4 new books to jump-start your goals for the new year

c. 2025, 2026, various publishers
$28.99-$35, various page counts

You thought about it carefully.

You didn’t make reservations on purpose, because nothing seemed doable — yet you still want to do better in 2026. But get this: It’s perfectly permissible to make a New Year’s resolution after Jan. 1, so why not try? Why not grab these four great new books and see how a New Year can mean a New You after all?

If tackling your financial health is what you need to do this year, then check out “How to Be a Rich Old Lady” by Amanda Holden (Avid Reader Press, $30), a book that helps make sense of finances, retirement  and investing. 

You know what money can do for you. But do you know how to tap into the hidden benefits of having a solid nest egg and a good investment portfolio? Holden is the founder of Invested Development, and she’s taught thousands of people how to do what she offers inside this book. Just know that this isn’t a book to breeze through lightly; it’s serious, but still fun to read.

Or maybe taking care of yourself is high on your list of Wanna Do’s for the coming year. Then you’ll need to look for “The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age” by Meghan Rabbitt, with a foreword by Maria Shriver (The Open Field, $35). If you’re old enough to remember “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” then you’ll be familiar with the format here — which is that of a comprehensive, look-it-up guidebook for symptoms, signs and expectations for your reproductive, mental and general health. This is not a replacement for a doctor, but with health care in the news, it’s instead a book that you can use as a guideline and a launching point for feeling your best.

Need to lose weight this year? Maybe your physician has prescribed something to help, and in “Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity” by Aimee Donnellan (St. Martin’s Press, $30), you’ll read an in-depth look at GLP-1s, where the research initially came from, what the future with them looks like for patients who need to access the various benefits of the drugs, and what questions are still unanswered. This is not a tell-all book; rather, you’ll find balanced, informed information, along with questions to consider and discuss with your doctor.

And finally, who doesn’t want to live happy and healthy? Yep, so you’ll want to read “Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life” by Ezekiel J. Emanual, MD (Norton, $28.99). What do you need to do to ensure that you’re the 99-year-old on the dance floor? The author tells you in a few simple (and fun) steps that you’ll love doing at any age.

And if these books don’t fit the resolution you have in mind, then head to your nearby bookstore or library and ask the pros there for help finding the book you need. And then good luck! This is doable!

Editor’s note: News is my Business earns a small commission if you click the link in this post and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.