Goodreads' Top 15 Most Read Books Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

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Wondering what 2026's hottest reads are so far? We've got you covered. We analyzed Goodreads' Most Read Books This Year list to find out what readers have been grabbing at the book store, downloading to their kindles, or enjoying as audiobooks. Unsurprisingly, mystery thriller queen Freida McFadden has cemented her status as one of the most sought after writers of the moment, as several of McFadden's books (which we've ranked by reviews) have proven popular in the first half of the year. But (spoiler alert!), while McFadden is the most featured author on our ranking, it wasn't one of her novels that took the top spot.

To determine which book should be crowned most popular, we ranked each according to its Goodreads rating (out of 5.0) at the time of writing. The higher its overall score, the higher we ranked it. When multiple books had the same score, the one with more ratings was placed higher.

Freida McFadden's "The Intruder" starts out the top 15 of 2026's most read books so far. With an average Goodreads score of 3.88 from more than 467,800 ratings, the novel (one of the best mystery and thriller books of 2025, according to reviews) has clearly captured imaginations via protagonist Casey's story. She lives a secluded life in the woods, but her life is turned upside down when a mysterious female stranger, who's covered in blood and holding a knife, appears outside her home. Casey takes the woman in, but she won't share any details on why she's there or what happened to her. Casey tries to piece together her story, but a sudden discovery could put her in grave danger.

"This book was darkkkk and sad, definitely one of Freida's grimmer ones, but as always, it was fast-paced, addictive, and the perfect cure for a reading slump," one Goodreads reviewer wrote. "It might just be one of McFadden's most sentimental, emotionally charged works to date," another shared in their four-star review.

Caro Claire Burke's "Yesteryear," a book that has a lot to say about the tradwife phenomenon, introduces us to main character Natalie Heller Mills. She's a tradwife (aka traditional wife) influencer living in the modern world who loves to put her (seemingly) picture perfect life online. But, one strange day, she wakes up in 1855. Though she has the same husband and family, the creature comforts of modern day have been replaced with a far more traditional lifestyle — with no electricity in sight. The book has an impressive 3.94 Goodreads score from over 534,300 ratings.

Goodreads reviewers noted they were surprised by the novel, with one writing of the 2026 book's twist and turns, "When I finished this book, my head was spinning. I felt stunned, unsettled, confused, deeply shaken, and yet ultimately impressed because what I thought I was signing up for was not at all what I actually received." Another stated, "It was entertaining, addictive, original, and so sharp it felt dangerous. Extremely impressive. Very disturbing."

"Dear Debbie," the second of Freida McFadden's books on our ranking, has 541,800 ratings on Goodreads and a 3.95 average score at the time of writing. The mystery thriller book that made a splash in 2026 focuses on Debbie Mullen, an advice columnist better known as Dear Debbie. Though Debbie is used to handing out advice to women scorned and lost in life, her life spirals when she loses loses her own job. As if that wasn't bad enough, she's also highly suspicious of what her husband and kids are up to. After doing some digging on her loved ones, she becomes determined to right some wrongs — and that means taking revenge against those who hurt her most.

One Goodreads reviewer praised the fictional tale's major twists and wrote, "The writing is addictive, sharp, and relentless." Another recommended the book, sharing, "This is my favorite thriller of the year so far. I full-on villain-laughed out loud every time Debbie unleashed another vigilante move."

Emily Henry's "Great Big Beautiful Life" ranks as Goodreads' 12th most popular book of 2026 so far based on reviews. It has a 3.95 average score, the same as "Dear Debbie," but its high number of ratings (more than 841,800 at the time of writing), pushes it just ahead. In the 2025 romance, Alice Scott crosses paths with fellow writer Hayden Anderson. The two have very different personalities, as Alice is an up-and-coming author and super positive while Hayden is a seasoned pro who can't hide his negativity. They're both in the running to write the biography of the iconic famous socialite Margaret Ives, who decides to put them against each other. Along the way, they find holes in her life story, as well as some undeniable chemistry between them.

Some Goodreads users praised the unexpected ending, while others loved the fictional tale's blending of genre tropes. "The writing was beautiful weaving in the romantic aspects of rivals to friends to lovers while also including complexities of family dynamics that unfolded into two beautiful stories being told," one review read. "Emily Henry's storytelling is razor-sharp. She keeps us close to the truth, then pulls us away again. Every 'reveal' feels solid – until it's flipped on its head or reinterpreted through a different lens," commented another.

Narrowly missing out on the top 10 is "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach, a Read With Jenna Book Club picks that's great on audio. It's the first book in our countdown to have a rating of more than 4.0 and introduces us to Phoebe Stone as she visits an idyllic Rhode Island hotspot the same time as a huge wedding rolls into town. Phoebe has long yearned to see the beauty of the state with her husband, but he's nowhere to be seen. Phoebe soon makes fast friends with the bride, and their chance encounter and ability to confide in one another may just prove life changing for both. The touching story averages at a 4.06 Goodreads score from a huge more than 1.33 million ratings.

"I would recommend this for lovers of character-driven narratives; those readers who love exploring why people behave the way they do, and understand that in life there are seldom any heroes or villains," one reviewer stated while giving the 2024 novel five stars. Others praised how Espach developed the multiple characters and complimented her humor, despite some sad subject matter.

The second book in Freida McFadden's "The Housemaid" series, "The Housemaid's Secret," cracked the top 10 in our ranking. At the time of writing, it has over 1.93 million ratings and an average score on Goodreads of 4.15. Following on from the harrowing events of the first book, Millie the housemaid has landed a new job with the Garrick family. She's familiar with Mr. Garrick, but she never sees Mrs. Garrick, who seems to spend all her time in the bedroom. Even more mysterious? Millie often hears crying and has noticed blood on her laundry. The inquisitive protagonist decides to investigate, but what she discovers is seriously chilling.

"Gripping, shocking and hard to put down, 'The Housemaid's Secret' kept me turning the tables and left me sitting with my mouth open at one of the reveals in the book," wrote one reviewer of the 2023 release, which is one of McFadden's top books. Another noted those who haven't read "The Housemaid" (the first in the series) could still enjoy the follow-up, while a third wrote, "I was completely captivated from start to finish. The twists were as amazing as I hoped they would be, and the ending was perfection."

Rebecca Yarros' "Onyx Storm," the third of three books in the "Empyrean" series (the fantasy romance book series that has dominated the NYT best sellers list), has amassed an average score, at the time of writing, of 4.21 from more than 1.86 million Goodreads ratings. The 2025 fantasy romance carries on Violet Sorrengail's story as she continues her time at Basgiath War College and her romance with Xaden Riorson. Amid her struggles in her schooling and love life, Violet has to embark on a dangerous mission to find people willing to support the Navarre army amid a terrifying war. But that also means harboring a major secret that threatens to destroy everything.

Some Goodreads users praised the shocking ending, while a second stated, "The pacing was well done and the plot was action-packed. There were so many moments that left me reeling and shocked." "My heart raced, I laughed out loud more times than I could count, & yes, I cried like a baby & had to physically pick my jaw up off the floor multiple times," shared another.

One of Freida McFadden's most notable books, "The Housemaid," is her highest ranked work on our list. At the time of writing, the 2022 release and first in "The Housemaid" series has more than 3.85 million ratings on Goodreads, making it the most rated book on our ranking. Millie works for the affluent Winchester family, catering to every one of Andrew Winchester and Nina Wincherster's whims. But she soon finds herself yearning to live Nina's life, so she tries on one of her dresses, thinking no one will know. But Millie soon regrets the move when Nina catches her. Our protagonist then finds herself locked in a bedroom, where some shocking twists unfurl.

"I loved all the little revelations that pop up here and there on top of an incredible story. Just when you think you have it figured out, this novel turns your world upside down," a Goodreads reader wrote in their five-star review. "The plot twist in this book got me good!! I never ever saw it coming. I love how this book started out so creepy and eerie, with Nina behaving so weirdly, and then really escalated in the second half to full-on dangerous," wrote a second fan of the book that became a successful movie starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.

"Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall has a solid score of 4.27 on Goodreads from more than 670,800 ratings at the time of writing. Our protagonist Beth is married to Frank, and the two live a quiet life together full of love. But there's a catch, because Beth has a romantic history she'd prefer not to remember. However, when tragedy strikes a neighbor, she realizes her past can't stay buried. It turns out she's been living in the same vicinity as her ex, Gabriel Wolfe, who broke her heart into pieces all those years ago.

Goodreads reviewers were full of praise for the drama-filled 2025 novel, which was avid reader and actor Reese Witherspoon's favorite book of 2025. "It carries a melodramatic tone but is heartbreakingly powerful, deeply penetrating your emotions," one five-star review stated. A second commented, "The chapters were short, which in turn made this mesmerizing story easy to keep wanting more. Each character was easy to resonate with, and you couldn't help but to feel like you personally knew each and every one of them."

From more than 552,000 Goodreads ratings, Fredrik Backman's "My Friends" has achieved a high average score of 4.32 at the time of writing. In the novel dubbed one of the best fiction books of 2025, our protagonist Laura decides to find out more about three paintings that have mystified people for years. The novel takes readers back in time to when the artwork was created and delves into the important and deeply touching friendships behind their creation.

In one glowing five-star review, a Goodreads user touched on how well Backman balances deep emotion with humor. "This book is about an endless sea, a profound friendship, and a true love story. It delves into grief, sacrifice, fart jokes, uproarious laughter, spontaneous adventures, learning to trust, and protecting loved ones at all costs," they wrote. Another praised Backman for his ability to successfully tell the story in more than one timeline.

2025 historical fiction story "Atmosphere" from Taylor Jenkins Reid has, at the time of writing, a 4.32 rating from more than 956,200 ratings on Goodreads. Set in 1980, the story centers on the super smart Joan Goodwin, who's ready to land her dream job at NASA. She goes head-to-head with a number of other hopeful astronauts waiting for a prestigious space mission, each of whom all have their own personality traits — and secrets. As Joan rises through the ranks, her take on the world changes drastically as she makes new friends, potential lovers, and travels to locations others could only dream of.

In a four-star Goodreads review, one fan wrote, "It's thoughtful, gripping, full of heart, and a beautiful tribute to the women who broke boundaries—both in the skies and within themselves." Others loved the book's romantic elements and pacing, while another four-star reviewer wrote, "It's about love, yes. but it's also about sacrifice. ambition. family. grief."

In the 2025 book "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, we meet avid letter writer Sybil Van Antwerp. She's usually the one writing letters to others, but when she comes across someone else's correspondence, she realizes she has no choice but to try to get some closure during a hugely difficult time in her life. That means finally sharing a deeply personal letter that she's been pouring her feelings into for years. The touching novel has a 4.45 average Goodreads rating from over 724,300 ratings.

"It was truly wonderfully done – so much emotion portrayed and character development showcased by each letter and reveal that I was riveted by her life," one impressed reviewer wrote on Goodreads. "This was uplifting and at times heavy but beautifully written," a second person wrote in a five-star review of the book that was the first pick for Katie Couric's book club. A third praised how real the characters felt and the emotions portrayed in the novel.

Suzanne Collins released "Sunrise on the Reaping" in 2025 as part of her "The Hunger Games" series. On Goodreads, it has a 4.50 average, at the time of writing, from 1.24 million ratings. The dystopian fantasy is a prequel to the original action/romance books (which became a massive movie series) and centers around the 15th Hunger Games, where District 12's Haymitch Abernathy battles it out in the brutal fight to the death competition. Despite the odds being stacked against him, Haymitch isn't going to go down without a fight.

Goodreads users recommended it to fans of the book series, with one reviewer calling it, "A well crafted tale that earns its telling by making the long list of familiar names not merely fan service but an opportunity to reveal new truths, deepen the history, and expose the lies of the Capitol." A second wrote, "As heartbreaking and moving as it was nostalgic."

The 2021 book "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir, which was adapted to make a star-studded movie, is all about Dr. Ryland Grace's desperate attempts to save the earth during an all-or-nothing space mission. After he learns that his fellow astronauts have tragically perished, he has no memory of why he's in space. The stakes are incredibly high though; as the future of planet earth and the human race rests solely on his shoulders. The sci-fi book has a massive over 1.75 million Goodreads ratings and a 4.51 score.

"It's smart, complex, and entertaining, yet also thrilling and claustrophobic, with dark moments perfectly balanced by humor and wit," one astute reviewer wrote on Goodreads. Another commented, "It also has a couple of really good twists, and actually ends up being a far more moving book than I thought it would be." A third praised the author's conversational writing style and shared they found the scientific details interesting.

The most popular book from Goodreads' top 15 most read books of 2026 (so far), according to reviews? "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros. The fantasy novel has a massive over 3.84 million ratings at the time of writing to give the 2023 book a 4.56 score. The first of the "Empyrean" stories introduces us to young Violet Sorrengail and the world of Navarre. At her mom's request, Violet has agreed to become a dragon rider, despite her small frame and fragile nature (which doesn't bode well for dragon riders). But Violet is determined to be a powerful strong woman as she studies at Basgiath War College, and she meets handsome stranger Xaden Riorson along the way.

"It gives you EVERYTHING you crave in romantasy. The drama, the characters, the plot, the action, the betrayal, the romance, the tension," one Goodreads user wrote in a five-star review. "This book is a rollercoaster of twists and had me so hooked from the start!" another wrote, noting the imaginative book deserved all the hype. "The romance is an angsty slow burn, enemies to lovers with spice and oh how brilliantly it was executed," shared a third reader.

To rank Goodreads' top 15 most read books of the year (so far), each release had to be one of the first 15 books on Goodreads' list of the Most Read Books This Year as of July 2026. The release with the highest Goodreads rating at the time of writing took the top spot. In instances where two or more books had the same score, the one with more ratings ranked higher. Both fiction and non-fiction books were considered, and did not have to be released in 2026 to qualify.