Monday Mini-Reviews: Trying to Cram As Many 2026 Books Into the Last Two Months

 Every year I set a reading goal of 200 books.  It's a goal I should be abe to meet without too much trouble.  And while I do think quality matters more than quantity, there is still something satisfying about meeting - and surpassing- that goal.

I've hit the 200 book mark for 2026. And there are still so many books that I want to read before the year ends. I don't have an official list, but there are a few that I don't want to forget about and want to read before they disappear into the black hole that is my TBR.

Luna, Phoenix, Queen by Julie Orringer has sounded like a book I'd like since I first heard about it. I talked my book club into reading it, and am anxiously awaiting our discussion.  Barr and Dava work at a small college in the Midwest while raising their sons.  While Barr has published novels, Dava's speciality is English literature.  When Dava is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, Barr discovers the secrets she has harbored for years: a brilliant manuscript Dava has penned as well as the fact that it mirrors her own life and exposes her relationship with another academic, Svetlana.   I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  I felt like Orringer's characters were developed and felt real: likeable, but flawed.  Having a father who suffered from Alzheimer's, I am sensitive to the topic, which Orringer was able to write in a way that was believable and heartbreaking. I'll happily recommend this one to others.

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver has also received a lot of buzz.  I don't love Kingsolver's books, but Jenna Bush Hager picked this one for her book club, and I've heard lots of great things about it.  This one was a rough start for me, mostly because my job has been overwhelming this year.  If I start a book during the work week, it needs to be something I don't have to think about.  So, I made it just a third of the way into this one and was ambivalent at best, but was able to knock out the rest on Saturday and enjoyed it a lot.  I just needed some uninterrupted time to read more than a few pages in a sitting.  

Livia receives a phone call from a former lover which causes her to reflect on the life she has chosen: a stable and comfortable marriage on the farm where she grew up, versus the one she could have had as a professional pianist in a city.  Kingsolver's story moves back and forth in time as we see Livia as a child and young woman and get to understand her thought process and decisions.  This is a book that focuses on character development and not plot, but I found it to be an interesting look at one woman's choices.

I've been sorting through stacks of books to see what hidden gems I have forgotten about and creating a new stack of titles I still want to get to as soon as possible. What books would you have me add to that pile?

Friday Five: The Weather Is Getting Colder

This morning was the first of the season where my car's windshield was frosted over.  It is getting cooler in the mornings and I don't know if I should wear a coat when I leave for work, because by the afternoon it is usually nice enough that I don't need one.  I'm grateful that I haven't seen any snowfllakes yet, but that is the next step on our way to winter.

I found plenty of things to share, so enjoy!

 

1.  Aiden Vegan Leather Shirt

2.  Cass Velvet Bubble Blouse

3.  Women's Laynei Bow Tailored Loafers

4.  100% Cashmere Crew Sweater

5.  Brushed Jacquard-Knit Sweater

6.  Jacquard Knit Sweater

7.  CashSoft Crew Sweater

8.  CashSoft Oversized Chunky Cardigan

9.  We The Free Nordic Craft Wool-Blend Vest 

10.  The One About Matthew Perry

That's it for me this week. What's caught your eye?

Kid Lit Thursday: YA Pick: Everything New Again

 I've been reading Renee Watson's books for years now, and not only do I enjoy them, but they are an easy sell to my middle school students.  I have been looking forward to Everything New Again since I saw that Watson had a new book that was publishing.

Bliss' family runs the town's funeral home, where they also have an apartment above the business.  This immediately interested me since my husband was a funeral director for the first ten years of our marriage and we lived in a home attached to the business as well.   Bliss is open about the fact that she's not afraid of death - but also expresses a desire to really live and see more of the world than her small town.

Solomon is visiting his mother over the holidays. He's always wondered why his mom has been absent from his life, and now he's getting the opportunity to spend time with her and perhaps understand her better, and develop a relationship with her.  Since she owns a flower shop, he helps out, and when making a delivery meets Bliss.

Although this is a chance encounter, it changes their lives forever.  Their relationship quickly develops into something serious and real as the two open up their hearts to each other.

The ending is not what I expected, and I'll admit I might have wanted to throw the book across the room. But, I do love Renee Watson and the beautiful work she does.

Thursday Kid Lit: Read Alouds

 I always love a good read aloud, and even in middle school, most kids enjoy listening to picture books. The conversations we can have about picture books is deeper than with elementary kids and the humor which is often lost on a younger audience.

Mac Barnett is a favorite of mine. I like the fact that his books are always a little offbeat, and Tom Nancy is just plain fun.

This is the story of a house that is missing its girl as she spends the night away from home for the first time.  I think not only will kids recall what it felt like to be away from home for the first time, but as a teacher, I could even use this book to teach personification.

I'm always looking for a fun hidden gem that kids haven't seen before.  I also have purchased a couple pairs of "interesting" pants (bandana print, patchwork) this year that make me happy each time I put them on.  I'm just biding my time until I can read this one to a group of kids while I've got my interesting pants on.

I've been reading quite a few of the picture books as I catalog them, and there are so many great ones out there.  

Waiting on Wednesday: Rabbit, Rabbit

Waiting on Wednesday is a where I highlight a soon to be released title I can't wait to read.

This week's selection: Rabbit, Rabbit by Jennifer E Smith

Due out: December 15, 2026

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

A life-changing year. One month at a time.

A heartwarming novel about what it means to chase the life — and love — of your dreams, from the bestselling author of The Unsinkable Greta James.

As the clock counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, Billie — 39, single, an American film editor on a girls’ trip to Florence — makes a decision: this is the year she’s going to have a baby on her own. Less than an hour later, she meets Arthur — 44, single, a Scottish conservationist celebrating a friend’s stag party — who seems perfect but for his conviction that kids are not for him.

Over the course of the next year, Billie finds herself pursuing both versions of her life, moving back and forth between visits to fertility clinics and romantic getaways around the world as she tries to figure out what she wants most. But as she approaches the inevitable fork in the road, she’ll discover that it’s not so easy to follow your heart when it’s pulling you in two very different directions.

Full of Jennifer E. Smith’s signature heart and warmth, Rabbit Rabbit is a powerful romantic novel about paths not taken…and what happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time.

Monday Mini-Reviews: Finishing October Strong

I was lucky enough to read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus as an ARC on Net Galley. As I read I felt like I had just unearthed a gem and hoped others would also fall in love with it.  

And obviously, they did.  Garmus' sophomore novel Peck and Peck has had people talking since its release was announced.  And while there are perhaps some who aren't quite sure if it is as lovely as her first novel, Peck and Peck was a win for me. 

I love that this story centered around the publishing industry.  I love the humor Garmus weaves throughout the story; I often chuckled to myself.  (In some ways the humor reminded me a little of Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt). I love the main character, his slightly oddball mother, and the way the story unfolded.

I loved Keane's first book Ask Again, Yes, when it was first published.  I've been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it.  But, true confession: once I read a synopsis I became less interested. The Ireland setting and eleven brothers wasn't really anything that sounded interesting. However, I'm glad I suspended my judgement until after reading it. I devoured this book in just a day, and it was a great way to end the month of October, in which I didn't read a huge quantity of books - BUT I did read great quality books.  The eleven brothers who are a part of this large family are eventually separated by distance.  While Mac is the main voice in this novel, it is all the brothers whose stories are told. I loved this book so much, and it is one that can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

So, it's on to NonFiction November.  I love seeing the titles that are posted during this month and adding to my already overwhelming and unrealistic TBR.  

 

Friday Favorites: October Flew Right By

 After a long week of conferences, the much anticipated day off of work on Friday has arrived.  I am happy to be at home without any plans aside from reading, cleaning, exercisin, and a hair appointment.

I love winter clothes and I'm having to dig deep to channel restraint in order to not order the many things I see and love.

Here is what's caught my eye this week:

1.  Six Fifty Melanie Mixed Media Jacket

2.  Donegall Fair Isle Sweater

3.  Circuit Gingham Puff Vest

4.  Women's Faux Fur-Lined Toggle Jacket

5.   Camden Mock Neck Fairisle Sweater

6.  Fair Isle Cardigan Sweater

7.   Jodi Velveteen High Rise Wide Straight Leg 

8.  Risen Dottie High Rise Ankle Straight Polka Dot Jeans

9. The Capri Flat

10.  Nobody Wants This Season Three on Netflix

That's it for me  this week.  What's caught your eye?

Waiting on Wednesday: Somewhere, Something Incredible

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released novel I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: Somewhere, Something Incredible by Susan Meissner

Due out: February 9, 2027

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

When her elderly mother starts making impulsive choices, Gwen panics – but her mother insists everyone, regardless of age, has the right to choose their own happiness in this new novel by beloved author, Susan Meissner.

San Diego, 1969. As Apollo astronauts prepare to take the first steps on the moon, Gwen is simply trying to hold her world together. A devoted daughter, wife, and mother, she has honored a promise to her deceased father to care for her well-off but fragile and dependent mother, Lucille.

But when a head injury transforms eighty-year-old Lucille into a bold, impulsive woman who brazenly invites a younger, ponytailed opportunist to live with her, Gwen’s grip begins to falter. She can’t believe what her mother is doing, but can she stop her? Meanwhile, her eighteen-year-old daughter, Natalie—reeling from a friend’s death in Vietnam—has gone quiet. Too quiet.

As the moon landing draws near, Gwen must confront the limits of control, the weight of promises, and the terrifying beauty of letting go.

Friday Five: End of October

 I'm starting to see some Christmassy clothing around already which is amazing to me.  Next week is Halloween and that means the holidays are just right around the corner.  

Here are the things that caught my eye this week:

1.  Kaylin Cozy Stripe Tee

2.  Blooming by Design Top

3.  Relaxed Sweater-polo in Vintage Wool Stripe

4.  Carrie Rhinestone Wide Leg Jeans

5.  Boucle Cropped Jacket

6.  AE Women's Slow Morning Long Sleeve Flannel PJ Set

7.  Organic Cotton Voile Short Sleeve Peasant Blouse

8.  Tracy Striped Sweater Tee in Brown

9.  Pilcro Marlow Fleece Zip Up Sweater

10.  Carol Christmas Stripe Pullover

That's it for me this week.  What's caught your eye?

Waiting on Wednesday: Heart of the Wild

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a soon to be released novel I can't wait to read.

This week's pick: Heart of the Wild by Patti Callahan Henry

Due out: April 20, 2027

Synopsis taken from Amazon:

New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry’s riveting new novel takes readers deep into the woods where the lives of two teenage girls—one lost and one hiding—will forever change.

The summer Emma McKinney turns fifteen, hope feels fragile. Her father is missing in action in Vietnam, and her mother—seeking escape as much as stability—accepts a teaching job in a remote mountain town. Emma, sensitive and intelligent, senses her mother has other reasons for their stay in Silverveil. Before she can press for answers, Emma is sent away to a youth group retreat with only her father's worn copy of The Call of the Wild for comfort.

On the last day of the retreat, Emma strays from the trail and becomes hopelessly lost. With no clear path back to camp, she relies on instinct, animal signs, and the vast, unyielding wild for guidance. As days go by and exhaustion, hunger, and fear begin to hollow her out, Emma’s fate feels uncertain. But she is not alone. Deep in the woods, another teenage girl is keeping watch—resourceful and determined to remain unseen. As they move through the same wilderness, their stories begin to collide, forcing them to discover their strength and will to survive.

Aching and gritty, Heart of the Wild is an atmospheric journey not only of perseverance, but of self-discovery and secrets whose roots run much deeper than just the forest floor.