What Book Clubs Are Reading Right Now (Updated April 2026)

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is the book everyone is talking about.

Some books take the publishing world by surprise. Theo of Golden is the latest example of this. While self-published years ago, the story really took off in 2025 as word of mouth quickly grew, and the book became a huge success, finding its way on the New York Times Bestsellers list for weeks.

I finally got a chance to read the story, and I quite liked it. But I wasn't as enamored with it as others, and there were times I thought it even dragged a bit. Some of the storylines even blended a bit together...

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a richly drawn story of one woman's journey to self-reflection.

So I'll be the first to say that I'm normally not a fan of novels told in the epistolary format. I typically find it hard to get into the story, and the world never feels as captivating as I'd like.

Well, The Correspondent changed my opinion on epistolary storytelling. I so enjoyed reading this story told in this way. From page one, I was immediately drawn into Sybil Van Antwerp's world with all its messiness, but it's also so vulnerable and human...

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a compelling work of historical fiction featuring an 18th-century midwife.

This novel has been everywhere since publishing in November 2024. It is constantly on the New York Times Bestsellers list and interest grows each day. I heard great things and so I was quite eager to check it out.

I really enjoyed Ariel's I Was Anastasia, a novel about the mystery of Anastasia Romanov and the famed imposter Anna Anderson. It features plenty of twists, and rich historical detail...

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is one of the most original and unique stories I've ever read. Put it on your must-read list right now.

Whew, this story!!! Well, I'm certain it will be everywhere in 2026. This is the book that will get people talking this year. Last year, it was reported that Amazon MGM won the rights, and Anne Hathaway is attached to star and produce the film version. So lots of buzz indeed, and it's very much warranted and deserved.

This novel is quite inventive, a satire about a woman obsessed with the idea of perfection, and tries to be the ideal Christian tradwife. She gets millions of followers and becomes extremely rich, but there's always something dark lurking...

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is an epic and heart-wrenching story about love and impossible choices.

Charlotte McConaghy is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her stories are so evocative, and the characters feel real and well-developed. The settings are some of the most vivid I've read in recent memories. Not quite a part of our current reality, but it serves as a warning of what could come with climate change.

There's also quite a bit of tragedy and a melancholy tone to her stories. But yet, while the subject and the plot developments might feel like too much with any other author, Charlotte McConaghy truly handles it all with care and respect...

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is an exciting space novel from the author of The Martian.

I, like so many others, have always been fascinated with space. Who didn't dream of becoming an astronaut when they were a kid? I've even started to read all kinds of kid astronaut books to my six-month-old (there's so many good ones out now)!

Still, despite my love for space, I don't read much science fiction. I personally feel that many of it drags; is so out there (pun not intended) and overall, just doesn't hold my interest. But Andy Weir's The Martian took a different route for me. I very much enjoyed the story, even thought it has a ton (many too many) science references. But it's a creative and overall fairly fun story. I thought the movie was great too...

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is one of those stories that lived up to the hype and more. A truly fantastic read.

Some books have the 'hit' factor. While there are plenty of fantastic books published each year, only a select few reach that huge bestseller tier. In the past few years, the most popular reads were stories like Lessons in Chemistry, The Women, and of course, Remarkably Bright Creatures.

This novel is constantly on the New York Times Bestseller's list, and each day, a new reader picks up the book. Its lasting success is truly a publishing dream. And while some books with huge buzz and popularity might not deserve the crown, Remarkably Bright Creatures certainly does...

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an adventurous and emotional story about two astronauts journey to space, and finding love along the way. One of my favorites of the year!

I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels. She's absolutely one of my favorite authors. Her best books up until now, in my opinion are The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six. No matter the subject, I always enjoy her writing and storytelling.

And Atmosphere is officially right up there with Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones. This story following two astronauts in the '80s is so engaging, and fascinating. You really feel like you're on the ride with them. While there's plenty of adventure, the heartbeat of the novel is about love. Both romantic and also family...