We are officially halfway through 2026 — how did that happen? — and as someone who is an author, an editor, and (most importantly, if you ask me) an avid reader, I like to pause every few months and actually look back at what I’ve been reading.
So here it is: my reading recap for the first half of the year, plus my top three favorites and why they earned that spot.
These are the ones that stuck with me long after I closed the cover — richly developed, beautifully written, with characters that felt real and stories that touched something deeper.
Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom — A sweeping historical novel based on the true story of a Crow woman who marries a white fur trader in the 1870s and goes on to risk everything to save a group of women taken captive. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t let you look away — hard history told with so much heart, and a heroine I won’t forget anytime soon.
Kissing the Sky by Lisa Patton — A coming-of-age story set at Woodstock in the summer of ‘69, following a sheltered Southern girl who sneaks off with her best friend for three days that change everything. It’s nostalgic and soul-stirring, with a found-family kind of friendship at its core — exactly the sort of book I want to hand to someone and say “you have to read this.”
The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye — Childhood pen pals reunite years later in New York City, where one of them has started leaving anonymous, encouraging notes folded into paper roses all over town. It’s whimsical, hopeful, and exactly the kind of soul-touching story that reminds you small kindnesses matter. A genuine comfort read.
(Have you read any of these? Let me know! I love comparing notes.)
If you love historical fiction: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, and Under the Magnolias by T.I. Lowe were all standouts. Different eras, different settings, but all the kind of immersive storytelling that makes you forget you’re reading.
If you want something magical and cozy: I went down a rabbit hole with Sangu Mandanna this year — both The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping. If you want low-stakes, high-comfort fantasy with a found-family feel, start here.
For something a little different: I also read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, which is nonfiction about creativity and fear (highly relevant to my life as a writer), along with The Show Girl, The White Octopus Hotel, and The Once and Future Queen — three very different reads that all kept me turning pages.
I’d be remiss not to mention the indie and small-press authors in my circle whose books I’ve read and loved this year too. Supporting fellow writers matters to me, so if you’re looking for your next read, I’d love for you to check out books from Lexi Haddock, Heather Camacho, Abby Harding, Katie Cruice Smith, Lindsey Ray Redd, and Tristan Tuttle. You can find the full list linked below.
You can find every book mentioned here — plus the rest of what I’ve read this year and recommend reading — on my Bookshop.org shelf. Shopping there supports local independent bookstores instead of the big guys, so it’s a win-win.
What have you read so far this year that you can’t stop thinking about? Reply and let me know — I’m always looking for my next favorite.
And enter this Kindle Unlimited Giveaway!
Have a wonderful week!
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