Ep 445 - Most Anticipated for January and February + Danika from Book Riot!

Brea and Mallory discuss their most anticipated books for the start of 2026! Plus, they talk to Danika Ellis from Book Riot about their 2026 Read Harder Challenge! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store The Reading Glasses Book! Sponsors - Apron Notebooks CODE: GLASSES GreenChef CODE: GLASSESGRAZA Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Wish List Newsletter Libro.fm To join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership! 2026 Read Harder The Lesbrary Danika Ellis Read Harder Newsletter Books Mentioned - Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Love in Exile by Shon Faye Joy to the Girls by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick Really Cute People by Markus Harwood Jones Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology by Angela Hsieh January Call Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu Guo Literary fiction, feminist retelling of Moby Dick The Hitch by Sara Levine Magical realism, funny, woman trying to help nephew who is possessed by a dead corgi Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin Literary fiction, queer, lesbian, librarians fighting book banners If I Ruled the World by Amy Dubois Literary fiction, late 1990s, hip hop, magazine industry Scavengers by Kathleen Boland Literary fiction, dysfunctional mother-daughter team looking for buried treasure The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman Magical realism, books about books, small town, librarian protagonist, book magic The Jills by Karen Parkman Thriller, Buffalo Bills cheerleader solving the murder of a fellow cheerleaders The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross Fantasy, magic typewriter, grief, three generations of women, family history Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey Contemporary romance, woman sets up a date on her dead sister’s dating app The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead Literary fiction, music executive trying to bring band back from the brink, sisters, friendship Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash Literary fiction, humor, family dysfunction The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Literary fiction, translated, family drama in a crumbling house in the French countryside Sheer by Vanessa Lawrence Literary fiction, beauty industry, female mogul, secrets, queer How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley Literary, historical, 1980s, murder mystery, Indian-American tween protagonist who murders her uncle but she blames it on the British The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams Literary, multi-generational epic family saga, secrets The Last of Earth by Deepa Anappara Historical, 1800s Tibet, journey, Indian schoolteacher spying for the empire, English lady explorer disguising herself as a man The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell Historical fiction, thriller, bookbinder finds confession hidden in a burned book and hunts a story of murder and love Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart Historical fiction, 1940s North Carolina, a young woman subjected to involuntary medical treatment fights back Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven Historical fiction, behind the scenes drama on a 1960s family sitcom Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward Horror, Peter Pan inspired, gothic, two fleeing siblings find sanctuary at mysterious ranch Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox Mystery, romcom, woman’s fake detective agency accidentally hired to solve a real murder Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke Mystery, romcom, rich people behaving badly All the Little Houses by May Cobb Thriller, 1980s Texas, mean girls and mean moms, family secret My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney Thriller, mind-bending psychological marriage mystery The Storm by Rachel Hawkins Thriller, Alabama, hurricane, old hotel, gothic, old murder Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar Thriller, queer, lesbian, missing wife, suburban dread Humboldt Cut by Allison Mick Horror, eco-horror, northern California, dark humor, bark monsters Hollow by Celina Myers Horror, paranormal romance, romantasy, vampires, found family On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield Horror, southern gothic, Georgia, ghosts, haints A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James Horror, siblings returning to childhood home after being called by dead brother This House Will Feed by Maria Tureaud Historical horror, 1840s Ireland, haunted house, gothic, suspense Nine Goblins: A Tale of Low Fantasy and High Mischief by T. Kingfisher YA fantasy, novella, humor, band of hapless goblins on a quest A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa, translated by Slin Jung Fantasy, Korean, cozy, woman who inherits magical bakery The Poet Empress by Shen Tao Romantasy, epic fantasy, historical, hot evil prince, poetry magic Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McQuire Next Wayward Children book We Who Have No Gods by Liza Anderson Romantasy, witches, gothic, dark academia, magic academy, secret societies Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez Romantasy, historical, renaissance Italy, competition hosted by secret immortal family The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman Queer retelling of Bisclavret the werewolf, historical, 12 century, court intrigue A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriquez Romantasy, tarot, magic, dark academia, enemies to lovers, forced proximity The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee Romantasy, sapphic, paranormal, vampires, mysterious university The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotta Yambao Cozy fantasy, train that takes you to your life’s purpose Two Left Feet by Kallie Emblidge Queer romance, MLM, contemporary sports romance, British premier league football Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel Contemporary romance, journalist sneaks onto a reality TV dating show The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz Paranormal romance, romantic suspense, psychic dangers, warring paranormal families Greta Gets the Girl by Melissa Marr Contemporary sapphic romance, forbidden romance, publishing The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura Contemporary romance, librarian and archaeologist fake dating, Greek mythology Last First Kiss by Julian Winters Queer romance, contemporary, MLM, second chance, rom com Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann Nonfiction The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King, and Princess Diana by Paul Burrell Nonfiction, memoir Fly, Wild Swans: My Mother, Myself, and China by Jung Chang Nonfiction, memoir, three generations of women The Flower Bearers by Rachel Eliza Griffiths Nonfiction, memoir, grief, death of a sister, friendship, marriage Blood Bible: An American History by DaMaris Hill Nonfiction, history, racism, slave trade history, national identity, personal identity Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid Creative nonfiction, history of winter community events, Scotland When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery Nonfiction, history of Black botany through seven trees Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy Literary fiction, drama, age gap romance, Catch Her if You Can by Tessa Bailey Romance, contemporary, sports, baseball, marriage of convenience Vigil by George Saunders Literary fiction, magical realism, eco-drama, dying oil CEO Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia Historical fantasy, gothic romance, marriage of convenience, dark appetites The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune Queer thriller, MLM, 1990s, gay couple helping little girl with powers Football by Chuck Klosterman Nonfiction about football Cry Havoc by Rebecca Wait Historical mystery, 1980s failing English boarding school, dark academia, funny, strange contagion among students Hemlock by Melissa Faliveno Literary, gothic, queer, woman investigating mother’s disappearence February Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis Literary fiction, love triangle - first love vs devoted husband One of Us by Elizabeth Day Literary thriller, drama between old friends and wealth, murder Everything Lost Returns by Sarah Domet Literary fiction, historical, twin timelines, 1910s and 1980s, friendship Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris Literary fiction, fugitive hides out at rural Alabama flower farm, found family Bad Asians by Lillian Li Literary fiction, friend group saga I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For by Bsrat Mezghebe Literary fiction, historical, 1990s Washington DC, Ethiopian immigrant community This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page Literary fiction, woman receives books recommended by her dead husband Royal Spin by Robin Benway and Omid Scobie Literary fiction, workplace drama inside Buckingham Palace Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang Literary fiction, popstar and his superfan collide, fandom, loneliness Belgrave Road: A Love Story by Manish Chauhan Literary fiction, two young immigrants in a forbidden romance This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman Literary fiction, funny, multi generational family drama, grief Rebel English Academy by Hanif Mohammed Literary fiction, Pakistan, political power, language, friendship The Secret of Snow by Tina Harnesk, translated by Alice Menzies Literary fiction, elderly couple crosses paths with two twentysomethings and discovers surprising shared history The Renovation by Kenan Orhan Literary fiction, woman discovers her bathroom has been remodeled into a prison cell Messenger Cat Cafe by Nagi Shimeno, translated by M. Jean Magical realism, cozy, cat in the afterlife who must deliver 5 messages to people on earth before he can see his beloved owner again A Crown of Stars by Shana Abé Historical fiction, retelling of the last days of the Lusitania The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang Historical fiction, gothic, 1910s Shanghai, crumbling mansion, secrets Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi Historical fiction, retelling of Cleopatra’s life from her POV Book of Forbidden Words by Louise Fein Historical fiction, 1500s Paris, 1950s NYC, book banning, inspired by Voynich manuscript The Pohaku by Jasmi ‘Iolani Hakes Historical fiction, generations of women tasked with protecting Hawaiian history A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis Historical Gothic thriller, 1900s England, young gardener at lush manor falls for her mysterious boss Murder Will Out by Jennifer Breedlove Mystery, gothic, Maine, heartwarming I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig Mystery, recently released from prison serial killer moves into retirement home when a murder happens and she has to prove she didn’t do it Dirty Metal by Allison LaMothe Historical mystery, 1990s NYC, reporter investigating two huge stories Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert Ferguson Thriller, Minnesota, true crime, serial killer, secrets The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte, translated by Frances Riddle Historical mystery, locked room, 1960s Greek island resort, washed up actor turned detective Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams Thriller, two friends go on a cave expedition and one gets murdered!!! Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse, translated by Florian Duijsens Thriller, lawyer finds peace through mindfulness and will do anything to protect it, even murder Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard Thriller, an expecting mother whose surrogate disappears days before birth The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall Thriller, search and rescue expert looking for missing woman Paper Cut by Rachel Taff Thriller, woman infamous for escaping a cult as a teen has secrets that come back to haunt her Maria the Wanted by V. Castro Horror, thriller, newly turned vampire in Mexico is on the run Dead First by Johnny Compton Horror, private investigator hired by mysterious billionaire to find out why he can’t die She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva Horror, gothic thriller, 1800s Bulgaria, fake vampire slayer joins forces with teen to make a monster The Body by Bethany C Morrow Horror, woman must survive bizarre attacks on her failing marriage Dollface by Lindy Ryan Horror, serial killer, 1990s, Barbie meets Scream The Glowing Hours by Leila Siddiqui Horror, gothic, retelling of the fabled summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein , as told by her Indian housemaid, Mehrunissa “Mehr” Begum Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity Fantasy, gothic, young woman who can see the dead strikes a deal with a mysterious and ruthless merchant to save her brother’s life After the Fall by Edward Ashton Sci fi, buddy comedy, alien invasion, humans as pets The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze Fantasy, boarding school, secret society, girl transforms into magical beast Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman Fantasy, a man must fight for his planet when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it Sing the Night by Megan Jauregui Eccles Fantasy, inspired by Phantom of the Opera, musical magician competition The Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Key Sci fi, near future where AI runs the world, medical student unravels family secrets The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride Sci fi, Future of Another Timeline meets The Bone Clocks, time travel, cli-fi Nightshade and Oak by Molly O’Neill Fantasy, Iron Age goddess must grapple with becoming human, historical, magic The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Fantasy, book about books, magic books that are portals to worlds The Iron Garden Sutra by A.D. Sui Sci fi, locked room murder mystery, monk and researchers trapped on a spaceship The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto Sci fi, caper, hacker forced by gangsters to take down crooked politician The Daughter Who Remains by Nnedi Okorafor Sci fi, She Who Knows book 3 Wicked Onyx by Debbie Cassidy Romantasy, magical academy, girl must unravel dark family secrets, make alliances, and get revenge Agnes Auburt’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett Romantasy, gentle fantasy, woman running cat rescue in 1920s Montreal and a grouchy charming magician who helps save her shelter Half City by Kate Golden Romantasy, young demon hunter enrolls in Harker Academy for Deviant Defense The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan Romantasy, a nine-tailed fox and the hunter who captured her are banished to the underworld together The Lies that Summon the Night by Tessonaja Odette Romantasy, world where making art is illegal, revenge, sexy monster hunter Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward Romantasy, fated mated, magic, hot mercenary, only one bed, touch her and die Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalo Romantasy, librarian, dangerous book magic, perilous quest The Ballad of Fallen Dragons by Sarah A. Parker Moonfall, book 2 Dawn of the North by Demi Winters Ashen, book 3 The Heir and the Spare by Harper L. Woods A Of Flesh and Bone novella Brawler by Lauren Groff Literary fiction, short stories Kin by Tayari Jones Literary fiction, lifelong female friendship in the American South Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm Contemporary romance, academic rivals to lovers, two neuroscientists fake dating Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio Sci fi romance, woman stuck in time loop of one day relationships with past boyfriends Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faither Mazarua Contemporary sports romance, female hockey player, fake dating, rom-com The Ex-Perimento by Maria J Morillo Contemporary romance, woman enlists her favorite musician to win her ex back, rom-com, Venezuela Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood Contemporary romance, novella, enemies to loves, world of video games Get Over It, April Evans by Ashely Herring Blake Contemporary romance, sapphic, lake town resort And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison Contemporary romance, competing meteorologists, opposites attract In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding Contemporary romance, sapphic, second chance, film industry A Hymn to Life by Gisele Pelicot Nonfiction, memoir The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin Memoir, chronic illness, owls Bernie for Burlington: The Rise of the People’s Politician by Dan Chiasson Nonfiction, biography Starry and Restless: Three Women Who Changed Work, Writing, and the World by Julia Cooke Nonfiction, biography of three groundbreaking female journalists The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema by Paul Fisher Biography Leaving Home: A Memoir in Full Colour by Mark Haddon Memoir of the author who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) To Read on TikTok by Oliver James Memoir about learning how to read as an adult Nonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love by James Lawson Jr & Emily Yellin Nonfiction, posthumous memoir of Rev. James Lawson Jr, a principal architect of a nonviolent resistance movement We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O’Donnell Nonfiction, history I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right by Matt Kaplan Nonfiction, science, history A World Appear: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael Pollan Nonfiction, science The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender’s Search for Justice in America by Emily Galvin Almanza Nonfiction The People Can Fly: American Promise, Black Prodigies, and the Greatest Miracle of All Time by Joshua Bennett Nonfiction Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth by Daisy Hernández Nonfiction Fear and Fury: Bernie Goetz, the Reagan ’80s, and the Rebirth of White Rage by Heather Ann Thompson Nonfiction On Morrison by Namwali Serpell Nonfiction, dive into work of Toni Morrison Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights):

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Ep 445 - Most Anticipated for January and February + Danika from Book Riot! is an episode from Reading Glasses by Maximum Fun.

This episode is 00:50:55 long.

This episode was published on Jan 15, 2026.

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