WHAT I READ IN JANUARY 2026

Can’t believe we’re already a month into the year with a full stack of books under my belt. One of my resolutions for the year was to break all of my “streaks,” which included my “read every day” streak. It’s been liberating. There have been days in the past where I’d trek out to my car at 11pm to get a book or my kindle from my car to read before the end of the day. I was worried that I wasn’t going to read as much without this streak hovering over my head. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. I was mentally ready for the change in pace, but I think having books that I’m excited about still encourages me to read a lot. (Knitting may be getting in the way, but that’s a whole different story 😉)

WHAT I READ IN JANUARY 2026:

FAMILY DRAMA by Rebecca Fallon

3/5 Stars

This twin somewhat-adult children grappling with the death of their soap opera star mom. It does sort of read like a soap opera… lots of drama with some love stories with the daughter beginning an affair with her mom’s old co-star. But I found the writing to not be my style and I found myself having a hard time caring about the plot.

THE EIGHTS by Joanna Miller

4.5/5 Stars

I absolutely picked up The Eights because I thought it was going to be about a rowing team at Oxford University. I just love going into books blind because it’s fun to pick up a book having no idea what direction it’s going to go in. Well, this was not about rowing (despite the illustration of a boat on the front). It’s a story of friendship and overcoming adversity. It’s a perfect, cozy book. This would be a great bookclub choice!

HALF HIS AGE by Jennette McCurdy

3.75/5 Stars

Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died was a great read and so I was excited to pick up her first foray into novels. It felt a little cliched– like something someone would write trying to be edgy and provocative. It just wasn’t for me.

SMALL BOAT by Vincent Delecroix

4.75/5 Stars

Okay, I was initially intimidated by this book. It’s tiny and it’s translated from French so I wasn’t sure how I’d like it. BUT. Oh my gosh. It’s a powerful, quick read. Especially right now with everything going on about immigration and ICE in America. It’s a must read. Warning: I do recommend going into this with a good headspace. I had the worst existential pit in my stomach after reading it. It’s very philosophical and will make you think.

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Jessica Guerrieri

4/5 Stars

Definitely check the trigger warnings on this, but I really liked this a lot. A heartbreaking book about alcoholism and addiction. I thought it was a very realistic glimpse at drinking culture with moms and how it’s a slippery slope into trouble. The author note at the end sealed the deal for me as she shared her own experience with addiction and how she wanted to write a story that reflected how it really is. I wish it had been at the beginning of the book!

THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M. LION by Beth Brower

4/5 Stars

Okay, these novellas are all over my FYP and I had to try. They’re light and cozy and quick to read. Highly recommend. I’ve heard they get even better after the first so I’ll sprinkle them in throughout the year as reading palate cleansers. The physical books are also just so pretty. A nice perk 😉

ALAN OPTS OUT by Courtney Maum

4.5/5 Stars

THIS is one of my favorite genres of books to read. Quirky characters. Lots of inconsequential drama. Rich people behaving poorly. Great, interesting writing. Loved this– it comes out later this year so definitely plan to preorder!!! It was fun, light, and full of personality.

BIOGRAPHY OF X by Catherine Lacey

I was so intrigued by this– a dystopian novel that’s a book within a book. A writer is writing the biography of her late wife. So it’s the biography within the book and you learn about the very dystopian American history. It was interesting… but I was having a hard time getting into it.