The 6 best books for 2026, according to this Montreal independent bookstore

As mother nature continues to have its fun with us in Montreal – will I be donning the polar parka or the rain slicker today?– hibernating by a fire with a good book is feeling pretty darn appealing. 

I spoke to Cassandra Keating, co-owner of the independent, English-language Librairie Saint-Henri Books (located in Saint-Henri, recently ranked one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world), and Rachael Palmer, store manager and curator, about their favourite soon-to-be-released titles.

Located across the street from one of our favourite brunch spots (Arthurs Nosh Bar) and bakeries (Rustique), Librairie Saint-Henri Books is a must-visit bookstore in Montreal — also conveniently located next door to Tuck Shop (one of the city’s top tables). 

What are the best books to look forward to in 2026?

Here are the top 6 picks according to the stellar staff at Librairie Saint-Henri Books:

1. Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash 

For fans of: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh and Animal by Lisa Taddeo.

Madeline Cash’s Lost Lambs promises a sharp look at family dynamics and feels like the kind of book that will spark strong opinions and conversation. 

Release date: January 13, 2026.

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2. Half His Age: A Novel by Jennette McCurdy 

For fans of: Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan and contemporary fiction that’s honest, funny, and emotionally sharp.

We loved McCurdy’s debut memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, and are curious to see her step into fiction with Half His Age. We’re especially interested in how the humour and emotional honesty that made her memoir so relatable and moving will translate into a novel. 

Release date: January 20, 2026.

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3. One Aladdin, Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson 

For fans of: modern retellings and myth-inspired fiction like Circe by Madeline Miller.

Jeanette Winterson’s inventive approach to myth and storytelling is what got us excited for One Aladdin, Two Lamps, a reworking of the Aladdin story that’s sure to be a playful and imaginative read. 

Release date: January 20, 2026.

4. Holy Boy by Lee Heejoo 

For fans of: The Vegetarian by Han Kang and psychologically driven literary fiction.

Holy Boy stood out to us for its unsettling look at obsession, fandom, and devotion, and because it introduces the work of acclaimed South Korean writer Lee Heejoo to English-language readers for the first time. 

Release Date: February 17, 2026.

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5. On the Calculation of Volume (Book IV) by Solvej Balle 

For fans of: the film Groundhog Day and contemplative fiction. You don’t need to be a sci-fi reader to be drawn in by this one.

We loved the first three books in Solvej Balle’s ambitious time-loop series from New Directions, which makes this next installment especially anticipated. The story follows a woman living the same day over and over, becoming less about sci-fi and more about attention, routine, and what it means to really notice a life. 

Release date: April 14, 2026.

6. My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein by Deborah Levy 

For fans of: literary memoirs and books about writers, like A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf or The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. Deborah Levy’s thoughtful approach to art, influence, and creative life is what draws us to My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein. She has a way of making literary reflection feel deeply personal. 

Release date: June 2, 2026.

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