Top Ten Books I Want in 2026

Captivating Character of the Month Meme

I am going to begin participating in this meme regularly.  I just heard about it this morning and think that the meme is a great idea for book bloggers,  In the past I have participated in the Can't Wait Wednesday and Stacking the Shelves meme but not consistently. I am going to make an attempt to participate in these two memes more often. It is a nice break from all of the book reviews that I post. 

How the Meme Works:

On the last Friday of the month, Carol@ Reading Ladies will write a post about her most captivating character of the month and create a Link Party on that post. This link party will stay active for 30 days.

Captivating Character Link Up Details:

1. You can use fictional or real characters/persons.
2. Link up a review that specifically highlights a captivating character or person, or write a post dedicated to your most captivating character or person of the month.
3. Please include a link back to Carol’s monthly post.
4. Be kind: visit one other post in the link-up and leave a comment.
5. Use the hashtag:  #CaptivatingCharacters25

From what I have seen of other blogs, these posts should have the following questions answered:

1. Name of Captivating Character
2.  The reason she is captivating: 
3. Book and Author
4. Publication Date
5. Name of Publisher
6. Genre/Categories/Setting
7. Mood
8. Content Considerations, ie, domestic violence etc...

This is a cool meme. Why don't you join me in participating in 2026?

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge

I just heard about this challenge a few moments ago and signed up. The Blogging About Books blog is hosting this challenge once again in 2026 with 50 new prompts. I am signing up at Level 3 which requires me to read 21 to 30 books with covers that meet the prompts shown below. I think this will be a fun challenge.

Rules: 

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

2. Since this isn't a competition and we're just playing for fun, not prizes or even acclaim, books of any length count (as long as they fit one of the prompts). All genres and formats are allowed. 

3. Don't overthink or stress out about the prompts. If a book fits-ish a prompt, that's totally fine, but a book should only be used once.

4. 50 prompts can be overwhelming, so let's break it down:

Level One: 1-10 books

Level Two: 11-20 books

Level Three: 21-30 books

Level Four: 31-40 books

Level Five: 41-50 books

You can sign up at any level you'd like and even change levels mid-challenge if you need to.

5. Reviews aren't required, but I always like to get suggestions for prompts and for good reads. Feel free to post links to your reviews throughout the year in the comments on the challenge post.

Here are the prompts... 

Read a book with a cover that includes:

1. a scene you would like to step into for a day

2. the word "house" or "home" in the title

3. your favorite food or drink 

4. a subtitle

5. a chalkboard

6. an animal that is often ridden by humans (horse, mule, camel, etc.)

7. a mythical creature (unicorn, dragon, centaur, etc.)

8. someone holding food or a drink in their hand(s)

9. a compound word in the title or author's name (the compound word needs to be made up of two real words, but the resulting word does not have to be a real word, like buttermore, Shellman, etc.)

10. someone in a uniform of some kind

11. the author's picture on the front cover

12. something a chef might use (apron, toque, spatula, pots and pans, etc.)

13. the name of a flower in the title or author's name

14. an adverb in the title

15. a car's headlights shining in the darkness

16. ice in some form ("ice" in the title, ice cubes, frozen pond/rink, glaciers, etc.)

17. a timepiece

18. a palindrome in the title or author's name

19. the name of a bird in the title

20. a title that does not include the words "and" or "the"

21. a bridge

22. a title word or author's name you don't know how to pronounce correctly

23. a mug or teacup

24. a bell of some kind (doorbell, jingle bells, cowbell, etc.)

25. something you might see in a house of worship (stained glass windows, scriptures, cross, menorah, priest, etc.)

26. something you associate with pirates (Jolly Roger, eyepatch, parrot, etc.)

27. someone with facial hair

28. an adjective that is often used to describe the weather (stormy, sunny, windy, cloudy, etc. in the title or author's name 

29. a watercraft

30. something you might use for a home improvement project (tools, paint, nails, etc.)

31. someone reading 

32. a word from the military alphabet in the title (https://militaryalphabet.net/)

33. at least one person using a medical or mobility device (wheelchair, cane, hearing aids, insulin pump, etc.)

34. an honorific in the title or author's name (Miss, Mrs., Doctor., Your Highness, etc.)

35. a telephone (rotary or cell) or a telephone booth

36. someone who is barefoot

37. an alliterative title (A Christmas Carol, Legacy of Lies, Forever Friends, etc.)

38. punctuation of some sort in the title

39. somewhere you could happily sit and read all day

40. an X, Y, or Z in the author's name

41. an umbrella

42. a computer

43. a title or cover art with the name of a road or street (Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark, etc.)

44. minimal cover art/design

45. someone with red hair

46. one of the weapons from the board game Clue (candlestick, dagger/knife, lead pipe, rope, revolver/pistol, wrench)

47. one or more balloons

48. a creepy old house or building

49. someone with painted fingernails or toenails

50. a noun in the author's name (Amanda Flower, Cherie Priest, Stephen King, etc.)

If you'd like a printable version of the prompts, here it is:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14l3U9PNB6HrzlKoT4SV6EQh5VnpjsAaVIb8VERYkdt8/edit?usp=sharing

Wrap Up of the Graphic Novel and Manga Reading Challenge

The Graphic Novel/ Manga Challenge is another favorite challenge of mine. When I signed up I could not pick a level of participation, wavering between reading 24 or 52 books.  In the end I read 30 novels. There isn't an annual sign up for the challenge anymore. Participants  just continue to post our reviews every year in the Facebook group site. 

The following are links to my reviews for 2025. 

Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen

Sliced by Rafael Scavone

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

White Widow by Sarah Gailey

War on Gaza by Joe Sacco

Sacred Heart by Liz Suburbia

Budding Crisis #1 by MK Reed 

Dumb by Georgia Webber

Sugar Shack by Lucy Kindly

Black is the Color by Julia Gfrorer

Delver, Season One by Spike Trotman

40 Seconds by Jeremy Haun

Adora and the Distance by Marc Bernardin

Bad Mother by Christa Faust

Ms. Tree #1 by Max Allan Collins

Ms. Tree #2 by Max Allan Collins

Ms. Tree #3 by Max Allan Collins

The Dark by Mark Sable

Endless by Curt Pires

Alienated #1 by Taki Soma

Shang Chi by Gene Luen Yang

Spent by Alison Bechdel

Feral Volume 1 by Fleecs

Brownstone by Samual Teer

Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls

Muybridge by Guy DeLisle

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen

The Holy Roller by Andy Samburg

Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson

Profane by Peter Mulligan

The Strange Tale of Oscar Zahn by Tai Vuong

Zodiac by Ai Weiwei

Favorite Book:  Ginseng Roots: A Memoir

Second Favorite Book:  Dumb

Least Favorite Book: Zodiac

Wrap Up of 2025 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge Author Edition

I came close to completing this challenge. Book titles beginning with the letters F, I, O, Q, R  U, X and Z were not read although I already have those books in my stash. Time ran out on me so I will read them next year. Links to the book reviews for the 18 that I read can be found below.

A:  Tudor Alexander, The Last Patient 

B:  Jennifer Beckstrand, The Amish Quiltmaker's Unconventional Niece 

C:  Lucy Connelly, An Irish Bookshop Murder 

D:  Fiona Davis, The Stolen Queen 

E:  Percival Everett, James (not reviewed because I didn't like the book)

G:  CW Gortner, The Saint Laurent Muse 

H:  Emilia Hart, The Sirens 

J:  Barry Jeffries, The Lindens

K:  Erica Katz, Fake

L:  Adrienne Leigh, The Guests

M:  Gary McAvoy, The Petrus Prophecy 

N:  Harini Nagendra, Into the Leopard's Den 

P:  Helen Phifer, The Vanishing Bookstore 

S:  Peter Swanson, Kill Your Darlings 

T:  Eve Tarrington, Two Spinsters and a Madman 

V:  Tim Van Es, The Chaiwallah

W:  Tim Wildsmith, Bible Translations for Everyone 

Y:  Jane Yang, The Lotus Shoes

Favorite Book:  Fake

Second Favorite Book: The Stolen Queen

Least Favorite Book:  James

Wrap Up of 2025 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

I came close to completing this challenge. Book titles beginning with the letters C, J, Q, T, U, X, Y, and Z were not read although I already have those books in my stash. Time ran out on me. I will read them next year. Links to the book reviews for the 18 books that I read can be found below.

A:  The Amish Quiltmaker's Unruly In-Law by Jennifer Beckstrand 

B:  Black is the Color by Julia Gofrorer

D:  Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly 

E:  Edge of Honor by Brad Thor 

F:  First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 

G:  Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson

H:  High Tea and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs 

I:   An Inside Job by Dan Silva 

K:  The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morrelli

L:  The Lindens by Barney Jeffries 

M: The Medici Return by Steve Berry 

N:  No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle 

O:  Old Habits Die Hard by Melissa Westemeier 

P:  The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin by J Michael Orenduff 

R:  Rising Sun Falling Rain by Trish Devine

S:  Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley 

V:  The Verifiers by Jan Pek 

W: The World's Fair Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini 

Favorite Book:  Ginseng Roots

Second Favorite Book:  The Keeper of Lost Art

Least Favorite Book:  Rising Sun Falling Rain

Wrap Up of 2025 New Release Reading Challenge

The New Release Challenge is an easy challenge for me as most of the books that I read are new releasees.  When I signed up a year ago I selected the New Release Veteran level of participation which required me to read 61 - 100 books. My talley for the year was just 51 books though so I missed my goal. Oh well. Better luck next year. Below is a list of the books that I read as well as links to their respective reviews.

The Saint Laurent Muse by CW Gortner

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer

The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin by J Michael Orenduff

The Medici Return by Steve Berry

Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley

High Tea and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs

The Bard's Trail by Andy Regan

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda Brunstetter

The Amish Ballerina by Richelle Brunstetter

The Peacemaker by Wanda Brunstetter

Rising Sun Falling Rain by Trish Devine

Two Spinsters and a Madman by Eve Tarrington

War on Gaza by Joe Sacco

No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Old Habits Die Hard by Melissa Westemeier 

The Chaiwallah by Tim Van Es

The Versailles Formula by Nancy Bilyeau

Knife Skills for the Beginner by Orlando Murrin

The Lost Girls by JM Cannon

The World's Fair Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

The List by Steve Berry

The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli

Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshii

Lincoln's Lady Spymaster by Gerri Willis

Spent by Alison Bechtel

Entitled by Andrew Lonnie

Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold

Bad Lands by Preston and Child

Into the Leopard's Den by Harini Nagendra

The Crash by Freida McFadden

The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Part of the Solution by Elana Michelson

Edge of Honor by Brad Thor

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

The Last Patient by Tudor Alexander

All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash

The Christmas House by Beverly Lewis

Muybridge by Guy DeLisle

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson

An Inside Job by Dan Silva

Pain Killers: A Year in the ER by Rachel Callaghan

The Master Jeweler by Reina Dai Randel

The Pretender by Wanda Brunstetter

The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Baker of Lost Memories by Shirley Wachtel

Deeds Left Undone by Ellen Crosby

Favorite Book:  The Retirement Plan

Second Favorite Book:  The Master Jeweler

Honorable Mentions:  No Roast for the Weary,  Bad Lands, The Keeper of Lost Art and Into the Leopard's Den

Least Favorite Book:  All the Words We Know

Memoir Reading Challenge 2026

This is another challenge that I haven't participated in for awhile. I am signing up again because I have seen advertisements for memoirs that look interesting to me. I am expecting that I will only read the minimum 5 memoirs to finish the challenge. There are 34 categories of memoirs listed below. This challenge is hosted by Jamie at the Whatever I Think Of blog.

Rules:

1. To participate, you must read a minimum of five memoirs from any of the categories listed. One book can only count for one category. 

2. Re-reads are acceptable. 

3. All book formats count. 

4. Books must be read on or after January 1, 2026 to count.

5. Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026.

6. Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating. 

7. Books must be labeled as memoirs to count. 

8. You do not need a blog to sign up. You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge. Or sign up on Youtube, Facebook, X, or Bluesky. Sign up below in the comments of the challenge post.

Here are the categories:

Mental Illness Memoir: 

Other Illness Memoir:

Political Memoir:  

Food Memoir: 

Animal Memoir: 

Music Memoir: 

Travel Memoir:

Written by a person of color: 

Written by a woman: 

Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA: 

Written by an actor or a comedian: 

Written by an author or journalist: 

Written by any other celebrity:

Written by someone under 40: 

Written by someone over 40: 

Written by someone from a country different from your own: 

 One you find thought-provoking: 

 Made into a movie: 

 Graphic novel memoir: 

 Bestselling memoir: 

 Humorous memoir: 

 Fictional memoir: 

 In translation:

 Won an award: 

 Published in 2026: 

 Published in 2025 or earlier: 

 Under 300 pages: 

 Over 300 pages: 

 One you want to re-read: 

 On a favorite topic: 

 By a favorite celebrity: 

 Free choice: 

 Free choice: 

 Free choice:

If you need reading ideas, here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Best Memoir/Autobiography

Goodreads: Memoirs by Women 

B&N 50 Essential Memoirs

2026 New Release Reading Challenge

I will be rejoining the New Release Reading Challenge in 2026. Sign-ups opened today at the Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog. Since most of the books I read in any given year are new releases this should be an easy challenge to complete. My participation level is New Release Veteran which requires me to read 61 - 100 books. 

Challenge Rules 

1) The challenge runs the calendar year from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.

2) Books must be published in 2026.

3) Books can count towards more than one challenge, meme, book-tag, or book-list.

4) The minimum length for a book to qualify is 100 pages and can be in any format such as physical, e-book, ARC or audiobook, in any genre (including graphic novels and comics), set in any era (past, present, or future), and written for any reading age group.

5) You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate, you can link to your review on Goodreads or Booklikes or anywhere that you post a review of a newly released book.

6) If you want to spread the love, please use #2026NewReleaseChallenge on any and all social media sites where you promote your reviews.

7) There is a Facebook Group for the New Release Challenge, to have a place where we can keep up with each other, cheer each other on, and get to know each other better. It is also a place where we can help each other find even more new releases. For those of you who have already participated, it’s the same group as before.

8) You can also link to your review on Goodreads or Booklikes or anywhere that you post a review of a newly released book.

9) There are five levels in the New Release Challenge:

1-30 books per year – New Release Newbie

31-60 books per year – New Release Pro

61-100 books per year – New Release Veteran (my personal goal)

101-200 books per year – New Release Enthusiast

200+ books per year – New Release Obsessed

Please consider joining the challenge with me. It's a fun way to find new books that interest you. You can sign up for the challenge here.

Wrap Up of 2025 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Most of the books that I read for this challenge are the most recent book published in several series that I have been reading for years.. However, two authors have had additional books published in their series. I signed up for the challenge a year ago agreeing to read 9 to 12 series. I ended up reading 21 books from 15 series. Please see the below links to read my reviews.

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly

High Tea and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs 

No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle

The Way of the Wicked by Mel Starr

Bad Lands by Preston and Child 

Edge of Honor by Brad Thor

Into the Leopard's Den by Harini Nagendra 

An Inside Job by Dan Silva

Deeds Left Undone by Ellen Crosby

The Pretender by Wanda Brunstetter 

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 

Jennifer Beckstrand

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unconventional Niece by Jennifer Beckstrand 

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unruly In-Law by Jennifer Beckstrand 

Steve Berry

The Medici Return 

The List 

Jennifer Chiaverini 

The Patchwork Players

The World's Fair Quilt

Gary McAvoy

The Petrus Prophecy

The Confessions of Pope Joan 

The Celestial Guardian 

The Apostle Conspiracy 

Favorite Book: Bad Lands

Second Favorite Book: No Roast for the Weary 

Least Favorite Book: The Patchwork Players

Wrap Up of 2025 Net Galley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

I expected to read many more books from Net Galley this year. I got bogged down with an impressive reading plan that ended up fizzling out. However, every book I read for this challenge was enjoyable.!

The Saint Laurent Muse by C.W. Gortner 

The Art Collector by Susan Bacon

Shadows of Marrakech by Phillip Brebner

Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley

The Versailles Formula by Nancy Bilyeau 

Favorite Book: Shadows of Marrakesh

Second Favorite Book: Sugar Shack  

Least Favorite Book: The Versailles Formula 

2025 Non-Fiction Reader Challenge Wrap Up

When I signed up for this challenge a year ago, I selected the Nonfiction Nosher level of participation. The Nonfiction Nosher level required me to read 12 nonfiction books. I don't read much nonfiction but I believed that I could accomplish it. Unfortunately, I only read 6 books, even though I purchased a few additional books to read. I will save them for 2026.

Bible Translations for Everyone by Tim Wildsmith 

Plan Red: China's Plan to Destroy America by Gordon Chang 

Delicious by Susan Goldman Rubin

The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe

Muybridge by Guy DeLisle

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie

Favorite Book:  Bible Translations for Everyone

Second Favorite Book:  Muybridge; graphic biography

Least Favorite Book:  The Fourth Turning; so boring!

Wrap-Up of 2025 Calendar of Crime Reading Challenge

The Calendar of Crime Reading Challenge requires participants to read one book each month from among several categories such as publication month. I was not able to finish the challenge due to several life challenges that I had to deal with. However, I was lucky to read several fantastic novels. If you wish to read reviews of the books that I read, feel free to click on the links.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Fake by Erica Katz

Two Spinsters and a Madman by Eve Tarrington

High Tea and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs 

No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

Bad Lands by Preston and Child 

Edge of Honor by Brad Thor 

Into the Leopard's Den by Harini Nagendra 

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown 

The Intruder by Freida McFadden 

Favorite Book:  The Retirement Plan: 3 wives get together and plan to kill their husbands for the insurance money. What they don't know is that their husbands are planning to kill them too. I found this plot hilarious!

Second Favorite Book:  No Roast for the Weary

Least Favorite Book:  The Fury