What books do you want to read?

After looking at this question, I feel like laughing at myself and my TBR both. Why?

Last year was my first year of blogging, and I remember being so excited to answer this question. Back then, it felt both easy and difficult. Easy, because I knew exactly what my TBR looked like. Difficult, because if I had listed everything I wanted to read, this blog post would have never ended.

Fast forward to this year, and things feel… different.

When I sat down to answer the same question again, I realised I didn’t have to put in much effort at all. Almost all the books I had carefully narrowed down last year are still the same. Except for one and that one, I’m officially replacing with my Goodreads TBR link, because let’s be honest, it’s doing a better job of tracking my reading ambitions than I am.

And yes, here comes the shameful part:

I couldn’t read all the books I had moved to my priority TBR.

Instead, I somehow ended up reading an entirely different set of books. Now I find myself wondering ,why did I even make that priority list in the first place? Classic reader behaviour, I suppose.

Anyway, here’s the list of books I genuinely want to read this year. I’m hoping that by next year, none of these will still be sitting on my TBR and that they’ll finally have made their way to my “Read” shelf.

1. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

• Published in 1943, this novel was Ayn Rand’s first major literary success. It explores themes of individualism, creativity, and the pursuit of personal integrity.

2. Yayati by V.S. Khandekar

• Written in 1959, this Marathi historical novel is one of Khandekar’s finest works. It reimagines the story of King Yayati from the Mahabharata, delving into themes of desire and responsibility.

I was able to finish this book last year. So replacing it with:

My TBR list from Goodread ❤️

3. Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree

• Originally written in Hindi as Ret Samadhi, this celebrated novel became the first Indian-language book to win the International Booker Prize in 2022. It’s a profound exploration of trauma, identity, and the legacy of Partition.

4. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

• This beloved novel, first published in 1987, is inspired by The Beatles’ song “Norwegian Wood.” It’s a poignant story of love, loss, and nostalgia, set in 1960s Japan.

5. The Rape of Kuwait by Jean Sasson

• A gripping non-fiction account of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, this book chronicles the atrocities endured by the Kuwaiti population during the occupation and their resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.

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What are your top 5 books on TBR in 2026? 🧐