Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the December 2026 Indie Next List flier.
The December title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.
Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the November Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 December Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: Tiger's Mouth
By Lucy Tan
(Ballantine Books, 9798217301089, $31, Nov. 17, Fiction)
“Tiger’s Mouth is a searing, emotionally charged novel of an intense and unlikely friendship between two very different Jacks. The summer they team up during a cutthroat internship changes the course of their lives forever. If you loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, you will love Tiger’s Mouth.”
—Andrew King, Ridgecrest Books, Shoreline, WA
A Magical Girl Rehired: A Novel
By Park Seolyeon, Anton Hur (Transl.)
(HarperVia, 9780063475960, $24, Dec. 8, Fantasy)
“Not even magical girls can escape the thrall of capitalism. Our favorite unwitting magical girl returns to show all us burnt-out millennials that there’s still good in this world, even if we have to make it ourselves.”
—Cheyenne Maier, Orinda Books, Orinda, CA
Alma Vampires (The Icarus University #1)
By Elena Armas
(Berkeley, 9798217189755, Paperback, $20, Nov. 17, Romance)
“There’s something about a pining, mysterious, and a little overprotective vampire that will always keep me coming back for more, and Armas has done it with Hadrian and Valle. They have chemistry that everyone in the room can see (and are all a little jealous of).”
—Monica Russell, Blushing Books, Huntsville, AL
Wild Aster: A Novel
By Anna Hogeland
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 9781639739158, $29.99, Dec. 1, Fiction)
“Mae’s voice, quiet and strong, tells the story of a woman living an ordinary life, full of moments both brilliant and brutal. Her story succinctly encapsulates and reveals the collective lived experiences of many women of the 20th century.”
—Courtney Roach, The Novel Neighbor, Webster Groves, MO
Murmuration
By TJ Klune
(Tor Books, 9781250462428, $29.99, Nov. 17, Fantasy)
“In Amorea, everything is perfect. Everyone knows your name, everyone is happy. The sun shines, the moon is perfect every night. But, you begin to notice, there are no cars, no children…and you can’t remember your life before the last few years. A captivating novel.”
—Nona Camuel, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY
Winter Song: A Novel
By Rebeca Lee Morales
(Ecco, 9780063464032, $28, Dec. 1, Fiction)
“Just released from prison for a hit-and-run he insists he didn’t commit, a young man tries to rebuild his life and clear his name, drawing a retiring police chief back into his case. A page-turner about chance and self-determination, justice and love.”
—Sara Hinckley, Hudson Booksellers, Marietta, GA
In Every Future, It's Us
By Katie Naymon
(Berkley, 9798217189946, Paperback, $20, Dec. 1, Romance)
“A sparkling, genuine, and emotional slow-burn romance set over decades of friendship. Florence and Tom are perfect for each other. I loved their faith in one another, and the deep, almost obsessive love they share. I felt their pain, I laughed, I cried.”
—Olivia Eldridge, Main Street Books, Davidson, NC
A World Apart (Deluxe Edition)
By Meghan Nesmith
(Aria, 9781035932047, $29.99, Nov. 17, Fantasy)
“A World Apart is a beautiful queer fantasy with so much to offer. This was a lush, romantic book with so many underpinnings — the lengths we’ll go to protect our family, the dangers of power, and a love for the ages.”
—Emily Hall Schroen, Main Street Books, St. Charles, MO
Call Me Traitor
By Everina Maxwell
(Tor Books, 9781250362339, $28.99, Dec. 1, Fantasy)
“Wow! En is a magically created killing machine enslaved to the magus who commands her. She’s a little bit ancillary, a little bit Murderbot, and strangely captivated by one of the traitors she’s been sent to destroy. Great worldbuilding, featuring dark academia and queer romance.”
—Carol Schneck Varner, Schuler Books, Okemos, MI
Beneath a Midnight Moon (Deluxe Edition) (Starlight Grove #3)
By Catherine Cowles
(Bloom Books, 9781464264610, Paperback, $19.99, Nov. 17, Romance)
"I've been excited for Aster and Mav's story from the beginning of the series. This story did not disappoint! I loved learning about their past and what's kept them apart for so many years. And loved seeing them come together again. As always, this book was full of twists that I didn't see coming. Just when I think I'll be able to predict a Cowles story, she fools me again!"
—Cameron Lagrone, Finney's Books, Austin, TX
All Nighter (The Undergrads #2)
By Julie Murphy
(Balzer + Bray, 9781250428271, Paperback, $19.99, Dec. 1, Romance)
“I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS! Daisy and Heath had such a fun dynamic and I was obsessed with their banter and the building tension between them. I loved the found family elements in the book and the relationships with all of the side characters!”
—Jenna Williams, Good Girl Books, Knoxville, TN
Warrior of the Shards (The Shards of Magic #3)
By Sarah Hawley
(Ace, 9798217188857, $30, Dec. 8, Fantasy)
“This was PURE excellence and the perfect conclusion to this epic trilogy. The stakes are devastatingly high, the worldbuilding lush, and the characters so dynamic and refreshing. I know this is a series I’ll be revisiting soon!”
—Anna Griffiths, Page 2 Books, Burien, WA
Universe of Grace: A Novel
By Rachel Calnek-Sugin
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250430021, $28.99, Nov. 17, Fiction)
“This is such a special coming-of-age story for our times, for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by their own emotions, or for anyone who has felt like an alien among the human race.”
—Lucy Lawrence, Serendipity Books, Chelsea, MI
Two Can Play That Game
By Zakiya N. Jamal
(Berkley, 9780593953853, Paperback, $20, Nov. 17, Romance)
“There was truly nothing fake about Chelsea and AD’s relationship. I loved how these two were so obvious in their feelings for one another yet clueless in realizing how the other felt. For all my sports romance lovers, this is a must read!”
—Meghan Molinari, Lark and Owl Booksellers, Georgetown, TX
Bedside Manner: A Novel
By Stephanie Archer
(Dell, 9798217377602, Paperback, $20, Dec. 8, Romance)
“Stephanie Archer created two amazing characters, in a funny and unique situation, that you’ll root for the entire time. Their love story was so sweet. I had the best time reading this. If you love grumpy/sunshine in a workplace setting, this is the book for you.”
—Elle Polito, A Novel Romance, Louisville, KY
Til Quest Do Us Part
By Ivelisse Housman
(Ace, 9798217191840, Paperback, $20, Dec. 1, Fantasy)
“Til Quest Do Us Part has the cadence of all the cozy romantasies I love, with more of the adventure element of traditional fantasies. We all know how easy it is to fall in love as a teenager, but seeing that love last and evolve into something much sturdier touched my heart.”
—Lindsey Buck, Author's Note, Medina, NY
Triple Threat: A Novel
By Katie Chandler
(Atria Books, 9781668086803, Paperback, $19, Dec. 8, Romance)
“Katie Chandler has become a fast favorite of mine. Triple Threat is a story of quiet devotion, tender connections, and resilience that fits so well into the tennis world Chandler depicts and accompanies Backhanded Compliments so well.”
—Marlee Salas, Slow Burn Bookshop, Nashville, TN
Uprising: A Novel
By Tahmima Anam
(Scribner, 9781668230046, $27, Nov. 17, Fiction)
“Uprising left me breathless. While this novel is slim, it packs a punch. Tahmima Anam is masterful at building tension. These characters’ circumstances will break your heart, but their resilience and tremendous resolve to take back their power will put it back together and fill it with hope.”
—Denton Williams, Monstera's Books, Overland Park, KS
Fieldwork as a Sex Object: A Novel
By Meena Kandasamy
(Soft Skull, 9781593768416, Paperback, $17.95, Nov. 24, Fiction)
“Living in the digital age can be terrifying for many reasons, to say nothing of the potential of being deepfaked into porn. We follow our main character through the fallout of her life no longer being her own. This book is a statement about the power of the internet and the people behind it.”
—Natasha Kanter, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Boston, MA
The First Ladies' Guide to Murder
By Amanda Flower
(Kensington, 9781496759528, $27, Nov. 24, Mystery)
“A good old-fashioned whodunnit made even more fun by the characters, all former or current First Ladies of the US, led by the daughter of President Ulysses S. Grant. A welcome piece of brain candy.”
—Camille Kovach, Completely Booked, Murrysville, PA
Wolf Point: A Novel
By Lisa Howells
(Grand Central Publishing, 9781538777572, $30, Dec. 1, Thriller)
“In Wolf Point, the harsh elements render it nearly impossible to get in. This also means that the residents can't get out. When Angela Stone goes missing, other unsolved mysteries begin to resurface and Wolf Point’s villagers may be snowed in with a killer. A fast-paced, twisty-and-turny thriller.”
—Stephanie Stoneback, Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
1,000 Words Left to Live
By Gyatei Murasaki, Matt Treyvaud (Transl.)
(Avocado House, 9798855418194, $20, Dec. 8, Short Stories)
“Perfect for breaking a reading slump, 1,000 Words Left To Live packs a lot of punch across its sometimes just three-page-long tales. Come for the boyfriend turned into tinned fish, stay for Murasaki’s wry takes on how weird it is to be human.”
—Caleb Masters, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
The Anti-Hero (Deluxe Edition) (The Goode Brothers #1)
By Sara Cate
(Sourcebooks Casablanca, 9781628863826, Paperback, $19.99, Dec. 1, Romance)
“In true Sara Cate fashion, Anti-Hero is as addicting as it is entertaining! Sage and Adam deliver high heat with impeccable chemistry all while wading through religious trauma. You don't want to miss out on book one in The Goode Brothers series!”
—Olivia Pack, Forbidden Love Bookstore, Bemidji, MN
Botany of Madness: A Novel
By Leon Engler, Alexandra Roesch (Transl.)
(New Vessel Press, 9781954404458, Paperback, $17.95, Nov. 17, Fiction)
“A perfectly blended emulsification of fiction and memoir. The writing is so beautiful and raw, and the translation doesn't exceed itself. It's scary, vulnerable, but so innately human. It's tragic but doesn't try to disguise itself with blind optimism.”
—Shura McCartin, Reads & Company, Phoenixville, PA
Falling for Evil
By Celia Aaron
(Alcove Press, 9798892428668, Paperback, $19.99, Dec. 8, Romance)
“Gray is the epitome of a touch her and die villain who's only nice to his love, and Clem has him on a tight leash (as she should). I really enjoyed this one, the banter and seeing Gray's inner monologue during their conversations was hilarious.”
—Kylie Tamayo, The Book Nook, Brenham, TX
December 2026 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Dandelion Is Dead: A Novel
By Rosie Storey
(Berkley, 9780593954362, $20, Jan. 13, Fiction)
“What happens when you fall in love with your dead sister's dating app connection? Instead of telling Jake that she is not ‘Dandelion,’ Poppy takes up her sister's relationship with a stranger. For those who like romantic entanglements!”
—Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
House of Day, House of Night: A Novel
By Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Transl.)
(Riverhead Books, 9780593716397, $20, Dec. 1, Short Stories)
“House of Day, House of Night is further proof of Olga Tokarczuk’s genius. Each fragment of this book creates a fable-like tapestry that illuminates deeper truths. Piecing everything together is a thrilling experience.”
—James Harrod, West Side Books, Denver, CO
I, Medusa
By Ayana Gray
(Random House, 9780593733783, $20, Nov. 17, Historical Fiction)
"Gray explores timely themes of power, diversity, agency and humanity through a mythological lens. Even though I knew Medusa’s ultimate fate, I wanted to go on this journey with her."
—Ginger Young, WordsWorth Books, Little Rock, AR
The Jaguar's Roar: A Novel
By Micheliny Verunschk, Juliana Barbassa (Transl.)
(Liveright, 9781324099352, $17.99, Nov. 3, Fiction)
“In The Jaguar’s Roar, Verunschk makes full use of heart, mind, and voice to map remote corners of the past and present, speaking out strongly for those who would otherwise be forgotten.”
—James Crossley, Leviathan Bookstore, St. Louis, MO
Lucky Seed: A Novel
By Justinian Huang
(Mira Books, 9781335002808, $18.99, Nov. 10, Fiction)
“Good Eggs meets Crazy Rich Asians as a wealthy Chinese family with multiple dysfunctional issues bank on the leading queer son to produce a male heir to continue the traditional namesake and lineage.”
—Gerard Villegas, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA
The Merge: A Novel
By Grace Walker
(Mariner Books, 9780063446748, $18.99, Nov. 11, Fiction)
“With a sense of dread and unease that brings to mind notes of The Stepford Wives, this slow-burn science fiction thriller gripped me from the first page. This book will give you so much to think about.”
—Brandy Herr, Arts & Letters Bookstore, Granbury, TX