Hello. Is anybody out there? I know – things have been rather quiet here. But I am still alive and kicking and thought I’d provide a quick mid-year reading update to prevent the tumbleweeds from completely taking over this blog.
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2026
I have clearly been in the mood for quiet stories focusing on characters and their connections without much plot going on. Amazingly, I’ve found no less than three excellent books in this category. The winner of the Women’s Prize, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, was a lovely epistolary novel about an older woman. Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout follows Olive and other inhabitants in a small town, Crosby. Strout’s sense of human nature is second to none and I am thoroughly enjoying slowly working my way through this novel, story by story. But I think my favourite has to be Whistler by Ann Patchett. When Patchett is good, she is really good. The disappointment with Tom Lake is (almost) completely forgotten. If you need a solid feel-good read, please pick up Whistler.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2026
For this, I’ll select the final instalment in the Michael Brady crime series. Sadly, the author passed away, but impressively his daughter finished the story. Good entertainment in the cosy crime genre without being too cosy or formulaic.
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
At a recent audiobook sale, I downloaded the 2025 release Seascraper by Benjamin Wood, which according to Goodreads, follows shanker Thomas Flett as his quiet life in a small English coastal town is forever changed over the course of one fateful day. It certainly sounds like a book, I should enjoy.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I look forward to Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel based on my positive experiences with Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility. In this upcoming novel, Mandel has chosen a dystopian 2031 setting, but I feel she always manages to engage the reader with her fragmented glimpses into human lives across space and time.
5. Biggest disappointment
Unfortunately, a few titles compete for this dubious honour, including My Friends by Frederik Backman and Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. However, I have to pick Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Expectations were high, but in the end I really struggled to get through this prize-winning novel.
6. Biggest surprise
Everything I Never Told You was a random download from the Libby App. I honestly suspected it might end with a DNF, but surprisingly I quite enjoyed it. The novel rotates around the rather dysfuntional Asian/American Lee family. Key themes include family dynamics, racism, fitting in and self-realization (or lack thereof). Especially the parents will end up frustrating the heck out of you, but you fully understand what drives them.
7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
I don’t think you can judge an author based on just one book, but the ambiguous Audition has tempted me to pick up more material from Katie Kitamura.
8. Newest fictional crush
Nah, no fictional crushes.
9. Newest favourite character
The headstrong and opinionated Sybil from The Correspondent has to be the clear winner here.
10. Book that made you cry
I don’t think any books made me cry this year (although a couple were so bad, I might have been close to tears).
11. Book that made you happy
Murder on the Rocks is the latest instalment in my favourite cosy crime series about Lady Hardcastle and her ladies maid, Flo. Not my favourite in the series, but it still made me smile.
12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
I will pass on this, since I only read audiobooks and ebooks.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
For some reason, I always struggle to get through Virginia Woolf’s novels (yet end up loving them). Anyway, I hope 2026 will be the year, I finally read The Waves, which according to Goodreads is The novel that most epitomizes Virginia Woolf’s theories of fiction in the working form.
That was my mid-year reading update for 2026. I hope you have had a good reading year so far and feel free to put recommendations in the comments section. With less time spent in the blogging community, I don’t get the same amount of bookish inspiration. On the positive side, I’ve joined an in-person book club, which I really enjoy.
Will I get back to blogging regularly? Probably not in the immediate future, although I will try to write the odd post here and there. Maybe next year?
My clear half-year winner is The Artist by Lucy Steeds. Captivating, enchanting, mysterious, gripping and much else besides, including beautiful and lucid writing.
I’ve heard of that one! Enchanting and mysterious sounds good to me, will check it out on Goodreads. Thanks for the recommendation.
Hello lovely to see this post! Loved your answers especially the one about crying! 😂
Thanks Nicki, it is good to be back! I know, it is sad but also kinda funny about the crying 😂
Great to see you back💜
Thanks Jonetta, it felt good to post again! Hopefully, it won’t be another year before the next post. 😉
We agree, ‘Hamnet’ and ‘Mother Mary Comes to me’ are disappointing. We found Hamnet’ boring and Arundhati Roy’s mother Mary book pales in comparison to her other books.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Yes, I found Hamnet boring as well, which is terrible to say. So many people love it. Glad you think Arundhati Roy’s other books are better. Mother Mary Comes to Me was my first read by the author and it didn’t exactly persuade me to pick up her other books.
Arundhati Roy’s other books are much better. We really liked to read them especially ‘The God of Small Things’ and ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I will definitely pick up The God of Small Things at some point.
Hi. I haven’t read Hamnet. But I saw the movie. Can’t say I loved it.
I did mean to watch the movie, but since I didn’t enjoy the book, I’ll probably pass.
Good to see you!
Great questions and answers. Hamnet was a DNF for me and I can’t remember crying over a book this year either in frustration or otherwise!
Thanks Rose, it feels good to be back. I should probably have DNF’ed Hamnet as well, but as I think I wrote on you blog, at least the ending was good.
Oh I need to check out the cosy series that involves Flo. It happens to be my cat’s name so it’s double attractive now. Good to see you back and happy to hear you’ve found an in-person book club!
What a lovely name for a cat. In the book, I think Flo is short for Florence. It feels good to be back, hopefully it won’t be another year before the next post. A book club is so much fun. I love discussing books in the blogging community, but in person is a different experience.
Thank you! I didn’t name her though, she already had that name (I could have changed it but I did love it too). But what if they choose a book you don’t want to read, you skip it or still read it? Maybe a post about the book club would be interesting. Who are they, what do they do ;-).
Haha, I don’t think you have to read all the books in a book club, at least not the one I joined. On the other hand, it may expand your horizons and get you to read books, you wouldn’t have picked up otherwise (and maybe be positively surprised). A post about book clubs is a great idea, I have put that in my notes.
Great post and I hear you with Whistler, I haven’t read any Patchett yet but I shall put that right!
Thanks Jane. You should definitely give Ann Patchett a try. The Dutch House is probably my favourite, but if you are in the mood for a gentle, beautifully written story, Whistler is just perfect.
Emily St. John Mandel’s books have been on my TBR for suuuuuch a long time. I’d love to finally try at least one in the near future. Have you tried the Station Eleven show? Does it adapt the book well? 😀
I haven’t tried the Station Eleven show (didn’t know there was a show to be honest). The new novel should be out in September – will let you know if it is worth reading. 🙂
Hi Stargazer … good to hear from you here. It’s nice you joined an in-person book club, yay. I like some of your picks here … like Whistler and Katie Kitamura. I enjoyed Seascraper quite a bit but not sure how it’ll go on audio. I hope you’ll give periodical updates on what books you liked or hope to read. I appreciated the comment you wrote on my blog recently …. thx. Hope your year is going well.
Thanks Susan. And yes, I am really enjoying the book club discussions we are having. Especially, when we all have different views on a book. I will hopefully get to Seascraper soon and I might even write a review. Not sure about my blogging frequency, but will try to be more active than I’ve been during the last year.
Welcome back, I miss your posts!
I’ll have to try The Waves
Ah, thanks so much. Hopefully, I’ll write a review of The Waves, if / when I manage to read it.
Hi Stargazer, lovely to hear from you! Hope you’re well. I’ve just finished The Correspondent and loved it. Sybil is a wonderful character! I also enjoy the Lady Hardcastle series but I’m a long way behind you there. I have read Seascraper though. Beautiful writing. I hope you enjoy it 😊
Hi Sandra, it’s great to be back and to chat to everyone again. I realise, I’ve missed blogging. Good to hear we agree about Sybil and Lady Hardcastle. I recently finished a book, I think you and other bloggers recommended a while ago in a readalong. Watch this space. 🙂
Oooh you have me guessing now! 😄
I did a variation of this: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/08/07/2026-mid-year-reading-check-tags/