January 2026! What are you reading??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finished Among Friends by Hal Ebbot. Debut novel. Terrible book. I almost always check goodreads before new books and somehow I didn't on this one (it has 2.8 stars). Read the beginning, realized i was half way through and nothing had happened. After the event, I skimmed the rest. I'm appalled at the mother's response. Unrealistic writing and too much jumping between past and present with zero clue for why. Felt gross to read.

I agree, I did not like this book. Very troubling in a lot of ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small great things by Jodi Picoult. I’ve never read anything by her before. I’m reading it on Libby on my phone, and I just started it last night and I’m about 30% through. It’s ok so far. Quick.

I finished a Marriage at Sea on New Year’s Eve. That was wonderful.

I loved that book!

I've enjoyed a lot of her books with one exception - Sing You Home. It may have been because I listened to it as an audiobook and there was terrible singing/music with it, but honestly I think I just disliked the homophobia. Conversely, I loved Mad Honey, so I don't know, I may be the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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...

I read the Ninth House and liked it and now I'm on to Hell Bent, both by Leigh Bardugo. They're YA (based on college kids) but easy and entertaining enough reads.

[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.

I liked that book but only liked it. I'd probably give it a 3.5. I liked the characters in Within Arm's Reach better, for what that's worth. That was one of her first books. Dear Edward is on my list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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...

This was a DNF for me.

[Anonymous]

Starting The Antidote by Karen Russell today. Really looking forward to it as I loved Swamplandia! and she was super nice when I met her at a writers' conference years ago.

[Anonymous]

Isola by Allegra Goodman. Historical fiction. A little slow, but I don’t mind that.

[Anonymous]

I am reading Middlemarch. I don't know why I have never read it. I am about 1/3 of the way through and already sad that it has to end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

We talked a little about this in the "how many books did you read" thread.

Check your screen time. A lot of people are spending hours per day watching TV or their phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isola by Allegra Goodman. Historical fiction. A little slow, but I don’t mind that.

This was a bit of a slog for me, but I'm glad I finished it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

How much TV do you watch? How many hours do you spend on your phone each day? Most people would be surprised how much time they have for reading if they put down their phones and turned off the TV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isola by Allegra Goodman. Historical fiction. A little slow, but I don’t mind that.

This was a bit of a slog for me, but I'm glad I finished it.

Same for me - I loved the first part, thought the middle (which should have been the most interesting) was the least interesting, but liked where it ended. Glad I read it, not sure I'll recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am reading Middlemarch. I don't know why I have never read it. I am about 1/3 of the way through and already sad that it has to end.

That brings me back to college as an English major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

How much TV do you watch? How many hours do you spend on your phone each day? Most people would be surprised how much time they have for reading if they put down their phones and turned off the TV.

I don’t watch much TV but I could definitely try harder to swap any phone time at night with reading. One issue is that reading often makes me tired so I don’t want to start at 8 pm or I’m about to pass out by 8:30! Maybe I just need to read more riveting books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am reading Middlemarch. I don't know why I have never read it. I am about 1/3 of the way through and already sad that it has to end.

Love this book so so much. It is so shrewd and funny, both insightful and gossipy, and also empathetic — like she’s implicating all of us in characters’ foibles and forgiving us at the same time. I read it like five years ago and was like “Holy heck, why have I never read this!?”