New year, new reader?
Nope! I’m still enjoying the same elements in my stories that I always have —romance, smart humor, and stories that transport me out of normal life.
Maybe next year will be a year of reading evolution for me, but even if it’s not, I’m totally fine with that! My philosophy around reading is that books are here to serve you, not the other way around. Whatever you choose to read for enlightenment, education, or entertainment is totally up to you! FYI, this applies to books you don’t want to read. It’s absolutely okay to DNF with extreme prejudice because your time is precious. This is me giving you permission to read what you want to read and politely toss the rest, my friend.
Rant over—keep scrolling to see what I’ve been reading.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some extra coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.
Just Finished:
I have loved every Melissa Ferguson book I’ve read (which is all of them, once I finish the one I’m currently reading) and I just adore her voice and sense of humor. I especially liked the unique premise in this book with a young woman coordinating a bookish cruise on behalf of an eccentric group of famous authors known as the Magnificent Seven, and I enjoyed the initial twist that turned it from a straight comedy into a murder mystery without sacrificing the humor. A cruise ship makes for a great locked-room setting, and really set the scene for the mystery, comedy, and romantic elements of the story. The push and pull between Pip and Nash was so fun. He’s such a swoony hero!
Without giving away any spoilers, I did find one element of the ending to be a bit unbelievable, but the whole book was just so much fun that I didn’t have trouble overlooking that part. Overall, I gave this book five stars and would recomment it to anyone looking for a sweet, clean romantic comedy that will charm and entertain. I got a copy through NetGalley and it doesn’t actually release until February 17th, but you can preorder it now!
Jennifer Lynn Barnes has earned a spot on my auto-read list. Everything I’ve ever read by her has hit just right in terms of pacing, action, and wit, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that The Lovely and the Lost was an easy five stars for me. This book follows Kira, a teen who can’t seem to shake the trauma of being found in the wilderness as a small child with no memory of how she got there. She’s come a long way since being adopted by the woman who found her, but when they are called on to bring the dogs they train for a search and rescue mission, looking for the lost little girl hits close to home. There are so many twists and turns as the story plays out, and it soon becomes clear that nothing is as it seems for Kira personally or in the search for the missing child. So, so good, especially for animal lovers since the S&R dogs play a big role in the story.
Remember what I said about romance, humor, and stories that transport you? This book has all of that! Emmeline Lockhart has sworn off love and intends to make herself an independent woman with the money she’s earned writing Gothic novels under a pen name—because ladies with good reputations do not become authoresses. But her intentions start to crumble when Simon Reeves, the man who broke her heart two seasons ago, reappears in her life and needs her help. This is kind of a Regency lovers-to-enemies-back-to-lovers story with very intentional parallels to Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. It’s a fun romp through the English countryside filled with banter and a whole host of lovable characters.
In Progress:
This is our first read aloud of 2026, and while I’m enjoying it, I can’t tell if my 13 and 10-year-olds are quite yet. This story is about a young girl named Ada who has been horribly abused and neglected by hher mother because of her club foot. She and her younger brother manage to make their way onto one of the trains headed for England’s countryside laden with childen being evacuated from London during WWII, and a whole new world opens up for her. So far, this book reminds me a lot of A Place to Hang the Moon, a middle-grade book with a very similar storyline that I adored last year. This book has won a ton of awards and honors, and I think it’s going to be a hit once we get a little further into the story.
See the first book in this list for more about how much I love Melissa Ferguson. This book is about Bryony, an aspiring author who goes to a writer’s conference to pitch her manuscript and walks out with a completely unexpected deal instead—if she ghost writes for one of literary agent Jack Sterling’s most popular rom-com authors, he will represent Bryony too. So begins a complicated relationship that challenges both of them personally and professionally in ways they never could have expected. I just love Melissa Ferguson’s wit and the charming interiority of her main character. And if you like books about books, then this one will be a hit for you.
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend
Kayla is the new owner of a struggling minor league baseball team. Sean is a heartbroken hockey player who makes the rash and very public promise to marry the next woman he kisses—which Kayla doesn’t know when she kisses him in order to shut up his very unlikable ex. The only logical thing to do? Enter into a marriage of convenience that will benefit both of them in different ways—and try not to actually fall in love. I’ve read several Kate Watson books in the past, and I’m looking forward to her signature banter and swoony romance in this book as well.
Up Next:
A book by my beloved Emma St. Clair about a hockey player and a nurse? Did someone say grumpy/sunshine? Forced proximity? Say no more. I will read this book and find out how these enemies become lovers while sailing a sailboat. Why would I not?
I love Laura Frantz’s historical romances, and I’m excited for this novella about a side character from The Seamstress of Acadie, the full length novel she released last year. This story follows Bleu Galant, a man in exile after the French and Indian War, as he embarks on a journey to help a young woman who inexplicably catches his attention. This author does an amazing job of weaving real historical details into a compelling story that sucks you in and makes you desperate to know what happens to the characters next.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 1
Here’s the thing…I don’t all the way know what this book is. I only know that everyone is talking about it! I’ve been hearing about it on podcasts and bookstagram and seeing it pop up in people’s ‘best of’ lists, and as best I can tell, it’s historical fiction in the form of a young woman’s journal. People say it’s fun and funny, so I’m going to give it a try! I have to admit, the cover is uninspiring. Hopefully the words inside are more vibrant and engaging.
As always, don’t forget that there are more great recommendations to be had at the monthly Modern Mrs. Darcy quick lit roundup!
Leave a Reply