If you asked me earlier this year, I’d have told you I don’t regularly read new authors! In fact, it’s rare for me to read new authors. And that is because my reading style very much used to be a binge the series kind of plan.
Last year, and even more so this year, that shifted as I started jumping around a lot more. And with that, came the discovery of some new fantastic authors! It has been unbelievably difficult to figure out the top 10 authors that I’m excited to continue exploring the back log of / read new releases of! But here is my attempt!
This list is not in any order at all, they’re just 10 of the authors I read for the first time this year that I’m excited to continue reading in 2026!
Number 10
Freida mcfadden
She’s not a new author in the Thriller world, but she is new to me. I enjoyed both books I read by her this year, and I cannot wait to dive into more of her work next year! She releases multiple books a year typically, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she has new releases next year, but right now the focus is her back log!
Number 9
Holly jackson
Another new to me author, but not a new author in the YA Thriller space! A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder was such an unexpected favourite of mine this year!
I’m both looking forward to reading her back log! I think I have all of her books, it’s just a case of sitting down and reading them.
I don’t know if she has a new book in the works, it wouldn’t surprise me if she does! And I’ll be excited for it, if it is indeed in the pipeline!
Number 8
V.E. Schwab
Now, V.E. Schwab is not a new author to me, in the sense that I have had some of her books on my shelves for years… just never read them.
This year, thanks to a book club pick, that changed! Plus I have friends that speak highly of some of these books so it is about time I made them a priority!
And now I really want to dive into her back log as I’m convinced I’ll find some new favourite reads there. Of course, this is in addition to reading her newest release, Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil.
Number 7
Jeneva rose
I read Home is Where the Bodies are earlier this year in one day, I loved it. And since that, I’ve been collecting Jeneva’s books to read but haven’t yet sat down to read them. I fully expect to devour her catalogue of thrillers! And I’m so excited for it.
Number 6
A.T. Qureshi
I adored The Baby Dragon Café and can’t wait to dive back into to Bakery and Bookshop. But I am so excited to dive into Aamna’s debut (I believe) romantasy, Riders of Dragons! Which is set to release in 2026! We already got an inkling of what this will be about thanks to Café so I have every faith I’ll enjoy it! I’m looking forward to diving more into the fantasy with Aamna!
Number 5
Brynne Weaver
I devoured Brynne’s The Ruinous Love trilogy, and was craving more. Then I found out she was releasing another series along the same lines as Butcher & Blackbird so of course picked that up! I haven’t yet read Tourist Season, but it will be consumed in 2026. The sequel to Tourist Season (Harvest Season) releases in 2026!
I am undecided on whether I’m going to visit her back log as what I’ve heard so far seems like it may be too dark for me…
Number 4
laura steven
Not only am I desperately waiting for any information about Silvercloak 2, but I do believe I’m going to pick up some of Laura’s back log of work because some of them sound like they’re something I’d enjoy! Hopefully, that will keep me going until we get any smidgen of news about Silvercloak 2… I do also believe she’s working on another YA – so she plans to feed us soon!
Number 3
kayla edwards
I have only read book 1, City of Gods and Monsters, in the House of Devil’s series and that’s a crime honestly! I wanted to be caught up by the time book 4 released! Instead, the new goal is to be caught up in time for book 5!
The House of Devil’s series has just been picked up for trad publishing, which is how I have finally come to be in posession of the books! But I don’t know if this will delay book 5 news & release or not.
Number 2
Penn cole
After reading Spark of the Everflame in December I wanted to immediately immerse myself in this world and read the rest of what was available in this series… I held back, but believe me it won’t be for long! I expect to get to the rest of this series as soon as possible!
I have a feeling Penn Cole may become one of my new favourite authors just based on Spark… So I am excited to see where we go from here!
Number 1
amber V. Nicole
I read The Book of Azrael and loved it, quickly picked up the second book… however I made the decision to wait until The Wrath of the Fallen released to read book 3… Now I’m in a similar position to House of Devils with Kayla Edwards, where it became a crime that I didn’t end up picking this up on release! So 2026 will be the time to do so!
Amber’s writing keeps me hooked from the go, and her twists are always jaw dropping! I cannot wait to keep reading.
Believe me when I say, there are plenty of authors who should have been on this list…
However, they either only have 1 other book I’m interested in reading, or they only have 1 new release next year that is making me want to keep reading (and I’m doing a separate post about the books releasing next year that I’m excited to get to!). So, in order to actually be able to trim this down AT ALL, I opted to not include those authors. There are also more authors with big back logs or long series that I want to catch up on that I didn’t include… But that’s just the nature of a top 10!! Not everyone can be in it!
honourable mentions
Pierce Brown ~ Brandon Sanderson ~ B.K Borison ~ Dustin Thao ~ M.L. Wang ~ Alexis Patton ~ C.L. Cross ~ Sasha Peyton Smith ~ Briar Boleyn ~ J. Bree ~ Noelle W. Ihli ~ Kerri Maniscalco ~ Adalyn Grace ~ Molly X. Chang ~ Julie Soto ~ Stacey McEwan ~ Cora Raven ~ Lizzy Gayle ~ And many more!
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