The big new book-to-screen adaptations continue to dominate the most read books on Goodreads: three of the top five titles this month are enjoying a boost in popularity from their TV or movie counterparts.
Regardless of the reasons, it is interesting to see Wuthering Heights on this list. I am so curious about the reactions from readers who picked it up because of the recent movie, since it diverges so dramatically from the original. My sympathy goes out to anyone who picked it up expecting a steamy romance.
New Books Out in February 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 new books that came out in February and deserve wider readership.
Greedy by Callie Kazumi
This horror/psychological thriller novel is perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu. It follows Edward Cook, a British man living in Japan. He’s drowning in debt because of his gambling addiction, and he’s desperate for work. So he takes a job as a chef for Hazeline Yamamoto, a reclusive woman living in a remote mountain estate. Hazeline is a certified gourmand with a particular palate, but Edward is horrified to discover what Hazeline is really doing and what she wants Edward to do for her. —Emily Martin
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Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
In the world of this YA dark academia, human bodies can be replaced, if you have the money. Anabelle Gage is trapped in a decaying male body and desperate to get out of it, so she attempts to steal one from the Paragon Academy, where students are automatically given new ones. But caught by the school’s headmaster, Anabelle is blackmailed into being his personal mercenary instead. —Liberty Hardy
On Morrison by Namwali Serpell
Toni Morrison is one of the most beloved American writers of all time, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a deep dive into her work. Based on her famous lecture series, Namwali Serpell walks readers through every Morrison novel, each chapter focusing on one book with accompanying themes and ideas. I can’t get my hands on this title fast enough! —Kendra Winchester
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
It’s not often we see a classic novel in the top five most read books on Goodreads, but the recent adaptation—however loosely it relates to the original—has renewed interest in it. I initially assumed readers who picked it up because of the movie would be disappointed (and confused) by the book, since they’re so different, but the average rating has actually improved since the movie was announced. It was read by almost 76,000 Goodreads users this month and has a 3.9 average rating.
#4:
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
The incredible popularity of the Heated Rivalry TV show adaptation is hard to overstate, and we’re all on tenterhooks waiting for season two. What better way to pass the time than picking up the book that inspired it? This was read by almost 79,000 Goodreads users this month and has a 4.3 average rating.
#3:
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. It’s about a woman who has written letters daily her whole life. When someone from her past writes back, she has to reevaluate a painful period in her life and find a way to forgive. This was read by almost 95,000 users this month and has a 4.5 average rating.
#2:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
This is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It’s about a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. The movie adaptation is out now. This was read by 106,000 Goodreads users this month, with a 4.3 average rating.
#1:
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
The latest McFadden thriller is about an advice columnist who has been guiding the women who write to her through dealing with their lackluster or even abusive husbands. When she loses her job and realizes her husband is keeping secrets from her, she decides it’s time for her to take her own advice and get revenge. Almost 172,000 Goodreads users read it this month, and it has a 4.0 average rating.
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
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