1st March book, The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. 1984 meets Handmaid’s Tale. Tackles AI, surveillance, and bias, all vital in 2026. Insightful, yet it skimps on the survivors' psychological recovery and justice. I wanted more on their re-assimilation. A powerful, if slightly unfinished, 4-star read.
Books I read in February
Stiff by Mary Roach. Rescued from my TBR, it was great! A curious researcher, who is aware of and capable of ignoring typical social norms, who doesn’t shy away from the yuck, with an exceptional sense of humor. Ha! Humerus! I loved it so much. Be an organ donor. 5 stars, no notes.
I beat #SpiderMan2 on #PS5 last night. 10/10 game. Cinematic and open world, so good. Several boss fights took multiple tries, and my hands hurt today. Now I have to figure out what I want to play next. Also, games get rated on a 10-point scale, books on a 5-star scale... I don't make the rules.
Finished my first Freida McFadden book, The Intruder. I can confidently say it won’t be my last. Not everything in the story worked for me, but overall, I enjoyed it. Best book I’ve ever read? No. But did I have a good time reading it? Absolutely. So it gets the stretch to 4 stars for a good time.
Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson. This is the first Crichton book I’ve read since maybe the mid- to late 1990’s. I think I’ve matured as a reader to the point that Crichton’s creativity and Patterson’s pacing leaves me a little unfulfilled. 3 middle of the road stars, being generous.
Finished: The Women by Kristin Hannah. Growing up in the shadow of Vietnam, this book gave me more perspective on the war’s toll. It’s an emotional journey through combat's consequences at home and abroad. Despite an idealized lead, the story is deeply moving and historically grounded. Full 5 stars.
Finished Who Is Government by Michael Lewis. Essential & fascinating. It ignores political noise to honor the Americans providing vital public services for our collective benefit. The same people who are getting canned by the current government leadership. 5 stars. I’d read a sequel in a heartbeat.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. I wanted to love this book, but Ove was just too unlikable. His "growth" felt forced by saintly neighbors rather than true change. While I enjoyed the story overall, the flat main character arc was disappointing. A generous 3 stars, mostly for Ove's neighbors.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Excellent audio narration and a hauntingly focused perspective on life in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Though the writing has weak spots, the plot gaps felt true to a prisoner’s uncertain experience. A compelling story that earns its bestseller status. 4 stars.
Through Gates of Garnet & Gold by Seanan McGuire. A solid Wayward Children entry, though not the strongest. It relies on series history, so don't start with this book 11. Great foreshadowing for what’s next, plus easter eggs. 4 stars (rounded up from 3.5) because I'm invested in the story's future.
Here are the books I read in January 2026. I recommend Project Hail Mary and The Storyteller as audiobooks. Those are a unique experience.
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick. An absolute 5-star gem. This book explores grief as "love persisting," reminding us that the pain of loss is a testament to love shared. It’s a beautiful, discovery-filled read I didn't know I was missing. Heartbreaking, healing, and essential. Highly recommend.
Finished Elsewhere by Dean Koontz. The 2016 thriller feels eerily prescient in 2026. Weaving AI, the multiverse, and shadowy government agencies, the story is fun despite some predictability. Relatable characters and a solid, self-contained plot make it a blast. 4 stars for an entertaining ride.
Finally read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It's 5 stars; ignore the Goodreads rating. The book is fantastic and fits with classic horror lit like Dracula and Frankenstein. I loved the doom and the gloom (!!!) of it, with yet another pleasantly horrific reason to stay awake at night.
Finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The audiobook is a masterpiece. It's also full of real science and math goodness, which I loved. Some predictable plot points, but that didn't detract from the story at all. 5 stars, and I am super excited to see the movie when it releases in March.
I started the audiobook of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, and #BookTok wasn’t lying… it’s fantastic! Binging in progress. Send snacks.
2 books completed so far this year, both audiobooks. The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame) was 5 stars, and I highly recommend the audiobook version. H.H. Holmes by Adam Selzner was a thorough, systematic review of the history of America's first "serial killer." 4 stars.
Finished the 4-book Anchored series by Bridget E. Baker. The audiobooks were fantastically narrated, 5 stars. The story was great and carried the series. The romance side of it, not for me. 4 stars overall, and now I want another twisty time story that has current time impacts. That was fun.
How many pages to give a book before giving up on it? I try 100, but the last book I gave up on, I made it only 60. There are too many great books to read ones that don’t grab you. Doesn’t mean they are bad, just that they are not always the book you need right now. And that’s okay.
Met my book goal for this year. Surprised, considering I was also finishing my dissertation. I didn't meet my goal at half the number the past few years. Don't fret if you're ahead or behind of your goal. Just read, enjoy the experience, and don't let it be 0. You still have time! Be greater than 0.
Finished Adrift, book 2 in the Anchored series by Bridget E. Baker. Similar feels as book 1. Fantastic world building, but I still don’t love the swoony stuff. @jenniferjillaraya.bsky.social is one of my new favorite narrators, and she brings the series to life in the most wonderful ways. To book 3!
Please read something. Start now. Here is a website to help you pick your next book. Set a goal, and commit to it. A few pages a day. A chapter a day. Don't get to this time next year without a book you can recommend. Life is short, find a story to share, and make it part of your own.
What Stalks The Deep, the 3rd book in the Sworn Soldier series by @tkingfisher.com is horrifying, humorous, and humbling all at the same time. This one sets the stage for more Alex & Angus adventures in America (say that 3 times real fast), and I am here for it! 5 stars and excited for the next one.
I like it when a book surprises me. Listened to Anchored by Bridget E. Baker. Something different, for me. I liked the fantasy parts more than YA romance. Still, it was fun! Excellent world-building, multiverse plot. Easy 4 stars, and a great narrator. Will chase it with book 2 of 4 soon.
If you haven't got your Kindle First Read book yet for November 2025, @tkingfisher.com has a book on there (Snake-Eater) that is worth grabbing. Spend the $4.99, if you have already picked your free book. I'm reading the latest Sworn Soldier book, and I'm such a huge fan. More to come on that.
Few things in baseball are more exciting than a World Series that goes all the way to Game 7. This one has been exceptional! Neither the Dodgers nor the Blue Jays are my teams, but I'm having a blast watching them battle it out. Tonight's Game 7 should be epic!
I read Wolfpack by Abby Wambach based on her commencement address to Barnard College's 126th graduating class. It's a short read but a good kick in the pants (soccer pun... don't delete me). An essential read now while our rights are being rolled back and laws & rules are being ignored. 4 stars.
Finished Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, my spooky read for October. And it was HORROR, and I loved it! About a cursed witch and a cursed town in near modern day New England. Some things that made me uneasy in the story, but it's horror; it shouldn't make you comfortable. 5 stars.
I finished Squeeze Me by @carlhiaasen.com, my first foray into the Skink universe. It was fun! I loved the Angie Armstrong character and hope we get more of her. Now I have to go back and read more in the Skink series to catch up. I missed out. Not mad about it tho.
