February might be the shortest month of the year, but it’s absolutely stacked when it comes to exciting new book releases. From heart-tugging contemporary stories to sweeping fantasy, romantic chaos, pulse-pounding thrillers, and a few wildly unexpected genre blends, this month’s releases have something for every kind of reader.

Before we dive in, a quick note: these are books the Once Upon a Book Club team is genuinely excited about, but they won’t necessarily appear in any of our book boxes. Think of this as a peek into our collective TBR piles and the stories we’re most eager to get our hands on this February.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

Release Date: February 3rd, 2026

This is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on your heart.

When Tilly Nightingale learns there’s a birthday gift waiting for her at her local bookshop, it’s shocking for more reasons than one. She hasn’t read for pleasure in ages, and her fiancé, Joe, died five months ago. What he leaves behind is simple but deeply thoughtful: twelve carefully chosen books, one for each month, meant to help Tilly survive her first year without him.

As Tilly embarks on reading-inspired adventures around the world and begins vlogging her journey, her grief-soaked year becomes something shared. With the help of Alfie, the bookshop owner, a growing audience, and the support of friends and family, this story explores love, loss, and the quiet hope that stories can help us turn the page even when it feels impossible.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

Release Date: February 17th, 2026

If you’ve ever wished you could live inside a book, this one is calling your name.

Alix Watson has learned early on that books are more reliable than people. Growing up in foster care and scraping by with three dead-end jobs, she escapes nightly into fantasy novels at the Boston Public Library until she stumbles through a hidden door into the Astral Library, where books are doors to new lives.

Taken under the wing of the sharp-tongued Librarian, Alix soon finds herself fleeing a shadowy enemy through wildly different literary worlds, from Regency drawing rooms to shadowy alleys and glittering parties. As the danger closes in, the question becomes chillingly personal: who is the enemy really after—the Library, the Librarian, or Alix herself?

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

Release Date: February 24th, 2026

Opposites attract, forced proximity, and a snowstorm of epic proportions? We can’t wait!

Jackson Clark thrives on routine, structure, and the safety of his radio booth. Delilah Stewart lives for adventure, spontaneity, and reporting from the field. They’ve clashed for years, so being forced to work together to cover the snowstorm of the century is…less than ideal.

But then Delilah makes a deal: she’ll help Jackson rediscover his fun side if he helps her nail the assignment. Their partnership begins to soften into friendship. With undeniable chemistry simmering beneath the surface, they’ll have to decide whether what happens in the mountains really stays in the mountains, or if some storms are worth braving together.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Release Date: February 17th, 2026

This one feels like a warm cup of tea with a little magic stirred in.

Agnes Aubert survives by making lists. After losing her husband two years ago, structure keeps her afloat, especially now that she runs a cat rescue charity filled with beloved (and very opinionated) cats. But when she’s forced to relocate, Agnes discovers her new shop hides the lair of Havelock Renard: chaotic, disorganised, infuriatingly handsome, and very much not what she ordered.

As Agnes learns that Havelock may be more than the dark magician of legend, she begins to wonder if second chances and perhaps even romance aren’t just for rescue cats after all.

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

Release Date: February 24th, 2026

A bold, powerful reimagining of one of history’s most famous women.

At nineteen, Cleopatra ascends the throne after her father’s death, blessed by the Goddess Isis yet plagued by forces even divine protection cannot stop. Roman intervention, civil war, and the pull of love shape her reign as she navigates power, prophecy, and survival.

Writing back against centuries of myth-making, this epic retells Cleopatra’s story with emotional depth and feminist heart, promising a spell-binding journey through ancient Egypt and a portrayal that feels both intimate and formidable.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

Release Date: February 10th, 2026

Fast-paced, wild, and packed with impossible odds.

Oliver Lewis just wants to run the family ranch, play music, and keep aging agricultural bots functioning on New Sonora. When Earth reopens full communication, he expects a connection, not an invasion. Instead, a corporation launches an “eviction action” turned into a game, letting bored Earthlings remotely pilot war machines for fun and profit.

With only old books, scrap parts, and sheer determination, Oliver and his friends fight to defend their planet against gamers who paid for the privilege of destruction.

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams

Release Date: February 17th, 2026

Claustrophobic, intense, and deeply unsettling.

Tess reluctantly agrees to go caving with her best friend Allie, whose influencer lifestyle feels worlds away from Tess’s quiet, struggling reality. But deep underground, things turn terrifying when a stranger harasses them and retaliates violently.

As Tess fights to survive, trapped in a narrow crawl space, shocking revelations surface about Allie’s past. What begins as a survival story becomes something far darker, asking whether the danger truly ended when Tess escaped the cave.

Honey Bee Mine by Sarah T. Dubb

Release Date: February 10th, 2026

Small town. Enemies-to-lovers. Bees. Enough said.

Penny Becker lives by one rule: never stop working. To save her struggling farm, she bets everything on the Sullivan’s Glen Honey Festival. Enter Zander Bouras, a reformed bad boy, reluctant returnee, and accidental co-planner.

As sparks fly between the sexy, stubborn beekeeper and the man she never expected to rely on, both are forced to confront old wounds and decide whether the sweet romance buzzing between them can last beyond summer.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Release Date: February 3rd, 2026

A slasher rom-com? Somehow…yes.

Jamie Prescott attends a speed-dating event expecting mediocrity and street food…not murder. When dates start dying, and a killer stalks the room, Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge of romance and horror becomes her greatest weapon.

As the body count rises, Jamie suspects the killer is trying to create a real-life Final Girl, but she has plans of her own. Bloody, funny, swoony, and terrifying, this is a love story with a very sharp edge.

A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann

Release Date: February 3rd, 2026

Dark, theatrical, and deliciously dangerous.

The Players of the Playhouse are worshipped, feared, and lethal. After a Player curses her, eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper is slowly dying. When a chance arises to steal a Player’s immortality, Riven infiltrates the competition and strikes a bargain with Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant and merciless Lead Player.

As secrets unravel and time runs out, Riven must face the possibility that she may not be the hero of her story because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

The Enemy of Time by Haley-Grace McCormick

Release Date: February 17th, 2026

Poignant, nostalgic, and deeply emotional.

Alex returns to her Massachusetts hometown five years after leaving, only to be confronted with memories of Jamie, her first love and heartbreak. Over twenty-four hours and the pages of an old journal, past and present collide as Alex confronts secrets, choices, and the lingering question of whether love can survive time.

This second-chance romance explores memory, truth, and the courage it takes to rewrite your future.

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson

Release Date: February 10th, 2026

A sweeping, multi-generational story about love in all its forms.

In post-WWII Germany, Ethel Gathers follows a group of mixed-race children led by a nun, drawn by a longing for family. Years later, Ozzie Philips navigates racism overseas while finding solace in unexpected love. In 1965, Sophia Clark uncovers a secret that changes everything.

Moving between three lives, this novel explores how one woman’s vision can alter countless futures and how love, whether familial, forbidden, or self-directed, can be truly transcendent.

It’s a Wrap

February’s new releases are a reminder of why we love reading so much; stories that challenge us, comfort us, thrill us, and stay with us long after the last page.

Whether you’re building your TBR, planning your next cozy reading weekend, or simply looking for your next bookish obsession, we hope these February releases inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.

Happy reading, and here’s to a month filled with unforgettable stories. 💕📚

If you’re like us, that TBR pile can never be too high. Check out what the Once Upon a Book Club team is reading, and this month brings a whole new experience in the form of OUABC Lite! Check out our blog to learn more!