14 Jewish Books We’re Excited About for Summer 2026

In 1941, Jewish teenager Ruth Pearl and her family fled Amsterdam after the murder of her sister Sophia. 59 years later, Ruth is living in a small New England town, finding comfort in her trauma through natural beauty. This novel expertly weaves these two timelines together, resulting in an examination of grief and the healing power of love. Out May 12, 2026.

In 1993, readers were first introduced to a dybbuk named Kokos and a 20th century Jewish lesbian named Rainbow Rosenbloom in Ellen Galford's "The Dyke and the Dybbuk." Now, this irreverent satire has been re-released via Sinister Wisdom. Out June 2, 2026.

Historical fiction and author David Baerwald's real family history collide in this thrilling saga. In 1900, Ernst Baerwald, an aristocratic German Jew based upon David's own grandfather, is recruited to become a spy. What follows is decades of passion, intrigue and steadily rising fascism that will make Ernst question everything he has been working for. Out June 2, 2026.

Stereotypes about Jews and money have proliferated throughout history. In "1873," Pulitzer Prize winner Liaquat Ahamed examines one such moment in history: the global economic crisis of 1873. This massive work reckons with the many angles of the crisis, from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the dissolution of Reconstruction in the American south to how the Rothschild banking family was scapegoated as a result. Out June 2, 2026.

Over 100 years ago, Jewish writer and thinker Gertrude Stein first stepped in Paris. Today, the narrator of "My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein" is desperately trying to write an essay about her, but struggling. Alongside friends Fanny and Eva, she must further investigate Stein to manifest a new understanding of the writer. Out June 2, 2026.

What happens when two women from different sides of the law, one a lawyer and the other an infamous madam, team up? Well, it's simply the greatest trial New York's ever seen. Based upon real-life figures Eunice Carter and Polly Adler, "A Pair of Aces" is a sensational piece of historical fiction about two women trying to take down mobster Lucky Luciano. Out June 2, 2026.

This debut novel from Jewish author Sonia Feldman is a sapphic coming-of-age story, focusing on three girlhood friends whose relationships shift seismically after a spontaneous kiss. The New York Times calls it "lustrous" and "Austenian." What could be better? Out June 2, 2026.

It's 1962 and Judy Greenberg's parents expect the usual out of their nice Jewish daughter: settle down and get married. Except Judy's ambitions are much greater than that. So when the aspiring reporter comes across a cryptic message, she has to investigate further. What Judy finds is a world of danger, international secrets and even romance. Out June 9, 2026.

"The Way It Haunted Him" is a queer, dark academia novel set at a haunted Institute for Judaic Studies. The novel is filled with demons, maybe even some dybbuks? You'll have to read to find out. Out June 9, 2026.

This novel follows two mothers in Northampton, MA as they forge a friendship while searching to cure a mysterious ailment plaguing people in their town. From Jewish author Heather Abel, it interrogates intergenerational trauma and Jewish motherhood. Out June 16, 2026.

Roger Berab once scorned his neighbor Rebecca Adler. Years later, when unfortunate circumstances lead Roger to offering Rebecca shelter, the pair must reckon with the fiery feelings still between them. Out June 30, 2026.

From the author of "I Who Have Never Known Men," "We Were Forbidden" is a triad of novellas newly translated into English. Seemingly based upon Jaqueline Harpman's own patrilineal Dutch-Jewish roots and experience fleeing to Casablanca during World War II, all the stories conjure a deep sense of defiance. Out Jul. 7, 2026.

One of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's most famous paintings is "Pink and Blue," a portrait of the daughters of the wealthy Parisian Jewish family the Cahen d'Anvers. But what happened to these young girls after the oil paint dried? "The Renoir Girls" recounts that tragic history. Out Jul. 14, 2026.

Delilah is a recently jilted songwriter. Emmett is a golem. (Can I make it any more obvious?) When Delilah first picks up Emmett as a hitchhiker, she senses a great opportunity for songwriting material. But what she doesn't expect is the two falling in love, forcing Delilah and Emmett to fight the ticking clock on Emmett's existence. Out Aug. 25, 2026.