Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2026? As always, this year’s reading has taken me on quite the journey—from gripping psychological thrillers that kept me guessing to heartfelt contemporary fiction that stayed with me long after I turned the final page. While I’ve enjoyed plenty of great books over the past six months, a handful have truly stood out as unforgettable reads.
These are the books that surprised me, made me think, kept me up far too late reading “just one more chapter,” and earned a permanent place among my favourites of the year so far. Whether you’re looking for your next addictive thriller, an emotional romance, or a thought-provoking novel, I hope you’ll discover a few titles to add to your own reading list.  You can click on the book’s cover to read my full review.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney:
SUMMARY: Artist Eden Fox is poised for success when her life is suddenly upended. After returning from a run, she finds her key no longer works, a stranger who looks just like her living in her home, and her husband insisting the other woman is his real wife. Six months earlier, a solitary Londoner named Birdy inherits the same seaside home, Spyglass, from a grandmother she never knew. But when Birdy visits a mysterious clinic that predicts her date of death, dark secrets begin to surface. As past and present collide, the truth behind Spyglass and its occupants twists into a chilling tale of identity, obsession, and deceit—where nothing, and no one, is what they seem.
MY THOUGHTS: My Husband’s Wife is a gripping, mind-bending thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish — and exactly the kind of book I didn’t know how much I needed.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden:
SUMMARY: Debbie Mullen has spent years offering wisdom and compassion through her “Dear Debbie” advice column, helping women deal with neglectful and abusive husbands. But when her own life begins to unravel—she loses her job, her daughters act out, and her husband’s secrets come to light—Debbie finally reaches her breaking point. Tired of always being the voice of reason, she decides it’s time to follow her own advice and take matters into her own hands, setting out on a path of revenge that no one sees coming.
MY THOUGHTS: If you enjoy psychological thrillers with bite, momentum, and a strong central voice, this is one you’ll want to pick up — or even better, listen to.
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page:
SUMMARY: After losing her husband Joe, Tilly Nightingale is stunned to discover a final birthday gift he arranged before his death: twelve carefully chosen books, one for each month, designed to guide her through her first year of grief. As Tilly reluctantly begins to read again, each story carries her to new places around the world—from New York and Paris to Tuscany and Bali—while gently helping her rediscover herself beyond her loss. With the quiet support of bookshop owner Alfie, Tilly learns how stories can heal, opening the door to hope, renewal, and the possibility of loving again.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the kind of novel that gently reminds you how healing stories—and kindness—can appear when you need them most. I highly recommend This Book Made Me Think of You.
Liberty Street by Heather Marshall:
🇨🇦 SUMMARY: Set across two timelines, Liberty Street intertwines the stories of two women drawn to the dark legacy of Mercer Women’s Prison. In 1961, Emily Radcliffe, an ambitious editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, seizes what she believes is a career-defining opportunity when a startling letter from an inmate prompts her to go undercover, only to discover that uncovering the truth inside the prison may cost her far more than she expects. Decades later, in 1996, Detective Rachel Mackenzie is assigned to investigate unidentified female remains found in a small-town Ontario cemetery, a case that leads her back to the now-abandoned prison and forces her to confront long-buried family trauma. Inspired by true events, the novel is a powerful, emotionally resonant exploration of resilience, mental health, and the enduring strength of female connection.
MY THOUGHTS: Liberty Street is a powerful story about resilience, mental health, and the strength that can come from women supporting one another. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s an important and memorable one that will stay with me for years to come.
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez:
SUMMARY: After one split-second decision following a concert, Larissa unknowingly sets her life on a path that leads her to Chris—the man who feels like her perfect match. Though they share an effortless connection, from co-parenting an eccentric rescue Yorkie to bonding over books and life’s simple pleasures, Chris is actually her boyfriend’s best friend. As Larissa finally finds stability amid the chaos of juggling multiple side hustles, Chris struggles with his growing feelings, knowing that acting on them could shatter lives. This heartfelt novel explores friendship, fate, love, and the complicated choices that can change everything.
MY THOUGHTS: The Night We Met is emotional, thoughtful, and full of heart—a romance that reminds us that sometimes the right person arrives at exactly the wrong time, and deciding what to do with that truth can change everything.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune:
SUMMARY: 🇨🇦 Best friends since childhood, Frankie and George have always been drawn together despite their fiery, headstrong clashes—until their bond fractures on the eve of Frankie’s wedding. When her fiancé abruptly ends things the morning after a perfect celebration, Frankie retreats home heartbroken, only for George to propose an unexpected escape: taking her honeymoon together. A week in the rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino becomes a last chance to mend their fractured friendship, forcing them to confront buried secrets and long-suppressed feelings that could either heal them both or break them apart for good.
MY THOUGHTS: Tender, romantic, and emotionally rich, Our Perfect Storm is a standout friends-to-lovers story that lingers long after the final chapter. I would absolutely love to see Our Perfect Storm adapted for film — the emotional journey, sweeping coastal setting, and deeply rooted friendship-turned-romance feel made for the screen.
The Divorce by Freida McFadden:
SUMMARY: Naomi thought she had the perfect life—a loving marriage, a beautiful home, and a family straight out of a fairy-tale ending—until her husband abruptly leaves her for a much younger woman, empties their accounts, and uses top divorce lawyers to force her out. Refusing to accept the collapse of everything she built, Naomi becomes increasingly fixated on her husband’s new girlfriend, and what begins as curiosity spirals into a dangerous obsession. As she uncovers disturbing secrets and finds herself drawn into a web of deception, Naomi must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the life she believes should have been hers.
MY THOUGHTS: If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with shocking twists and unreliable characters, I can’t recommend this audiobook highly enough.
Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey:
SUMMARY: After a devastating setback in her career, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens escapes to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, hoping for a quieter life and a fresh start. Meanwhile, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden, still grappling with the loss of his professional dreams after a career-ending injury, discovers an abandoned baby on Daisy’s first day in town, drawing them together and deeply affecting their close-knit community. As Daisy grows attached to the child and begins confronting her own past, she forms bonds with Mason, his eccentric Aunt Tilley, and the welcoming townspeople. But when a shocking revelation threatens to unravel long-held secrets and divide Cape Carolina, Daisy, Mason, and Tilley must face difficult truths and learn how love, healing, and community can guide them toward where they truly belong.
MY THOUGHTS: Filled with heart, hope, memorable characters, and small-town charm, Summer State of Mind is an uplifting story about finding where you belong and embracing unexpected new beginnings. It was an absolute joy to read and one of my favourite Kristy Woodson Harvey novels to date.
Looking back on the first half of 2026, I’m so grateful for the incredible stories I’ve had the chance to experience. Each of these books offered something different—whether it was unforgettable characters, shocking twists, emotional depth, or simply the joy of getting completely lost in a great story. They’ve set the bar incredibly high for the rest of my reading year.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you read any of these books, or is there a standout read from 2026 that you think I should add to my TBR? Let me know in the comments—I’m always looking for my next favourite book. Here’s hoping the second half of the year is just as full of amazing reads!
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
I can see why these made your list, Jodie. I’ve read or listened to all but the last two and they are on my TBR shelf, in a queue for the library. I’m looking forward to them.
thathappyreader
It was a great first half of the year!
Jonetta | Blue Mood Café
Five of them I’ve also read and loved. Great list, Jodie💜
thathappyreader
Thanks Jonetta.
Caroline
I also loved This Book Made Me Think of You – so emotional and heartwarming! I’m yet to read The Night We Met and Our Perfect Storm; glad you enjoyed them 🙂
thathappyreader
It was such a lovely read Caroline! I hope I’ve helped you find some others.
Yvonne @ It's All About Books
Such a fantastic line-up! I’m reading This Book Made Me Think Of You next week, and so many others are high on my TBR.
thathappyreader
Happy reading Yvonne.