It’s our first Whatcha Reading of the new year. Here’s how we’re kicking off 2026:
Lara: In a move that is surprising to no one in my life, I have just reread Heated Rivalry ( A | BN | K | AB ) and I’m toying with reading The Long Game again next, but I might need to try chill on the Ilya/Shane action because I’ve been plotting ways to make Ilya and Shane merch here in South Africa, so … perhaps time to switch gears and read something different. Anyone else find themselves very into this series?
Sarah: I am reading Trailbreaker by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare, ( A | BN ) book two in the Prairie Nightingale series – or, I’m about to start it. I had a ball reading the last one, so I’m very excited.
I just DNFd a book that I really wanted to like, and had to tell myself the slog was enough so I’m really excited to start something new
Elyse: I just finished Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s this wonderfully soothing read about how she lived in the country during lockdown and raised a baby hare that was abandoned with the intent of releasing into the wild. In turn the hare helped her realize that the pace of her life was causing her miss out on the present moment and helped her reconnect to nature.
Her writing is so gentle and evocative that it kind of puts you in a little trance.
Whatcha reading? Tell us in the comments!
Midge this is one of my all time favorite romances and I am so, so happy you liked it!
@JT Alexis: Definitely neither of the leads are large enough to be hockey players! But the show is, IMO, better than the book. Russians I follow on tumblr are much happier with it, too.
@DiscoDollyDeb I admit, that is not a favourite trope of mine. But then Walker has such a great variety of books!
Because of a recent reminder of a 2025 squee review, I inhaled both SAVOR IT and LEFT OF FOREVER by Tarah DeWitt. All the feels, every single one and worth the Bed Decisions Book Club medal.
Other great choices: GOOD SPIRITS by B.K. Borison; SHUTTER by Ramona Emerson; THE FERRYMAN by Justin Cronin; THE LOOK by Michelle Obama; and DREADFUL by Caitlin Rozakis.
Thank you to all the authors and reviewers who are getting me through these first days of 2026. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
@vinelupul, I’m glad you mentioned the size of the HR actors because I had the same thought.
@ C
Thanks so much! I’m positive I wouldn’t like any of your listed books more than your descriptions!
Glad to see other Moniquil Blackgoose fans – I loved that book.
Didn’t get through nearly as much reading as most of you, but liked TKingfisher’s HEMLOCK AND SILVER very much. As usual for her, the heroine isn’t Your Ordinary Girl and the story takes some hairpin turns as it gathers speed. Think I need to read it again to be sure I understood it right way up.
Reread Naomi Novik’s novella THE SUMMER WAR because I loved it so much. Wonderful story about both family and love. In contrast to the outside world, the lovely thing here is the efforts of every member of a broken family to find ways to heal and help each other.
Not romance at all, but received the new edition of Martin & Parker’s mighty time, Armada as a very welcome gift. Such a big book that readers can mine it for things that interest them. In my case it’s the politics and personalities involved (not all the stats on the ships). Writing is very lively and sucks the reader right into the narrative. That said, I haven’t got to the bits about the wrecks, etc.
@Cleo and @vinelupul- thank you. I am intrigued and will definitely check it out.
I binged Ashley Weaver’s Electra McDonnell series over the holidays and am very happy with the conclusion in the final book, ONE FINAL TURN. It’s romantic mystery set in England during WWII — a safecracker and her Military Intelligence handler but there’s also a great extended family.
I also read THE RETIRED ASSASSIN’S GUIDE TO GARDENING by Naomi Kuttner. A retired MI6 agent moves to New Zealand and gets caught up in a murder mystery with paranormal elements. There’s a lot of buildup, but it wasn’t boring buildup. And I really like the platonic relationships among the characters.
After author Kerry Greenwood’s death last year, I realized I hadn’t read the last few Phryne Fisher books. They’re all fun mysteries set in 1920s Australia, but I think I liked MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL the most of these new ones.
Thanks to everyone for their recommendations. Always love to add to my teetering TBR!
@msb Thanks! Being on vacation for the winter holidays definitely helped me get some extra reading time in. And I always love hearing what everyone else is up to.
@Drewbird My friend introduced me to Emma M. Lyon earlier this year and it’s such a lovely world to just sink into. We’re supposed to get Vol. 9 this year, but no idea when.
My copy of Bonkbusters, the new academic look at women’s pop fiction in the 1980s (Judith Krantz, Jackie Collins et al) just arrived and it is so exciting for the books of my youth to be taken seriously at last! I think the authors, Dr Amy Burge and Jodi McAlister would be amazing on your podcast because great topic and fin accents