50 Books Challenge 2026 Part Three

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the third thread of the 50 Books Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2026, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

If possible, please can you embolden your titles and maybe authors as well of books you've read or going to read? It makes it much easier to keep track, especially when the threads move quickly at this time of the year.

The first thread of the year is here and the second thread here

1. Invite Me In Emma Curtis

Some domestic thrillers are plot driven whereas others focus more on the characters. This sat in some dreary wasteland between the two. Eliza superfically has a great middle class life, but as ever is hiding secrets and a troubled past. Her sucessful property developer husband Martin is in a wheelchair. He also has buried secrets and a troubled past. Their new tennant Dan turns up and stirs things up. You may be unsurprised to hear that he is hiding secrets and has a troubled past. Things unfold as you might expect. I have read a lot of similar books and usually they are okay if a bit predictable. However, I really didn't click with this one. Maybe it was that all the characters were a bit flat or perhaps it was because I thought we might be heading into more interesting teritory with an unreliable narrator. However in the end we weren't really or at least not in any interesting way. One character had a handy type of alcoholism that could be switched on or off as the plot required. Shouldn't complain too much - I got to the end which is saying something these days. Listened to an audible version on borrowbox.

& it was 2 not 1! Perhaps I shouldn't draw attention to this ....

@NotThisTime7 I'm not sure what in my list made you think I may like the "book" you linked but it's really not my sort of thing. I suspect this is spam so will report it.

I'm away that weekend but enjoy Liverpool folk.

@NotThisTime7 this isn’t a platform for authors to advertise their own (self-published) novels.

That’s the definition of spam 🙄

I can’t make Liverpool either sadly, but have a brilliant time everyone!

Authors who can’t even write a single sentence accurately?

Fly Away - Kristin Hannah

Sequel to Firefly Lane - What Tully Did Next. If you liked the tv series (I did) then this is worth reading. If not, it’s definitely not a top tier Kristin H.

Madam, Will You Talk? - Mary Stewart

I have never read any of hers before and I very much enjoyed this “romantic mystery” -the widowed Charity Selborne is holidaying in Avignon, post WWII, with her friend Louise and gets drawn into a tale of murder. kidnap and fast driving around beautiful bits of France. Echoes of Sayers, Christie and Tey in the style and suspects abound. Also contains a plucky dog (called Rommel!)

I think this would be quite a good “rut busting” book if the above description appeals 😀

@Frannyisreading I think we'll have a weekend on the coast once I feel better.

Can't get to Liverpool but it sounds fun, enjoy. I have done MN meet ups before and it's wonderful to meet people irl.

I've tried many times to read Marian Keyes. I like her, she's witty and I love listening to her. She has a podcast called "Now you're asking" which is entertaining. I love Irish writers in general but I just can't read her books. I also tried the current dramatisation the Walsh sisters and couldn't get into it.

I have read some of Keyes' Walsh family novels but think I came to them too late. I've enjoyed some of her more recent novels. But Making it up as I go along was some kind of autobiography and sadly I just wasn't interested in what she had to say.

On my way to work I started listening to Nina Stibbe's Went to London, took the dog which is also autobiographical and has already had me smiling on several occasions so I was right to switch!

@Frannyisreading I read the Manningtree Witches earlier this year and was really keen to go and see it but missed the window and all weekend tickets had gone by the time I got round to it. The Beldam would be such a fun part to play!

I love Marian Keyes and I’m currently rereading Rachel’s Holiday for about the zillionth time. I’m a bit under the weather at the moment and it’s a great comfort read for me.

Oh I’ve just started The Manningtree Witches after RNG selected.

Glad to see someone else admit to liking Marian Keyes. As I first read Rachel's Holiday soon after it was first published (late 90s), I reread it before reading the sequel. I have her most recent novel (I think it is, anyway) TBR but think that again, I need to read the first novel about Anna (?) first.

I love Marian Keyes early books too- Rachel’s Holiday is an absolute classic. I wouldn’t be keen on her non-fiction as her recent interviews are about things I’m not into like fashion and beauty.

I’ve read most of Marian Keyes old stuff, I was having depression at the time and they were all I could handle but I’ve lost pace with anything recent. I haven’t read Helen’s book and I couldn’t get going with Grown Ups

Just letting people know that I’m going to take a break from MN. Things here have gone from bad to really dreadful and books are unlikely to be able to help much. Hope to see you all again on the other side. x

I'm so sorry to hear that, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie 💐
I hope things will improve for you soon.
Mind yourself in the meantime and hope to see you around in a short while.

Oh I AM sorry @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupieI will be thinking of you and hope to see you back soon

Sorry to hear that @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupieI hope the break does you good and we see you back before too long

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie 💐

So sorry to hear that Remus, very best wishes and hope to see you back soon💐

I’m sorry @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ,
you’ll be missed.

Oh @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie . Sorry to hear things are so crappy for you. Take care of yourself and we’ll be here when you’re ready to come back. 💐

Sorry to hear that @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie , hope things get better for you soon.

Really sorry to hear that @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie- hope things get better soon & will miss your reviews.