Cheers to New Beginnings: Classic Books for Your 2026 Reading List

1. Anne of Green Gables

“Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

Looking to give your year a light, optimistic, and truly hearty beginning? Then Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery is the perfect place to start. Anne Shirley—an orphan who arrives at Green Gables by a delightful mistake—finds herself in the quiet home of the ageing siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. She is a whirlwind of imagination, warmth, and unfiltered joy, ready to walk into 2026 with you, brimming with possibilities and optimism for life.

Buy here: Anne of Green Gables

2. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

“We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!”

If the new year has you feeling a little lost, confused, or wildly unsure of what comes next, Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is excellent company. In a single, spectacularly unfortunate turn of events, Arthur loses his house… and then his planet.

What follows is a series of absurd, sharp, and delightfully chaotic misadventures that the universe has to offer and trust us, it will leave you laughing out loud far more than you expect. This book gently reminds you that sometimes not knowing is half the fun, and lets you experience that humour firsthand with every turn of the page. Start your year with the humour this classic has to offer, and you won’t regret it.

Also read: Timeless Lessons on Starting Over: New Year Reflections from Classic Books

3. Siddhartha

If the end of last year left you with more questions than answers, Siddhartha might be exactly the companion you need for 2026. This classic follows a young Brahmin named Siddhartha as he searches for the true essence of existence.

He learns that wisdom cannot be handed down—it must be experienced. Calm, reflective, and deeply introspective, this book invites you to sit with uncertainty rather than resist it. Pick up Siddhartha if you’re ready to embrace the experiences life places in your path in 2026.

Buy here: Siddhartha

4. The Hobbit

“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.”

If your New Year's resolutions feel intimidating and stepping out of your comfort zone seems harder than expected, The Hobbit is a classic that will make you feel seen. It follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit whose quiet life is turned upside down when Gandalf and thirteen dwarves invite him on a quest to reclaim their lost home.

Reluctant but brave, Bilbo joins the quest, slowly discovering the courage and cleverness he never knew he had. The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, is a warm, hopeful story that reminds us that even the smallest steps can lead to extraordinary change.

Buy here: https://cuppaclassics.com/shop/books/best-fiction/modern-classics/the-hobbit/

5. The Story of My Life

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

If you’re beginning 2026 with doubt or fatigue, The Story of My Life offers perspective, hope, and a renewed belief in what the human spirit can achieve.

Blind and deaf from age 19 months, Helen Keller’s autobiography traces her extraordinary journey from isolation and adversity to learning, purpose, and inspiration. This is not just a story about overcoming adversity—it’s a quiet yet powerful reminder that growth is possible even in the most limiting circumstances.

Buy here: The Story of My Life

6. The Great Expectations

“There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.”

New beginnings often arrive carrying great expectations—whether it’s a new year or the life-altering moments Pip encounters in The Great Expectations. This Charles Dickens classic follows Pip, an orphan whose humble life is transformed by ambition, wealth, and the hope of becoming someone more.

Pip slowly learns that not all expectations lead to happiness and that true growth comes from understanding what really matters. This is a fitting read for 2026 if you’re entering the year with big dreams without losing your heart along the way.

Buy here: The Great Expectations

7. The Secret Garden

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a gentle reminder for 2026 that healing often begins quietly. At its heart, this classic is about renewal, friendship, and the transformative power of nature. The Secret Garden speaks to anyone hoping for emotional growth, softer days, and the belief that even neglected places—whether gardens or hearts—can bloom again.

Buy here: The Secret Garden

8. Right Ho, Jeeves

“What you want, my lad, and what you're going to get are two very different things.”

If your idea of starting the year right includes laughter, lightness, and zero emotional burden, Right Ho, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse is the perfect pick. This classic comedy follows the endlessly well-meaning yet spectacularly clueless Bertie Wooster, whose attempts to fix his friends’ romantic troubles only succeed in creating absolute chaos. Witty, comforting, and effortlessly funny, Right Ho, Jeeves will leave you giggling under your cosy blankets.

9. Emma

“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken.”

Both an entertaining love story and a thoughtful exploration of personal growth, Emma is a deeply fulfilling read for 2026. Following Emma Woodhouse—a clever, confident, and wealthy young woman—the classic revolves around self-awareness, social class, and the pitfalls of good intentions. And when such a character is written by Jane Austen, you can never go wrong.

Buy here: Emma

10. Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)

“The truth is, we each of us have an inborn conviction that the whole world with everybody and everything in it, was created as a sort of necessary appendage to ourselves.”

If wit, irony, and satire are what get you excited, Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) absolutely deserves a spot on your 2026 reading list. This comic masterpiece turns what should have been an ordinary holiday into a delightfully chaotic misadventure, as three friends (and one unforgettable dog) set out on a boating trip.

What follows is a hilarious series of misplaced ambitions, culinary disasters, exaggerated complaints, and absurdly relatable reflections on life. Light, clever, and endlessly entertaining, this classic proves that sometimes the best way to begin a new year is with laughter.

Buy here: Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)

Start the Year with Stories That Last

And alas… this is where our list comes to an end, but the magic of these classics is only just beginning. These are stories that don’t rush you, don’t demand speed, and certainly don’t lose their charm with time. Whether you finish one in a single sitting, stretch it over weeks, or let it accompany you gently through the entire year, each of these timeless reads has something lasting to offer.

As 2026 unfolds, may these books bring you comfort on quiet days, perspective during uncertain ones, and joy when you least expect it. Choose your pick, curl up cosy, and begin the year exactly the way it deserves to be started—with stories that last.

Your next read: A New Year with an Old Soul: Why JD Salinger Is the Perfect January Read