Melinda French Gates Names Three Favorite Books, Two Are Debut Novels

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates revealed three of her recent favorite books in an Instagram post on September 30, 2026. The selection notably included two debut novels, prompting her followers to share their own reading lists.

French Gates listed "Whistler" by Ann Patchett, "The Correspondent" by Virginia L. Evans, and "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi. She used the post to ask her audience for their recent reads and recommendations for the fall season.

Both "The Correspondent" and "Theo of Golden" are identified as debut novels. Evans's "The Correspondent," published in April 2025, has achieved considerable success, including a 36-week run on The New York Times bestseller list and winning the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction. It also secured the third spot on Goodreads' "Most Read Books This Year" list.

Allen Levi's debut novel, "Theo of Golden," released in 2023, is also a significant inclusion. The book has spent 42 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and is currently ranked seventh on Goodreads' "Most Read Books This Year" list. Ann Patchett's "Whistler," released earlier in the summer, debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list and its author received the 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

While French Gates did not designate a single favorite from this specific group, she previously stated in a 2025 Wired interview that "The Book of Awakening" by Mark Nepo is a book she believes everyone should read.