I read a lot of literary fiction this month (plus two romance novels) and was surprised to notice that I had trouble getting fully absorbed in several of them, even though they were written by some truly talented authors and have been getting rave reviews. I usually love character-driven literary novels but maybe this is a sign for me to change it up a bit and explore new genres. I did enjoy the fun romance novels I read this month.

Two advance reader copies of books coming early next year really stood out to me. In particular, I think that Kin, the new novel from Tayari Jones, the author of An American Marriage, will be a top book of 2026. I highly recommend it.

Read more about these books and my favorites for the month below!

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Coming in 2026 – my favorite reads this month

Kin

Tayari Jones

In Tayari Jones’s new novel Kin, two Black girls grow up bound together as motherless “cradle friends” in the small town of Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Entering adulthood, each follows a different path: Annie, to search for her mother; and Niecy, to build a better life for herself, starting with her education at Spelman College. Through all their challenges and joys, they remain each other’s most enduring source of love, support, and kinship. Kin is a big-hearted, perceptive, and deeply human story about friendship, family, racism, and belonging. I loved it. Kin will be published in February 2026. Pre-order your copy from Bookshop and come back in February for my full review.

Evelyn in Transit

David Guterson

Evelyn in Transit opens with two children in Indiana and Nepal coming to the same realization: “I’m alive. I’m separate from everything else.” We follow them into adulthood as Evelyn becomes a misfit who hitchhikes around the western United States in search of meaning and Tsering follows his destiny as the sixth reincarnation of a Buddhist lama. Their paths intersect when lamas arrive at Evelyn’s home to inform her that her young son is believed to be the seventh reincarnation of this lama. Guterson’s writing here is simply lovely. This is not the easiest book to read and interpret but it’s got a strong emotional payoff and will leave you reflecting on the nature of existence, spirituality, and how to “live the right way.” Evelyn in Transit will be published in January 2026. Pre-order your copy from Bookshop and come back at the end of January to read my full review.

Fun Romance Novels

The Rest of My Reads

A single mother strikes up a relationship with the other baby mamas of her child’s father, and they create a loving found family and support network to raise their children together as half-siblings. I love the concept (and apparently it’s based on a real experience of the author) but the execution didn’t totally work for me. The beginning is very ranty about the absurdities of modern dating and friendship (but not in a funny way). It has a very strong progressive agenda which comes across a bit performative. And I didn’t totally buy the evolution of one of the characters. Get your copy from Bookshop.

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans

Sybil Van Antwerp is a judgemental, uptight old woman seeking human connection through her written correspondence, which fills this epistolary debut novel. Her life is small and lonely, though she doesn’t realize it. As the book progresses, she moves beyond her daily routines into new experiences that expand her perspective. The author does a wonderful job telling Sybil’s life story through the letters she exchanges with family, friends, her neighbor, former colleagues, people from her career, and even famous authors. The Correspondent is an uplifting book and surprise hit that many readers have loved. I lost momentum with the format towards the last third of the book, but I did appreciate the character evolution in this book and I can genuinely see why so many readers have loved it. Read my full review. Get your copy from Bookshop.

The Safekeep

Yael van der Wouden

The Safekeep is both a queer love story and an exploration of the ways Dutch Jews were treated during and after the Holocaust. It almost reads like two books: the spicy, slow burn romance; and the heartbreaking wartime and post-war story. The romance feels more like a sexual awakening than love, partially because there wasn’t enough depth to make the love believable for me. I found the reparations part of the story to be far more interesting and thought-provoking. It wasn’t a favorite for me, but it’s a very well written, atmospheric, evocative story that I’d still recommend. Get your copy from Bookshop.

Heart the Lover

Lily King

This book introduces us to the unnamed narrator during her last year of college, when she finds herself in a love triangle with two scholars who awaken her heart and her intellect. It starts out fun and light hearted, at a time when life is an adventure and anything seems possible, including finding your one true love. We then fast forward several decades to a reflective, wistful, and sad story about grown up regrets of choices made long ago. I can’t say I liked the characters or their decisions, but it’s beautifully written and poignant, if a bit maudlin, and well worth the read. Just have a box of tissues nearby! Get your copy from Bookshop.