A pair of exciting new whodunits and a revealing look at what booze does to our brains and bodies — plus new celeb books. Here are PEOPLE’s picks for the best books of January 2026, so far.
‘Enough’ by Ania M. Jastreboff and Oprah Winfrey
Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster
In a new book co-written with endocrinologist Ania M. Jastreboff, Oprah Winfrey reflects on her weight loss journey, using conversations with Jastreboff as a launching point to teach readers how to navigate their own.
‘Why We Drink Too Much’ by Dr. Charles Knowles
Celadon Books
It’s not only humans who are susceptible to the allure of a boozy buzz: Certain monkeys, Dr. Knowles writes, will consume alcohol “until they vomit and fall out of trees.” His wide-ranging, informative and accessible book explores the many reasons — psychosocial as well as biological — behind our favorite social lubricant’s insidious hold. Interweaving personal stories and scientific research, it’s a fascinating read. — Kim Hubbard
‘Wreck Your Heart’ by Lori Rader-Day
Minotaur Books
Dahlia “Doll” Devine, frontwoman of a country-western band, shields her damaged heart with a sassy onstage persona. Will her estranged mom’s brief return and an ex’s murder wreck her big break? The expertly plotted mystery perfectly complements Doll’s journey of self-discovery. — Paula L. Woods
‘The Murder at World’s End’ by Ross Montgomery
William Morrow
At an isolated Cornish estate during the 1910 doomsday panic over Halley’s Comet, a hilariously mismatched duo— new underbutler Stephen Pike and tart-tongued octogenarian Miss Decima Stockingham — team up to solve her nephew’s murder.
‘Meet the Newmans’ by Jennifer Niven
Flatiron Books
The Newman family have ruled the airwaves as sitcom stars for decades, but their secrets might ruin their reign in this witty and moving novel.
‘Skylark’ by Paula McLain
Atria Books
A young artist’s quest for freedom in 1664 is interwoven with a doctor’s mission during World War II’s Nazi occupation in this vivid, inspirational story of brave resistance.
‘The Storm’ by Rachel Hawkins
St. Martin’s Press
This gripping page-turner — featuring a decades-old murder, a writer in town to tell the real story and an oncoming tempest — feels like it was ripped from the juiciest headlines.
‘The Water Lies’ by Amy Meyerson
Thomas & Mercer
A young woman’s apparent drowning in a Venice, Calif., canal compels two mothers to face down indifferent cops, dismissive family and increasing danger in their search for the truth. A heart-wrenching yet redemptive story about maternal instinct, fertility and broken trust. — Paula L. Woods
