Every year you set a goal to read more, and every year you fall off from completing that goal. The problem isn’t the goal, it’s the books. You aren’t reading books that speak to you! Make 2026 the year you fall in love with reading, by trying Caribbean literature.

Here are five book recommendations to fulfill your 2026 reading goal.

1. The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull

What would happen if aliens landed in the Caribbean, instead of the standard places like New York or Los Angeles? The Lesson explores this idea. Set in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this science fiction novel examines how people in USVI would live with aliens for over five years. Cadwell Turnbull explores violence and colonialism through this multiple-point-of-view novel. It is unlike any science fiction novel out there. With Caribbean flair, Turnbull creates an unforgettable story.

2. Where was Goodbye? by Janice Lynn Mather

This heart-wrenching Bahamian story begins after Karmen’s brother commits suicide. Struggling to cope, Karmen believes if she can figure out why he committed suicide, her life would make sense again. Set in New Providence, Where was Goodbye? covers the heavy topics of mental health and grief. As Karmen searches for answers, her relationships with her parents and friends grow tense. Sprinkled with Bahamian creole, this novel will make you cry.

3. Blue by Tanicia Pratt

If you want raw and lyrical Bahamian poetry, then Blue is for you. Blue explores themes around family, the body, trauma, and nationhood. Blue is more than just a hue associated with sadness. It is life in all its fullness. Pratt’s writing will touch readers’ souls.