Episode 588 || Best Books of the Year (So Far)

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter discuss the best books of 2026 (so far)!

To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 588) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

Annie

• First five-star read: The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman

• Most surprising: Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen

• Least favorite: Man Overboard! By Kathleen Rooney (July 7th, 2026) and Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

• Next on your TBR: June Baby by Shannon Garvey

• Most anticipated fall release: The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (September 29th, 2026), Fair Ones by Lydia Millett (October 6th, 2026)

Annie’s Top 10 1. Kin by Tayari Jones 2. Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin 3. Strangers by Belle Burden 4. The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman 5. The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout 6. Anywhere Else by Rachel Knox 7. Whistler by Ann Patchett 8. Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer 9. Good People by Patmeena Shaw 10. This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman Hunter’s Top 10 1. Brawler by Lauren Groff 2. Whidbey by Kira Madden 3. Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg 4. Departures by Julian Barnes 5. Kin by Tayari Jones 6. <