Read What You Own 2026

[ÚlldemoShúl]

This is a brand shiny new thread for those of us who want to continue reading what we own in 2026.
My aims for 2026 are:

• At least half my reading will be from books I already own on 1st January 2026
• I will buy less than a quarter of my reading new including kindle deals😱 and book club books
• I will wait when prize lists are released to see if the books appear in the library within a week. I will not read full longlists unless I love the sound of each and every book on it.
• For the first two months I will only read what I own- focusing on the older books on my kindle while allowing myself to read newer (but already owned) physical books

What are your RWYO aims for 2026?

Finished Persuasion - Jane Austen which was a reread but unread on my Kindle.

Finished another- Passing On by Penelope Lively- average.

I used to love Penelope Lively back in the day

I love Penelope Lively's writing and have also read Passing On this year and thought her depiction of the siblings and their situation was excellent.

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively was a recommendation I got from one of these threads a couple of years ago and was a real standout read for me, I haven't read any others of hers though but would like to.

I'm not doing particularly well, enjoying but making slow progress with John and Paul, and crawling through Braiding Sweetgrass on audible. I'm having not the best time at the moment for one reason or another and so am doing too much scrolling/ ruminating and not enough reading.

Sorry to hear that @AliasGrape

Yes she’s a beautiful writer @TimeforaGandTThis one didn’t grab me as much as Moon Tiger and Spiderweb but I did enjoy it- as always my full review is on the 50 Bookers thread.
Thinking of you @AliasGrapeSometimes doom scrolling or mindless tv is what you need because your head can’t take anything else.

Is it sad please? can't stand sad at the moment...

It is sad- I would save it for another time.

Thank you @EineReiseDurchDieZeit it’s nothing too dreadful and definitely not the worst I’ve been through! Just one of those shitty phases but it will pass.

I HAVE CAVED! I have purchased 6 books AND joined Netgalley!
I am currently reading what I own but had to get it out there😊😝

I am now rereading another book series this series is by Susan Hill..Simon Serrailler ones. I reread all the Frieda Klein ones recently. I am also reading Old Filth which I am finding enjoyable so far.

Another RWYO completed - A Neighbour's Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous one of hers about second home owners pricing out the locals in Dorset, but it was still interesting and she is still on my auto-read list for crime thrillers.

Very much enjoying May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry. Assuming it continues to be enjoyable, it will be heading for a place on my best reads of 2026 list.

I hope things get better for you soon @AliasGrape

Just finished The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer which I greatly enjoyed.

I hope things improve for you too @AliasGrape I tend to comfort read when things are pants. I think that is why I am mainly rereading..no surprises.

Thank you all, you're very kind.

@MamaNewtNewt I love that Heyer as well. I think you said on the other thread it was your first of hers? May I suggest The Grand Sophy and Cotillion as possible next reads if you want to try more?

@CatWithThreeLegs I finished The Art Of A Lie Yesterday. I enjoyed it but I did get to a part where I wanted the story to hurry up a bit and move on, so I found myself skim reading a bit. I thought the end had a great twist though.

@SilverShadowNight I have tried to start A Spoonful of Murder twice and not got past the first couple of chapters. I am going to make myself go back to it just because I bought it because I live in Thirsk and wanted to read about places I recognised.

I have finished Art of A Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson this week and I think I am going to move on to The Light A Penny Candle Society by Ruth Hogan next.
I've only bought one new book so far this year!

I’m heading for disaster fast. It’s prize season. I’ve already mainly borrowed but sometimes bought some from the WP for non-fiction and I know I’ll do the same for the International Booker and WP for fiction which comes out next week. I’m not going to beat myself up over this. I enjoy the book prize lollapalooza too much. So RWYO is on hold for a couple of weeks until prize season ends.

I feel you @ÚlldemoShúl . I originally set myself a goal of doing RWYO until the Woman's Prize announcement which is next week so I'm basically there - one more to see me through. I've read 16 books this year, 13 have been RWYO, 1 book club that I bought and 2 audio credits. I have bought 3 99p books during that time though.. 1 was a WPNF, 1 I'm hoping will make the WP and 1 was from an author I just want to read more of.

I'll probably give it a rest from next week and delve into WP, Int Booker, and WPNF for the next couple of months but will try and resume in May for another couple to see me through to Booker season in August!

This thread has been helpful encoutagement though and I've really enjoyed at least half of the books I've read.

So my Feb wrap up-
I've read 16 books (lots of shorties this month). 12 were RWYO and 1 new buy and 3 library books. I’m happy with that. However, I bought 6 books- 2 cheap deals, 2 audible credits and 2 on Waterstones Points (plus a preorder of Maggie O’Farrell’s upcoming release).
For March and April I’m going to be reading a mix of RWYO and prize list books and will then resume RWYO exclusively from May until the Booker Longlist in July.

Another RWYO and my favourite read so far this yer I think: In Memoriam by Alice Winn

I loved In Memoriam @MamaNewtNewt so sad.

I've just finished one more, Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller about living in rural poverty. Review over on 50 books thread .

Finished a RWYO - White Debt by Thomas Harding.

An OK book about British involvement in slavery, however the author's interjections about how guilty he felt started to get on my nerves.

Will be donated.

Finished another RWYO (The Time Machine by HG Wells - ‘twas a bit dull) and so far I’ve resisted the kindle monthly deals so still haven’t made any purchases so far.

Finished Score - Jilly Cooper yesterday. Not as good as the horsey ones IMO. Review will go on 50B thread.