If you ask any librarian, most would probably wish they had MORE time in the day to read. Yet, collectively, the staff at MCLS member libraries some how manage to find some time each day to read hundreds of books each year covering a wide variety of genres and topics, and we love sharing our favorites from the past year. Check out our list of titles we recommend you pick up in 2026, below you will find Adult Fiction Titles
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Recommended Adult Fiction Titles
Famous Last Words
by Gillian McAllister
“I’d recommend Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. Had a rough reading year, but that helped me to get out of my reading slump!” 5-star thriller, super quick read!
The wedding people: a novel
by Alison Espach
More Weight: a Salem Story (Graphic Novel)
by Ben Wickey
So many people read The Crucible in high school, but this incredible graphic novel covers the real story of the witch trials.
God’s Junk Drawer
by Peter Clines
The Black Wolf
by Louise Penny
The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans
The Last Hour Between Worlds (Echo Archives, book 1)
by Melissa Caruso
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu Mandanna
Cozy and magical, perfect for curling up with some hot chocolate while watching the autumn leaves or winter snow fall. -Chloe, Monroe Branch Library-
The Frozen River
by Ariel Lawhon
Just in time. When the weather outside can be frightful, The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, is the perfect choice for a winter read and a fireside chat about all the meaningful themes this book encompasses.
Big Swiss
by Jen Beagin
The Will of The Many
by James Islington
After introducing myself to Islington by reading Will of the Many, I knew I was hooked. There’s a highly developed and unique system of magic (called “Will”), not-so-subtle critiques of modern society, and plenty of action. While not every fantasy narrated in the first-person lands, Will of the Many is a must-read sequel. I’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat for the third installment of the Hierarchy series. – Recommended by Adam at the Webster Public Library. Also recommended The Strength of The Few also by James Islington.
Not Quite Dead Yet
by Holly Jackson
The Famished Road
by Ben Okri
Collected Stories
by Raymond Carver
Recommended by Brandon at the Central Library
Story of My Life
by Lucy Score
Hilarious characters, small town setting, just the right amount of spice. – Hanna, Lyell Branch Library-
On the Calculation of Volume
by Solvej Balle
Recommended by Kristy, Pittsford Community Library & Irondequoit Public Library
Wayward Girls
by Susan Wiggs
It has a little bit of everything from historical fiction to suspense , sadness and routing for the underdog. Several patrons have also loved it. Kristine Kelly- Rush Library
The Christmas Ring
by Karen Kingsbury
Recommended by Anna at the Gates Public Library
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
by Roshani Chokshi
Recommended by Katy at the Phillis Wheatley Library
Salvage the Bones
by Jesmyn Ward
I read this novel during my time in undergrad. Initially, I was worried it’d be difficult to stay interested enough to finish for class. However, once I began to read, I found myself turning page after page. Ward’s beautiful and enriching descriptions create a compelling fictionalized account of Hurricane Katrina and its effects on Black communities.
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
by Hisashi Kashiwai
The Parakeet
by Espe
Death of the Author: A Novel
by Nnedi Okorafor
Automatic Noodle
by Annalee Newitz
It is a story about a group of rag tag robots trying to establish and market their own authentic hand-pulled noodle shop in futuristic San Francisco. Great characterizations that make you think!
Murder on the Marlow Belle: a novel
by Thorogood, Robert
Recommended by a member of the Charlotte Branch Library
The Memory Police
by Yoko Ogawa
I found this book extremely powerful and thought provoking. It shows what happens when people can’t remember, or choose to forget. Gradually, a totalitarian government removes everyday objects, with most people oblivious to the changes. How can the protagonist preserve the past? The NY Times calls it “An elegantly spare dystopian fable.”
My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorryby Fredrik Backman
So good you might as well read the whole series
The Others
by Anne Bishop
The Splinter Town
by Peter Maloy
Murderbot Diaries
by Martha Wells