What I’m Reading – August 2026

What I’m Reading Now

Common Goal by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #4) – I am flying through this series of hockey romances.

What I Recently Finished

  • The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance by Jemar Tisby
  • Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (For the Love of Austen #2)
  • Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (For the Love of Austen #3)
  • Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley
  • A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber
  • Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin
  • One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
  • Game Changer by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #1)
  • Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #2)
  • Tough Guy by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #3)
  • Halloween with Ilya by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #2.4) – short story
  • My Dinner with Hayden by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #2.5) – short story
  • Merry Christmas, Scott & Kip by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #1.5) – short story

What I Added to my TBR

  • Role Model by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #5)
  • The Long Game by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #6)
  • Unrivaled by Rachel Reid (Game Changers #7)
  • Time to Shine by Rachel Reid
  • The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid
  • The Day Our Lives Collided by Laura Pearson
  • Romancing Mr. Tilney by Sara Marks (21st Century Austen #7)
  • I Still Love You by Sara Marks (21st Century Austen #8)

TBR Stats/Goal Updates

  • I currently have 174 books on my TBR. Of these, 9 are nonfiction and 165 are fiction.
  • I have read 49 books so far in 2026. I had reset my goal for the year from 100 to 50, so I am almost there!
  • I have finished 1 nonfiction book so far this year. My goal is 6.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:

What I’m Reading – July 2026

What I’m Reading Now

Elizabeth of East Hampton by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (For the Love of Austen #2) – I really enjoyed their first book, which was a retelling of Emma. This one is a retelling of Pride & Prejudice, and I like it so far.

What I Recently Finished

  • The Midnight Train by Matt Haig (The Midnight World #2)
  • The Final Target by Nora Roberts
  • The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
  • Summer Island by Natalie Normann (Very Hygge Holiday #1)
  • Christmas Island by Natalie Normann (Very Hygge Holiday #2)

What I Added to my TBR

  • Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
  • Never Worry About Money Again: By Answering One Question by Jesse Mecham
  • Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy

TBR Stats/Goal Updates

  • I currently have 174 books on my TBR. Of these, 10 are nonfiction and 164 are fiction.
  • I have read 36 books so far in 2026. My original goal was 100, but there is no way I am reaching that at this point, so I have changed it to 50. My reading ebbs and flows depending on my mood and circumstances, so I’m fine with making that change.
  • I have not finished any nonfiction books so far in 2026. My goal is 6.
  • Here are some more stats from StoryGraph:

What I’m Reading – June 2026

What I’m Reading Now

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig (The Midnight World #2) – This is billed as a magical, time-traveling love story from the world of The Midnight Library (which I loved).

What I Recently Finished

  • Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev
  • The Wedding Setup by Sonali Dev (short story)
  • In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams (Rome Kentucky #4)
  • Lift Me Up by Milly Johnson (short story)
  • Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #41)
  • The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster
  • Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza (For the Love of Austen #1)

What I Added to my TBR

  • A Wind Turned Dark with Burning by Mercedes Lackey (Elemental Masters #19)
  • The General Hospital by Anne Buist (Menzies Mental Health #3)
  • The Slow Cooker Supper Club by Sue Heath
  • A Bookshop Summer by Stephanie Butland
  • Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh
  • Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Lee Piper
  • The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez (Librarians in Love #1)
  • Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez (Librarians in Love #2)

TBR Stats/Goal Updates

  • I currently have 177 books on my TBR. Of these, 8 are nonfiction and 169 are fiction.
  • I have read 31 books so far in 2026. My goal is 100, so I still a bit behind. It’s okay if I don’t meet my goal, though. My reading ebbs and flows depending on my mood and circumstances.
  • 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:

What I’m Reading – May 2026

What I’m Reading Now

Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev – I have enjoyed several books by this author. This one is pretty good so far. It does have a dual timeline, and I am still trying to put together how the story from the past fits in with the present events. I have a vague idea but it hasn’t been revealed yet.

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. Update: I am still on the waiting list for this one!

What I Recently Finished

  • Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra (The March Sisters #1)
  • Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra (The March Sisters #2)
  • Revenge Prey by John Sandford (Lucas Davenport #36)
  • Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams (When in Rome #3)
  • Lessons at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan (School by the Sea #3)
  • Studies at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan (School by the Sea #4)
  • Everybody’s Favorite Guy by Katherine Center (short story)

What I Added to my TBR

  • Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3)
  • The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth (The Sixth Faction #1)
  • Start at the End by Emmy Grey
  • The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
  • Pictures of You by Emma Grey

TBR Stats/Goal Updates

  • I currently have 184 books on my TBR. Of these, 8 are nonfiction and 176 are fiction.
  • I have read 24 books so far in 2026. My goal is 100, so I am 8 books behind. It’s okay if I don’t meet my goal, though. My reading ebbs and flows depending on my mood and circumstances.
  • 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:

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:

“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)

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:

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:

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!

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: