Soft Cover’s TBR (Summer 2026)

Think of this as a curated selection from my broader TBR. The works I am most excited about. I have expressed before that I am not the biggest TBR content lover because it all becomes too much. You save enough book recommendation lists on the internet and cannot remember why you saved one book or another. Here is what I plan to achieve with a tempered, seasonal TBR list post:

• Increase my own conscientiousness with regards to my own book consumption

• Share something worthy with the internet and perhaps help someone discover a favorite book

• Inspire someone reading this to create a similar TBR that focuses on quality over quantity

I’ve found in this process of creating a list of no more than 15 books and adding descriptions and notes reversed the impulsive “add to cart” nature of my aspirational TBR list . Instead I thought about why I actually wanted to read a given book, what my expectations are, how I came across the recommendation if meaningful. Only reading books you’ve seen mass recommended on social media is fine but what about the book you bought after a conversation with the staff at your favorite bookstore or a book gifted to you from a close friend? Coming to books from personality trope internet lists has started to feel like the Tinder of book discovery.

Behold my Summer 2026 TBR List (in no particular order):

Short Story Collections

1. Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar**

   1. This was recommended to me by the staff at Subtext Books. I have already heard of this collection but recently held our last book club discussing Stag Dance. This came up as a folklore short stories masterfully done and sounded like the exact recipe for why I loved the Torrey Peter’s collection.

2. Exhalation by Ted Chiang

   1. I’m loving story collections right now. Ted Chiang is highly celebrated in the sci-fi world. I believe sci-fi is one of the most powerful genre types to communicate important lessons about our current state of affairs more than any other genre.

3. Never Whistle at Night by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

   1. This is one of those where I am excited to read this but expect only some stories may be standouts.

Fiction

1. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

   1. Torrey Peters is one of those authors that her incredible writing is part grit and part something magical one could not fathom recreating. It is no wonder her collection of stories, Stag Dance was shortlisted for the Pulitzer. This is high on my list to read.

2. Human Acts Han Kang (Translated by Deborah Smith)

   1. This comes after reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang. It was dark, moving, unique. It had all of the aspects of storytelling I personally find incredibly compelling and why I love to read. I think this read will be no different.

3. Taiwan Travelogue by Shuang-zi Yang (Translated by Lin King)

   1. This has gotten all of the acclaim this year. This is one of those that I'm not sure why I haven't picked this up yet. I feel it has so much anticipation attached to it, I want to read it at the right time when I know I can consistently close read.

4. There There by Tommy Orange

   1. I am expecting a deep and moving character exploration in this novel. I can't wait to read this by Tommy Orange.

5. Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

   1. Listen, I've read Migrations and Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Both absolutely refreshing and solid literature in my humble opinion. This is the last of her adult novels on my shelf and I've been letting it sit there like wine to vintage because I know there will not be more for awhile.

6. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler

   1. I've said this before but this kind of genre dystopian novel always promises to deliver something other types of genres cannot. I picked this up from Uncle Hugos/Uncle Edgars in the Twin Cities and given my TBR length expect to get to this in the Fall.

7. Death Takes Me by Cristina Rivera Garza (Translated by Robin Myers, Sarah Booker)

   1. I picked this up from Black Garnet in the Twin Cities in the Spring. I anticipate this being a crime story, deep, mysterious, page turning. This won the Pulitzer and I can't wait to read this one as well as explore more of this author.

8. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

   1. I needed a short, dark, creepy, punchy read on this list and here it is. This is my type of palate cleanser or at least that is what I am anticipating with this TBR pick.

Non-Fiction

1. A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

   1. I expect this will take me awhile to read once I pick this up but an effort I expect to be well worth it. It is great to read the catchy non-fiction critique of America being talked about but sometimes you've got to read something that is more of a survey and contextual aid.

2. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer

   1. Here we are again with a dense history book well worth it. These are stories and histories we were not taught in our public schools. These are voices we need to seek out.

3. The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins

   1. This might be the most on point non-fiction book to read right now. History is in fact repeating itself as we speak. I have shortlisted this on my TBR. Will probably pick this up after I finish our next book club book for July.

Want to see all of these books in one place and support indie bookstores? Check out Soft Cover’s store front on Bookshop.org/shop/softcoverbookclub.

**All links to bookshop.org are affiliate links which means Soft Cover earns a small commission if you purchase a book using the link. A portion of the profits from each sale also goes into a profit pool that gets divided amongst all member bookstores on bookshop.org bi-annually.