The Best Paperback Books of February 2026

Grumpy sunshine meets goblin and halfling chaos — add forced proximity in a cozy cottage, and you’ve got a recipe for romance.

Get lost in this taut tale about mothers and daughters, survival and life deep in the woods of Maine from the author of Sea Wife.

Forty years ago, millions of people watched the Challenger disaster unfold in real time. This is the first detailed account of exactly what happened that day, what went wrong, and the legacy of the tragic event. Tense and fast-paced, this is journalism at its best.

When a whirlwind romance stirs questions Theodora can’t ignore, fragments of the past begin to surface. Old secrets may seem frozen in time, but nothing stays hidden forever.

With a lingering terror that will lurk well after you finish, this psychological horror is packed with monsters of fairytale, folklore and so much more. Good luck not getting hooked (and haunted).

Bravery incarnate, this is the harrowing true story of one man’s unshakeable dedication to his country despite the deadly risks. It’s personal and political, offering a completely human portrait of an activist and a man.

What does it mean to have a healthy and lasting relationship? In this book, Julie Menanno shares ways to harvest connection and grow a partnership that lasts a lifetime.

Thomas Erikson, author of Surrounded by Idiots, returns with a thought-provoking guide for communicating and engaging with others in an ever-changing world.  

Our former Monthly Pick author Emilia Hart is back with another genre-bending tale. Explore the magic and terrors of the deep in The Sirens, a story about sisterhood, resilience and the power of dreams.

A simple fishing trip proves to be anything but in this sprawling true crime story. With meticulous details and harrowing truths unearthed, this story has all the twists and then some.

A mad sorcerer and a shy knight must join forces to fulfill a prophecy in this laugh-out-loud queer romance.

A story of love, power and politics, Harlem Rhapsody is a gripping account of an unsung hero. Victoria Christopher Murray blends fact and fiction to reintroduce readers to a legendary woman in literature.

You have heard a lot about Bill Gates, but what do you know about him as a person? In Source Code, he finally opens up, from being a misfit child to nearly getting kicked out of college. It’s an interesting — and surprising — portrait of the beginnings of the larger-than-life personality that quite literally changed the world.

With thousands of miles between them, can this pair find love — or was it all a fluke? A big-hearted story about family, memory, love and heartbreak, Abby Jimenez’s latest can’t be missed.

Filled with science-backed tips and facts, this cutting-edge guide has actionable steps and tools to help readers manage emotions.

Sparks fly in the limelight when two opposites are paired together in this enemies-to-lovers sports rom-com. When a football star and a zookeeper are forced to team up, their on-camera romance turns into something more.

Rooted in personal history, Congressman John Lewis chronicles the Civil Rights Movement in this gorgeously detailed graphic novel that highlights the groundbreaking work done by activists in the 1960s.

It’s game on for Viola and Jesse. When the two competing video game designers are snowed in together while working, the temperatures quickly rise in this enemies-to-lovers novella infused with just enough spice.

From schoolboy days to friendships and romances, get to know the inner world of John F. Kennedy Jr. through the voices of those who got the chance to know him.

The very definition of being ahead of her time, this is the story of a woman who was meant to be a bride, refused to settle into the traditional role asked of her. Fascinating history meets timeless themes in this inspiring character study.

Sometimes hunger is stronger than fear. In this Gothic coming-of-age tale, Margot and her mother encounter a peculiar visitor who forces them to reexamine their family dynamic.

The history of Saturday Night Live and the man who made it, Lorne is an honest and earnest look at how such a simple concept took over the comedy scene, and how it persisted through decades.

Sharp and immersive, Playworld is an engrossing novel that takes readers into the heart of family dysfunction and coming-of-age in 1980s New York City.

In the digital age, it’s easy to miss the beauty of nature around us. But thanks to Chloe Dalton and her unexpected furry friend, this memoir is as much a thumper of a personal narrative as it is an ode to Earth’s natural gifts.

With in-depth research blended with a personal narrative, Rivera Garza crafts a well-informed novel in this fictionalized history of agricultural colonization and labor activism.

When speed-dating takes a deadly turn, sparks fly amid bloodshed and mayhem. Jamie won’t stop until she finds the killer — or a boyfriend — in this hilarious slasher rom-com.

From the authors of Blood and Treasure comes a sweeping portrait of the American West, including its ambition, violence and the people who lived through its making.

This is a hard-hitting look at how different groups of Americans respond to ongoing conflicts of modern society by turning against democracy and its people.

Heartwarming and full of wonder, Evie Woods returns with a spellbinding tale about a magical violin that has the power to transform the life of whoever possesses it.

Long-buried secrets lurk in the frozen Icelandic landscape, and all Agnes wants is to clear her family’s name. But shocking twists may make that impossible in this haunting whodunit.

Daring and dark, Hungerstone is a decadent retelling of a centuries-old classic. Centered on a woman’s unraveling at the hands of a ravenous houseguest, this one is not for the faint of heart.

Jojo Moyes is back with her signature heart and charm, reminding us that family and love come in all different forms — especially the messy kind.

In a world this unforgiving, falling in love is strictly off limits — especially when it’s with your commanding officer. For fans of vivid world-building and slow-burn romance comes a post-apocalyptic tale with an enemies-to-lovers twist.