New Books Released in February 2026
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February has arrived, bringing cooler days, a soft, lingering winter light, and the perfect moment to refresh your reading list with some of the season’s most enchanting new releases. As winter deepens across the United States, there’s no better way to welcome February than by diving into stories brimming with adventure, laughter, and heartfelt moments. Whether you’re bundling up for brisk walks, savoring hot cocoa by the window, or curling into a plush blanket for a cozy indoor retreat, these February book picks will keep you captivated all month long.
A Diverse Selection of Must-Reads Awaits this February
The Book Guide’s editorial team curates a monthly list of popular new releases, drawing from top ratings across the board. Each preview spans a wide range of genres—from contemporary and historical fiction to mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult, and nonfiction. This month, three standout titles are not to be missed.
February’s new releases offer a mesmerizing mix of heartfelt romance, chilling psychological suspense, and historical intrigue, perfect for the month’s reflective vibes. First, And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison delivers a tender second-chance romance centered on two former flames reuniting amid small-town charm, unpacking lingering regrets and rediscovering love. Borison masterfully crafts a warm narrative about forgiveness and fresh starts, keeping readers hooked with swoony tension until the heartfelt end. Fans of emotional slow-burns will melt into this sweet tale of reconnection and joy.
Next, It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica plunges into a taut psychological thriller about a woman ensnared in a web of doubt and deception after a stranger’s accusation upends her reality, exposing fractured identities and buried lies. Kubica’s razor-sharp prose and mind-bending twists build relentless suspense in a story that probes guilt, truth, and the shadows of the past. This gripping page-turner is a pulse-quickening dive into obsession that demands to be read in one sitting.
Finally, The Astral Library by Kate Quinn captivates with its sweeping historical tale of a secret library safeguarding forbidden knowledge during wartime chaos, where unlikely guardians forge bonds amid espionage and peril. Quinn weaves a fast-paced narrative of courage, betrayal, and hidden worlds, blending heart-stirring drama with high-stakes adventure. This story’s blend of mystery and resilience makes it an ideal escape for February’s cozy evenings.
What to Read This February 2026: Best Book Releases.
February’s standout titles deliver a thrilling mix of passion, mystery, and wonder—perfect for cozying up as winter lingers or savoring those fleeting crisp days. Be sure to add these to your reading list for a memorable month filled with adventure and discovery.
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison is a delightful opposites-attract romance featuring rival meteorologists Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart. Longtime professional adversaries—Jackson the structured radio forecaster and guardian to his teenage sisters, Delilah the spontaneous field reporter—must team up to cover a massive snowstorm in the mountains. Their clashing styles spark a deal: she’ll loosen him up if he helps her shine as a serious journalist, turning rivalry into friendship and then undeniable chemistry. As romance brews amid the blizzard, they grapple with whether their mountain magic can survive back in the real world.
It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica
“It’s Not Her” by Mary Kubica is a gripping psychological thriller set at a secluded Wisconsin lake resort. Courtney Gray’s family vacation turns nightmarish when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law brutally murdered in their cottage, with teenage niece Reese missing and young nephew Wyatt unharmed upstairs. As police investigate and dark family secrets emerge—linked to a similar disappearance five years earlier—Courtney grapples with deception, questioning if Reese is a victim or the perpetrator in this twist-filled tale of obsession and buried trauma.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn is a magical realism adventure centered on Alix Watson, a struggling young woman and former foster kid who escapes her hardships into books at the Boston Public Library. One night, she stumbles through a hidden door into the Astral Library, a mystical sanctuary where the desperate can live inside public domain stories like Jane Austen’s Regency world or Sherlock Holmes’ London, guided by an ageless Librarian. When a shadowy enemy—possibly a modernizing board—threatens to destroy this haven, Alix teams up with the Librarian and a dashing ally to flee through literary realms, from The Great Gatsby’s parties to shadowy alleys, fighting to save the library itself. This gorgeously written tale pays tribute to libraries, classic novels, and the power of stories as refuge.
Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson
Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson is a poignant historical novel that intertwines the lives of three characters across post-WWII Germany and 1960s America. In occupied Germany, Ethel Gathers, an infertile American officer’s wife, discovers mixed-race children—born to Black GIs and German women—abandoned in orphanages, and dedicates herself to finding them American homes, even adopting some herself. Meanwhile, in 1965 Maryland, bright teen Sophia Clark escapes her abusive farm life for an elite boarding school, only to uncover a shattering secret about her origins through a classmate. Spanning continents and decades, the story explores identity, belonging, racism, and transcendent love as their paths collide in unexpected ways.
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
In Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris, Leigh Wilde, the last survivor of her family after witnessing their tragic deaths, escapes a prison transport bus crash and flees to a secluded flower farm in rural Alabama. There, she discovers an unexpected found family, including the compassionate farm owner Jackson, who helps her confront her grief and begin healing amid the farm’s nurturing environment. Yet, as her past secrets resurface, threatening her newfound peace, Leigh must face the limits of her survival instincts in this poignant tale of redemption.
One of Us by Elizabeth Day
One of Us by Elizabeth Day is a gripping sequel to The Party, delving into the unraveling of the privileged Fitzmaurice family amid British political intrigue. Centered on ambitious Tory MP Ben Fitzmaurice, his wife Serena, activist daughter Cosima, and the suspicious death of black sheep sister Fliss, the novel weaves revenge plots from Ben’s spurned school friend Martin—who harbors unrequited love—and rival politician Richard Take. Through multiple perspectives, including Fliss from beyond the grave, it explores betrayal, power, class privilege, and the dark underbelly of loyalty in a nation facing moral reckoning.
Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi
“Cleopatra” by Saara El-Arifi is a reimagined historical epic that retells the life of Egypt’s iconic queen from her own perspective, beginning with her ascension to the throne after her father’s death. Portrayed as a strategic, ruthless yet deeply human ruler, scholar, healer, and devoted mother, she navigates sibling rivalries, civil wars, alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and relentless threats from Rome while fiercely protecting her sovereignty and children. Infused with mythology, divine elements, and lyrical prose, the novel challenges Hollywood myths to reveal her emotional complexity, ambition, and resilience amid betrayal and destiny.
Kin by Tayari Jones
Kin by Tayari Jones is a poignant novel set in the Jim Crow South, following two lifelong friends, Vernice and Annie, who grow up motherless in Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Vernice, raised by a protective aunt after her mother’s murder, attends Spelman College and enters a world of Black elite society, while Annie, abandoned by her mother, embarks on a perilous quest for connection filled with adventure and hardship. Their diverging paths—marked by racism, class divides, and personal choices—reconvene amid tragedy, exploring profound themes of sisterhood, found family, self-discovery, and resilience in the face of inequality. Jones’s exuberant prose delivers an emotionally rich story of love and identity that lingers long after the final page.
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman is a fast-paced sci-fi novel where colonists on New Sonora face an existential threat from Earth. Generations after settling the planet, farmer Oliver Lewis and his community use repurposed agricultural robots to defend against an eviction campaign by Apex Industries, which turns the assault into a pay-to-play video game called Operation Bounce House. Gamers on Earth remotely pilot custom mechs to eradicate the settlers—branded as terrorists—over five intense days, blending high-stakes action with sharp anti-war commentary on dehumanization and drone warfare.
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
When I Kill You by B.A. Paris is a gripping psychological thriller that follows Nell Masters, a woman living quietly under a new identity after a traumatic past. Fourteen years earlier, as Elle Nugent, she witnessed a teenage girl, Bryony Sanders, enter a stranger’s car, only for the girl to be found murdered, sparking Elle’s obsessive pursuit of the suspected killer, Brett Parker, with devastating consequences. Now, Nell senses she’s being stalked—through silent calls, anonymous flowers, and an eerie feeling of being watched—raising fears that her past has caught up, especially as her boyfriend Alex harbors secrets of his own. Told in dual timelines with short, tense chapters, the novel masterfully builds paranoia, obsession, and suspense, questioning whether the real danger lurks in Nell’s history or her present.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
In Taylor Adams’ thriller “Her Last Breath,” shy legal assistant Tess reluctantly joins her adventurous best friend Allie, a travel influencer, on a long-delayed caving trip despite her claustrophobia. Deep underground, they encounter a menacing stranger who attacks after Allie’s bold retort, leaving Tess trapped and fighting for survival in a narrow crawl space. Hospitalized and recounting the ordeal to Detective Layla Washington, Tess uncovers shocking secrets about Allie’s hidden past, revealing the assault was no random act—and danger may still lurk.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
In “How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates” by Shailee Thompson, cinephile Jamie Prescott attends a speed-dating event with her best friend Laurie, expecting mediocre matches and laughs, only for it to turn into a locked-room nightmare when the lights go out and a killer starts slashing throats. Armed with makeshift weapons and her encyclopedic knowledge of horror movie tropes—especially what not to do as a Final Girl—Jamie leads the survivors in a desperate bid to escape while the body count rises. As tension mounts, she suspects the murderer is orchestrating the slayings to woo a specific dater into a twisted real-life romance, all while Jamie grapples with unexpected attractions amid the chaos. This hilarious yet terrifying horror-romance mashup blends slasher thrills, rom-com vibes, and meta-humor.
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson is a gripping thriller that intertwines the narrative of a self-proclaimed serial killer, Denver Brady, with that of Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen. Returning to Scotland Yard after recovering from PTSD triggered by a workplace assault, Sam investigates the murder of 14-year-old Charlotte Mathers, found with a copy of Brady’s chilling self-help book that details methods for evading capture. As the book goes viral and details eerily match the crime scene, Sam races to determine if Brady is the killer, a copycat is at large, or if the manuscript is a masterful distraction, building to shocking twists. The novel’s dual perspectives heighten the suspense, exploring themes of instinct, deception, and justice.
Little One by Olivia Muenter
Little One by Olivia Muenter is a gripping psychological thriller that follows Catharine West, who grew up in a seemingly idyllic Florida commune led by her charismatic yet menacing father, which gradually reveals itself as a controlling cult. Years later, now living a guarded life in New York City, her past resurfaces when a journalist contacts her to expose the group’s secrets, forcing her to confront buried trauma, her complex relationships with her mother, sister Linna, and best friend, and the sacrifices she made to escape. Through dual timelines, the novel masterfully explores themes of modern womanhood, wellness culture obsession, and the haunting question of how far one will go to reinvent themselves, building suspense in a slow-burn narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett is a heartwarming cozy fantasy set in an alternate 1920s Montreal. Agnes Aubert, a grieving widow in her thirties, runs a struggling cat shelter after her previous location is destroyed by warring magicians. Desperate for a new home, she rents a suspiciously affordable shop haunted by strange occurrences, only to discover it’s owned by the notorious Witch King Havelock Renard, a grumpy fugitive using the basement for illicit magical artifact dealings despite his cat allergy. As threats from Havelock’s past endanger the shelter, Agnes teams up with him and her bold sister Elise, navigating magical dangers, dark woods, and an unexpected romance while fiercely protecting her feline charges.
Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy
In Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy, the first book in the Veritas Legacy series, protagonist Anamaya Onyx, the last of a cursed sorcerer bloodline stripped of magic by the Imperium for an ancestor’s crime, enters the brutal Nightsbridge Academy after her mother’s death. A hidden clue points to an ancient text beneath the academy that could prove her family’s innocence and restore their power. As she navigates treacherous alliances and a cracking curse around enigmatic figures, Anamaya risks everything to uncover dark secrets and exact revenge on her betrayers.
Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco
Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco is an action-packed standalone fantasy romance in the Prince of Sin series. Prince Sloth, a reclusive lover of his enchanted library, races to find the Book of Nightmares—an artifact that could shatter worlds and free the Goddess of Night—after a betrayal leaves him desperate. His path crosses with Lore Brimstone, a librarian pulled into a nightmarish realm resembling her favorite novels, where she wields the Phoenix Tear portal stone; together, they battle twisted stories and dark magic, questioning their hearts to avert doom for gods and mortals alike.
The Wild Card by Stephanie Archer
The Wild Card by Stephanie Archer is the fifth and final book in the Vancouver Storm hockey romance series, delivering an enemies-to-lovers story between Jordan Hathaway and Coach Tate Ward. Jordan, estranged from her father who owns the team, steps into management to save it from being sold, clashing with the handsome, authoritative single-dad coach whom everyone adores—except her. Forced proximity in Tate’s guesthouse sparks undeniable attraction amid playoff drama, injuries, and personal vulnerabilities like Tate’s recovery from alcoholism and Jordan’s grief over her mother’s death, blending steamy romance with authentic sports stakes and found-family themes.
Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake
Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake is a contemporary queer romance set in the Clover Lake series. April Evans, reeling from closing her tattoo shop and heartbreak after her ex-fiancée Elena left her for a younger woman, takes a summer art teaching job at Cloverwild resort. Her fresh start sours when she discovers her cabinmate is Daphne Love, the woman who stole Elena—though Daphne remains unaware of their connection. As initial tension gives way to rivalry over a London art exhibit opportunity, mutual attraction builds, forcing both to confront grief, trust issues, and unexpected desire.
The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin is a whimsical romantic fantasy set in the snowy village of Reverie, hidden deep in the Lost Range mountains beyond the sun’s reach. Every morning, the enigmatic Starmaker pulls sunlight over the peaks to sustain the village, but his era nears its end when he discovers powerful magic in Aurora Finch on her wedding day. Reluctantly apprenticed to him in his enchanted ice castle, Aurora grapples with her growing abilities, an irresistible attraction to the distant sorcerer, and his hidden secrets amid a looming deadly frost that threatens eternal winter. As she uncovers the sacrifices tied to her role and their intertwined fates, Aurora defies destiny to save her home and unravel the truths that could doom them both.
