Ten Upcoming Books That Don’t Have Covers Yet #5

I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday, which was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Check out upcoming Top Ten themes on Jana’s blog.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done one of these posts, but since I’ve recently discovered some super exciting 2026 releases that don’t have covers yet, I couldn’t wait to share them! It’s actually getting harder and harder to find books without covers, since publishers seem to be revealing them earlier than ever these days. Here are ten books that I can’t wait to read:

1. Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel. Picador, September 17th.

From the bestselling author of Station Eleven, Exit Party is Emily St. John Mandel’s new mind-bending a story of crimes committed and loves lost across space and time.

I’ve had this on my TBR for at least a month, and I’m glad I can finally share the news, just in case you’re a fan of the author and hadn’t heard yet. There’s no real story blurb yet, but of course I’m so curious as to whether this will be set in the same world as her first three books. SQUEE!

2. Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison. Berkley, September 1.

Every wedding guest’s worst nightmare is on repeat in this wild and twisty new horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of So Thirsty and Play Nice.

It’s the picture-perfect wedding weekend: The venue is dreamy, the weather is beautiful, love is in the air—and Willa Sullivan is having a bad time. She’s excited to celebrate her best friends finally having the big wedding they’ve always wanted, but this is the first time she’s seen her ex-fiancé in months, and he brought a date. Everything feels off, like she stumbled into an alternate universe. But things start to look up when Willa meets Danny, the groom’s charming and single childhood best friend. When they sneak off together, their rendezvous is interrupted by a masked killer terrorizing the reception. Willa and Danny fight to save the ones they love and survive the night, but the killer is unrelenting. A final girl Willa is not.

Or is she? She wakes up and it’s the morning of the wedding. She just had the most intense nightmare of her life. Only as the day unfolds, there are some uncanny coincidences that make her question whether it was really a dream, déjà vu, or something more sinister. After a horrifying turn of events, Willa comes to understand that she’s stuck in a loop of carnage and terror that she must learn how to escape or else suffer a fate worse than death—being an eternal wedding guest.

I love that Rachel Harrison consistently publishes new books on a regular schedule, and this sounds so good!

3. Newbourne Park by Jennifer Thorne. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, September 8.

From the USA Today bestselling author of Diavola comes a darkly funny, blood-soaked horror novel about the terrifying seduction of unlimited power.

After years of caring for her dying mother, Martha Shaw feels empty, exhausted, and far older than her twenty-six years. So when her brother invites her to a weekend getaway at the opulent, two-hundred-acre country estate where his friend works, Martha reluctantly agrees. After all, what’s the harm? The owners and all their staff will be gone. Security cameras will be off. The house will be theirs. For the first time in years, Martha might actually have fun.

And it is fun, taking advantage of the historic mega-mansion and its vast grounds. Martha begins to feel human again. But when night falls, the rightful master of Newbourne Park returns—and she’s not alone. Suddenly, being caught trespassing is the least of their worries, because what steps out into the moonlight is something vicious. And hungry.

What began as a lark becomes a bloody battle for survival, where greed and morality collide—and a woman must choose to bow, break, or bite back.

Diavola made my Top Five Books of 2024, so I’m more than ready for a new book from Jennifer Thorne!

4. The Art of Charming a Changeling by Sylvie Cathrall. Orbit, August 25.

The Art of Charming a Changeling is a cosy slice-of-life romantasy set in a Regency-inspired world of enchanted galleries and fairy artistry, from Sylvie Cathrall, author of A Letter to the Luminous Deep. Fans of Margaret Rogerson and Heather Fawcett will be enchanted.

On her first day working in the prince’s galleries, art conservator Florrie Hyverfell discovers that the most famous portrait in the collection is not only a fake-it’s also inhabited by Vern, a fairy trapped in the forged painting.

Tracking down the stolen original is the only way for Florrie to save her job and for Vern to escape his canvas. Yet as they journey to a famed fairy museum to find the missing artwork, Florrie finds herself taking more than an art historical interest in the changeling painting’s charming inhabitant.

I loved A Letter to the Luminous Deep, so I’m thrilled to see that Cathrall is starting a new series. And doesn’t it sound amazing?

5. The Two of Us at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher. Redhook, August 18.

A deeply moving story about resilience and hope that bridges the gap between the end of the world and its aftermath as four unforgettable characters try not only to survive, but to preserve the very thing that makes life worth saving in the first place. From the acclaimed author of A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World.

What if one person was your whole world?

In the overgrown ruins of a world almost empty of people, the only person Mouse has ever known is Cat, the brave girl who carried him inland, away from the sickness that came from the sea. When strangers arrive with a choice to be made, nothing will ever be the same.

Almost two hundred years earlier, a couple are falling in love as the world is dying out. When they discover they are two of the few people still able to have a child, so do the authorities. They may be separated from Mouse and Cat by an insurmountable gulf of time, but some truths remain: family comes in all shapes and sizes, so does love.

And even at the end of the world, hope dies last.

This is definitely set in the same world as A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World (and the titles mimic each other), although it’s not listed as a sequel. But I am unbelievably excited, since A Boy and His Dog was one of the best books I’ve ever read!

6. Incarnate by Alma Katsu. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, September 1.

From beloved horror maven Alma Katsu comes a terrifying reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray for the internet age.

Beauty doesn’t fade. It feeds.

Marion Wagner has spent her whole life wanting nothing more than to be seen. But after failing to make her mark (any mark, really) as an influencer, she takes a job at a company focused on cutting-edge deepfake technology. And there, in secret, is where creates her salvation.

Isabella. An impossibly gorgeous girl who takes social media by storm. Marion’s code is brilliant, and Isabella seems real. So real that she garners millions of followers. Brands beg to partner with her. Everyone wants to meet her IRL. The adoration—and the cash—flows in. Marion is finally happy. She’s getting all the attention she ever wanted—isn’t she?

Then the cracks begin to show. Marion can barely stay ahead of the partnership requests, and love letters and the rabid fans filling her DMs trying to track Isabella down. All this time working in secret with all this pressure is getting to Marion—she can’t tell where she ends, and her creation begins. And when someone gets a little too close to her secret, a violent confrontation sends Marion on the run, forcing her to confront what she’s willing to sacrifice to keep her secrets.

A modern reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, Alma Katsu’s Incarnate is an illuminating, haunting tale of algorithmic worship and beauty that can kill.

Even though I didn’t have much luck the last time I read a book centering around social media influencers, I have a feeling Alma Katsu will handle it much better. This is such a timely topic, and I’m very curious!

7. Victorious (Villains #3) by V.E. Schwab. Tor Books, October 6th.

The triumphant conclusion to the Villains trilogy from V.E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil.

The ExtraOrdinary of Merit City, a secret group of individuals gifted with a power connected to their manner of near-death experience, have been keeping a low profile, avoiding the ever-watchful eye of EON in the wake of the showdown with Marcella and Eli.

But when EON―and its relationship to the ExtraOrdinaries― begins to change under the leadership of a new director with a terrifying agenda, the time for hiding is over. The path to the truth of what happened to EON leads Victor, Sydney, Mitch and the rest into the enemy’s lair at EON headquarters, where they encounter unexpected allies, shocking new abilities, and the ultimate confrontation.

Against all the years, the betrayals, and the odds―the arch rivals and their allies will meet for a final time, on a chess board laid out by a rival they didn’t expect.

The last book in the series, Vengeful, came out eight years ago, so this huge gap between books is a little strange. Still, I loved the first two books, so I’m here for it:-)

8. One of Us Is Already Dead by E.L. Chen. Run For It, September 1.

Twenty-five years ago, four college kids snuck into an abandoned house to film a found footage horror movie. Only three returned.

Now, newly divorced Josie Wu’s life is monotonous, and her time as the Final Girl in the cult classic The Bleeker House Tapes is firmly in her past. Her main concerns these days are paying the bills, raising her daughter, and the real-life horrors of perimenopause.

So when hotshot director and former crush Sean Maher invites her back to the abandoned house for a reunion shoot, Josie can’t resist. She misses the reckless, daring girl she used to be, as much as she denies it, and the sizable paycheck certainly doesn’t hurt.

But not all the terror in the original film was scripted, and there’s a reason Josie left her Final Girl days behind. Something lingers in the shadows of the Bleeker House—something dangerous.

As the cast and crew retrace the making of their indie movie, haunting memories blur into the present, and one thing becomes clear: someone needs to pay the price for what happened in the Bleeker House.

I’m a big fan of the found footage horror trope, so naturally I’m excited for this book!

9. Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm. Tor Nightfire, September 22.

There is something haunting Nuhad’s childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely in its walls without a trace.

Our Cut of Salt is an unflinching, sinister and moving take on the haunted house novel, from a bold new Palestinian voice. Perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and The Haunting of Hill House.

Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her.

After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother’s home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and family history. Marina’s mother, Haifa-named for the city that was lost to their family-reluctantly agrees to her trip, despite her omnipresent anxiety.

When a long-buried spirit of the past begins to haunt both dreams and waking life, Marina develops breathing problems that cause her to feel as if she is drowning on dry land. Despite Nuhad’s warnings, Haifa rushes to help her daughter. As the three women converge in their ancestral haunted home, they must learn what the price of the past truly is.

Haunted houses are my literary catnip, and I’m ready to read ALL of them. Helm is a debut author, and I couldn’t be more excited for her book!

10. Untitled book by Tiffany McDaniel. Date/Publisher?

I caught a teaser trailer on Instagram for Tiffany’s next book, and wow, first of all, I’m excited that she’s writing a horror book. And two, I’m ready for more of Tiffany’s unique, unflinching brand of heartache. Sign me up! (Check out my reviews of Betty and On the Savage Side for a glimpse of what you’re in for with her books.)

Do you plan on adding any of these to your TBR?

Posted December 16, 2025 by Tammy in Books Without Covers / 45 Comments

45 responses to “Ten Upcoming Books That Don’t Have Covers Yet #5”

  1. Roberta R.

    How can one (or, well, YOU) keep track of them all? LOL Thankfully, there’s nothing that screams “read me!” in this list for me, but they all sound exciting for the right crowd…

    Reply
  2. todd

    Though I haven’t read the previous one, I’m curious about The Two of Us at the End of the World. There’s definitely some potential there, and given how much you enjoyed the previous one I know the author is fully capable of realizing that.

    Reply
  3. Ellie

    I only knew about Our Cut of Salt. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Exit Party and The Two of Us at the End of the World. I’m still on the fence about Sylvie Cathrall, I found the style of Luminous Deep hard going but maybe a book not in faux-regency letters will work better for me.

    Reply
  4. Ange

    Ooo Incarnate by Alma Katsu sounds promising! The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite books of all time so I’m curious how it’ll be reimagined

    Reply
  8. Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

    OK, wow, I’m basically drooling over some of these! I will absolutely read the new books from Emily St. John Mandel, Rachel Harrison, and Jennifer Thorne!! I’ve had a copy of Villains on my shelf for far too many years — maybe knowing there’s a 3rd book on the way will finally get me to read the 1st.I also loved A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World, so I’ll definitely want to read that author’s new book too. So much to look forward to!

    Reply
  10. Dini @ dinipandareads

    I’m super excited about the third Villains book—finally, our wishes are coming true, haha! I also had no idea Emily St. John Mandel was coming out with another release but on the TBR it goes! Thanks for putting these on my radar.

    Reply
  23. Jordan @ Forever Lost in Literature

    Honestly, I like the idea of not having a cover to persuade (or dissuade) my opinion, haha. It really makes the blurb’s responsibility for setting the tone and atmosphere that much bigger! I’m so intrigued by the new C.A. Fletcher! I also really like the sound of Our Cut of Salt!

    Reply
  25. Charlotte

    Its wonderful that so many authors who you’ve enjoyed books by in the past have 2026 releases due. I hope you love all of them. Im curious about the haunted house story and would love to finally read Vicious to be up to date for the finale. The one Im most excited for though is The Art Of Charming A Changeling which is already on my anticipated list. An author I’ve loved and the fae is a match made in heaven for me

    Reply

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