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Winter may seem like it’s dragging on, especially after that massive storm that hit many areas of the country last weekend, but January sure did fly by. The cold weather doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, so many of us have plans to hunker down at home and spend our spare time reading some good books over the next few weekends. Looking for some recommendations? Parade consulted several librarians to find out the best book releases coming in February 2026.
Last month, librarians came in clutch and shared a list of 11 must-read new releases for January 2026. Their selections ranged from breezy romances to biblical fiction and captivating thrillers. For this month, librarians are at it once again, and they’re sharing a list of the books they’re most excited to read when they’re released in February. From heartwarming novels to mind-boggling mysteries and sci-fi fantasy picks, these selections represent a wide range of genres, meaning you’re sure to find something you’ll love.
As always, the books are available in multiple formats, ranging from hardcover books and Kindle versions to audiobooks, so you can read them in whatever way you prefer to enjoy books. If you end up loving one of our selections, make sure to let us know in the comments!
Related: 11 Best Audiobooks on Spotify, According to Librarians
11 Best Book Releases in February 2026, According to Librarians
1. ‘This Book Made Me Think of You’ by Libby Page
Available Feb. 3
Boston Public Library Collection Librarian Hope Genty can’t wait to curl up with this book when it’s released.
“The description feels like a warm hug and also feels like it will make me bawl my eyes out. I love books that provoke strong emotions, and this feels like it will do just that,” she tells Parade.
In the book, protagonist Tilly Nightingale navigates the death of her husband Joe. One day, she hears from a local bookstore and learns that Joe arranged to send her one book each month (plus a handwritten letter) for the first year following his death. Tilly isn’t an avid reader, so she’s surprised at first, but she quickly dives in and finds comfort in the books.
“But as she begins to share her journey with others, her story—like a book—becomes more than her own,” the book description reads.
2. ‘It’s Not Her’ by Mary Kubica
Available Feb. 3
Amanda Hunt, better known as @thenextgenlibrarian on Instagram, got an advance copy of this book and can’t wait for others to read it.
“It’s Not Her grabbed me from the first page and never let go. Mary Kubica layers suspense so skillfully that every chapter deepens the unease, making it impossible to stop reading,” she says.
The book follows protagonist Courtney Gray, who travels to visit her brother and sister-in-law, then finds them dead in their home. Even worse, Courtney’s niece Reece is missing, and her nephew Wyatt is the only one at home. Soon, Courtney discovers “dark truths” about her family, per the book description, and questions whether her niece is a victim or the killer.
3. ‘Just for the Cameras’ by Megan Quinn
Available Feb. 3
Retired librarian Kris Morahan, AKA @theretiredlibrarian, is looking forward to this “flirty, high-energy contemporary romance.”
“Brooding professional football player Graydon and flamingo-loving zookeeper Maple agree to fake a relationship for the sake of appearances because sometimes looking perfect on camera matters more than telling the truth,” she shares. “But as forced proximity turns up the heat, chemistry ignites, boundaries blur and real feelings refuse to stay hidden.”
Morahan notes that the book is perfect for readers seeking an “engaging, feel-good escape.”
Related: The 101 Best Young Adult Books of All Time
4. ‘Keeper of Lost Children’ by Sadeqa Johnson
Available Feb. 10
“With its focus on found family, motherhood and hidden histories, Keeper of Lost Children is one of the most anticipated books on my list,” Hunt shares. “Sadeqa Johnson’s work always stays with me, and this story feels especially resonant.”
The novel centers around the stories of three characters. For starters, Ethel Gathers is the wife of an American officer living in Germany in the 1950s. When Ethel finds a local orphanage with the children of German women and Black American soldiers, she’s inspired to find them homes.
Then there’s Ozzie Phillips, who is an American volunteer serving in the desegregated army in Germany in 1948. While overseas, he meets a woman named Jelka who changes his life. And lastly, Sophia Clark is living in Maryland in 1965 when she gets the chance to attend an all-white boarding school. She soon learns a secret that inspires her to embark on an adventure to learn more about her identity.
5. ‘Antihero: An Orphan X Novel’ by Gregg Hurwitz
Available Feb. 10
Morahan is counting the days until this latest installment in Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series is released.
“Fans of the series can expect Hurwitz’s trademark high-octane pacing, relentless action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and a morally complex hero to cheer for,” she explains.
Protagonist Evan Smoak reappears for his “most complex mission yet,” per the book description, and has to “find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.”
“When a powerful man spirals into a psychological crisis, Evan travels east and stumbles upon a far more urgent case: a young woman abducted from a New York subway and left traumatized,” Morahan shares. “As Evan and his team hunt down her attackers, she makes one impossible demand—no killing. Forced to abandon his usual lethal methods, Evan must balance justice, mercy and protection as the hunt escalates from society’s darkest corners to its most privileged spaces.”
6. ‘The Astral Library’ by Kate Quinn
Available Feb. 17
Both Morahan and Genty are excited about this upcoming release.
“Kate Quinn is known for her historical fiction, but she is diving into the sci-fi fantasy genre in this book set at our very own Boston Public Library,” Genty states. “The description feels like a Boston Public Library version of the 1990s movie, The Page Master, and I can’t wait to read this bookish fantasy.”
Morahan describes the book as a “magical adventure and love letter to books.”
“Alix Watson has spent most of her life in foster care and now works multiple dead-end jobs, finding solace only in stories at the Boston Public Library,” she shares. “When she discovers a hidden door leading to the Astral Library, an otherworldly place where books serve as portals to new lives, everything changes. Guided by the mysterious librarian, Alix soon finds herself fleeing through iconic literary worlds alongside unlikely allies as a shadowy enemy threatens the library and all it protects.”
7. ‘Where the Wildflowers Grow’ by Terah Shelton Harris
Available Feb.17
When Leigh is on her way to prison, her transport bus gets into an accident and kills everyone on board except her. Forced to find a hiding spot, Leigh discovers a flower farm in Alabama. While there, she makes friends with a group of people who have also experienced heartache in their own lives, including the farm’s owner, Jackson. Soon enough, Leigh begins to enjoy her time on the farm, but the secrets of her past begin to catch up with her.
“Where the Wildflowers Grow promises a tender, emotionally resonant story about love, grief and finding your way back to yourself. Terah Shelton Harris writes with a sensitivity that makes this one feel especially meaningful,” Hunt shares.
8. ‘When I Kill You’ by B.A. Paris
Available Feb.17
“B.A. Paris has enthralled readers with suspenseful thrillers like Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist, and she delivers another tightly wound psychological thriller with When I Kill You,” Morahan tells Parade.
If you’re looking for a “slow-burning suspense,” the avid reader suggests adding this upcoming release to your list.
“The story follows Nell, a woman who begins to believe she’s being watched, and she has good reason to be paranoid. Years earlier, she lived under a different name and witnessed a young student get into a stranger’s car shortly before the girl was murdered,” she shares. “Convinced she knew who was responsible, Nell’s obsession sent her down a dangerous path and ultimately forced her to abandon her life and assume a new identity. Now she must ask: Has someone from her past uncovered the truth? Or is her fear spiraling into something even more deadly?”
9. ‘Murder at an Irish Session’ by Carlene O’Connor
Available Feb. 24
Danielle Masterson—the Assistant Director at the Wilmington Memorial Library in Massachusetts—is looking forward to this book, which is the final installment in the Irish Village Mysteries series. In fact, it’s one of her “favorite series.”
“Carlene O’Connor’s Irish Village Mysteries are a light, but suspenseful read. Set in Kilbane in County Cork, Ireland, the novels center around Garda Siobhán O’Sullivan and Detective Sargeant Macdara Flannery solving murderous crimes,” the librarian says. “I don’t read many ‘cozy mysteries,’ and lean more toward traditional suspense or detective novels. However, O’Connor’s Irish Village Mysteries series feeds my soul and warms my heart every time.
The final book finds a pregnant Siobhán O’Sullivan planning a music and matchmaking festival with her brother Ciaran and matchmaker Liam Noone. When the room goes black and the lights turn back on, everyone can see that Liam has been impaled through the heart. Siobhán and her husband, Macdara, then get to work to find out who murdered Liam.
Related: 29 ‘Must-Read’ Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians
10. ‘Kin’ by Tayari Jones
Available Feb. 24
If you enjoy books that are told in alternating perspectives, Morahan suggests giving this upcoming release a try.
“Kin explores sisterhood, identity, motherhood and resilience with Jones’ signature emotional depth that sparks meaningful conversations about friendship, family and identity. It’s perfect for book clubs and readers who love character-driven stories,” she says.
Kin tells the story of lifelong friends Vernice and Annie, who grew up together and found common ground since they both didn’t have mothers. When they reach adulthood, Vernice prioritizes education and social mobility, while Annie embarks on a quest to learn more about the mother who abandoned her.
Morahan calls the book “a deeply emotional, character-driven novel about the enduring power of friendship and the complicated bonds of family.”
11. ‘Cleopatra’ by Saara El-Arifi
Available Feb. 24
“Cleopatra looks poised to challenge everything we think we know about power, ambition and legacy. Saara El-Arifi’s perspective makes this a standout historical novel to watch,” Hunt shares.
Cleopatra’s reign over Egypt made her a historical figure we’re still talking about today. In this fictional novel, Cleopatra tells her own story.
“Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love’s thrall. Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves. Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children. How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule. Death will silence me no longer. This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived,” the book description reads.
Up Next:
Related: The 44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, According to Librarians
Sources:
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
