Library Reads February 2026
There’s at least one thing I will never become tired of as a lover of books and libraries, and that’s learning what everyone has been reading lately. I also love to learn what everyone is excited to read in the future, which is why I find Library Reads so incredibly useful. This condensed ten-book list highlights some of the most unique and anticipated reading material for each month. The mission here is to promote inclusivity and diversity in a world that doesn’t always value these things. Amplifying emerging author voices via grassroots word-of-mouth is that pure library activism I signed up for in library school, so I am happy to be able to post the list here.
Below, I listed the top ten fiction books and non-fiction book of interest recommended by library workers and patrons all over the country. Several titles mentioned here have not reached their publication day at the time I am writing this blog, so keep checking back for their availability status.
Operation Bounce House
Matt Dinniman
(Ace)
The colonists of New Sonora have spent decades settling the land when the gate to Earth finally opens. Looking forward to a greater connection to the rest of the universe, they instead get an eviction action where bored Earthers use AI soldiers from the comfort of their homes. Oliver and his friends fight to protect the land they colonized with farm equipment and ingenuity.
—Jessi Leister, Enoch Pratt Free Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshiminarayan
Her Last Breath
Taylor Adams
(William Morrow)
Two friends get far more than they bargained for when they decide to explore a cave together in this fast-paced page turner. This unrelentingly tense read combines the heart-pounding, claustrophobic terror of navigating tight tunnels and turns with the added horrors of being stalked by a killer. Thriller fans, take note!
—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Drift by C.J. Tudor
Cleopatra: A Novel
Saara El-Arifi
(Ballantine Books)
This absolutely stunning novel weaves historic facts into a love story. Readers will see Cleopatra's life through her eyes as she ascends the throne of Egypt. They will watch the young Pharoah battle with siblings and see her fall for a love parallel to her love of country. This moving story set across time and a landscape of destruction will cut readers deep.
—Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cleopatra by Stacy Schif
This Is Not About Us
Allegra Goodman
(The Dial Press)
In a series of linked stories, we follow three branches of one family as they maneuver their way around the pitfalls of living. This is a portrait of a group of people that come together, drift apart, and try to find a way back, as many families attempt to do.
—Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY
NoveList read-alike: Strangers and Cousins by Leah Hager Cohen
Keeper of Lost Children
Sadeqa Johnson
(Simon & Schuster: 37 Ink)
Inspired by true events, this story explores the reverberating impact of the actions of an Army wife who facilitated the adoption of mixed-race babies fathered by servicemen in Germany during WWII, finding them loving homes with Black families in the United States. Perfect for book clubs or readers who enjoy uncovering lesser-known historical events.
—Lori Hench, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Kin: A Novel
Tayari Jones
(Knopf)
It's amazing the different roads two lives can take, even when growing up in very similar circumstances. While the story is set long ago, the situations seem as if they could happen today. The feelings, reactions, and things the characters long for—belonging, acceptance, and love—are all timeless. Readers will be thinking about these characters for a long time.
—Robin B., Pierce County Library, WA
NoveList read-alike: Sula by Toni Morrison
This Book Made Me Think of You
Libby Page
(Berkley)
After Tilly's husband dies, she discovers he had purchased a dozen books for her to pick up each month from a beloved bookshop owned by Alfie. Each book brings gradual healing, new friends, and a feeling of wholeness. The books (and Alfie!) make for a truly wonderful reader experience. Your to-read pile will surely grow from the recommendations!
—Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins
Trad Wife
Saratoga Schaefer
(Crooked Lane Books)
Influencer Camille has it all: a loving husband and a dream house, as long as she obeys his word. If only she had a baby, her husband wouldn't be pulling away. But nothing happens, until she makes a wish at a demonic well. Funny yet sad, this horror novel is a commentary on social media, conservative families, and the power men try to wield over women.
—Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton
The Red Winter
Cameron Sullivan
(Tor Books)
A (nearly) immortal, his demon, and a succubus walk into a werewolf story. The right mix of humor, heat, history, religion, and mythology combine to make this a unique and compelling queer historical fantasy debut. (The footnotes!) Here’s hoping that there are more adventures of Professor Sebastian Grave in our future.
—Ann Finstad, Glencoe Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Halifax Hellions
Alexandra Vasti
(St. Martin's Griffin)
These twin sisters are women of some infamy, purely because they shirk the rules and conventions of the day. Margo, a whirlwind of chaos and joy, and Matilda, the more staid and artistic of the two, are witty and wonderfully drawn. Readers who like spicy Regency romance will be delighted.
—Nicole Guerra-Coon, Morrill Memorial Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
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There is a team of voracious readers on staff who are at the ready. All we dream of is (metaphorically) hurling our favorite book picks at a receptive audience of readers. So, feel free to stop by any of our reference desks if you’d ever like reading recommendations.
See you at the library, and happy reading.
