Need a Book Recommendation? These are the Best Fantasy, Romantasy & Sci-fi Books I've Read So Far in 2026, Worth Adding to Your TBR
If you’re still deciding what you want to read the rest of the year and you haven’t picked up one of these books below, you’re truly missing out. This is my annual mid-year reading rec list of my favorite reads of the first half of 2026. Not all of them are new releases, so there’s lots to choose from. If you’re a fantasy and romantasy lover, or want to dabble in some sci-fi or even horror-lite, this list is for you. As always, I’m working my way through more of my physical TBR over over 600 books (I know!), and I still have a book unhaul goal of 200 by the end of the year (current count: 97!)! You definitely want your bookshelves to be filled with favorites only, which means I’ve DNF’d quite a few and and a lot were just meh. You’ll find my 10 favorite reads of the first six months of 2026 below. And most of these aren’t even perfect five stars. Even if a book isn’t perfect for me, it can be perfect for someone else, and I do think I can be stingy with my five stars at times, so many of these might be five star reads for you. These aren’t in any particular order, so don’t treat these as a ranking. Hope you’ll find some new favorite fantasy reads, or confirmation of your excellent reading taste. ;) I’m really looking forward to the second half of the year, because so many highly anticipated reads are coming out, especially from some BIG names in Romantasy (Rachel Gillig, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, and more!), so I’ll of course, be back at the end of the year with a definitive list of favorites and see if those reads lived up to the hype.
What have been your favorite reads so far this year? Drop those book recs in the comments!
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
This was the most incredible debut I’ve read in a LONG time. AND it’s a standalone. It’s tragic, dark, and definitely NOT a romance, so don’t go into it expecting that. Catch all my thoughts in my full review here.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I was way behind on reading this one, but since the movie came out this year, I wanted to be sure to read the book first. And it did NOT disappoint. It’s so funny. Yes, there’s a lot of physics, but I feel like Weir does a great job making it digestible. And they’re releasing this GORGEOUS deluxe edition on December 1st, 2026. If you somehow haven’t had a chance to read this one yet, you can check my full review here.
The Wolf King and The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman
I don’t know what she put in these books, but this Romantasy series is like crack. You can’t put them down. They’re tropey, and sometimes over the top, and there’s werewolves with lots of alpha energy. Why on earth did I like these? haha Definitely not my typical read. But somehow, they just worked. Plus, did I mention they’re in kilts and have Scottish accents? Definitely a ‘junk food read’ in the sense that it’s not that deep, and just a fun time. And if anyone is wondering, I’m Team Blake.
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
This absolute gem of a series was sitting on my shelf for multiple years before I FINALLY picked it up. It took me ages to read this sequel to Strange the Dreamer (a phenomenal read from last year.). I love this magical duology so much, and it has the most beautiful writing. I will be recommending it to everyone who loves books like The Night Circus, The City of Stardust, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Book two does venture a bit into the sci-fi realm, so keep that in mind. You’ll need to start with book one, so read my full review here.
Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell
I’ll preface this by saying I do not read horror. I’m not a fan of horror. I hate horror movies. BUT THIS! Somehow this gothic book was so good, and suddenly, I’m dipping my toes into more horror-lite books. You should too. Maybe. This book starts out very innocent and gets very dark, very quickly. But it’s also one of those books that makes you think. Check my full review here.
The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott
This was one of those books I’d never heard of and was in one of my special edition subscription boxes (and y’all know I’m trying to read through more of these on my shelves so I can decide what to keep or get rid of), and this was an unexpectedly good read. If you like dark academia and especial Art History, plus magical creatures, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Yes, there’s a slow burn romance, and I’m looking forward to book two!
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
If you’re looking for a whimsical YA Romantasy read, this is the one for you. It’s got those old school fairytale vibes where things border on absurd, but delightful. Think Howl’s Moving Castle or Terry Pratchett vibes. There’s adorable romance, and amazing side characters. You can check my full review here.
A War of Wyverns by S.F. Williamson
The sequel to A Language of Dragons, and I wasn’t even sure we were going to get a sequel, but I’m so glad we did! This book picks up right where the first one left off, and I can’t tell you anything because they would be major SPOILERS. But if you haven’t picked up this series, and you like the idea of an alternate history of England (and Europe) with intelligent dragons, a war against an Authoritarian state, and found family, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth
THIS is the Dystopian Romance I was waiting for. Dystopian books are trending again, and to be honest, most of the ones I’ve read recently have really let me down, but this one had me immediately intrigued. Plus, there’s a sci-fi element that’s going to play a much bigger role in book two (which, I’m chomping at the bit for…*cough* Tor, pretty please?). You can catch my full review here.
Don’t forget to drop your favorite reads of 2026 in the comments below, so we can all continue to add to our neverending TBRs.
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