The Best 2026 Books I’ve Read So Far (All 5-Star Reads)

Read this book with your book club, one other friend, or just for yourself. It’s a story that deserves to be told, and you deserve to hear it.

This historical fiction novel didn’t just introduce me to admirable characters; it did the thing I enjoy most of excellent historical fiction: it illuminated a person who had a significant impact in their circle, all the more important if that person is mostly lost in the quiet archives of history.

Based on the true story of Mabel Grammer, a journalist and wife of a chief warrant officer in the US Army, who discovered the plight of hundreds of parentless children in Germany. These children, with black US military fathers and white German mothers, were in orphanages, abandoned by choice or horrible circumstance, and welcomed by neither the US nor Germany. Grammer established the “Brown Baby Plan” and worked tirelessly to find adoptive homes in African American families in the US. This work of fiction tells a bit of her story.

A re-imagining of Cinderella’s evil stepmother story from a different – and decidedly non-fairy-tale – perspective.

As informative as it was entertaining, this was a stark reminder that a woman’s existence depended on the whims of fate, society, and, of course, men. In this retelling, we hear from Ethel, the stepmother, who was a devoted mother and a resilient woman who made brave, brilliant, and, more than once, rather questionable choices to secure her daughters’ futures. 

For audiobook readers, Bessie Carter’s narration is perfection. Her delivery brought this book to life and pulled the reader right into the story. In the end, when she asks if she “did the right thing”, you may have reservations, but you’ll want to stand and cheer.

A story of love, resilience, sacrifice, and trying to do the right thing when everything around you feels broken.

I’m not going to lie, this book was often difficult to read. One friend called it disturbing, another called it incredible. I call it both. It tells the story of a family whose course changes in an instant and who continues to suffer tragedies as a result of that one moment in time. Some things that happen in this book are indeed unsettling, but what helped me was remembering that the characters were not so much “doing” these things as these things were being “done to them” as a consequence of that one devastating incident.

A character-rich novel with a sweeping timeline and plenty of plot, this story is a triumph.

Fake-dating, non-fluffy, romcom perfection.

Who says a romcom can’t have substance? Dolly has cared for those she loves her entire life. She’s never regretted it, and she’s quick to bury the rare feelings of resentment. But this summer her wealthy childhood nemesis needs a favor, and her family home needs the new roof he promises to provide. Typical romcom setup, but in characteristic Annabelle Monaghan style, not typical romcom fluff. Queue the self-discovery, the “let’s get to the heart of the issue,” and the feel-good vibes that come with the journey. If you like a romance that’s about more than the butterflies, this should be on your TBR.

Reading the synopsis, you’d never guess this is an ode to friendship (spoiler: it is). It’s also a mystery, a character study, and a warning.

Elsie is 81 years old: grumpy, independent, and intent on keeping everyone at arm’s length. But in her early years, she was known as Mad Mabel, Melbourne’s youngest convicted murderer. When her neighbor turns up dead, her past is discovered, and she becomes the prime suspect. The world has always thought she was guilty, and she never tried to change that, but maybe it’s time…

With a dual then/now timeline and a quirky cast of characters, there were plenty of people to love (morally gray areas notwithstanding), and some to loathe. Elsie’s never-ending supply of wry one-liners in the present keeps the darkness of the past at bay, giving the book a lighter feel than many mysteries despite some dark themes. My favorite Sally Hepworth novel yet!

Read this now if there is a rift between you and someone you love. Often, even the most painful hurts aren’t one-sided.

This book is classic Uplit: hard topics are treated with handfuls of grace and buckets of humor.

Sisters Rose and Poppy were as close as sisters could be, but now in their 40s, they’ve been estranged for almost as long as they were best friends. When Andrea, their vibrant, creative mother, finds out she’s dying, she concocts a scavenger hunt-ish trek through their lives that she hopes will bring them back together, calling it the A to Z of Everything.

This story earned its 5 stars with its emotional punch delivered with Johnson’s signature easy hand.