Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago

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(aka Required Reading by Liv)

A surprisingly great year for speculative fiction, for me, and overall, books that made me sit with the text and contemplate for hours.

Titles featured:
• The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg (translated by Frances Frenaye)
• Conclave by Robert Harris gifted by Vintage Books
• I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
• Everything You Ever Wanted by Luiza Sauma
• The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernández (translated by Natasha Wimmer)
• Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
• The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
• On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder [gifted by Crown Publishing ]

Based on my favorites, recommend me some books to add to my TBR for this year and share your top three favorite books of the year in the comments!