Goodreads Best Books of 2026 So Far: The 7 Love Stories Readers Can’t Put Down
We loved book #3—and half of all reviewers gave it a full five stars!
Key Takeaways
- Goodreads has released its list of most popular romances and romantasies of 2026 so far.
- Of all love stories, 'This Book Made Me Think of You' is the rising star, per Goodreads.
- 'In Her Own League' breaks the sports romance mold and readers are piling on five-star reviews.
What are the absolute best love stories of 2026 so far? Goodreads Best Books list has just dropped, featuring the romances and romantasies most popular with its 150 million book-crazed members—and the titles are pretty much guaranteed to take your breath away. Keep scrolling and let us know how many of these you’ve read, which you’re going to grab next and any glaring snubs.
‘The Night We Met’ by Abby Jimenez
So popular, it has nearly triple the reviews of other best-loved love stories
Chris is doing everything right. He’s kind, reliable, funny—exactly the kind of man Larissa deserves. There’s just one problem: She’s dating his best friend. And she doesn’t even know it’s Chris she’s falling for.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jimenez and told with her signature wit and emotional depth, this is a love story about the messiest kind of feelings—the kind you can’t act on, can’t ignore and can’t explain away.
What Goodreads readers say:
“I love how Abby takes these characters that have very ordinary lives and gives them their happily ever after.”
“I read it in one sitting.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: With nearly 285,000 ratings, The Night We Met is far and away Goodreads’ most-read new romance of the year. It holds a 3.98 out of 5 stars, with 72 percent of readers giving it at least four stars.
‘Our Perfect Storm’ by Carley Fortune
A misty, rainforest beach town is a third character in this love story spanning 20 years
Frankie and George have been best friends since they were 8 years old. Twenty years later, her fiancé leaves her the morning after her rehearsal dinner with nothing but a note. George has a plan: forget the wallowing. Take the honeymoon. Together. One week in Tofino, on the misty rainforest-lined coast of British Columbia—and one last chance to figure out what they really are to each other.
This is a standalone follow-up to rising-star author Fortune‘s mega-bestseller Every Summer After.
What Goodreads readers say:
“George is one of my new favorite main male characters/MMCs—I genuinely giggled many times at the things he said.”
“Right book, right time—my favorite tropes done extremely well within the perfect summer setting.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: Our Perfect Storm has scored a 4.04 out of 5 stars, with 75 percent of readers giving it four or five stars. Industry insiders at Kirkus gave it a starred review, calling it “a powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.”
‘In Her Own League’ by Liz Tomforde
The protagonist is older and curvier than in most spicy romances—and it takes the story to a new level
Reese Remington is the first female owner in baseball’s major leagues—sharp, prepared and under a microscope from day one. The last thing she needs is Emmett Montgomery, her team’s old-school field manager questioning her every call. He thinks she’s ice-cold. She thinks he’s impossible. They’re both wrong, and the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to pretend otherwise.
Known for her spicy sports romances, New York Times bestselling author Liz Tomforde takes a deliberate turn here—Reese is 35, Emmett is 45, and the story is richer for it. This is a love story between two adults who actually behave like adults.
What Goodreads readers say:
“Everything about this book was absolute and utter perfection—I would give it 6 stars if I could.”
“There are drugs in this book. No one can convince me otherwise. There is literally no part of this story that I didn’t like.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: In Her Own League has earned 192,000 Goodreads ratings and a 4.31 out of 5 stars—with an impressive 49 percent of readers giving it a full five stars.
‘This Book Made Me Think of You’ by Libby Page
Goodreads says that, of all romances, this has the fastest-growing momentum and buzz
Tilly Nightingale’s husband Joe died five months ago. She hasn’t been able to read a book since. Then she gets a call from North London bookshop owner Alfie, who explains that before he died, Joe arranged for Tilly to receive one carefully chosen book per month for a year, each with a handwritten letter to help her through her first year without him. The sweet gesture and her growing friendship with Alfie slowly bring her back to life.
Sunday Times bestselling author Libby Page drew on her own grief to write this one—and it shows. Described by readers and critics alike as P.S. I Love You meets Eat, Pray, Love with a bookish twist.
What Goodreads readers say:
“This book was one of those special stories that reminded me of why we read books. Not to get through them, but to have them go through us.”
“I will be thinking about this book for a while—it’s easily a favorite of the year.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: According to Goodreads’ editorial team, This Book Made Me Think of You has maintained remarkably strong star ratings and growing reader interest since its February publication. It also earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus—the industry’s most trusted voices.
‘And Now, Back to You’ by B.K. Borison
Inspired by When Harry Met Sally—and a real National Weather Service meteorologist served as advisor
Jackson is a radio weather reporter who loves routine. Delilah is a spontaneous TV meteorologist who lives for the field. After clashing for years, they’re forced to partner up and cover the snowstorm of the century. They end up trapped in a mountain lodge, their bickering slowly giving way to something warmer. Much warmer.
New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison says the book was inspired by a childhood love of local news and weather reporters who “felt like part of our family.”
What Goodreads readers say:
“The best way to read this is to sit down with a cup of coffee and nuzzle into your bed/blanket and let the mushy feeling take over your body.”
“The banter is sparkling, the tenderness is earned and the chemistry is the kind that fogs up windows.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: It was the #1 pick on the Indie Next List, the bookseller community’s most trusted recommendation. It has also earned 3.95 out of 5 stars, with 72 percent of readers giving it four or five stars.
‘Into the Blue’ by Emma Brodie
Published by Jenna Bush Hager’s imprint, a Reese’s Book Club pick—and surprisingly spicy!
In the summer of 2000, AJ Graves is stuck in a Massachusetts video rental store as she dreams of writing for Saturday Night Live. Then Noah Drew walks in—intense, magnetic, from one of Hollywood’s most famous acting families—and everything changes. They become friends, then acting partners. Then Noah vanishes without a word.
Seven years later, they’re cast in the same TV production. It’s a sweeping, spicy second-chance love story. Into the Blue was published by Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices imprint and was selected as the April read for Reese Witherspoon’s book club.
What Goodreads readers say:
“There are books that make you feel so deeply it feels like you know these characters to their core. I CRIED at the end. This will be in my top 10 favorites of 2026.”
“Explosive chemistry and devastating emotion.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: Into the Blue has earned 73,000 Goodreads ratings and a 4.06 out of 5 stars, with 74 percent of readers giving it four or five stars.
‘Starside’ by Alex Aster
This is YA author Alex Aster’s first adult romantasy—and she did not hold back
Aris isn’t entering a deadly competition for wealth or healing. She’s entering to kill a goddess—the one who burned her family alive when she was a child. To survive, she’ll need to claim a great sword that chooses its own wielder. And she’ll need to figure out what to do about Harlan Raker, the king’s guard. He betrayed her years ago, but now may be the only person who can keep her alive.
Alex Aster built her career on BookTok after being rejected by mainstream publishers, eventually becoming a #1 New York Times bestselling author with her Lightlark YA series. Fans are here for it, making this the top new romantasy series.
What readers say:
“Alex Aster’s jump to adult romantasy feels like where she was always supposed to be.”
“I need the whole series in my hands before I crash out—that was one of the best romantasies I have read in so long.”
Reviews that made it one of Goodreads best books: To date, a whopping 83 percent of readers have given this book four or five stars.
The bottom line on Goodreads top romances
Whether you’re a lifelong romance reader or just dipping your toes in, 2026 has delivered an extraordinary crop of love stories—and Goodreads’ 150 million readers are pointing us to some amazing titles to consider. From snowstorm coziness to otherworldly battles, there’s something for everyone. The only question is: which one are you reading first?
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