We are in the midst of the literal dog days of summer and one of the best of the best lists for the first half of 2026 has dropped.from Book Riot. From the introduction:
It’s time to declare The Best Books of 2026 So Far! We looked back at books published between January 1 and June 30 to choose our absolute favorites from the first half of the year, narrowing them down after much consideration, and whispered apologies to the reads that didn’t make the cut.
It’s been a great year for books and comics, with releases from some of our greatest living writers and exciting new voices for adult, YA, and younger audiences alike. Our favorite literary fiction asks big questions about colonization, resistance, survival, and mortality, as well as about faith, community, and what it means to truly be seen. Our top nonfiction includes a memoir on mental health and homeschooling, an investigation into a mysterious death, and an exploration of the health costs of the digital age. Our genre picks are precisely what you’d expect from a Book Riot “best of” list, featuring swoony romances, epic and cozy fantasy, thrilling whodunits, romps in space, and everything in between.We’re pleased to present you with our picks for the best books of 2026 so far. Add them to your TBR, share them with your book club, and settle in for some seriously satisfying reading.
You can read the full Book Riot Best of 2026 (So Far) at this link.
This list is broken down by genre and includes suggestions from across their staff. What I am really enjoying about this list (and every Book Riot best list) is that it is a list by readers for readers. Everything Book Riot does is written for and produced for actual readers. Yes they think about quality (the books they include are well written) but their mission in everything they do is to create content for readers.
Their site is written in a conversational voice, positioning everything for its best reader. The writers are readers in the genres they specialize in. They are always making lists (for all ages of readers) of books you should read if the annotation piques your interest.
Their best of the year so far list reflects everything I have said above. These are also books here I haven't seen on other lists, even a few I haven't even heard of. These are books you can display proudly on your "Best of the Year So Far" displays.
Speaking of, I wrote at length about using these lists to create displays and do conversation starters last month here. Combine this post from today with those other prominent lists and the direction on how best to position these books at your library.
Which reminds me, don't forget the backlist of ALL Book Riot best lists which you can access with this link.
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