Bad On Paper: 2026 Reading Preview
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Date: January 21, 2026
Episode Overview
The "2026 Reading Preview" episode of Bad On Paper serves as an enthusiastic guide to both the most anticipated books of 2026 and thoughtful personal highs, lows, and obsessions from the hosts. Joined by respected authors, Bookstagrammers, and BookTokers, Becca and Olivia highlight forthcoming releases, offer candid commentary on what makes a book stand out, and share banter about writing, success, and the literary life.
Highs and Lows: Personal Reflections
[00:33 – 08:04]
Becca's High
- Celebrates finishing copy edits on her second book, especially writing the acknowledgments.
- “I have so much gratitude for these people. And getting to sit down for a few hours and really hyper focus on that and write these acknowledgments felt really good for my soul.” – Becca [01:21]
- Compares it to writing her first book, sharing deeper gratitude and growth this time.
Olivia's High
- Describes a transformative therapy session where she redefines her concept of success.
- “I need to have, like, an Olivia dictionary in my mind. And when I flip to the word success, there is an Olivia definition… And whenever I feel like, oh, I don't have this, I don't have that, I'm not good enough, I just go back to that definition.” – Olivia [05:07]
Becca's Low
- Details the chaos of moving and purging eight trash bags of belongings.
- “I was like, I don't want to live in boxes, but now I'm living in trash bags. So I don't know that it's much better…” – Becca [07:34]
Olivia's Low
- None reported: “We love a no low week.” – Olivia [06:51]
2026 Book Recommendations & Guest Picks
Olivia Muenter’s Picks [10:00]
-
Whidby by T. Kira Madden (March 10)
- Literary mystery/thriller from three perspectives, exploring the legacy of a sexual predator.
- “It reminded me a lot of Notes on an Execution. It's even darker, maybe, and edgier.” – Olivia [11:05]
-
Missing Me by Ayanna Lage
- Raw memoir about postpartum psychosis, breaking stigma and beautifully written.
- “It is so raw and so beautiful and the writing is just gorgeous… it really is something special to watch someone…lay bare the toughest part of their life.” – Olivia [12:24]
Grant Ginder (Author of So Old, So Young) [14:04]
-
George Falls Through Time by Ryan Colet
- Time travel novel about a queer Londoner who falls into the year 1300. “A meditation on the disconnected way that we live now and the struggle to find human connection.” – Grant [15:07]
-
Big Nobody by Alex Katis (March 5)
- Debut novel: A coming-of-age story in 1970s London with a vivid, funny, and weird narrator.
- “Honestly one of the funniest, insightful, weirdest characters that I have read in recent memory. I'm just totally, utterly batshit obsessed with this book.” – Grant [17:14]
-
So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder (Feb 17)
- Follows six college friends over 20 years, only seen through various parties.
- “We see these people grow up over the course of two decades and see how time kind of reshuffles their friendship.” – Grant [18:16]
Brady Lockerbie (BookTok/Bookstagram) [22:10]
-
Dolly All the Time by Annabelle Monahan (May 26)
- Rom-com about a 39-year-old woman who returns home, featuring mature protagonists and the “dating for convenience” trope.
- “She kind of fills a void in the romance space because…when women are getting older, we want to read about people who are in our similar age range.” – Brady [23:16]
-
Yesteryear by Carol Clare Burke
- Influencer wakes up in 1805, forced to actually live the pioneer lifestyle she sells online.
- Movie adaptation starring Anne Hathaway in the works.
- “If you’re going to sell this lifestyle, let’s put you in it and see how you do…” – Brady [25:50]
Chelsea Devantez (Author & Host of Glamorous Trash podcast) [28:01]
-
Phases by Brandy Norwood (March 31)
- Anticipated celebrity memoir expected to address the infamous car accident.
- “There’s no way for Brandy to memoir without addressing that death.” – Chelsea [30:43]
- Discussion about how the “perfect level of celebrity” makes for the juiciest memoirs. [31:15]
-
You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate (March 3)
- From child star to award-winning actress facing MS, promises insight into Hollywood history and personal resilience.
- “I think this is going to be a really touching, moving memoir.” – Chelsea [36:43]
Katie Fulton (@KatieNeedsABiggerBookshelf) [39:54]
-
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (Feb 3)
- A widow receives 12 “book-wrapped” gifts left by her late husband, one for each month.
- “This book is a love letter to books, friends, family, and also grief.” – Katie [43:09]
-
The End of the World by Ethan Joella (June 30)
- Deep dive into sibling relationships, grief, and connection, following a woman searching for her dying brother’s final days.
Sarah MacLean (Romance author, co-host of Fated Mates) [46:28]
-
The Paris Match by Kate Claybourne (April 7)
- Romance set in Paris about second chances, pleasing others, and personal growth.
- “It's a really grown up book… you can sink into and lose yourself in and also learn yourself in.” – Sarah [50:05]
-
The Duke by Anna Callum
- Alt-history sapphic historical romance where women hold noble titles, full of intrigue and political stakes.
- “It’s really sexy and clever and… showcases how broad romance is and also how complex and relevant to the world that we live in that romance can be.” – Sarah [54:36]
-
COMING SOON:
- Mastermind: Final book in Sarah’s Hell’s Bell series (Victorian-era girl gang), out late 2026.
Becca Freeman’s Picks [59:33]
-
Little One by Olivia Muenter (Feb 3)
- Dual timeline thriller: “I did not move until I finished it… I just could not stop turning the pages until I was done.” – Becca [60:39]
- Olivia’s summary: “About Catherine… growing up in this cult-like, rural community off the grid in Florida… and in the present, a journalist brings her secrets to the surface.” [61:09]
-
The Book Witch by Meg Shafer (April 7)
- Cozy fantasy: magical librarians who enter books and battle book burners; deeply emotional, “an ode to book lovers.” [63:10]
-
Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein (April 14)
- Woman reexamines a professor-student relationship through the lens of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and her own matured perspective.
- “I’m very interested in this… but then having heard these raves about how weird and wonderful it is, I’m even more excited.” – Becca [65:22]
Noteworthy Moments & Quotes
-
On Redefining Success (Olivia):
- “When I flip to the word success, there is an Olivia definition, and that is it…whenever I feel like I’m not good enough, I just go back to that definition.” [05:07]
-
On Writing Acknowledgments (Becca):
- “Getting to sit down for a few hours and really hyper focus on that and write these acknowledgments felt really good for my soul.” [01:21]
-
On Brandy’s Memoir (Chelsea/Becca):
- “There’s no way for Brandy to memoir without addressing that death.” – Chelsea [30:43]
- “My favorite celebrity memoir of all time is Jessica Simpson’s… I expect this to be juicy. If you want me to read this.” – Becca [31:15]
-
On Book Trends (Becca):
- “I think that’s a major trend that is happening right now is like, books about books.” [63:20]
End-of-Episode Book Chat
[66:49 – 78:14]
-
Current Obsessions:
- Becca: The Traitors (US version of the reality show).
- Olivia: Saving Heated Rivalry for after her book tour as a treat.
-
Recent Reads & Mini-Reviews:
-
Olivia: Vantage Point by Sarah Sligar
- Literary thriller set in Maine with a “Kennedy curse” vibe and clever Wikipedia-style entries.
- “The best thriller I’ve read in so long. I can’t recommend this enough.” [74:21]
-
Becca: One and Only by Maurene Goo
- Adult romance with magical realism about a matchmaking Korean-American family.
- “Really good descriptions of outfits and food; plus, the main character is 40.” [76:48]
-
January Book Club Pick:
- Best Offer Wins by Marisa Cascino
- “Sharp and breezy… an unhinged, unlikable character book.” [78:07]
-
Where to Find the Hosts & Guests [78:23–end]
-
Instagram:
- Becca: @BeccaMFreeman
- Olivia: @OliviaMuenter
- Show: @BadOnPaperPodcast
- Guests and book influencers: handles and links mentioned in the episode
-
Book Tour:
- Olivia's book Little One: out Feb 3; tour dates in show notes.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a treasure trove of 2026’s most anticipated releases, thoughtful author and influencer recommendations, and heartfelt reflection on the creative and personal journeys that reading and writing inspire. Whether you’re seeking heartwarming contemporary fiction, juicy celebrity memoirs, or ambitious romances and thrillers, the Bad On Paper team and their guests ensure your TBR list will be stacked for months to come.
For further details, check out the hosts’ Instagram pages, their Substacks, and the Bad on Paper Podcast Facebook group to join the conversation.