The best books that local booksellers have read so far this year
Greater Philadelphia booksellers tell us the best books they've read so far this year.
Books are back, in Greater Philadelphia and around the country.
The industry saw modest revenue growth the last four years in a row, an Association of American Publishers report found. Brick-and-mortars saw more than twice the growth of online retail in 2025, and hardcovers outpaced ebooks.
Many Philly-area booksellers said they’re feeling the surge.
But what are they reading? Sixteen booksellers told us their favorites of 2026 so far.
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor and The Princess of 72nd Street by Elaine Kraf — Ariel Censor, Little Yenta Books in South Philly
Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. — Alex Schneider, A Novel Idea in East Passyunk
Discipline by Larissa Pham — Richard De Wyngaert, Head House Books in Queen Village
Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel — Jackie Botto, Capricorn Books in Jenkintown
Message to the Blackman in America by Elijah Muhammad — Shaykh Anwar Muhammad, The Black Reserve Bookstore in Lansdale
Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson — Charity Herndon, Austen’s Shelf in Bordentown
Partita by Barbara Kingsolver — Elizabeth Young, Commonplace Reader in Yardley
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon — Shawn Clark, Glenside Book Garden
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence — Ian Stowers, CLC Bookcenter in Wyncote
Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer — Anthony Long, Thrillerdelphia
Steelborn by Taylor J. LaRue and Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser — Lisa Strohl, Bookmarks in West Chester
Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski — Krisy Elisii, Doylestown & Lahaska Bookshops
The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry — Buffy Hastings, Farley’s Bookshop in New Hope
The Wedding People by Alison Espach — Janine Flanigan, Barnes & Noble
Whidbey by T Kira Madden — Christina Rosso-Schneider, A Novel Idea in East Passyunk
Whistler by Ann Patchett — Kathy Morrison, Newtown Bookshop
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