Brand new book releases are always the best part of ringing in a new year. Just ask any bibliophile, and we’re sure they’ll say the same. Now, if nonfiction is a genre you’ve made a promise to read more of this new year, or if you’re always on the hunt for your next memoir, biography, or true story, then you’re in the right place; we’ve got your next seven reads already picked out for you. From long-awaited memoirs to heartwarming stories about dogs, read on to discover nine of the most anticipated nonfiction releases of 2026.
Project Tiger by Gavin Newsham
This highly anticipated biography is a must-have for every sports lover. Esteemed sports journalist, Gavin Newsham, presents an exhilarating, behind-the-scenes look into the early life and budding career, as well as the eventual triumph and downfall of one of golf’s greatest, Tiger Woods. Chock full of exclusive interviews with Tiger’s very own coaches, sports idols, rivals, and even past girlfriends, Project Tiger is the perfect read for any golf aficionado and digs much deeper than the usual biography.
The National Road by Brady J. Crytzer
Historian Brady J. Crytzer’s National Road tells the true story of how the United States connected across the Alleghenies and expanded into a new frontier—the western frontier. This riveting read will take readers on a journey along the first western highway and the blood, sweat, tears, and ambition poured into creating such an infrastructure. Complete with tales of visionaries, politicians, and regular, everyday people, as well as recounts of crucial political showdowns and portraits of early frontier towns, National Road is essential 2026 reading for any American history buff.
Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! by Liza Minnelli
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and even sing! At 80, EGOT-winner and national treasure Liza Minnelli is finally telling her story — every single part of it, no less. Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! is an entirely raw, intimate, and oftentimes hilarious read. This long-awaited memoir features Liza completely opening up about what being the only child of Hollywood royalty (the multi-talented Judy Garland and director Vincent Minnelli were her parents) truly means and feels like, her marriages and friendships, her lifelong struggle with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), her activism, and the highs and lows of her illustrious career. Pick up your copy of this groundbreaking autobiography and hear Liza speak her truth.
The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy by James Traub
The Cradle of Citizenship features journalist James Traub taking a serious look at something that has crossed our minds but never gets explored in depth: how schools shape — or fail to shape — both citizens and their democracy. This landmark book follows James Traub as he spends a year in various public schools across the United States, interrogating what exactly constitutes “civics education” nowadays, how it is taught (or avoided out of fear of being overly “woke”), and what that means for the future of not only American students, but the entire country. Thought-provoking and incredibly timely, The Cradle of Citizenship is the perfect read for anyone who has democracy on the brain and ponders the role of public education in it.
Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built by Gayle Feldman
Ever wondered how some of your favorite publishing houses came to be? Us, too. That’s why Gayle Feldman’s biography of Bennett Cerf (co-founder of Random House), Nothing Random, earns a well-deserved spot on this list. This biography tells the story of how Bennett Cerf built this legendary publishing house, signed major authors such as William Faulkner and Toni Morrison, fought tooth and nail against censorship laws to make James Joyce’s Ulysses freely available for U.S. readers, and helped shape the literary landscape as a whole. Filled with hundreds of interviews, never-before-seen letters from private collections, and enriching archival materials, this book is essential reading for any book lover.
Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee
Funny, heart-warming, and completely honest, Isabel Klee — the face and mind behind the beloved @simonsits page — recounts her experiences as a twentysomething woman in New York City, following her dream of forging a career focused on rescuing and rehabilitating dogs. In Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About, Isabel tenderly shares stories of great loves, not-so-great boyfriends, breakups, the friends (and dogs!) who helped heal her heartache, and how she finally found her happy ending. Full of heart and soul, this memoir is perfect for anyone who adores Isabel’s digital content, and all dog lovers, of course!
A Hymn to Life: Shame has to Change Sides by Gisèle Pelicot, Translated by Ruth Diver and Natasha Lehrer
Trigger Warning: This book discusses a specific person’s sexual assault and may be triggering to some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading.
Gisèle Pelico is reclaiming her voice in this powerful and honest memoir. In 2020, Pelicot made the horrific discovery that her now-ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, had been allowing strange men into their home to sexually abuse her while she was sleeping for over a decade. In 2024, she chose to waive her right to anonymity in her legal case against her ex-partner, and that decision changed millions of lives, not only in her native France but across the world. A Hymn to Life is a courageous, gracious, and essential book, and is one that cannot, and should not, be missed.
Famesick by Lena Dunham
From the creator of the cult-classic HBO series Girls, Lena Dunham returns with a new memoir, Famesick. This memoir is told in three acts: selling the pilot of Girls, everything that came after and in between, and finally, the present. Told in Lena Dunham’s typical frank and forward manner, Famesick features her personal reflections on fame, body image, sex, illness, unwavering ambitions, and the toll these can take on a person. This book is a must-read for everyone who religiously rewatched Girls or has been anticipating Lena’s return to the written word.
Life After Ambition: A “Good Enough” Memoir by Amil Niazi
Amil Niazi, known for her essays in The Cut, such as Losing My Ambition,” uses this memoir to explore what life after ambition looks like. Filled with subversive and sly humor, Life After Ambition follows Amil as she looks inward and explores how her aspirations have evolved, how they intersect with aging, self-identity, race, class, and, yes, even motherhood. Relatable, funny, and incredibly sharp, this memoir is perfect for any reader aiming for a year that is, well, just “good enough.”
While each of these books offers up wildly different stories, each one is bound to make an appearance on your annual TBR list. Next to that, each author on this list has a special story to tell, and we hope you’ll make space for each one in the new year.
Looking for more top-notch book recommendations? Check out our Recommendations page!
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