26ish books 2026

I totally dropped off the last thread but hello!

Finished number 2 - I’m glad my Mom died. Good book and very readable but quite a disturbing look at Hollywood!!

number 3 is going to be An English Murder by Cyril Hare - a rather beautiful Hatchard limited edition that I gave my mum for Christmas and she really enjoyed

Let me know how you get on with Wolf Hall. I really wanted to love it, but have given up with it for a while. I found it such hard work.

GRCP did you know there’s a thread going for people doing exactly that! Called Read What You Own 2026.
You may already be on it (I had a quick glance but couldn’t see your name)

I’d like to join! I read 20 books in 2025 -
think I only managed 8 in 2024, for various reasons. I’m aiming for 26 this year.

My book one was Union Street by Pat Barker. I chose it because I wanted to explore the era it was set in (1970s post-industrial north of England). However, it was very depressing (funnily enough!), so I raced to finish it so I could start something lighter.

My book two is Sophie Kinsella - Surprise Me. I’ve not read the shopaholic books, but I enjoyed one of hers a couple of years ago called My Not So Perfect Life.

My aim this year isn’t a number, it’s to read the books I’ve already got! Only exception might be when I go on holiday I may treat myself to a couple of new ones. But that’s it!
I feel number targets make me avoid longer books, so I’m not doing that this year. About to start Wolf Hall.

Finished book 1 of the year A Death on Location, Richard Coles

Disappointed in it, I know they're light reading books, but the seem to get slower with each book.

1.Stone Yard Devotion, Charlotte Wood.

Read. 4.5* Recommendation from @Yuja on the 2025 thread. Thank you.

Middle age woman retreats to a Catholic community of nuns in her childhood hometown in Australia. Set in Covid and the mouse plague that affected the area.

Protagonist reflects on her life and reasons for remaining in the community beyond the planned period. A school peer arrives and creates the juxtaposition of the life and intentions of the community.

An exploration of personal history rather than a novel. There are extracts that make their way into my memory and I have shared extracts with friends.

2.Owls do cry, Janet Frame.

What a lovely thread idea, would love to join. I tend to hyper focus and I find once I get reading I will speed through books but the hardest bit is putting down my phone and starting. I tend to buy many 99p kindle deals and wanted to move away from algorithm curated reading to recommendations.

1. One of us by Elizabeth Day. I listened to the Happy Place book club podcast episode with author and then read this on new years day in front of log fire at a lovely retreat in Wales. Really enjoyed it apart from a graphic assault scene which I want prepared for and found upsetting.
2. The Backpacking Housewife by Janice Horton. Not actually finding it great writing tbh but halfway through and interested in the descriptions of places.

I’d love to join. Reading The Thursday Murder club. I imagine most people on here read a while back. So far so good. I’m keener reading non fiction books in general.
I’m also (re)reading the first Harry Potter with my dc so I might count that, as well.

I was on last years thread but I was terrible at posting updates. Will try to do better this year.
I’m still reading my 1st book of the year The Hangman’s Hold by Michael Wood. It’s book four in the DCI Matilda Darke series.

2: Resurrection by Mick Herron (audio). A not quite prequel to Slow Horses. Lots of twists and turns, great characters, really enjoyed this.

Thanks for the new thread @Tinkhasflown.Not started my first book of the year quite yet.

I'm off to bed to start my 2nd book of the year - The Cliff House by Amanda Jennings (kindle).

I have just finished book 2 Jeremy Clarkson -Diddly Squat The Farmer's dog which was a Christmas present.
I'm back to school tomorrow (teacher) so I will have less time to read, but I'm determined to keep us the habit.
I'm just starting book 3 Matt Haig - The Life Impossible

The blurb completely miss-sells this book. There is a lot of (in my opinion) gratuitous domestic violence so if you’re sensitive to this then I’d stop reading

I read I’m Glad my Mom died last year. Thought it was really interesting and enjoyed it immensely, although I’d quite a tough read at points.

Have finished The Women (which I thought was amazing) and now started We begin at the end by Chris Whitaker.

Will also start my first audio book on my commute tomorrow (Do people count audios??) The Life Impossible by Matt Haig.
**

As well as the book I’m reading I’ve started listening to The Names on Audible this afternoon… I didn’t know the details of the subject matter and finding it a bit uncomfortable listening having left an abusive relationship less than a year ago - will have to see if I stick with it or not 😟

I finished 1. The Safekeep and sped through a children’s book (teacher-I like to recommend books to pupils). I’ve just started You are Here by David Nichols.

Finished Diary of a Murderer and I’ve now started I’m glad my Mom died by Jeanette mccurdy

I've finished my first book of the year. A great, but uncomfortable read. 5 stars from me.

1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Book one of 2026 was The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict. Really enjoyed this book, but I am quite fascinated by the lives of the Mitford sisters, and that era in general.

Hi all.

I finished Mini Shopaholic so onto book 2. Ive chosen Rachel McLean's the Corfe Castle Murders as I love a detective series set in the UK.

Enjoying it so far and would like to just it and read this afternoon but unfortunately my kids have other ideas hahaha.

Finished Last One at the Party, now on to book 2. Another mumsnet recommendation!

1. Last one at the Party by Bethany Clift.
2. God of the woods by Liz Moore