It’s the halfway point of 2026 already (!!!), which basically means #summerreadingcommence.

Per usual, my TBR is completely out of control. But I’m looking forward to making a serious dent during the crazy hot Texas summer. So instead of turning lobster red in The Great Outdoors, you’ll probably find me in my favorite reading chair. Or at a local coffee shop sipping an iced concoction while escaping into a fictional universe.

Just in case you need a little reading inspiration, I thought I’d share my favorites of 2026 (so far).

It’s usually difficult to choose a favorite anything, let alone a novel, but Libby Page’s thoroughly delightful This Book Made Me Think of You made it easy.

It has everything…an irresistible setting across the pond where books and bookstores play a prominent role. There’s a total tear-jerker of a set-up. A leading lady in desperate need of a existential shake-up. Travel. Family tension. Longing. New beginnings and so, so much more. No spoilers here, but I can’t recommend it enough. Confession: I’m already looking forward to a re-read.

Here’s what else I’ve loved this year:

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney: I had no idea what was happening for a good chunk of the book and THEN…

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: Of course, I’m looking forward to his latest, The Midnight Train. But I finally got around to reading this and am seriously ready to book a trip to Ibiza. A really unconventional yet beautiful story.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino: Ever wonder what lengths someone will go to buy a house in a particularly challenging market in a city where your offer can’t be high enough? Well, this is definitely another way to go. Read it in like two days.

Recipe for Joy by Monica Comas: A fantastic debut about a grieving woman who finds a renewed sense of purpose, deep family connection, and purpose in her late grandmother’s treasured recipes. Plus, as a fellow Midwesterner, the included recipes stir up all kinds of childhood nostalgia.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: I just reread this for our recent book club and enjoyed it as much the second time. As a lifelong letter writer and lover of getting mail in general, I loved seeing an intriguing character study play out through, you guessed it, letters. To say much more would rob you of the pleasure of reading it yourself.

Honorable Mention: Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix. The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum. The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage. The Slow Burn by Ali Rosen.

How about you? What novels would make your 2026 list?