To celebrate being halfway through 2026, I sent out a survey to see how you all are doing so far in the Read Harder Challenge. I have already shared some results on how many books you all have read on average, how many tasks you have completed, and which tasks you found the hardest and the easiest. Now, I’m here to tell you about my new favorite books that y’all have read so far this year, which checks out in the works!
Almost all of the titles you shared were unique, but there were five books that were mentioned by many people. Here are the most popular responses, arranged by most to least mentioned. I also added some honorable mentions for books that were named only once, but that I think would be especially useful for you to know about.
Interestingly, when I conducted this survey last year, true biz Sara Novick joins that list for another act too! This read is a favorite of the Harder Challenger. I wanted to mention that too Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldry is on this list because it was mentioned multiple times for task #9: Read a romantic book with a gay and/or BIPOC main character. Personally, I wouldn’t classify it as a romance: the romance is largely a subplot and not the focus of the story. I love that novel, but if you’re expecting a romantic novel I want to set expectations!
Now, onto your favorite books that you discovered through the 2026 Read Harder Challenge.
project hail mary by Andy Weir
#10: Read a book recently adapted to film, TV, or musical
#20: Read a book set in space
Story: Ryland Grace is a teacher turned astronaut who is on a last-chance mission to save the Earth. When he awakens from cryostasis with no memories, he discovers that he is the only survivor on the ship. He must find out who they are and what they are doing on this ship in order to save their home planet.
Latest: Hollywood sends Matt Damon to space in its adaptation Martian Weir, and now Ryan Gosling has dropped the bombshell project hail maryDirected by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. -Liberty Hardy
true biz By Sara Novick
#11: Advertisement/Read a book by a deaf author
Set in a boarding school for deaf students, the novel’s characters include Charlie, a new student, and February, a former student and headmistress who is trying to save the school. It also includes background on Deaf culture and images of American Sign Language. Some students, like Austin, come from a deaf family, while Charlie comes from a hearing family. Growing up without access to sign language was socially isolating for Charlie. His story also shows that many deaf people do not want cochlear implants. In Charlie’s case, his implants are dangerous. She forms the team for a school production Peter Pan and joins a diverse, rebellious group of friends. -Grace Lapointe
a hymn for the wild By Becky Chambers
#4: Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
Possibly the coziest science fiction story in existence, this novel duology follows a non-binary tea monk in search of meaning in life. When Dex decides to give up making tea for a while and head into the woods, they come across a wandering robot. Robots haven’t been seen for generations, and therein lies a question for Dex and all of humanity: “What do you want?” Dex doesn’t feel remotely qualified to answer that question, but as the two travel together and search for answers, it becomes clear that the journey is more important than the destination. -Rachel Brittain
Legends and Lattes by travis baldry
#9: Read a romantic book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
“Cozy fantasy” is now a well-known subgenre, but its meteoric rise in popularity can be traced to one book: Legends and Lattes. This story of an Ork retiring from combat to open a coffee shop exemplifies the appeal of a “high fantasy, low stakes” novel. Although there are some dramatic moments when Viv’s past catches up with her, the majority of the plot follows the slow construction of the coffee shop and the relationships formed along the way – including a Sapphic slowburn romance. Seeing it all together is relaxing, comfortable and gratifying. But this quiet story also has a lot to say about community and new beginnings. This is a gem. -Danica Ellis
never let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
#8: Read a Classic from Zero to Well-Read Podcast
In Kazuo Ishiguro’s contemporary classic, never let Me GoWe follow three friends who attend the same school for children in an alternate United Kingdom. As we learn more about the school’s origins, our perception of the story completely changes. I can’t say much without giving spoilers, but never let Me Go It has a science-fiction twist to it. -Centre Winchester
honorable mentions:
subtle activism By Omkari L Williams
#5: Read a non-fiction book about resistance
Getting involved in resistance movements can often be overwhelming, especially for quiet people. Williams’ book offers advice about how to find your way to contributing to the causes you care about, avoid burnout, and take action that works for you and for the broader movements you want to join. -Alice Nuttall
sad land by solomon rivers
#19: Read a book by an intersex author
sad land Tells the story of Vern, an intersex woman alone in the woods who gives birth to two children, Howling and Feral. Now with her children, she is running away from the cult-like compound she escaped from, and her own body is changing into something stronger, stranger, and more wild. -Chris M. Aron
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