Happy New Year!
Here is where I'll keep track of my reading for 2026!
My Reading List:
Books:
1. The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden
This was the third in the trilogy, and my least favourite of them, but it was still enjoyable.
2. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
A friend highly recommended this one, and if it weren't for that, I'm not sure I would have made it through to the end. I found the first 2/3 of the book to be a bit of a slog, but she kept promising it would get better, and it did! By the end I was fully invested and couldn't wait to read the next two in the series.
3. The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
If you love stories set in a magical world, I would highly recommend this trilogy! Just stick through the first one to get to the good ones!
4. The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik
I laughed, I cried, I sobbed, I could not put this book down. So, so good.
5. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (TEOTWRC Advent Calendar)
This classic 1951 post-apocalyptic novel came in my Advent calendar box, and it was such a treat to read.
6. Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
7. The Last Flight by Julie Clark
8. The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
9. Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
10. Ruffled by Grace: Rebellious Blessings for a Fierce Faith by Michelle Wahila
This is a memoir written by an Instagram friend and it was so fun to learn more about her story beyond the photos!
11. The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr (January 2026 TEOTWRC)
I wanted to love this book, the concept was so good, and the writing style kept me hooked. But there were some major plot holes/timeline problems that just yanked me right out of the story. The concept of people becoming so reliant on an AI making their decisions that they become mostly incapable of doing anything on their own? Plausible. The idea of that happenig in under 2 years?!? Absolutely makes no sense.
12. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
This book had such a super fun concept - the UK government has time travel, and brings in people from the past as "expats." The journey was a wild ride, and I would love to read a sequel.
13. Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza
CW: While fictional, this book contains stories of domestic violence. I have to admit, I have trouble reading those as I just want to scream at the character to leave the first time the guy is violent. Intellectually, I get that it's difficult, abusers are skilled manipulators, etc. but boy do I have a hard time reading about that.
14. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green (TEOTWRC Advent Calendar)
I loved this book so much, the writing style was so fun (memoir-like) and the story was fantastic. Upon finishing, I had to look and see if there was a sequel, and there is, yay!
15. Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer
I wouldn't give this book zero stars, but I don't recommend it either. It's a premise I would normally love, but I found something about the writing style off-putting. I almost didn't finish it, but I was intrigued enough by the story to want to know how it ended, so I skimmed quite a few chapters to fast forward tot he end.
16. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
I enjoyed this exploration of diet culture and the pressures women have through the lens of a fictional narrative.
17. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
18. More Than Enough: Living Abundantly in a Culture of Excess by Lee Hull Moses
19. Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
20. The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson
21. Human Rites Juno Dawson
I was so excited to finally read the third book in the trilogy, and I absolutely loved it!
22. Queen B by Juno Dawson
This novella is a prequel to the trilogy, and I enjoyed it...my only complaint is I wish it had been a full-size novel rather than a short one!
23. Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (March 2026 TEOTWRC)
I would not have read this one without the book club as it was rather slow, but it was decent enough.
24. Grace Poured Out: A Lenten Reflection on Water, Wine, and Oil by YCWI
I was published in this devotional and enjoyed reading it throughout the 40 days of Lent.
25. The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
26. The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy
27. The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand
Audio Books:
1. Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell
This follow-up to his original book, The Tipping Point, was very good, and absolutely worth listening to instead of reading. It felt like a really long, very good podcast.
2. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
3. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works - A True Story by Dan Harris
DNF:
1. We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson (February 2026 TEOTWRC)
I wanted to like this one as the description sounded like an interesting premise. Unfortunately, I found the writing style pretentious and hard to follow. I checked in on my fellow book club members' opinions, and found that many felt the same, and I had other books sitting in my TBR that I wanted to get to, so I just opened up the presents and let this one go.