The Most Read Books on Goodreads of the Week
Welcome to The Best of Book Riot, our daily round-up of what’s on offer across our site, newsletters, podcasts, and social channels. Not everything is for everyone, but there is something for everyone.
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
To keep things interesting, I’ve also included the top five titles in three countries across the globe. This time, we’re looking at the books popular with Goodreads users in Malaysia, Mexico, and the Netherlands. But first, let’s take a look at some new books you should know about.
How THE MILLIONS’ Seasonal Previews Get Made with Sophia Stewart
The Millions’ seasonal previews have become anticipated, admired, and extremely useful events in the book world. Sophia Stewart, an editor at The Millions and Publishers Weekly, was kind enough to answer some of my questions about how it gets made.
500 Episodes of All the Books!
Liberty Hardy recently hosted her 500th episode of All the Books!, Book Riot’s weekly podcast about new book releases. If you didn’t now that existed or did but have never tried it, now is is a good time to jump in. I used the occasion as an excuse to have her join me on First Edition to talk about hosting all those shows and a range of other bookish topics. Always a great time.
The Book Riot Podcast Live At Powell’s Books
Come join (or prod someone you know to join) Rebecca Schinksy and I for a live recording of The Book Riot Podcast at the magisterial Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon on March 13th at 7pm. We are going to be picking The Most Recommendable Books of the Century…So Far. It’ll be a great time. Go here for tickets, or click on the giant poster below, featuring a quite a bit younger version of both of us.
How Libraries and Librarians Support Romance
As trusted institutions, libraries have long played a pivotal role in shaping literary landscapes—preserving overlooked genres, expanding access to diverse voices, and legitimizing popular fiction. Just as they have supported science fiction, fantasy, and LGBTQ+ literature in the past, libraries are now helping romance gain the visibility and credibility it deserves. Through curated collections, book clubs, academic archives, and public programming, libraries are ensuring that romance is not just widely read but also widely respected.
Tasty New and Upcoming Nonfiction for Foodies
Got a sweet tooth? Check out books on the history of candy and the current movement to preserve heirloom strains of chocolate. More of a fruit lover? Read thoughtful reflections on mangoes and oranges. Can’t get enough restaurant drama? You’ll love juicy memoirs by celebrity chefs and fine dining insiders. No matter which books you choose, be sure to have snacks on hand because this food writing is sure to stoke your appetite.
COEXISTENCE by Billy-Ray Belcourt
How do you make a poem? How do you fall in love in the wake of ongoing colonial violence? What does it mean to listen well—to your mother, your students, your lover, yourself? Does art matter? How do you rebuild your life after being released from prison? What about the prairies and the ghosts that live there, the Alberta wind, your childhood home? What are they telling you about how to live? These questions are not abstract, as they live in the bodies of Belcourt’s characters and in the language they use to make sense of the world.
Reality TV Horror Books Are Not Here to Make Friends
People often say that life imitates art, but sometimes art imitates reality television shows. It make sense that reality TV has crept into so many of our favorite horror novels. After all, these unscripted TV series have become such a huge part of our lives. Who isn’t watching The Traitors, the campy and suspensive reality competition show where contestants murder each other to win? Sounds like the perfect setting for a horror story, does it not?
Here are three horror novels that turn the world of reality TV into a dark, twisted place. Or at least…slightly more dark and twisted than it is usually.
14 Book Censorship Posts to Revisit
Catch up on what you may have missed, and remember that there is nothing new in the book—just different names and faces trying to get their 15 minutes of manufactured outrage fame. We are seeing the results of these actions play out and if you’ve been watching or engaged, nothing is surprising. That doesn’t mean it isn’t infuriating, disgusting, or not in need to pushback. It just means that the groundwork’s been being laid so it is simply not surprising in the least.
