Join a club
Bookstore
Blog

Everand and Fable reveal new reading trends & most-read titles

Everand
article header 640x452 Q1 PR Blog@4x
Everand and Fable are shining a light on how reading culture is shifting in 2026. Heading into the year, we released our State of Reading Report, a data-backed look at where reading culture is heading. Now a few months in, new data from both platforms reveals a snapshot of what’s happening: what people are reading, how they’re reading it, and what’s driving the biggest shifts. The findings depict a reading landscape in transition: 
  • Slow reading is the most-discussed topic, against the backdrop of digital burnout
  • New authors are displacing those that defined 2025: Rachel Reid holds six of the top 10 most-read ebooks 
  • Book-to-screen adaptations are driving interest at an accelerating rate: Heated Rivalry read time spiked 2282%, Wuthering Heights 1000%+ following screen releases, and Project Hail Mary saves up 363% leading up to opening.

A slow-reading movement is gaining traction

The biggest shift we’re seeing in the reading community isn’t actually about a book; it’s about how people are choosing to read: intentionally. These are the most active discussion topics on Fable this year: 
  • Setting smaller, more deliberate reading goals
  • Savoring books instead of racing through them
  • "Unplugged reading” away from noise and notifications
  • Framing reading as a form of wellness 
Counter to the social media reading culture prioritizing volume – finishing dozens of books, maintaining streaks, building towering TBR lists – readers are pushing back. Instead of 15-second rapid reviews, we're seeing in-depth character analyses and entire content series dedicated to a single title. Screen fatigue and digital burnout seem to be driving a new status quo: it’s not about how much you read, but how deeply. For publishers and platforms, supporting mindful, community-focused reading may resonate more than those built around volume or speed.

Trending Titles

Titles jumping the most in popularity so far this year 
  1. Heated Rivalry  – Rachel Reid
  2. The Long Game – Rachel Reid
  3. The Housemaid – Freida McFadden
  4. My Husband's Wife – Alice Feeney
  5. We Who Will Die – Stacia Stark
  6. Theo of Golden – Allen Levi
  7. People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry
  8. Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins
  9. Game Changer – Rachel Reid
  10. His & Hers – Alice Feeney
Based on titles that rose 10+ spots in the top 100 most-read on Everand compared to the previous quarter, including new titles.

Which authors are dominating 2026 so far

Rachel Reid has emerged as the star of early 2026. Heated Rivalry is the most-read book of 2026 so far, sparking interest in her catalog. She holds six of the top 10 most-read ebooks and is the No. 6 top author.This marks a shift from 2025’s dominant authors, Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Mass. Onyx Storm, Iron Flame, and Fourth Wing were the three most-read all of 2025 (1M+ hours read). Still popular, they no longer command sole dominance. Freida McFadden is another major presence. She’s the No. 1 author, and The Housemaid is the most-reviewed book on Fable, with over 40,000 reviews so far this year. And her sequels take three of the top five mystery spots, showing deep catalog engagement.

Top authors

Based on number of times books were added to lists on Fable
  1. Freida McFadden
  2. Sarah J. Maas
  3. Rebecca Yarros
  4. Emily Henry
  5. Ali Hazelwood
  6. Rachel Reid
  7. Taylor Jenkins Reid
  8. Colleen Hoover
  9. Callie Hart
  10. R. F. Kuang

The blockbuster effect: book-to-screen adaptations remain a reliable boost

Books connected to movies or TV shows have seen sharp and rapid growth since the end of 2025. The pattern isn’t new, but it accelerated last fall as books become increasingly embedded in mainstream culture. Any screen-adjacent news appears to fully ignite the original book: 
  • Project Hail Mary reading time is up 150% in February, when the trailer dropped, compared to its preceding six-month average. Saves are also up 363% in February, meaning a second spike is likely now that the blockbuster hit theaters with a massive opening. It’s also the most-discussed book on Fable this year. 
  • Wuthering Heights saw a massive 1000%+ increase in February, following the film’s 2/13 release. It trails Project Hail Mary as the second most-discussed book on Fable this year. 
  • Heated Rivalry reading spiked an astronomical 2282% in December after the show went viral. Though it's down from that peak, read time was still up in February almost 800% above its pre-show average. 
  • The Housemaid, published four years ago, has climbed steadily since last fall. Read time increased 85% in January following a mid-December movie release – against an already elevated baseline. It’s now the fourth most-read title, the top mystery title, and the second most-saved book of the year so far on Everand.
  • Two Netflix releases in the first week of January – His & Hers (+812%), People We Meet on Vacation (+584%) – each drove significant jumps in reading.
Based on total hours read on Everand, measured against a trailing six month average. 

What readers are loving

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown is the highest-rated title so far this year, with an average rating of 4.8. The title was also the highest-rated book of 2025, suggesting a dedicated and satisfied readership.

Most-discussed (on the Fable home feed)

  1. Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir
  2. Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
  3. A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas
  4. A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas
  5. Red Rising: Sons of Ares – Pierce Brown

What readers are saving: titles to watch

Titles among the most-saved on Everand
  1. Burn Down Master's House – Clay Cane
  2. The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins, Sawyer Robbins
  3. Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
  4. The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel
  5. The Will of the Many – James Islington
These saved titles offer a forward-looking indicator of interest. From non-fiction to self-help to classic public domain titles back in buzz, the titles readers are saving shows the breadth of their intent. Reading data from two platforms that support the full stage of the reading journey – from discovery to consumption to conversation – reveals that in 2026, people aren't just reading more: they're reading differently, more intentionally, and with a growing hunger to disconnect from the noise.

About Everand and Fable 

Everand is a digital content subscription home to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and podcasts, including bestselling and iconic titles. Fable is the leading social reading platform, where readers discover, discuss, and share books through curated book clubs and personalized reading experiences. Both are owned and operated by Scribd, Inc.  Methodology
  • Everand data is based on total hours read globally from 1/1/26-3/2/26.
  • Fable data reflects community engagement, including books added to lists, reviews, and discussions, from 1/1/26–3/9/26
  • Section-specific methodology is noted inline
Everand
Everand
Notification Icon