My 2026 Reading Challenge: What I’ve Loved So Far (and What’s Next on My List)
Last year I set myself a challenge of reading twenty books in 2025. This year I’ve done the same. That’s twenty books read mainly at bedtime, but also a slew of ebooks that I can chomp my way through on my mobile phone while I’m out and about. And if I enjoy them, I’ll post a book review too.
Four months into 2026, I thought it was time to share what I’ve read so far and the other books on this year’s to-be-read pile.
To date, I’ve finished:
- The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
- The Stone of Destiny by Andrew Neil MacLeod
- Fat Man Blues by Richard Wall
- Echoes by Phil Oddy
- Run To The Blue by P N Johnson
- Closure May Never Come by P D Doling
Out of these, I’d say The Stone of Destiny was my favourite but all of them were enjoyable reads. So that’s six books down and fourteen to go (or maybe more if I have the time).
Looking at the books I’ve read so far this year, I’m noticing a pull towards stories where the world feels familiar on the surface, but something isn’t quite as it seems. Whether it’s a historical paranormal road trip, a dystopian tale of witchcraft, or a sci fi thriller, there’s usually a sense that something ‘other’ is waiting to be uncovered.
My current reads couldn’t be more different from each other. On my bedside cabinet is a tome of a book, Fairytale by Stephen King. I’m also reading witchy cosy mystery Haunted, Hexed and Dead by Bella Colby and an ARC of coming-of-age mystery Footsteps of Heroes by B R Dexter.
After I’ve read those three, that’ll be nine books finished this year. Theoretically (unless I get distracted by other new shiny stories), my next eleven reads for 2026 should be:
- The Old Ways by Robert McFarlane
- Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley
- Small Angels by Lauren Owen
- a collection of H P Lovecraft stories
- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
- The Eternal Bluesman by Richard Wall
- Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
- The Nonborn King by Julian May
- Triplanetary by E E Doc Smith
- Map of Shadows by J F Penn
- Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
I think that’s a good mixture of fantasy, sci fi, and folklore. Fingers crossed I reach my goal. Happy reading, everyone.
