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11genres
340books sorted
Have a favorite genre you like to read? Every book I've reviewed in it is consolidated here, grouped by the rating I gave it — so you can start with the five-star shelf and work down, rather than scrolling a whole year to find the thrillers.
Literature & Fiction
133 reviewed · 3.8 avg rating★★★★★Five stars
23 books
Book
Rating
Genre
The Correspondent
Virginia EvansBEST OF2025#1 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#1 of 2025Audiobook
An innovative character study in which an aging woman's life story is revealed through the letters she writes and receives from a myriad of people.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Pirate Queen
Ariel Lawhon#1 of 2026
★★★★★#1 of 2026
Like an Irish version of Braveheart, at sea, with a badass woman at the helm, it reimagines the life of Ireland's legendary pirate queen Grace O'Malley.
★★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
Thistlefoot
Gennarose NethercottBEST OF2022#1 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#1 of 2022
The reunion of 2 siblings around a mysterious house is the backdrop for this lyrical beauty of a novel, my favorite of 2022.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
We Begin at the End
Chris WhitakerBEST OF2021#1 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#1 of 2021
A thought-provoking and heartbreaking coming of age story, mixed with a small town mystery. My clear favorite of 2021 by a wide margin
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Anthony DoerrBEST OF2021#2 of 2021
★★★★★BEST OF2021#2 of 2021
An ambitious, sprawling novel that intertwines 3 storylines across different places and times, but magically comes together in the end
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Demon Copperhead
Barbara KingsolverBEST OF2022#2 of 2022
★★★★★BEST OF2022#2 of 2022
An ode to Charles Dickens in the form of a modern retelling of David Copperfield, set in Appalachian Virginia over the last 30+ years.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
James
Percival EverettBEST OF2024#2 of 2024Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2024#2 of 2024Audiobook
More than a retelling of "Huck Finn" from the point of view of Jim, this is a brilliant treatise on race and slavery in 1860s America.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Covenant of Water
Abraham VergheseBEST OF2023#2 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#2 of 2023
It's long, but it's also a brilliant tour de force, presenting a multi-generational character study spanning nearly 80 years in India.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
All the Colors of the Dark
Chris WhitakerBEST OF2024#3 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#3 of 2024
Whitaker delivers another masterpiece of character development while tackling several tough topics -- a challenging but uplifting read
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Broken Country
Clare Leslie HallBEST OF2025#3 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#3 of 2025Audiobook
A small town, a love triangle, a murder, and a trial form the foundation of this twisty, emotional novel set in mid-1900s England.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller Romance
Lady Tremaine
Rachel Hochhauser#3 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#3 of 2026Audiobook
A brilliant retelling of Cinderella from the "wicked" stepmother's perspective, this witty, inventive historical drama completely reimagines a classic villain.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Atmosphere
Taylor Jenkins ReidBEST OF2025#4 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★BEST OF2025#4 of 2025Audiobook
Filled with tragedy, perseverance, and love, the novel focuses on the fictional first women in the NASA space program in the early 1980s.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Small Mercies
Dennis LehaneBEST OF2023#4 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#4 of 2023
A masterful book, Lehane's best since Mystic River, set against the racial tensions of Boston school busing during the summer of '74.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Mayor of Maxwell Street
Avery CunninghamBEST OF2024#4 of 2024
★★★★★BEST OF2024#4 of 2024
Skillful dialogue and prose adorn this debut that combines a love story with the search for a mysterious gangster in 1920s Chicago.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke#4 of 2026
★★★★★#4 of 2026
A "tradwife" and Instagram influencer has cultivated a seemingly idyllic life for herself and family, but it's all upended when she wakes up one day in 1855.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Science Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Five
Ilona Bannister#5 of 2026
★★★★★#5 of 2026
Jaw-dropping dialogue and moral judgement set the tone for this dark exploration of five neurodiverse characters, one of which we're told will die by the end of the book.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Nothing To See Here
Kevin WilsonBEST OF2020#5 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#5 of 2020
An old friend desperatly needs Lillian's help caring for her kids. There's one catch, though: when the kids get upset, they catch fire
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Still Life
Sarah WinmanBEST OF2023#5 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#5 of 2023
A beautifully written character study of a cast of memorable souls that spans 30 years from the end of World War II until the mid-70s.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Throwback
Maurene GooBEST OF2025#5 of 2025
★★★★★BEST OF2025#5 of 2025
Goo's sweet time travel tale sees a 17-year-old from 2025 transported back to 1995 to try to help her own mother win homecoming queen.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
American Dirt
Jeanine CumminsBEST OF2020#7 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#7 of 2020
The journey of a mother and her son as they flee Acapulco for the United States after becoming targets of the local cartel.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Starling House
Alix E. HarrowBEST OF2023#8 of 2023
★★★★★BEST OF2023#8 of 2023
Harrow returns to top form with a genre-blending story of a young woman trying to scrape by in a town haunted by its past and secrets.
★★★★★
Fantasy Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
Beth BrowerGuest reviewAudiobookBook 1 · The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
★★★★★Guest reviewAudiobookBook 1 · The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
Think Gilmore Girls meets Jane Eyre: a witty Victorian heroine, a quirky London neighborhood, and the journal series that became my happy place.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Women
Kristin HannahGuest review
★★★★★Guest review
A historical opus that examines the horrors of the Vietnam War and its turbulent aftermath through the eyes of a young female nurse.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Four and three-quarter stars
10 books
Book
Rating
Genre
All My Rage
Sabaa TahirBEST OF2022#4 of 2022
★★★★BEST OF2022#4 of 2022
An exploration of the immigrant experience through the story of 2 high school students of Pakistani descent, growing up in rural CA.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
King of Ashes
S.A. CosbyBEST OF2025#6 of 2025
★★★★BEST OF2025#6 of 2025
Edgy, violent, and dark, Cosby's latest sees a successful money manager sucked into working for a sadistic gang in order to save his brother.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Great Circle
Maggie ShipsteadBEST OF2021#7 of 2021
★★★★BEST OF2021#7 of 2021
Meet protagonist Marian Graves, a woman in determined to fly planes in the early 1900s at a time when women, quite simply, didn't.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Bright Years
Sarah Damoff#7 of 2026
★★★★#7 of 2026
A moving generational novel that authentically captures a litany of life moments, from the highs of true love to the challenges of addiction.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghyBEST OF2025#8 of 2025
★★★★BEST OF2025#8 of 2025
When a woman washes ashore on a remote island, the lone family living there nurses her back to health. But both parties have secrets...
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ KluneBEST OF2020#9 of 2020Book 1 · The Cerulean Chronicles
★★★★BEST OF2020#9 of 2020Book 1 · The Cerulean Chronicles
A lovely and cheeky queer story, this traces the evolution of a man as he comes to grips with his professional and sexual identity.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Ordinary Grace
William Kent Krueger#11 of 2023
★★★★#11 of 2023
A 1961 coming-of-age story about a boy in rural Minnesota, who is forced to deal with tragedy as he navigates his path to manhood.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Names
Florence KnappBEST OF2025#11 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★BEST OF2025#11 of 2025Audiobook
A mother debates what to name her son, and her three choices create three parallel timelines in this mature and solidly composed debut.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Wedding People
Alison EspachBEST OF2024#11 of 2024
★★★★BEST OF2024#11 of 2024
A woman travels to a luxury hotel with plans to kill herself but instead gets wrapped up in the wedding festivities happening on site.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Heart the Lover
Lily KingBEST OF2025#12 of 2025
★★★★BEST OF2025#12 of 2025
A short read that explores the all-encompassing experience of young love and how it is put in perspective upon reflection later in life.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Four and a half stars
14 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Nightcrawling
Leila MottleyBEST OF2022#8 of 2022
★★★★BEST OF2022#8 of 2022
The story of Kiara, a young woman 3 months shy of her 18th birthday, living in East Oakland and trying to scrape by on her own.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle ZevinBEST OF2022#9 of 2022
★★★★BEST OF2022#9 of 2022
Spanning 30 years of the main characters' lives, it's the story of 3 friends inspired to create something great in the world of gaming
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Whistler
Ann Patchett#14 of 2026
★★★★#14 of 2026
A chance museum encounter reunites a woman with her long-lost former stepfather, unearthing a decades-old secret that reshaped every life it touched.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Peck & Peck
Bonnie Garmus#15 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#15 of 2026Audiobook
A poetry lover lands his dream job at the world's top poetry quarterly and then gets caught in a feud between its warring editors in this whimsical, feel-good novel.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Three Lives of Cate Kay
Kate Fagan#16 of 2025
★★★★#16 of 2025
An author who has fiercely protected her anonymity—despite writing the biggest book series on the planet—finally tells all in a memoir.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Death of Us
Abigail Dean#17 of 2025
★★★★#17 of 2025
Nearly twenty-five years after a home invader destroyed their lives, a couple reunites to provide victim personal statements at his trial.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins#18 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#18 of 2025Audiobook
Collins returns to give us the origin story of Haymitch Abernathy in a way that might make this the best Hunger Games novel to-date.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Calamity Club
Kathryn Stockett#18 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#18 of 2026Audiobook
In her first book since The Help, Kathryn Stockett transports us to 1933 Mississippi where a female-driven cast exposes the misogynistic society of the time.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
King Sorrow
Joe Hill#19 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#19 of 2026Audiobook
An epic story about friendship and betrayal, this behemoth of a novel follows six college friends who make a Faustian deal with a dragon.
★★★★
Horror Fantasy Literature & Fiction
Great Big Beautiful Life
Emily Henry#24 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#24 of 2025Audiobook
Two writers compete for the opportunity to author the memoir of a reclusive heiress while coming to realize they might just be soulmates.
★★★★
Romance Literature & Fiction
The Wishing Game
Meg Shaffer#27 of 2025
★★★★#27 of 2025
A teacher's aide who dreams of adopting a young boy from her school competes in a contest for the sole copy of a reclusive author's new book.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Girls Who Grew Big
Leila Mottley#28 of 2025
★★★★#28 of 2025
Another gritty offering from Mottley, who this time explores teen pregnancy and a small group of teen moms who help each other through it.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
You Are Here
David Nicholls#29 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#29 of 2025Audiobook
A sweet and heartfelt story about finding love when you least expect it, told with a distinctly British cheekiness and sense of humor.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Foster
Claire Keegan#31 of 2025
★★★★#31 of 2025
A quick 50-page read, the story of a young girl who is delivered by her father to stay with a family in a neighboring town in Ireland.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Four and a quarter stars
12 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Apples Never Fall
Liane MoriartyBEST OF2021#11 of 2021
★★★★BEST OF2021#11 of 2021
When the matriarch of the famous Delaney tennis family goes missing, family dynamics and long-held grudges are on full display.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Dear Edward
Ann NapolitanoBEST OF2020#11 of 2020
★★★★BEST OF2020#11 of 2020
When a 12-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 183, including his parents and brother, what happens next?
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Once and Future Witches
Alex E. HarrowBEST OF2020#12 of 2020
★★★★BEST OF2020#12 of 2020
Three sisters join forces to influence the suffragist movement, but they must tap into old magic to level the playing field.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Age of Vice
Deepti Kapoor#20 of 2023
★★★★#20 of 2023
Thinking this is going to be the "Indian Godfather" is setting your expectations way too high, but it's an intriguing character study.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Wayfinder
Adam Johnson#21 of 2026
★★★★#21 of 2026
An immense and dense epic literary journey through the South Pacific of 1000 years ago that explores the struggle for power on Tonga.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
A Far-flung Life
M.L. Stedman#27 of 2026
★★★★#27 of 2026
A tragic accident on a remote sheep station eventually leads to a dark family secret in this character-driven exploration of duty and psyche in the Australian Outback.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Kin
Tayari Jones#28 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#28 of 2026Audiobook
Bound as cradle friends after both losing their mothers, two girls grow into wildly different adult lives—one of privilege, one chasing reunion.
★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
The Children
Melissa Albert#29 of 2026
★★★★#29 of 2026
A haunting, dual-timeline tale of estranged siblings reckoning with a traumatic childhood serves up a unique blend of family drama and dark fairy tale.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Horror Fantasy Mystery and Thriller
What Happened to the McCrays?
Tracey Lange#30 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#30 of 2026Audiobook
A man returns home to Potsdam, NY to care for his father after a stroke, forcing him to confront past demons that led to his abrupt departure.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Into the Blue
Emma Brodie#31 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#31 of 2026Audiobook
Two actors with an undeniable connection explore a relentless on-again, off-again romance in this spicy, love-it-or-hate-it read built for the theater crowd.
★★★★
Romance Literature & Fiction
What Kind of Paradise
Janelle Brown#33 of 2025
★★★★#33 of 2025
A girl grows up in a remote cabin with just her father, whose distrust of technology and government snowballs with each passing year.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
Buckeye
Patrick Ryan#35 of 2025
★★★★#35 of 2025
A generational character study centered on the intertwined lives of two families in a small Ohio town, focused mostly on identity and the impact of war.
★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
★★★★★Four stars
6 books
Book
Rating
Genre
When We Were Vikings
Andrew David MacDonaldBEST OF2020#15 of 2020
★★★★★BEST OF2020#15 of 2020
Zelda, a 20-year-old with mild developmental disabilities, channels her love of vikings and embarks on a “quest to become legendary".
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
James McBride#22 of 2023
★★★★★#22 of 2023
Set in the 1930s, an expansive cast from the Black and Jewish section of Pottstown, PA come together to rally around a common cause.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
Robert Dugoni#25 of 2024
★★★★★#25 of 2024
A book club darling of a novel about a boy born with ocular albinism (red eyes), whose life I found less extraordinary than expected.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride
Will Leitch#40 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★★#40 of 2025Audiobook
An Atlanta cop with a secret terminal brain tumor attempts to orchestrate his death in the line of duty to help his family financially.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Cherry Baby
Rainbow RowellGuest review
★★★★★Guest review
A 36-year-old woman navigates divorce and reclaims her identity from a comic character based on her in this latest adult novel from Rainbow Rowell.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Real Americans
Rachel KhongGuest review
★★★★★Guest review
A multi-generational novel that focuses on a Chinese-American family while tackling issues of class, race, technology, and belonging.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Three and three-quarter stars
9 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Hello Beautiful
Ann Napolitano#27 of 2023
★★★★#27 of 2023
Napolitano once again tugs at heartstrings by creating memorable characters who share moments of happiness amid plenty of tragedy.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Yellowface
R.F. Kuang#29 of 2023
★★★★#29 of 2023
Societal commentary abounds in this story of a white author stealing the final manuscript of an Asian American author after her death.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
When the World Tips Over
Jandy Nelson#34 of 2024
★★★★#34 of 2024
A story of love, growth, and second chances, the novel follows a set of siblings as they discover their family's complex history.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Guncle
Steven Rowley#38 of 2024
★★★★#38 of 2024
Equal parts funny, heartwarming, and sad, the story of a gay uncle pressed into temporary custody of his niece and nephew for a summer
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
My Friends
Fredrik Backman#41 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#41 of 2025Audiobook
Told mostly via flashbacks about four childhood friends, the novel focuses on resiliency and found family in the face of domestic violence and neglect.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Burning Side
Sarah Damoff#41 of 2026
★★★★#41 of 2026
A house fire is the jumping off point for this novel less about the partial loss of a home and more about the fractured relationship in it.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
When Lemons Give You Life
Anna Johnston#45 of 2026
★★★★#45 of 2026
A former chef fakes dementia in a nursing home before finding redemption and a new reason to live in this latest from the author of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Theo of Golden
Allen Levi#46 of 2025
★★★★#46 of 2025
A mysterious and private man appears one day in a small Georgia town and begins to have a profoundly positive impact on several residents.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
When the Cranes Fly South
Lisa Ridzén#46 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#46 of 2026Audiobook
An 89-year-old Swedish man narrates as we sail along this sad journey focused on the challenges and indignities encountered at the end of life.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Three and a half stars
8 books
Book
Rating
Genre
The Berry Pickers
Amanda Peters#35 of 2023
★★★★#35 of 2023
A decent but unremarkable debut about a young girl's disappearance, its impact on her family, and ultimately their path to reuniting.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Martyr!
Kaveh Akbar#39 of 2024
★★★★#39 of 2024
A young Iranian-American man muddles through life trying to find his purpose before eventually fixating on martyrdom as the answer.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Margo's Got Money Troubles
Rufi Thorpe#41 of 2024
★★★★#41 of 2024
When a 19-year-old finds herself desperate for cash after having a child with her professor, she turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Hollywood, Ending
John Green#51 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#51 of 2026Audiobook
A former child star and an unknown actor fall for each other on an indie set while dealing with their personal demons in this novel that is part romance, part Hollywood rebuke.
★★★★
Romance Literature & Fiction
The Left and the Lucky
Willy Vlautin#52 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#52 of 2026Audiobook
A housepainter and an eight-year-old escaping an abusive brother forge an unlikely friendship in blue-collar Portland in this quiet, Steinbeck-tinged read.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Three Days in June
Anne Tyler#52 of 2025
★★★★#52 of 2025
A woman must set aside losing her job the day before her daughter's wedding as she navigates the intricacies of the wedding weekend.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
Colleen Oakley#53 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#53 of 2026Audiobook
A heist/hostage situation at an elite restaurant is the vehicle for this novel to explore marriage and parenting as much as the heist.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
Anna Johnston#55 of 2025
★★★★#55 of 2025
A chance set of events leads to a down-on-his-luck elderly man assuming the identity of another in this sweetly sappy feel-good story.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Three and a quarter stars
14 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Weyward
Emilia Hart#37 of 2023
★★★★#37 of 2023
Hart's tale of women finding their power through witchcraft is diluted by her one-dimensional portrayal of universally horrible men.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Bright Young Women
Jessica Knoll#47 of 2024
★★★★#47 of 2024
A reimagining of the events leading up to and surrounding the crimes of Ted Bundy, with a focus on the victims rather than the killer.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
I Cheerfully Refuse
Leif Enger#49 of 2024
★★★★#49 of 2024
Richly rendered characters living in a deteriorating society, Enger's novel merges bits of beauty into an overwhelmingly sad world.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Daikon
Samuel Hawley#57 of 2025
★★★★#57 of 2025
A speculative historical novel that imagines what might have happened if Japan gained possession of an atomic bomb near the end of World War II.
★★★★
Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
Before We Were Yours
Lisa Wingate#58 of 2025
★★★★#58 of 2025
Two lives unexpectedly intertwine as a Senator's daughter connects with an elderly woman who might be secretly connected to the young woman's family.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
Meredith, Alone
Claire Alexander#59 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#59 of 2026Audiobook
A depressing, poignant look at agoraphobia and abuse in many forms, focused on a woman who hasn't left her home in over three years.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Perfection
Vincenzo Latronico#59 of 2025
★★★★#59 of 2025
A portrait of Gen Y from the perspective of a couple who "came of age with the internet" and spend their days seeking happiness, mostly without success.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree
India Hayford#61 of 2026
★★★★#61 of 2026
A snake-handling drifter crosses paths with a soldier recently back from Vietnam; together they help his family escape an abusive situation.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Book Witch
Meg Shaffer#62 of 2026
★★★★#62 of 2026
A "Book Witch" must use her ability to teleport into books to solve a mystery in her own life when her grandfather and most prized possession go missing.
★★★★
Fantasy Literature & Fiction
Life, and Death, and Giants
Ron Rindo#63 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#63 of 2026Audiobook
A giant Amish boy becomes a national sensation through his record-breaking athletic feats before the story leans hard into tragedy that starts to feel gratuitous.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Under the Falls
Richard Russo#65 of 2026
★★★★#65 of 2026
A rock star returns to the rural NY mountain town he abandoned at eighteen, forcing him to confront a past that brings long-buried secrets to the surface.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Crux
Gabriel Tallent#66 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#66 of 2026Audiobook
Two high school friends use rock climbing to try to escape a seemingly predetermined future in this emotionally heavy character study from Gabriel Tallent.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Crooks
Lou Berney#67 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#67 of 2026Audiobook
A short story collection masquerading as a novel, it follows the exploits of a family who consistently find themselves on the fringe of honest society.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
This Book Made Me Think of You
Libby Page#69 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#69 of 2026Audiobook
Six months after her husband dies, a woman finds out he left her a year of books, one per month, to help her heal and move forward.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Romance
★★★★★Three stars
12 books
Book
Rating
Genre
City of Dreams
Don Winslow#42 of 2023Book 2 · The Danny Ryan Trilogy
★★★★★#42 of 2023Book 2 · The Danny Ryan Trilogy
The 2nd book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy fails to live up to the 1st, but it's a quick read if you want more time with the Dogtown crew.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Go As A River
Shelley Read#45 of 2023
★★★★★#45 of 2023
A mostly tragic decades-spanning debut about a young woman dealing with adversity while growing up in rural Colorado circa 1950.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
This Tender Land
William Kent Krueger#47 of 2023
★★★★★#47 of 2023
Inflated expectations probably diminished my enjoyment of this river odyssey tale. It's an okay story, but Ordinary Grace it is not.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The River is Waiting
Wally Lamb#62 of 2025
★★★★★#62 of 2025
Exploring addiction, incarceration, and the impact of tragedy on a family, the story follows a father serving a 3-year sentence.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Finding Grace
Loretta Rothschild#63 of 2025
★★★★★#63 of 2025
A difficult novel to review without spoiling the story, it focuses on a family trying to have another child before a shocking event disrupts everything.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Compound
Aisling Rawle#64 of 2025
★★★★★#64 of 2025
A modern take on Lord of the Flies, centered around a reality TV show, where winning depends on who can be the most self-absorbed and materialistic.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Science Fiction
The Warbler
Sarah Beth Durst#65 of 2025
★★★★★#65 of 2025
A woman tries to break a curse which causes the women in her family to transform into a tree forever if they stay in a place too long.
★★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction Fantasy
The Things We Never Say
Elizabeth Strout#71 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#71 of 2026Audiobook
A brief, introspective read in which themes of free will, identity, and interpersonal relationships are explored through a teacher's midlife crisis.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Lake Effect
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney#73 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★★#73 of 2026Audiobook
An exploration of the fallout of a 1977 affair and divorce over several decades. Despite nuanced characters, this family drama mostly missed the mark for me.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
We Burned So Bright
TJ Klune#74 of 2026
★★★★★#74 of 2026
When an encroaching "rogue black hole" gives Earth less than a month before annihilation, two men travel by RV from Maine to Washington to complete one final task.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Here One Moment
Liane MoriartyGuest review
★★★★★Guest review
Another attempt to imagine "what would you do if you knew you when you would die", but like other similar novels this also falls flat.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Emperor of Gladness
Ocean VuongGuest review
★★★★★Guest review
A young Vietnamese-American man and an elderly Lithuanian woman form a bond in this bleak book which should have be titled "The Emperor of Sadness".
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Two and three-quarter stars
4 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Angeline Boulley#49 of 2023Book 2 · Firekeeper's Daughter
★★★★#49 of 2023Book 2 · Firekeeper's Daughter
A rushed sophomore slump of a novel that fails to live up to Boulley's first book, Firekeeper's Daughter, in almost every way.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
City in Ruins
Don Winslow#60 of 2024Book 3 · The Danny Ryan Trilogy
★★★★#60 of 2024Book 3 · The Danny Ryan Trilogy
The Danny Ryan trilogy coasts to a conclusion, wrapping up open plot points but mostly just checking the box in this mailed-in effort.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
Black Woods, Blue Sky
Eowyn Ivey#73 of 2025
★★★★#73 of 2025
A young mother falls for a strange, disfigured man and chooses to live with him and her 6-year-old daughter in a remote Alaskan cabin.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Heartwood
Amity Gaige#75 of 2025
★★★★#75 of 2025
The search for a missing hiker in Maine serves as the backdrop for this novel more focused on the complexities of human relationships.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★Two and a half stars
7 books
Book
Rating
Genre
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie#50 of 2023
★★★★#50 of 2023
The semi-autobiographical account of the author's childhood, focused on him leaving the reservation to attend a white high school.
★★★★
Memoir Literature & Fiction
Signal Fires
Dani Shapiro#52 of 2023
★★★★#52 of 2023
A character study of two neighboring families on the outskirts of New York City. I hoped for spellbinding; what I got was milquetoast.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Whispers
Ashley Audrain#53 of 2023
★★★★#53 of 2023
Audrain once again examines the trials of parenting, but this time fails to balance character flaws with anything remotely redeemable.
★★★★
Mystery and Thriller Literature & Fiction
North Woods
Daniel Mason#61 of 2024
★★★★#61 of 2024
A series of loosely-related vignettes spanning 400 years show off Mason's literary prowess but fail to coalesce into something special
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Run for the Hills
Kevin Wilson#76 of 2025
★★★★#76 of 2025
A woman's life is upended when a half-brother she didn't know she had convinces her to join him on a road trip to find their father.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Frankie
Graham Norton#78 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#78 of 2025Audiobook
A recounting of the fictional life of Frankie Howe, from Ireland to London to America and back, spanning the 1950s to today.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Historical Fiction
American Fantasy
Emma Straub#79 of 2026
★★★★#79 of 2026
A boy band cruise tries to offer nostalgia but fails to set sail in this disappointing look at fame and aging that lacks the heart and romance expected.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Romance
★★★★Two and a quarter stars
5 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Good Eggs
Rebecca Hardiman#56 of 2023
★★★★#56 of 2023
It's primarily a character study, but for all the time spent developing the characters, I unfortunately didn't especially like them.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Butter
Asako Yuzuki#79 of 2025
★★★★#79 of 2025
Mostly character study plus social commentary, it follows a fictional female journalist in Japan as she interviews a convicted serial killer.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction Mystery and Thriller
The Shampoo Effect
Jenny Jackson#80 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#80 of 2026Audiobook
A writer joins a tight-knit coastal town only to feel isolated by decades of shared history in this slice-of-life character study full of people I couldn't care less about.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Taipei Story
R.F. Kuang#81 of 2026Audiobook
★★★★#81 of 2026Audiobook
Informative about Taipei and the slow grind of language immersion, but with little plot and an unlikable cast, this novel that reads like a memoir fell flat for me.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Midnight Train
Matt Haig#82 of 2026Book 2 · The Midnight World
★★★★#82 of 2026Book 2 · The Midnight World
While not exactly a sequel, Matt Haig revisits the premise of 2020's The Midnight Library with another examination of the different paths our lives can take.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★★Two stars
3 books
Book
Rating
Genre
Hang the Moon
Jeannette Walls#57 of 2023
★★★★★#57 of 2023
A disjointed mess of a novel about a young woman growing up during Prohibition in rural Virginia. I wanted this to be so much better.
★★★★★
Literature & Fiction
The Ministry of Time
Kaliane Bradley#63 of 2024
★★★★★#63 of 2024
An alternative take on Stranger in a Strange Land; social commentary abounds as an 1847 explorer tries to acclimate to modern society.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Literature & Fiction
Homebound
Portia Elan#85 of 2026
★★★★★#85 of 2026
A multi-timeline story that had me hopeful for something akin to Cloud Cuckoo Land unfortunately sputters to a disjointed and wholly unsatisfying conclusion.
★★★★★
Science Fiction Literature & Fiction
★★★★One and three-quarter stars
4 books
Book
Rating
Genre
A Tale for the Time Being
Ruth Ozeki#58 of 2023
★★★★#58 of 2023
Welcome to A Tale for the Time Being, or as it may alternatively be known, “the most depressing book I've read in years".
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Queen Esther
John Irving#82 of 2025
★★★★#82 of 2025
A strange and polarizing story, focused mostly on a New Hampshire family and their youngest grandson as he searches for identity and belonging.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Sandwich
Catherine Newman#83 of 2025Audiobook
★★★★#83 of 2025Audiobook
A menopausal mother narrates her family's week at the beach on Cape Cod—their 20th in a row—while musing on the changes life brings.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
Seek Immediate Shelter
Vincent Yu#86 of 2026
★★★★#86 of 2026
A false missile alert sparks eighteen minutes of panic, but the stories that follow are vindictive and repetitive, and the premise never pays off.
★★★★
Literature & Fiction
★★★★One and a half stars
1 book
★★★★★One star
1 book
Why this page isn't a single ranking
Each book's rank is its position within the year I read it. That makes it directional, not absolute: the best book of a thin year and the fifth-best of a strong one can't be stacked against each other honestly. So these are grouped by the rating I gave them, which is comparable across years, and ordered within each group by how they placed in their own year. Where I have ranked an author's books against each other, that list says so and shows the numbers.
Want more like these?
One email on the first of every month with a summary and rating of each book reviewed over the past 30 days, and a look at where the year's ranking stands.