9 books I've loved this year (so far)
You know those videos on social media that start with, “If you came to my house, these are the things I’d press into your hands…” and then they recommend the walking shoes that finally got them to 10,000 steps a day, the kitchen gadget they swear by, or the thrift store trick that never fails?
I am an absolute sucker for these videos. So, consider today’s post my bookish version: if you came over for an iced coffee and a chat and left with a stack of books under your arm, these are the ones I’d insist you take home.
As we coast into the second half of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the first half in terms of my reading life. I recently cleaned off my shelves, organized my upcoming releases list, and started thinking about what I want more of in the remaining months. But before doing all that, I wanted to take a moment for the books that have already made 2026 such a great reading year for me.
Looking at these books together, I noticed they all fall into the category of books that I actively want to seek out more of this year. I want novels that feel literary but deeply readable. Books with beautiful writing, emotional depth, and complicated characters. I want more complexity than the average TikTok recommendation, but I don’t want books that feel so experimental they are inaccessible to me. These 9 books reminded me that there is a wonderful middle ground.
So, if you trust my taste, these are the books you should check out if you haven’t already this year. Every one of them earned five stars from me, and every one is a book I’ve found myself recommending again and again.
