29 Books In: My Top 5 Reads of 2026 So Far

I've read 29 books so far in 2026, which is definitely not where I thought I'd be at this point in the year. But while my reading pace hasn't exactly been impressive, I've had some really great reads along the way.

So instead of worrying about the number, I decided to look at the books that have stood out the most so far.

5. Love Wells Kept by Bailey Hannah

Bailey Hannah is one of my favorite authors, so this was easily one of my most anticipated reads of the year. And thankfully, it delivered.

This book had pretty much everything I wanted: romance, spice, and a story that kept me invested from beginning to end. I especially loved the MMC. He's just genuinely a good guy, which should not feel as refreshing as it does sometimes. The FMC was also strong, and I really enjoyed watching her navigate everything thrown her way. Overall, this was exactly the kind of romance I was hoping for from Bailey Hannah, and it reminded me why her books are always an easy pick for me.

4. Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman

This was such a sweet and touching love story.

What really stood out to me was how much emotion was packed into the story. It was one of those books that just made me feel something, and I really appreciated the romance at the heart of it. It dealt with such tough themes so thoughtfully and I was truly rooting for the characters to be happy, together or not.

3. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

I genuinely did not expect Dungeon Crawler Carl to become one of my favorite reads of the year, but here we are.

I'm currently on book three, and I'm fully committed to continuing the series. The audiobooks have been a huge part of the experience for me. They are so good and somehow make an already chaotic story even more entertaining.

One of my favorite things about the series is how fast everything moves. Each book takes place over a relatively short amount of time, but somehow so much happens. The pacing is quick, the story is surprisingly deep, and there is always something happening.

I'm very invested at this point, and I'm definitely not stopping anytime soon.

2. Starside by Alex Aster

Starside is probably the book on this list that best represents that reading is for fun. I've seen some criticism of this book, but honestly, I just didn't see it. I had a great time reading it, and I think that's worth something.

Not every favorite has to be the most perfectly constructed book you've ever read. Sometimes you just connect with a story, get completely sucked in, and don't want it to end. Starside was that book for me.

1. Babel by R.F. Kuang

I listened to Babel on audiobook, and I was completely blown away.

Going into it, I expected it to be a pretty intimidating read. It's a big book with a lot going on, and it definitely looks like the kind of book that requires a serious commitment. But once I started listening, I realized it wasn't nearly as intimidating as I had expected.

The story pulled me in, and I thought it told such a powerful story. I was not prepared for the ending, honestly one of the best endings to a book ever. It was just so shocking.

The audiobook experience made the whole thing even better for me.

It's easily my favorite read of 2026 so far.

So, that's my top five!

Twenty nine books into the year, these are the five that have stood out to me the most. And honestly, I think this list says a lot about my reading habits because somehow we have fantasy, LitRPG, holiday and cowboy romance all sitting together.

My reading goal might not be going exactly according to plan this year, but at least I'm finding some really good books along the way.