January 2026! What are you reading??

[Anonymous]

The Correspondent and Heated Rivalry (!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the person who was struggling with Hamnet last month and I am still struggling. Put it aside for a bit and trying to get back into it. Frustrated everyone loves this book and I just can't get into it.

I've got a handful from the library I have to get through, so maybe Hamnet will drop. James is up next, I think. Then the latest from Rhys Bowen (from Cradle to Grave). The Doorman by Chris Pavone and the new Ian McEwan, What we can know, also just came in via holds at the library.

I read Hamnet when it first came out and I felt the same way. I feel like maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough

[Anonymous]

I didn't like Hamnet! So predictable.

[Anonymous]

I am the one that was reading A.S. Byatt’s Possession in December. Sadly, I’m still no smarter in 2026 and it’s still a struggle.

As a fun interlude, I read Shadow and Bone since I’d been recommended Leigh Bardugo. Didn’t realize going in that it was YA and was pretty underwhelmed—can’t really believe it spawned a Netflix series. (13 year old me would have probably loved it though FWIW). Then since her (related) Six of Crows was on KindleUnlimited, I gave it a chance, and that one, I really liked. It’s a fantastical heist—sort of Oceans Eleven + a slightly grittier Avatar the Last Airbender.

Thus reassured that I can comprehend at a 12-18 yr old level, I am back to plugging away at Possession...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Heartwood by Amity Gaige. It was a really compelling page-turner about a nurse recovering from her hospital covid experience by hiking the Appalachian Trail. In Maine, she goes missing. The book is about the search and is told from multiple POVs.

I really liked this. It isn't perfect, but it is a page turner and I was all in while reading it.

I really enjoyed the dissection of motherhood from the multiple POV's as well. It blended nicely with the "hunt for the lost hiker" plot. Very well done and entertaining.

[Anonymous]

I'm about halfway through Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and I'm struggling to finish it. I like it enough, but every time I put it down I have a hard time picking it back up. The characters are all insufferable? I keep hoping they'll get better.

[Anonymous]

I’m reading Finding Grace. It’s still early but so far I think it’s great.

I started Mitch Albom’s Twice. I usually like his books but the first few pages didn’t grab me so I put it aside. I’ll try again when I finish Finding Grace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm about halfway through Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and I'm struggling to finish it. I like it enough, but every time I put it down I have a hard time picking it back up. The characters are all insufferable? I keep hoping they'll get better.

They don't. I didn't understand the hype over this book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Correspondent and Heated Rivalry (!).

I read all six Heated Rivalry books over the holidays! The first one was rough, but I liked the rest of them (though at times, I was skimming the sex scenes to get back to the story). I thought Common Goal, Role Model, and The Long Game were my favorites. I liked that Ilya and Scott are in all of the books, too.

[Anonymous]

Just started the Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm about halfway through Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and I'm struggling to finish it. I like it enough, but every time I put it down I have a hard time picking it back up. The characters are all insufferable? I keep hoping they'll get better.

They don't. I didn't understand the hype over this book.

I loved this book so much - I found the characters flawed but not insufferable so perhaps that's the difference. I did not agree with so many choices but I understood why and the story felt like a real family in so many ways to me. But, different strokes and all that.

[Anonymous]

Just started Wellness by Nathan Hill. It was apparently an Oprah pick. So far, so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't like Hamnet! So predictable.

I loved Hamnet but I get why it's not enjoyable for some. But I like most things by her and read it for the language and the feeling I get when immersed in her books. Try "this is the place" also by Maggie O'Farell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't like Hamnet! So predictable.

I loved Hamnet but I get why it's not enjoyable for some. But I like most things by her and read it for the language and the feeling I get when immersed in her books. Try "this is the place" also by Maggie O'Farell

Thanks for the recommendation!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started “The Correspondent” today. “Theo of Golden” is next. I’m aiming for 84 books this year, double what I read in 2025.

Wow. Do you read them all or do you listen to any? Do you work?

I am trying to increase my reading (I do listen to a lot of audiobooks) but there is no way I'd be able to get through 84 books in a year (although maybe I'm wrong).