Tag: TBR list

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What I’m Reading – April 2026

What I’m Reading Now

Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld – this is a collection of short stories. I am not sure how I feel about it so far. It seems to be designed to expose the hidden parts of ourselves and our beliefs about ourselves and others.

Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #41) – I really like this series. When my turn came for it on Libby, I was in a bit of a reading slump and I only got to 80% before it got automatically returned. Now I am back on the waiting list to get it again so I can finish it.

What I Recently Finished

  • Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #62)
  • Storm Peak by John A. Flanagan (Jesse Parker Mystery #1)
  • Avalanche Pass by John A. Flanagan (Jesse Parker Mystery #2)

What I Added to my TBR

  • Braving the Truth: Essential Essays for Reckoning with and Reimagining Faith by Rachel Held Evans
  • The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston
  • The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz McLeod (Austentatious #2)
  • The Fake Matchmaker by Sonya Singh
  • Everyone’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center

TBR Stats/Goal Updates

  • I currently have 187 books on my TBR. Of these, 8 are nonfiction and 179 are fiction.
  • I have read 16 books so far in 2026. My goal is 100, so I am 9 books behind. I do occasionally have times where I read less than my usual, so I’m sure it will pick up later in the year.
  • I have not finished any nonfiction books so far in 2026. My goal is 6.
  • I ended my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I read 15 books and had 1 DNF during the time I had KU.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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“Library” Books

I love to read books about books, especially ones set in libraries. So when I was challenged by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life to post a list of books about libraries, I got right on it!

Here is my list of 11 books that are either set in a library or feature a librarian as the main character. Let me know if you have read any of these or have any others to recommend.

  1. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams – a story about the power of a mysterious reading list and the friendship that develops between Aleisha, a teenager working at the library, and Mukesh, a widower who visits the library after his wife has passed.

2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – a magic library gives Nora Seed the chance to examine her regrets and discover whether life is worth living.

3. What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama – a special librarian senses exactly what people are looking for and gives the perfect book recommendations to give them the inspiration they need.

4. The Library by Bella Osborne – an unlikely friendship forms between a sixteen-year-old boy and a seventy-two-year-old woman as they rally the community to save their local library.

5. The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick – a book of fairy tales with a personal dedication leads a librarian to uncover family secrets that will change her life.

6. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms – a school librarian gets an opportunity to escape her life for a summer and has to decide what future she wants for herself.

7. The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson – a library is threatened with closure and librarian June Jones joins forces with others in the community to fight to keep it open.

8. The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore – a librarian who is taking care of her three younger siblings gets involved in a mystery involving a rare book and a cranky neighbor.

9. The Lending Library by Aliza Fogelson – a small-town art teacher opens a lending library in her sunroom when the local library closes.

10. The Storytellers by Sue Heath – a library draws four people together through a writing competition (on my TBR)

11. Is This a Cry for Help? By Emily Austin – a librarian returns to work after a mental health crisis only to be faced with protests surrounding book banning (on my TBR)

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What I’m Reading – March 2026

What I’m Reading Now

Storm Peak by John A. Flanagan (Jesse Parker Mystery #1) – I have read all of the young adult fantasy books by this author and decided I wanted to read his mysteries, of which there are 2. I am really enjoying it so far.

What I Recently Finished

  • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Cerulean Chronicles #1)
  • Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (Cerulean Chronicles #2)
  • The Devil You Know by Freida McFadden (Dr. Jane McGill #2)
  • All the Broken Places by M. Jean Pike
  • Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (Tomes & Tea #1)

What I Added to my TBR

  • The Final Target by Nora Roberts
  • Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts
  • Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden
  • Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison
  • The Last Marriage of Dot Brightmore by Laura Pearson (Mabel Beaumont #2)
  • The Bookstore Diaries by Susan Mallery
  • A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne (Tomes & Tea #2)
  • Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne (Tomes & Tea #3)
  • Alchemy and a Cup of Tea by Rebecca Thorne (Tomes & Tea #4)

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 190 books on my TBR. Of these, 8 are nonfiction and 182 are fiction.
  • I have read 13 books so far in 2026. My goal is 100, so I am a little bit behind.
  • I have not finished any nonfiction books so far in 2026. My goal is 6.
  • I ended my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I read 15 books and had 1 DNF during the time I had KU.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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What I’m Reading – February 2026

What I’m Reading Now

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Cerulean Chronicles #1) – I have seen this book around a lot and decided to give it a try.

How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy by Terran Williams – Good book but pretty dry. I keep avoiding going back to it, so I may have to skim the rest.

What I Recently Finished

  • The Cyprian by Mercedes Lackey (Elemental Masters #18)
  • Christmas Wedding at Bella Beach by Kate Wentworth (Bella Beach #8)
  • The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms
  • Never Meant to Stay by Trisha Das
  • The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Dandelion and the Thistle by Pip Dolyn
  • Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon (The Deed of Paksenarrion #1)
  • Butterfly Inn by Kate Wentworth (Butterfly Lane #1)

What I Added to my TBR

  • Driving with the Top Down by Beth Harbison
  • Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin
  • Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
  • Fury in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #63)
  • The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
  • Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
  • Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber
  • Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
  • Book Club at Butterfly Inn by Kate Wentworth (Butterfly Lane #2)
  • Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon (The Deed of Paksenarrion #2)
  • Oath of Gold by Elizabeth Moon (The Deed of Paksenarrion #3)
  • Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
  • This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer by Kay Mills

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 184 books on my TBR. Of these, 7 are nonfiction and 177 are fiction.
  • I have read 8 books so far in 2026. My goal is 100.
  • I have not finished any nonfiction books so far in 2026. My goal is 6.
  • I am still on my 3-month free trial of Kindle Unlimited. I have read 12 books on KU so far and have 2 currently borrowed. I only have 1 more book planned to borrow, so I should be able to cancel before the free trial is over.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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Week in Review: January 18, 2026

This has been a pretty quiet week. I had a Zoom meeting on Monday for the autism mothers luncheon I am helping to plan again this year. The luncheon is in April, and I am in charge of registration and the handouts (the program and such). On Tuesday, I took Michael to his therapy appointment.

On Wednesday, Michael and I had dinner together and played a game. That may sound odd to highlight since we live together, but we are both very independent people who get absorbed in our own pursuits and we also eat completely different things most of the time. We recently decided to work on spending more time together.

The game we played was called Hive. I had gotten it for Christmas for us a year ago, but we had never played it. It was quite easy to learn and was a lot of fun. The goal of the game is to surround the other player’s Queen Bee, and each of the bugs has a different rule for how they move. It was close, but I did manage to win (you can’t see his Queen Bee in the photo because his beetle is on top of her.)

Later in the week, I received a pair of headphones from my workplace. Evidently one of our suppliers had sent them for all of us, so my boss mailed a pair to my place. They are very nice and were a great surprise!

At church, my pastor has been preaching a series called Beloved Community. The first week was about Howard Thurman, and the second week was about Fannie Lou Hamer. This weekend was about MLK. There was a short play about him and then a conversation with the leaders of our justice team. After the first sermon, I asked the pastor what book of Thurman’s to start with and he immediately suggested Jesus and the Disinherited. The second week, he gave a book recommendation during the sermon – This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer by Kay Mills. I have added both to my TBR.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

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What I’m Reading – January 2026

What I’m Reading Now

The Cyprian by Mercedes Lackey – Elemental Masters #18 – I have been a fan of hers since she started writing almost 40 years ago and am so thankful she is still writing books!

The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms – I am working my way through her backlist, so this one is up next!

What I Recently Finished

Fiction

  • Goblins & Greatcoats by Travis Baldree – Legends & Lattes #0.6 (short story)
  • Get Lucky by Katherine Center
  • The Bright Side of Going Dark by Kelly Harms
  • Wherever the Wind Takes Us by Kelly Harms
  • Catch Us When We Fall by Juliette Fay
  • The Half of It by Juliette Fay
  • The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
  • Feeling the Fireworks: Starting Over in Devon by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #3)
  • The Best Christmas Ever: A Wedding in Devon Novella by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #4)
  • Trouble in Tartan: True Love in Devon by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #5)
  • Summer of Sunshine: Missing Devon Novella by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #6)
  • Healing the Heartbreak: Moving on in Devon by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #7)
  • Dancing Till Dawn: First Love in Devon by Rebecca Paulinyi (South West #8)

Nonfiction

  • Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table by Brandan J. Robertson

What I Added to my TBR

  • An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward
  • This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
  • The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 179 books on my TBR. Of those, 6 are nonfiction and 173 are fiction.
  • At the end of June, I created a focused reading list of 25 books I wanted to read by the end of the year. I have completed that list with 24 read and 1 DNF.
  • I read 126 books in 2025 (my goal was 75).
  • My nonfiction goal for 2025 was 12, which I achieved.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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Ten Before the End Update

A few weeks ago I posted a list of 10 books that I wanted to read before the end of the year. I am very happy to say that I was able to complete the entire list!!

It was touch and go for a minute because when I put The Seven Year Slip on hold, it had a several month wait. But it finally started moving and I was eventually able to borrow it this month.

Here are the books from my Ten Before the End list:

  • Funny Story by Emily Henry
  • The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont
  • Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
  • Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
  • A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
  • Modern Persuasion by Sara Marks
  • Loveless by Alice Oseman
  • The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  • What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
  • The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

This was a fun little challenge!

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What I’m Reading – December 2025

What I’m Reading Now

The Bright Side of Going Dark by Kelly Harms – This is a novel focused on the place of social media in our lives. It is okay so far.

Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table by Brandan Robertson – This book has given me a lot to think about. It goes beyond the regular discussion of Bible passages that have been used to condemn the LGBTQ community and covers some really interesting topics.

What I Recently Finished

Fiction

  • The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  • What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama
  • Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #2)
  • The Library by Bella Osborne
  • 3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years by John Scalzi (short story)
  • The Toy Car by Rose Tremain (short story)

Nonfiction

  • Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop: A Memoir by Alba Donati

What I Added to my TBR

  • In the Paris Fashion by Sophie Beaumont
  • Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #41)
  • Revenge Prey by John Sandford (Lucas Davenport #36)
  • The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer
  • Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer
  • Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer
  • Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer
  • The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods
  • Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott
  • The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
  • Now That I Know You by Heart by Amy Hagstrom
  • Goblins & Greatcoats by Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes #1.5)
  • Not Quite Done with Dating by Bella Osborne
  • You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd
  • The Shippers by Katherine Center
  • Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell
  • A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber
  • The Phoebe Variations by Jane Hamilton

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 186 books on my TBR. Of those, 6 are nonfiction and 180 are fiction.
  • At the end of June, I created a focused reading list of 25 books I would like to read by the end of the year. So far, I have read 23 of those books. One was a DNF, and the last one is still on hold with Libby, so I’m hoping it will be available in time.
  • I have read 113 books this year (my goal was 75).
  • My nonfiction goal is 1 per month, which I have met so far with a total of 11.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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What I’m Reading – November 2025

What I’m Reading Now

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods – I’m still in the early chapters of this novel, but it weaves together the past and the present with a touch of magical realism. I’m enjoying it so far.

What I Recently Finished

  • Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand – Paradise #3
  • Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout – Amgash #5
  • Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
  • A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
  • This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
  • Modern Persuasion by Sara Marks – 21st Century Austen #1
  • Woodworking by Emily St. James
  • Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare – The Infernal Devices #2
  • Loveless by Alice Oseman

What I Added to my TBR

  • The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams
  • In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams – When in Rome #4
  • A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss
  • Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss
  • Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
  • I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
  • A Secret Garden in Paris by Sophie Beaumont
  • The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers
  • The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev
  • The Wedding Setup by Sonali Dev
  • How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
  • Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  • Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley
  • Vanyel and Vixen by Mercedes Lackey
  • Love and War in Woodhouse Hall by Sara Marks – 21st Century Austen #3
  • Love From Northanger Parks, Katie by Sara Marks – 21st Century Austen #4
  • Unraveling Carrie Woodhouse by Sara Marks – 21 Century Austen #5
  • Sweeten Up Ginny Darcy by Sara Marks – 21st Century Austen #6
  • Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon – The Deed of Paksenarrion #1
  • Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
  • Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay
  • The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
  • A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay
  • The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • 3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years by John Scalzi
  • The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 179 books on my TBR. Of those, 9 are nonfiction and 170 are fiction.
  • At the end of June, I created a focused reading list of 25 books I would like to read by the end of the year. So far, I have read 21 of those books.
  • I have read 105 books this year (my goal was 75).
  • My nonfiction goal is 1 per month, which I have met so far with a total of 10.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:
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What I’m Reading – October 2025

What I’m Reading Now

Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand – this is #3 in her Paradise trilogy. It’s not my favorite series but I do want to finish it.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare – I was reading this at the beginning of last month too, and I haven’t made much progress. I am not super invested in it and it is a physical book, both of which make me less likely to pick it up and read.

What I Recently Finished

Fiction

  • Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – Emily Wilde #1
  • How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
  • Framed in Death by J.D. Robb – In Death #61
  • Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett – Emily Wilde #2
  • Funny Story by Emily Henry
  • The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont

Nonfiction

  • Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood by Kate Swenson, Adrian Wood, and Carrie Cariello

What I Added to my TBR

  • This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
  • Christmas Island by Natalie Normann – Verry Hygge Holiday #2
  • The Life She Could Have Lived by Laura Pearson
  • Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett – Emily Wilde #3

TBR Stats/Updates

  • I currently have 160 books on my TBR. Of those, 9 are nonfiction and 151 are fiction.
  • At the end of June, I created a focused reading list of 25 books I would like to read by the end of the year. So far, I have read 15 of those books.
  • I have read 96 books this year (my goal was 75).
  • My nonfiction goal is 1 per month, which I have met so far with a total of 10.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph: