26ish books 2026

Oh and if you liked The Marriage Portrait, have you seen this thread? 🙂

I so need to put this on my list!

I’ve just finished Number 2 - The Year of the Cat.

Okay, i was cheating somewhat as I listened to the abridged version on BBC Sounds but I’m determined to up my book count for this year so audio books will have to be added in

I would like to join! And, fittingly for this thread (!), I've just finished The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell. Really enjoyed, especially from about halfway through when I felt the narrative propelled me along.

That’s promising!

I started The Housemaid last year and only read a couple of chapters before getting distracted and stopped reading it, so that is on my list to revisit this year

I actually really enjoyed The Intruder - got a bit fed up with some of her books but this was a good read.

Just finished book 2

1. Then she was gone - Lisa Jewell
2. Beautiful Ugly - Alice Feeney
3. I felt a bit cheated tbh with the twists, I know part of it is because the character narrating is supposed to be unreliable but it felt very gappy with the way plot points were omitted imo.

onto book 3 - The intruder Freida McFadden

Just finished book 2 yesterday, so my list is now:

1. The Names By Florence Knapp
2. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

For the Maggie O'Farrell fans who has read "I am, I am, I am"? I loved that book. First chapter is shocking and the last is very moving.

1. Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell
2. The Cliff House by Amanda Jennings

Will be going to bed early tonight to start book number 3 - The Reckoning by Jane Casey (book 2 of a series).

I take reading extremely seriously! I have a spreadsheet with tabs called:

• Waiting to read (books bought and waiting to be read, 64 currently)
• Read (books I've read)
• Wishlist (books I want to read but have not yet bought, currently 215)
• Regulars (list of series of books I'm reading so I can alternate)

I do have some physical books (mainly real life/non-fiction) all my others are on Kindle.

@Clairedebear101286 I can imagine the film would be better as the idea behind the plot is great! It’s a shame it was executed so badly.

Another fan on Maggie O’Farrell here. Loved Hamnet and the Marriage portrait as well as many others of hers. Excited to hear another book is on its way by her!

I read You are Here last year and completely agree, it's a lovely, totally heartwarming book.

Just finished book 2 Stoner by John Williams. It was a spur of the moment purchase for a long train ride and so not in my usual wheelhouse (I often struggle a bit with books set in universities as I find they can get a bit pretentious).

I loved it - a really beautifully drawn portrait of a life lived and I thought it was quite poignant. Have a had a good start to the year!

Yes, completely agree! I recall that there was one strand which I could have done without (the academic/arty people) as I don’t felt it added much to the story. It felt like it needed a more pivotal event to hang the whole thing on though.

I definitely enjoyed it @MargotMoonbut Im not sure it can claim to represent the state of the nation. I did like how the author managed to tell stories from different parts of English society with some level of authenticity, and it almost put the finger on white rich men who believe themselves to be ‘good’ people slowly realising that not everyone agrees. But I felt like it lacked that explosive catastrophe I was waiting for.

Finished my third, really enjoying this as it's meaning less scrolling

1. One of us by Elizabeth Day.
2. The Backpacking Housewife by Janice Horton.
3. The Hike by Lucy Clarke

I am also parallel reading This is gonna hurt by Brandon Weis and have been for a good month or two and am only 41% through as it puts me to sleep very quickly though I'm very interested in the subject matter.

I’m glad to see lots of love for the Martiage Portrait, as that’s on my tbr pile this year. I thought Hamnet was very good (but a difficult read in terms of the content) and plan to see the film.

I read Howard’s End at A level. Like most classics, I find I enjoy them more when I’ve studied them in some capacity than just read them off my own bat. The film adaptation is very good once you’ve finished the book @Breathmiller

I read Caledonian Road last year. What did you think of it @Windthebloodybobbinup?

I found Hamnet very easy to read and I’m not the quickest reader. My advice is to give it a try. Some books i forget fairly quickly but this one has stayed with me

I’ve finished my first book of the year, All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan not sure I’ll bother trying any of her other books but not utterly terrible as Christmas fiction can be.

Now reading Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer.

I felt the same - thought it was badly written and had a terrible ending! I bought the set and gave the rest away to a friend.

The film is very entertaining - much better than the book lol

If you are looking for enjoyable and easy to read books, I recommend Kristin Hannah books - I read several last year - loved them all!

3 . You Are Here - David Nichols

What a lovely book 😍. The perfect balance of humour, romance and poignancy. Absolutely loved this from start to finish, rooting for the main character s all the way. Not quite 5 ⭐️ but a solid 4.5. Gave me a fuzzy feeling and I think it’ll be up there as one of my favourites for a while.

Currently reading ‘His & Hers’ by Alice Feeney, in preparation of watching the Netflix adaptation

So book 4 is The Clock House by Yukito Ayatsuji

I've read the previous books and they are undemanding (and have a character list and map!)

but my usual bug bear - poor proof reading. Someone had a hooked noose. It breaks the spell!!!

I def agree about The Marriage Portrait, I love Maggie O’Farrell but that and Hamnet are my favourites of hers. Excited to see she has another book out this year. I would LOVE to turn the marriage portrait into a film

1) The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

Firstly I honestly had no idea this was a movie until yesterday! It was OK, very average and pretty predictable thriller. But I wanted an easy read to kick start the year and it delivered on that. Don’t think I’d bother with any other of her books though.

Welcome!

Was Hamnet hard to read?

Looking forward to watching the film!

Claire :)

I’ve always counted non-fiction on here, and many posters read more than 26, many read less, it doesn’t matter. I managed 16 or so last year. No pressure.

I would like to join. Managed 26 books last year. Aiming to keep off my phone and doom scrolling by reading. Just finished Hamnet - loved it and the film.
About to start Long Island - Colm Toibin