The best books of 2026

This list is part of the best books of 2026.

Join 113 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

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My favorite read in 2026

Raising Hare

By Chloe Dalton ,

Book cover of Raising Hare

Colin Whittemore ❤️ loved this book because...

This is an honest account by a thoughtfully aware country woman. It tracks her relationship with a field hare that comes to live with her whilst remaining wild. The developing relationship is fascinating.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Originality 🥈 Emotions

  • Writing style

    👍 Liked it

  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace
Raising Hare

By Chloe Dalton ,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Raising Hare as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
A TIMES and SPECTATOR BEST BOOK OF 2024
A WATERSTONES BEST NATURE WRITING BOOK OF 2024
A BOOKSHOP.ORG NATURAL HISTORY GIFT BOOK 2024

'A beautiful book' - ANGELINA JOLIE
'A glorious book - for its warmth, its precision, its joy' - KATHERINE RUNDELL
'I will be recommending this to everyone' - MATT HAIG

__

Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and lolloped around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your…

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My 2nd favorite read in 2026

Training John & Murray

By Martin Clunes ,

Book cover of Training John & Murray

Colin Whittemore 👍 liked this book because...

John and Murray are Jack Russell terrier dogs. I found out about how a book could be written from casual recollection and comprise everything around the main event, but the actuality – the way the dogs got trained – was shorter and less detailed than I expected (given the title). I learned how a professional person can be reliant upon their partner. I also learned never to buy two brother dogs from the same litter. And, in all fairness, why it was that I should not do that. The bit that came through was how Clunes and his partner barely survived the ordeal. But all ended well; or seemed to. A book to read, but not to keep.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Teach 🥈 Thoughts

  • Writing style

    👎 Disliked it

  • Pace

    🐌 It was slow at times
Training John & Murray

By Martin Clunes ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Training John & Murray as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The hilarious story of Britain's best-known dog lover Martin Clunes, two uncontrollable Jack Russell puppies, and a whirlwind of canine chaos . . .

A TALE OF TWO PUPPIES

When Martin Clunes welcomed two adorable Jack Russell puppies, John and Murray, into his Dorset home to share with all the family's other animals, he imagined idyllic walks and loyal companionship.

Instead, the two brothers unleashed a whirlwind of chaos.

Only then did Martin and his wife, Philippa, learn about littermate syndrome. And that shredded furniture was going to be the least of their problems. It seemed everything they'd been doing…

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My 3rd favorite read in 2026

Flash

By Rachel Anne Ridge ,

Book cover of Flash

Colin Whittemore 👍 liked this book because...

Flash is an abandoned donkey. He comes to be cared for by the author who gains spiritual insights along the way. The story of the donkey is linked back to scriptures. This can be enlightening, but sometimes seems over-laboured. This led to reflection which I am sure was beneficial. Some readers will really like this book; others may find it annoying. I found it both.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Character(s) 🥈 Thoughts

  • Writing style

    👍 Liked it

  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace
Flash

By Rachel Anne Ridge ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flash as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The heartwarming tale of an irrepressible donkey who needed a home―and forever changed a family.

Rachel Anne Ridge was at the end of her rope. The economy had crashed, taking her formerly thriving business along with it. She had been a successful artist, doing work she loved, but now she felt like a failure. How would her family pay their bills? What would the future hold? If only God would somehow let them know that everything was going to be all right . . . and then Flash the donkey showed up.

If there is ever a good time to…

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  • Coming soon!

Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Taught by Dogs

By Colin Whittemore ,

Book cover of Taught by Dogs

What is my book about?

This is not a training manual. Not for dogs, not for humans! It is about a lifetime's worth of companionship and what always having a dog means to a family. Like all stories of people and dogs it has times of great joy, but also sadness. The book is lightly written and an enjoyable read. It is the sort of book to give to friend.

Book cover of Raising Hare
Book cover of Training John & Murray
Book cover of Flash

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