26ish books 2026

[Tinkhasflown]

A shiny new thread for 2026.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 2 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

Previous thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5241809-26ish-books-2025

If Audible books are counted im in.
I do read a couple of actual books a month, but mainly listen to audible books.
I think 26 is a good achievable number too for me.
Im currently reading the last laugh club by Kate Galley. Its.... ok. Ish. Not my usual thing, but I wanted a change.
Listening to Black Heart by Anna-Lou Weatherly. Again not a usual author, but its ok.

Thank you! I love this thread. Just starting book 1 today...

Thank you for the new thread!
I loved this last year and it spurred me on to read more. I managed my 26 books (just!) and have given myself a target of 26 again this year.
Happy reading all!

I’d love to join this thread please! I generally aim for 20-25 but the last couple of years have been high teens. I need a little encouragement to ditch the scrolling and wasting time on crap TV in the evenings, when I’m on my own. I really would like to try and average 2 books a month.

First book started - Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers

1 Stone Yard Devotional, Charlotte Wood

Recommended from 2025 thread. Slow meditation on life. The narrator enters a religious order. My pace of reading seems to be influenced by the theme of the novel.

I'd love to join! I retired two years ago and so have only just found myself able to relax with a book, after not reading properly since a child. So I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'll appreciate all your recommendations.

I finished The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver yesterday, but I won't include that in my list as I finished it just before midnight. Fabulous book!

I started reading again in 2024, set myself a target of 10 and read 22. In 2025 I set a target of 20 and read 27.

2026 Target: 25

1. Good Bad Girl - Alice Feeney
Love a good psych thriller and think this is the last of AF's I've not read which makes me a bit sad!

Happy to join in. Started a new book today, I’ve discovered an author called Elizabeth Berg, she was recommended on another thread, I’m loving her!

Hapoy new year all, and thanks for the new thread @Tinkhasflown

I’m aiming for around 30 this year again, I’ve got a lovely pile of physical books waiting, as well as a dozen or so Kindle reads, and 3 credits for Audible to use before I cancel my subscription. So I’m going to try and make a dent in those before I allow myself to buy any new books!

I started Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher over Christmas which is a lovely cosy, easy read, so that will be my first book of 2026.

Hi I'm in. I've been reading more recently and would like to make reading a daily habit in 2026. I've set a target of 12 books on fable but hope to exceed that.

Today I read Our London lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey...excellent.
Moved on to Roisin ODonnell Resting.

I’ve started with Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See, absolutely incredible - I loved it!!

Started the year by binging an entire book! Best day 😅
1 - The Safekeep, Yael Van Der Wouden
exceptionally good and well worthy of both winning the Women’s Prize and being on a booker shortlist.

I've just finished:
1, The Giver by Lois Lowry. I really enjoyed it but was left deflated by the ending.

I’m in for the first time.
Received the hard copy of The Artist by Lucy Steeds for Christmas, but as I mainly listen to audiobooks if the narrators are good are good,I bought it and am really enjoying it

Going to join and hope to achieve 26 this year. Last year was awful and feel like I read less than ever. Love the threads for recommendations though

I’d like to join, although 26 is very ambitious for me these days! I’m about halfway through The Safekeep, which is very good so far. Shy Creatures is excellent for the PP who has started with it!

Im in! I am also aiming for 26 books, I have just finished James by Pervical Everett. I have started on the shadow of the wind by carlos zafon

I’m in! Just started The Handmaids Tale so that will be my first book of 2026.

I love reading, but life got in the way and I hadn’t picked up a book for a long time. I read two books over Christmas and the bug is definitely back.

Thank you for the new thread @Tinkhasflown

I didn't read as much as I'd have liked last year and was very heavily reliant on audio books, want to get back to hardcopy/kindle more this year.

Finished one today, had this on the go for about a month, can't say I loved if.

1:The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer. Quirky, quite lightweight, I got a bit confused because it didn't really hold my interest.

Hurrah, thank you for the link. I'd like to join please. I didn't find you last year (and found the fifty books thread competitive and a bit dispiriting) but @Yuja kindly pointed me this way from another thread. I read 28 books last year (audio included) so hope to make it 26 this year too and I'll be a good match to you all pace wise 😁

I loved it

Thank you for the new thread. I lurked last year, but didn't really post. I ended the year on 32 books, a mix of physical books, Kindle and audiobooks. I'll try to post my reads as I finish them this year.

I’m in! Managed 25 last year - a mixture of actual books and audio. Would love to do more Trying for 26 this year.

Book 1 - The Women by Kirsten Hannah