Welcome to the Winter 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!

Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing from January through March.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Announcement

• The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)!

• One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack!

Highlights

• A lightning round of some big releases coming this winter that we're not featuring in today's preview.
• Catherine chose books by authors she knows and trusts.
• This year, Sarah dug deep into the publisher's catalog for potential hidden gems.
• Sarah's books cover literary suspense, literary fiction, brain candy, nonfiction, and a thriller from 2 debut authors and 3 repeat authors.
• Sarah has already read one of her picks — and it was 4.5 stars!
• Plus, their #1 picks for winter.

Big Winter Releases

• The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:39]
• The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:43]
• My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:46]
• Once and Again by Rebecca Serle (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:49]
• Crux by Gabriel Tallent (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:53]
• Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:56]
• Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:00]
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:03]
• Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:21]
• Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar (January 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:24]
• This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:28]
• Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:31]

Other Books Mentioned

• I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022) [3:35]

Winter 2026 Book Preview [6:57]

January

Catherine's Picks

• Skylark by Paula McLain (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:53]
• Vigil by George Saunders (January 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:48]

Other Books Mentioned

• Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (2015) [11:04]
• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) [13:12]
• Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) [17:39]

February

Sarah's Picks

• Good People by Patmeena Sabit (February 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:59]
• Royal Spin by Omid Scobie and Robin Benway (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:14]
• Kin by Tayari Jones (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:01]

Catherine's Picks

• Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:19]
• More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:05]

Other Books Mentioned

• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) [9:37]
• Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) [9:40]
• Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024) [9:42]
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) [9:50]
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019) [14:04]
• Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand (2020) [14:53]
• Endgame by Omid Scobie (2023) [14:57]
• Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (2019) [19:20]
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) [24:11]
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (2011) [24:13]
• Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones (2002) [26:48]
• Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen (2018) [29:43]
• After Annie by Anna Quindlen (2024) [29:51]

March

Sarah's Picks

• No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:07]
• Whidbey by T Kira Madden (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:50]
• All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[35:31]
• She Fell Away by Lenore Nash (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:01]
• The Complex by Karan Mahajan (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:35]

Catherine's Picks

• Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:02]
• No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes (US Release March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:44]
• Son of Nobody by Yann Martel (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:11]
• How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:15]

Other Books Mentioned

• A Thousand Naked Strangers by Kevin Hazzard (2016) [30:48]
• The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [33:06]
• Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) [33:13]
• Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) [35:41]
• Medium Rare by A. Natasha Joukovsky (March 3, 2026) [40:39]
• Red Widow by Alma Katsu (2021) [41:45]
• Red London by Alma Katsu (2023) [41:46]
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001) [43:38]
• The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel (2016) [46:16]
• The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan (2016) [47:17]
• Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (2012) [50:04]

Other Links

• The New Yorker | "The True Margaret," by Karan Mahajan