Mid-Year Reading Check-In

I complete this same list of questions (almost) every year, and it is a good way to check in on what's been read so far and make some plans for the rest of the year.

1. Number of books read so far this year

As of today, I’ve read 60 books.

2. Best book you've read so far in 2026

Patriot: A Memoir by Alexei Navalny is, without question, the most profoundly moving book I’ve read this year. I was not only deeply affected by Navalny’s story, but also incredibly impressed by him as a person. With most politicians, it’s easy to question their motivations—whether they are driven by power, fame, or wealth. In Navalny’s case, I came away with a very different impression. Given the course of his life, it seems clear that his primary motivation was the pursuit of justice, and he ultimately gave everything in that fight.

3. Best sequel you've read so far in 2026

Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen, the ninth installment in the Her Royal Spyness series. I love dipping into this cozy mystery series a couple of times each year, and this was one of my favorite installments so far. It was witty, charming, and thoroughly entertaining.

4. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. It’s a satirical novel about a tradwife influencer who wakes up in 1855 and is forced to live the harsh pioneer life she has only been romanticizing online. The premise sounds both hilarious and thought-provoking, and I’m really hoping to get to it this month.

5. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang. It’s described as a witty, deeply moving coming-of-age novel exploring grief, language, and culture shock against the backdrop of one unforgettable summer in Taipei. I’m very excited to see what Kuang does with a more contemporary story.

6. Biggest disappointment

Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe. It’s marketed as an enemies-to-lovers dystopian romance and has developed quite a devoted following among romantasy readers. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The experience also reinforced something I’ve been noticing lately: finding truly exceptional romance novels often means sorting through quite a few mediocre ones first.

7. Biggest surprise

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I had previously read two of Reid’s novels and thought they were perfectly fine, but neither quite lived up to the hype. Atmosphere, on the other hand, exceeded every expectation I had. It completely captivated me and will almost certainly end up on my list of favorite books of the year.

8. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Allen Levi. Theo of Golden was my first experience with his writing, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.

9. Newest favorite character

Theo from Theo of Golden. His kindness, quiet wisdom, and ability to savor every conversation and every moment of life made him one of the most memorable characters I’ve encountered in a long time.

10. Book that made you cry

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman, and Upward Bound by Woody Brown. Each one moved me in a different way, but all three left me reaching for the tissues.

11. Book that made you happy

Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen. Spending time with Lady Georgiana always feels like visiting old friends, and this installment was especially delightful.

12. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

In addition to Yesteryear, the books at the top of my TBR are Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell, The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, Whistler by Ann Patchett, and Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune. I also have an entire stack of summer romances waiting for me, and I’m hoping to read as many of them as possible before the season comes to an end.

June 2026 Reads

June was another productive reading month, with 11 books completed. The number is a little misleading, though, as several of them were quite short. Four of those books were installments in The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower. They were thoroughly entertaining, full of charm and wit, but I ultimately placed them in my "maybe" category. While I enjoyed them, I think readers looking for rigorously researched historical fiction may find them a bit too whimsical.

This month I also finally read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro for my book club. I realize this is a controversial opinion, but I didn’t love it as much as many other readers seem to. I understand what Ishiguro was trying to accomplish: the novel focuses on the quiet majority, on people who comply with a system that ultimately destroys them rather than resisting it. That is a fascinating idea in itself. However, because that is essentially the only perspective presented, the story felt somewhat one-dimensional to me. Human societies are rarely so uniform, especially when grappling with profound ethical questions like cloning. I found myself expecting at least some glimpse of dissent or resistance somewhere in the wider world, and its absence made the novel feel less convincing than I had hoped.

My two favorite books of the month—and quite possibly of the entire year—were Upward Bound by Woody Brown and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Upward Bound is written by Woody Brown, a non-speaking autistic author who communicates by typing and earned degrees from UCLA and Columbia University. The novel is composed of interconnected vignettes told from multiple perspectives, all centered around an adult day program serving people with significant intellectual and physical disabilities. It shines a light on a community that many of us rarely encounter or think about, while exposing the realities of a system that is chronically underfunded, understaffed, and responsible for supporting people whose conditions are often misunderstood or stigmatized.

Since the book's publication, there has been considerable discussion on social media questioning Brown's authorship because of his disability. Personally, I have no interest in participating in those debates. Instead, I would rather remain open-minded and hopeful that people with significant disabilities can find meaningful ways to communicate, create, and have their voices heard. Regardless of those conversations, Upward Bound is a compassionate, eye-opening novel that has stayed with me long after I finished it.

Atmosphere completely surprised me. I had previously read two novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid and thought they were enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. Atmosphere, however, is on an entirely different level. Set in the 1980s, it follows a female astronaut as she prepares for her first mission into space. I found myself deeply invested in the protagonist and her journey. Alongside the excitement of the space program, the novel weaves in a beautiful romance between two women with remarkable tenderness and authenticity. Although the book is deeply introspective, the narrative never loses momentum. The pacing is excellent, the emotional stakes continue to build, and several moments are genuinely heartbreaking. By the final page, I knew I had read something special. I absolutely loved this one.

May 2026 Reads

May was another solid reading month, with nine books completed. Rather than recap everything I read, I wanted to highlight the three books that left the biggest impression on me.

The standout of the month was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. This novel has become a favorite for many readers, and after finishing it, I can absolutely understand why. In terms of atmosphere, I would compare it to Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Both novels have a quiet, thoughtful pace, feature older protagonists, and gradually unravel long-held family secrets. If you loved one, I think there’s an excellent chance you’ll love the other. Theo of Golden is a gentle, deeply compassionate story that lingers long after you turn the final page.

Another standout was Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block. In this memoir, Block reflects on the years he spent being homeschooled—or perhaps more accurately, "unschooled"—and attempts to make sense of the lasting impact those experiences had on his life. At its heart, the book explores his complicated relationship with his mother and the well-intentioned, but often misguided, decisions she made regarding his upbringing and education. If you're a parent or simply enjoy thoughtful nonfiction that examines parent-child relationships, I highly recommend this one.

Rebecca Serle is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Magical realism is not a genre I typically gravitate toward, yet her novels consistently resonate with me on a deeper emotional level. A couple of years ago, I read and loved One Italian Summer, and this month I finally picked up In Five Years.

The novel follows Dannie, a young woman whose life seems perfectly planned—until she has a vivid dream in which she shares an intense connection with a man she has never met. The dream leaves her deeply unsettled because she has just become engaged... and not to the man from the dream. More troubling still, the emotional connection she experiences in that brief glimpse of the future feels far stronger than anything she has felt with her fiancé. But that premise is only the beginning. What unfolds is a moving exploration of destiny, friendship, love, grief, and discovering your own purpose in life. And the ending is nothing like what I expected. I absolutely loved it.