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All the Books I read in 2026
61
items I read almost 100 books a year so follow along as I add every single one to this list!!
Sections
12
Romantasy
Mystery
Contemporary Fiction
Historical Fiction
Thriller
Romance
Romantasy
I just did a relisten to the graphic audio version of this and remembered just how good this book is. A modern fantasy is just not done enough and definitely not done this well! This book is such an emotional roller coaster and the themes represented...
House of Earth and Blood (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Crescent City ...
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore is well written with a solid plot, but it didn’t fully click for me. After reading several fantasy books with similar magic systems last year, parts of the story felt a bit repetitive. And while I love bot...
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love romance and I love fantasy… but this one just didn’t hit the balance for me.The whole concept of the Manor and Phantasma winner? SO cool. And the characters had so much potential. But it all kind of g...
Phantasma: Dark Fantasy Romance (Wicked Games 1)
Robyn, how dare you leave me on such a cliffhanger!!! Anyways, this book was EVERYTHING you want a Norse Romantasy to be and a bit more. The overall vibe of this book (Mira would be glad to say) is cryptic, we as the audience never have to full story...
Of Wind and Fate (The Making of Myth 1)
GOODNESS THAT ENDING! The entire book felt like waiting and in the end it all made sense. Stating this book I didn’t know just how well it being a dual POV would add to the depth of this story. The first book was the yearning for the Guardian and the...
Rites of the Starling: Slow-Burn Epic Fantasy
I’m struggling on how I feel about this book. On one hand, the story and world and magic system are so cool and unique and on the other hand the story was so slow. I felt the author told us the main characters were in love but didn’t show it in their...
Stolen Midnights - Quinn, Katherine
Wow just wow. Every book of this series just gets better and better. Tate and Ara have a very youthful love if that makes sense. The kind of yearning and loyalty that a young woman always wishes for, but they truly stick with each other through thick...
Blades of Fire and Love: Fantasy Romance
I forgot how impactful this first book is as I’m doing a listen to this series in anticipation of the final book. The setup and hearing all of Diem and Teller and even Henri’s life in their city, it’s so important to why Diem feels a responsibility t...
Spark of the Everflame: A Novel by Penn Cole, Paperback
I was blessed to receive and ARC of this book from the author and thoroughly enjoyed it! We follow our main character Raven who was given a magical injury that blocked her magic, once unleashed, she must gain confidence in her magic to fufill a deal ...
Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera - 9780593714386
It’s been a while since a fantasy series sucked me in so wholly but this one did it for me. I love a fierce princess, an enemy to lovers, a prosperous but down trodden kingdom. This was everything. The dual perspectives were also lovely, a man fallin...
The Bridge Kingdom - Goodreads
I do love a good redemption arc. As much as we the audience were always with Lara as we knew her heart and heard her side, it was a true acceptance and atonement for her betrayal. I loved the way we got more of some newer characters and I’m excited t...
The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom, #2) - Goodreads
Where this series as a whole is a huge 5 star read, this specific book felt really repetitive to me. I went into the series blind which is usually my preference but if you’re reading this, I highly suggest going the tandem read route for this. Essent...
The Inadequate Heir (Bridge Kingdom 3)
Wow just wow. How interesting this book was! This series as a whole has felt so unique and fun. I love how all the females in this series are so strong in character and their lives. It’s also so interesting to read the differing traits of the kingdom...
The Endless War (The Bridge Kingdom)
A little humble brag to say, I mostly see endings or twists coming but this one was truly SHOCKING! Jovie’s decision on whether to accept the bond makes sense in hindsight now on her resistance to believe Acker could truly love her. This world will s...
Metal Slinger: Fire & Metal: Book One
I know a lot of people were mad going into this sequel with a large time jump but I do think it helps explain the lack of immediate hurt and angry feelings. Our main characters had the time to ponder whether their actions or the others actions made t...
Light Wielder: Instant Sunday Times Bestseller
You know when you finish a book and immediately want to do a reread that it was sooo good. I actually kind of want to reread the first two I was obsessed. This magic system and plot is amazing. Wren is so interesting and the author really helps you s...
Broken Dove (Silver Elite): Francis, Dani - Books
Mystery
My favorite books growing up were Nancy Drew and this gave me new age Nancy Drew vibes. It follows our main character Pip, who was brilliantly in touch with people’s intentions and understanding of voice and facial changes that make and break cases. ...
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #1)
Had I been able to read this book in high school, it would have been my biggest obsession. While I think I’m a bit old to connect with the characters now, I feel such a strong kinship with Pip as who I was (back in the day.) While this book follows a...
Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2)
Wow! Just wow! I actually had to stop reading this book and take a break because I was so immersed that my heart rate was going up and down with the characters interactions. I didn’t love the start which is to say, I hate a self assured character be ...
As Good as Dead (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #3) by Holly Jackson, Paperback
I have always been interested in symbology, ancient religion and the unexplained and when this popped up as a recommended book for me, I jumped right on it. I love that the story is completely focused on plot. Maybe 20 sentences total related to roma...
Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon) - Dan Brown
This story was less shocking as I had watched the movie of this book years ago. The writing was still the crazy roller coaster of a story where just when you felt like you were caught up, something else happened to make you realize you never knew wha...
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 9780307474278
Unfortunately this was the least favorite of the series so far. I think with Robert being a non believer and an unwilling participant of this book made it less appealing. The characters usually excitement and enthusiasm for teaching the symbology and...
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 9780385504225
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about reading a book where I knew the main character would be dead at the end. (And don’t give me that attitude about spoilers, it’s literally in the title). But I enjoyed the mystery and the ride the investigation too...
Not Quite Dead Yet: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel
Contemporary Fiction
There was something about this book that was so tantalizing ("having a strong power to provoke or hold interest") and mysterious about this book and characters. I loved the shift in narrator every couple paragraphs, I thought it would be hard to keep...
The Academy: A Novel|Hardcover - Elin Hilderbrand
There’s something so unique and haunting about Elin Hilderbrand’s writing. It makes you feel. The whole time reading this book, I had feelings of melancholy and hopefulness both side by side fighting for their way through. I suppose that’s how Hollis...
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
It’s not so often anymore that I absolutely devour a book in a day! But this book was one of those; one you couldn’t put down, one you couldn’t stop relishing in the story. I loved that all the chapters were from different perspectives and how they a...
Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel
The Nantucket series that Elin writes feels like the epitome of summer to me. I love reading these stories. This one was a cast of chatters opening a new hotel and hoping to get 5 keys from a mystery hotel reviewer, we even follow the ghost who haunt...
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
This was one of Elin’s weirder concepts on a book but damn does it work! A mother watching her family from heaven and the life going on without her was initially a little weird to read but it had all the usual hallmarks of Hilderbrand’s writing with ...
Golden Girl: Hilderbrand, Elin - Books
This was one of Elin’s weirder concepts on a book but damn does it work! A mother watching her family from heaven and the life going on without her was initially a little weird to read but it had all the usual hallmarks of Hilderbrand’s writing with ...
Golden Girl A Novel By Elin Hilderbrand
If you asked me before reading this if I thought a “same time, next year” was a fun concept for a book, I would have thought it’d be a romance with no substance. Well, I would’ve been wrong. This book was full of laughter, tears, hope, heartache and ...
28 Summers - Hilderbrand, Elin: Kindle Store
At first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a main character who was planning on taking their own life. Mental health struggles are hard to read about for me and others who feel books so deeply but the library aspect of this really kept me going. ...
The Midnight World (2 book series) Kindle Edition
Don’t ask me how I’ve read two books back to back about suicidal FMCs. I promise I’m okay. But the characters discovering that life if worth living is so sweet to read. The yearning in this book was so good despite there being essentially no romance ...
The Wedding People: A Novel - Alison Espach
I’m becoming severely attached to the characters of Nantucket. Like I have to force myself to read something besides this in between each one I do read. This one was so good. Blond Sharon and Fast Eddie always push the plot of every book so it was ni...
Swan Song - Hilderbrand, Elin: Kindle Store
This book was so fast and also so slow if that makes sense. The beginning romance felt too rushed, in a way that made me feel the romance was inauthentic. It made it hard to rationalize the “feelings” the characters described happening. Additionally,...
The Shampoo Effect: A Read with Jenna Novel
Historical Fiction
“Lesbian astronaut makes me believe in God” is not how this book should be described but I’m starting that way anyhow. I actually can’t comprehend how this book made me feel. I finished the whole thing in 2 days; took my time reading it as every line...
Atmosphere: A Love Story (GMA Book Club Pick)|Hardcover
Taylor Jenkins Reid is quickly becoming one of my “must read” authors meaning I’ll be finishing every book she’s ever written and will ever write. I love that she writes her books covering spectrums of sexuality and not just in the LGBTQ sense but in...
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Novel
This book is nothing short of a masterpiece. The author captured every emotion so vividly: from Addie’s dread at being forced into marriage, to the heartbreak of being forgotten by her family, to the strange, beautiful joy of becoming an idea and lea...
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue eBook
This book was quite outside my normal realm of reading: it is a fictional story focused upon an English amateur archaeologist and surprising woman Pharaoh of Egypt. This blend of fiction and history was very fun for a girl whose dream it is to see th...
Daughter of Egypt: A Novel - Marie Benedict
Thriller
I hadn’t read this book before, but it gave me such a strong sense of déjà vu and I still can’t figure out why. The whole story genuinely gave me chills, and I definitely didn’t expect it to unfold the way it did. I was in the mood for a thriller, an...
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This book had all the parts of a thriller, romance, mystery and comedy that you wish for. The reveals in this book were perfectly planned as to not be too conspicuous while the story unfolded in two timelines like cars speeding together playing chick...
This Story Might Save Your Life: A Novel
While I found the message of this book to be highly important as abortion is still and most likely always will be a hot button topic, I felt the importance of that was overshadowed by the blindly one sided opinion put forth in this book. If we will e...
Judge Stone: A Novel by James Patterson
I thought the premise of this book was really good but I felt like it made me feel less on the edge of my seat and more mistrustful of our main character. The way she was acting made me question whether she was in fact insane and it was just a case o...
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
I love a mystery that slowly unravels and I can feel like I’m investigating myself as it slowly starts to make sense! I was still shocked at the end with the twist. The characters while not necessarily likable were relatable in a way with their feeli...
Heart of Glass: A Novel by Jennifer Hillier
Romance
Im usually a fantasy or Romantasy reader but every once in a while a nice Romance just hits! This is the beginning of a series in which multiple romances will take place between members of this town! I really liked Rosie & Fords story, it was the...
Wild Love (Rose Hill Book 1) eBook
I’m utterly desperate to tell you how much I loved this book. What a beautiful story of love and healing. Of friendship and more. Of whales and cooking and conservation and fights and miscommunications and family and friends and letters. I adored thi...
Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune - Amazon.de
I really was so back and forth on whether I loved this book or hated it. I think I settled on hated it tbh. On one hand our FMC was so likable but on the other hand, I felt she was a “I’m not like other girls” girl and was annoying. Our MMC was what ...
Most Eligible - Isabelle Engel - Amazon.com
I think my favorite part of this book was the setting. The way the characters talked about the lake and the house made it seem magical. There was such a feeling of nostalgia reading that I felt deeply despite never experiencing the memories myself. C...
Every Summer After by Fortune & Carley
YA Fantasy
At first, this book gave me The Selection vibes(iykyk), but once the truth behind the fae court starts to unravel, the story really comes into its own. I was completely pulled in and already can’t wait for the next installment. Emmett is absolutely a...
The Rose Bargain: Victorian YA Romantasy
Phenomenal story. Our author here created an amazing world and executed the writing beautifully. Its clear to me after reading this book that she was stolen from by another author and the plagiarism is honestly shocking. Ill be changing my review of ...
Red Queen: 9780062310644: Aveyard, Victoria: Books
Everything Sarah writes feels like sitting in front of a warm fire in your favorite place in the world. Her writing is so cozy and imaginative in a way that isnt overwhelming. The story feels so real and relateable even though theres always magical c...
The Faraway Inn - Durst, Sarah Beth
Science Fiction
I really think this book is best experienced as an audiobook, the way the “speech” between the main characters comes to life is just phenomenal. I enjoyed it from beginning to end! As someone who’s always loved science and science fiction, it complet...
Project Hail Mary: A Novel - Books - Amazon.com
I chose this audiobook as I have really enjoyed listening to Ray Porter. It was a fun short sci-fi book! Our main character was harder to like in the beginning being so down on his luck and not making great decisions, I loved his redemption/learning ...
And Then She Vanished - Joseph Bridgeman
I had watched this movie when it came out years ago as one of my first dates with my husband and I saw the book recommended and decided to give it a shot. I’m so glad I did! This was a super fun sci fi book with lots of cool DnD and 80s references. T...
Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline
I didn’t even realize there was a second book to this when I started the first and it was truly a fun way to end this series. The first book ended with a win but the real world was still dying and people were still investing most of their life in a s...
Ready Player Two: A Novel by Cline & Wheaton
Andy Weir does space writing like no other. I have no clue if any of the things he writes are accurate scientifically but it sounds damn good! This character was so fun and funny. Mark as a character being so positive, resourceful and still interesti...
The Martian: Weir, Andy
This audiobook was so nostalgic to me. My cousin used to watch the original movies so much as a kid. I was shocked to read the first book and find how similar the movies were. Which is always what a good adaptation is about. The old school sci fi was...
Jurassic Park: A Novel - Crichton, Michael
I love a good dinosaur story but I truly didn’t understand the point of this book. First I thought that Malcolm was dead? Like they literally said in the first he didn’t make it. Also the way two children somehow snuck on an international trip to an ...
The Lost World: A Novel (Jurassic Park) - Books
Literary Thriller
I could write a novel about how much I liked this book. This was a full 6 star read for me, one of those books I will literally be suggesting forever. The story was so interesting and drew me in right away. It was one of those stories told by so many...
The God of the Woods: A Novel by Liz Moore
Memoir
Childhood fame can be easy to romanticize when you’re growing up. Fame looks glamorous, exciting, and larger than life. But this book is a reminder that every version of growing up comes with its own struggles. While Jennette’s experiences played out...
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Fantasy
How do you put a thousand page story into a couple sentence review? I started this book thoroughly confused and had to switch to audio for part one as I was so lost in the world. The magic system felt confusing from beginning to end but the story ove...
Alchemised: SenLinYu: 9780593972700
Magical Realism
The Astral Library: A New Fantasy Novel