'I recommend books for a living. These are the 6 books everyone should read in February.'

It's hot, it's sweaty, we're back at work, the promise of the new year is waning. It's time to escape with some great books.

From hockey smut, to poly families, dark relationships, fixing your brain and otherworldly moral quandaries, Charley Vokoun, the face behind Book Smut has the best of the Feb new releases covered for you.

The best books to read in February 2026.

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy — Out now

Image: Amazon.

You've seen the cover everywhere — nothing better than a hot, up-close digit in mouth — and it's one of 2026's most anticipated books. Former child-actor, Jennette McCurdy brings all the moral quandaries to her very dark, uncomfortable debut novel.

Following her memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, the hopes have been high for this one. If you're seeking constant dread, tension and urgh/eek moments, you're going to love Half His Age. Sex, class, desire, capitalism and power, McCurdy delivers a modern Lolita that follows 17-year-old Waldo on a deeply misguided relationship with her teacher, Mr. Korgy. Unusual names, unusual acts, illegal relationships.

If you loved Three Women and His Dark Vanessa, this will be in your wheelhouse.

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash — Out now

Image: Amazon.

Straight to the top of my must-read books of 2026, Lost Lambs is a dream to dissolve into. The most unhinged family, dynamic and dialogue you'll read all year. Already getting huuuuge accolades internationally, this is a literary dysfunctional family saga that you will want to read again and again.

For the three Flynn daughters, it's been disastrous since their parents opened up their marriage. One is dating an ex-soldier several years her senior nicknamed 'War Crimes Wes'. One maintains a secret correspondence with an online terrorist. And the brilliant youngest has already mastered half a dozen languages and is now hell-bent on a local conspiracy theory that threatens to unravel their town.

The brilliant Easter eggs and literary flourishes that dot each page will make your day. Whacky, wild and heartwarming as hell, crank Lost Lambs to the top of your list.

Heated Rivalry & Time To Shine by Rachel Reid — Out now

Image: Amazon.

If you've already exhausted Reid's six-book Game Changers series (as you should have) and are panicking on how you're going to fill your queer hockey romance fix before the next book — and second series of the show (!!) — fear not!

Reid has written a standalone novel too. Time to Shine delivers what we all need: a sexy opposites-attract winter romance between a shy goaltender and his charming All-Star teammate. It's hot, it's joyful, it's exactly what the world needs right now.

At this point, my algorithm is 100% ice hockey romance and I hope it never changes.

Watch the Mamamia team's picks for the best beach reads. Post continues below.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman — Out Feb 17

Image: Amazon.

The Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman has a mammoth following, but an eight-book series is intimidating to bandwagon, so I'm grateful for this new standalone novel from Dinniman.

Operation Bounce House has a brilliant title and is a role-playing game-nerds dream. If you miss gritty, funny, morally-apt sci-fi, this is what you need.

Think Philip K. Dick meets a levelled up Ready Player One and a Mazerunner sequel. Basically, a young farmer on a colonised planet must defend his land and family from unhinged war machines, remotely piloted by carnage-hungry kids back on Earth.

Think sci-fi isn't for you? Think again. This is so easy to fly through, the scene setting is impeccable and it has a perfect balance of violence, humour, music and cultural references.

Good People by Patmeena Sabit — Out Feb 10

Image: Amazon.

Already on many 'best of 2026' lists, Good People is a mesmerising debut that flips the 'he said, she said' narrative on its head and will leave you with big questions about racial biases in the media, our communities and ourselves.

The Sharaf family arrived in America as refugees with nothing. Now, after years of hard work, they live in the most exclusive neighbourhood and attend the most prestigious schools. When the eldest daughter, Zorah dies in an unthinkable tragedy, the family is thrust into the court of public opinion and suddenly everyone has thoughts on who she was and what really happened to her.

This is a chunky one, but seriously hard to put down. Clear your calendar and bring this to your next bookclub meet.

A Brain That Breathes by Jodi Wilson — Out now

Image: Amazon.

"Urgh, it's all just a lot" is a phrase I've uttered many, many times already this year, so A Brain That Breathes is on my required reading list.

Accessible, evidence-based, practical solutions that go head-to-head with the modern concept of self-care we've been sold, this is for everyone who needs to declutter their mind, restore their attention and live better – sans doom-scrolling.

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Feature image: Supplied.