Book Riot’s Best of the Year (So Far) list for 2026 is finally here! In the main list, staff and contributors name their favorite books they’ve read so far this year, including everything from science fiction to graphic novels and poetry. But of course, here at True Story, we’re nonfiction fanatics. I’ve rounded up some of the best titles of the year that, if you haven’t read them already, you’ll definitely want to add them to your TBR.
Dan and Sylvia by Tilly Walden
The life of Charity and Sylvia, an openly lesbian couple living in 19th-century Vermont, is fascinating in itself, and acclaimed cartoonist Tillie Walden tells the story so deftly: fragments of life interwoven with letters, dreams, lists, and mentions of Black and Indigenous history unfolding at the same time. My heart aches for these two deeply religious women who, even after living together for decades, fear that their love will become a curse. This is the first book I’ve read that made me sob within a single page. (Those were good tears!) Don’t miss the website for extensive commentaries and background information. -Danica Ellis
london is falling By Patrick Raden Keefe
The story of London Falling is a tangle in itself – the mysterious death of one family’s 19-year-old son reveals a double life with ties to London’s criminal underground – and in the hands of Raiden Keefe, you’ll forget you’re reading nonfiction. His painstaking research, from extensive conversations with the boy’s family to interactions with gangsters and oligarchs, is matched by the care he takes in piecing together a narrative that is deeply compelling without veering toward sensuality. This is the PRK way (see Say Nothing, Empire of Pain, etc.) and that’s why this book will definitely be the best book of 2026 for many readers at the end of the year. -Vanessa Diaz
at morrison By Namwali Serpell
What a gift this book is! The eponymous Serpell has produced a rare work of literary criticism that simultaneously elevates her famously difficult subject texts and makes them more accessible to civilian readers. Toni Morrison’s work is challenging, yes, but it is also fun, positive, exciting, and full of creativity. Serpell’s blend of scholarly analysis and deep affection for Morrison’s work provides a welcome guide for newcomers and a rich resource for longtime Morrison fans. Every serious reader should have this book. -Rebecca joins Shinskey
Mother tongue By Sara Novick
In this must-read memoir, Novick challenges the systems that oppress Deaf and disabled Americans while also celebrating her community’s strength and resilience in the face of ongoing marginalization. From her two-year-old childhood as a deaf child in church to her adulthood and founding of her own family, Nović gives us glimpses into her life as she travels the world. She may not have the answers to life’s burning questions—about Deaf culture, adoption, queerness, and gender identity, just to name a few—but she’s willing to wade through the unknown to lead her readers along the way.
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On witness and repair By Jessamyn Ward
From two-time National Book Award winner Jessamyn Ward, On witness and repair Collects years of essays in one volume. In his signature stunning prose, Ward shares his knowledge and gift for storytelling, much of which he learned from his childhood in Mississippi. This collection of essays is Ward’s non-fiction prose at its best, incisive, informative, and never straying from difficult truths.
You can find me on my Substack Winchester Avenueon instagram @kdwinchesteror on my podcast read appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at (email protected) For even more bookish content, you can find my articles on Book Riot.
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