Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Must-Read Book Club Favorites for 2026
17
items If you’re looking to refresh your bookshelf this season, I’ve got you covered with my favorite finds. From heart-pounding psychological thrillers to cozy literary escapes, these are the titles I’ve been recommending to all my friends lately.
Sections
3
Unputdownable Thrillers & Mysteries
Emotional Journeys & Literary Gems
Life-Changing Non-Fiction & Memoirs
Unputdownable Thrillers & Mysteries
I am a total sucker for a book that keeps me up past midnight, and these five definitely delivered. There is nothing like a perfectly timed plot twist to make you forget about everything else on your to-do list.
This is my top pick for anyone who loves a "good for her" revenge story with a dark, twisty edge. I felt so seen by Debbie's internal monologue, and the way her "Dear Abby" style life spirals out of control kept me glued to the pages.
Dear Debbie (B&N Exclusive Edition)
I honestly couldn't put this down until I hit the final page. It’s a brilliant psychological mystery about a woman who shoots her husband and then never speaks another word—I spent the entire time trying to get inside her head, and the payoff is one ...
The Silent Patient
If you love a small-town mystery where everyone is hiding something, you need to grab this one immediately. The atmosphere is so thick with tension that I actually felt a chill while reading about the secrets buried in this isolated resort.
It's Not Her
After how much I loved her last book, I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. It’s a fast-paced, high-stakes legal thriller that feels incredibly modern and kept me guessing about who was actually telling the truth until the very en...
Anatomy of an Alibi: A Novel
There is something so haunting about a cold-case mystery set in a winter landscape, and this book captures that perfectly. I felt like I was right there in the snow with the protagonist, desperate to uncover the truth before the trail went cold again...
A Killing Cold: A Novel
This is one of those neighborhood thrillers that hits a little too close to home. The way the timelines weave together kept me guessing until the very end, and the payoff is one of the most emotional I’ve read in years.
Local Woman Missing
I’m a sucker for a locked-room mystery, and this remote island wedding gone wrong is peak atmospheric tension. It’s glamorous, it’s moody, and I honestly couldn't figure out who the victim or the killer was until the lights went out.
The Guest List (Reese's Book Club Pick)
Emotional Journeys & Literary Gems
Sometimes I just want a book that makes me feel deeply and think about the world a little differently. These selections are the ones that stayed in my heart long after I closed the back cover.
After her memoir, I knew Jennette's fiction debut would be raw, but I wasn't prepared for how much this story about loneliness and desire would resonate. It feels like a vulnerable conversation with a close friend who isn't afraid to tell you the mes...
Half His Age
George Saunders has a way of making the surreal feel incredibly human, and this meditation on life and the afterlife is no exception. I found myself tearing up at the most unexpected moments; it's a beautiful, philosophical hug for the soul.
Vigil: A Novel
This is the kind of sweeping, multi-generational story that you just want to wrap yourself up in on a rainy Sunday. The prose is so lyrical that I found myself highlighting entire paragraphs just because of how perfectly they captured a feeling.
A Far-flung Life: A Novel
Nobody writes about the complexities of family and loyalty quite like Tayari Jones, and her latest is a masterclass in empathy. I felt like I knew these characters personally by the end, and their struggles with forgiveness felt incredibly real to me...
Kin
If you loved The Midnight Library, you have to go back to where the magic started with this spiritual successor. It’s a gentle reminder that our lives are made of small moments, and it really helped me reframe some of my own "what ifs."
The Midnight Train (Signed B&N Exclusive Book)
Life-Changing Non-Fiction & Memoirs
I love a book that gives me a new "tool" for my mental health or my daily routine. These five have genuinely changed how I approach my life, and I think they’ll do the same for you.
This book was a total game-changer for my anxiety and my relationships. Mel’s advice on letting go of control is so simple yet so profound; I’ve been practicing the "let them" mindset every single day since I finished it.
The Let Them Theory
Christina’s memoir is so much more than a celebrity story; it’s a raw, funny, and heartbreaking look at resilience. I laughed and cried through the whole thing, and her honesty about health and aging is something we need more of.
You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir
I know everyone talks about this one, but it truly is the gold standard for actually making changes that stick. I finally managed to start a morning routine that I don't hate thanks to the "habit stacking" tips in these pages.
Atomic Habits
I used to find finance books so intimidating, but this one treats money as a human behavior rather than just math. It helped me understand my own "money scripts" and finally start saving without feeling like I was depriving myself.
The Psychology of Money
As someone constantly battling screen time (for myself and the kids!), this book provided such a helpful, science-backed roadmap. It’s not judgmental at all—it’s just a practical guide to reclaiming our focus in a world designed to distract us.
Dopamine Kids