Rebecca Yarros’s stranglehold on the Most Read Books on Goodreads is starting to loosen, if only slightly. This week, only two of the Empyrean books are in the top five: Iron Flame has dropped to number six. It’s been pushed out by another romantasy sequel making its debut in the top five. The number one spot has been taken by a sequel in another series you might recognize!
Before we get into the buzziest books of the moment, though, let’s take a look at some new books out this week that should be getting more attention.
Two New Books Out This Week You Should Know About
Unfortunately, the most read books on Goodreads tend not to be diverse by any definition of the word. So, here are a couple of new books out this week that deserve wider readership. They both come recommended by Erica Ezeifedi.
Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)Here, the author of Convenience Store Woman imagines a Japan that is a little…less eventful. Basically, all sex between married couples has stopped, and kids are made through artificial insemination. It’s in this world that Amane grows up and eventually enters into an appropriately sexless marriage with Saku. Then she and Saku move to a mysterious new town called Paradise-Eden. In this new place, all children are expected to be raised communally, and men can become pregnant. Still, despite the taboo of sex, Amane can’t deny its allure. |
Somadina by Akwaeke EmeziEmezi dabbles in a whole lot, from adult novels to poetry to YA, and in their latest, we’re dropped into a fantastical West African world, where Somadina and her twin brother Jayaike live as best friends. They start off being virtually inseparable until their powers emerge once they come of age, and suddenly, everything is different. While Jayaike’s powers are enchanting and alluring, Somadina’s strikes fear in their neighbors. Then, Jayaike goes missing, and Somadina sets out to find him. She’ll have to brave a sacred forest, otherwordly traveling, and places where her soul may be separated from her body, all for the sake of her brother. |
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca YarrosBook one in the Empyrean series is still holding onto its spot in the top five. Somehow, there are still readers discovering this series even now. 15,000 users marked this dragon riding academy romantasy book as read this week. It has a 4.6 average rating. |
#4:
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca YarrosOnyx Storm‘s reign at the top of this list has ended, and its spot has been taken by another SFF sequel! The newest Empyrean novel was read by 24,000 Goodreads users this week and has a 4.2 average rating. |
#3:
Fearless (Powerless #3) by Lauren RobertsThis romantasy sequel is making its debut in the top five most read books on Goodreads this week. It’s the third book in the Powerless series, which is about a “forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl.” Fearless came out April 8th. It was read by almost 25,000 users last week and has a 4.4 average rating. |
#2:
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby JimenezFrom the author of Just for the Summer comes a new romance novel that came out April 1st! It follows Samantha, who has a perfect, endless date with handsome Greek veterinarian Xavier. Then Samantha admits that it can only be for one night because her family is in crisis. Despite the distance, though, neither of them can forget the time they spent together. Almost 23,000 Goodreads users read it this week, and it has a 4.3 average rating. |
#1:
Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins#1 by far this week is the new Hunger Games book! This series is still just as relevant (if not more so) than it was when it was first published more than 15 years ago. Collins’s latest, which tells Haymitch Abernathy’s story, also sold 1.5 million copies in English in its first week. It was read by 55,000 users last week and has a 4.7 average rating. |
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
