Best Books of 2026 So Far with Catherine Gilmore and Chrissie Whitley | Ep. 228

In Episode 228, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide), and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) take stock of the reading year so far, discussing the books, publishing trends, and industry chatter that have defined the first half of 2026. They dive into the biggest publishing stories of the year, the rise of "cozy everything," the continued influence of self-publishing and book-to-screen success stories, and whether it's possible to tap a Book of the Year before the second half of the publishing calendar arrives. Then, they share their Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far and a few disappointing reads that didn't quite live up to expectations.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights How our 2026 reading has been so far How 2026 compares to this point in 2025  Each person's current Book of the Year pick Whether it's too early to crown a Book of the Year Midyear reading stats and surprise wins Each of our Top 5 books of 2026 so far Their biggest disappointments of the year so far Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far Sarah

No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:44]  London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Apr 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:55] The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:55] Catherine

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:11] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Land by Maggie O'Farrell (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:55] Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:42] Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:09] Chrissie

A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:44]  The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:44] Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (Mar 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:10]  Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, 1) by Veronica Roth (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:55] Other Books Mentioned

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [41:31]  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2020) [42:14]  The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [53:03]  Dune (Dune, 1) by Frank Herbert (1965) [59:38]  Some Disappointing Books So Far Sarah

Kin by Tayari Jones (Feb 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:33]  Go Gentle by Maria Semple (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:00:55] Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:35] Catherine

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:03] The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:31] Chrissie

Artifacts by Natalie Lemle (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:03:39] Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:04:13] Fatherland by Victoria Shorr (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:04:54] Other Books Mentioned

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (2012) [1:01:01]  Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851) [1:04:19]  Books From the Opening Discussion Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, 3) by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [2:39]  Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [3:18]  Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [3:22]  Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [4:34]  Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [4:41]  The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [5:03]  The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (2024) [5:57]  Game Changer (Game Changers: Heated Rivalry, 1) by Rachel Reid (2024) [6:09]  KPop Demon Hunters (Junior Novelization) by Jessica Yoon (Mar 31) [6:13]  KPop Demon Hunters (Screen Comic Boxed Set) by Netflix (Nov 3, 2026) [6:13]  The Martian by