Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 23rd, 2026

Goodreads Monday/TBR Monday is a bookish meme hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog invites you to post about what books are on your Goodreads “to read” lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!

Hello, reader!

Welp, the weather folks were spot on again with the blizzard warning and we got absolutely dumped on 😂 I’ve spent the day watching the snow, playing Stardew Valley, and dreading digging my poor car out of the snow. It’s been a very chilly Monday, haha. Now, though, it’s time to distract myself from the weather and do Goodreads Monday! My ‘Want to Read’ shelf is currently sitting at 834 books, which is the same amount as last week. Look at me resisting temptation!

Now, let’s see what the randomizer picks for me today.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
His Majesty’s Dragon

Author:
Naomi Novik

Publisher:
Del Rey

Publication Date:
January 3rd, 2006

Pages:
299

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.

When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future-and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 22nd, 2026

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme created by @CaffeinatedReviewer! It gives you a chance to post a recap of your last week, whether that pertains to books or not. You can talk about however much (or however little) you would like.

Hello, reader!

As I sit awaiting yet another winter storm here in New England, I figured I should get to my Sunday Post! We’re expecting another 1 -2 feet of snow and I am not excited about it 😂😅 Tomorrow is going to be a cozy day in as school has been canceled, my husband’s job has closed for the day, and *gasp* they even closed my workplace! If you work in healthcare, you know how shocking that is! I’m just crossing my fingers that we don’t lose power…

That being said, let’s get to the post!

Week in Review

This week was pretty chill because I took the week off to spend it with my youngest while he was on his February break! We spent the week playing video games, chilling in my bed while I read and he draws, and him getting braces. I’ll let you guess which was his least favorite, haha. The braces look good though they are hurting at the moment, poor kid. He did get distracted for a bit by a birthday party for one of his best friends, so that was fun!

Braces was one big new thing in the family. Another was the beginning of our sourdough adventure! A friend from choir gave me a sourdough starter because I told her I’ve been wanting to try the whole “baking my own bread” thing. I have to say, for a first attempt, it didn’t turn out too bad!

We named our starter Lady Breadington the First and she was a real champ when it came to feeding! I decided yesterday that it was time to try making her into bread and the results were tasty. There’s definitely some adjustments I can make to make it better, but not bad for a first attempt!

Other than that, there hasn’t been much going on in my corner of the world. Just surviving another snowmageddon and gearing up to get back to work after a week off. Wish me luck, y’all 😅

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Text Alignment

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The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!

This Week’s Prompt

When writing reviews, do you align your text to the left, center, right, or justify it?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 20th, 2026

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First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to Friday and that means it’s time for another First Lines Friday! For this week, I’m featuring a book that I just finished today. This is a book that has become wildly popular in the last year even though it was originally published back in the 90s. It was recently translated from French to English and has been all over the bookish community. I… didn’t love it 😅 But it’s certainly an interesting read!

Now, let’s see if the first lines can pull you in.

The Line(s):

“Since I barely venture outside these days, I spend a lot of time in one of the armchairs, rereading the books.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Series Review: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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Series Title: The Thursday Murder Club
Author: Richard Osman
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Mystery
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Current Books in Series: The Thursday Murder Club (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), The Last Devil to Die (2023), and The Impossible Fortune (2025)
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 18th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse: I promise I’m still reading this 😭 I ran into a string of ‘meh’ stories, which is what always seems to happen to me when I read short story anthologies, and it’s made me feel pretty ‘meh’ about picking it back up. But the next story is by an author I enjoy, so I’m hoping it will get me back on board!
On by One by Ruth Ware: I’m listening to the audiobook for this one and the narrator is killing it! Which would be more exciting if I wasn’t already getting bored, lol. I want to shake one of our POV characters and that’s certainly not helping with my enjoyment. But anxiety is a hell of a mental illness and I don’t know all the details yet, so I should stop judging her so hard and give her a chance. I’ll try, at least…
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman: I just started this novella and… um… I don’t know how I feel about it 😅 Is the narrator supposed to be insufferable? Am I meant to care about the mystery of why these women are locked in a cage? They don’t even care! Well… the narrator does and she’s making it everyone else’s problem. I really hope something actually happens soon cause this book and I are not getting on.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books For Armchair Travelers

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

Top Ten Tuesday is upon us! This week’s theme is a super fun one. We’re talking about books that can transport you to a different place, all from the comfort of your favorite reading spot! I love a book where the setting is almost as much of a character as any of the humans and books where the author really pulls us into the world so it feels like you’re there. The books I’ve picked out are all ones where I found myself transported to the setting right alongside the characters!

Now, let’s get to it 😁

Books for Armchair Travelers

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
(The Indian Ocean/Somalia/Yemen/Oman)

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
(Yorkshire, England)

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang
(Michigan/Oklahoma, USA)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
(Oxford, England; France)

It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames
(Antarctica)

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 16th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the first day of my youngest’s February break and I’ve spent it reading and doing laundry cause he was off at a friend’s house, haha. Not gonna lie, it was a pretty relaxing Monday! Now it’s time to get to my Goodreads Monday post for this week. I do love taking a peek through my Goodreads TBR to remind myself of all the interesting books I want to read. My Want to Read shelf has risen to 834 books in just this past week because I have no self-control, but it’s hard when there are so many potentially great books out there.

Let’s see whether or not I’ll be reducing the TBR this week.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
A Clash of Steel

Author:
C.B. Lee

Publisher:
Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date:
September 7th, 2021

Pages:
432

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Xiang has grown up with stories about the Dragon Fleet and its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Dragon Queen, all her life. Xiang desperately wants to set sail and explore—mainly to find her father, a presumed dead crew member of the Dragon Fleet. Her only memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. Rumor has it that the legendary Dragon Queen had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—hidden away on an island shrouded in mist that only can be seen once in a blue moon.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 15th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. We had both Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day this week so if anything it could have been eventful! My week was pretty slow, but I’m now on vacation since my youngest is off school all next week, so I’m looking forward to get some one-on-one hang out time with him. And maybe catch up on some reading 👀

Now, let’s get to the post!

Week in Review

Like I said, last week was pretty uneventful. Work was an absolute crap-show because we have a lot of people out and it was busy. By the end of the week, I was so ready for my vacay. Thankfully, I have a great group of co-workers who were all helping each other out during the busy week, so I didn’t want to burn the place to the ground as I was leaving on Friday 😅 Still, I’m looking forward to a little break.

This weekend has been pretty eventful, though! Saturday, I spent most of the day catching up on reading and ferrying my youngest around to playdates. I did get to spend about an hour and a half browsing/reading at my local library, which I always love. I love that they are open on Saturdays during the school year, though I wish they could be year-round.

Today, I went to a Galentine’s Day get-together in the city with my best friend! There was champagne, yummy snacks, and cookie decorating of some cookies shaped like… certain body parts. I would share a picture, buuuuut they aren’t exactly appropriate 😂 We even did a mini-boudoir shoot! It was a ton of fun with a bunch of super chill women. Look at me making adult friends! It was a good end to the week.

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reading project

Project Library Love: February Visit

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for a check-in on one of my 2026 reading projects, Library Love! I figured I would share what books I check out each month to try and keep myself accountable. Maybe then I’ll actually read my library loans instead of letting them languish on my desk until my renewals run out 😅 I also reflect on my last month’s stack to see how many I managed to pick up.

So let’s see how January went and what books I’ve picked up in February!

Last Month’s Stack

In January, I ended up checking out four physical books and two audiobooks.

My physical picks were:

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney

My audiobook picks were:

His & Hers by Alice Feeney
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

I’m happy to report that, out of the six I checked out, I’ve read five of them! I’m pretty proud of myself for that one, haha. The only one I didn’t get to so far is Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, but I’m going to be cracking that one open soon! Especially since it’s due back at the beginning of March…

Of the books I managed to read, my favorite was definitely one of my audio reads, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Stephen Graham Jones is quickly cementing himself as one of my favorite authors and I will be buying myself a copy ASAP. A close second is Hidden Figures, which I just finished reading today and absolutely loved. I haven’t been this enamored of a non-fiction book for awhile! That being said, none of the books I checked out were less than three stars, so my January library stack kinda started this project out with a bang.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 13th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday the 13th! I always find it funny when we get a Friday the 13th the day before Valentine’s Day. The juxtaposition is just fun 😂 In honor of this weird, romantic time, I’ve picked a spooky book with a dash of romance for this week’s First Lines Friday! It’s also a bit of a sneak peek into what I picked up at the library this month.

So, without further ado, let’s see if the first few lines can wow us.

The Line(s):

“The gates were beautifully wrought iron, elegantly monogrammed with interlocking Ws. The motor-car’s headlights illuminated the black paint, the curlicues and details gleaming gold.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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blog tour · book reviews

BBNYA 2025 Finalist Tour: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam

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Hello, reader!

In 2025, I once again participated as a panelist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award! It was a tough competition but we eventually narrowed it down a group of finalists. Now, those finalists are on tour! Today, I’ll be sharing my review for a book perfect for lovers of a good heist: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam!

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with, typically, 15 finalists (though we had 17 in 2025) and one overall winner. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let’s talk about the book 📚

Title: By Hook & Crook
Author: S.G. Haram
Publisher: Chymist Press
Publication date: November 15th, 2024
Length: 364 pages
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Age group: Adult

Book Links

Amazon::StoryGraph::Goodreads

What if robbing a vault earned you a standing ovation?

In the city of Azoria, heists are a sanctioned sport, a dazzling spectacle where only the boldest thieves thrive. And Lars Harrow is the best.

But Lars wants more than fame. He wants the heist that will cement his legacy and put him beyond the reach of the city’s power brokers. When a shadowy patron offers him a job targeting Cecil Thume—the ruthless mastermind who controls every theft in Azoria—Lars sees his shot at something bigger.

Yet the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the game becomes. A brutal murder sends a clear message: Thume isn’t just profiting from the city’s underworld… he is the underworld. And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep control.

As the line between thief and pawn blurs, Lars must decide how much he’s willing to risk. The city, his crew, and his own future hang in the balance.

If you enjoyed books like Six of Crows, Mistborn, or The Lies of Locke Lamora, you won’t be able to put down this electrifying tale of ambition, greed, betrayal, and redemption.

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book reviews

Book Review: The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent

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Title: The Things We Do to Our Friends
Author: Heather Darwent
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Thriller/Dark Academia
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Toxic friendships and codependency, violence, physical abuse, sexual assault, sexual violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, torture, attempted murder, child abuse, mental illness and psychopathy themes
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history—the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the secrets of her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town?

When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to become friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel, shrewd Ava, and pragmatic Imogen. She is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late—because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining everything they want, and there’s no going back.

Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and ambition with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have and those who covet, between the desire to truly belong and the danger of being truly known.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: 2026 Romance Reads

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This week’s theme is an ode to Valentine’s Day; it’s a love/Valentine’s freebie. I’ve decided I want to highlight ten romance books I want to read in 2026! This is a mixture of new releases and books that have been on my TBR for ages. They are definitely all books that I’m eager to pick up, though!

Alright, let’s get to my picks 💖

Backlist Romance Reads

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

Well Played by Jen DeLuca

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

Beach Read by Emily Henry

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 9th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Goodreads Monday is, once again, upon us. Another new start to the week and another random book pulled from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. Which is down to 831 books this week… two down from last week! I mean, one of those is the book I removed from last week, but still!

Let’s see what I’ll pull this week 😊

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
The Blood Trials

Author:
N.E. Davenport

Publisher:
Harper Voyager

Publication Date:
April 5th, 20222

Pages:
448

Genre:
Science Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:
Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

It’s all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.

For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.

Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials–a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that–if found out–would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time…

Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself–and one’s blood–is more important than anything.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 8th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Sunday Post! This was an eventful week, in both exciting and not-so-exciting ways 😅 Let’s just say, I’m looking forward to this week because it’s my last week of work before taking a week off and it’s supposed to warm up (relatively…) a bit! I cannot describe to y’all how ready I am for Spring. I was not built for this weather 🥶

Anyways, let’s get to what I’ve been up to for the past week!

Week in Review

My eldest kid turned 19 this week! I continue to be amazed that I have an adult child despite being well into my mid-40s myself, lol. Like… is she not just a baby? What do you mean she’s one year away from being in her twenties?! Inconceivable. She was off at college on her actual birthday, but she did come down this weekend to hang with us and hometown friends. We took her out for birthday dinner of her choice and just enjoyed having her home. It was lovely 💖

My husband and I also met up with friends to check out a Korean pop-up at a local sake brewery. I didn’t even know the place existed until we were invited out! You find the most random things in the suburbs of Boston, haha. The food was delicious, the sake was yummy, and the company was great. I realized as we were driving home that, after 6 years of living here, we’re finally making adult friends. The fact that we’re both homebodies who will always prefer chilling in our nice, comfy house certainly hasn’t helped matters 😂 It’s nice to have made some friends we like enough that they can entice us from our den, haha. Besides my best friend, of course! She could tempt me out if it was below zero and snowing cause she’s family.

The not so fun event of this week was my youngest child getting sick 🫠 He had to stay home both Thursday and Friday, which is much harder to juggle now that my husband has a full time job. Thankfully, I was able to work from home on Friday, which was nice. I get so much more admin work done when I’m not at my desk being interrupted every ten seconds with questions, lol.

A woman sitting at a desk, rubbing her eyes in exasperation with text above that reads "Accidentally became important at work and it's ruining my life."

Ah well, job security, right? And I do enjoy my job though I’ve always enjoyed actually working on the bench as opposed to piles and piles of paperwork. That probably makes more sense if you know I’m a clinical medical laboratory scientist that works in Microbiology, lol. Super interesting job, but paperwork will always suck 😂

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Reading Motivation

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This Week’s Prompt

What drives you to read?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 6th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to Friday and, between illnesses and work stress, I’m happy it’s finally the weekend. Although I do have to work this weekend, soooo… 🫠 At least weekend work days at typically more chill than during the week. Let’s hope this holds true this weekend!

In the meantime, I’m gonna unwind by doing this week’s First Lines Friday! The book I pulled this week is one that has been sitting on my desk, staring at me, making me feel guilty cause I haven’t cracked it open yet. It’s a book I’ve borrowed from the library and I am determined to read in February before I have to bring it back!

Let’s see if the first few lines will get me to pick it up sooner.

The Line(s):

“It all started with a book that made me curious.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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wrap up

January 2026 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

One month of 2026 is done and dusted. That means it’s time to wrap up my reading from January! We’ll start with stats from the ever wonderful Storygraph, then we’ll see how I’m doing with my multiple challenges/projects for 2026. Spoiler alert: January really kicked off my reading year with a bang!

Let’s jump right into it 😁

January Reading Stats

In January 2026, I ended up reading 9 books (for 2,430 pages) and DNFing one. I’m not mad about that! Last January, I read seven books, so I’m already off to a good start to meet my 2026 Goodreads reading challenge.

My most read genre should come as no surprise: fantasy! It’s my favorite genre, after all, so I’m not surprised to see it up at the top. I think this is the first time the essays genre has appeared on one of my wrap ups, though, haha. I really need to stop being such a hater when it comes to non-fiction.

I’m happy to see the digital format making a comeback on my pie chart! Print will always be number one, I think, but I’ve been avoiding my e-books like the plague and it’s time to rectify that. I mean… it’s why I’m so far behind on my Netgalley reads 😅 Audio is holding strong, as it typically does. I won’t be surprised if that number jumps up more throughout the year.

My average star rating for January was 3.89 stars. I told y’all I had a good reading month! I had two five stars in the month, which hasn’t happened in forever. I did end up DNFing Supermarket by Bobby Hall, so that doesn’t have a rating. If it did, there would probably be a 1.5 star on this chart… 😬It was just not for me and that’s fine! I’m trying to be better about dropping books that just aren’t working for me.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 4th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I’m really getting into this one now that it’s my main physical read! The author’s writing is really sucking me into the story of these “Black Computers” that worked to help our nation’s space race. It also makes me boil with rage to read about all the injustices they were facing even though they were just as good as (if not better) than their white counterparts. Like, I know that, was a thing (and is still a thing), so you would think I’d be used to it, but the rage still comes, heh. I suppose that is the author doing her job well!
The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent: Oh my god, I am so BORED. It’s just a bunch of rich people (and one wanna-be) being unhinged and I don’t caaaaare. I’ve just arrived at part two after a plot point finally decided to make an entrance, so I’m hoping things pick up from here. Please…
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse: I’ve read the first two stories in this collection and I’m happy to report that I loved both of them! This is a good omen for how I’m going to enjoy the rest of this anthology. Fingers crossed that they continue to be stellar.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers Featuring Pretty/Unique Typography

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Hello, reader!

I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. I have picked up many books simply because I thought the cover was beautiful. But I have to admit, I don’t often pay that much attention to the typography. That’s why I’m excited to participate in today’s Top Ten Tuesday! We’re looking for book covers with pretty/cool/unique typography and I’ve decided to go through my “read” shelf on Goodreads to see what I can find.

Keep reading to see which ones I picked out!

Books With Pretty/Unique Typography

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden: I love the typography on this one. A typography that blends into the overall image on the cover will always make me pay attention. I just think it looks so cohesive and lovely.
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell: Again, the typography is working really well with the cover image, though more so in color as opposed to positioning/font. It’s visually appealing to me in a way that captures my attention.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: This is like a blend of the first two where the typography uses both font and a bit of blending to really incorporate into the cover image. I like that the letters kind of fade into the background at points.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin: Now this one I chose because I just think the typography is pretty 🥹 I can’t even pinpoint why I love it so much, but I do!
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury: The font on this one is pretty straightforward and bland, but I love the way that it interacts with the rest of the cover image. Just *chef’s kiss*

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 2nd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the start of another week, so it’s time for another Goodreads Monday! Time to leaf through my excessively large Goodreads TBR (currently sitting at 833 books 🤡) and pick a random book to highlight. Participating in this meme has been fun because I’m re-discovering books I had completely forgotten I wanted to read, haha. I am forever skilled at putting books on my TBR… not so great at actually reading them.

Let’s see what random book we get today!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Fire & Sword

Author:
Dylan Doose

Publisher:
Spawning Pool Studios

Publication Date:
September 1st, 2015

Pages:
330

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Three men condemned to die: Aldous Weaver, a lonely heretic monk turned sorcerer, is imprisoned for accidentally incinerating the leader of his order. Kendrick the Cold, an infamous crusader turned fugitive, is a villain who knows he can never be a hero. Theron Ward, an aristocrat with a penchant for slaughtering monsters, is a legend in his own mind.

A broken nation in need of a savior: Ravaged by plague, decimated by dark magic, Brynth is infiltrated by a foreign evil seeking to dominate from within.

An unlikely bond forged in the furnace of chaos: Three criminals become comrades when faced with the choice to escape the land that cries for their execution or, with fire and sword, march forth against the greater evil.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 1st, 2026

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Hello, reader!

January is finally over and we’ve moved in the second month of the year. February always feels like it flies by too fast, but it is the shortest month of the year, so I suppose that makes sense. I’m hoping it does because I am ready for spring, y’all 😩 We haven’t gotten any more snow, but it has been bitterly cold and I’m over it. This is what I get for moving to New England, haha.

Now it’s time to wrap up my week in The Sunday Post! Keep reading to see what I was up to.

Week in Review

The biggest event of this week is the snow storm that rocked all of New England. We got almost 2 feet of snow Sunday and Monday and it was not a fun time! I had to go to work on Monday and the streets were freakin’ terrible. At least I got to go in later because a pipe burst in our building and no one could be inside until they got the water turned back on. And then it started snowing again while I was at work, so the roads were even worse when I headed home! I did end up having to stay home on Tuesday because my youngest’s school was closed due to weather.

Other than that, I really didn’t get into much this week. My husband and I sing with a local choir and we’re currently rehearsing for our Spring Concert. That was pretty much the only thing that got me out of the house besides work this week, haha. We do have plans this evening to meet up with some friends for dinner, but I’ll talk about that next Sunday!

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book reviews

Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel

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Title: Solomon’s Crown
Author: Natasha Siegel
Publisher: Dell
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, war, murder, sexual content (off page), death, grief, anxiety attacks, pregnancy, childbirth
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Two destined rivals fall desperately in love—but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

“A pair of thrones between us, and my heart clutched like a rosary within his hands …”

Twelfth-century Europe. Newly-crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. But when his greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it can even begin, Philip is forced to make a precarious alliance with Henry’s volatile son—risking both his throne, and his heart.

Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, never thought he would be King. But when an unexpected tragedy makes him heir to England, he finally has an opportunity to overthrow the father he despises. At first, Philip is a useful tool in his quest for vengeance… until passion and politics collide, and Richard begins to question whether the crown is worth the cost.

When Philip and Richard find themselves staring down an impending war, they must choose between their desire for one another and their grand ambitions. Will their love prevail, if it calls to them from across the battlefield? Teeming with royal intrigue and betrayal, this epic romance reimagines two real-life kings ensnared by an impossible choice: Follow their hearts, or earn their place in history.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

For today’s First Lines Friday, I decided to pick a book randomly off my shelf. I have so many stacks of books just chilling around me that I thought “Why not?” haha. This is a Book of the Month pick that I got last year and, as I am wont to do, I still haven’t read it. I know, I know… yet another reason why my physical TBR is out of control! So I suppose featuring this book for this post will give it a chance to finally move over to the “currently reading” pile.

Let’s see if the first few lines can capture my attention as well as yours!

The Line(s):

“In the city of Nuremberg in 1938, a man told his daughter a bedtime story.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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monthly tbr

February 2026 TBR

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Hello, reader!

If you’ve been around the blog awhile, you probably know that I’m not typically a big monthly TBR person. That’s because, at heart, I am and will always be a mood reader. There’s something about setting a TBR that makes my mood reader brain immediately wants to read something else, lol. The thing is, though, that I’m also extremely indecisive. I have so many options for books (over 300 unread books on my TBR… and that’s just the physical ones 🫠) so when I let my mood dictate my read, I stand staring at my bookshelf for ages and can’t make a decision!

So I’m gonna do a little experiment! I’m going to try setting up monthly TBRs in 2026 but they are not going to be strict TBRs. I suppose that makes them more of “monthly hopefuls”, but I’m still going to call them TBRs. Hopefully this will work much better for my weird little brain, haha.

With that being said, let me share with you my February TBR!

The Book Club Reads

There are three online book clubs that I participate in on a semi-regular basis: the Weirdo Book Club, the Always Fully Booked (AFB) Book Club, and the Literally Dead Book Club. There are months where I’m not interested in the book picked, of course, but in February I’m intrigued by all three. Hopefully I can squeeze them all in!

Weirdo Book Club
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
- I have seen this book talked about all over the place, so I’m happy to jump on-board the book club read. It sounds weird and intriguing, which kind of makes it perfect for Weirdo Book Club!
AFB Book Club
- One by One by Ruth Ware
- I’m not gonna lie, Ruth Ware had a bit of a falling out after I started reading her backlist because I enjoyed The Turn of the Key so much. I just haven’t liked any of the other books I’ve read from her as much as that one! I’m happy to give her another chance, though… perhaps this will be the one to blow me away.
Literally Dead Book Club
- How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
- I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to read this one, but then it popped up as an add-on through Book of the Month and it found its way into my box somehow 😂 This is why my physical TBR is ridiculous, y’all! Still, this does sound intriguing and this will help me read my BotM book the same month I got it!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel: I finally picked the audiobook back up and the action/drama has certainly ramped up! These two doomed idiots are keeping me on the edge of my seat. I don’t know if I was just feeling anxious and that’s why I couldn’t handle the angst, but now I’m back on board, haha.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman: It feels so good to be back in Carl’s world! I mean… Carl’s world is just getting increasingly more dire, but I’m having a good time 😂 Can I just say, I love a main character that is both strong and clever. Carl certainly fits the bill! It’s a treat watching him think up these half-baked plans that are truly creative. I’m eager to dive back into this one!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I quite literally just started this book today (as in, I just got through the prologue) so I don’t have a lot a thoughts about it yet. I’m enjoying the author’s tone, though. Tone is so important to me when it comes to non-fiction. If it reads like a textbook, I’m going to bored the entire time, even if the information is fascinating. Give me a narrative non-fiction any day.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025

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Hello, reader!

Though 2025 was a bit all over the place, I did read some incredible books last year. I also read quite a few new-to-me authors that I’m eager to read more from in 2026. So today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme, 2025 Bookish Discoveries, gives me the perfect opportunity to share them with you! Quite a few of these are authors that have been around for ages, but I finally picked them up in 2025. Some of them are debut authors that captured my imagination with their first novel. All of them make me want to read more!

Now, let’s get to the list.

2025 New-To-Me Authors

Kylie Lee Baker
B.K. Borison
Costanza Casati
Delilah S. Dawson
Tananarive Due

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Well, for once the meteorologists got it right and we got absolutely dumped on here in New England. Not the most snow that I’ve ever seen, but there’s quite a bit! So, while I’m waiting to go into work since we’re on a delay (the joys of working in healthcare… no snow days), I figured I would do my Goodreads Monday post!

I hope all of you who also got a ton of snow are staying warm and safe.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Vinegar Girl

Author:
Anne Tyler

Publisher:
Hogarth

Publication Date:
June 1st, 2016

Pages:
237

Genre:
Literary Fiction/Romance/Retelling

Synopsis:
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: January 25th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy snowy Sunday, depending on where you live, haha. I was skeptical we would be getting as bad of a storm as they predicted but… well… New England is proving me wrong 😅 I’m so glad I didn’t have to work today and could enjoy the snow from my cozy house. I do have to work tomorrow so wish me luck out there!

For now, though, it’s time to recap last week in my Sunday Post! Let’s catch up on what I’ve been getting into.

Week in Review

Ya girl was in pain this past week. I was having a lot of abdominal pain, so much so that I ended up calling out of work one day and going to urgent care. Apparently, I have a UTI 🫠 Clearly I have not had a lot of those cause I thought there was something way worse going on, lol. No one told me a UTI could hurt so bad! Thankfully, I’m now on antibiotics and I’m feeling a lot better. I did catch up on some reading whilst I was curled up in bed with my heating pad, though. I’ve already read 7 books this month, which is one more than I read last January! I’m pretty happy about that.

I was off this weekend which meant that I got to go hangout with my best friend on Saturday. She lives in actual Boston (unlike me, living my best life out in the ‘burbs 😂), so we don’t get to see each other nearly as much as I would like to. Like, ya know… every day. We went to yoga, had brunch at this tapas place called Barcelona with some yoga gals, and went to visit our mom (she’s pretty much adopted me at this point). Mom isn’t doing great and is currently in rehab trying to heal from a broken arm. Thankfully, my best friend has a job where she can visit almost every day, so at least mom isn’t alone. Still, I can’t wait til she’s well enough to get out of there.

Today, since we were most definitely not going anywhere, I broke out the January This Month’s Craft box! My husband got me a subscription for Christmas and it’s become a fun activity for my son and I to do together. Last month was soap making and this month is pottery! We made pinch pots (or bowls from the way the shapes turned out, lol) and are currently letting them dry before we do the decorating. I’ll make sure to share photos of the final products!

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Books & Snacks

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This Week’s Prompt

Which book pairs perfectly with a certain snack in your opinion?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 23rd, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We made it to the end of the week 🥳💃🏾 I’m excited to spend the next couple of days not thinking about work before I have to potentially fight through a foot of snow to get back to it on Monday, lol. Welcome to New England! But we’re gonna think “cozy” and my pick for this week’s First Lines Friday should help with that! Now, this novella may not be the epitome of the cozy vibe, but it certainly left me feeling warm and comfy!

Let’s see if the first few lines will pull you into the story.

The Line(s):

“Interrupt
Wake up processor
Restore memory
Decoding request for service
‘Water detected’
Property protection protocol
Queue Command check
Command check timed out
HEEI main start
Relay emergency notification
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

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Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl
Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl #1
Author: Matt Dinniman
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Fantasy/LitRPG
Age Group: Adult
Format: Physical
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, gore, violence, parental abandonment & child abuse recounted, slavery, infidelity, alcohol & drug abuse, mass murder
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads::Storygraph

The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 21st, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Pounded By Produce by G.M. Fairy: Y’all, I can’t with this book😂 It’s just so silly and cringe! Like, how am I supposed to not want to cringe into the sun when there are lines like —> “Alone with two of the sexist vegetables in the world.” Like, come ON! I can only read a few chapters at a time before I have to walk away, lol. Still, I suppose I’m being entertained? Woof…
Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel: This historical retelling of the relationship between King Philip of France and King Richard the Lionhearted is gay as hell and I’m into it. I mean, I know these two yearners are about to break my heart, but I cannot look away! The audiobook is well-narrated, too, which draws me into the story even more.
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz: I just started this sci-fi novella today and I’m having a good time! It’s about robots that decide to run their own restaurant after they are abandoned by the owners of the previous shop in which they worked. The characters are interesting and I’m eager to see where this story takes me.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Goals for 2026

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Hello, reader!

For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, I’ll be talking about my goals, bookish and non-bookish, for 2026! This is something I think about at the beginning of every year and 2026 is now different. What is different is that I’m trying to choose goals that will cause me the least amount of stress this year, haha. 2025 was a wild ride and I would like 2026 to bring a much calmer energy, thank you very much.

That being said, let me share my top ten 2026 goals!

Bookish Goals

Read at least 65 books.
Utilize my library more.
Don’t be afraid to DNF!
Finish at least 5 series, but hopefully more.
Work on my Netgalley backlog.

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 19th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr Day! This is the first MLK Day in awhile that I was off of work and it was nice to be able to chill. Little disappointed in the state of my country on this MLK Day, but that’s a topic for a different post😅

For now, let’s get to my Goodreads Monday pick!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
House of Salt and Sorrows

Author:
Erin A. Craig

Publisher:
Delacorte

Publication Date:
August 6th, 2019

Pages:
403

Genre:
Fantasy/Horror/Retelling

Synopsis:
In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last–the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge–and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister’s deaths were no accidents. The girls have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who–or what–are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family–before it claims her next. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Be careful who you dance with…

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: January 18th, 2025

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Hello, reader!

Ya girl is coming to you after a looong day at work and I am tired. Thankfully, tomorrow is a holiday and I don’t have to cover it this year, so I get to relax a wee bit. I plan to spend some of that down time reading, of course, but sleeping in is what I’m really looking forward to 😂

Before that, it’s time for this week’s Sunday Post! I actually left the house for things other than work this past week so I have stuff to talk about, haha. Let’s jump into it.

Week in Review

I had a day off this week because I was working the weekend and I spent that hunting down a book. I’m participating in a read-along for the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and I had purchased the first book in 2025 in preparation. I have a bad habit of buying all the books in a series when I haven’t even cracked the first book open (looking at you, Jade City…), so I told myself that I was only going to get Dungeon Crawler Cart, just in case I ended up not being into it. Welp, I spent my Thursday tracking down the next three books in the series and I probably wouldn’t bought all of them if hardcovers weren’t so expensive! So you could say I’m liking the series, lol.

The husband and I were actually social this week, as well, and went out to karaoke with some friends from the choir group we’re in. It was at this tiny Chinese restaurant/lounge that has karaoke every Friday and Saturday night, which apparently is a thing here near Boston. I dunno, maybe it’s a thing everywhere and I just wasn’t paying attention before, lol. Either way, it was a lot of fun! There weren’t a ton of people, so we got to sing pretty much all we wanted to and, as mentioned, it was with a bunch of choir folk, so showtunes were involved. It’s also the reason I’m so tired today because we didn’t get home til midnight and I had to be up by 5:30 am😅 Still, it’s nice to be social every once in awhile!

Now I’m just preparing myself mentally for the fac that we’re supposed to get snow tonight (BOO) and waiting for some comfort food. The plan for after dinner is to curl up with a book, a hot cocoa I extorted my husband into making, and my heating pad. It’s gonna be amazing 💖

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book reviews

Book Review: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

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Title: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Horror/Historical Fiction
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Murder, child death, gore, drug/alcohol abuse, graphic violence, sexual violence, abuse, suicide, torture, animal cruelty/death, and genocide
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads::Storygraph

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians comes a tale of the American West, writ in blood.

This chilling historical novel is set in the nascent days of the state of Montana, following a Blackfeet Indian named Good Stab as he haunts the fields of the Blackfeet Nation looking for justice.

It begins when a diary written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall in 2012. What is unveiled is a slow massacre, a nearly forgotten chain of events that goes back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow, told in the transcribed interviews with Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar and unnaturally long life over a series of confessional visits.

This is an American Indian revenge story, captured in the vivid voices of the time, by one of the new masters of literary horror, Stephen Graham Jones.

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lets talk bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish: Book Blogging Slumps

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Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @dinipandareads! This meme has a discussion format, where participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the blogging love by visiting other posts. You can learn more about this meme here!

LTB Topic of the Week:
Book Blogging Slumps

Prompts: People frequently talk about reading slumps, but what about blogging slumps? What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation? Have you ever gone through one before? How did you break out of it? What advice would you give to a book blogger who’s in one?

What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation?

Was this prompt written just for me??? I’m coming off of a blogging slump that has lasted at least a year and a half😅 And I can’t quite pinpoint what exactly sent me into that particular spiral. Perhaps going through what does and does not motivate me will help me figure out what happened, haha.

Typically, what most motivates me to blog is being in a good headspace mentally. If I’m stressed out, feeling some heavy emotions, or overwhelmed, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit down at my computer and write a blog post. Even if I’m excited about whatever post I had planned to write! If my cup is empty, I just want to switch off and I can’t blog when I’m shut down. I’ve noticed that if I’m having a particularly good bout of reading, I feel a lot more motivated to talk about books, which makes me a lot more motivated to blog, as well. I want to talk about books more when my reading is going well because I suppose I just want to spread that good feeling! Even if I only reach a small corner of the bookish world. I also feel more motivated to blog when I’m in a creative mood. I’ve been feeling a need for a creative outlet growing over the past few months and one of the first things I decided to do was dedicated more time to my poor, neglected blog.

Now, there is one main feeling that makes me lose motivation to blog: guilt. When I first decided to do a book blog, I was eager to keep to a strict schedule of posts. And, as soon as I missed a day, the guilt started to settle in. Then I would feel less and less motivated to go back to my blog because I felt so guilty for messing my own, arbitrary, does-not-matter-AT-ALL schedule. Yes, I fully recognize that I kinda threw myself into that downward spiral… but tell my brain that! Other than that, if I’m just feeling frazzled, as I mentioned above, my motivation to blog evaporates.

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reading-challenge

26 Books in 2026 Challenge

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Hello, reader!

We’re not gonna talk about how badly I bombed my 25 in 2025 reading challenge🤐 Last year, my reading felt kind of all over the place. I had some great reads, don’t get me wrong, but I definitely wandered far from my goals for the year, haha.

I think part of the issue was I put some rigid rules on which books I put on my 2025 list. I was trying to have a good mix of genres and put a lot of books that have been languishing on my shelves for forever. The problem is, and this is something I’m still coming to terms with, I am very much a mood reader. So putting a book that I wasn’t necessarily excited about but fit my criteria meant I never felt particularly motivated to pick up books from the 25 in 2025 pile.

So for my 26 in 2026 challenge, I decided there were only two rules I would have while making my list:

I could only choose books published before 2026.
I could only choose books that I own, either physically or electronically.

That way, I could browse my owned books and pick books that, to borrow a phrase, sparked joy😂 The hope is that my interest in these books will make me more eager to pick them up and actually read them throughout the year. Wish me luck, y’all!

The Will of the Many by James Islington – Goodreads::Storygraph
Well Played by Jen DeLuca – Goodreads::Storygraph
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin – Goodreads::Storygraph
Malice by John Gwynne – Goodreads::Storygraph
The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas – Goodreads::Storygraph

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reading project

2026 Reading Project: Library Love

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Hello, reader!

I’m coming at you on this Wednesday evening with another 2026 Reading Project I’ve endeavored to undertake this year. Now, I’m the brand of reader that, in previous years, has split my love of books into two separate hobbies: reading books and buying books 😂 That’s why my current TBR is to the point where I’m bordering on 400 books… and that’s a whole different thing to talk about! That’s why, in 2026, I’ve decided that I really need to utilize my local library more.

The Plan

The main goal of this reading challenge is to go to my local library at least once a month to peruse and check out some books. I would like to get out of my library comfort zone, as well, and go to the non-fiction side of the building each month. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve wandered to that intimidating zone… but I’m going to make it a priority in 2026!

In a lot of ways, I’m really lucky when it comes to my library options. I live so close to my library that I could walk there in about ten minutes! My library is also part of an entire library network, so it’s pretty easy for me to get my hands on even the newest releases. I live near Boston, as well, so I’ve signed up for a virtual library card with the Boston Public Libraries. If my library network doesn’t have a book I want, the BPL certainly will!

I’ve also leaned into using the Libby app, especially for audiobooks. Thinking about it, I think that’s where I listened to a majority of the audiobooks I read in 2025. I love that little app and want to explore it even more this year. My library also has Hoopla, which is an app I’ve not used nearly as much as I should. I want to dig into all it has to offer this year, as well.

But my biggest goal when it comes to using my library in 2026 is actually reading the books I check out, haha! There have been so many times that I’ve come home with a stack of 8-10 books and I turn them back in having read… maybe two 😅 So I want to make sure I’m checking out a reasonable amount of books each month so I can fit them into my reading.

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reading-challenge

2026 Audiobook Challenge

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Hello, reader!

Today is one of my first posts talking about the reading challenges I’d like to try in 2026. I’ve been spending much of January trying to decide which of the many reading challenges floating around bookish spaces online. Then I saw Leslie @ Books Are The New Black‘s post about the 2026 Audiobook Challenge and I knew this was going on the list!

Last year, with the power of Libby and a functioning pair of over-the-ear headphones, I really leaned into the world of audiobooks. 49.6% of the books I read in 2025 were audiobooks and I was honestly shocked by that! I listened to more audiobooks than I read physical books and for me, a physical book aficionado, that is quite the shift. So I thought this was the perfect challenge to foster my love for this reading format.

Now, let’s talk about the details!

Challenge Information

First things first, credit where credit is due! This challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. If you’re sharing your sign up or what you’re reading on social media, make sure to use the hashtag #2026AudiobookChallenge!

Runs January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026. You can join at any time.
The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2026 than you did in 2025.
Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
All genres count.
Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
You do not have to be a book blogger to take part; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, etc. I recommend creating a shelf on Goodreads titled 2026 Audiobook Challenge. You can keep track of and link to the shelf.
Grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. You can post on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon, your blog, etc. about the challenge.
Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. The first update will be July 4, 2026, and the last update will take place on December 26, 2026. You’ll have one week to link up and share your progress and enter giveaway.

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 12th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the start of a new week and I am not in the working mood. I’m still coming out of the holiday slump, I think. And I think that’s why I decided to explore a new-to-me bookish meme today. I’m trying to spice up my day, haha. That’s why I decided to participate in Goodreads Monday! I’m going to talk about a random book from my Goodreads TBR, why it gets to stay on my TBR (or why it’s getting booted!), and my progress on my current reads.

That being said, let’s dive in!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care & Feeding of British Dragons

Author:
Quenby Olson

Publisher:
World Tree Press

Publication Date:
October 26th, 2021

Pages:
397

Genre:
Fantasy/Cozy Fantasy

Synopsis:
Miss Mildred Percy inherits a dragon.

Ah, but we’ve already got ahead of ourselves…

Miss Mildred Percy is a spinster. She does not dance, she has long stopped dreaming, and she certainly does not have adventures. That is, until her great uncle has the audacity to leave her an inheritance, one that includes a dragon’s egg.

The egg – as eggs are wont to do – decides to hatch, and Miss Mildred Percy is suddenly thrust out of the role of “spinster and general wallflower” and into the unprecedented position of “spinster and keeper of dragons.”

But England has not seen a dragon since… well, ever. And now Mildred must contend with raising a dragon (that should not exist), kindling a romance (with a humble vicar), and embarking on an adventure she never thought could be hers for the taking.

Keep or Toss?

This is an indie published book that has been on my TBR for far too long because I’m 100% certain that, if I pick it up, I’m going to love it! A cozy fantasy that surrounds raising dragons?! Sign me up, please! I think this is one of those instances where a book gets buried in my ever-increasing TBR, so I’m glad doing this meme brought it back to the forefront. This definitely is staying on the TBR!

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: January 11th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, I’m trying out a new sort of post for my little corner of the internet. I’m always yapping about books here but not often yapping about other aspects of my life. And, yes, books take up a significant portion of my daily life, but there is more to it than just reading! Somedays. *cough*

Following that vein of thought, I’ve decided to start doing The Sunday Post created by @CaffeinatedReviewer! This is a blog news meme that gives you a chance to post a recap of your last week, whether that pertains to books or not. You can talk about however much (or however little) you would like. I do love a flexible meme. I’m excited to participate and give you all a little peek into my life beyond books!

Week in Review

You will soon learn through these Sunday Post that my life consists mostly of going to work, coming home, and making sure my family keeps running smoothly 😅 That’s partly why I want to try to go on more adventures in 2026 because, though I do love being at home, I’m feeling the need to broaden my horizons!

That being said, the most exciting thing that got me out of the house this past week was a dentist appointment, lol. But, an activity I’m super happy to be getting back into that doesn’t involve going outside is Dungeons & Dragons! My husband and I are both fans of the game, but we haven’t had a consistent group to play with for the past few years. Finally, he had had enough (the man loves to DM) and gathered a few of our long-distance friends and family to see if they wanted to start a new campaign. Lucky us, they said yes! So we started our run of The Rime of the Frostmaiden. I made an elven wizard, a race and class I haven’t played in D&D as of yet. Well… if we’re not counting Baldur’s Gate 3. I’m excited to dive more into her character!

There was also a library run that I accomplished on Saturday cause I need some library time. I ended up checking out four new books, but I’ll be talking about those in a post later this week. Stay tuned 😉

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book reviews

Book Review: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

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Title: The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Age Group: Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: Murder, child death, infidelity, drug/alcohol abuse, graphic violence, sexual content, gaslighting, and chronic illness
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads::Storygraph

The bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs returns with a brilliant new gothic suspense set at an Italian villa with a dark history.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album—and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred—and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge—and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle—the birthplace of Frankenstein—The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 9th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

For this week’s First Lines Friday, I’m featuring a book that I’m sure many of you will instantly recognize. It’s one that has been talked about ad nauseum in the bookish community and it made me curious. It’s not often that a book seems to be so beloved! I’ve already started reading it and, so far, I can kind of see why it’s so popular!

Now it’s time for the first line to see if it can capture your attention, as well.

The Line(s):

“The transformation occurred at approximately 2:23 A.M., Pacific Standard Time.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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reading project

2026 Reading Project: Series Takedown

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Hello, reader!

I was filling out info on my 2026 reading spreadsheet and realized that I am currently in the middle of 66 different series! And that’s not counting series I’ve started and am unsure whether or not I want to continue. That’s just the ones that I do want to complete… eventually. So, of course, bringing that number down has become a 2026 reading project.

Now, I’m not under the illusion that I’m going to finish all of these series, but I do have a few that are the top of the priority list. Let me share some stats and then talk about which series I would really like to complete in 2026.

Current Series Stats

As I mentioned, there are 66 series on my spreadsheet that I have started, but haven’t finished. Of those, I have only read the first book in 43 series, which seems like a lot to me, haha. Apparently, I love starting a series but, apparently, I don’t like to continue 😅 Though, there are 5 series where only the first book is out, so I’m technically all caught up on those!

My other problem with finishing series seems to be that I get to the last book and just… stop. There are 16 series on my list where they are complete and I’ve read everything but the last book! I even own some of those last books! There are also 12 series where I’m caught up, but they are on-going series. A lot of them actually have releases in 2026 and I’m so excited!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 7th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman: I’m reading this as part of a buddy read on Instagram where we’re trying to read the whole series (at least what is out so far!) in 2026. Of course, long before the buddy read was even mentioned, I had seen this book everywhere. I’ve not dipped my toes too far into the LitRPG genre, but I feel like it’s something I could really love. So far, this has been a fun, fast-paced read and I’m excited to read more!
Supermarket by Bobby Hall: I’m trying to get back into reading e-books again, so I decided to try and tackle my Kindle library. This is the oldest book on my Kindle TBR and it sounded weird. Now that I’m about a third of the way into it, I can confirm it is weird, haha. I’m still trying to decide if it’s the kind of weird I like or no.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones: My library hold for this audiobook finally came in and I’m so glad it did! This audiobook is fantastic so far! I’m loving the story of revenge and grief. The narrators area absolutely killing it, too. Am I feeling a five star?? It’s early days, but I’m getting that vibe!

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books of 2025

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Hello, reader!

I know I already talked about five of my top books of 2025, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a top ten! I mentioned in that other post that I had quite a few five star reads last year, so I’m taking the fact that the Top Ten Tuesday topic this week is your top ten reads of 2025 as an excuse to promote some more. I also haven’t done a TTT in awhile and wanted to get back into the groove, ya know?

That being said, it’s time to share my ten best reads of last year!

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells: This cover is actually a placeholder for the entire series, which I binge re-read in 2025! Yes, I realize this is kiiiind of cheating. No, I do not care.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This book made me sob while trying to get my kid ready for school😭 It’s my own fault for listening to the audiobook while making his breakfast. Beautiful work, though.
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker: God, if Cora was real (and she wouldn’t absolutely hate it), I’d want to give her a hug. This book got under my skin in the best way!
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty: Adventures on the high seas with an older woman as our protagonist! I was already on board (haHA) just reading the synopsis, but the writing, the characters, and the story completely won me over.
A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury: If you want to read a book that will make you simultaneously rage and cheer, you might want to look into this one. It’s the first book of a series and I’m so excited to see where it goes!

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bookmark chat

Anticipated 2026 Book Releases

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Hello, reader!

As we enter the new year, I have, of course, been thinking about what I’m looking forward to in 2026. Being who I am as a person, books were near the top of the list! There are a ton of books releasing this year that I can’t wait to get my grubby little hands on but, today, I want to share my top 15 anticipated releases of 2026.

Going through my list, the big thing that stands out is that there are a lot of sequels or continuations of series that I’m eager to read this year. There’s also a lot more romance I’ll be talking about today than there would have been even a year ago. Dipping my toe into the genre has definitely left a mark! I definitely need to work on focusing on more diverse reads, but I think this list is a decent mix.

But enough talk! Let me share which 15 books I can’t wait to read in 2026.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (pub date: Feb 17th)
- I still haven’t read the Emily Wilde series, but I constantly hear how whimsical it is. And then I heard about this book and, like… come on! It’s like it was written to appeal to me in particular! Cats and whimsy and coziness? Please give it to me now 🥺
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison (pub date: Feb 24th)
- I read First Time Caller, which is the first book in this companion romance series, and absolutely loved it! The romance was so well-paced and sweet and I adored the main couple. I also adored Jackson, who was a background character in the first book and is now getting his own! I’m hoping it’s just as heartwarming as the first book.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (pub date: Feb 17th)
- I’m not a huge historical fiction girlie, but historical fantasy has really been pulling me in lately. I actually have a couple of books by this author on my TBR, but this one has immediately knocked them down the priority list, haha. It’s a portal fantasy centered around books that is set where I live… that’s three of my favorite things all in one book!
A Clash of Carnivores by Liselle Sambury (pub date: Aug 4th)
- This is the sequel to A Mastery of Monsters, which was my favorite read of 2025! You know I’m chomping at the bit to pick this one up. This is a young adult fantasy that is dark and beautiful and thought-provoking in the best way. I cannot wait to see what August, our main character, gets up to after the events of the first book.
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (pub date: Apr 7th)
- I was already interested in this mystery novel before I even found out that one of my favorite authors, V.E. Schwab, is the “Evelyn” of Evelyn Clarke! The premise is what hooked me… there’s six authors on a private island tasked to finish the final book of a famous but deceased author and, of course, death ensues. Sign me up!

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Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Current Reads

Books for Armchair Travelers

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

Last Month’s Stack

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Book Links

Backlist Romance Reads

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

January Reading Stats

Current Reads

Books With Pretty/Unique Typography

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

The Book Club Reads

Current Reads

2025 New-To-Me Authors

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Current Reads

Bookish Goals

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

LTB Topic of the Week:Book Blogging Slumps

What gives you motivation for blogging? What makes you lose motivation?

The Plan

Challenge Information

Random Goodreads Pick

Keep or Toss?

Week in Review

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Current Series Stats

Current Reads

LTB Topic of the Week:
Book Blogging Slumps