Kobo released its 2026 Book Report this week, wrapping up notable patterns in 2026 book buying and looking ahead to 2027.

Here are Kobo’s four predictions for next year’s book trends—and whether or not I agree with them. They have hundreds of thousands of users and all kinds of data about what they read. I have vibes. En garde.

Trend 1: The Folk Horror Boom

• What Kobo Says: “Expect a surge in ‘Folk Horror’ reading in the new year, tapping into ancient anxieties and rural myths.”
• What I Say: I can buy this one. Horror has enjoyed a multi-year boom, so some reaching back for existing stories or untapped influences makes sense.

Trend 2: Dystopian Returns

• What Kobo Says: “As the global political and ecopolitical climate shifts, we anticipate a massive resurgence of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction.”
• What I Say: I am calling a vibe shift on this one. The film version of Sunrise on the Reaping is spiking interest in The Hunger Games, but I think the results of the recent elections here in the U.S. are about looking forward. If things had gone the other way, I think this would have been right. But they didn’t.

Trend 3: The Trad Life Fascination

• What Kobo Says: “The ‘tradwife’ movement has found a dark home in the fiction genre, as seen in the success of Yesteryear, and this fascination with domestic subversion is only expected to grow.”
• What I Say: I think Yesteryear (and Trad Wife, and Trad Wife) pretty well-harnessed our collective fascination with the idea of tradwives, and you know what? I think we found it sort of uninteresting? We get that Instagram is not real life and that most of these influencers are putting on a show. What else is there to say?

Trend 4: Genre-Blending Romantasy

• What Kobo Says: “Romantasy is evolving. We are seeing a move toward hybrid genres—romantasy mixed with political intrigue, myth retellings and complex mystery elements. Of course, we expect the Romantasy mainstays to continue dominating the genre, especially with new titles from Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas allowing readers to reenter the beloved worlds that kick-started the genre craze.”
• What I Say: You will not see me bet against romantasy. That said, at what point does romantasy become unhelpful in describing, say, a romance with “myth retellings” or “complex mystery elements?” The term “romance” does the trick.

On the most recent episode of the Book Riot podcast: a look back at the books that mattered from 1996. In many ways, this is peak ’90s: we are in the early seasons of Friends, Amazon.com has been live for less than a year, and we are firmly in the middle of the Clinton years.

After 30 years, a few things from the year in books jumped out:

Chick Lit was in its prime: From How Stella Got Her Groove Back to Bridget Jones’ Diary, there were hits all over. Plus, while lesser-known at the time, a little book called Sex and the City was gearing up to put Cosmos and Manolo Blahniks on the map.

Everyone cried about the same book: Oprah picked Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes for her book club, and pretty soon everyone was reading it. A rare all-around memoir blockbuster, the book made McCourt so famous for a while that a museum dedicated to his life opened up in his hometown of Limerick, Ireland.

The iconic book of the 1990s: Love it, hate it, or DNF it, Infinite Jest has become a symbol of…something. Its arrogance, brilliance, ambition, excess, and difficulty have been attracting opinions from day one.

Winter came: A Game of Thrones didn’t make much noise outside the world of fantasy readers when it came out, but book one in the Song of Ice and Fire series would gather steam over the next several installments until storming the gates of pop culture when it came to HBO.

New adult romance centering college-age characters explores love and sex during that messiest, most uncertain chapter of life. The complications and novelties of new adulthood make for compelling and swoon-worthy plot devices in stories rich with characters who have the potential for so much development.

Dip your toes into new adult romance with these reads:

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers: Adulthood is about to crash Grace Porter’s graduation party. Grace didn’t anticipate eloping with a stranger when she went to Vegas to celebrate earning a PhD in astronomy. Spending time with her wonderful new wife Yuki in New York offers temporary escape from the high-pressure life she inevitably has to confront.

The Secrets of Clarence Manor (Deluxe Edition) by Devney Perry*: At academic bastion of affluence Aston University, Clarence Manor houses three wealthy young women keeping skeletons in their closets. But with three men vying for their affections, love threatens to break down the doors and reveal who is hiding the ugliest secret.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy: The first book in a series that inspired a Prime adaptation follows Hannah Wells as she navigates sex and seduction. She has her eyes set on a guy, but a fake date with the captain of the college hockey team to make her crush jealous turns into one wild night. Now hockey star Garrett Graham has to convince Hannah that he’s the one she wants.

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Science, history, religion, memoir — all of these subjects intersect with true crime and make for some fascinating reading on their own. So whether you’re a true crime connoisseur looking to expand your horizons, or a newbie looking to dip your toes into the murky, murder-filled waters, here are some nonfiction books that are sure to fascinate you.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach: What happens to our bodies after we die? Mary Roach’s hilarious investigation takes readers on a journey from plane crashes to forensic cadaver farms to crash test dummies — some of it gruesome, but all of it fascinating. Even though this book was originally written in 2003, it’s still an enduring classic for true crime fans and science buffs. (Just be careful about reading this one while you’re eating.)

Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys by Mariana Enriquez: Mariana Enriquez is most well-known for her horror fiction and short stories, but in her first nonfiction book, she brings readers on a tour of the world’s most fascinating cemeteries. Traveling from Buenos Aires to Paris to New Orleans, she investigates each cemetery’s history, architecture, noted burials, and folklore. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in macabre and mythical history.

Creep: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba – Myriam Gurba’s essay collection is a pointed and personal examination of the creeps in society: the villains, the abusers, and the people upholding toxic traditions. But it’s also an examination of how to challenge the creeps and challenge oppression in our lives. If you want true crime that makes you think about the larger societal issues at work, this is a great title to pick up.

More nonfiction for true crime readers —KMH

If you’re looking for an audiobook to add to your queue, Audible’s editors have narrowed down their November favorites. Here are three new audiobooks from that list, all included in your Audible+ subscription.

All She Wants for Christmas by Lisa Jewell – As Audible Editor Michael Collins says, “Who says Christmas has to be cozy?” This latest from prolific thriller author Lisa Jewell is a tale of obsession and resentment, brought to life with sound design, an original score, and a full-cast performance from Ruth Wilson, Matthew Rhys, Phoebe Dynevor, and Harriet Walter.

Take My Word for It: A Memoir by LeVar Burton – Take a look, it’s LeVar’s book! Do I really need to say more? Fine: the only thing better than a LeVar Burton memoir is one narrated by LeVar Burton himself.

Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi – This Audible Exclusive set in a small Ohio town is read by Wil Wheaton and described as a “heartfelt exploration of a tentacular solution to the struggles of the modern world.” Sounds like a good time! —VD

Nisha J. Tuli is the author of Too Cold for Comfort, out this week from Forever. Below, she recommends three more romance novels set in Canadian winters.

Churchill, Manitoba: a tiny northern Canadian town, known as the polar bear capital of the world and one of the most magical places you’ll ever visit.

There are no roads. You can only get there by plane or train, which only adds to the mystique. In the summer, you can paddle or kayak among thousands of beluga whales that fill Hudson Bay. In the fall, you can get up close and personal (not too close!) to the world’s deadliest land predator, the polar bear. And on the deepest and coldest winter nights, the northern lights paint the sky in vivid colors, offering one of the best shows you’ll see anywhere on the planet.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Churchill several times, and when I set out to write my next romance novel a couple of years ago, it seemed like the perfect spot. What’s better than a remote location in an exotic setting, complete with lots of flannel, cozy fireplaces, and the chance to get snowed in? It had forced proximity written all over it.

With Canada in the spotlight more than ever thanks to hockey romance and our prime ministers past and present, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce the world to another slice of the “truth north, strong and free.”

I hope you’ll love meeting Aadya and Reid as they navigate family expectations, learn to open up, and find love in this magical setting.

Some book recommendations to check out from other Canadian authors with cozy winter vibes:

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalauddin and Marissa Stapely: A sweet holiday romance that beautifully combines the stories and traditions of two different main characters, and the romance they each find along the way.

A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli: Channels nostalgic rom-com vibes into a festive story about finding yourself, navigating family, and connecting to your roots.

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron: Christmas in Toronto comes to life in this delightful grumpy/sunshine romance with a delicious slow burn, plenty of emotional conflict, and tons of chemistry.

Did you know? Shusterman has a story credit on the 1994 film adaptation of the video game Double Dragon.

These international true crime books tell important stories tied to timely societal issues around the globe.

Arts funding is actually INCREASING in Canada.

Is this the worst thing about AI writing? There are so many to pick from.

North Carolina students just got a big reading challenge: Read 10 million books.

Oh weird, another prominent politician is publishing a vaguely optimistic and yet grounded book about their life and ideas ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Written by . Thanks to Vanessa Diaz for copy editing.

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