Read Between the Spines

December 2025 Most Anticipated New Book Releases

Contemporary & Literary Fiction | Historical Fiction | Romance | Thrillers & Mysteries | Horror & Gothic Fiction | Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Magical Realism | Short Stories & Essays | Biography & Memoir | Nonfiction

Contemporary & Literary Fiction

The Award

Matthew Pearl

The author of Save Our Souls and The Dante Club makes his eagerly awaited return to fiction with this irreverent and propulsive novel about a young writer trying to make his way through a cutthroat literary scene that turns deadly.

Publication date: December 2

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Before I Forget

Tory Henwood Hoen

A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back―and in moving us forward―for fans of The Collected Regrets of Clover and Maame.

Publication date: December 2

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The Book of Luke

Lovell Holder

For fans of Survivor and Less, this fast-paced debut novel shines an unflinching light on the drama of reality TV when a gay man returns to the cut-throat show he won in his youth after his adult life begins to unravel.

Publication date: December 2

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Casanova 20: Or, Hot World

Davey Davis

A novel about art, desire, and mortality, Casanova 20: Or, Hot World follows a young man isolated by his extraordinary beauty and his strange friendship with an older painter.

Publication date: December 2

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The Heir Apparent

Rebecca Armitage

An irresistible modern fairy tale about a British princess who must decide between her duty to her family—or to her own heart.

Publication date: December 2

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House of Day, House of Night

Olga Tokarczuk

A novel about the rich stories of small places, from the Nobel Prize–winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Books of Jacob and Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead.

Publication date: December 2

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The Orchard

Peter Heller

Peter Heller’s masterful coming-of-age tale, the story of a mother and daughter living on a Vermont apple orchard, escaping ghosts of the past. By turns joyful and searing, The Orchard reminds us that, even during the hardest of times, the enduring power of nature, love, and friendship will prevail.

Publication date: December 2

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Television

Lauren Rothery

Bojack Horseman meets Joan Didion in this smart, sly, and irresistibly stylish debut novel about a jaded movie star and the two differently conflicted women in his orbit.

Publication date: December 2

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The Rest of Our Lives

Ben Markovits

A triumphantly life-affirming road trip novel about marriage, middle-age, and a man at a crossroads in his life. Pitch-perfect, tender, and keenly observed, The Rest of Our Lives is a story about what to do when the rest of your life is only just the beginning of your story.

Publication date: December 30

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Historical Fiction

Canticle

Janet Rich Edwards

A masterful debut novel following a spirited young woman’s explorations of faith, agency, and love in thirteenth-century Bruges. Grounded in the little-told stories of medieval women—mystics, saints, anchoresses, and beguines—and introducing a major new talent, Canticle is a luminous work of historical fiction, vividly evoking a world on the verge of transformation.

Publication date: December 2

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Huguette

Cara Black

In the lawlessness of post–World War II France, a resilient young woman fights to survive and make a living, no matter the cost—from the New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in Paris and the Aimée Leduc series.

Publication date: December 2

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The Jaguar’s Roar

Micheliny Verunschk

The story of an Indigenous girl’s kidnapping during a colonial expedition intertwines with a young woman’s modern-day search for identity and ancestral truths. In Juliana Barbassa’s vivid translation, Verunshuk’s lyrical sentences carry the reader through a powerful exploration of memory, colonialism, and belonging, and make a lasting contribution to world literature.

Publication date: December 2

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When the Fireflies Dance

Aisha Hassan

Inspired by a shocking true story, this haunting debut novel of love, brotherhood, resilience, and redemption set in Pakistan calls to mind the modern classics The Kite Runner and The Beekeeper of Aleppo. 

Publication date: December 2

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The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

Valeries Wilson Wesley

At the darkly glamorous height of the Roaring 20s, an independent Black intellectual and her bi-racial foster child are immersed in the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance – and a shocking murder on Striver’s Row – in this thrilling Jazz Age mystery for reader of Nekesia Afia, Jacqueline Winspear, Avery Cunningham’s The Mayor of Maxwell Street.

Publication date: December 16

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Romance

The Bodyguard Affair

Amy Lea

A secret romance writer discovers that the hottest story of summer might just be the one happening between her and the Prime Minister’s bodyguard, from the international bestselling author of Set On You.

Publication date: December 2

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The Mating Game

Lana Ferguson

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Publication date: December 2

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Something Wicked

Falon Ballard

To save a world in turmoil, a would-be prince teams up with a magically gifted courtesan—but the most dangerous game may be trusting each other in this spicy, swoony fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Change of Heart.

Publication date: December 2

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Sparks Fly

Zakiya N. Jamal

A late bloomer thought a visit to a sex club might jump start her love life, but instead makes an instant connection that turns her whole world upside down, in this adult debut from author Zakiya N. Jamal.

Publication date: December 2

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Love Letters for Other People

Shaylin Gandhi

An emotionally gripping page-turner about heartbreak, old secrets, and second chances—with an unexpected Cyrano twist. For fans of Lucy Score and Mia Sheridan.

Publication date: December 9

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Seeing Other People

Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Two people haunted by their exes find that love isn’t dead in this heartfelt romance from the beloved authors of The Roughest Draft.

Publication date: December 9

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In Your Dreams

Sarah Adams

A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal.

Publication date: December 30

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Thrillers & Mysteries

The Gallagher Place

Julie Doar

A layered exploration of family secrets, sibling misconceptions, and an unsolved murder in this chilling debut set in New York’s Dutchess County.

Publication date: December 2

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The Library of Fates

Margot Harrison

When its librarian keeper mysteriously dies, two former classmates must race to locate a rare book from their college years that can foretell your future if you confess a secret from your past—but someone is intent on protecting what’s hidden inside.

Publication date: December 2

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The Living and the Dead

Christoffer Carlsson

One town. Two crimes. Twenty years of silence. On a snowy winter night in 1999, Sander and Killian leave a house party together outside a small town in rural Sweden. The very best of friends, the two seventeen-year-olds imagine they will remain so forever. But by the next morning, a corpse is found in the trunk of a car, and each boy is a suspect in the murder. Each has something they want to conceal from the police. And from the other.

Publication date: December 2

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Watch Us Fall

Christina Kovac

A thrilling account of the lies and delusions that lurk beneath cloistered groups of female friends and the sinister realities of celebrity, Watch Us Fall is a gripping mystery and an examination of the things we tell ourselves when we can’t face the truth.

Publication date: December 2

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Cape Fever

Nadia Davids

From award-winning South African author Nadia Davids comes a gothic psychological thriller set in the 1920s, where a young maid finds herself entangled with the spirits of a decaying manor and the secrets of its enigmatic owner.

Publication date: December 9

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Everyone in the Group Chat Dies

L.M. Chilton

From the breakout author of Swiped comes a compulsively readable, surprisingly funny, and genuinely thrilling pageturner about a TikTok true crime investigator, a ’90s serial killer that may not be as dead as everyone would like, a text thread from hell, and long buried secrets that just won’t stay in the grave where they belong.

Publication date: December 9

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The List of Suspicious Things

Jennie Godrey

A young girl and her best friend investigate a series of murders in their Yorkshire neighborhood, uncovering secrets and mysteries that force them to confront the complexities of family, friendship, and community.

Publication date: December 30

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Horror & Gothic Fiction

Dark Sisters

Kristi DeMeester

In this fiercely captivating novel, horror meets historical fiction when a curse bridges generations, binding the fates of three women. Anne Bolton, a healer facing persecution for witchcraft, bargains with a dark entity for protection―but the fire she unleashes will reverberate for centuries.

Publication date: December 9

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Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Magical Realism

The Curse of the Cole Women

Marielle Thompson

Three generations of women struggle with a curse unfairly placed on their ancestor in this gothic story of magic, queer love, and mother-daughter relationships, perfect for fans of Spells for Forgetting and Practical Magic.

Publication date: December 2

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The Definitions

Matt Greene

An elegant, haunting dystopian novel about individuals relearning how to navigate the world after a mysterious illness strips them of their memories. A stunning, intimately told story about what makes us who we are, The Definitions examines the limits of language, the power of connection, and how the human spirit can flourish even under the most oppressive conditions.

Publication date: December 2

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The Happiness Collector

Crystal King

In this stunning contemporary fantasy novel for fans of V. E. Schwab and Kaliane Bradley, a historian’s dream job in Italy takes a dark turn when she discovers her employers aren’t exactly human…

Publication date: December 2

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Tailored Realities

Brandon Sanderson

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson―creator of the Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn saga, and numerous smash-hit works of science fiction and fantasy―comes Tailored Realities, a new short fiction collection including the never-before-published novella “Moment Zero.

Publication date: December 9

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The Once and Future Queen

Paula Lafferty

Three generations of women struggle with a curse unfairly placed on their ancestor in this gothic story of magic, queer love, and mother-daughter relationships, perfect for fans of Spells for Forgetting and Practical Magic.

Publication date: December 16

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An Arcane Inheritance

Kamilah Cole

Warren University has stood amongst the ivy elite for centuries, built on the bones―and forbidden magic―of its most prized BIPOC students…hiding the rot of a secret society that will do anything to keep their own powers burning bright. No matter who they must sacrifice along the way.

Publication date: December 30

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We Who Will Die

Stacia Stark

From the bestselling author of the Kingdom of Lies series comes a slow-burn romantasy set in a Roman-inspired world ruled by merciless vampires. Filled with breathtaking combat, vengeful gods, and magical creatures, We Who Will Die is the epic first installment in an enthralling new series perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent, Jasmine Mas, and Rebecca Yarros.

Publication date: December 30

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Short Stories & Essays

Winter Stories

Ingvild Rishøi

The internationally acclaimed and nationally bestselling author of Brightly Shining returns with a trio of tender, powerful stories of courage and overcoming adversity.

Publication date: December 16

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Memoirs & Biographies

American Canto

Olivia Nuzzi

A mesmerizing firsthand account of the warping of American reality over the past decade as Donald Trump has risen to dominance—from a participatory witness who got so far inside the distortion field that it swallowed her whole.

Publication date: December 2

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Bruce Springsteen: The Stories Behind the Songs

Brian Hiatt

Deeply researched, laced with insight from interviews with Springsteen and his closest collaborators – Hiatt has interviewed Springsteen five times – this landmark book is an exhaustive and unique look at the writing, recording and significance of Springsteen’s singular catalog of songs.

Publication date: December 2

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In the Arena: Theodore Roosevelt in War, Peace, and Revolution

David S. Brown

From acclaimed historian and author of the “marvelous” (The New York Times Book Review) The Last American Aristocrat comes a captivating new biography of Teddy Roosevelt, exploring the life of America’s 26th president and his pivotal role in shaping the dawn of the American Century.

Publication date: December 2

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The Six Loves of James I

Gareth Russell

A groundbreaking and insightful exploration of King James I, enigmatic successor to Queen Elizabeth I, from the “meticulous researcher” (The Wall Street Journal) and author of the “enjoyable and readable” (Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Palace.

Publication date: December 2

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Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear

Gyles Bradreth

For the 100th anniversary of the publication of “Winnie-the-Pooh,” Gyles Brandreth chronicles the writing of this beloved classic and the life of its creator, A. A. Milne.

Publication date: December 2

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Year of the Water Horse

Janice Page

A warm and witty memoir about the ever-changing relationships between mothers, mothers-in-law, and daughters that traverses two continents and multiple generations of two disparate yet connected families.

Publication date: December 2

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Nonfiction

Barbieland: The Unauthorized History

Tarpley Hitt

The secret history of Barbie and what Mattel has done to keep her on top. Journalist and The Drift editor Tarpley Hitt exposes the long-hidden backstory of the world’s most famous doll. After snuffing out her predecessor, Barbie climbed to the throne of global girlhood and stayed there, fending off rivals with a mix of strategic marketing, government influence, ruthless litigation, and covert tactics worthy of a classic spy novel.

Publication date: December 2

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Daring to Be Free: Rebellion and Resistance of the Enslaved in the Atlantic World

Sudhir Hazareesingh

A revelatory history of enslaved people’s resistance and self-emancipation, across the Atlantic world and beyond. Employing written archives and oral history, Daring to Be Free shows how the struggle for freedom was shaped less by Western Enlightenment or Christian ideals than by the enslaved’s own spiritual, martial, and cultural resources.

Publication date: December 2

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Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

Hwang Bo-Reum

From the author of the international bestseller Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, a heartfelt invitation to reflect on your relationship with reading and celebrate the joys of books.

Publication date: December 2

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Frostlines: A Journey Through Entangled Lives and Landscapes in a Warming Arctic

Sudhir Hazareesingh

A sweeping exploration of the Arctic—and how it’s being transformed by climate change—from National Geographic writer Neil Shea. Written with masterful prose and a spark of adventure, Frostlines is an expansive yet intimate revelation of the Arctic during a time of transformation, and a journey along the threshold of a stunning and sometimes frightening world that’s emerging right before our eyes.

Publication date: December 2

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The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late

Judith Enck with Adam Mahoney

A powerful look at plastic’s impact on human health and the environment, and how we can fight back by putting people and the planet over plastics. More than a critique, The Problem with Plastic emphasizes the urgent need for action against plastic’s toxic legacy. It highlights powerful stories of frontline resistance in places like Louisiana, Texas, and Appalachia, and equips readers with practical tools.

Publication date: December 2

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A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature

Adam Morgan

The life and times of literary pioneer and queer icon Margaret C. Anderson, who risked everything to be the first to publish James Joyce’s Ulysses in America. Perfect for fans of The Editor, Flapper, and Nasty Women.

Publication date: December 9

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The Sea Captain’s Wife: A True Story of Mutiny, Love, and Adventure at the Bottom of the World

Tilar J. Mazzeo

The true story of the first female captain of a merchant ship and her treacherous navigation of Antarctica’s deadly waters, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Widow Clicquot.

Publication date: December 9

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Dig Me a Grave: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Who Seduced the South

Dick Harpootlian with Shaun Assael

The definitive true “Southern Gothic” account of the life, crimes, conviction, and execution of Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins, the charismatic, brutal, well-liked, remorseless South Carolina serial killer who was dubbed the Charles Manson of the South—written by the prosecutor who brought him to justice.

Publication date: December 16

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