Top 5 books of 2026… so far

I’ve loved Beth O’Leary’s books for years, but Swept Away might just be my favourite yet for the absolute devastation it caused my poor heart.

It’s equal parts romance, adventure, survival story and character study, and somehow manages to balance all of those elements beautifully. The relationship develops naturally under extraordinary circumstances, making every emotional beat feel earned.

What I loved most was how believable the characters remained throughout their journey. Faced with an impossible situation, they don’t suddenly become action heroes. They became people trying to survive together.

It’s heartfelt, funny, tense, deeply romantic and extremely poignant in moments.

And it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from Beth O’Leary.

This was one of the biggest surprises of my reading year.

I picked it up expecting a fun, ice hockey sports romance. The same as every other book in the Toronto Terrors series.

Instead, I found a story with genuine emotional weight, fantastic chemistry and characters I became deeply invested in.

Helena Hunting has always balanced humour and heart well, but this book felt particularly strong. The emotional moments land because the characters feel authentic, and the romance develops with exactly the kind of tension and payoff I love.

Dred and Connor’s story isn’t just about Dred and Connor. It’s about showing up for your found family and reaching out to those around us to make sure they aren’t just surviving, but ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive.

It’s the sort of book that reminds me why I’ve been happily embracing romance over the past year.

Sometimes a romance just gets everything right.

The chemistry, the pacing, the emotional development, the banter—it all comes together beautifully here.

What elevates Game Changer beyond a great sports romance is how much care Rachel Reid gives her characters. The relationship feels genuine because both characters are allowed to grow individually as well as together.

It’s funny, heartfelt, incredibly readable, and exactly the kind of romance that leaves you smiling long after you’ve finished.

But what I love most is that Rachel Reid doesn’t shy away from the uglier parts of human nature. While I know most readers point to Ilya and Shane as the standout couple in the series, Game Changer earns its place as my favourite because of its honesty. Rachel Reid acknowledges the reality of what high-profile, male professional athletes would face, and she never takes the easy way out. That bravery makes this story unforgettable.

Needless to say, I immediately wanted to continue the series.

If someone had told me ten years ago that one of my favourite books of the year would involve cosy fantasy, baked goods and found family, I probably wouldn’t have believed them.

Now?

Please point me towards all of the cosy fantasy.

Brigands & Breadknives perfectly captures everything I loved about returning to this world. The humour is warm, the characters are wonderfully realised, and the entire story feels like curling up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea.

It’s comforting without being boring, gentle without lacking substance, and proof that fantasy doesn’t always need world-ending stakes to tell a memorable story.

And while I have loved every book in this series, there’s something about Fern and her journey to find where she belongs that really spoke to me.

It also helps that I love the chaos goblin. (Travis, if you’re listening… please let Zyll have her own adventure next!)