Robyn Carr

YA

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa (Jan. 16)
Oliver Bennet feels trapped. Not just by the endless corsets, petticoats and skirts he's forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society's perception of him as a girl named Elizabeth. In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens.

What to read first: So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer (Jan. 23)
In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night trilogy, Corrick and Tessa may have one last chance to oust the tyrannical Oren Crane and save their kingdom. But time is running out. This electrifying fantasy romance series is perfect for fans of Holly Black and Victoria Aveyard.

What to read first: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Wander in the Dark by Jumata Emill (Jan. 30)
To find Chloe's killer, Amir and Marcel need to dig into her secrets. And what they find is darker than either could have guessed. In this pulse-pounding thriller, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.  

What to read first: The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Kids

Nightshade Revenge by Anthony Horowitz (Jan. 16)
When Alex Rider thwarted the plans of the criminal organization Nightshade, he knew he'd made a new enemy. He hadn't expected to get sucked back into the spy game so quickly. But then the Nightshade masterminds kidnapped his best friend, forcing Alex to take action. Part of a thrilling middle-grade series.

What to read first: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Eyes that Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho and Liz Kleinrock (Jan. 23)
A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes even though they look different from those of her parents. Her family bond is deep and their connection is filled with love. She learns to appreciate and celebrate the differences between her birth culture and her adopted family.

What to read first: Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

Hopefully there’s something here that you want to add to your TBR list! Let us know which new books you’re most excited about this month.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon