January has a way of sneaking up on us: one minute we’re wrapping presents and enjoying family get-togethers, and the next we’re starting a brand-new year! But January brings with it a whole shelf of newly released novels we can’t wait to get our hands on. Just a reminder, these are books we are excited to read, but won’t necessarily appear in our book boxes. 

From sweeping romantasy and mind-bending thrillers to heartfelt family stories and darkly funny debuts, January’s new releases are shaping up to be a reading month worth staying up past bedtime for. 

 

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

Release Date: January 13th, 2026

This enemies-to-lovers romantasy throws readers straight into the Immortal Realms, where Rune Ryker refuses to play the victim any longer. After losing everything to the Immortals, Rune orchestrates her own selection into their world, determined to reclaim her power and exact revenge. 

Inside the Forge, an academy teaching rare tarot magic, Rune’s abilities reveal themselves to be dangerously powerful, placing her directly in the orbit of Prince Draven, the only other wielder of her magic. Forced into an uneasy alliance filled with sharp banter, ambition, and simmering attraction, Rune must survive deadly politics, hidden secrets, and a brewing war. 

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Release Date: January 20th, 2026

When life feels unmoored, the Elsewhere Express may appear, though only to those who truly need it. Raya is one of those lost souls, having abandoned her own dreams after her brother’s death. Swept aboard a magical train filled with meadow cars, jellyfish-lit bars, and dreamlike wonders, she meets Q, another passenger searching for meaning. 

But beneath the train’s beauty lies a dangerous secret, as a stowaway’s dark magic threatens to derail everything. As Raya investigates, she’s also forced to confront her own purpose and the life she’s been avoiding. 

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Release Date: January 20th, 2026

In Fell, New York, tragedy has a way of lingering. When the Esmie siblings were children, their brother vanished during a game of hide-and-seek, leaving behind unanswered questions and fractured lives. Now, decades later, Ben has returned, and with him, the ghosts of everything they tried to escape. 

Haunted by visions, unexplained deaths, and a town steeped in supernatural dread, Violet, Vail, and Dodie must finally confront what happened all those years ago.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

Release Date: January 13th, 2026

A chance encounter at a bar sets off a dangerous game of identity-swapping, secrets, and murder. Aubrey Price believes Camille Bayliss’s husband holds answers to a decade-old trauma, while Camille suspects her seemingly perfect life is built on lies. Their plan is simple: switch places for twelve hours to uncover the truth. 

But when Camille’s husband is found dead, the women are left scrambling to protect themselves, especially since only one has a solid alibi. Tense, twisty, and impossible to put down, this thriller explores just how fragile truth becomes when everyone has something to hide.

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Release Date: January 6th, 2026

For twenty years, the Newman family has been America’s picture-perfect television ideal. But as 1964 unfolds, their carefully curated image begins to crack. Ratings fall, secrets surface, and the family’s private struggles threaten to unravel everything. When patriarch Del is injured in a mysterious accident, Dinah takes control by hiring a young reporter to help write the show’s final episode. 

Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet

Release Date: January 6th, 2026

A bold reimagining of Little Women takes a dark turn when Beth March is found murdered on New Year’s Day. Her sisters vow to uncover the truth, only to realize that each of them had motives they’d rather keep buried. 

Told through shifting perspectives and flashbacks, the investigation exposes family secrets, ambition, jealousy, and love in all its complicated forms. With social media, fame, and literary legacy woven into the mystery, this debut thriller asks how far someone might go for success and whether blood truly binds.

 

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Release Date: January 20th, 2026

Eden Fox returns home from a run to find her key no longer works and another woman answering her door, one whom her husband insists is his wife. Six months earlier, Birdy inherits the same house after receiving a devastating diagnosis, leading her into a web of secrets and unsettling truths. As timelines converge, identity blurs, and motives unravel, the story becomes a gripping exploration of obsession, revenge, and deception. Twisty and unsettling, this psychological thriller will keep you questioning reality until the final page.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

Release Date: January 20th, 2026

Desperate to save her comatose sister, Dell Danvers launches a 24-hour livestream that quickly spirals into internet fame, chaos, and self-destruction. Over seven intense days, Dell’s spicy-food-fuelled streams draw massive attention while forcing her to confront grief, guilt, and the darker corners of her past. Bold, darkly funny, and emotionally raw, this debut novel offers a sharp commentary on online performance, voyeurism, and what it really means to be seen.

A Killer Kind of Romance by Letizia Lorini

Release Date: January 13th, 2026

Crime podcast host Scarlett is used to narrating fictional murders, until someone starts reenacting crimes from her show. Things become even more complicated when her former flame, Rafael Gray, returns to town, charming, brooding, and suspiciously connected to the case. As romance tropes collide with true crime, Scarlett must uncover the truth while navigating feelings she thought were long buried. 

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

Release Date: January 6th, 2026

On the Isle of Malys, marriage is a death sentence…literally. Prince Arris knows that ruling often ends with murder, unless true love intervenes. When a tournament of brides is announced, danger and intrigue fill the castle halls. 

Enter Demelza, a veritas swan whose song reveals the truth. As alliances shift and secrets surface, Arris must decide whether survival is enough or if chasing a meaningful life is worth the risk.

Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin

Release Date: January 13th, 2026

After a mental breakdown, librarian Darcy returns to work only to find her community embroiled in book-banning debates. As she navigates grief, guilt, and questions about her past, Darcy leans on her wife, colleagues, and love for libraries to rediscover her voice. Thoughtful, quietly powerful, and deeply affirming, get ready to celebrate community, intellectual freedom, and the healing power of stories.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

Release Date: January 13th, 2026

A once-in-a-lifetime space mission turns into something far stranger when the crew returns to an Earth that feels…wrong. As unexplained changes mount and shadowy figures close in, the astronauts must piece together what really happened and how far they’re willing to go to reclaim their lives. 

Turning the Page on January

January’s new releases remind us why starting a new year with books feels so comforting. These stories promise escape, reflection, suspense, and connection, exactly what many of us crave as we ease back into routine. 

And while we wait for these titles to land in our hands, our Ready-to-Ship Book Boxes are always there to keep the pages turning. Because no matter the month, there’s always room for one more great story.

Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club, and if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our blog on The OUABC Team's Favorite Books of 2025!