The Most Read Books on Goodreads in August 2026

We’re wrapping up summer reading season, so let’s take a look at the books that have been making the rounds in beach bags and airport lounges in August. One thing missing from this list is a summer romance novel. Although there were some that popped up in the bestseller lists and most read on Goodreads lists temporarily, we didn’t have a breakout title this season, which is a shame. Instead, the top five is made up of thrillers and popular book club picks. 3 Books Out in August You Should Know About Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a few books that came out in August that deserve wider readership. Unprecedented Times by Malavika Kannan In this Gen Z coming-of-age novel, we follow Rishi, a “burnt-out youth climate activist, she used to want to save the world, but now she just wants to have gay sex.” When the COVID pandemic hits, she ignores online college in favor of forming a farm collective with her friends. As you might expect from a bunch of queer college students in a small space, the relationships between them get very complicated very quickly. I love mess. —Danika Ellis Appetite by P. Paramita T...