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The best books out in November and December

The best books out in November and December

by Stephen Carlick

2 November 2026

min read

··4

It’s official: the festive season is upon us. True to fashion, we’ve made a list of the books to look forward to in the last two months of the year (and checked it twice).

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or the loved ones on your list, we’ve got all your bookish needs covered, from gift-worthy novels to delightful stocking fillers. Our roundup below includes new releases in the realm of thrillers, literary fiction, classic humour, and historical fiction – not to mention a chic (but accessible!) wine guide and one-of-a-kind memoirs.

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Best new fiction

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult

Out 5th November

Molly Fitzgerald was an infant when, on September 11, 2001, her mother left home for an appointment at the World Trade Center and never returned. Now a grown woman, Molly’s professional and personal life is defined by disaster-readiness, while her marriage to husband Jesse is a source of calm in a tumultuous world – until it is upended by a shock that forces them to question everything.

Read it if you like: My Sister’s Keeper,

Arendal by Karl Ove Knausgaard

Out 5th November

The author behind the revered My Struggle cycle and Seasons Quartet returns with a new novel set 1970s Norway, which, at just 250 pages, is an accessible entry point for readers new to his work. Arendal follows a man whose car has broken down in the icy darkness of a coastal city, as he finds himself confronting the memories of a doomed love affair and the darkness that surrounds and resides within him. This haunting, unique read exemplifies Knausgaard’s flair for portray of humanity’s interiority and complexity.

Read it if you like: Elena Ferrante, Jon Fosse

Lessons in Harmony by Jonathan Coe

Out 12th November

The year is 1907, and Maurice Ravel is the toast of Belle Epoque Paris. When Ravel is urged to take on a new pupil, composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, the duo – each quintessentially French and English respectively – form an unlikely friendship and artistic bond that, with war looming, will be pushed to the limit. This fictional retelling of the lives of two composers is the latest masterful, deftly written novel from the bestselling author of Middle England and The Proof of my Innocence.

Read it if you like: Mr. Wilder and Me, Julian Barnes

Prince of Rome by Conn Iggulden

Out 19th November

The highly anticipated second instalment of the Ink and Iron series begins nearly a decade on since the events of Forged in Rome; slave-turned-soldier Cormac is now determined to return to Rome to make a name – and a life – for himself. But the more he gains, the more he’ll stand to lose, and the Quinctius family is famously hostile to outsiders…

Read it if you like: The Nero Trilogy, Bernard Cornwell

The Taper Man by Nick Harkaway

Out 5th November

In this elegant, tense, and intricately plotted continuation of the adventures of George Smiley, The Circus has just one last prized agent situated in Moscow – and he’s about to be exposed by a sleeper agent working for US Intelligence. Can Smiley navigate the choppy waters of Cold War America in time to preserve this last vital vestige of British intelligence?

Read it if you like: John le Carré, Ian Rankin

Jeeves and the Yuletide Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse

Out 12th November

This perfect gift for any fan of P.G. Wodehouse – or aspiring Wodehousian – collects a host of stories featuring Bertie Wooster and his inimitable butler Jeeves as they navigate the social intricacies of the Christmas season. Ideal as a small token of affection, and just the right size for an over-stuffed stocking, this book is best enjoyed next to a roaring fire with a warm drink (or brandy and soda) in reach.

Read it if you like: quintessentially British wit, Three Men in a Boat

Solace in Winter by Mary Lawson

Out 19th November

It’s 1969 in the small Canadian town of Solace, and winter has brought its usual blanket of snow. But for widower Jack, the season’s usual sense of quiet is missing this year in the wake of two accidents: first an abandoned dog, and then a young man fleeing America’s draft for the Vietnam War. Things get especially complicated when Jack’s daughter shows up, in this pensive, captivating novel from the Booker-longlisted author of A Town Called Solace.

Read it if you like: Anne Tyler, Elizabeth Strout

The Patriot by Ajay Chowdhury

Out 12th November

Detective Sergeant Kamil Rahman and ex-partner Anjoli both have their heads buried in career-defining cases. Unbeknownst to them, however, they’re both integral parts of a conspiracy heist to reclaim the Kohinoor diamond from the Tower of London. Whether both can keep their wits about them and work together might just decide the fate of the diamond – and their own fates too.

Read it if you like: Jeffrey Archer, Michael Connelly

Best new non-fiction

What's Your Story? by Simon Squibb

Out 31st December

With nearly 10 million followers on TikTok alone, Simon Squibb has made an empire out of making dreams come true. In What’s Your Story?, which follows on from the chart-topping bestseller What’s Your Dream?, Squibb outlines the importance of storytelling – craft hooks, building a narrative, and turning an audience into a community – in making your dream a reality. This is the perfect gift for any budding entrepreneur in your life.

Read it if you like: Find Your Why by Simon Sinek, Manifest by Roxie Nafousi

Choose Love by Choose Love, edited by Inua Ellams

Out 12th November

If the current state of the world and its apparent lack of empathy have got you down, Choose Love might just be the remedy: here, ten acclaimed writers (Yomi Adegoke, Nikesh Shukla, and many more) each tell the inspiring story of a UK asylum seeker and the moments of kindness, solidarity, and humanity that forever changed their lives for the better.

Read it if you like: Reasons to… by Ben West, We Are Not Numbers by Ahmed Alnaouq and Pam Bailey

Pick Your Bottles by Dan Keeling

Out 10th November

From the co-founder and editor of Noble Rot, the wine magazine that wrenched wine appreciation from the elitists and made it fun again, comes this handy, extremely giftable guide to 100 wines you need to know about. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or just getting started on your appreciation journey, Pick Your Bottles is as enjoyable to read as it is helpful.

Read it if you like: Corker by Hannah Crosbie, The Noble Rot Book: Wine from Another Galaxy

How Lucky Am I: An Uplifting 5 Minute Journal by Christian Watson

Out 3rd December

From Christian Watson, creator of the beloved and inspiring bastion of gratitude Mr. Skelly, comes an interactive journal designed to help users keep things in perspective, even on the most difficult days. Complete with inspiring prompts and gorgeous illustrations, this book is the perfect gentle reminder of how to navigate dark times and find reasons to be grateful – big and small.

Read it if you like: How Lucky Am I, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse

Decline and Falling Over by Jo Brand

Out 5th November

Comedian Jo Brand’s new book is about ageing, but you won’t find inspiring “look on the bright side”-isms here, and it’s all the better for it. Decline and Falling Over is a no-holds-barred treatise on embracing the grumpy-lie-in kinds of days, for shirking the day’s duties, for dealing with aches and pains that ail your body – and finding a way to find the humour in it all.

Read it if you like: Miranda Hart, The Twat Files by Dawn French

My Pressures by Andy Serkis

Out 5th November

This first memoir from Andy Serkis is every bit as unconventional as the characters that helped make his name as one of the UK’s finest actors. From Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, to Caesar in the Planet of the Apes franchise, Serkis doesn’t just tell his story but invites input from his fictional roles, too. The result is a fascinating dialogues between actor and character, truth and fiction, and the emphatic role imagination has played in crafting real life.

Read it if you like: Fictional Selves by Kyle MacLachlan, The Make-Believe by Hannah Murray

Alone with a Book by Tessa Hadley

Out 5th November

In this wise, arresting collection of essays, award-winning British author Tessa Hadley expounds on the riches she’s unearthed from a life spent reading: from obsessing about books as a child, through the uneasy terrain of becoming a writer and, finally, from the perspective of someone who has honed their craft. Sharp and perceptive, Alone with a Book is perfect for anyone who revels in the unrivalled pleasure of a great read.

Read it if you like: Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith, Bookish by Lucy Mangan

Illuminati by Michael Taylor

Out 5th November

There is, perhaps, no conspiracy theory that has existed for as long as that of the Illuminati, a supposed cadre of shadowy, powerful figures – among them, allegedly, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates and Taylor Swift – who manipulate and control Western society. In this fascinating and revealing book, historian author Michael Taylor traces the origins of the (actual) Order of the Illuminati in 1776, and their legacy since.

Read it if you like: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein, Somebody Told Me by Danny Wallace

New paperbacks out this month

Discover more reading inspiration with our roundup of the best new paperbacks of 2026.

The Austen Christmas Murders

Jessica Bull (Author)

Buy from:

Utterly Lazy and Inattentive

Martin Parr (Author) , Wendy Jones (Author)

Buy from:

One Aladdin Two Lamps

Jeanette Winterson (Author)

Buy from:

Hide And Seek

Søren Sveistrup (Author) , Ian Giles (Translator)

Buy from:

Best new audiobooks

These new audiobooks feature famous narrators, a full cast of actors bringing characters to life, and heartfelt narrations from the authors themselves – making them the perfect choice for an immersive listening experience.

Murder at Mount Fuji

Shizuko Natsuki (Author) , Robert B. Rohmer (Translator)

Buy from:

Pea Green Boat

Stewart Lee (Author) , David Waywell (Illustrator)

Buy from:

Choose Love

Choose Love (Author) , Inua Ellams (Edited by) , Inua Ellams (Read by) , Emma Stevenson (Read by) , Anni Domingo (Read by) , Diana Yekinni (Read by) , Arnold Oceng (Read by) , Sara Masry (Read by) , Ammar Haj Ahmad (Read by) , Mohamed Elsandel (Read by) , Sofia Asir (Read by) , Anna-Maria Nabirye (Read by) , Yusra Warsama (Read by)

Buy from:

What's Your Story?

Simon Squibb (Author) , Simon Squibb (Read by)

Buy from:

Lessons in Harmony

Jonathan Coe (Author) , Allan Corduner (Read by) , Clémence Poésy (Read by)

Buy from:

The best books out in November and December

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Best new fiction

The best books of 2026

Debut novels to read this year

New paperbacks to read in 2026

Best new non-fiction

Best autobiography books and memoirs of 2026

Fascinating books about Psychology

Beautiful books that make unforgettable gifts

12 must-read books for Luther fans

Extract: The Patriot by Ajay Chowdhury

What is the best translated fiction to read? With Karl Ove Knausgaard

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