Books I Want to Read in 2026

One of our favourite things to do in the new year is to set our reading goals and what we plan on reading. Here are some of the chosen picks ready for the rest of the year. 

The House of the Witch

First up is fiction with over four and a half stars, The House of the Witch, written by Clare Marchant. As someone who hasn't read anything whimsical and witchy fiction before I am so excited. 

The story starts with Adrianna who downsizes to a cottage by the sea in Norfolk. This cottage is a new lease of life for her away from the city but this is no typical home. It holds secrets after she finds hidden notes along with a carved stone. She is left feeling all of these mysteries have been left for her to find after centuries. Rewind to 1646, Ursula works as a village midwife from her cottage. But she has no desire to need a man which in that time led to nothing but accusations of being a witch. As time goes on a local doctor spies Ursula wanting her as his mistress. Which leaves her at risk of becoming his prisoner. 

The Conditions of Will

Next is romance contemporary fiction novel written by Jess Hastings, for lovers of Magnolia Parks a fresh new love story has started. 

Londoner Georgia, who is estranged from her family since falling out years ago. Suddenly their father dies, which leads her to visit the states for the funeral. When she visits, she meets her brother's sponsor, Sam, for his alcoholism tensions rise as they become connected romantically. In the background Georgia's brother develops feelings for his sponsor leaving her in a predicament while holding onto the only family she has. Meanwhile after losing their father his hidden past and secrets start to unravel.

Blood of Hercules

A yearly must read is Greek mythology fiction. Especially a romantasy this year which is the first of Jasmine Mas' Villain of Lore series.

Set in a Spartan War Academy, Alexis is a god or a hero but always a survivor. After a blood test she is led to the Academy and fights for survival. When immortality is a privilege, heroes and villains are combined together on the classroom battlegrounds. with the likes of Achille and Patro her mentors and heirs of the underworld the hunt is one, haunting her thoughts. as they say where there are gods there is always a monster. and even gods can die. 

Red White & Royal Blue

Now a cutesy romance, Red White & Royal Blue. As a lover of the 2023 romance film directed by Mattew Lopez this year I want to read and experience it for myself and decide if I envision this difference in my head? Will Casy Mcquiston's LGBT fiction make me fall in love again?

First heir Alex of the Atlantic they live by the White House with his mother, the President. Across the sea is where his nemesis Prince Henry lies. After the threat of the American and British relations together they plan to stage a fake friendship. As time goes on a secret relationship starts to blossom but could this redial their campaign and original plan?

Everything I Know About Love

Award winning author and columnist for The Sunday Times, Dolly Alderton became in the top five bestsellers for Everything I Know About Love. This non fiction, is a memoir of growing up and older along with navigating through relationships, jobs and friendships. As a British journalist Alderton has seen it all, with her humour, perspectives and most of all her heart this debut explores personal stories and observations. This book has become the modern day Bridget Jones' Diary with the struggles of girlhood and adulthood. 

I have previously read Dear Dolly which I thoroughly enjoyed and thought it was clever to read through columns in a novel, but have been wanting to delve deeper into more focused writing about love in all forms. 

Fourth Wing

I have a feeling that anyone who has read this far will be thinking two things: how has anyone not read this? And you are in for the best ride of your life.

As a new lover and who has only just recently delved into the fantasy world this past year Fourth Wing has been one that has been on the list. 2026 is now going to be the year and hopefully for the full Empyrean Series. 

Rebecca Yarros, a lover of her military heroes, has created a fantasy romance fiction world that has become a global phenomenon. Violet enters the Scribe Quadrant where a life of books, history and peace. Her mother has other plans and orders Violet to join the dragon riders. But when you feel different to everyone else, bonding with dragons becomes harder and is life risking. As fewer dragons bond the pressure builds. From friends to enemies and lovers everyone has an agenda with only one result: you either graduate or die. 

Sunburn

Back to queer romance fiction is the debut novel written by Chloe Michelle Howarth. Set in the nineties in Ireland main character Lucy feels different. Even with her friends it has always felt this way with the narratives of getting married and being a mother hovering in the back of her mind. During summer question marks start to disappear with her friend, Susannah as a romantic relationship starts to blossom. With her unwelcoming community Lucy's double life becomes unbearable. As the end of school is looming she has to decide who she is and whether to choose happiness. 

The Yellow Wallpaper

Every year we have to squeeze a classic in there, which is a fiction short story that will give us the chills. Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story delves into a wife who has been diagnosed by her husband with "temporary nervous depression" after having their child. She is sent to rest for the whole of summer in a mansion spending days in the nursery. After journaling the wife creates an obsession with the peeling yellow wallpaper and how it mutates in the moonlight revealing a human figure. wanting to unlock the mystery it only leads to the dark depths of madness. 

Gender Theory 

Finally our last book of choice is Gender Theory by Madeline Docherty. Contemporary fiction at its finest with a coming of age story that has been on my list for a long while. This book depicts how we care for people around us with the character and friend, Ella always being there. from relationships to jobs you can always count on her but with growing up the lines start to blur in your friendship. Even though you know it is coming you don't know how to stop it.

That is all the books at the moment to set us up for the year. If you want to keep updated if we do and what we think, follow us @girlsmagluna and subscribe to this online magazine on our website.