The 3 Greatest Books To Read This Weekend (Aug 15-16)

After a long week, there’s nothing like relaxing with a great book all weekend long. Luckily, there’s no shortage of great weekend reads, with stellar books of every genre hitting the stands (both physical and digital) every single day.

However, that same breadth of choice can make it rather difficult to zero in on the really enjoyable reads that suit your personal taste. Which is why we’ve done the work for you, digging through the bestseller lists and critical reviews to put together a handpicked collection of excellent weekend reads. So, without further ado, here are three great books that we think you should read this weekend.

1

‘Yesteryear’ (2026)

Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel, Yesteryear is a psychological thriller centered on tradwife influencer Natalie Heller Mills. The book follows two timelines, one in the present day, with Natalie playing up her supposedly “traditional” life for the cameras while secretly employing a whole team to sustain the illusion, and the other set in what appears to be the 19th century. In the process, it satirizes the tradwife trend, influencer culture, and the performance of femininity while also presenting an engrossing character study.

Yesteryear isn’t really the book its marketing sells it to be: it’s not a fish-out-of-water comedy or a straightforward satire, and its underlying themes and characterizations are a lot more biting than you might expect. The book has had a generally warm reception from readers since its publication in April this year, and it’s sure to end up on the reading lists of many book clubs. A film adaptation starring and produced by Anne Hathaway is currently in the works as well.

2

‘The Wedding People’ (2024)

Written by Alison Espach, The Wedding People follows a Midwestern English professor whose plans to kill herself take a turn when she crashes a wedding party. Phoebe Stone is an adjunct English professor who travels to a luxury hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, in the aftermath of personal tragedies to enjoy one last splurge before she commits suicide. While she’s there, she runs into Lila, who’s about to get married at the hotel, sparking a complicated relationship.

The Wedding People is both funny and heartbreaking in equal measure, centered on the unlikely and even toxic friendship between two very different women. The book became a New York Times bestseller on its release in 2024, earning critical acclaim for its nuanced and satisfying narrative. The book was also acquired for a film adaptation before its publication, with Will Speck and Josh Gordon set to direct and Nicole Holofcener writing the screenplay.

3

‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ (2020)

The first book of the smash-hit science-fantasy LitRPG series, Dungeon Crawler Carl was written by Matt Dinniman and originated on the online publisher Royal Road. The book follows Carl, a Coast Guard veteran, and Princess Donut, his ex-girlfriend’s cat, as they enter a dungeon crawl/intergalactic reality show created by an alien corporation that has destroyed Earth. The book was followed by seven sequels, the latest released in May 2026, with two more books planned in the series.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a self-publishing success story that built a massive following before being acquired by Penguin Random House. As of this year, the series has sold over 14 million copies across formats. The first book, like the rest of the series, presents a well-balanced blend of action, humor, and intelligence. It’s an entertaining and engaging read, and the book earned a nomination for the 2026 Arthur C. Clarke Award. A TV adaptation has been greenlit by Peacock, and there are plans to further expand the franchise as games, graphic novels, and more.