We have been having fun with Top Ten Tuesday, so we decided we will do one every week. This bookish meme was hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, and has been going since June 2010! Since January 2018 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s topic is book titles that include the word (and you pick your own word). It’s not something that really interested me, so I decided to do a second part of most anticipated books releasing the in the second half of 2026. Isabelle already did this topic and you can read that here.
Captive Traitor King – Brigid Kemmerer (November 3rd)
After loving Warrior Princess Assassin, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Captive Traitor King. I can’t really say what this one is about, because it’s a sequel. I would highly recommend picking up book one though. The relationship between these three is very interesting!
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder – Ally Carter (October 13th)
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year was such a fun Christmas mystery, that I need to get my hands on this author’s next Christmas story. These have the best combination a mystery during my favorite time of year with a touch of romance. I’m hoping I love this as much as Ally’s other holiday mystery.
The Silent Appeal – Janice Hallett (August 25th)
Janice Hallett writes mystery by using mixed media (emails, text messages, trivia, scripts, etc.) and The Appeal was my first book by this author. I had such a great time trying to figure out the mystery through all of the information we go. So I’m very excited that book is getting a sequel with The Silent Appeal. It’ll be interesting to see what this group of people get up to again.
Devour Me – Emily Rath (August 4th)
Devour Me is about the “entangled fates of a witch, wraith, and mortal” and that sounds interesting to me! The cover for this book is stunning and I’m in such a fantasy romance mood that I can’t wait to read this. I’m hoping I love it as much as I’m expecting to.
Broken Rival – Tessa Bailey (October 6th)
Tessa Bailey is an author I know because of her contemporary romances. If I’m correct, Broken Rival is her fantasy debut? I kind of want to go into this one knowing as little as possible. This author has been hit or miss for me, so I can’t wait to find out where this book will land.
Bones – K.L. Speer (September 1st)
Bones appears to be a book that was self-published and now will become traditionally published this year. I’ve been loving dystopian romances and when I saw someone on BookTok rave about this book, I knew it needed to be added to my TBR. Our main character has the ability to heal I believe.
The Sweetest Fiend – Raven Kennedy (September 22nd)
I’m still working on the Plated Prisoner series, but Raven Kennedy’s new book sounds very appealing. The Sweetest Fiend is a loose retelling of the Pied Piper. If I’m being honest, I am not familiar with that at all. It seems we’re getting forced proximity and lots of banter. Sign me up!
Wanted – Paisley Hope (November 3rd)
Paisley Hope is an author I’ve really enjoyed so far and she just finished her Silver Pines Ranch series this year. Wanted is the first book in a new small-town wester romance series. If I’m being honest, all I need to know is that we’re getting cowboy romances. I can never get enough of those.
Trust Fall – Lynn Painter (September 29th)
If Lynn Painter writes it, I’ll read it! Trust Fall is her next young adult story and the cover screams fall to me. A rags-to-riches rom-com? Sign me up! I don’t need to know more.
This Jury Is Guilty – Laurie Blake (November 3rd)
My reading is mostly romance or fantasy. Thrillers are something I enjoy, but just don’t pick up very often. This Jury Is Guilty caught my attention. A locked room thriller with a jury who must decide the fate of an actor accused of murder. The jury seems to all have some secrets as well!
So here are ten releases in the second half of 2026 I’m really excited about! I actually have eARCs for the first four and I can’t wait to read them. Do you want to read any of these? Or what is one book releasing in the second half of 2026 that you’re really excited about? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
