American Girl Just Announced an Adult Novel Featuring a Fan Favorite All Grown Up: ‘2026 Really Needs This Right Now’

American Girl knows exactly what our millennial hearts desire: a way back into the beloved historical stories that we grew up reading. That’s why the company just announced its first-ever adult novel that follows one of our favorite girls as she navigates adulthood.

Sure, we remember the original children’s books about Felicity, Kristen, Samantha, Addy, Josefina, and Molly (and maybe even read them to our kids to re-live the magic that way). But now, we can once again get lost in the magic of a new American Girl book written for us — we are adding it to our TBR pile immediately.

Samantha fans are in for a treat, as the new story is all about Samantha Parkinson. The book, titled Samantha: The Next Chapter, is about a 25-year-old Samantha who lives in 1920s New York City. As she works to educate women about suffrage and encourage them to vote for the first time, she has to deal with some problems in her personal life: namely, losing her large inheritance and having to work to make ends meet in a boarding house. But she doesn’t let the theft go willingly — this brave woman infiltrates a notorious criminal to find answers and save her family’s legacy.

Even the cover invokes nostalgia, as it features a woman with brown hair and Samantha’s famous gold locket, with a burgundy red gown that we can’t help but associate with this doll. The book was written by seasoned historical fiction writer Fiona Davis, who penned The Stolen Queen, The Magnolia Palace, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue ,among other novels.

Fans are loving this new novel. Today posted about it on Instagram, and people were quick to praise the exciting drop. “2026 really needs this right now 😍,” one person wrote. Someone else commented, “We all needed this 🙌.”

“If anyone can increase voter registration it’s her,” another claimed.

Samantha: The Next Chapter is an American Girl Legacy Novel, which hints at the fact that a new series of adult novels is to come. This one is available for pre-order now for $30 for an Oct. 13 release date. It’s part of American Girl’s 40th anniversary celebration, which includes a new line of collector dolls called the Modern Era Collection and a new archival book, The Making of American Girl.

If you grew up loving the historical dolls like we did, then this book was made for you. We’re pulling out all our old childhood books to prepare!