2026 has been a big year for me. Between the whirlwind of planning a bookshop & espresso bar and keeping up with my 9-to-5, I set my usual reading goal at 50 books. Historically, I’m binge and mood reader vibes all the way - some years I nail 100+ books and others I can barely drag myself across the finish line. But apparently, my reading brain went into overdrive because by the end of June, I have already finished 48 books!!!!
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Statistically, I can basically coast for the rest of the year, but who am I kidding? I’m on a roll! Plus, the stack next to my bed isn’t getting any smaller.
The first half of the year has been a wild ride of old school paranormal romance, left field genres I never thought I’d like, and a mountain of advanced reader copies (ARC).
Grab a cafecito and get your tbr list ready because you know I’m never sorry to add on to it, so here it goes, the 2026 mid-year recap:
Holy Grail 5-Star Reads
Grab on Amazon or listen on libro.fm 🎧
Atomic Habits by James Clear ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6-stars if it was a thing
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Mistakenly Saving the Villain Vol. 1 by Feng Yu Nie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wicked Deception by Deborah Garland ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Doomsdate by Laura Piper Lee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
The Cuddle Clause by Roxie Ray ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
The Damsel and Her Villain by Margriete Johnson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
By The Horns by Ruby Dixon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Despite Our Severed Sea by Shelby Bishop ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ALC
The Truth Teller’s Bargain by Camille Wolfewood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Solid Reads
Grab on Amazon or listen on libro.fm 🎧
You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Killing Floor by Lee Child ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Soulless by Gail Carriger ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summoned to the Wilds by A.K. Caggiano ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The House in Lindenvale Hill by Cassidy Cole ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Love Notes and Line Drives by M.L. Pennock ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Masters of Love Engineering by Krysta Pa’e ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Daddy Biker Bear by Roxie Ray ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eclipse of the Crown by A.K. Caggiano ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fake Biker Bear Boyfriend by Roxie Ray ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Best Venture by Nina Rey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Tethered by Elayna R. Gailea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC of re-release
The Valencia Expat Club by June Patrick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Guilt by Keigo Higashino ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ALC
The Gifts that Bind Us by Caroline O’Donoghue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Disappear by Virginia Trench ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
A Northern Light by Harlow Brigh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
White Rose Painted Red by Elena Lawson ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Night Game by Christine Feehan ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Of Flames & Fate by Claire Butler ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | ARC
Pleading the Fifth by Stephanie Renee ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | ARC
Mind Game by Christine Feehan ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dreams We Chase by H.K. Green ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
Ember and Ash by Lisa Renee Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore ⭐️⭐️⭐️
DNF’d
Finally, I gave myself permission to DNF these books this first half of the year. They weren’t for me, but maybe for you? 🤷🏻♀️
Black Heart Painted Gold by Blake Lawson & Elena Lawson: I read 300+ pages of the FMC still mad at one of the MMCs, and I couldn’t do it anymore. I probably could have finished it, but I was sick of her being fake mad, his real groveling, and everyone walking on eggshells around them.
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas: This was a long time coming because I picked up this book immediately after ACOWAR ended. I was so pumped to roll right into book 4 and 5, but this was a novella at best. It was 5 different POVs, and the storyline did not advance. I keep hearing how good book 5 is because of Cassian (which was a fav of mine!), but I could never get through this book to get to it. I will now.
Protector Bear by Roxie Ray: I really wanted to love the FMC, but I just never did. I found it odd how mean she was to the MMC and him just taking it was meh. They got together by mid-book, and I still couldn’t get into them.
Lost and Found by Tara Dewitt: This is my first ARC that I have DNF’d, and I felt incredibly guilty about it. Both the MCs were loveable, and the author’s writing was done well. However, there was a side character, a ghost really, that I felt deeply uncomfortable reading about and disliked. Their role was minimal in the grand scheme, but she shaped how the MCs interacted and led their lives. I couldn’t get over that powerful influence and manipulation they endured. Unfortunately, this ghost’s presence was super disturbing for me, so I had to leave it at 31%.
Brothersong by T.J. Klune: Just another one I dropped years ago and finally gave myself permission to mark as DNF.
It’s been an emotional journey of reading this year, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve found some potential lifetime favorites, survived toxic fictional ghosts, and cleared off my shelf just in time for the second half of the year. If you want check out full reviews, mostly me screaming into the void, head over to my Goodreads and Storygraph.
Now your turn: How is your 2026 reading goal looking? Did you find your next 5-star read yet, or have you had to aggressively DNF something lately? Drop your recommendations (or warnings) in the comments below.
Until next week…..keep your spaces cozy, and your reading a little unhinged.
Take care,
Your Resident (future) Bookseller
Quiet Nook Books