top 10

I'm party, I know I'm a little late to the party because we're almost done with July. Oops, AC. But I figured now is as good a time as any to share my 10 top 10 books of the first half of 2026. Come. First up should really come as no surprise because this is an author I absolutely fell in love with this year. Once there were wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. I love her writing and I love the way that she mixes stories about conservationism with humanitarian issues. It's probably her darkest book of the three that she's written, but a powerful, powerful story. Obviously, obviously we also have migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. Don't you let the cover deceive you on the description on the back. This is not just a story about a woman who is following these near extinct birds on their last migration. This is a very raw, compelling story about humanity and conservationism and grief and loss and how do we keep moving forward in a world after our world falls apart. And then we have Beartown by Fredrik Backman. It kind of gave me the same feeling of watching one CW show like it. It's about hockey and then add a very painful, moving but real story on top of it. Definitely recommend this one. And then I had the correspondent by Virginia Evans. I really enjoyed the letter and email format was the book. It was beautiful and it made me want to write more letters. And then I picked up solely for the cover but ended up being absolutely blown away by what was on the inside, which is Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine. A southern ghost story, which like, enjoy. I didn't think I would enjoy, but I really connected with Junie, the main character. I couldn't recommend it enough. Obviously, the adults by Alison Espach. Her debut novel and this is a coming of age story set in the 90s in the suburbs of Connecticut with some of the best writing I've ever read. And this just ended up being the kind of book where I couldn't stop thinking about it after I put it down. I don't think it will be for everyone, however, for me, that was long down. Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield. The writing is spectacular. She does not waste any words. Not a long book. It's about these two wives who are navigating their marriage and trauma after one of them is lost at sea in a submarine for six months. I really recommend it if you're looking to stretch your comfort zone. And that described book that has been said to have chemistry or tension is into the blue by Emma Brodie. I really like this book. I really liked it. And I just happen to be one of the people who liked it. The bright years by Sarah Damoff. The writing alone in this book is beautiful, phenomenal. And I feel like with both books I've read by her, she is able to write flawed imperfect characters who you feel deeply, empathetically for and this book very much did that for me. And I just recommend her writing enough. The last book that I absolutely devoured. I read it in a day is Girl's Girl by Sonia Feldman. This was such a transportive, immersive book that brought me back to girlhood and being a teenager. If you're looking for something that feels nostalgic, girls, Sonia Feldman is for you. So there we go. My favorite reads of 2026 so far. I can't believe I still have six months of reading ahead of me that could possibly change anything in me. Let me know if any of these have been your favorite reads or what your favorite reads of the year have been so far.