I did it. I’ve officially crushed 369 days of unbroken reading! 📚✨

What started as a happy accident around the 200-day mark turned into a full-blown obsession to hit the magical 365. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being “just a streak” and became part of my daily rhythm, like brushing my teeth or scrolling Instagram at midnight. Now here I am, four days past the one-year milestone, asking myself:

Do I set a new goal? Or do I loosen the reins and let nature take its course?

Because if there’s one thing reading teaches us, it’s that the story rarely ends the way you expect.

80 of the Past Decade’s Most Popular Fiction

While I’ve been busy chasing my streak, Goodreads has been busy curating lists that remind us just how many books are out there demanding attention. Their latest gem? 80 of the most popular contemporary and historical fiction titles of the past decade.Here’s how they did it:

The books are sorted by publication year from 2016 to 2025.
It’s based on average reader ratings and shelvings (Read, Currently Reading, Want to Read).
Think of it as a reader-powered time capsule of the books that stuck with us—whether they broke our hearts, changed our perspective, or just gave us a book hangover.

It’s a fascinating way to see which stories continue to resonate. Some authors pop up again and again (hello, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kate Quinn, Fredrik Backman). Others are unforgettable debuts that made their mark right out of the gate. There are even a few Pulitzer winners mixed in.

And if you’re like me, the titles themselves will spark recognition: Evelyn Hugo, Eleanor Oliphant, Broken Country, Horse, Demon Copperhead, that Gentleman in Moscow we’re all still talking about…

By the Year

Broken Country, My Friends, The Names — Fiction Published in 2025

So far this year, I’ve already checked off Clare Leslie Hall’s *Broken Country* and Fredrik Backman’s *My Friends*. Both lived up to the hype in very different ways—one rooted in place and history, the other in Backman’s trademark heart and humor. Still waiting on my nightstand: Charlotte McConaghy’s *Wild Dark Shore*, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s *Atmosphere*, and Florence Knapp’s *The Names*.

Reading in 2024 - The Women, The Wedding People, James, The Briar Club — Fiction Published in 2024

From 2024’s lineup, I’ve read Kristin Hannah’s *The Women*, Percival Everett’s *James*, Allison Espach’s *The Wedding People*, and Kate Quinn’s *The Briar Club*. Each one felt wildly different—Hannah’s sweeping drama, Everett’s bold reimagining, Espach’s witty observations, and Quinn’s historical depth. Still on my TBR: Kaveh Akbar’s *Martyr!*.

Tom Lake, The Covenant of Water, Weyward — Fiction Published in 2023

2023 was a fantastic year for fiction. I read Ann Patchett’s *Tom Lake*, R.F. Kuang’s *Yellowface*, Abraham Verghese’s *The Covenant of Water*, James McBride’s *The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store*, Amanda Peters’ *The Berry Pickers*, and Emilia Hart’s *Weyward*. Honestly, what a stacked year—so many of these already feel like “favorites of the decade.” Still on deck: Ann Napolitano’s *Hello Beautiful* and Ariel Lawhon’s *The Frozen River*.

Published in 2022 - Demon Copperhead, Lessons in Chemistry, Horse — Fiction Published in 2022

I tore through Barbara Kingsolver’s *Demon Copperhead*, Shelby Van Pelt’s *Remarkably Bright Creatures*, Bonnie Garmus’ *Lessons in Chemistry*, Geraldine Brooks’ *Horse*, and Kate Quinn’s *The Diamond Eye*. Each one was buzzy for a reason—and I can confirm, worth the attention. Still on my radar: Maggie O’Farrell’s *The Marriage Portrait* and Hernan Diaz’s *Trust*.

Books of 2021 - Rose Code, The Personal Librarian, The Lincoln Highway — Fiction Published in 2021

On my 2021 list: Lynda Rutledge’s *West with Giraffes*, Kate Quinn’s *The Rose Code*, Amor Towles’ *The Lincoln Highway*, and *The Personal Librarian* by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. All wildly different stories, but each swept me up in its own way. Still waiting: Steven Rowley’s *The Guncle*.

Reading 2020 - The Book of Lost Names, Hamnet — Fiction Published in 2020

In 2020, I must have misplaced my library card because the only one I read was Kristin Harmel’s *The Book of Lost Names*. My redemption arc is already in motion, though—my TBR from this year includes Brit Bennett’s *The Vanishing Half*, Maggie O’Farrell’s *Hamnet*, Alka Joshi’s *The Henna Artist*, and Abi Daré’s *The Girl with the Louding Voice*.

Top Fiction 2019 - The Giver of Starts, The Beekeeper of Aleppo — Fiction Published in 2019

From 2019, my shelf includes Jojo Moyes’ *The Giver of Stars*. Still waiting for me is Christy Lefteri’s *The Beekeeper of Aleppo*.

Fiction 2018 - Where the Crawdads Sing, The Tattooist of Auschwitz — Fiction Published in 2018

From 2018, I read Delia Owens’ *Where the Crawdads Sing* and Heather Morris’ *The Tattooist of Auschwitz*. Both became worldwide sensations, and it’s easy to see why—though for very different reasons. Still on my list: Rebecca Makkai’s *The Great Believers* and Fatima Farheen Mirza’s *A Place for Us*.

2017 Book Covers - The Seven Husbands, Eleanor Oliphant, The Alice Network — Fiction Published in 2017

This was the year I fell for Evelyn Hugo. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* still sticks with me. I also read Gail Honeyman’s *Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine* and Kate Quinn’s *The Alice Network*—all modern classics in their own right. Still waiting: Min Jin Lee’s *Pachinko*.

Fiction Book Covers - A Gentleman in Mosco, Lilac Girls — Fiction Published in 2016

From 2016, I’ve read Amor Towles’ *A Gentleman in Moscow* and Martha Hall Kelly’s *Lilac Girls*. These books continue to pop up on recommendation lists—and for good reason. Still on my TBR: Jodi Picoult’s *Small Great Things* and Colson Whitehead’s *The Underground Railroad*.

My Progress

Out of the 80 titles, I’ve read about 30 (not bad for one streak-obsessed reader) and have another 20 on my Want to Read list. Which leaves me with the question:

👉 Should my next reading goal be to finish those 20 before the end of the year?

Because let’s be real, if I can accidentally read for 369 days straight, I can probably handle 20 books with intent.

Your Turn

Here’s the full Goodreads collection if you want to explore it directly: 80 of the Past Decade’s Most Popular Fiction (Goodreads).

Now we want to hear from you:

Which of these 80 have you loved?
Which ones are still sitting patiently on your nightstand or Kindle?
And should I make those 20 my next big challenge?

Drop your thoughts, we’re listening. Because if there’s anything better than reading, it’s reading together.

Let’s Stay Connected

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Because the only thing better than reading 369 days in a row is sharing the journey with fellow book lovers.

Big News: 369 Days (and Counting) of Reading