It’s another great month for new book releases, with a slew of fantastic stories from some of our favourite authors – such as T. Kingfisher, Ava Reid, and Abby Jimenez – as well as several exciting debuts.
As always, I’ve included a wide array of genres. So, whether you’re looking for a fast-paced YA dystopian, an eerie fantasy, a disturbing psychological thriller, a gothic retelling, or a gory body horror, there is something for every kind of reader.
To the Death by Melissa Welliver
Release date: March 26
To the Death
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If, like me, you’re always on the lookout for books that conjure up a similar feeling to The Hunger Games (or even The Last of Us, according to the Amazon listing), Melissa Welliver’s To the Death sounds like it could fill the void, especially as we patiently – or not so patiently – wait for Sunrise On The Reaping to hit our screens later this year. Add in zombies, and this is easily one of our most anticipated reads of the month.
The story follows Astrid, who is just trying to survive after a virus broke out on the island that she lives on. However, the mainland is watching the island’s every move, turning their lives into a reality TV show. But what does the victor win, you might ask? Well, a ticket off the island. So, when she finds herself paired up with another islander who has secrets of his own, they must fend off the other contestants and the undead, with only one person winning at the end.
Hooked by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton
Release date: March 12 (UK), March 17 (US)
Hooked
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From the bestselling author of last year’s smash hit, Butter (which is down to just over $11 at Amazon right now), comes a gripping piece of translated fiction.
Set in Japan, it follows Eriko and her seemingly perfect life. On the outside she has it all – a good family, a beautiful apartment and a stable job – yet no one realises just how lonely she is. It’s because of this that she finds herself turning to a popular lifestyle blog, written by Shōko, for a bit of comfort.
Unlike most people in her country, Shōko not only embraces but highlights her messy life, with her disorganised home and convenience-store dinners taking centre stage. But things take a turn when Eriko befriends Shōko after tracking her down at her favourite restaurant. What happens when obsession and companionship collide? And what will Eriko do to hold onto this new friendship? We can’t wait to see this one pans out.
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Release date: March 24 (US), March 26 (UK)
After quickly becoming an immediate auto-buy author for myself, T. Kingfisher is back with their first new book of 2026, and in this Southern gothic we join scientific illustrator Sonia as she finds herself at rock bottom. That is until the reclusive Dr. Halder offers her a position illustrating his vast collection of insects. With her moving to his manor house to do so, it almost sounds too good to be true, and that quickly becomes apparent when she arrives.
From the mysterious disappearance of her predecessor, who was also Dr. Halder’s wife, to the bizarre behaviour of the nearby animals, things get weird in a very good way. It’s the kind of story, filled with creepy crawlies, parasitic maggots and wild experiments, that will have you squirming in your seat. Or, at the very least, feeling like you can’t quite shake the feeling of something crawling over your skin.
The Brides by Charlotte Cross
Release date: March 19
The Brides
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Will we ever tire of a good vampire story? We don’t think so. And this month sees an enthralling reimagining of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in The Brides. Weaving together the stories of four women, the three who became the brides of Dracula and the fourth who managed to escape, it leans into the Gothic atmosphere and setting while utilising diary entries and letters to push the narrative forward.
And if you happen to be familiar with the 1897 classic, you’ll also recognise John Seaward, with his perspective coming to the forefront, alongside a toxic sapphic relationship and a journey from London to Budapest that will definitely draw you in.
Innamorata by Ava Reid
Release date: March 17
Innamorata
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We’re always excited whenever a new Ava Reid book is announced, and Innamorata sounds like another hit from the fantasy author. The first book in what will be The House of Teeth Duology, it follows the last two living descendents of the aforementioned House, heiress Marozia and her cousin Lady Agnes. And it is Agnes who must avenge her family’s fallen honour by recapturing the secrets of death magic.
To do so, she must marry off Marozia to Liuprand, the heir to the conqueror’s throne. However, things aren’t that straightforward, especially when the one thing that Agnes must not do is fall in love. Yet, the building passion between Agnes and Liuprand could threaten to fell them all.
Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas
Release date: March 31
Nothing Tastes as Good
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If you happen to love a good horror book, and body horror at that, Nothing Tastes as Good should certainly be on your radar. At over 300lbs, Emmett has struggled with his weight his entire life. And it doesn’t help that he lives in Southern California where suntanned six-packs are the norm. So, he has nothing – or everything, depending on how you look at it – to lose when he signs up for a clinical trial for the new weight loss treatment, Obexity.
And while Emmett quickly starts shedding the weight, with his life seemingly changing for the better, there are a few side effects. Of course, there’s the overwhelming cravings. Then, is it strange that he can no longer account for long stretches of time, or that some of the people who were particularly cruel to him have started to disappear? At the same time police are hunting for a cannibalistic killer. Surely that’s just a coincidence, right?
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Release date: March 10 (US), March 12 (UK)
This Story Might Save Your Life
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Blending a few different genres, This Story Might Save Your Life centres around Benny and Joy. Best friends and podcast hosts, they take a deep dive into some of the most outrageous and unbelievable near-death experiences each week, all while adding their trademark life-affirming humour to the mix.
However, when Benny arrives one morning to record their next episode and finds an empty house in complete disarray, with Joy – and her husband Xander – nowhere to be seen, they become entangled in their very own survival story. With Benny being the prime suspect in a case where it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Joy and Xander will be found alive, what secrets have the BFFs been keeping from their listeners, and each other?
The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent
Release date: March 12
The Truth About Ruby Cooper
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We can always count on Liz Nugent to bring us an all consuming and disturbing mystery thriller, and as you might expect from the title, this story revolves around Ruby Cooper. Now, it’s actually quite tricky to sum up or tease this book without giving too much away. All we can really say is that when Ruby is sixteen years old she is involved in a shocking incident that upends and affects her and her family’s life for decades. And what follows is an unflinching tale of trauma, grief and some seriously dark themes.
Let’s just say, it’s the kind of book that will have you simultaneously speeding through it, while throwing your hands up in frustration quite a few times, as Liz successfully introduces yet another character you will no doubt love to hate.
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Release date: March 24
The Night We Met
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There are so many brilliant romance books being released this month. From Liz Tomforde’s latest sports romance, In Her Own League, to Elle Kennedy’s Love Song and Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles. But the one that captured my heart and attention has to be Abby Jimenez’s The Night We Met. And if you’re looking for some serious yearning between the two main characters, look no further.
The story follows Larissa and Chris, who appear to be the perfect match for one another. The only issue, Chris is her boyfriend’s best friend and they both know that if either of them were to share how they feel, or even think about acting on it, it would upend their lives and friendships forever. If only she had chosen to get a ride home with Chris instead of Mike on, you guessed it, the night they met. Can they just be friends, or is the risk of hurting one of the closest people to both of them worth potentially blowing up their lives? It is worth mentioning, that even though this is the second in a series, it can be read as a standalone.
