The 8 Books Everyone Should Read in 2026, According to Kennys staff

Tomás Kenny’s picks

Said The Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa 

The book I am most excited about this year is Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s new book, Said The Dead. She combines genres so effortlessly and in such an original way that it’s a joy to read her. But none of this is to suggest she is inaccessible; her writing is beautiful, and this new book is wonderful. 

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

This is likely to be one of the biggest books of the year. Sensational writing and research into the mysterious death of a London teenager. It combines Russian oligarchs, organised crime and heartbreak and is a page turner like no other. 

Gráinne O’Brien’s picks

Little Vanities by Sarah Gilmartin

Coming in May, I am really excited for Sarah Gilmartin’s next book, having loved her previous books, Dinner Party and Service. Sarah writes brilliantly flawed characters, and Little Vanities looks like it will be a return to form for her in examining how humans interact when their past comes back to haunt them. 

Our Deadly Summer by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

The duo behind the Aisling books are back, this time with a crime novel set in the summer of 2001. The women are on form with this book, with all the same humour and charm Aisling fans will recognise, this time with a bit of murder. 

Sarah Kenny’s picks

Where are the Kings by Donal Ryan

Any new book by Donal Ryan is a must-read, and this novel follows a 12-year-old named Jack, who has to grapple with the sudden loss of his mother. Donal writes beautifully, and with so much emotion, it’s impossible not to be impacted by his books.

Stations by Louise Kennedy 

Stations is the much-anticipated new novel by the brilliant Louise Kennedy, coming in September. It’s about love and friendship, and the impact of people’s decisions on their later lives. Róisín and Red become unlikely but great friends as teenagers, and then take very different paths.

Martha Kieran’s pick

John of John by Douglas Stuart

John of John is the beautifully written, heartbreaking story of Cal, a young man returning home to the Isle of Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Forced once more to hide his true self and sexuality from his domineering father and the strict religious community he grew up in, Cal is torn between the expectations of his family and his own desires. A thoughtful, moving read.

Shane Crotty’s pick 

Spring is the Only Season by Simon Barnes

A fantastic journey through the year, and if you pay close attention, you will see that there is never really a time when there is nothing growing. From philosophy, football, art, to Marvel movies, Simon Barnes has created a hopeful story about the natural world and a new way to look at the seasons.