February 2026 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only because this is an anonymous forum am I going to admit that I have fallen down a rabbit hole of hockey smut. I was fascinated to learn that show was based on a book— a whole series of books— and that there is an entire sub-genre of gay ice hockey romance So of course I had to read some to find out what it was all about. And now I’ve read a lot. The world is a really weird and amazing place.
But The Correspondent finally came up on my Libby holds so I’m headed back toward the sun.

All part of the series that is now the TV show? Or are there multiple authors writing popular series about gay hockey players? And what about other professional sports? Interesting sub-genre, indeed.

Multiple authors. Like quite a few. Who knew? And I think they have other sports covered, too, though I’m avoiding looking to closely at that, given how quickly I got taken in by the hockey stuff. I have to say, if Netflix, Showtime, Prime, or anyone else is looking to get in on the HR train, they have options out there ready for adaptation. It’s been fun, and I’ve managed to stay warm and not bored during this cold and snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The main character dies at birth but then lives the “next” time she’s born and then she keeps dying and then coming back to life again. Or something like that.

I’m getting that she kills Hitler, which has either some or no effect on WWII.

I’m 11% in and I’m bored. I couldn’t care less about any of the characters, even the main one (who is still just a kid at this point). I had a recollection of people loving this book but then it only has a 3.79 on Goodreads (I generally won’t read below a 4.0) and now I’m thinking of giving it up. There are just too many good books out there and I keep not wanting to pick up my Kindle, which isn’t how I am with books I love.

Thoughts? Should I give up or keep going?

I loved it and when I finished it, I flipped back to the front and read the whole thing again. Only 11% in, I'd say keep going and see if it clicks for you. But I find Goodreads isn't always an accurate gauge of what i think is good, so ymmv.

PP here. I agree with you on Goodreads - there are some books (i.e. Colleen Hoover) that get high reviews and I hated them.

I picked up a short story last night and finished half of it so maybe after that I'll go back to Life After Life. It just feels very choppy to me and I'm surprised I don't care about anyone by this point. The short story, conversely, had me caring about the two main characters almost instantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The main character dies at birth but then lives the “next” time she’s born and then she keeps dying and then coming back to life again. Or something like that.

I’m getting that she kills Hitler, which has either some or no effect on WWII.

I’m 11% in and I’m bored. I couldn’t care less about any of the characters, even the main one (who is still just a kid at this point). I had a recollection of people loving this book but then it only has a 3.79 on Goodreads (I generally won’t read below a 4.0) and now I’m thinking of giving it up. There are just too many good books out there and I keep not wanting to pick up my Kindle, which isn’t how I am with books I love.

Thoughts? Should I give up or keep going?

So interesting! I had the exact same experience when I tried it years ago. Multiple friends recommended it highly, and I tend to love otherwise realistic books that play with timelines and multiverses.

But I just didn't feel a thing for the character, and as you said, I didn't care what happened. So I put it down at around 20%. I did make it through one of her other books, but barely. Maybe she's just not my cup of tea?

PP here. Maybe? I loved Oona Out of Order and other timeline books. I love All The Light We Cannot See, The Alice Network, The Rose Code, and more. So it's not a timeline thing or a WWII thing for me. It's just not hitting right, so maybe she just isn't my cup of tea. I may try again, it's just hard because when I love a book I can't wait to pick it up and I don't like feeling as though I'd rather re-play an old crossword puzzle than read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The main character dies at birth but then lives the “next” time she’s born and then she keeps dying and then coming back to life again. Or something like that.

I’m getting that she kills Hitler, which has either some or no effect on WWII.

I’m 11% in and I’m bored. I couldn’t care less about any of the characters, even the main one (who is still just a kid at this point). I had a recollection of people loving this book but then it only has a 3.79 on Goodreads (I generally won’t read below a 4.0) and now I’m thinking of giving it up. There are just too many good books out there and I keep not wanting to pick up my Kindle, which isn’t how I am with books I love.

Thoughts? Should I give up or keep going?

So interesting! I had the exact same experience when I tried it years ago. Multiple friends recommended it highly, and I tend to love otherwise realistic books that play with timelines and multiverses.

But I just didn't feel a thing for the character, and as you said, I didn't care what happened. So I put it down at around 20%. I did make it through one of her other books, but barely. Maybe she's just not my cup of tea?

Meanwhile, I loved Emily St. John Mandel's books. I've seen them referenced on lists with Life After Life, but to me, they're so much more compelling.

Interesting, I do love her books!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Two Indian young adults in the US, their parents set them up. So far I like it but I’ve just started.

I recently finished The Night Watch by Sarah Waters and didn’t enjoy it. It is told in reverse chronological order and the first section is over long and dull. I LOVED Fingersmith so I kept at it, but I don’t recommend it.

Coming back as I near the end of The Loneliness of S&S to say it is SO GOOD! Page-turner, yet thought provoking. I am *really* hoping that it has a happy ending for the two protagonists. Even if it doesn't, I have really enjoyed it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The main character dies at birth but then lives the “next” time she’s born and then she keeps dying and then coming back to life again. Or something like that.

I’m getting that she kills Hitler, which has either some or no effect on WWII.

I’m 11% in and I’m bored. I couldn’t care less about any of the characters, even the main one (who is still just a kid at this point). I had a recollection of people loving this book but then it only has a 3.79 on Goodreads (I generally won’t read below a 4.0) and now I’m thinking of giving it up. There are just too many good books out there and I keep not wanting to pick up my Kindle, which isn’t how I am with books I love.

Thoughts? Should I give up or keep going?

So interesting! I had the exact same experience when I tried it years ago. Multiple friends recommended it highly, and I tend to love otherwise realistic books that play with timelines and multiverses.

But I just didn't feel a thing for the character, and as you said, I didn't care what happened. So I put it down at around 20%. I did make it through one of her other books, but barely. Maybe she's just not my cup of tea?

Meanwhile, I loved Emily St. John Mandel's books. I've seen them referenced on lists with Life After Life, but to me, they're so much more compelling.

Interesting, I do love her books!

I like both Emily St. John Mandel and Kate Atkinson - I like Kate's writing more but Emily's world building. I think trying to push through a bit more on Life After Life is worth it but if you get to the Blitz and aren't into it then DNF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The main character dies at birth but then lives the “next” time she’s born and then she keeps dying and then coming back to life again. Or something like that.

I’m getting that she kills Hitler, which has either some or no effect on WWII.

I’m 11% in and I’m bored. I couldn’t care less about any of the characters, even the main one (who is still just a kid at this point). I had a recollection of people loving this book but then it only has a 3.79 on Goodreads (I generally won’t read below a 4.0) and now I’m thinking of giving it up. There are just too many good books out there and I keep not wanting to pick up my Kindle, which isn’t how I am with books I love.

Thoughts? Should I give up or keep going?

So interesting! I had the exact same experience when I tried it years ago. Multiple friends recommended it highly, and I tend to love otherwise realistic books that play with timelines and multiverses.

But I just didn't feel a thing for the character, and as you said, I didn't care what happened. So I put it down at around 20%. I did make it through one of her other books, but barely. Maybe she's just not my cup of tea?

Meanwhile, I loved Emily St. John Mandel's books. I've seen them referenced on lists with Life After Life, but to me, they're so much more compelling.

Interesting, I do love her books!

Hmmm, I loved Life After Life (my top book of 2025) and I like Mandel's books too.

I think it is worth pushing on to at least 20-25% because, if I recall correctly, it starts in the author's early years, and it does take a while to get to the "meat" of the story. Also it took me a while to sort of adjust to the nature of the (repeating, circling) story technique, esp. because I began on audiobook (mistake!), and then moved to book.

[Anonymous]

^^ narrator's early life (not author!) ^^

[Anonymous]

The Blind Assassin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Two Indian young adults in the US, their parents set them up. So far I like it but I’ve just started.

I recently finished The Night Watch by Sarah Waters and didn’t enjoy it. It is told in reverse chronological order and the first section is over long and dull. I LOVED Fingersmith so I kept at it, but I don’t recommend it.

Try The Littlw Stranger by Sarah Waters. It's her best, I think.

[Anonymous]

^^Little

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Lies they Told by Ellen Wisemam. Historical fiction about a young german immigrant mother who settles in Appalachia

This ended up being really sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buckeye by Patrick Ryan - Currently about 1/3 of the through. Historical/domestic fiction about two couples living in a small town in Ohio in 1940s. Lots going on, but I don't want to post spoilers and I've still got quite a bit to go, so I'll update with more synopsis when I get further.

It’s not my type of genre, but did managed to finish it.

PP again - I finished, and I really enjoyed it. Four stars, and it kept my attention, when isn't the same experience other posters had here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Two Indian young adults in the US, their parents set them up. So far I like it but I’ve just started.

I recently finished The Night Watch by Sarah Waters and didn’t enjoy it. It is told in reverse chronological order and the first section is over long and dull. I LOVED Fingersmith so I kept at it, but I don’t recommend it.

Coming back as I near the end of The Loneliness of S&S to say it is SO GOOD! Page-turner, yet thought provoking. I am *really* hoping that it has a happy ending for the two protagonists. Even if it doesn't, I have really enjoyed it!

It is so good in so many different ways. It's astounding, really. I loved it so much I might reread it soon, but it is so long so maybe not.

[Anonymous]

I really like Kate Atkinson’s writing, she can be quite wry…I loved her recent short story collection (Normal Rules Don’t Apply), which features interwoven stories and has a fantastical element to it. I even liked Case Histories, though I’m not typically a heavy crime/detective fan.

Loneliness readers…I got stuck on Ilan (the self-centered artist)—if I skim past, will I be rewarded? Love the writing and the other characters, but am in a period where I have a low tolerance for a-hole male characters.