2026 MID YEAR BOOK TAG
Disclaimer: I read books based on preferences that take into account my faith and personal convictions. Please check any of my recommendations against your own convictions and read responsibly.
Well, reader friends... somehow we're already halfway through 2026. Honestly, I have no idea how we got here so fast. Full transparency? I almost skipped doing a Mid-Year Book Tag this year. My reading life in 2026 just hasn't sparked the same kind of joy it has in years past. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it's the genres I've been picking up. Maybe my own convictions have shifted the kinds of stories I enjoy. Or maybe it's because I've been pouring so much time into other creative projects that have been filling my cup in different ways. Whatever the reason, this year has looked a lot different. But you know what? Different isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I think it might actually be better. Instead of feeling pressure to finish every book I start, I've become much more intentional. I'm only picking up books I genuinely want to read, and I've gotten a whole lot better at putting down books that just aren't doing it for me—for whatever reason. Life's too short, and my reading time is too valuable, to spend it pushing through books I'm not enjoying.
So, let’s see how my reading stats reflect that shift.
So far, thrillers have officially claimed the title of my most-read genre this year—which are we even surprised? But I have a feeling that's about to change. For the second half of 2026, I'm hoping to dive back into literary fiction and fantasy. Those genres have been calling my name lately, and I'm excited to see where they take me. As for my reading goal... let's just say the math wasn't mathing. I originally set my goal at 100 books, but somewhere around March I realized that simply wasn't happening. Between work, creative projects, and life in general, I wasn't reading at the same pace as previous years. So I adjusted my goal to 75 books—which feels much more realistic. And honestly, I'm perfectly okay with that. This year has reminded me that I'd rather read fewer books I absolutely love than race through a hundred that leave me feeling... well, nothing. So whether I hit 75 or not, my biggest hope for the rest of the year is to discover more stories that remind me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.
But enough chit-chat—let's jump into this year's Mid-Year Book Tag and talk about all the highlights (and maybe a few disappointments) that 2026 has brought to my reading life so far!
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#1: Best book I’ve read so far this year
Picking my favorite from this year's 5-star reads wasn't easy because they all stood out for completely different reasons. But if I had to choose just one, this would be it! Nothing quite compared to the twists or the ending. It was fast-paced, incredibly well-written, and everything I want in a legal thriller. Just do yourself a favor and brace yourself... because there is absolutely no way you'll see that ending coming.
#2: Best sequel I’ve read so far this year
I thought the first book in this series was good, but the second one completely won me over. The themes of family and sacrifice were so beautifully written, the characters were incredibly lovable, and there were so many quotes that genuinely stuck with me. Mini spoiler: I think the book is far better than the show—the adaptation changes some major plot points that lessen the emotional impact, so I'd definitely recommend reading the book first.
#3: New release I haven’t read yet, but want to
I absolutely loved the Cara Bastone book I read last year, so this one has been on my radar ever since. It's currently sitting on hold at my local library, and I can't wait to finally dive in! Bastone writes some of the most emotionally rich romances, and I'm hoping to work my way through her entire backlist by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!
#4: Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
There are so many great books coming out over the next six months that picking just one felt nearly impossible. But my most anticipated has to be the follow-up to Big Little Lies because there's just something about suspenseful, rich mom drama that I can't resist. Full transparency: I still haven't read the first book (I know, I know!), but I have watched the show, and I'm determined to finally read the novel before this one releases.
Honorable Mention: Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
#5: Biggest disappointment
It pains me to put this one in the disappointment category, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. My biggest issue was the writing. I know this was Haley's debut, but I still expected stronger prose from a traditionally published novel. The story itself was cute, but there were enough plot holes to keep it from really landing for me. It ultimately earned a solid 3 stars, so I definitely didn't hate it (despite what the internet might have you believe... IYKYK), but I didn't love it either.
#6: Biggest surprise
Okay, I consider myself a tried-and-true Liv Constantine fan. The duo’s thrillers are always the perfect blend of suspenseful, twisty, and totally bingeable. So imagine my surprise when I realized this one wasn't even on my radar until I received an ARC from NetGalley... and let me tell you—do not sleep on this book! It was a very close runner-up for my favorite book of the year and easily the best Liv Constantine novel I've read (which is saying something because I've read their entire backlist). It doesn't release until August, so do yourself a favor and pre-order it now—you won't want to miss this one.
#7: Favorite new author
This might be cheating since I've only read Christina Lauren's short stories so far, but they've completely sold me on her storytelling. I've loved both that I've picked up, and even more than the stories themselves, I've fallen in love with her writing style. I have two of her full-length novels on my TBR for the rest of the year, and I have a feeling they're going to be some of my highest-rated reads.
#8: Newest favorite character
Phoebe Berman is easily my favorite character I've met this year, and honestly, she's going to be hard to beat. She's hilarious, painfully relatable (especially for my fellow millennial girlies), and written with so much vulnerability that you can't help but root for her from beginning to end. The plot is fantastic, but what truly makes this book unforgettable is Phoebe herself.
#9: Book that made me cry
It's wild to think I almost DNF'd the very book that would go on to emotionally wreck me. This story will gut you, put you back together, and then break your heart all over again, keeping you emotionally invested until the very last page. Between the found family, the NASA storyline, unforgettable characters, and Taylor Jenkins Reid's incredible writing, it's the perfect recipe for a deeply heartfelt read. Don't be surprised if you too are wiping away a few tears by the end.
#10: Book that made me happy
This book made me happy, but not because of the story itself. It was Carley Fortune's writing that completely won me over. Full transparency: I didn't connect with these characters the way I have in some of her other books, and parts of the plot didn't quite work for me. But her prose is so beautiful that I found myself constantly stopping to annotate and running back every time I had to put it down. Her writing moves me every single time, and I simply can't resist beautifully crafted words.
#11: Favorite book quote
This is possibly my most annotated book so far this year; Backman’s writing is incredible, so I’ll just let the quote speak for itself.
“Hate can be a deeply stimulating emotion. The world becomes much easier to understand and much less terrifying if you divide everything and everyone into friends and enemies, we and they, good and evil. The easiest way to unite a group isn't through love, because love is hard. It makes demands. Hate is simple. So the first thing that happens in a conflict is that we choose a side, because that's easier than trying to hold two thoughts in our heads at the same time. The second thing that happens is that we seek out facts that confirm what we want to believe, comforting facts, ones that permit life to go on as normal. The third is that we dehumanize our enemy. And when enough people are quiet for long enough, a handful of voices can give the impression that everyone is screaming.”
#12: Favorite audiobook
This audiobook was such a treat because it's narrated by Brandy herself, which brings so much heart, charm, and personality to the story. Memoirs are one of my favorite genres to listen to on audio because, when they're done well, it feels like you're sitting down over coffee with the author, listening to them share their life firsthand. That's exactly how this one felt—it was so authentically Brandy, and I loved every minute of it.
#13: Books to read by the end of the year
So many books, so little time. Since I've been craving more literary fiction in the second half of the year, these are the books currently sitting at the very top of my TBR.
#14: DNF’s (did not finish)
Nobody likes a DNF—especially me. But sometimes they're unavoidable. If I decide not to finish a book, it's usually for one of two reasons: either I'm just not connecting with the story, or the content doesn't align with my personal faith convictions.
Books I DNF'd because of the content:
We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Heather by Caitlin Mullen
Books I DNF'd because they just weren't clicking (although I may come back to these someday!):
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman
#15: 5-star reads
One thing I've definitely noticed this year is that finding a 5-star read is getting harder and harder. I'm a much tougher reader to impress these days, so when a book earns all five stars from me, it has truly earned its place. These are the books that completely wowed me in the first half of 2026:
