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It’s a new year, and here are the books topping Goodreads users’ TBRs in 2026 so far! Trends from 2025 continue, including an author claiming three of the top most-read books on Goodreads this week—can you guess who it is? Here’s a hint: an adaptation of one of their books hit screens in December.
Two New Books Out This Week You Should Know About
Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a couple of new books out this week that deserve wider readership.
Call Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu Guo
In this retelling of Moby Dick for the modern age, a girl disguised as a cabin boy sets on on a quest to find her brother after her parents and infant sister die. Aboard the Nimrod, Ishmaelle discovers the kind of companionship she’s been craving. But the captain is obsessive in his pursuit and the business of whaling is bloody work, work that Ishmaelle finds herself identifying with far too much, and not on the part of the sailors. —Rachel Brittain
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
Prince Arris knows, thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, that when he gets married, he’ll be murdered. Once someone has the hand of the heir to the Isle of Malys, they take over.
The Prince’s only chance of survival is finding real and true love, not someone interested in simply taking over. Otherwise, he’s going to end up dead and reemerge in the form of a tree. So when the Prince’s parents announce a tournament of brides to win his hand, he’s both surprised and worried; the wrong choice will mean certain death. It’s a dizzying series of dates and parties, and the Prince is struggling to figure out who is true and who is simply thirsty for power.
When he meets Demelza, though, the Prince’s future begins to look different. She’s a veritas swan, whose songs tell nothing but truth. She strikes a deal with the Prince: he’ll keep her safe, as she’s been forced into hiding, and she’ll help him sort through his potential brides.
It’s a huge opportunity for both of them. Demelza will learn how to speak her truth without fear while the Prince will begin to understand what true love looks, feels, and sounds like. —Kelly Jensen
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The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden has three books in the top five this week. This is her newest thriller, which came out in October. It’s about Casey, who is weathering a hurricane in her rundown cabin in the woods when she sees a girl outside her window. She is covered in blood and clutching a knife. “The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.” Almost 20,000 users read it this week, and it has a 3.9 average rating.
#4:
Brimstone by Callie Hart
Representing the romantasy genre in the top five is Brimstone, book two in the Fae & Alchemy series. Book one, Quicksilver, is #10 right now. This sequel came out in November, and it’s a whopping 672 pages. It was read by almost 22,000 users this week and has a 4.2 average rating.
#3:
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
The incredible popularity of the Heated Rivalry TV show adaptation took everyone by surprise—including, apparently, the publishers, because this book has been difficult to get your hands on! Despite that, this rivals-to-lovers M/M hockey romance is one of the most read books this week. It was read by almost 25,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.3 average rating.
#2:
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
The recent release of The Housemaid adaptation has given renewed attention to the series. This is book two, which came out in 2023. It was read by 25,000 users this week and has a 4.2 average rating.
#1:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. The movie adaptation is out now. This was read by 61,000 Goodreads users, with a 4.3 average rating.
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
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