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.

@Pigtailsandall I loved The Safekeep!

Unfortunately I read it in December so I can’t include it in my 26 book count.

Thanks for the new thread. I'll try to join in more than just posting what I've read this time! I'm going for a target of 15 as was well short ot 25 last year.

1. Stalker on the Fens by Joy Ellis

Had a few twists and turns and I quite liked it.

Book 2, was a library loan, The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits. It was a Booker shortlisted one, and I can't see why, had it been any longer I'd most likely DNF'd it, I only kept going as it was a short book.

3. Between Two Kingdoms Suleika Jahouad. Very difficult topic (the author got cancer in her 20s) but a surprisingly compelling read. She is a very good writer - one of the things I notice when I'm writing about the books I read is how pathetic my literary writing is (I can write well on technical subjects!).

I’ve read this too. It brought up some interesting points, like the Dutch not paying for their Jews to come back from the Concentration Camps but I found i speed read huge portions of the book because it really wasn’t very interesting.

I love sex but I’m not that interested in reading what other people do and o found the long rambling descriptions hugely distracting from the plot.

Book no 2: James by Percival Everett

I really enjoyed this, although I haven't read Huckleberry Finn since I was a child (many decades ago). The book got much more exciting in the last quarter. It followed the escape of an educated black slave.

I'm going to take a few days off reading now, and pick up some knitting for a while.

I’ve just finished listening to The Names on Audible so that’s #1 for me this year. As a Pp said the early DV stuff is quite gratuitous and made it hard for me at the beginning but wow wow wow I’m so glad I kept going, an amazing and very thought provoking story that will stay with me for a long time. Also am intrigued by the writer as I think it’s her debut novel and she has adult children, l like hearing this as it gives me faith that I might still write my novel one day!!

@Teeteringonthebrink45
I adored The Names too and met Florence Knapp at a book event last summer.
She seemed absolutely lovely, so grateful for all the praise for her book and self-deprecating.
When I cheekily asked her about her second book I got the impression that it won’t be coming out any time soon, sadly.

Managed to read one book last year. Already doing better this year. New kindle is helping as I can read it in the dark instead of my phone when I can’t sleep.

So far have read:
Just Ignore Him- Alan Davies
Strange Pictures- Uketsu
I’m Glad my Mom Died- Jennette McCurdy

Both autobiographies really well written and engaging. Would like to read more of this genre as I find it easier to read than fiction.

i'm in - currently reading the playground by Richard Powers at the moment ( incredibly clever) and listened to the Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose for light entertainment while cooking yesterday - just started the follow up / the perfect divorce. Also listened to old habits by Steve Higgs ( library great for audible books)

Just finished book 3 - An English Murder by Cyril Hare. An enjoyable read.

not sure what I will move onto yet

Finished book 2, God of the woods. Loved it!
Now reading number 3 A time for Mercy by John Grisham. It was just one on my kindle which I started because I had nothing else lined up.
Might try The Names after this as it is getting a lot of mentions

I would love to join, but my target this year is 12 books. So a book a month.
I know it's quite underwhelming to the 26+ book challenge, but I didn't want to set a target too high and give up on the first month because I felt I was already behind.

I love reading but between FT work, over time hours, DC and life, I'm trying to make space and carve out time for reading properly again (and not get distracted with doom scrolling).

Can I ask, is this for fiction only or does non-fiction also count? I'm get periods when I'm quite an avid reader of non-fiction.

Well so far one of mine has been non fiction so I hope it counts!!

For me, although Storygraph counts non fiction, I like to have it as a separate count. I do count audiobooks in my fiction total, but not graphic novels.

I’m not sure if 26 is too ambitious for me but I’ll see how I get on! I got a nice selection of books for Christmas so got some new books to tackle but also a few to revisit that I didn’t persevere with when I wasn’t in the right headspace last year so I’m hoping to be able to get them ticked off

Book 1: Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell - nicely written but definitely an emotional read

Onto book 2…

Welcome @dazedandblue The 26 is just a guide number, anything over 1 is a very respectable target!

Non fiction counts, there are no rules around here 😉

Book 1 Dear Miss Lake, AJ Pearce. It's book four and last in the series. A very easy read about a girl working for a women's magazine during WWII.

Book 2 The Cut Out Girl, Bart Van Es. A true story of a young Jewish girl in Holland during WWII. A heartbreaking read in parts.

Just finished book 1 A Haunted Wood by Sam Leith - a great canter through the history of children's literature and very moreish (which is good, as it is a behemoth of a book).

Would love to join!
First books of 2026 currently being read:
The finest hotel in Kabul (non fiction)
and a novel by Elly Griffiths, The stranger diaries.

@Tinkhasflown I thought the same of "The Cut Out Girl". Really interesting story and shows how complicated life/emotions are.

Just finished the audio book of Miriam Margolyes The Little Book Of Miriam.
It’s an A-Z mash up her two previous books. Very much a marmite character, but for her fans it’s a must listen.

@MagpieCastleI read The Stranger Diaries last year, it was recommended on another thread. I enjoyed it and have the second one in the series on my tbr pile.

I’ve just started the audiobook of Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad as I like travel writing. I have 3 credits on Audible so I need to cancel or pause for a bit as they will last me ages. Does anyone have any recomendarions? I’m quite picky about what I can listen to as I get easily distracted too, and if the narrator has an annoying voice I can’t cope 😂

@Tinkhasflown how does it work when recording our reads please? Do we keep a running list here?

Im on book 3: What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama

Im looking for an audible recommendation if anyone has one?

@Queenfreak it's up to you. I just record my latest reads with a comment or star rating if they are good.

On previous threads, some do the same, some provide a synopsis and review of books they have enjoyed. Others repost their full list with new books added. So whatever is easiest for you.

I find it easiest to refind books that have been recommended on the thread where the author and title are in bold print, but not everyone does that (I'm aware that is a requirement of the 50 book thread, we're a little bit more relaxed over here)....