If you’re like me, you’re already thinking about all the books you’re going to read in the new year. And even if you’re not, maybe you set a goal to read more in 2026. Either way, this list has plenty of options to keep you in new reading material through the summer.
From the latest in a beloved series to discovering a debut writer, there’s something here for everyone. 2026 is brimming with fantastic new books, and this month’s Words on the Street is here to help you meet your new favorite.
“Half His Age” by Jennette McCurdy
Release date: Jan. 20
“Half His Age” is Jennette McCurdy’s fiction debut. This book follows Waldo, a high school senior, as she becomes increasingly drawn to her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy. Waldo is not deterred by the fact that Mr. Korgy is married, has kids and is more than a decade older than she. McCurdy said in a statement that her novel is about “finding yourself in a world designed to make you lose yourself.”
While “Half His Age” is McMurdy’s first novel, it isn’t her first book. Her shocking memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” detailed her abusive relationship with her mother and chronicled the toxic environment of the sets she worked on as a child actress on TV shows including “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat.” The book proved that McMurdy is not afraid of being fully honest, even if it makes those around her squeamish. I anticipate “Half His Age” will share the bold, unapologetic voice McCurdy established.
“Football” by Chuck Klosterman
Release date: Jan. 20
“Football” is a book that focuses on exactly what you think it does. Chuck Klosterman, a former reporter with the Akron Beacon Journal, writes about our country’s obsession with the sport and what insights can be gained from this long fascination. It’s modeled after Walter Camp’s “American Football,” an 1896 book that first presented the rules of the game to a larger audience.
Klosterman hopes to present a new guidebook for both football fanatics and those who are less interested in the sport. In doing so, he asks why football is as much of a phenomenon as it is. After all, more than 14 million people participated in ESPN Fantasy Football in 2025, the company said, and nearly 128 million people watched the Super Bowl last year. What does the public’s widespread fascination with the game say about the United States, and what kind of endurance does this obsession have?
Klosterman’s “The Nineties,” a book that chronicles the many events and faces that made up this fascinating decade, is what first drew me to this author. His voice is honest and funny, and his choice of topics is broad: from global events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 to the rise of AOL instant messenger and the release of the music video for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Klosterman is a writer who documents with such detail and care that you can’t help but feel as though you’ve put on your flannel or are hearing the familiar “ding” of a new message coming through. I anticipate “Football” will bring readers right on to the field with the players and coaches.
“I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy” by Mychal Threets
Release date: Feb. 3
“I’m So Happy You’re Here” shows young readers that the library is a place where everyone can find joy. This book follows several different “library kids,” a term used frequently by author Mychal Threets to refer to the children he meets as they enter the magical world of the library. This book is perfect for kids ages 4-8, when they may be browsing the shelves and flipping through books for the first time.
Before he became the new host of “Reading Rainbow,” a show meant to encourage kids to find joy in reading, Threets was both a librarian and a well-known social media personality. He is known for his gentle demeanor and his videos detailing interactions with readers of all ages. The main message he promotes is that the library is for everyone, and this is the subject of his forthcoming picture book.
“The Jills” by Karen Parkman
Release date: Feb. 10
This book follows Virginia and Jeanine, who are both Jills, a term used by Buffalo Bills fans to describe Bills cheerleaders. One day, when Jeanine does not show up for a game and doesn’t answer calls or texts, Virginia decides to find her friend. She very quickly runs into many obstacles. They include the patriarchal institution of professional sports, Jeanine’s complicated family history and the drugs she takes and parties she frequents. This debut mystery novel explores the extent of the women’s friendship and provides an intriguing character study of both Virginia and Jeanine.
This is Karen Parkman’s debut novel, but this is not her first piece of published writing. Parkman’s shorter works of fiction do a great job of establishing well-rounded characters who feel incredibly human. Her short story “Who Would Love Them,” published in Witness, a literary magazine associated with the Black Mountain Institute, follows a married couple driving together on their way to get a divorce. The loss of love in the marriage, as well as each character’s response to this, is what drives the story.
“Cryptid” by Annah Browning
Release date: April 7
The University of Akron Press is home to some of my favorite collections of poetry, and I promise this is not just because I’m a UA alumna. The UA Press publishes collections that focus on a wide variety of themes, from being transported to a different world when wearing thrift store fur to reimagining Eve as a queer woman who seeks out a female lover.
I expect Annah Browning’s collection “Cryptid,” to be published by UA Press this spring, to follow in that vein. The premise is the loneliness that comes with being marked as an outsider and the sense of otherness associated with people tracking your every move. This poetry collection tackles UFO abductions and the weird corners of human folklore. To do this, the collection includes multiple voices and perspectives, including a female sasquatch searching for a partner and a woman who wants to be abducted by aliens.
“Canon: A Novel” by Paige Lewis
Release date: May 19
Two narratives. Two unlikely heroes attempting to become God’s favorite. One incredibly unique story. This book tells the story of Yara and Adrena. Yara has been chosen by God to defeat Dominic, the leader of the Bad Guys army, and must sail across the ocean in an odyssey-like journey in order to prepare for the battle. Adrena, a prophet, is hoping to win back God’s favor by aiding the Good Guys army but must first convince the general, Harpo, that she is worthy enough to help fight.
This debut book has been compared to speculative fiction that uses surrealism to blur the lines between fantasy and reality. The most notable comparison is to “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar, one of my more recent favorites. Akbar’s novel asks questions about morality and self-discovery, and it uses unique settings and unlikely heroes to do so. These are also the goals and themes of Paige Lewis’ novel. Both authors are poets, and, like Akbar, Lewis’ work explores human nature and the idiosyncrasies that make us who we are in a way that is descriptive, unique and refreshing.
“The Midnight Train” by Matt Haig
Release date: May 26
When Wilbur dies in his 80s, he boards the magical midnight train. Once he boards, he is able to revisit the most important moments of his life. Wilbur relives his most treasured memories, many of which involve his wife and forever love, Maggie. Life is full of fond memories that we often take for granted in the moment, and “The Midnight Train” allows you to relive them all.
“The Midnight Train” functions as a companion piece to Matt Haig’s 2020 novel “The Midnight Library,” which asked readers to imagine the plane between life and death as a library filled with books that revealed alternate universes based on the choices people made throughout their lives. The main character of that book, Nora Seed, has chosen to end her life but is given the chance to choose a different story.
While “The Midnight Train” exists in the same universe and explores the same themes of life and death, it follows different characters. Both focus on the critical moments in our lives that make us who we are.
“Heartstopper: Volume 6” by Alice Oseman
Release date: July 7
After nearly 10 years, Alice Oseman is bringing to a close her young adult graphic novel series that became an instant sensation. The Heartstopper series revolves around the unlikely relationship between Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson, who both attend Truham Grammar School for Boys. They come from two different worlds; Charlie is a high-strung overthinker who was outed for being gay and bullied as a result, and Nick is a gentle rugby player who struggled to come to terms with his own sexuality.
Volume 6 of this series focuses on Charlie and Nick thinking about life after high school. Nick, who is one year older than Charlie, has graduated and is preparing to move away for college. Charlie has decided to step outside of his comfort zone and run for the position of head boy to represent the student body. While Charlie is busy with his bid, Nick wonders what life will be like without Charlie. Because the pair have survived so many obstacles that tested their relationship, Nick knows they will be together forever. But how will distance affect things?