The 10 BEST Books We Read This Year (All ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reads!) | Mid-Year Book Favorites 2026

We're halfway through the year, and after reading 93 books between the two of us (Maddie has read 55 books and Kristen has read 38 books!), we've narrowed our favorites down to the 10 best books we've read so far this year. From timeless classics and sweeping fantasy epics to literary fiction, science fiction, nonfiction, and hidden gems, every book on this list earned a full ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from us. Whether you're planning your summer reading list or searching for the perfect books to finish out the year, these are the stories we can't stop recommending. Which books have been your favorite reads of the year so far? Let us know in the comments—we're always looking to add amazing books to our TBR! 📖 Books Mentioned 00:00 Intro 00:49 Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë 02:53 A Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin 04:10 Pachinko – Min Jin Lee 05:49 The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion – Beth Brower 07:27 I Who Have Never Known Men – Jacqueline Harpman 09:26 A Room with a View – E. M. Forster 12:21 The Untethered Soul – Michael A. Singer 13:38 Leviathan Falls – James S. A. Corey 15:02 The Realm of the Elderlings – Robin Hobb 17:33 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë Let’s connect! Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood   Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads   Instagram:   / krisandmads   All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books