New book releases · December 2026
Every new book out in December 2026
171 books are set to publish for the first time this month. Here they all are, day by day, with our verdict on the ones we’ve read.
171new releases
0reviewed by us
83out on Tue 1, the busiest day
Romancetop genre
Most anticipated
The 10 books readers want most
Ranked by how many readers have saved them to read.
1
Compulsively YoursAllison RaskinOut Tue 8 Dec2
My UnfamiliarMara RutherfordOut Tue 1 Dec3
Wolf PointLisa HowellsOut Tue 1 Dec4
Chosen SonAdrienne YoungOut Tue 15 Dec5
Bedside MannerStephanie ArcherOut Tue 8 Dec6
Rabbit RabbitJennifer E. SmithOut Tue 15 Dec7The Soul MateLana FergusonOut Tue 1 Dec8
Warrior of the ShardsSarah HawleyOut Tue 8 Dec9
Call Me TraitorEverina MaxwellOut Tue 1 Dec10Winter SongRebeca Lee MoralesOut Tue 1 Dec
Compulsively YoursAllison RaskinOut Tue 8 Dec2My UnfamiliarMara RutherfordOut Tue 1 Dec3Wolf PointLisa HowellsOut Tue 1 Dec4Chosen SonAdrienne YoungOut Tue 15 Dec5
Bedside MannerStephanie ArcherOut Tue 8 Dec6
Rabbit RabbitJennifer E. SmithOut Tue 15 Dec7
The Soul MateLana FergusonOut Tue 1 Dec8
Warrior of the ShardsSarah HawleyOut Tue 8 Dec9
Call Me TraitorEverina MaxwellOut Tue 1 Dec10
Winter SongRebeca Lee MoralesOut Tue 1 DecBig names this month
Popular authors with a new book
The best-known authors publishing in December, from readers’ most-anticipated list and the authors we review most.
Allison Raskin1 book reviewed on The Bookish ElfCompulsively Yours · out 8 Dec
MRMara Rutherford1 book reviewed on The Bookish ElfMy Unfamiliar · out 1 Dec
LH
Lisa HowellsWolf Point · out 1 Dec
Adrienne Young3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfChosen Son · out 15 Dec
Stephanie Archer5 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfBedside Manner · out 8 Dec
JSJennifer E. Smith1 book reviewed on The Bookish ElfRabbit Rabbit · out 15 Dec
Lana Ferguson4 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Soul Mate · out 1 Dec
SHSarah Hawley1 book reviewed on The Bookish ElfWarrior of the Shards · out 8 Dec
EM
Everina MaxwellCall Me Traitor · out 1 Dec
RM
Rebeca Lee MoralesWinter Song · out 1 Dec
GW
KNGenevieve WheelerLina & June · out 8 Dec
Katie Naymon1 book reviewed on The Bookish ElfIn Every Future, It’s Us · out 1 Dec
Release calendar
December at a glance
Tap a day to jump to its books. Tuesdays (highlighted) are the main US release day; a star marks a day with a book we have reviewed.
Day by day
All 171 new releases
Showing all 171 books.
Tuesday1 December 2026
83 releasesBig release day
Mystery
Eleven Days: The Fascinating True Account of Agatha Christie’s Mysterious Disappearance
Laura Thompson
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Romance
Red, White & Royal Blue: The Private Correspondence
Casey McQuiston
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Nonfiction
To Grieve Is to Carry Another Time: A Memoir
Matthew Salesses
Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Nonfiction
The Best Journey in the World: An Antarctic Story
Kim Stanley Robinson
Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Nonfiction
The Blue Hours: My Summers and Winter in Antarctica
Stephanie Krzywonos
Hardcover · Washington Square Press
Nonfiction
The Lightning-Bug and the Lightning: Debunking the Myths of Mark Twain, in His Own Words
Mark Dawidziak
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Literary
Countdown Battle of the Bulge: The 40 Days of World War II That Crushed Hitler’s Last Hope
Chris Wallace
Hardcover · Dutton
Literary
The Low-Tox Solution: Simple Steps to Detoxify Your Body, Home, and Environment
Yvonne Burkart
Paperback · Crown
Other
A Year with the Classics: A Beginner’s Class in Twelve Books that Have Inspired Christian Heroes, Sinners, and Saints for Centuries
Jon M. Sweeney
Paperback · St. Martin's Essentials
Other
The Convenience Trap: How to Regain Control in a World of Instant Gratification
Robert Carter III, Kiki Salwe Carter
Paperback · Diversion Books
Nonfiction
The Mayor: One Poor City’s Fight to Bring Back Government and Save the Nation’s Soul
Brian Alexander
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Other
The Manifesting Fix: Why the Law of Attraction Isn’t Working for You
Kelsey Aida
Paperback · St. Martin's Essentials
Nonfiction
The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything
James Barrat
Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin
Literary
From Infinite World: The Sound of the Hammond Organ and the Tragedy of AIDS in the Black Church
Ashon T. Crawley
Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company
Other
Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: How Legal Reformers Accidentally Broke America
Nicholas Bagley
Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company
Wednesday2 December 2026
1 release
Thursday3 December 2026
3 releases
Friday4 December 2026
2 releasesMonday7 December 2026
1 release
Tuesday8 December 2026
39 releasesBig release day
Nonfiction
The House of Cromwell: Britain’s Forgotten Dynasty
Miranda Malins
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Nonfiction
Start Lying to Yourself: New Truths to Manifest the Life You Want
Simon Gilham
Hardcover · St. Martin's Essentials
Nonfiction
Bohemians on the Breadline: The Radical Women Artists of Roosevelt’s New Deal
Lauren Arrington
Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Other
Exposed: A College in Crisis Puts Science to the Test
Lisa Wade
Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company
Other
Rules of Thumb: 44 Principles to Live, Work, and Thrive By
Mikael Krogerus, Roman Tschäppeler
Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company
Monday14 December 2026
3 releases
Tuesday15 December 2026
11 releases
Nonfiction
Stitching Sweetness: Embroidering Whimsical Flowers and Treats
Bitte
Paperback · Roost Books
Nonfiction
Hype Immunity : Timeless Lessons for Navigating the AI Revolution
Mike Horton
Hardcover · GFB
Literary
Radiant Rituals: Ayurvedic and Yogic Wisdom for Deep Self-Care and Inner Strength
Radhika Mukhija
Paperback · Shambhala
Other
The Philosophy of Time Travel: The Epic Sequel to the Motion Picture Donnie Darko
Richard Kelly
Hardcover · Range Literary Publishing
Other
Lesser Lights: More Tales From a Hamptons Apprenticeship
Sandy McIntosh
Paperback · Marsh Hawk Press
Nonfiction
Think, Write, Edit, Romance: The Romance Writer’s Journey from Blank Page to Finished Novel
K.J. Charles
Paperback · Hay House LLC
Thursday17 December 2026
1 releaseFriday18 December 2026
2 releases
Monday21 December 2026
1 releaseTuesday22 December 2026
1 release
Wednesday23 December 2026
1 release![A Court of Splintered Harmony [Dramatized Adaptation] cover](https://www.bookishelf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/a-court-of-splintered-harmony-dramatized-adaptation-sarah-j-maas-book-cover-300x300.jpg)
Romantasy
A Court of Splintered Harmony [Dramatized Adaptation]
Sarah J. Maas
Audible Audio · GraphicAudio
Thursday24 December 2026
1 release
Nonfiction
Gouged: The End of a Fair Price – and What That Means for Your Wallet
Lindsay Owens
Kindle · Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Saturday26 December 2026
1 release
Sunday27 December 2026
1 release
Monday28 December 2026
1 release
Tuesday29 December 2026
12 releases
Thursday31 December 2026
6 releases
Also out this month
New editions of older books
Fresh hardcovers, paperbacks and collector’s editions. These books were first published earlier, so they are not counted as December releases.
Queens at War: England’s Medieval Queens Book FourAlison WeirFirst published January 1995New paperback · 1 Dec
Primeval and Other TimesOlga TokarczukFirst published January 1996New hardcover · 1 Dec
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: The Je Ne Sais Quoi of Being FrenchJean-Benoît Nadeau, Julie BarlowFirst published May 2003New paperback · 8 Dec
Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the YearJoyce MeyerFirst published November 2003New hardcover · 1 Dec
Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Every Evening of the YearJoyce MeyerFirst published October 2004New hardcover · 1 Dec
Barbarian’s ChoiceRuby DixonFirst published December 2016New paperback · 1 Dec
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 5: A NovelBeth BrowerFirst published September 2021New kindle edition · 8 Dec
The Mortal QueenAshley MetzlerFirst published June 2022New paperback · 8 Dec
The Bureau of Unknown FatesGaëlle NohantFirst published January 2023New hardcover · 8 Dec
Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story, Vol. 1A-JinFirst published January 2024New paperback · 8 Dec
How to Resist Guilt: On What’s Holding Women BackMona CholletFirst published September 2024New hardcover · 1 Dec
A Magical Girl RehiredPark SeolyeonFirst published October 2024New hardcover · 8 Dec
The Rust Forest: A ThrillerAnders de la MotteFirst published November 2024New paperback · 1 Dec
A Beautiful CoupleLeslie WolfeFirst published December 2024New paperback · 15 Dec
I Am the CageAllison Sweet GrantFirst published February 2025New paperback · 15 Dec
I Pray You Will Be Safe: Two Young Women Writing Across the Israel-Palestine DivideTala Albanna, Michelle AmzalakFirst published October 2025New paperback · 1 Dec
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 15Kamome ShirahamaFirst published November 2025New paperback · 8 Dec
All My Bones: An Old Juniper Bookshop MysteryP.J. NelsonFirst published December 2025New paperback · 1 Dec
Dandelion Is Dead: A Novel About LifeRosie StoreyFirst published 13 January 2026New paperback · 1 Dec
The Longest DeathKevin JagernauthFirst published 16 June 2026New hardcover · 1 Dec
Lady XMolly FaderFirst published 14 July 2026New paperback · 5 Dec
The Fires of DecemberBrandon SandersonFirst published 15 September 2026New hardcover · 8 Dec
Thirty: A Guide to Embracing the Wonderfully Messy DecadeAriella ElovicFirst published 1 October 2026New hardcover · 1 Dec
Strangebrew ApothecaryRustin LovewellFirst published 29 October 2026New kindle edition · 8 Dec
Follow the MoonLayla FaeFirst published 7 November 2026New kindle edition · 7 Dec
This Wretched AlchemyTina MarsFirst published 10 November 2026New kindle edition · 3 Dec
Queen of FoxesJennifer EstepFirst published 10 November 2026New hardcover · 1 Dec
When Shadows BurnVanessa LeFirst published 24 November 2026New hardcover · 1 Dec
Questions
December 2026 releases, answered
What books come out in December 2026?
171 new books are listed for December 2026, led by Compulsively Yours by Allison Raskin, My Unfamiliar by Mara Rutherford and Wolf Point by Lisa Howells. The full list on this page runs day by day and can be filtered by genre.
What is the biggest release day in December 2026?
Tuesday 1 December, with 83 new books. Most US books are published on a Tuesday.
Which December 2026 books has The Bookish Elf reviewed?
None yet. Reviewed books will be marked here with our star rating.
Why are some books listed as new editions?
28 books out this month are new hardcover, paperback or collector’s editions of books first published earlier. They are listed separately, so the main list only shows books published for the first time.