Dear readers, It’s been three months since we first published our list of the best books of the year so far. But as the earth has spun around, we’ve been graced with even more great things to read. If you haven’t looked at the list in a while, please do spend some time with it. You’ll see quite a few additions, and maybe be reminded of books that intrigued you. Almost everyone I know who doesn’t review for a living is in a reading slump right now. If you’re in that boat, consider the list a life-jacket. I delve into the list in greater detail on today’s “Book Review” podcast, along with its host, Gilbert Cruz, and my colleague MJ Franklin. My absolute favorite book on the list at the moment is Daniyal Mueenuddin’s not-entirely-categorizable “This Is Where the Serpent Lives,” which charts 60 or so years in Pakistan through the stories of four interconnected characters. It’s elegant and restrained, with an incredible degree of emotional intelligence; I’ve been recommending the book to anyone who appreciates upstairs-downstairs types of novels, or the Russian greats. (This is the book that drove me to read Turgenev this year, which is high praise.) For audiobook lovers: Worry not, we also have a list of 2026’s best audiobooks so far. And my colleague Elisabeth Egan has a list of 11 great memoirs written by celebrities — and narrated by them, too. She recommends audiobooks by Christina Applegate, Tina Fey and the Boss himself. Readers have other great suggestions in the comments section, too. I’ll wish you a weekend of good reading ahead, and see you next week. Like this email? We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
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