What to Read in 2026

Friends, I just had to laugh as I was putting this blog post together: I asked each of the members of Team Cultivate to offer 3-5 books they hoped to read in 2026, and when I compared the lists, there were SO MANY duplicates, overlaps, and similar themes. This is what happens when you're a team that is constantly swapping book recommendations, I suppose!

If you, too, enjoy novels with excellent character development and moving plots, as well as thought-provoking nonfiction, you'll surely find a few good reads for the year ahead on this list.

Love to read? Don't miss the Cultivated Reading Journal, a beautiful home for your TBR list, reviews of 100 books, and fun reading challenges!

Fiction:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans | A novel told through letters and emails, focusing on retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp as she confronts painful memories from her past after receiving letters from an old acquaintance. Not only does it look like a heartwarming read (my book club's going to read it in February together!), but I recently got to meet this author at a writing retreat, so it's fun to be able to support friends putting good work out into the world. — Rachel (and also Alli and Emily, ha!)

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy | Several voices I respect called this book the best they read in 2025, citing its artistry, deft conjuring of place, and wide-eyed grappling with sweeping questions about what we owe one another and what we owe the future. — Emily

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee | I always try to read at least one classic every year, and I shockingly never read this one in school! Classics tend to either be love or hate for me so I'm curious to see where this one lands. — Rachel

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | I'm hoping to check off a classic this year, too! My plan is to re-read this beloved novel alongside my tween daughter.  Plus, there are just so many gorgeous covers of this book available, it's begging to be picked up! — Lauren

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan | I'm a few years late to this one, but I've only heard good things! My hold has already come in at the library so it will likely be my first pick of 2026. Sadly, I haven't heard the same about the Netflix adaptation, so I think I'll stick to the novel :) — Emily

The Winners by Fredrik Backman | I never thought I would have a favorite author—but that was before I read Fredrik Backman. His stories are full of rich, layered characters, and the writing is full of heart, humor, and beautiful kernels of truth. Want to start at the beginning of this series? Read Beartown. Or, if you want a stand-alone of his, my favorite so far is Anxious People. — Rachel

My Friends by Fredrik Backman | Rachel, I think we're book twins this year! I haven't read all of Backman's books, but have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I have read. Excited to dive into this latest one soon! — Lauren

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi | Similar to The Correspondent, I have been so tickled to watch this debut novel rocket to prominence on word-of-mouth referrals. And it sounds right up my alley: "A small-town story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another." — Emily

Non-Fiction:

The Self-Driven Child by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson | This is a recommendation from Emily that's been on my list for a while! I'm excited for the pairing of research and wisdom around giving children more control over their lives, with actionable items at the end of each chapter. — Alli

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport | I've heard people rave about one of Cal's other books (Digital Minimalism) but was drawn to the themes of this book (focusing on quality over quantity by doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over high-quality output). It sounds like a great fit for Cultivators! — Rachel

Meet Me in the Middle by Sandra Stanley and Allie Stanley Cooney | I listened to an interview with this mother-daughter pair on a podcast and really liked what they had to say. With our oldest turning ten in 2026, I think this book could provide some good inspiration for important conversations. — Emily

Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley | Since joining Team Cultivate I have heard a lot about this book, which focuses on simple habits and routines for Christian families - it's an office favorite! I happen to have a copy already and am excited to jump on the bandwagon, too. — Katie

The Body Teaches the Soul by Justin Whitmel Earley | Let's put Justin's newest on the list, too! This one seems to touch on some things that I personally want to prioritize in 2026, so I am hopeful this will be a great read to support me and my goals in the new year. — Lauren

The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel | Morgan wrote my favorite personal finance book of all time (The Psychology of Money), so I have high hopes for his follow-up. Like his first book, The Art of Spending Money doesn't provide budgets, hacks, or one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, it promises to give you an understanding of how your relationship with money shapes your decisions—and how to reshape it so money works for you. I'm excited. — Emily

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis | I started this book years and years ago and recently rediscovered my un-finished copy. I'm looking forward to reading this thought-provoking book (an absolute classic from C.S. Lewis) written from the unique perspective of a demon writing letters of "advice" to his nephew. — Alli (also on Emily's list!)

Cloud of Witnesses by Jonathan Arnold and Zachariah Carter | In our now-focused and individualistic culture, it's easy to forget the wisdom of those who came before us, but I'm excited to learn from the prayers and petitions of church history! — Katie

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt | I've heard a lot about this book (it would be hard to avoid!) but haven't read it yet. My own teens are growing up with quite a different experience than I did with social media and cell phones; I hope to learn ways to better support them and set them up for success. — Lauren

Friends, we'd love to hear: what's on your hopeful reading list for 2026? Let us know in the comments! And if you need somewhere beautiful to jot down all your new TBR ideas, we have just the thing.