--- description: Here are the best new books to read this month, from Ali Hazelwood's new romance to Allegra Goodman's latest novel. title: 11 New Books to Read in February image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d8fca5edc495f4c/6998b2d1e2d64b237cc5d248/FebruaryBooks_29ba97.png?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Books](/tag/books/) ## Books Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Here Are the 11 New Books You Should Read in February 2026 by [Shannon Carlin](/author/shannon-carlin/) ## Shannon Carlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Carlin is a contributor for TIME. Jan 31, 2025 3:29 PM CUT  by [Shannon Carlin](/author/shannon-carlin/) ## Shannon Carlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Carlin is a contributor for TIME. Jan 31, 2025 3:29 PM CUT Spend the shortest month of the year with a book that is [worth your time](https://time.com/7201270/how-to-read-more-books-2025/ "undefined"). The [best new books to read](https://time.com/7202423/most-anticipated-books-2025/ "undefined") in February include best-seller [Ali Hazelwood](https://time.com/6996633/love-theoretically/ "undefined")’s latest romance, transgender activist Jennifer Finney Boylan’s second memoir, and Virginia Feito’s blood-soaked sophomore novel about a sociopathic governess. Get ready to fall in love with critic Sarah Chihaya’s debutmemoir, which looks at her obsession with books, or [Cristina Rivera Garza](https://time.com/7012217/cristina-rivera-garza-latino-leaders/ "undefined")’s subversive thriller about a poetry-obsessed serial killer. Allegra Goodman uses the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, a French noblewoman who was abandoned in 16th century Canada, as inspiration for her new novel, _Isola_. And [Rich Benjamin](https://time.com/archive/6915304/americas-booming-white-enclaves/ "undefined")’s debut memoir is a deeply reported love letter to his mom, the daughter of Haitian politician [Daniel Fignolé](https://time.com/archive/6870555/haiti-taking-charge/ "undefined"). Here, the 11 new books you should read in February. ## _Cleavage_, Jennifer Finney Boylan (Feb. 4)  In 2003, Jennifer Finney Boylan released her groundbreaking first memoir [_She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders_](https://www.amazon.com/Shes-Not-There-Life-Genders/dp/0385346972 "undefined")_,_ which chronicled the earliest years of her gender transition. More than two decades later, she is once again reflecting on what it means to be a [trans person in America](https://time.com/7208569/trumps-anti-trans-attacks-wont-stop-with-us/ "undefined"). With _Cleavage,_ her new memoir-in-essays, she examines [the growing gender divide](https://time.com/6963752/great-global-gender-divide/ "undefined") at this critical juncture in the U.S. She reflects on the differences between manhood and womanhood as she has experienced them since her transition in 2000, as well as the experiences of those who exist outside the binary, in hopes of narrowing the gap between us all. **Buy Now:** _Cleavage_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9781250261885 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3CphAd7 "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/4aVGxK9 "undefined") ## _Bibliophobia_, Sarah Chihaya (Feb. 4)  In 2019, essayist Sarah Chihaya had a nervous breakdown that coincided with a bout of the [titular anxiety disorder](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22616-bibliophobia-fear-of-books "undefined"), which causes someone to have an intense and irrational fear of books and writing. With her memoir, Chihaya explores her lifelong struggle with mental illness and obsession with books—specifically those she refers to as “Life Ruiners,” the literature that became integral to her being, sometimes in a negative way. She shares how those books, which range from [_Anne of Green Gables_](https://time.com/collection/100-best-ya-books/6084495/anne-of-green-gables/ "undefined") to [_The Last Samurai_](https://time.com/archive/6912472/the-burdens-of-genius/ "undefined"), fueled her descent into madness — and how they helped her find her way out. **Buy Now:** _Bibliophobia_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593594728 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/40Qivg6 "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/40AqBYJ "undefined") ## _Victorian Psycho_, Virginia Feito (Feb. 4)  Virginia Feito’s grisly follow-up to her 2021 debut, [_Mrs. March_](https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-March-Novel-Virginia-Feito/dp/1631498614 "undefined"), centers on a sociopathic English governess with a taste for vengeance. When Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House, she plans to do nothing more than teach the children how to read and write. But as Christmas rolls around, she succumbs to her bloodthirsty ways in this tongue-in-cheek thriller [set to become an A24 film](https://deadline.com/2024/12/a24-horror-victorian-psycho-margaret-qualley-and-thomasin-mckenzie-1236239163/ "undefined") starring [_The Substance_](https://time.com/6980524/the-substance-review/ "undefined")’s Margaret Qualley. **Buy Now:** _Victorian Psycho_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9781631498633 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/4hxWRme "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/4gl2Nhv "undefined") ## _Isola_, Allegra Goodman (Feb. 4)  Three years after the release of her best-selling novel, [_Sam_](https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Novel-Allegra-Goodman/dp/0593447816 "undefined"), Allegra Goodman returns with a thrilling tale of resilience inspired by the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, the 16th-century French noblewoman who was abandoned on a deserted island. In _Isola,_ Marguerite’s jealous guardian accuses her of having an affair with his servant. He dumps her and her lover on a hidden isle off the coast of Canada that is full of polar bears and little else. In order to survive, Marguerite must do what she’s never had to before: fend for herself. **Buy Now:** _Isola_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593730089 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3CiysCn "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/40AqHQ5 "undefined") ## _Deep End_, Ali Hazelwood (Feb. 4)  Take a dive into the _Deep End_, Ali Hazelwood’s steamy new romance set in the world of collegiate swimming. Scarlett Vandermeer is a talented Stanford diver who is recovering from an injury that almost ended her career and far too busy studying to become a doctor to even think about dating. That is, until she meets Lukas Blomqvist, a popular competitive swimmer and her best friend’s former crush. They couldn’t be more different on paper—he’s the life of the party, she’s more likely to be found in the library—but they both share an [interest in BDSM](https://time.com/6978297/kink-essay-ro-kwon-exhibit/ "undefined"). When the two embark upon a mutually beneficial and consensual sexual relationship, Scarlett questions whether she’s looking for more than just a good time. **Buy Now:** _Deep End_ on[ Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593550441 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/40AvzEU "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/4aARQXX "undefined") ## _Pure Innocent Fun_, Ira Madison III (Feb. 4)  With his debut essay collection, _Pure Innocent Fun_, [Ira Madison III](https://time.com/5311979/queer-eye-season-two/ "undefined") takes the pop culture that made him who he is today very seriously. Across 16 essays, the critic, TV writer, and host of the [_Keep It_](https://crooked.com/podcast-series/keep-it/ "undefined") podcast writes about the effect [Oprah’s weight-loss odyssey](https://time.com/6958224/oprah-weight-loss-special-ozempic/ "undefined"), [Jennifer Hudson](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888468/jennifer-hudson-artist/ "undefined")’s [_American Idol_](https://time.com/collection/reality-tv-most-influential-seasons/6197754/american-idol-season-1/ "undefined")loss, and his genuine love of [Coldplay](https://time.com/collection/time100-climate/6333105/coldplay/ "undefined") had on him while growing up as a gay Black man in Milwaukee. As he gives new consideration to the cultural touchstones of his youth, he explores how each helped him find his critical voice as an adult. **Buy Now:** _Pure Innocent Fun_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593446188 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3PX0R44 "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/40SfRX7 "undefined") ## _Talk to Me_, Rich Benjamin (Feb. 11)  In his debut memoir, _Talk to Me,_ cultural critic Rich Benjamin unearths the secrets of his family’s hidden past in hopes of better understanding his mother. In 1957, a coup ended the presidency of his grandfather, the Haitian folk hero [Daniel Fignolé,](https://time.com/archive/6887836/haiti-fignole-falls/ "undefined") and shattered the lives of the entire family. But no one, including Benjamin’s mom, an advocate for children who was often cold to her own son, ever talked about the events of that time. Through intense research, Benjamin looks to understand the far-reaching consequences of the devastating political event. **Buy Now:** _Talk to Me_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593317396 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/4hgndcC "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/40GOPAL "undefined") ## _Alligator Tears_, Edgar Gomez (Feb. 11)  _Alligator Tears,_ the follow-up to Edgar Gomez’s 2022 memoir, [_High-Risk Homesexual_](https://www.amazon.com/High-Risk-Homosexual-Memoir-Edgar-Gomez/dp/1593767056 "undefined"), offers a look at the author’s experience growing up poor, queer, and Latinx in Florida. Across 10 essays, he chronicles years of working thankless jobs, including a stint as a flip-flop salesman, and the difficult choices his family had to make to get by, including whether or not to call an ambulance they knew they couldn’t afford. Throughout the book, he also shares how he was able to crawl his way out of poverty through a mix of hard, often low-paying work and more than a few well-timed scams. **Buy Now:** _Alligator Tears_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593728543 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3EjhTXt "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/4hgFyWW "undefined") ## _You Didn't Hear This From Me,_ Kelsey McKinney (Feb. 11)  [Kelsey McKinney](https://time.com/5876810/sleep-products-and-treatments/ "undefined"), the former host of the [_Normal Gossip_ ](https://time.com/6219470/best-podcasts-2022/ "undefined")podcast, uses her latest book to explore society’s obsession with hearsay — and why that’s not such a bad thing. Well, until it is. _You Didn’t Hear This From Me_, a mix of cultural criticism, modern history, and personal memoir, breaks down the differences between harmless rumors and outright lies in order to show the [important role gossip plays in human connection](https://time.com/5680457/why-do-people-gossip/ "undefined"). **Buy Now:** _You Didn't Hear This From Me_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9781538757406 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3CFJPUR "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/40CXAMf "undefined") ## _The World After Gaza_, Pankaj Mishra (Feb. 11)  With _The World After Gaza,_ award-winning journalist Pankaj Mishra looks to reevaluate, recontextualize, and reframe the [ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine](https://time.com/5273108/back-to-the-future-israeli-palestinian-conflict/ "undefined"). He does this by taking a closer look at how the Holocaust became a way for the U.S. and other Western nations to justify Israel’s actions. From there, Mishra explores how the selective reading of global history is hardening us to the tragedies [happening not only in Gaza](https://time.com/7207787/no-one-won-the-war-in-gaza/ "undefined"), but also all around the world. **Buy Now:** _The World After Gaza_ on[ Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9798217058891 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/4ge9vG5 "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/3WEVESi "undefined") ## _Death Takes Me_, Cristina Rivera Garza (Feb. 25)  Pulitzer Prize-winning author [Cristina Rivera Garza](https://time.com/collection/must-read-books-2023/6332468/lilianas-invincible-summer/ "undefined")’s 2007 lyrical novel, newly translated from the original Spanish by Robin Myers and Sarah Booker, is a serial killer tale with a twist. _Death Takes Me_ begins with a literature professor finding the body of a mutilated man only to discover that she has an odd connection to the crime scene. The police find lines of poetry from the late real-life Argentine poet Alejandra Pizarnik, who she has studied for years. As more bodies pile up, the professor is enlisted to help catch the poetry-obsessed murderer. But when she starts receiving cryptic notes from the mysterious killer, she begins to worry that she could be the next victim. **Buy Now:** _Death Takes Me_ on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/4973/9780593737002 "undefined") | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/4gmbV5x "undefined") | [Barnes & Noble](https://fave.co/3VCpeHh "undefined") These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7210557/best-books-february-2025/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7210557/best-books-february-2025/"},"headline":"Here Are the 11 New Books You Should Read in February 2026","datePublished":"2025-01-31T15:29:46.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:48:49.908Z","description":"Here are the best new books to read this month","url":"https://time.com/7210557/best-books-february-2025/","keywords":["Books","E-Commerce","freelance"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d8fca5edc495f4c/6998b2d1e2d64b237cc5d248/FebruaryBooks_29ba97.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shannon Carlin","jobTitle":"Carlin is a contributor for TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/shannon-carlin/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d8fca5edc495f4c/6998b2d1e2d64b237cc5d248/FebruaryBooks_29ba97.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"FebruaryBooks_29ba97","caption":"","creditText":"","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/books/","name":"Books"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7210557/best-books-february-2025/","name":"Here Are the 11 New Books You Should Read in February 2026"}}]}] ```