Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small compensation to help support my blog if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you.
Book of the Month Predictions: What Could Be in the January 2026 Box?
We are one month away from a new reading year which means it’s time for my Book of the Month January 2026 predictions!
January is always a fun month for BOTM because they often kick off the year with big name authors, buzzy debuts, and at least one twisty thriller to set the tone.
If you’re already wondering which books might show up in the first box of 2026, these are the titles I think have the strongest chance based on early buzz, release dates, and classic BOTM pick patterns.
And if you want to know about even more books releasing in January 2026, check out my complete list here.
Related: January 2026 New Book Releases
If you aren’t familiar with Book of the Month, you can check out my full review of this subscription service. Each month, Book of the Month chooses 5-7 books from different genres and members can choose their pick when the books go live. You can also add on up to two more books for only $11.99 each. As of June 2023, BFF members can add up to four more books to their box.
If you don’t like any of the picks, you can choose to skip and save your credit for the next month, which is honestly the best part of this service to me. I don’t like subscription boxes that only offer one book selection that you don’t know ahead of time. If you are interested in trying Book of the Month, you can use my link to get your first book for only $5!
As usual, these are just my opinions and my Book of the Month predictions. It is fine if you disagree or think the Book of the Month January 2026 predictions are terrible-we all have different reading tastes. Please remember to be kind in comments or messages because we are all readers with different tastes!
Table of Contents
Mystery/Thriller Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
Want to see more 2026 thriller releases? Check out my full list of of 2026 thriller books.
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
A tense, feverish thriller about two women’s lives that are forever intertwined when a murder threatens to expose them both.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity, and revenge.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Repeat Author, second book in a series, Possible Add-on
Laura Dave continues Hannah Hall’s pulse-pounding journey in the riveting and deeply moving sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel, The Last Thing He Told Me.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
Rachel Hawkins is back with a thrilling new gothic suspense set in a Gulf Coast beach motel where hurricane season can be murder.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
A text message mistakenly sent to the neighborhood group chat leads to a death threat and a murder across town at the same address as the sender. Did the killer get the wrong house or is he still coming for the sender?
Amazon | barnes & noble | Bookshop.org
Such a Clever Girl by Darby Kane
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Repeat AUthor, Possible Add-on
A gripping domestic thriller in which a family goes missing and a long-buried family mystery resurfaces.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Romance Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Two people who can’t stand each other must come together to plan their mutual ex’s wedding.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
A second chance at love sets sail when a couple on the verge of divorce pretends they’re still together for one last family trip.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly
Release Date: December 16, 2025
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
With her brother’s grumpy best friend—and her longtime nemesis—as Beth’s flight instructor, her pilot lessons could be a plane disaster or their first-class ticket to forever.
Contemporary Fiction Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Debut Author
A modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a beautiful, powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Literary Fiction Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
Is This A Cry For Help? by Emily Austin
Release Date: January 13, 2026
A luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Scavengers by Kathleen Boland
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Debut Author
A rollicking debut novel about a cautious daughter and her eccentric, estranged mother venturing west in search of buried treasure—and a way back to each other—before they run out of patience, money, and options.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Debut Author
A married woman is trapped with her lover in a hotel under siege: If she knew it would end this way, would it ever have begun?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Historical Fiction Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus
Release Date: January 20, 2026
In this enchanting, adventurous debut novel, a band of seafaring smugglers lands on the Cornish coast, where a young widow with a mysterious past becomes entangled in their schemes—and with their charismatic captain.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen
Release Date: January 20, 2026
They were an unlikely pair—a blond bombshell and a photographer determined to be taken seriously—but Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold would make a deal that would change their lives.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Horror Book of the Month January 2026 Prediction
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Repeat Author, Possible Add-on
A pulse-pounding story about siblings who return to the house they fled 18 years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request: Come home.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Fantasy/Magical Realism Book of the Month January 2026 Predictions
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Release Date: January 13, 2026
A gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy that will leave readers breathless for more. She was never meant to be seen. Now she’s a weapon the world can’t ignore.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Debut Author
A stunning historical fantasy debut steeped in the salt and superstition of the Cornish coast. Forgotten sirens, mischievous sea gods, and the lore from days long since passed weave an irresistible tale.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Do you agree with my predictions? What are some of your Book of the Month January 2026 predictions or hopefuls? Let me know in the comments!
More On The Blog
- Read With Allison 2026 Reading Challenge
- New Holiday Books To Cozy Up With In 2025
- Ultimate Advent Calendar Guide
Shop my reading trackers, challenges, TBR games, Kindle lock screens, and digital reading journals on Etsy!
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook so you never miss a new post from me! You can also join my book club on Facebook!
Talk Bookish To Me