The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
This week, the top four most read books on Goodreads are identical to last week—but we do have a new title that’s broken into the top five! Last week, Quicksilver by Callie Hart took the #5 spot, but now it’s been overtaken by The Wedding People by Alison Espach. The Wedding People has been in the top ten for many weeks, but I’m not sure why it has had a boost in readership this week. It came out in July and was a Read with Jenna pick in August, but I can’t seem to find any additional publicity recently. It may have just accumulated enough word-of-mouth recommendations to give it that bump!
Before we get into the most read books on Goodreads this week, I’d like to spotlight a couple of new releases out this week. The 50-book Goodreads Most Read Books This Week list continues to be disproportionately by white authors: roughly 6% of the titles included are by authors of color, and none are in the top five. So, here are two books by authors of color out this week you should have on your radar. Then, we’ll get into the five most read books on Goodreads this week.
Two New Books Out This Week You Should Know About
Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a couple of new books out this week that deserve wider readership. These are both recommendations from Erica Ezeifedi. Sign up for New Books and In Reading Color to get more of her recs!
We Do Not Part by Han Kang translated by e. yaewon, Paige Aniyah Morris
I have to say that Kang’s timing with this release—after having just won the Nobel Prize in Literature—is A++. We Do Not Part is like The Vegetarian in that it’s also surrealist horror steeped in social issues and history. In it, Kyungha gets a call from her friend who’s been injured and is in a hospital in Seoul. She wants Kyungha to go to her home on Jeju Island to save her pet bird, Ama, but a snowstorm greets Kyungha once she gets to the island. The terrible wind slows Kyungha from getting to her friend’s house, and the cold becomes all-encompassing. What’s more, there is an abject darkness that awaits Kyungha once she gets to the house and then reality starts to blur.
The Broposal by Sonora Reyes
National Book Award finalist Sonora Reyes—author of The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School and The Luis Ortega Survival Club—is making their adult debut with this queer marriage-of-convenience romance. The “bro” part of “the broposal” comes from love-shy Alejandro (Han) and his roommate/bestie Kenny, who is in the worst controlling relationship ever. Out of jealousy, Kenny’s girlfriend has him choose between her and his friendship with Han, and he immediately knows what he has to do. But Kenny isn’t the best at being alone, and once Han loses a big chance at having a work visa, the two do something drastic. They get married, and while Kenny does it for Han’s security, he also low-key does it to make his ex jealous. Thing is, there are real feelings buried under all the pettiness and anxiety.
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Thrillers and romantasy books have had a stranglehold on the top five list for quite a while, so it’s a nice change to see a general fiction book included! This follows Phoebe, a suicidal woman who has decided to give herself one last splurge at the Cornwall Inn. When she arrives, everyone assumes she’s there for the wedding, and she and the bride end up confiding each other.
This was read by more than 17,000 users this week, with a 4.2 average rating.
#4:
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden is the reigning queen of thrillers, and she continues to claim two titles in the top five. This is her newest title, which follows Sydney, who just met the perfect guy…at the same time that news stories come out about a serial killer is dating women before murdering them.
The Boyfriend had almost 21,000 readers on Goodreads, with a 4.0 average rating.
#3:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It follows a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of.
This was read by more than 26,000 Goodreads users this week, with a 4.3 average rating.
#2:
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros continues to hold onto two of the top five spots of the week with her Empyrean series. Book three, Onyx Storm, came out this week. There were hundreds of midnight release parties across the U.S. and Canada, and a Target special edition sold out within hours. Two more volumes are planned in the series.
Iron Flame, book two of the series, was read by almost 53,000 users this week and has a 4.4 average rating
#1:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The #1 most read book on Goodreads this week was Fourth Wing, the first book in the Empyrean series. This romantasy series is about 20-year-old Violet, who has been ordered to become a dragon rider at a war college, despite the deadly risks. It’s one of the most popular in the genre.
Fourth Wing was read by almost 63,000 users this week and it has a 4.6 average rating.
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
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