Borrow. Read. Repeat. Staff Predicts Award-Winning 2026 Releases

BRR Staff Predictions for 2026 Award Winners Header Image

‘Tis the season—awards season! We polled our staff to get their guesses for 2026’s best-in-show releases. Scroll to browse our predictions for award-winning titles publishing this year.

Rachel’s Pick:


On Fire for God

Josiah Hesse

Rachel says, “Hesse’s memoir on extracting himself from his evangelical upbringing is as harrowing as it is heartfelt. Tackling religious trauma, the ravaged middle class, opioid addiction, and more, this is a vividly rendered story that will strike a chord with readers everywhere.”

Maureen’s Pick:

All That’s Unseen

Emilee Hackney

Maureen says, “I’m going to take a leap and stand behind this debut memoir as my pick for a future award-winner. This is a timely, fiercely honest book written in a voice that I think will resonate with and move a lot of people.”

Elizabeth’s Pick:

Vigil

George Saunders

A “daring” (Time) novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling, Booker Prize–winning author of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain and Tenth of December, taking place at the bedside of an oil company CEO in the twilight hours of his life as he is ferried from this world into the next.

Sharnell’s Pick:

Clutch

Emily Nemens

Sharnell says, “Clutch by Emily Nemens felt deeply relatable to me, especially in how it captures long friendships and the constant juggling of career, family, and bigger societal pressures. It’s smart, timely, and the kind of novel that lingers, making it a strong contender for awards and book club buzz.”

Miriam’s Pick:

London Falling

Patrick Radden Keefe

Miriam says, “In Keefe’s latest, a grieving family pores over the mystery of their son’s death. And London is a matrix of power, secrecy, and corruption.”

Jen C.’s Pick:

Cool Machine

Colson Whitehead

Jen C. says, “A new novel from Colson Whitehead that brings to life 1980s New York in the magnificent final volume of his Harlem Trilogy. Everything this two-time Pulitzer winner writes is gold.”

Jen R.’s Pick:

Under Story

Chloe Benjamin

Jen R. says, “This is the eagerly-awaited next novel from Chloe Benjamin whose last book, The Immortalists, was a #1 LibraryReads Pick and 2018 Favorite of Favorites. Benjamin’s talent for immersing her reader in an epic, one-of-a-kind moving and poignant human journey awaits her fans once again.”

Jackie’s Pick:

Innamorata

Ava Reid

Jackie says, “I love fantasy, mystery, and dark romance, and this story feels like all of that wrapped into one addictive world that pulls you in immediately. Between the necromancy, morally messy characters, and dangerous love, it feels like the kind of book you can’t stop thinking about.”

Zetta’s Pick:

Where the Girls Were

Kate Schatz

Zetta says, “From New York Times bestselling author and activist, Kate Schatz, comes a timely coming-of-age historical fiction that shines a light on the feminist movement’s collision with limited reproductive rights in 1960s San Francisco. It’s deeply empowering, heartfelt, and a must-read for fans of women’s fiction.”

Kelly’s Pick:

The Reservation

Rebecca Kauffman

For fans of The Bear, Elizabeth Strout, and Jennifer Egan, The Reservation explores the loves and labors of an ensemble of more than a dozen restaurant workers as they strive to get a perfect meal to the table.