Looking Ahead: The Book Trade in 2026, Our Upcoming Titles & a Glowing Review

The Librarian, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1566, Oil on canvas, Skoklosters slott, Skokloster. Via Wikimedia Commons.

As we step into 2026, it feels like a good moment to reflect not just on where we’ve come from, but where we think the book trade might be heading—and how we at P-Wave Press plan to contribute to what we hope will be a vibrant and inspiring year for reading.

📚 Book Trade Predictions for 2026

Artificial intelligence will continue to loom large over the publishing world in 2026, offering both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, AI can streamline some publishing processes and help smaller publishers work more efficiently. On the other, the influx of AI-generated content raises questions around originality, authenticity, and trust—issues that won’t be resolved quickly. We are still some way off understanding what the longer-term impact will be, particularly for authors and publishers who centre human experience, nuance and creativity in their work.

The same can be said for novel sales channels—subscription boxes, TikTok shops and other experimental formats will have their moment in the sun, offering alternative routes for discovery and niche engagement. But we believe the fundamentals remain unchanged: for most readers, especially outside of hobby or personal interest non-fiction, books are still chosen and bought in more traditional ways. Whether it’s through high-street bookshops, established online retailers, or trusted word-of-mouth, the desire to browse, reflect, and read a few reviews before committing is as strong as ever. Social media may spark curiosity—but readers still want space to think.

A more pressing concern is the ongoing decline in reading for pleasure—particularly among children and young people. That’s why we wholeheartedly support the launch of the National Year of Reading 2026, spearheaded by author Cressida Cowell. Its mission to reignite a love of reading across the country couldn’t come at a better time. We believe passionately in the power of books to change lives, and we will be doing everything we can—through our publications and outreach—to encourage readers old and new to rediscover the joys of getting lost in a good story.

📖 What’s Coming from P-Wave Press in 2026

We’re excited to share that our Classics imprint will continue into 2026 with three new publications slated for spring. These titles will delve deeper into the bold, radical and often underexplored literature of the late 18th and early 19th centuries—a period of enormous political and social transformation, where authors began to challenge traditional structures of class, power and gender in dazzling and original ways.

Alongside our classics, we’ll also be publishing the next instalment of Pushing the Wave, L.A. Davenport’s much-admired series of essays, stories and reflections that explores modern life with humour, insight and humanity.

🌟 A Warm Review for Maid Marian & The Misfortunes of Elphin

We were especially pleased to end last year with a glowing review of Maid Marian & The Misfortunes of Elphin, our second P-Wave Classic by Thomas Love Peacock. It’s always gratifying when a reader captures exactly why we’re publishing these books, and why they still matter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“Entertaining, fun, and compelling, these two satirical texts, in one convenient volume, are must-reads for fantasy and literature fans alike… this book also offers an introduction and notes by L.A. Davenport that provides new insights into Peacock’s satirical writing. The stories themselves are charming, witty, and entertaining, and readers will love the protofeminist take on Maid Marian and the humorous depiction of King Arthur. Peacock’s prose is, admittedly, flowery and of its time, but this only adds to the charm, whimsy, and epic nature of these two narratives.”— Lily A, NetGalley

This kind of feedback reinforces why we’re committed to championing bold and original voices from the past and present—and why 2026 promises to be another exciting chapter in the P-Wave Press journey.