In 2026, reading was no longer just a habit—it became a form of emotional survival, intellectual curiosity, and conscious self-care. Readers gravitated toward books that slowed them down, helped them process anxiety, rethink productivity, understand love, and imagine the future with greater clarity. From reflective philosophy and emotional healing to children’s literature and speculative fiction, these ten books emerged as defining reads of the year. Together, they paint a portrait of a readership seeking meaning over momentum.