The Best Books of 2026

I'm a reader. I love nothing more than sinking into my couch on a dark and rainy day and devouring the words of a talented author. A few years ago, I wrote a post like this one explaining that I was hoping to increase my yearly reading, aided by Goodreads Reading Challenge. Welp, it's worked. I think I went from 15, 20 a year to 50 a year. Still not the most prolific nor studious reader in the world, but what can you do?

I'm also a writer. I've written a few articles here on Vocal, and I have a few books out in the world. I'm a believer in that old Stephen King advice to new writers: if you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader. Problem is, I've been lacking in both areas as of late.

Maybe its the utter hellscape that we find ourselves waking to each morning, but I just can't make myself sit down and do either. So, in an attempt to capture that old magic, reignite that flame for both my beloved hobbies, I have decided to go back to my old ways and write about the books I am reading. See... it kind of does both things? I don't know if that makes sense or not, but it got me at my computer, tickling these little lettered keys, so who am I to complain.

Reading may have been slow, but I have gotten through some stellar books so far this year. So much so, that I figure I could do two different "Best Book" pieces, one for the first half of the year, and another for the last half. Ideally, after both were completed, I could starve them both for a couple of days, and then put them in an earthen pit with explicit instructions to "tear 'em apart" to see what's left at the end. Bingo, Bango, a third piece emerges for the carnage.

This is my first of those three pieces on Best Books of 2026.

Now, slight disclaimer, these are not necessarily books that came out in 2026. The list is gleaned from my own reading habits, and daddy has a TBR pile that is a monster. They are also not in any particular order (I may be able to put together a list of 10 books, but I won't rank them... yet). So, without further ado, the best books of 2026 (so far), according to me.

1. Moonflow by Bitter Karella

I stumbled upon Bitter Karella back in the old Twitter days when I came across their laugh-riot of an account "The Midnight Pals." If you haven't seen this account in the wild you should give it a look (though it isn't not on Twitter anymore, I follow them on Blue Sky). It is essentially "Are you Afraid of the Dark" but with Horror writers. It usually does some lampooning of the writers in question, but it is all in good fun.

Anyway, I saw that Bitter Karella had her own horror novel in the world, and I had to give it a go. I'm glad I did. Moonflow is a brutal dredge through thick, ever-changing trees scattered with the dead and spattered with blood and magic mushrooms. At its heart, Moonflow is the story of a woman who is just trying to do the right thing in a bad situation and get home to her cat. In her way are lesbian cultists, nature gods, and an unforgiving forest.

Aside from Sarah, the protagonist, there are two standout characters in Skillet and the Hellslut. This Travelling Wildburyesque named duo are fun to follow and help to beef up the story by ratcheting up the conflict and keeping us interested even during Sarah's downtime. They're the type of characters you wish had their own books just for the lore.

Should you read Moonflow by Bitter Karella? Yes.

2. Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

I've been a fan of Chuck Wendig for some time. What brought me to his brand of apple-fueled written insanity was his writing guides. From there I discovered his Miriam Black series but really fell in love with his Book of Accidents.

Staircase in the Woods continues Wendig's tradition of seat-gripping, anxiety-laden fiction. It follows a group of four friends who remain connected by a terrible secret regarding the fifth of their motley crew from their youth. Now adults, they are brought back together for a chance to right a wrong, except it isn't what it seems.

This book made be think of Stephen King's It, down to the mixture of childhood and adulthood scenes smattered throughout. If you are looking for something with the same vibe as classic King, you won't go wrong with Staircase in the Woods.

3. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Somehow, this was my first Crichton read. I picked a good one to start on.

Of course, I'd seen the Spielberg movie and had a general idea about the plot, but the book, as with all book-to-movie adaptations, had a lot more story and some interesting differences. I think the change that struck me the most, was the difference in Hammond's character. Richard Attenborough would never!

The book, especially the paperback, is a brick but the story makes it a quick read and the differences from the movie to the book will keep you going.

If, like me, you haven't read it yet, give it a go.

4. The Devils - Joe Abercrombie

Billed as a Fantasy "Suicide Squad," Joe Abercrombie's The Devils takes that premise, straps a rocket to its back and bypasses it by so much it's barely a glint in the sky.

Before I started reading The Devils, I had decided that it would be my last fantasy read. Nothing against the fantasy genre, I grew up on it, but sometimes it can be a little much. When its good, its good. When its bad, well... I guess I was just reading too many of the latter. Abercrombie though, he pulled me back in.

The Devils is a hoot from start to finish. The characters are old archetypes (werewolf, vampire, zombie) made fresh and fun. The writing is beautiful and conveys the adventurous romp of a Willowlike fantasy, while being laugh-out-loud funny.

Shortly after reading, I heard The Devils may have a chance at being made into a TV show. I was so obsessed with this novel, I was fan-casting the characters.

Anyway, go read it, you'll love it.

5. Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey

I hadn't heard anything about Head Like a Hole, nor did I know much about Andrew Van Wey before I found this while looking to spend an Audible credit. Its a 90s throwback, about estranged childhood friends dealing with a supernatural force with tentacles and mushrooms. It definitely sounded like my jam.

There are some interesting twists and turns in this one, and I was kept guessing. The frame story is a present-day interview between a true crime podcaster and the main character, Megan Monroe. An interview that explores her past, a friend that she couldn't remember, and deaths that had a way of following Megan wherever she went.

This book is a love letter to the 90s, from the music to Chernobyl and everything in between. If you were a kid in those glory days, you'll enjoy the book just for the nostalgia. If not, you'll enjoy the story and the mystery.

6. Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

I watched the movie based on this book when it first came out. My friends and I loved it. Like many of the movies I watched as a kid, I only came to find out later that Relic was based on a book (did you know that Die Hard 2 was based on a book? Crazy... huh? 58 Minutes by Walter Wager).

Well, I've been looking for the movie everywhere for a long-awaited rewatch but it hard to find in the world of streaming sites. So, I got the book. It was a fun read, and despite the differences between what I remembered of the movie and the book, it kept me entertained. The backstory is bolstered here, and the characters more freely explored. Relic takes a fantastic idea and makes it feel plausible, like you are there in the dredges of the American Museum of Natural History being hunted by a South American lizard god.

The only thing that made me pause was the late introduction of Pendergast (who wasn't even in the movie.) Even that, however, was done well and caused little issue getting through the book save for this one hiccup.

Honestly, if you like a thriller steeped in science and archeology (a la Dan Brown or Clive Cussler) you could do worse than catching up with Agent Pendergast, Margo Green, and the Mbwun.

7. Silent City by Alex Segura

Turns out, a lot of the books on this list, were blind reads on my part. I had heard of Alex Segura before, knew about his comic book career, and was looking forward to reading some of his novels. I had my eye on his novel, Secret Identity, but came across this one in my search between reads.

Silent City is the first of the Pete Fernandez series by Segura and we meet Fernandez at his lowest point. An alcoholic, down on his luck reporter on the late-night sports beat, who is barely clinging onto the job he doesn't even like. In the midst of the mess he has found himself in, he is approached to find a missing colleague. Though a strange request, considering what we know about Fernandez, it starts a chain reaction that could change his life, or end it.

If you like old fashioned P.I. and mystery books, you'll enjoy Silent City. I'm looking forward to digging into the rest of the series.

8. Holly by Stephen King

Stephen King is my favorite writer. Maybe cliche, but true. I came to King late, but I've been a avid reader ever since. The Mr. Mercedes/Bill Hodges Trilogy were some of my recent favorites. Holly, the eponymous heroine of this book, started with Bill Hodges and continued in The Outsider. This is the follow-up. Set during the Covid-19 outbreak, Holly is faced with a lot of changes and challenges that put the growth we've seen in her from Mr. Mercedes onward to the test.

The book is a bit of a slow burn, I think partially because we know the villains straight away. This is not a detriment to the story, if anything it makes the reader feel more anxiety about what is going to happen when Holly, or her friends, encounter the Professors Harris.

Holly Gibney is an interesting character that is strong enough to carry a series on her shoulders even if she might doubt that herself. I can't wait to read the next Holly book, Never Flinch!

9. Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson

Vampires are big again. Not since the Twilight days of the early 2000s have they been so popular. We have had big movies such as The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Abigail, the critically acclaimed Nosferatu, and the not-as-critically acclaimed Renfield. Books about vampires seem to have made a comeback recently as well.

Coffin Moon is one of the more intriguing takes on the vampire legend and story. While there is obviously a big bad vampire, John Varley, he is no typical Dracula type. He's a ruthless criminal and a sadistic killer that has a short fuse. There is also a vampire society, as seen in other media (Underworld, Vampire the Masquerade), and it is hinted at that there is a group of vampire hunters (perhaps akin to Blade, The Strain, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) Still, Rosson doesn't make it a stale rehashing of other stories. Instead, we are given a fresh look and, as a reader, we are happy to see it.

Coffin Moon is not just another vampire novel. Throughout the novel, there's a tale of revenge and what it does to a person, what family and love means, and a look at addiction and how it affects the people around you. There's something in here for all readers if you are looking for something to add to your TBR.

10. Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper

I'm a big fan of Hailey Piper, and she's been on fire as of late. How many books has she put out in the last few years, not including the stories she has in anthologies and compilations? Honestly, she deserves it. I don't know Hailey, but she seems like a great person, and she is most definitely a talented writer.

Queen of Teeth is a book I've been wanting to read for a while. I heard about it a few years ago but only picked it up recently. When I first heard about it, I immediately thought of the movie Teeth, so I was surprised to find a sci-fi/horror story set in the near future/ alternate timeline. The surprise didn't stop Piper's compelling narration from pulling me into the story, gripping me tight around the neck like a tendril shot from someone's, well... never mind.

The world Piper builds is nuanced, and the events that follow are at once intriguing and shocking. There may or may not be a Kaijuesque sequence in the book that is surprising but awesome.

Overall, Queen of Teeth was a great book, with Piper's writing chops really showing through and giving you a glimpse of what is in store for you within the rest of her stories.

Go read Queen of Teeth or any of Hailey Piper's books. They're great.

Well, that’s it for now. Let me know if you have read any of these books, or maybe you've read other things by the authors. As much as writing this was to provide reading suggestions to other, I am certainly open to a few suggestions myself!

Check back here in late 2026 to see the best books I’ve read for the latter half of the year.

Now, go read.