I'm not even going to spend the first part of this post talking about how scary it is that we're already halfway through the year; I mean, it's in the name of the tag. We can move on, yes? Good. All covers are linked to Goodreads!
BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2026:
Jane Austen's Bookshelf, by Rebecca Romney
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Year: 2025
This is the one that made the biggest impact on me for sure. I just loved it.
BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2026:
The Kingdom of Almonds, by Ariel Kaplan
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release Year: 2026
This is the third and final book in Kaplan's Mirror Realm Cycle. I highly recommend it! I don't think I've seen anyone else talking about this series and I love it so much!
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO:
A World Appears, by Michael Pollan
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Year: 2026
I enjoy Michael Pollan's writing, and this one seems a little different than the other books I've read by him, so I'm intrigued!
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2026:
Cast & Crew, by Jenny Langford
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Year: 2026
I recently started following Jenny on Instagram after starting my own writer account, and her book is releasing on my birthday, so she very kindly offered me a free ebook! I'm very excited to read it!
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT(S) OF 2026 SO FAR:
Everything's Coming up Rosie, by Courtney Walsh
Kuleana, by Sara Kehaulani Goo
Genre: Romance & Memoir respectively
Release Year: 2025 (both)
I'd heard great things about Everything's Coming Up Rosie, so I was disappointed when the writing was ... not fabulous. I also really wanted to like Kuleana, but once again the writing was worse than lackluster.
BIGGEST SURPRISE OF 2026 SO FAR:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery
Release Year: 1926
I wasn't surprised that I liked this book (I mean, it's Agatha Christie; what's not to like?), but the reveal at the end was the most jaw-dropping reading moment of 2026 for me so far.
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH OF 2026:
Mortimer Delvile (Cecilia, by Frances Burney)
Genre: Classic/Romance
Release Year: 1782
I wouldn't say that Mortimer Delvile is my newest fictional crush, exactly, but he was so overwrought and melodramatic in the best possible way. I loved his histrionics over Cecilia.
NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER OF 2026:
Anaïs Fontaine (The House Saphir, by Marissa Meyer)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Year: 2025
Setting aside the fact that I have no idea how to pronounce her name, I loved that she was the sweet and lovable sister, but also a kleptomaniac. So unexpected, so delightful.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY IN 2026:
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, by Anna Johnston
Genre: Fiction
Release Year: 2024
This book made me cry not once, but TWICE. However, while there was definitely some heavy subject matter (dementia, addiction, grief, abandonment, miscarriage, etc.), Anna Johnston approached everything with a gentle humor that made this book an absolute delight.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY IN 2026:
House of Many Ways, by Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Release Year: 2008
How could you not be happy while reading Diana Wynne Jones? This is one of my favorites for sure (this was the second time I've read it).
WHAT BOOKS DO YOU REALLY NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THIS YEAR?
The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Release Year: 2000
I picked up a used copy at a bookstore last October intending to reread it and I haven't yet!
I’m not sure I’ve heard of “The Mirror Realm Cycle”, I’ll have to look into it since you like it so much!
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