Books #40

[Chocolategoggler]

My tbr is when I transfer books I want to order from the library to a tbr list.
This is usually enforced by the headmistress voice in my head when I've got on her last nerve.
She has successfully stopped me from buying from The Works (much).
I can feel her limbering up to tell me to get rid of 10% of the books in my house - and that's her being kind!

 

[Viewfinder]

I have a Want To Read list, which is currently 355 books long. My actual TBR is made up of no more than 10 books that I plan on reading imminently. This is made up of books from the other list, and library books that I have reserved.

 

[emmer_moans]

My tbr is when I transfer books I want to order from the library to a tbr list.
This is usually enforced by the headmistress voice in my head when I've got on her last nerve.
She has successfully stopped me from buying from The Works (much).
I can feel her limbering up to tell me to get rid of 10% of the books in my house - and that's her being kind!

I was just telling my husband this morning that I have a 'headmistress' voice in my head telling me off, often Glad I'm not alone in that 🫂
'She's' given me a right b*ll*cking about my Christmas spending and now I have a 4 week wait until payday

I'm not buying anymore books this month.

 

[Merpedy]

I'm reading Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu

I'm enjoying it however the way he writes about women is very off putting. The narrator is also a teacher so there are a number of references to students and even those are a bit questionable

I did some googling to see whether others felt similar and found a discussion on how it's a lot more acceptable in international fiction - someone mentioned French fiction also as an example - which I thought was interesting

 

[Jellycat369]

Finished Nesting, thanks to those who recommended it. I wouldn't say it was enjoyable but the story was captivating and I sped through it.

New book is Bunny by Mona Awad. Read the first chapter and I'm not convinced, will stick with it for a bit though.

 

[Pinkii]

First book of 2026 has been a disappointment.

Read Heart the lover by lily king- starts off good, but the sudden time jump didnt help the story build up

Spoiler: spoiler those who may want to read

The main character was insufferable as were the other 2 tbh, jordan has a whole a family of her own, with a child practically dying but she is obsessing over a a guy she few month romance she had in her college days?

there was no growth to the characters, was hard to connect with any of them when it had the massive time jumps

1 star from Me

 

[CommentBelow]

2025 READING ROUND UP

What was your favourite fiction read of this year?
I can’t decide between..
My Friends, When the Cranes Fly South, Will of the Many, Assassin’s Apprentice, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

What was your favourite non-fiction read of this year?
Story of a Heart

What book/s surprised you good or bad?

Good - Spark of the Everflame (was wary about hype but really enjoyed it), and My Brilliant Friend, after hating Lying Life of Adults I was apprehensive to the point I wasn’t sure why I was bothering to read it but was surprisingly captivated

Bad - Caraval and Uncharmed, meh

If you rate books what was your average rating and/or sum up your year of reading?

Goodreads tells me my average rating is 4
StoryGraph says 4.19

Have you pre-ordered any books for 2026 yet / which books are you most looking forward to being released?
Too many.. looking forward to Homeseeking (paperback), People in Love, California Gold

Do you have a list of books you are aiming to read next year or do you have any reading goals for the year ahead?
Working on a physical 26 in 2026 pile to focus on what I want to read most. I’ve set my goal to 75 (same goal as this year, actually read 94 so will probably end up trying to equal/beat this. Having said that would prefer to focus on pages read as still have some chunky books high on my TBR, planning to ignore other stats such as average days taken to complete (2025 was 5 days). Interesting to know but have found myself becoming too focused on it.

Another attempt to decrease my TBR (as in unread owned books), failed massively this year and increased by ~60.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I want to try and get into reading this year. I just bought 5 if the Kristin Hannah books does anyone recommend which I should start with (I can buy another if I don't have it)

 

[KerGlr5]

Finished Nesting, thanks to those who recommended it. I wouldn't say it was enjoyable but the story was captivating and I sped through it.

New book is Bunny by Mona Awad. Read the first chapter and I'm not convinced, will stick with it for a bit though.

I think Bunny was one of, if not the worst book I read last year!

 

[anniemouse]

I want to try and get into reading this year. I just bought 5 if the Kristin Hannah books does anyone recommend which I should start with (I can buy another if I don't have it)

The only one ive read so far is The Nightingale but I loved it

 

[Lola123]

I want to try and get into reading this year. I just bought 5 if the Kristin Hannah books does anyone recommend which I should start with (I can buy another if I don't have it)

The four winds was bad!

 

[Pinkii]

I want to try and get into reading this year. I just bought 5 if the Kristin Hannah books does anyone recommend which I should start with (I can buy another if I don't have it)

the nightingale for sure.

Four Winds was a good read but very depressing, and The great alone and firefly lane are ok.

 

[CommentBelow]

I want to try and get into reading this year. I just bought 5 if the Kristin Hannah books does anyone recommend which I should start with (I can buy another if I don't have it)

I’ve read and would recommend -
The Nightingale
The Women
The Great Alone

Hope you have a great reading year!

 

[wishiniwasskinny]

I’m currently reading Atmosphere as my first book of the year and I am FLYING THROUGH IT. Excuse the sort of pun. I am enjoying it so much I will finish it very quickly.
Definitely plan to read more TJR after this. I’ve only read The 7 Husbands prior to this and it was some time ago.

 

[ordinaryjelly]

The Nightingale. Seems to be a resounding yes from us all!

Then I would say:

The Women
The Great Alone.

So I am basically @CommentBelow

 

[Hannahebee]

I am currently reading this and so far so good

 

[Pinkii]

I’m currently reading Atmosphere as my first book of the year and I am FLYING THROUGH IT. Excuse the sort of pun. I am enjoying it so much I will finish it very quickly.
Definitely plan to read more TJR after this. I’ve only read The 7 Husbands prior to this and it was some time ago.

one of my fave books last year! I absolutely loved it.

enjoy the ride if you’re an audio book fan I really recommend the audio version too. It really brings the story to life.

My second book of the year has fortunately been more promising than writers and lovers

finished reading A River in darkness- a true story of a man’s escape from North Korea. I was hooked, its a heartbreaking story. Would definitely recommend if you have interest in North Korea etc

 

[SaintLeo]

I finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy this morning and think it’s safe to say things can only get more cheerful from now on in 2026!

I knew it was bleak and dystopian going in, but wow! It’s a beautifully written book and I understand why it’s so critically acclaimed but plot wise it’s brutal. Definitely need a more lighthearted palate cleanser next.

 

[OwlHen]

I’ve enjoyed curling up in bed or by the fire with a book so much over the festive break. I’ve even got Mr Owl into it, yesterday he said “can’t you leave me alone to read” in a strange role reversal

 

[Ivegone]

Why is it when characters have sex for the first time the rest of the book is just them doing it the entire time