February 2026 Reads for the Rest of Us

Hello, feminist reader friends! Each month, I provide Ms. readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups. The aims of these lists are threefold:

1. I want to do my part in the disruption of what has been the acceptable “norm” in the book world for far too long—white, cis, heterosexual, male;
2. I want to amplify indie publishers and amazing works by writers who are women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, APIA/AAPI, international, queer, trans, nonbinary, disabled, fat, immigrant, Muslim, neurodivergent, sex-positive or of other historically marginalized identities—you know, the rest of us; and
3. I want to challenge and encourage you all to buy, borrow and read them! 

Note: This article was originally published by Ms. magazine on Feb. 5, 2026.

This month, I want to take the opportunity to reintroduce this column. Yes, you can read the above description, which is included each time this column is published. But in case you’ve missed it, I’d like to spend a few minutes on it.

Reads for the Rest of Us is part of a larger series, Ms. Feminist Know-It-All. The purpose of Feminist Know-It-All is to “amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.” Well, what’s happened is that the books have taken over!

I’m so grateful for the popularity of Reads for the Rest of Us. I would like to do more with the series, but the fact that I haven’t recently is only a function of my own busy schedule. In the meantime, let me remind you about the scope of Reads! 

First and foremost, the goal of this column has always been to highlight new books written by women, trans and gender-expansive writers of color. I like to highlight literature in translation and books from small and independent publishers. Most are feminist or written through an intersectional feminist lens. I focus on writers who are queer, disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, immigrants, fat, sex workers and more, but those of the global majority are always prioritized. 

Luckily, there are hundreds of books being released every month, and I have no trouble finding the best ones that fit this bill. In fact (and Violet will attest to this), it is so challenging to narrow down the titles to a manageable list of 20-ish. I pride myself on finding the hidden gems—the ones you may not hear about otherwise. That means that I sometimes forgo some of the most buzzy books for ones that haven’t gotten as much publicity, even though they deserve it.  

So all that said, here is February’s list of 28 books. It was one of those months where it was tough to decide—enjoy the extra titles!

The Company of Owls

By Polly Atkin. Milkweed Editions. Out Feb. 3.

Longlisted for the 2025 Wainwright Prize in Nature Writing, Polly Atkins’s memoir explores chronic illness, the lessons of nature and the joy we can find in unexpected places.

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Diaspora-ish: Notes on Identities, Unbelonging, & Solidarities

By Gayatri Sethi. First Person Press. Out Feb. 3.

I must admit that I have collaborated with Gayatri Sethi on a project, and admire her work. That said, she has written this useful, interactive guide to accompany and build on her first book, Unbelonging, which I also loved.

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Every Happiness: A Novel

By Reena Shah. Bloomsbury Publishing. Out Feb. 3.

An exploration of love in all its forms, this debut novel follows the lifelong friendship of Deepa and Ruchi as they navigate marriage, motherhood, immigration and economic hardship in tandem.  

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The Glowing Hours

By Leila Siddiqui. Hell’s Hundred. Out Feb. 3.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of my favorite books, and this gothic horror tells the story of the novel from the perspective of an Indian housemaid hired to work for the Shelleys. Atmospheric and evocative, The Glowing Hours is an eerie and engrossing ode. 

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The Pohaku: A Novel

By Jasmin Iolani Hakes. HarperVia. Out Feb. 3.

I enjoyed Jasmin Iolani Hakes’s debut Hula, so I was excited to get my hands on this multigenerational saga of women protecting the history and heart of the Hawaiian people.

*

The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram: The Man Who Stared Down World War II in the Name of Love

By Ethelene Whitmire. Viking. Out Feb. 3. 

I have worked with this author, too! But, again, I felt compelled to include this deeply researched biography of Reed Peggram and his remarkable story of survival, love, honesty and courage.

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Second Skin: Inside the Worlds of Fetish, Kink, and Deviant Desire

By Anastasiia Fedorova. Catapult. Out Feb. 3.

More than just a peek into taboo subjects we’re curious about, Second Skin takes readers on a well-researched, personal journey into fetishes and kinks, and how we can all learn to understand and embrace them.

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Simple Heart: A Novel 

By Cho Haejin. Translated by Jamie Chang. Other Press. Out Feb. 3. 

This is a reflective, tender story of a Korean adoptee who grew up in France and travels to Seoul when a filmmaker wants to make a documentary about her. Pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby, she begins to question family, immigration, identity and belonging. 

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Who’s Watching Shorty?: Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly’s Abuse

By Reshona Landfair. Legacy Lit. Out Feb. 3.

Reshona Landfair, referred to as “Jane Doe” during her testimony at R. Kelly’s trial, was just 14 years old when she was assaulted by the singer. She recounts her harrowing story to empower others to come forward.

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Accessing Abortion: Global and Comparative Perspectives

Edited by Rachel Rebouché and Mindy Jane Roseman. NYU Press. Out Feb. 10.

This timely collection explores the legal and policy issues surrounding access to abortion around the globe. Essays provide insights into Colombia, the U.K., Romania, a survey of African countries and more. 

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Every Moment Is a Life: Gaza in the Time of Genocide

Compiled by Susan Abulhawa. Edited by Huzama Habayeb. Atria/One Signal Publishers. Out Feb. 10. 

This anthology highlights young Palestinian people who contributed heartbreaking essays detailing their violence and displacement to tent camps. All proceeds go to the contributors in Gaza and to the Palestine Writes Literature Festival.

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First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth

By Angélique Roché. Illustrated by Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining. Oni Press. Out Feb. 10. 

In the first graphic novel about Juneteenth, Angélique Roché has provided a captivating history of the holiday and Opal Lee, the woman who fought for it. Accompanied by evocative illustrations, this inspirational story is one every reader can learn from and honor.

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It’s No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown’s Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy

By Dr. Margena A. Christian. Da Capo. Out Feb. 10.

If you’ve ever listened to the music of Motown, you’ve no doubt heard the words of Sylvia Moy, the first woman hired as an in-house songwriter and producer. Through interviews and research, Margena A. Christian highlights Moy’s undeniable impact.

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The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family

By Dorothy Roberts. Atria/One Signal Publishers. Out Feb. 10. 

In this candid and insightful memoir, Dorothy Roberts details her experiences growing up in an interracial family in 1960s Chicago. She explores the research her parents conducted on mixed marriages, making surprising discoveries along the way, 

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The New Politics of Online Feminism

By Akane Kanai. Duke University Press. Out Feb. 10.

If you have ever found yourself wondering how, if it’s even possible, to be a good feminist in the digital age, look no further. Reflective and critical, Akane Kanai deftly examines social media as a new site for activism and organizing, while also acknowledging the challenges of navigating these online spaces.

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Patchwork Dolls

By Ysabelle Cheung. Blair. Out Feb. 10. 

Ysabelle Cheung’s debut collection, set in Hong Kong and the U.S. is haunting and kaleidoscopic. These stories will stay with you, such as a girl selling her facial features and a woman who can’t rid herself of her dead husband’s clones.  

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Paule Marshall: A Writer’s Life

By Mary Helen Washington. Yale University Press. Out Feb. 10.

This is the first full biography of Paule Marshall, and I can’t think of a better person to write it. Complemented by her deep research and expert literary analysis, Mary Helen Washington’s 40-plus-year friendship with Marshall offers an extraordinary perspective on Marshall’s life and work. 

*

She Made Herself a Monster: A Novel

By Anna Kovatcheva. Mariner Books. Out Feb. 10.

Deliciously monstrous and demanding of our attention, Anna Kovatcheva crafts a feminist vampire story like no other. Filled with folklore, witchcraft, ruminations on agency and storytelling, this debut novel will have you questioning who the real monsters are.

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The Unravelling of Ou

By Hollay Ghadery. Conspiracy Press. Out Feb. 15.

This is the unique and touching story of Minoo, a woman struggling to let go of her dear friend and the novel’s narrator, a sock puppet named Ecology Paul. When Minoo’s grandchild is born, Ecology Paul helps her to confront her past to move forward. 

*

Born at the End of the World

By Donica Merhazion. Catalyst Press. Out Feb. 17.

Based on a true story, this harrowing tale centers on Elen and Girmai as they grow up to overcome the odds in precarious homes. As successful adults, the Eritrean government is violently overthrown, and the two join the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front to fight for freedom and justice.

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Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth

By Daisy Hernández. Hogarth. Out Feb. 17.

Daisy Hernández has written the book that we all need to read right now. In it, she examines who gets to be a citizen, how we got to where we are today and how we can move forward.

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A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides

By Gisèle Pelicot. Translated by Natasha Lehrer and Ruth Diver. Penguin Press. Out Feb. 17.

Like me, you may have followed the headlines about the horrific sexual assaults Gisèle Pelicot suffered at the hands of her husband and other strangers. This is her story of remarkable courage and survival.

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On Morrison

By Namwali Serpell. Hogarth. Out Feb. 17.

This is Toni Morrison, explored and explained by Namwali Serpell. I’m not sure what else I need to say about this one except that it is as magnificent as you imagine it to be. 

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Blood Relay: A Novel

By Devon Mihesuah (Choctaw). Bantam. Out Feb. 24.

This debut thriller centers on the search for a champion Indian horse relay rider who is abducted. As the pair of detectives on the case investigates, they are drawn into multiple missing Indigenous women cases across Oklahoma in this captivating, page-turning mystery.  

*

A Body Made Home: They Black Trans Love

By Kai Marshall Green. The Feminist Press at CUNY. Out Feb. 24.

I was eagerly awaiting this debut memoir in which Kai Marshall Green reflects on his identities, from “Baby Girl” to “Black Boi” to “Black Trans Man.” In his singular poetic voice, Green candidly reflects on growing up, home, sexuality, abuse, embodiment, transformation and more. 

*

Get Home Safe: A Guide to Self-Defense and Building Our Collective Power

By Rana Abdelhamid. Algonquin Books. Out Feb. 24.

In this empowering guide, black-belt self-defense instructor Rana Abdelhamid not only provides information on how to protect yourself in the event of an attack, but also shares her broader framework for physical, political, economic and emotional safety.  

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The Iron Garden Sutra

By A.D. Sui. Erewhon. Out Feb. 24.

I’ve never read A.D. Sui, but the tag line for the first book in this scifi series is, “In outer space, no one can hear your prayers,” and that’s all I needed.

*

Kin: A Novel

By Tayari Jones. Knopf. Out Feb. 24.

To be honest, I started reading this one as soon as I got the galley—I couldn’t help myself!—and I fell in love. Tayari Jones delivers an outstanding novel full of wisdom, beauty, tenderness and power.

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Also releasing this month:

Autobiography of Cotton: A Novel
By Cristina Rivera Garza. Graywolf Press. Out Feb. 3.

Chicken Heart
By Morgan Boecher. Street Noise Books. Out Feb. 3.

The Cure for Everything: The Epic Struggle for Public Health and a Radical Vision for Human Thriving
By Michelle A. Williams with Linda Marsa. One World. Out Feb. 3.

The Cut Line
Written by Carolina Pihelgas. Translated by Darcy Hurford. World Editions. Out Feb. 3. 

Good People: A Novel
By Patmeena Sabit. Crown. Out Feb. 3. 

Language as Liberation: Reflections on the American Canon
By Toni Morrison. Crown. Out Feb. 3.

Queen of Faces
By Petra Lord. Henry Holt and Co. Out Feb. 3.

Zami: A New Spelling of My Name: A Biomythography (New hardcover edition)
By Audre Lorde. Penguin Vitae. Out Feb. 3.

But Where’s Home?: A Novella and Stories
By Toni Ann Johnson. Screen Door Press. Out Feb. 10.

Ballot
By Anjali Enjeti. Bloomsbury. Out Feb. 5.

With the Heart of a Ghost: Stories
Written by Sunwoo Lim. Translated by Chi-Young Kim. Unnamed Press. Out Feb. 10. 

Cleopatra: A Novel
By Saara El-Arifi. Ballantine Books. Out Feb. 24.

Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria
By Loubna Mrie. Viking. Out Feb. 24.

Fire and Silence: A Roadmap for BIPOC Leaders
By Annahid Dashtgard. Dundurn Press. Out Feb. 24.

I Am the Ghost Here: Stories
By Kim Samek. The Dial Press. Out Feb. 24.