A new year, a new TBR, and absolutely no intention of slowing down when it comes to adding books to my already overflowing shelves. If the first few months of 2027 are any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a pretty incredible reading year. Between highly anticipated releases from favorite authors, dark and twisty thrillers, fantasy worlds I’m dying to get lost in, and a handful of books that have completely caught me off guard, my winter reading list is already getting a little out of control.
Winter has always felt like the perfect season for getting lost in a good book. There’s something about colder weather, cozy evenings, and an excuse to stay inside that makes a suspenseful thriller or an immersive fantasy even better. Granted, living in Texas means our version of winter could just as easily involve 80-degree afternoons, but that’s beside the point. The books are what matter, and 2027 is starting strong.
This year’s winter lineup has a little bit of everything. We’ve got returning favorites like Kate Alice Marshall, Ali Hazelwood, Alice Feeney, and TJ Klune, alongside some intriguing releases that are pushing their genres in unexpected directions. There are creepy woods, complicated marriages, unsettling secrets, monsters, magic, and more than a few characters I’m already suspicious of. Basically, all the ingredients for a great start to the reading year.
I’ve rounded up the winter 2027 releases I’m most excited about, including books from authors I already love, anticipated new stories, and a few wild cards that I have a feeling could become unexpected favorites. As always, I’ll be sharing full reviews as I make my way through them, so be sure to check back to see which ones live up to the hype.
Here’s what’s at the top of my Winter 2027 TBR!
For complete lists of my Most Anticipated for the winter months, make sure to sign up to receive updates, as those will be out in the upcoming weeks. And be sure to check out some of my previous lists if you want something to read that’s out now.
FALL MOST ANTICIPATED
November Most anticipated
December Most Anticipated
Winter 2027 Most Anticipated
If you’re a mystery and thriller reader, winter 2027 is already looking dangerously good. Kate Alice Marshall returns with The One We Buried, and after the unsettling, twisty stories she’s delivered in the past, this one was an automatic addition to my list. Alice Feeney’s Twist is another release I’m especially excited about because, at this point, I fully expect her to make me question every character, every relationship, and probably my own ability to recognize a plot twist. The Last Match by Jessa Maxwell and The Society of Forgotten Wives by Pam Jenoff are also on my radar, along with When the Woods Called Us Home by Rachel Griffin. Between buried secrets, complicated relationships, and mysteries that promise plenty of surprises, I have a feeling my winter reading will involve a lot of suspicious side-eye.
And then there’s the darker side of my TBR, which is shaping up to be particularly interesting. Exhumation by Nicholas Binge, Chimera by Gwendolyn Kiste, and The Secret Lives of Zombie Wives by Barbara J. Gilbert are bringing some seriously unsettling energy to the beginning of the year. I’m also intrigued by Eclipse the Wolf by Akwaeke Emezi, Wolf Point by Lisa Howells, and The Isle of Lonely Monsters. I love a good thriller, but there’s something about horror that takes familiar fears and turns them into something completely unexpected. These are the books I’m hoping will deliver the kind of creepy, atmospheric storytelling that stays with you long after the final page.
Of course, I can’t spend the entire winter reading about murder, monsters, and questionable life choices. Well, I could, but a little romance never hurts. Ali Hazelwood’s The No-Body Problem is easily one of my most anticipated releases, and I’m excited to see what she has planned next. The Unrequited Love Department is another title that immediately caught my attention, while Just One Time and Jennifer Smith’s Rabbit Rabbit bring even more variety to the lineup. I’m especially interested in seeing which of these delivers the perfect balance of humor, heart, complicated relationships, and the kind of emotional investment that makes putting a book down nearly impossible.
Fantasy readers have plenty to look forward to as well. TJ Klune’s The Stars Look Like Home is high on my list, because his books have a way of balancing whimsy, found family, and emotional storytelling that just works for me. Lexi Ryan’s Night Tide is another release I’m excited about, along with The Bookbinder’s Code by A. D. Bell, which sounds like exactly the kind of bookish fantasy I can’t resist. And then there’s The Empire Burns at Dawn by Fatima Al Shemary, another release I’m eager to dive into. Between magical worlds, darker fantasy, and stories that promise adventure, complicated characters, and plenty of emotional investment, I’m fully prepared to become obsessed with another fictional universe. Or three. At this point, who’s counting?
And finally, there are the books that don’t fit quite so neatly into one category but have absolutely earned their spots on my TBR. We Go Way Back by Niamh Connolly, Villain Origin Story by Ruby Dixon, Miss Archer by Darby Jardine, and Maria, Maria by Jennifer Givhan are all releases I’m curious to explore. One of my favorite things about putting these lists together is finding books I might not have otherwise picked up. Some of my biggest reading surprises have come from taking a chance on an unusual premise, trying something outside my usual genres, or picking up a book simply because the cover caught my eye.
If this is how 2027 is starting, I’m not sure my TBR stands a chance. There are already so many books I’m excited to read, and we’re only talking about the first few months of the year. Some will hopefully become new five-star favorites, others might surprise me, and I’m sure a few will leave me with plenty to say in my reviews. Either way, I’m ready to see what this new reading year has in store.
Reviews
Coming Soon
These are just some of the many books I’m looking forward to in the next few months and in 2026 in general. Are any of these on your list? What others are you looking forward to this winter? Feel free to DM me on Instagram @speakingof.books , Tiktok @speakingof.books or comment below!