Best Books in November 2026: 9 New Releases to Read

There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel

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If you’ve not already discovered Jason Pargin’s fantastic John Dies at the End series, now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself, with the fifth book being released early this month. It opens in a secluded small town, where a massive, sticky pile of severed human limbs have suddenly appeared in the parking lot of a vacant department store. And, if that wasn’t bizarre enough, a single set of footprints have been found in the snow, leading away from the pile.

Once it becomes apparent that there have been no reports of missing bodies, or body parts for that matter, things take an even stranger turn when some of the fingerprints of the severed arms are found to belong to living people, who happen to have all of their appendages intact. While others match no one on file, and the rest somehow have no prints at all. Basically, this sounds like a case for John, David (whose own arm, that’s still attached to his body, is found on the pile), and Amy. And given the title of this installment in the series, we’re guessing that the rumours of giant crabs not being involved might be a bit of a misdirect.

Bonus: Audible’s Black Friday Deal

Get 3 Months of Audible Standard for $0.99/mo

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Also Get $20 in Bonus Audible Credit

Interrupting this list to quickly let you know that Amazon’s Audible Black Friday/ holiday deal is already live and well worth checking out.

Running through December 28, both Amazon Prime and non-Prime members can sign up for three months of Audible Standard for $0.99 per month. In addition to the discounted membership, you also get an extra $20 in Audible credit.

Dangerous Impulses by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Release date: November 3

Dangerous Impulses

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We know that some of us can be put off by YA books, but if there’s one YA series that you need to add to your TBR list, it’s Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ bestselling The Naturals books. Basically, think Criminal Minds but with the characters being teens who have been recruited to the FBI’s classified youth program.

Picking up eight months after the events of the fourth book, Cassie, Dean, Michael, Lia and Sloane are turning their talents to a new endeavour. I mean, how difficult could it be to bring their FBI mentors back together? Especially when you consider the cases that they’ve dealt with up until now, as well as the serial killers that they’ve outsmarted and brought to justice. Well, it turns out that things aren’t quite as simple when it comes to Special Agent Veronica Sterling and her past. At the same time, it appears that an UNSUB committing crimes out in the snow is causing a cold case to become very hot, making it a Christmas that none of them will forget in a hurry.

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

Release date: November 3

The Wolves of War

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With an epic story inspired by Slavic mythology, The Wolves of War definitely piqued our interest this month. Following Ivan and his daughter Halia, a girl who has been trapped in her own body since birth, could her newly awakening powers be the key to her and her family surviving what’s to come?

With two princes squaring off against one another and the threat of an iron-toothed witch haunting the shadows, now is the time for Halia to not only summon but master her magic to protect herself and her loved ones. But, in doing so, she must come to terms with a terrifying truth.

Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh

Release date: November 3

Cello’s Gate

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If you’re looking for a fun, escapist read this November, look no further than Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh. Who can say no to some sky pirates? It’s safe to say that Captain Grey and his crew have garnered quite a reputation for themselves, as the one squad who can accomplish the impossible. That is, until now.

When Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor, asks them to find and steal the Stones of Indigo, it might seem like a relatively simple task. However, the stones don’t actually exist, at least not in the literal sense. They’re a myth and yet the allure of receiving one million credits per crew member, per stone, if they do find them, is too tempting for them to say no. Sure, Grey has never trusted the immortals and Dalia is definitely hiding something. What could go wrong?

Peculiar Stars by Rebecca Yarros

Release date: November 17

Peculiar Stars

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Many of us will know Rebecca Yarros from her record-breaking The Empyrean Series of books, but she’s also a beloved romance author. And Peculiar Stars truly plays to her strengths in crafting a romance that we don’t want to put down.

It’s been relatively smooth sailing for Callista up until this point. That is until a routine trip to celebrate her engagement goes off course. Finding herself stranded on an island, alongside the crew and her fiancé’s cousin, Callista finally has a chance to question the life she always thought that she wanted. A slow burn kind of romance, when they are eventually rescued, the lives that they left behind might not necessarily have changed, but they certainly have.

When They Find Me: A Novel by Carter Wilson

Release date: November 10

When They Find Me

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For those of us who love a good mystery thriller, Carter Wilson’s latest release is ready to transport us to one of the most remote spots in America, somewhere that Annie has chosen as a safe haven for her and her daughter. With a population of just 313, Expanse, Colorado barely exists on a map. And given that the people looking for her aren’t the kind to forgive, or forget, this could be exactly the kind of place to keep them hidden.

Riven has been raised to survive in even the most inhospitable of circumstances. So, when her father leads them to the seemingly forgotten and isolated town of Expanse, in a bid to track down the man who apparently destroyed their lives, she knows what to do – strike fast, get revenge and then disappear. But, when the two women’s lives collide, things don’t exactly go as planned. What is the real truth? And who is actually to blame? We can’t wait to find out.

Defy the Dusk by Danielle L. Jensen

Release date: November 3

Defy the Dusk

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Given that Danielle L. Jensen has provided us with some of our favourite fantasy books over the past few years, we can’t wait to pick up her latest book, Defy the Dusk. And this new story – the first in a duology – follows Lirien as we discover the repercussions of her magic being unleashed two decades ago.

While the strongest survivors boarded the Dawnrider rig all those years ago, the rest of humanity was left behind. It was then that a king stepped forward to lead them through the turbulent times. Yes, Lirien was one of the lucky ones to find herself allowed on Dawnrider, but she’s also been looking for ways to overthrow the tyrant who is currently in charge of the rig. So, you can imagine her surprise when just as she’s getting ready to take her shot, she is abducted by the king. Offering her only two choices – help him and his people fight the creatures that she summoned in the first place, or be fed to them – the two enter into an unlikely alliance, with her magic being pushed to its very limits.

The Taper Man: A Novel of John Le Carré’s Circus by Nick Harkaway

Release date: November 5

The Taper Man: A Novel of John Le Carré’s Circus

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Fans of John le Carré’s most cherished character, George Smiley, will be happy to see the iconic spy return once more at the hands of fellow British author, Nick Harkaway. Set in 1965, in the midst of the Cold War, The Taper Man follows Smiley somewhere he’s never found himself before – across the pond in Los Angeles.

Could there be a traitor at the very top of the US intelligence agency? Well, with a Communist sleeper agent – the ‘Taper Man’ – poised to expose what Britain is getting up to in Moscow, it’s up to Smiley to find him. At the same time, his spy back in Leningrad is hunting down a Russian defector who could hold the piece to the puzzle they’ve been looking for.

Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi

Release date: November 3 (US) and November 5 (UK)

Monsters of Ohio

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Now, we don’t know about you, but even though we probably shouldn’t be judging books by their covers, it’s tricky not to get sucked in by the looks of John Scalzi’s Monsters of Ohio. And this time, the author of the brilliant The Kaiju Preservation Society, brings us a tale of a town on the threat of literal extinction, with a few unexpected tentacles to boot.

Taking place in the sleepy pastoral community of Richland, Ohio, the town’s inhabitants aren’t going to take it lying down, after a predatory private equity firm defrauded the area’s factory. However, what takes place might just be more than anyone bargained for. In fact, could it change humanity forever? You’ll need to pick up a copy to find out.

Ellis is a freelance journalist, based in the UK, with a love of all things books. She also routinely chairs bookish events up and down the country, getting the scoop from some of the biggest and bestselling authors to keep you in the know.