Looking for 12 books for 2026

[ChiaraMontague]

I’m looking for recommendations! Last year I got my mum 12 novels for Christmas with the idea that we would read one each month. It has been really lovely to have this little book club going and I’d like to do the same thing for 2026.

This year we’ve read:

• The Satsuma Complex
• For Thy Great Pain, Have Mercy on My Little Pain
• Winchelsea
• The Pillars of the Earth
• Crooked Heart
• Wrong Place, Wrong Time
• Restoration
• Demon Copperhead

Currently reading:

• The Dutch House

And we’ve got these ones still to come:

• The Bee Sting
• The Marriage Portrait
• Last One at the Party

My mum has enjoyed them all but her absolute favourites so far were Demon Copperhead and Crooked Heart. Her least favourites were The Pillars of The Earth and Restoration (I feel a bit guilty as I’m the one that REALLY loves historical fiction, although DM did absolutely love Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell series).

I’ve got a few ideas so far from browsing threads on here, but would love to get some more recommendations.
She reads very widely and enjoys all genres. Older books aren’t necessarily a no-go but there will be a greater chance that she’s already read them. I’ll also avoid sequels to popular books that she’s already read as she’ll probably pick those up herself, so I’m avoiding the latest Robert Galbraith, Richard Osman, Philip Pullman, Bob Mortimer, Ben Aaronvitch etc.
These are the ideas I’ve got so far:

• Caledonian Road
• Getting Away
• American Dirt
• Daisy Jones & The Six
• Our Man in Havana
• Notes on an Execution
• A Place of Execution
• The Sympathizer

All the colours of the dark..this would fit the bill. Currently half way through and it's highly emotive. Not my normal read but really enjoying.

The lazy option would be a Foyles year of books subscription...

What a great idea, OP!

The Women - Kristin Hannah
Still Life - Sarah Winman
You are here - David Nicholls
The penguin lessons - Tom Michell

These have been my faves read this year.

I'm reading The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey and really enjoying it.

It was a Radio 2 book choice for 2025.

Poisonwood Bible if she loved Demon Copperhead! Wild Swans. Shogun. The Country of Last Things. The Book of Lost Things.

Thank you so much for this idea, I spent the evening last night choosing 12 books - I've bought two of each for my Mum and MIL and will read along on my kindle with them such a lovely idea and a bit different. Was tricky choosing a good selection that I thought they would both like and including some that were a little bit different too. I went for:

There are Rivers in the Sky
What you are looking for is in the library
American Dirt
Midnight Hour
Northwoods
The 1st Fifteen lives of Harry August
The Dutch House
The Penguin Lessons
The satsuma Complex
Here one moment
Thursday Murder club
The Great Alone

Hopefully will be well received and maybe it will become a new tradition!

Thanks so much everyone for the great suggestions! I’m going to whittle down my very long list over the next few days and order them all next weekend.

I’m so happy to hear that you’ve done the same @imp2007- great list of books there too! I really hope you all enjoy them.

I’ve found it really lovely to have this extra connection with my mum this year, it’s been a bit like a book club but without the pressure! And it’s given us 12 new things to talk about 😁

The final 12!

Precipice - Robert Harris
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August - Claire North
American Dirt - Jeanine Cummins
Caledonian Road - Andrew O’Hagan
Daisy Jones and The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Our Man In Havana - Graham Greene
A Place of Execution - Val McDermid
The Sympathizer - Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Names - Florence Knapp
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
The City & The City - China Miéville
The Glassmaker - Tracy Chevalier

I haven’t decided the reading order yet, might start the year off with Daisy Jones and The Six.

I’ve also ordered some of the books on Kindle for myself - a few are in the 99p sale at the moment! I’ll keep an eye on the prices of the rest over the next couple of months

@ChiaraMontague So many great books on there! Love Poisonwood and American Dirt and Harry August all five stars for me. Daisy Jones more 4 star but still good.

Ah that’s really great to know. I’m looking forward to getting started! 😁

Report back on how you and your Mum found them!

Another vote for Where the Crawdads Sing
Plus
Still Life by Sarah Winman.
The latter is beyond wonderful.

@MoogooMongoose Still Life is one of the 99p books I bought on Kindle today - if I finish the December book early I might get started with it 😊

Oh enjoy! Its so heart warming and life affirming. Full of joy humour love and sadness too.

My hubby read it after me and I could hear him chuckling. He absolutely loved it too.
Its one of those books that stays with you.

99p is a bargain.

If you have any recommendations too please forward to me much apreciated.