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2026 BOOKS RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Writer: Lyn Shaffer
    Lyn Shaffer
  • Feb 20
  • 4 min read

Every January, I love curating a fresh reading list — books that challenge me, move me, and remind me why stories matter. This year’s list blends emotional depth, gripping suspense, and beautifully crafted characters. Some are new releases, some are modern favorites, and all of them left a mark on me.

Below are the ten five star books I’m recommending for 2026, each with a short summary, why I chose it, and a clean Amazon link if you want to add it to your own stack. I'll be doing my own reading and rereading as I curate books for next year too.


1. My Friends — Fredrik Backman

Short Summary: A tender, introspective novel about connection, loneliness, and the complicated ways people hold each other up.

Why I Chose It: OMG! Fredrik Backman is the BEST story teller EVER. I love EVERY book he has ever written! I’m always drawn to stories that explore human relationships with honesty and warmth, and Backman’s characters feel so real that I carry them with me long after I finish - still and always. I saw him in a live book talk. It was just after I finished my first novel and we write exactly the same - Chaos, Chaos, Chaos - Book.

2. The Correspondent — Virginia Evans

Short Summary: A gripping, emotionally charged story about a journalist pulled into dangerous truths and moral dilemmas.

Why I Chose It: I love narratives where personal stakes collide with ethical tension, and this one kept me thinking about the cost of truth. Not wild about the ending, but it's her first published book - She's written eight, so I anticipate more are coming. Not sure why she didn't self-publish. I listened to her on Katie Couric's Book talk.

3. Atmosphere — Taylor Jenkins Reid

Short Summary: A sweeping, character‑driven novel exploring fame, identity, and the emotional weather systems that shape our lives.

Why I Chose It: I’m always captivated by Reid’s ability to blend glamour with vulnerability, creating stories that feel both cinematic and deeply human. One of my favorite authors. Love all of her books.

4. The Women — Kristin Hannah

Short Summary: A powerful historical novel following a young nurse during the Vietnam War as she confronts trauma, loyalty, and the cost of service.

Why I Chose It: Everyone is talking about this book and I know why. I’m drawn to emotionally resonant stories with strong female leads, and Kristin Hannah never fails to leave me changed. Two of my daughters are nurses, and so this pulls especially at my heart for them and all those in the medical field who heal first with their hearts and then when their hands. I think I just made that up!!

5. The Housemaid — Freida McFadden

Short Summary: A fast‑paced psychological thriller about a woman who takes a job in a wealthy home and discovers the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than she imagined.

Why I Chose It: I love twisty, compulsive reads, and this one had me turning pages with my heart in my throat. Also a just released movie - I'm terrified to watch it. Definitely need a friend to hold my hand through this one.

6. All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker

Short Summary: A sweeping, emotional mystery spanning decades, centered on a missing girl and the boy who refuses to stop searching for her.

Why I Chose It: I’m a sucker for stories with heart, grit, and unforgettable characters, and Whitaker writes with a depth that stays with me. He is a true author in every sense of the word.

7. Here One Moment — Liane Moriarty

Short Summary: A group of strangers experience a life‑altering event that forces them to confront secrets, regrets, and the fragile threads connecting them.

Why I Chose It: I love Moriarty’s blend of domestic suspense and emotional insight, and her stories always make me think about the hidden lives people carry.

8. Remarkably Bright Creatures — Shelby Van Pelt

Short Summary: A charming, moving novel about a grieving woman who forms an unexpected bond with a highly intelligent octopus — and uncovers long‑buried truths.

Why I Chose It: OMG I love this story. Honestly, I adore stories with heart and originality, and with a movie adaptation in development, I wanted to read it before it hits the screen.

9. Mad Honey — Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan

Short Summary: A courtroom drama and emotional family story intertwined, exploring identity, secrets, and the complexities of love.

Why I Chose It: I learned so much from this book. Books that challenge assumptions and spark conversation and soften hearts and change me are chef's kiss, and this one does exactly that with compassion and nuance. Jodi is always holding a sign on the right side of history, and I want to be standing along side her.

10. Verity — Colleen Hoover

Short Summary: A dark, addictive psychological thriller about a struggling writer who uncovers disturbing secrets while finishing another author’s manuscript.

Why I Chose It: I love thrillers that blur the line between truth and manipulation, and this one left me questioning everything. I also think this is a movie on the horizon - I can't wait! PS - I remember something about Kate Middleton's grandmother - I think her history is tied up somewhere in the history of this story.



 
 
 

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