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Winter Reading 2026

At Bookreporter.com, we kicked off 2026 with our 11th annual Winter Reading Contests and Feature. We hosted a series of 24-hour contests spotlighting a book releasing this winter and gave five lucky readers a chance to win it.

Even though our contests have wrapped up, we encourage you to take a look at this year's featured titles, as these are books you will want to read during the winter months --- and into the warmer ones!

Week of February 2, 2026

Paperback releases for the week of February 2nd include HARLEM RHAPSODY by Victoria Christopher Murray, the extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance; Emilia Hart's THE SIRENS, a spellbinding novel about sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the sea; CLEAVAGE, in which Jennifer Finney Boylan examines the divisions --- as well as the common ground --- between the genders and reflects on her own experiences, both difficult and joyful, as a transgender American; Casey Sherman's BLOOD IN THE WATER, a gripping contemporary true crime narrative for everyone who was fascinated by the Murdaugh murders, and for anyone compelled by the intersection between money, power and family; and the paperback original WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS by Kaira Rouda, an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

Wendy Walker, author of Blade

Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making --- until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of 16, she gave up her dream and never looked back. Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly ended: The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado. Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace Montgomery’s guilt. But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “Orphan.”

Blade by Wendy Walker

February 2026

I was able to immerse myself in the world of competitive ice skating thanks to Wendy Walker’s latest thriller, BLADE. Inspired by Wendy’s personal experiences as a competitive figure skater (she trained in Colorado from ages 13 to 16), the book captures what it is like to be a teen living on her own as she aims to shine in a sport that so many attempt and fail at.

Wendy draws on the joy, stress and loneliness of these young ladies, who are labeled “orphans” as they do not have parents with them. She also portrays the moms who have traveled with them and are obsessed with their skating.