The year may be ending, but publishers aren’t slowing down. December is stacked with everything from epic dark fantasy to swoony romances, granting readers the perfect mix for cozy, holiday-season reading. Here are 13 upcoming books to keep on your radar before we head into 2026.
An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
Publishing date: December 30, 2025
At Warren University, power runs deep, and so do its secrets. Freshman Ellory Morgan can’t shake the feeling she’s been here before, wandering halls built on the bones and magic of the students the school exploited to rise to prestige. As déjà vu twists into danger, Ellory must uncover what binds her to Warren’s sinister history before it claims her for good. A dark academia debut perfect for fans of Babel.
We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark
Publishing date: December 30, 2025
In a Roman-inspired empire ruled by vampires and vengeful gods, Arvelle makes a binding vow to do the impossible — kill the emperor himself. To survive the deadly arena known as the Sundering, she must ally with two dangerous vampires: the lover who once broke her heart and the emperor’s sadistic son. Political intrigue, slow-burn tension, and divine danger collide in Stark’s gripping new romantasy.
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Publishing date: December 1, 2025
Fleeing her past, Selena inherits her late aunt’s home in the desert town of Quartz Creek, only to learn it sits on land claimed by an ancient god called Snake-Eater. When the vengeful deity takes an interest in her, she discovers the chilling price of her inheritance. Blending horror, folklore, and heart, Kingfisher delivers another eerie, unforgettable fantasy.
Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
Publishing date: December 9, 2025
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive comes a genre-bending short fiction collection that proves no one builds worlds like Sanderson. Tailored Realities features ten stories that span sci-fi and fantasy, including the brand-new novella Moment Zero, alongside fan favorites like Snapshot, Perfect State, and Defending Elysium. With author notes and stunning illustrations, this collection is a must-have for both longtime fans and newcomers to Sanderson’s ever-expanding universe.
Watch Us Fall by Christina Kovac
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
Four inseparable friends living in a glamorous Georgetown house call themselves “the Sweeties.” But when one of their exes, a high-profile journalist, vanishes, their polished world begins to crack. As the investigation deepens, obsession and deceit rise to the surface, revealing just how far they’ll go to protect their own. Sharp, haunting, and addictive, Watch Us Fall explores the complexities of friendship, fame, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
The Gallagher Place by Julia Doar
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
When Marlowe Fisher returns to her family’s Hudson Valley estate for the holidays, she discovers a body in the woods, and old wounds resurface. Twenty years earlier, her best friend vanished near the same property. Now, as police swarm and memories blur, Marlowe must confront what really happened that night and whether her own family’s secrets are to blame. A haunting debut steeped in memory, silence, and the dangerous bonds of family.
The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
The Library of Fates holds a rare book said to predict your future, but only if you first confess your darkest secret. When its keeper dies and the artifact disappears, former classmates Eleanor and Daniel reunite to track it down, unraveling a trail that stretches from Harvard to Paris. But someone else is willing to kill to keep those secrets buried. With its blend of romance, academia, and mystery, The Library of Fates is a gripping tale of love, loss, and fate written between the lines.
Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
Cricket Campbell’s life is stuck in pause — adrift after loss, restless in her twenties, and now caring for a father with Alzheimer’s who seems to remember the future better than the past. Returning home to Catwood Pond, she discovers that healing sometimes starts with revisiting what you’ve tried to forget. Before I Forget is a witty and tender exploration of family, memory, and the surprising ways we find ourselves again.
Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester
Publishing date: December 9, 2025
A spellbinding blend of horror and historical fiction, Dark Sisters follows three women across three centuries, each bound by a legacy of love, fury, and forbidden power. From witch trials to suburban secrets to modern rebellion, their stories intertwine in a haunting portrait of feminine rage and resilience that refuses to die.
The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty
Publishing date: December 16, 2025
When Vera discovers she’s the reincarnation of Guinevere, she’s thrust from modern-day heartbreak into the magic and danger of Camelot. As Vera struggles to reclaim her lost memories and crown, she must navigate a kingdom on the brink, while also grappling with a complicated connection to a king who may not be her enemy after all. The Once and Future Queen is a witty, feminist, time-bending reimagining of Arthurian legend.
Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
In thirteenth-century Bruges, sixteen-year-old Aleys flees an arranged marriage and joins a community of radical, self-sufficient women defying Church rule. Amid faith, friendship, and forbidden scripture, she discovers both freedom and danger in equal measure. Lyrical and deeply researched, Canticle shines a light on the untold stories of medieval women who dared to claim their own power.
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
Publishing date: December 30, 2025
When burned-out chef Madison Walker returns to her small hometown of Rome, Kentucky, the last thing she expects is a job offer from her brother’s best friend, James Huxley. Tasked with opening a restaurant together, Madison and James find that keeping things professional is impossible under the glow of string lights and shared late nights. In Your Dreams is a sweet, slow-burn romance about rediscovering confidence, community, and the courage to chase what you truly want.
Something Wicked by Falon Ballard
Publishing date: December 2, 2025
In a fractured kingdom where power is earned through bloodshed, a dethroned prince and a courtesan with dangerous magic are forced into an alliance that could change their fates — or destroy them both. Something Wicked is a darkly seductive fantasy romance brimming with political intrigue, slow-burn tension, and the kind of dangerous chemistry that can topple empires.
Whether you’re craving magic, mystery, or a little heart-fluttering romance, December’s books are here to help you end the year on a high note. Curl up by the fire or sneak in one last page before midnight — these new releases promise to make your final reads of the year unforgettable.
Don’t wait — grab these December releases (and other 2025 New Releases) from our Bookshop.org shelf!
Need your next cozy mystery fix? These comforting page-turners are perfect for a relaxing read over the holidays.
