Inside Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far List | Ep. 231

In Episode 231, Al Woodworth (Amazon Senior Editor) returns to the show to discuss Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far. They break down this year's list, discuss the books that rose to the top, and explore how the Amazon Books editorial team selected, debated, and ultimately ranked this year's Top 20. Plus, Al shares her personal book recommendations!

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• Al shares the defining characteristics of Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far list.
• How the Amazon Books editorial team selected and ranked this year's Top 20.
• Whether this year's list sparked debate and how disagreements were resolved.
• Why Kin was chosen as Amazon's #1 book of the year so far.
• The genres that have stood out (and the ones that haven't) in 2026.
• A look at how books are assigned to Amazon's genre-specific lists.
• Why some books rank differently on genre lists than on the overall Top 20 list.
• Under-the-radar books from the list that deserve more attention.
• Al's personal favorites that didn't quite make the Top 20.

Al's Book Recommendations

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:54] 
• Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn (US Release: 2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[39:22] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) [35:56] 

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Nightingales by Emil Wilson (Aug 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:32]  
• American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:07]  
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [44:12] 

One Book She DIDN'T Love

• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:05] 

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

• The Vanishing Family by Robert Kolker (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:10]  
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker (2020) [50:42]  

Books From the Discussion

• Kin by Tayari Jones (Feb 24)  [2:06]
• London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Apr 7) [3:07] 
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [6:43] 
• Strangers by Belle Burden (Jan 13) [6:50] 
• Night Objects by Eli Raphael (May 26) [6:57] 
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992) [7:51] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [7:54] 
• Land by Maggie O'Farrell (Jun 2) [11:14]
• Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (2020) [12:15]
• Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas (Mar 31) [12:56] 
• Famesick by Lena Dunham (Apr 14) [13:04] 
• Transcription by Ben Lerner (Apr 7) [13:48] 
• John of John by Douglas Stuart (May 5) [15:23] 
• Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart (2020) [15:27] 
• Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart (2022) [15:28] 
• Homebound by Portia Elan (May 5) [16:15] 
• The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5) [17:16] 
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2009) [17:23] 
• Educated by Tara Westover (2018) [18:52] 
• James by Percival Everett (2024) [19:00] 
• The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller (2024) [19:09] 
• No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (Mar 3) [23:43] 
• American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn (Apr 21) [25:29] 
• A Far-Flung Life by M. L. Stedman (Mar 3) [28:25] 
• Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) [28:38] 
• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie (Apr 7) [32:12] 
• Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell (Apr 14) [32:14] 
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (2024) [32:19] 
• How to Rule the World by Theo Baker (May 19) [33:16]