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For the record, they meant "best books of the year" as in "anything you've read this year," though I'll give special attention to books published this year or that have recently experienced a resurgence in popularity.

I disagree that the book promised more than it delivered, though I agree that not all was as it seemed on Natalie's picture-perfect homestead. This would be my personal pick for the best read of 2026 (so far).

"I'm waiting for Land. I read Marriage Portrait last year and Hamnet this year. Her writing style feels very decadent, like eating a good chocolate while wrapped up in a silk blanket."

The eighth book in the series, A Parade of Horribles, was released earlier this year.

"I just finished Perfume, and I keep telling my friends it is likely going to be my favorite read this year. It’s hard to find my next book because I’m still a bit book-hungover. The scenes are still fresh in my brain. What a fantastic read."

"I read I Who Have Never Known Men! I think it's one of my favorites of all time."

"I've recommended Lonesome Dove to two friends and one coworker since finishing it, and none have been disappointed! It's one of those books I would confidently recommend to anyone, as there's just so much in there that you'll find at least one thing you like. The first 100-ish pages are a tad slow, but the pace picks up very quickly once a certain character appears; definitely worth powering through the first bit."

"'Little tangents' are an understatement. Those little tangents often last pages at a time, and describe the most relatively insignificant details that most authors would sum up with a sentence or perhaps two.

I LOVE it though, LOL. It's like the exact kind of tangential ADHD energy that my own brain experiences on a daily basis. It took me a while to get used to, but I've come to appreciate it in a pretty awesome way.

I'm interested to hear that you started crying in different places, because so far I haven't encountered anything that would remotely drive me to tears, though I still have a good chunk of the book to go."

"Just finished A Short Stay In Hell. What a freaking ride. At the beginning, I’m laughing, and then I’m sad, then terrified, confused, and then just left with acceptance. Amazing book."

Note: Comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.