Browns Best New Books for January 2026
5th January 2026
Every month we carefully select our favourites from the fabulous new titles on offer. Happy New Year! Winter festivities have come and gone, the lights and decorations have been taken down and you are wondering if anyone will ever eat the unpopular Quality Street sweets that have been ignored since before Christmas… January can feel like a long month for some with cold, dark evenings and all the fun of December feeling like a distant memory. There can be lots to love about January however, a new series of The Traitors is definitely going to give us something to look forward to each week and you may have received some lovely new books as gifts which will hopefully brighten the darkest of evenings. There are lots of great new books to look forward to in 2026 and January has some really good titles to kick the year off in style.
Check back next month for our picks of the new books February has to offer.
Adult Non-Fiction
The Science of Racism
West, Keon
Paperback / softback
Studies and surveys frequently show that around 50% of people believe that racism is no longer an issue today; many other people would argue strongly that the opposite is true. Information and writing on racism and its effect on individuals and society can be controversial as it often relies on opinion and personal experience – scientific facts don’t often feature in the arguments for and against.
In this fascinating and important book, Professor Keon West looks to correct the lack of clarity in our conversations around racism, moving beyond rhetoric by presenting decades of clear, factual and rigorous science and using data that reveals the often shocking and sometimes tragic truth. West looks at how racism impacts every aspect of life from birth to death, including education, business, friendships, relationships and healthcare. Throughout this book Professor West has not only presented unarguable data and objective analysis around racism, he offers well-thought out ways to try and move beyond it. Fascinating and shocking, this book is also a humorous (at times) and enjoyable read and will definitely have readers thinking differently about how they personally consider racism and its impact. An important and interesting look at a topic which continues to cause heated debate.
More DetailsAdult Fiction
The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts
Thorogood, Robert
Hardback
A killer is on the loose in Marlow and they are targeting celebrities! When a footballer and a well-known thriller author are found dead it’s up to the amateur sleuths of The Marlow Murder Club (dog-walker Suzie, Vicar’s wife Becks and crossword setter Judith) to unpick a web of scandal and catch the killer. But with secrets from Judith’s past threatening to catch up with her and their friend and police contact DI Tanika Malik suspended from duty the pressure is on; can they find the murderer and help Judith or does this mean the end for the Marlow Murder Club?
There is something about cosy crime novels on cold, gloomy days that makes them especially enjoyable at this time of year. Author Robert Thorogood is the creator of BBC One’s huge hit Death In Paradise and his series of novels set in Marlow and featuring three crime-solving friends are great for fans of Richard Osman, MC Beaton and Tom Hindle or those wanting a fun and enjoyable read. The plots are twisty and the writing frequently humorous but it is the friendship of the central three characters that really offers something special in this series. This new book delves into the backstory of the sometimes prickly but always entertaining Judith and is a perfect treat on a January day.
More DetailsChildren’s Non-Fiction
The Amazing Generation
Haidt, Jonathan
Paperback / softback
Children’s access to and use of Smartphones has been a hot topic for debate for a while. Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation was one of the bestselling non-fiction books of 2025 and examined the effect technology is having on young people, looked at the psychological and societal impacts of children growing up with smartphones and offered practical advice and helpful insights for teachers, parents and others into helping young people (and us all) navigate a world in which phones are at the centre of everything.
This new book from Haidt and Catherine Price is aimed at the young people who are growing up with and using phones. With a look at how phones affect adult’s and children’s brains differently, suggestions on how to lessen screen time and choices and options around activities and communication that don’t focus on technology, this book offers thoughtful insights for children and encourages dialogue rather than just telling them what they should be doing. Written in an approachable style and balancing facts and humour this is a great book to use with children or for them to look at alone. Perfect for KS2 children (especially as this is the age when many young people get their first smartphone) this is an important read that involves and educates children on a debate that shows no sign of slowing down.
More DetailsChildren’s Fiction
A WAR OF WYVERNS
Williamson, S. F.
Hardback
Vivien Featherswallow has mastered the secret language of dragons, sparking a civil war in the process. But what use is her skill if she has become the face of the rebellion and is now the most wanted criminal in Britain? Unsure on what to do to help her friends and questioning her purpose, Viv travels to a remote Scottish island to try to find a mysterious and forgotten species of dragon, the Wyverns, who just might hold the key to ending the war…
A Language of Dragons was one of the most popular debuts of 2025, a rich and exciting book that combined fantasy and historical fiction with fantastic world-building and wonderful characters. Excitement has been building for the second instalment with readers eager to find out what happens next to Viv and her friends (both human and dragon). With a gripping and action-packed plot (including lots of battles), this is a thrilling read but what really makes it something special is the phenomenal world-building and the history and legend interwoven into the story. With a great romantic sub-plot and a lovely look at language and culture as well as an interesting blend of action and academia this is another great book from a talented new writer and a great start to 2026 for YA readers.
More Details