WWW Wednesday: January 21st, 2026

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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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 19th, 2026

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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!

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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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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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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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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monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2025

March 31, 2025 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

Classes are starting once again in the magical academy that is Orilium! This is one of my favorite readathons of the year and also one of the only ones I ever complete. I always get so excited going into the Orilium Spring Equinox and this year is extra special. Why? Because there are dragons!

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose a guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

✨✨✨ Name: Korrin Musgrave ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Current Guild Reputation Points: 655 gp✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi) ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Background: Wildling ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Province: Irtheria ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Heritage: Earthling (earth element) ✨✨✨

If you want to learn more about these various choices, you can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. It’s awesome what G has dreamed up!

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