Since last week, the most read books on Goodreads have stayed pretty similar—in fact, number one through four are identical. We do, however, have a new title in the number five spot that hasn’t showed up on these round ups before! It’s Quicksilver by Callie Hart, the first book in a new romantasy series. It was a nominee in the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romantasy category, ultimately getting third place in votes, but it’s currently beating out the winner in weekly readers!
Before we get into top five most read books on Goodreads this week, it’s worth addressing just how white this list is, even when looking at the full 50-title list. Roughly 94% of the books on that long list are by white authors. So, before we get to those, let’s talk about a couple of new books by author of color that deserve more readers.
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. These are both recommended by Erica Ezeifedi, and you can keep up with her recommendations by signing up for the New Books and In Reading Color newsletters!
 Death of the Author by Nnedi OkoraforIf you love a book about a book, Okorafor’s latest also explores very current topics in mainstream conversation, like AI. In it, Zelu is a disabled Nigerian American writer who is attending her sister’s wedding when she finds out that she was let go from her university job and her novel was rejected. But, instead of drowning in her family’s judgment and the uncertainty of it all, she does something unlike herself. She writes a book that is totally out of her usual—a dystopian sci-fi novel replete with androids, AI, and human extinction. Then everything changes. Her book catapults her to international fame. It also mirrors Zelu’s real-life existence as she navigates shame, shaky family dynamics, and disability in a world that offers more support than our current one. |
 Water Moon by Samantha Sotto YambaoThis dreamy, Tokyo-set fantasy is giving me Studio Ghibli, but for adults, teas. Hana Ishikawa is the new owner of a magical pawnshop that sits on a backstreet in Tokyo and is only seen by people who are lost in life and need to pawn their regrets. Her first morning opening the shop as its new proprietor, she finds it’s been worked over—its most precious item has been stolen, and worst yet, her father is missing. And then, a charming stranger appears, ready to help Hana instead of looking for help like most others who wander in. So, the two of them travel through a fantastical world to find her father. They come across a night market in the clouds and can travel through rain puddles and paper cranes. As they get closer to finding out what happened, Hana realizes that her journey comes with its own sacrifices that she won’t be able to undo. Now, onto the most popular books on Goodreads this week! |
The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
#5:
 Quicksilver by Callie HartWe finally have a new title in the top five! In terms of genre, it’s pretty familiar: this is a new romantasy series about Saeris, a 24-year-old woman who is transported to a different world and accidentally binds herself to a Fae warrior named Kingfisher. Book two comes out in November 2025. It was read by almost 18,000 Goodreads users this week and currently has a 4.4 average rating |
#4:
 The Boyfriend by Freida McFaddenFreida McFadden is the reigning queen of thrillers, and she has two titles in the top five this week. This is her newest title, which follows Sydney, who just met the perfect guy…at the same time that news stories come out about a serial killer is dating women before murdering them. The Boyfriend had more than 24,000 readers on Goodreads, with a 4.0 average rating. |
#3:
 The Housemaid by Freida McFaddenThis is the first book in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, followed by The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid Is Watching. It follows a housemaid who cleans for a wealthy family, takes care of their child, and lives in their attic bedroom. She’s soon pulled into the family’s dangerous secrets, but her employers may have underestimated what she’s capable of. This was read by almost 31,000 Goodreads users this week, with a 4.3 average rating. |
#2:
 Iron Flame by Rebecca YarrosRebecca Yarros continues to hold onto two of the top five spots of the week with her Empyrean series. Book three, Onyx Storm, comes out on January 21st. Two more volumes are planned in the series. Iron Flame, book two of the series, was read by almost 38,000 users this week and has a 4.4 average rating |
#1:
 Fourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosThe #1 most read book on Goodreads this week was Fourth Wing, the first book in the Empyrean series. This romantasy series is about 20-year-old Violet, who has been ordered to become a dragon rider at a war college, despite the deadly risks. It’s one of the most popular in the genre. Fourth Wing was read by almost 57,000 users this week and it has a 4.6 average rating. |
If you’re looking for more buzzy books, check out The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists.
Go beyond the bestsellers with made-for-you book recommendations from TBR, our book recommendation service!
Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
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