26ish books 2026

I have this from the library on Kindle - glad I have it now!

5. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

late to the party on this one and not my usually vibe these days but I loved it!! A little bit slow to start but I absolutely tore through the last 45% it gave me twilight and hunger games vibes which I was all over in my younger years. I have the 2nd book reserves on BorrowBox and can’t wait. Was a firm 5 stars for me

I also listened to None of this is True by Lisa Jewell. I read the book a couple of years ago. It was selected as our book club read and remembered hearing good reviews about the audiobook. OH.MY.GOD it was amazing. I would definitely recommend it even if your read the book!!!

books so far in 2026
All The Colours Of The Dark
What A Way To Go
The Briar Club
The Names

Book number 8 for me The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. A very speedy read but an awful lot packed in there - lots of small vignettes painting a wonderful picture of a place and person.

@PinkOrangeRed if you're interested in a novel set at that time then "The Aftermath" by Rhidian Brook is very good.

14 The Queen who Came In From the Cold by SJ Bennett (yes I do like this series, how can you tell?)
15 The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman.. Not quite such a fantastic series but a good read nonetheless.

10 Murder at Gulls Nest - Jess Kidd
I like Jess Kidd's books so was interested to see how she handled an historical murder mystery. Book jacket describes it as cozy crime but I don't think it was. It's set just after the war in a shabby seaside town and features a middle-aged ex-nun trying to find out what happened to her missing friend. I found it entertaining and felt the post-war period was well-captured. It reminded me a bit of Elly Griffith's Brighton Mysteries, in terms of the atmosphere, with a bit of Patrick Hamilton. Wish I'd listed to the audiobook as it's narrated by the wonderful Siobhán McSweeney.

11 Aftermath - Harald Jähner
This is an acclaimed non-fiction history of life in Germany in the 10 years after the Second World War. It's a fascinating thought-provoking book, filled with first-person accounts, and very readable. So much I didn't know about the period.

6: Trelawney's Cornwall by Petroc Trelawney (audio, narrated by the author). I wanted to listen to this one as Petroc has such a lovely voice (R3 presenter). It was a lovely combination of memoir and a journey around Cornwall past and present, I learned a lot and am sure I will listen to it again im future.

Book 7: The family remains by Lisa Jewell,
I’ve really enjoyed this, it explores what happens next after the reunion in The family remains and ties up a lot of loose ends which I quite liked, it felt like a comforting read, revisiting characters. I really like Lisa Jewell’s style of writing, definitely an author I’m looking out for more when I’m book hunting

2026 books so far:
then she was gone
beautiful ugly
the intruder
the shadowman
the family upstairs
rock paper scissors

@Tinkhasflown
Yes, her writing is so very sparse but incredibly powerful.
So Late in the Day should be compulsory reading for our young men.

Book 5 finished - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths. Really enjoyed this not least because it is set where I live! A nice easy read too though slightly disappointed at Ruth falling into bed with the police chap.

Onto book 6 - Game Changer , Rachel Reid 😱 only a few chapters in, it is raunchy!

@Tinkhasflown
Have you read Antarctica? Another book of short stories by Clare Keegan. It’s excellent.

book 10 - Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

might need a second read, very interesting premise and beautifully written but it lost me about 2/3rds in and though I finished I struggled to reengage

Finished number seven: There Are Mountains in the Sea by Ray Nayler. I really really enjoyed this one - not normally a sci fi fan but this was so interesting in its exploration of language and culture and also humanity's propensity to destroy. I think it is my first 5 star of the year!

5: The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Just found it a bit odd really. On the plus side it was a light, easy read.

4) The Glass blowers by Daphne Du Maurier. I love Du Maurier books and enjoyed this one. A fictional book based on her French ancestors who were glass blowers and their lives through the French Revolution. Not my favourite book of hers but enjoyed it and found the history fascinating as I know very little about the French Revolution.

I haven’t updated for ages. Seem to have been reading a lot of non-fiction so going to choose a novel for my next read.

3. Those Were The Days - JP O’Neill
4. How Does It Feel - Mark Kermode
5. Abroad in Japan - Chris Broad (audiobook)
6. Fingers Crossed - Miki Berenyi

I’m also listening to the Brontë BBC radio collection - all of their novels dramatised. I’ll count it as one book when I’ve finished!

Just finished book 10 You Are Here, by David Nicholls. Very easy read, wth dome lovely scenery and a sweet, funny dialogue. And the first book by a male author I've read in absolute ages.

Reading has slowed down a bit this month as I’m spending more time outside sorting the garden.

Book 11 finished - wilding by Isabell Tree
So much thought provoking information so I took this one slow to absorb it all. It has definitely changed how I view the rural landscape around me. I did enjoy reading it and learnt a lot about different species and considerations when rewilding a space, but I did struggle with the authors total dismissal of any opposing opinions to hers. She came across quite condescending at times which I found annoying.

I’m really enjoying the nature themed books at the moment so I have a few more lined up. I’m continuing my interest with book 12 - The Accidental Garden by Richard Mabey

Finished book no 8 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I think it was recommended on this thread.

I really enjoyed this read; it was something you could pick up and put down without losing the plot. The character, Nora, wanted to end her life, but instead entered a world in a library, that was between dying and death. The library was full of books that had alternative versions of her life, depending on the choices she made through life. It was a really reflective read.

7 - The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster
thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction. Set in 1700s Scotland with the story centring around the Fisherrow/Musselburgh area of Scotland. It is based on the true historical figure Maggie Dickson - a young woman who survived her hanging for supposedly murdering her baby. It’s a beautiful tale with many harrowing parts around the unjust and unfair treatment of women in that time. It’s extremely well written with vivid descriptions. I would strongly recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction.

Finished book 8 The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. It was pretty good.
Book 9 The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory.

Finished book 6 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie which I love and have read many times before. Muriel Spark is so good at saying a lot in a very slim book.

Got Bridget Jones's Diary finished, did not get the love for it. Maybe if I'd read it in my twenties I'd see it differently, but no I didn't enjoy that one.