The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week

Set in Japan in two disparate times, Japanese Gothic follows two protagonists. In the present day, Lee has fled New York to hide away in his father’s home in Japan. He knows there’s something wrong with him and that he has committed a crime, but he can’t remember the details. In 1877, Sen, a female samurai, hides from imperial soldiers and attempts to protect her family. As the two find themselves communicating with each other through time, they realize they are living in the same home, a house that is built on dark secrets. —Emily Martin

After her high school graduation, Jazmyn Payne was done with her hometown and the fatphobes who relentlessly tore her down. But growing up, Aunt Addison offered her a safe place to land, so when her health takes a turn for the worse, Jazz returns home. What’s Aunt Addison’s primary request? For Jazz to find someone fun to date. Jazz didn’t think much of the ask before Lamar Anderson sat next to her at a sports bar and inspired her desire to date. Allen’s third book in her Curve series proves that sometimes, sexy, fun people enter your life the moment you need them to. —R. Nassor

Shield of Sparrows is a popular enemies-to-lovers romantasy book, and this is the second book in the trilogy. It follows a princess who has to team up with a warrior she hates to save the kingdom. The Shield of Sparrows series is currently being adapted as a feature film, and the final book is scheduled to come out in March 2027. This was read by 15,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.

This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, Katie Couric named it the first pick for her new book club. 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 19,000 users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.

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 20,000 Goodreads users read it this week, and it has a 4.0 average rating.

Abby Jimenez is a bestselling romance author whose 2024 novel, Just for the Summer, was a breakout hit. Her newest is the second book in the Say You’ll Remember Me series. It follows Larissa, who is in a rocky relationship with Mike. Meanwhile, Mike’s best friend, Chris, is falling for Larissa, but he’s determined not to blow up their friend group by making a move. The Night We Met was read by almost 25,000 Goodreads users this week, and it has a 4.1 average rating.

This 2021 sci-fi novel from the author of The Martian is getting renewed interest thanks to the movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling, out now. Like The Martian, Project Hail Mary is hard sci-fi about an isolated man in space. Ryland Grace is a junior high teacher and former molecular biologist who becomes the unlikely last hope of life on Earth. It was read by 34,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.5 average rating.