The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week

Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari

This rich fantasy tells the story of a real-world queen fending off Portuguese attacks on India in the 1500s. The queen here is Abbakka Chowta, who was once only meant to be her sister’s fighter. But now that the Porcugi—half snake, half men—are attacking, everything is different. Abbakka needs to save her homeland from these terrible intruders—the question is, how far is she willing to go to do it? —Erica Ezeifedi

Mrs. Shim Is a Killer by Kang Jiyoung, translated by Paige Morris

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

The latest McFadden thriller is about an advice columnist who has been guiding the women who write to her through dealing with their lackluster or even abusive husbands. When she loses her job and realizes her husband is keeping secrets from her, she decides it’s time for her to take her own advice and get revenge. 17,000 Goodreads users read it this week, and it has a 4.0 average rating.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, Katie Couric named it the first pick for her new book club. It’s about a woman who has written letters daily her whole life. When someone from her past writes back, she has to reevaluate a painful period in her life and find a way to forgive. This was read by almost 19,000 users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez is a bestselling romance author whose 2024 novel, Just for the Summer, was a breakout hit. Her newest is the second book in the Say You’ll Remember Me series. It follows Larissa, who is in a rocky relationship with Mike. Meanwhile, Mike’s best friend, Chris, is falling for Larissa, but he’s determined not to blow up their friend group by making a move. The Night We Met was read by almost 20,000 Goodreads users this week, and it has a 4.1 average rating.

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

Shield of Sparrows is a popular enemies-to-lovers romantasy book, and this is the second book in the trilogy. It follows a princess who has to team up with a warrior she hates to save the kingdom. The Shield of Sparrows series is currently being adapted as a feature film, and the final book is scheduled to come out in March 2027. This was read by 25,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.6 average rating.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

This 2021 sci-fi novel from the author of The Martian is getting renewed interest thanks to the movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling, out now. Like The Martian, Project Hail Mary is hard sci-fi about an isolated man in space. Ryland Grace is a junior high teacher and former molecular biologist who becomes the unlikely last hope of life on Earth. It was read by 28,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.