Amazon's Top 15 Books Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

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Looking to sink your teeth into the hottest new books of 2026 that readers are actually enjoying? Then you've come to the right place. This year has seen several hugely popular releases hit the shelves, including the likes of "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke (one of Goodreads' most read books of 2026) and "John of John" by Douglas Stewart (one of Oprah's Book Club's top 15 books from her 30 years of picks). And both are amongst Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far compilation too.

Amazon's list included 20 of 2026's newest releases that the outlet's editors have actually read and think are worth your time. To find out if they really are, we ranked the top 15 according to their Goodreads rating at the time of writing. We also took into account Goodreads reader reviews, so you'll get a better idea of the aspects those who have already indulged in each book really enjoyed and if it's worth adding to your TBR list.

"Crux" by Gabriel Tallent has a 3.77 Goodreads score at the time of writing from more than 5,800 ratings. The coming-of-age story details the close friendship between teenagers Dan and Tamma, who share a passion for rock climbing. Though best friends, they're very different people with very different prospects. Their close bond becomes drastically tested when they face major life challenges, including the realities of growing up, plus the realization they may not know one another like they thought.

Months after its January release, the book has predominantly four-star ratings on Goodreads, where one reviewer wrote, "'Crux' is brutal and beautiful — a novel about choice, determination, circumstance, and courage." They also described the novel as, "A heartbreaking, life-affirming masterpiece." Another wrote, "This book does a nice job of so subtly diving into how, in even some of our closest relationships, we so often know so little about one another."

"Transcription" by Ben Lerner faired slightly better than "Crux" with its 3.78 Goodreads score. It has been rated more than 19,200 times at the time of writing and has clearly impressed readers. The contemporary fiction book (released back in spring) sees an unnamed narrator interview a 90-year-old man, though he can't directly record his subject's words after breaking his phone. Instead of coming clean about the mishap, the narrator pretends to record their chat anyway. This means he has to learn new ways to listen and take in the information without relying on technology. As anyone who depends on their phone for everything — from telling the time to organizing their schedule — will know, it's no surprise to hear that it's easier said than done.

"At its core, this is a meditation on how we document our lives. Is memory enough, or do we now rely on recordings to validate what we've lived?" one Goodreads reviewer wrote, adding, "Thoughtful, layered, and quietly provocative...this one lingers." A second gushed, "'Transcription' is an enchantment, both in its simplicity and layers of understanding, in its acuity and puzzlement, in its depiction of how the world is now made of us and our devices."

"Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke is a book that has a lot to say about the tradwife phenomenon by taking a fictional peek behind the scenes at the seemingly perfect lives of one. Natalie has a big online following and thrives on presenting her domestic lifestyle to the masses. But, without warning, she wakes up in a totally different reality — one where she has no followers, nor any electricity. Her family, picture perfect in her other reality, are a lot less polished in this world. They have no recollection of what Natalie believes to be her real life either, so it's all on Natalie to find out what's really going on or if that reality ever even existed. Since April, the novel has been rated over 1.13 million times (making the most rated on our list) for a 3.83 average score at the time of writing, which is little surprise considering Goodreads users crowned the book one of the best new releases of 2026 (so far).

One impressed reader gushed on Goodreads in their five-star review, "Phenomenal. Thought-provoking. Mind-bending. RIVETING. When I tell you I could not put this book down for anything!!! I was so enthralled." In another full marks review, another reader wrote, "Brilliant, biting, and impossible to look away from. This is not a light and fluffy read! It had me running the full gamut of emotion."

At the time of writing, "Into the Blue" by Emma Brodie has a 3.96 score from more than 145,900 ratings. What would you do if a friend you held dear suddenly disappeared from your life? This romance, a May 2026 release perfect for a book club, sees AJ Grave meet famous actor Noah Drew. AJ is dazzled by Noah's glamorous life and the two become fast friends. They even start acting together. But AJ's world is rocked when Noah mysteriously cuts communication. They cross paths again on a TV set seven years on, and it seems there's no other option but for the truth to finally come out.

In one five-star review, a Goodreads user stated of the BookTok fave that made a splash in 2026, "This one was written straight to the sci-fi-loving, Comic-Con cosplaying, TV and movie-obsessed, theater nerds." They added, "It's a love story about two people, but it's about all the great loves we feel...all the big and little things we hang our hearts out on the line for." A second gushed, "The most devastating and heart wrenching love story I have read to date. You want yearning and angst?! THIS IS FOR YOU!!!"

Belle Burden's "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage" was a January release that clearly impressed readers, as its 4.04 Goodreads score at the time of writing from more than 382,600 ratings proves. It impressed actor Emmy Rossum too, as it's a memoir she thinks everyone should read. The author details one of the darkest periods of her life as she endured an unexpected divorce after 20 years of marriage amid the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Talk about bad timing. Burden offers a frank look back at the breakdown of her relationship and details how the heartbreaking time made her who she is today. 

"This is a brilliant but, quite frankly, jaw-dropping account of the implosion of Belle Burden's marriage. It took my breath away," wrote one Goodreads user. They added, "An excellent memoir. It was certainly hard to read but I would highly recommend it to anyone." "Heartbreaking, fascinating, and maddening. An excellent memoir!" another reader said in their five-star review.

"American Men" by Jordan Ritter Conn has the fewest Goodreads ratings on our list at the time of writing (it sits at just over 900), but most who have read it clearly loved it. Since its release in April, it has racked up predominantly four-star reviews on Goodreads and a 4.09 average score. This non-fiction release seeks to examine the power of the patriarchy through examining the lives of four American men. It dives into their relationship with their masculinity and how they've built their identity in a modern world where many men feel under intense pressure to conform to specific expectations.

Amazon senior editor Lindsay Powers chose the book as her favorite of the year. "I can't stop thinking about this intimate, yet enormous, feat of storytelling. It's a page-turning account of men you will root for, and ache for...a refreshing reminder that there are many ways to thrive in a world where opportunities feel fleeting," she said. On Goodreads, users were equally complimentary. One praised Ritter Conn for including a diverse range of men, while another poignantly stated, "This book made me stop and think about how I can be more open & be a better husband & father."

M.L. Stedman's "A Far-Flung Life" has been rated on Goodreads over 32,300 times at the time of writing. Released in March, the historical Australian fiction novel has an average score of 4.11. It focuses on the MacBride family, including Phil MacBride, who changes his and his family's lives forever following a car accident. The MacBride's then face more heartache when one sibling dies and another is faced with a life altering decision. Amid the upheaval, family member Matt MacBride faces his own misfortune as he grapples with seemingly never ending family turmoil.

"A Far-Flung Life" was selected as a personal favorite book by Amazon's senior editor Erin Kodicek. "This beautifully drawn novel reads like a Greek Tragedy set in the Australian Outback, with protagonists of high moral character befallen by misfortune. Readers will root for the gods/Stedman to give them the grace they deserve," she said. On Goodreads, another reader praised the book for its emotionality. "It asks the reader to sit with moral ambiguity, with love that demands sacrifice, and with grief that never fully disappears," they wrote, but noted the story still offered hope to its readers.

"Lady Tremaine" by Rachel Hochhauser is a historical fantasy that aims to flesh out the notorious story of Cinderella's stepmother that so many of us were told as children. It offers an interesting, new perspective on Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley's life by delving into why the classic fairytale villain behaved the way she did toward Cinderella and her own daughters. The book has an average Goodreads score of 4.15 at the time of writing from 108,400 reviews.

In one Goodreads review, a user stated, "The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh." A second gave the novel five-stars and shared, "I was NOT expecting this to be so immersive, dark and twisty, so sharp and gritty. This was unputdownable!"

Lena Dunham tells her story in "Famesick," her memoir with a 4.15 score from over 124,000 Goodreads ratings at the time of writing. The title is also one of Goodreads' top 15 most read biographies/memoirs of 2026. This frank tell-all lifts the lid on Dunham's journey with the hit TV show "Girls," as well as her years of health issues and desperate search for a diagnosis. Dunham also reveals what she's learned from her years in the spotlight as an actor, producer, and writer.

"'Famesick' is more than a(n excellent) celebrity memoir: it's about chronic pain, addiction, grieving the end of a friendship, and being authentically yourself," Amazon editorial director Sarah Gelman wrote when choosing the book as her personal favorite from Amazon's 20 best books. On Goodreads, one reader, who also recommended listening to the audiobook read by Dunham, wrote, "The writing is sharp, intimate, and full of rhythm and it honestly made me want to read a novel written by Lena someday."

In "Land" by Maggie O'Farrell, readers are transported to 1800s Ireland where Tomás and his son Liam are working hard to map out the island for future generations to come. But Tomás makes a major discovery that drastically changes his perspective — and it alters his and Liam's lives forever. Tomás then has a major decision to make about what will be best for himself and his fellow countrymen. This popular historical fiction tale has a 4.19 score at the time of writing from over 64,300 ratings.

On Goodreads, where most reviews were five-star, one user praised O'Farrell's use of magical realism. "[The book] spans countries, politics, nature and history, yet never loses sight of the family at its heart. Everything comes together so seamlessly that it creates a truly immersive and unforgettable reading experience," they also stated. Another wrote, "'Land' is a beautiful book of storytelling. It is also a novel about separation and reunion, tragedy and recovery, colonization and rebellion."

With a 4.21 score averaged from more than 118,700 ratings at the time of writing, "Kin" by Tayari Jones has proven a hit with Goodreads users. It's also a hit with Oprah Winfrey, as it was amongst Oprah's Book Club's 2026 picks. The historical fiction novel tells the story of close friends who are dealt very different fates in life. While Annie faces almost endless hardships and feels abandoned by her loved ones, Vernice lives a more lavish lifestyle surrounded by family. This book examines how their friendship endures the many ups and downs of their lives, and will likely make readers look inward at their own lives and relationships. 

"Jones crafts a narrative rich in love, marriage, motherhood, and, most powerfully, sisterhood. We feel the characters' hopes, fears, and dreams which allows readers to root for them at every turn," wrote one impressed Goodreads reader. "Jones's writing is haunting and intimate—clear, reflective, and marked by emotional restraint and intellectual clarity," said another.

"John of John" by Douglas Stuart follows John-Calum "Cal" Macleod's Scottish homecoming. While Cal's time away in the big city has broadened his horizons, he realizes little has changed when he heads back to his hometown to be reunited with his family. Cal has to make some important decisions about how he'll live the rest of his life as he deals with having a fresh perspective on old habits. The fictional tale has been rated more than 56,000 times and has a 4.24 Goodreads score at the time of writing.

The release has mostly five-star reviews on Goodreads. "The atmosphere is heavy and definitely melancholy, but Stuart's writing is stunning and, after each reading session, it stayed with me long after I closed my eReader," one read. "'John of John' is everything a reader looks for in a novel that dissects family dynamics, deception, and trauma. Reading this novel is like peeling back layers of an onion," said another.

Looking for a gripping true crime book? Dive into the late Zac's mysterious story in Patrick Radden Keefe's "London Falling." Prior to his death, teenager Zac had claimed to some less-than-wholesome characters in the British capital that he was the son of an uber wealthy and powerful man. His real parents, a British couple, had no idea about Zac's lies. As they dove deeper into their late son's secret life in London, they became convinced his death, which was ruled a suicide, wasn't. The book has been rated 104,800 at the time of writing and has a 4.26 average score.

"London Falling" was chosen as an editor's personal favorite by Amazon senior editor Al Woodworth. She wrote, "Illuminating and unforgettable, Patrick Radden Keefe delivers another knock-out narrative nonfiction." On Goodreads, one user praised Radden Keefe's investigative journalism skills. "I loved how he weaved in the history of the families involved to give all the main subjects a greater depth," they said.

With a 4.37 Goodreads score from 420,800 ratings at the time of writing, "Mad Mabel" from Sally Hepworth just missed out on the top spot. It's a popular Australian-set mystery thriller and a book with an older main character that's perfect to read in your late 60s and beyond. A well-mannered 81-year-old woman can't possibly have committed the murder of her neighbor, right? Right. But, that's not what young Persephone thinks. The little girl is highly suspicious of the octogenarian, and her inquisitive nature digs up a dark secret Elsie would prefer to stay buried. 

One Goodreads user claimed the book gave them feelings on a wide spectrum, going from laughter to anger. Another noted the book wasn't the cozy mystery they were expecting. "It is a deep, heartfelt tale about family toxicity, hate, loneliness but most of all love in all its forms and at all stages of life," they wrote.

In "The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett, the author takes readers back to the 1930s when three girls and women of different ages (Meg, Charlie, and Birdie) come together. They form an alliance, which involves hatching a bold and daring plan to get all of them get back on their feet after tough times. But that's easier said than done, and they could potentially leave plenty of collateral damage in their wake. The top Amazon book of 2026 when ranked by Goodreads ratings has a 4.60 score from more than 525,700 ratings at the time of writing.

Unsurprisingly considering its spot on our list, most Goodreads reviews gave the book five stars. One was full of praise for Stockett's writing and read, "Every storyline matters, every secret eventually pays off, and there was this quiet sense that something wasn't quite right that kept me turning the pages." Another review stated, "Kathryn Stockett paints a vivid picture of Depression-era Mississippi, blending heartbreak, humor, resilience, and social commentary into a sprawling Southern tale." We've also compiled the books to read after "The Calamity Club" for more gripping historical fiction.

We selected 15 books using Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far roundup. The list included 20 books, released prior to June 2026, all chosen by Amazon's book editors. To rank them, we placed them in order of their reader-given Goodreads rating out of 5.0 (at the time of writing) and took into consideration what Goodreads users wrote in their reviews. When two books had the same score, like in the case of "Lady Tremaine" by Rachel Hochhauser and "Famesick" by Lena Dunham, Dunham's book ranked higher due to a higher volume of ratings.