Summer 2026 Wrap-Up
September 20, 2026 | Book Reviews, Wrap-Up
Hello fellow readers! As you might have noticed (and if you haven’t make sure to check it out) but I recently posted my Fall 2026 TBR, meaning it is now time for my Summer 2026 Wrap Up. I read quite a bit during the summer, as I normally do since I’m not much of an outside person, and here are my thoughts on all of them.
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman – I kicked off my summer reading list with this nonfiction about a heiress from the Gilded Age that had one of the most sizable fortunes at the start of the twenty-first century. More astounding than that, Huguette Clark was a recluse whose fortune didn’t come to light until she began to sell some of her Gilded Age properties. This was an interesting topic for a book but there wasn’t much to it and with the book being close to 400 pages I found a lot of the content repetitive and felt like I got a good idea of the story in less than 200 pages. A much slimmer version of the book would have been much better.
The Women by Kristin Hannah – Without a doubt the most surprising book I read this season! If you have been following my book reviews for awhile now you’ll know that I have always jived with Kristin Hannah’s books so I was very apprehensive to grab this one set during the Vietnam War. But my mother insisted I would enjoy it and, as it turns out, she was right! The pacing was good, the story was interesting, and I appreciate Ms. Hannah telling a story about the veterans not always discussed – the women. If you are looking for a war story told from a different perspective I would suggest this one.
Midnight is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead – A surprise followed by a letdown. I went into this book believing it was a paranormal story with vampires at the center of it. That’s not what it ended up being and instead I found myself struggling through a subpar thriller that takes place in a highly religious community in Louisiana. Unfortunately, I’m starting to wonder if the first book I read by Ashley Winstead, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, might have been a fluke. I will still try some of other books but will be going in with lower expectations.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – As a teenager in the 2010s I really enjoyed The Hunger Games movies that came out. But I never got around to reading the actual books so when my book club suggested we read the first book I was excited to pick it up. Even after all these years the book still holds up with lessons that are just as important today as they were twenty years ago. There isn’t much else I can say about this book without repeating what everyone else as said. So, just pick up the book if you haven’t already.
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce – A romance DNF. There was nothing necessarily bad about the book but I just wasn’t in the mood for it. I might pick it up again when I’m wanting a second chance romance.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – My book club returned to the fantasy genre for our July pick. A few months ago I read my first fantasy in ages, Shield of Sparrows, and I loved it. This new fantasy was good and I really enjoyed the little group that took on a quest to help the main character save her friends, but I just didn’t love it as much as Shield of Sparrows. Still, I will pick up the second book since it did end on a very interesting note.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – And then July hit and with it the Summerween Readathon! I have participated the last few years and this year would be no exception. The first book I picked up was this Riley Sager thriller that has dual timelines, all dealing with the disappearances of three camp goers. This was a great start to the readathon and while I didn’t love this one as much as last year’s Riley Sager Summerween book, Home Before Dark, it was still a solid four star read.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones – This is the one book during the readathon that I DNF. The concept was interesting but there was something about the writing that just through me off.
Slasher Summer by E.L. Chen – A big part of Summerween is the vibes, taking the spookiness of Halloween and meshing it with the stickiness of summer. This 2026 release following a group of friends reuniting for a fun weekend managed to combine both of those vibes. It was scary but also I felt the warm summer night air as I flipped between the multiple POV’s. It was a quick read and I had a good time reading it.
Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft – A thriller/mystery that gave off all the spooky vibes, Night Watcher was a quick and fairly short read. While a good choice for Summerween, this also would be a great story to pick up during the fall season as the rainy, gloomy vibes make it the perfect transition story from the warm to the cold months. Following a radio host who survived a serial killer when she was a child as she attempts to solve a series of murders that eerily remind her of that killer we discover that the real murderer might be much closer.
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum – A highly anticipated thriller for 2026, this crime thriller takes the slightly unusual step of telling the story from a male perspective, a fresh take that helped the otherwise run of the mill story. It also combines podcasting which, while a popular activity nowadays, is starting to become a bit overused in mystery/thriller books.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – Now let’s talk about THE most talked about book of 2026. Already picked up by Anne Hathaway for a film adaptation and discussed in countless articles, this literary fiction follows Natalie, a tradwife who finds herself transported to 1855 and forced to live the life she continually pushes on her followers. There is a lot to discuss here, particularly with the current tradwife trend that has taken over social media. I will say that in order to get the best reading experience out of Yesteryear you should go into it with an open mind. Some elements of the book can be quite triggering, particularly with discussions to religious extremism, but if you are comfortable with that I think you will discover a book with a lot to discuss. I would highly recommend reading this with a buddy or a book club because you will want to discuss this once you are done.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – After the heavy handness of Yesteryear I needed something light and fluffy. A summer romance book seemed to be the answer. Taking place at the lake over the course of one summer, it follows the blossoming relationship between a high achieving photographer and a laid back handyman. This was sweet, cute, and very steamy at times. It is the second book in a series but honestly there is no need to read the books in order.
The Wounded Generation by David Nasaw – This nonfiction talks about life in America after WWII. I learned a good amount of new information but like the first nonfiction book I read at the beginning of this season, the book became very repetitive after awhile and a slimmer version would have been much more impactful.
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood – The August pick for book club this is my first Ali Hazelwood book. It is an age gap romance between two people that shouldn’t be together, even if they were closer in age. I never felt connected to the main characters’ chemistry and with so many supporting characters I had a hard time keeping them all straight. I will give Ms. Hazelwood’s books another chance though.
FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven – This book was a fairly interesting, not so much because of it is story but how it is written. You are essentially reading a fictional book that is styled as nonfiction and each chapter is an interview with someone who was involved in the FantasticLand disaster, in which stranded theme park workers formed groups that hunted and killed each other during a hurricane. It gave me very much Daisy Jones and the Six when it came to format style and I actually really liked it. The story itself was fine but how Mr. Brockoven chose to write it earned it some extra points.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – Fellow reader I finally did it! I have finished Rebecca. As far as classics go this was a fairly standard story, an interesting concept with a lot filler to the point I sort of skimmed through some of the chapters. I had originally since the 1940 film adaptation so I knew what was coming but I will say that the way Daphne du Maurier reveals the mystery and the truth behind did was well done. The narrator, though, is fairly underdeveloped and that was a shame. Truly, as the book title suggests, the star of the show is Rebecca and as long as you know that going in you might enjoy this one.
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren – The last couple of summers I have read one by writing duo Christina Lauren. This is their newest release and contrary to what the cover reveals the story combines romance with science fiction. Emery Finch is working on a top secret project at work and it is putting a strain on her marriage to her husband of three years, Luca. But when Luca is involved in a terrible accident and Emery is forced to use her top secret project to help him. Like their other books, Romance Revival is a fun romance that keeps you interested until the end. That being said, it is not my favorite from duo but I will continue to pick up their books in the future.
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer – My final book of the summer! And boy was it a good one! The newest release from Marcus Kliewer, author of We Used To Live Here, follows Macy who agrees to house sit for a rich woman for a long weekend. But when she messes up a series of rituals, Macy finds herself fighting for not just her life but for the survival of the entire human race. This was such a fast read and excellently paced. If you want to hear more of my thoughts on this one make sure to check out my full review that I posted on this blog a few days ago.
Hello fellow readers and welcome to one of my favorite posts I do every year on this blog. Yes, it is the Fall 2026 TBR. I absolutely love this time of year so I really carefully curate my books for the season. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison – Last fall I read a haunted house book (September House, my second of that year actually) and adored it so this year I decided to try another one. Clio is a stylist and influencer whose carefully curated appearance hides her troubling childhood. When she was a child she lived in a home that was possessed and even when the courts removed custody of Clio and her siblings from their mother, Clio’s mother remained adamant a demon controlled the home. Now, Clio’s mother is dead and has left the house to Clio and her sisters. Sensing an opportunity to flip the house and make content from it Clio returns to the home but as she renovates it she begins to think that her mother might not have been lying about the demon after all.
A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson – Fellow reader, you are probably tired of seeing this book on my Fall TBRs and books I intend to read throughout this year. Well, this will be the last time. I am bound and determined to read this Dracula retelling, all told from the perspective of one of his brides.
Samantha: The New Chapter by Fiona Davis – While I have spoken about it once or twice on this blog, I have never talked deeply about my love for the historical American Girl dolls that I had as a child. I was OBSESSED with the dolls and while I only had one of them I did read all the books, which probably had something to do with my love for history today. Fiona Davis takes one of those historical dolls, Samantha, and creates what her life looks like as a young adult. I’m super excited to read this story and take a trip down nostalgia lane.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman – I have had this horror novel on my TBR for a while and up until a few weeks ago I wasn’t sure if it would make this year’s list. However, when I heard this was being made into a movie I knew I had to get to it this year. It focuses on a young child who is being haunted by an entity the little girl refers to as Other Mommy. As Other Mommy makes it its mission to take over the family will need to work together to stop it. I’m getting Poltergeist vibes and think it will be perfect for this time of year.
Confessions by Kanae Minato – This translated suspense tale focuses on how far a mother will go to get revenge for her child. Yuko is a middle school teacher who assembles all her students one day to inform them she is retiring after the sudden death of her daughter. The police concluded it was an accidental death but Yuko believes something much more sinister is afoot. She believes one of her students was involved and she is not letting any of them leave until the murderer is revealed. I have heard nothing but good things about this debut novel and really want to add it to my “Read” list.
The Unknown by Riley Sager – I’ve started to become a fan of Riley Sager, having read four books of his in the past two years, and I was so excited to pick up his latest release. I’m going into this story fairly blind but I do know it centers on some women going missing on an island, which seems eerily familiar to a crime that happened over a hundred years ago.
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo – As much as I love reading scary books in the fall I also love returning to dark academia during this time of the year. This one by Layne Fargo has been on my TBR for a long time and I have to pick it up this year. It follows a female professor who kills one male student every year that she deems a threat to female students on campus. But her crimes are starting to catch up with her and she will need to be quick in covering up her crimes before she is caught.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl – My current read at the moment, Night Film combines crime thriller with horror (and maybe the paranormal?). Following a journalist who believes a reclusive horror director is hiding something the reader is thrown into the seedy part of New York City and fame. When the director’s daughter turns up dead Stephen, the reporter, decides he must uncover the truth and begins to unravel a web of deceit, lies, and horror. The mixed media in the physical book adds to my interest in the story and though I am half way through I am still trying to unravel this complicated puzzle.
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong – My final book for my Fall TBR is this paranormal thriller. When her grandfather dies, Samantha reluctantly attends the reading of the will. She didn’t have a relationship with her grandfather in the last decade or so in his life as Samantha’s grandfather firmly believed that Samantha’s father never killed a child, a crime he was not only charged with but found guilty of. However, when the will is read Samantha is shocked to discover that she has inherited the lakeside home in Paynes Hollow. As she travels back there to settle the estate her ugly past rears its head into the present – both literally and figuratively. This seems like a Sleepy Hollow retelling and will be just perfect for October.
And just like that, the Summerween 2026 readathon is over. As always, I had such a great time during this readathon as I got into the fall/spooky vibes. Additionally, I read the most I have ever read during Summerween with four completed novels (and one DNF). So, here is my wrap-up for Summerween 2026.
Hello fellow ghouls and goblins! Though it may not feel like it (if you are like me in the Midwest where we have been crashed by a heat dome) it is time for the Summerween readathon! If you aren’t familiar with my blog, this is a readathon created by _myfictionalworld (also known as gabbyreads) and oliviareadsalatte on Instagram and YouTube in which participants are encouraged to read scary, spooky stories in July to get into the fall feeling. It is one of my favorite reading events of the year and I’m so happy to be doing it again this year.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy – This historical fiction takes place in Ireland during the Troubles. Schoolteacher Cusla soon finds herself having an affair with a married Protestant named Michael. But as their relationship intensifies, Cusla becomes involved in an event that will force her to pick a side. The concept and overall story for this book was good. However, my biggest frustration (and granted this might be petty to some) with this story was that the author chose not to have quotation marks when characters were speaking. Unfortunately, this really brought down the reading experience to me.
Hot Wax by M. L. Rio – One of my most anticipated books in the last six months or so was the latest book from M. L. Rio who wrote one of my favorite dark academia books, If We Were Villains. This story centers around Suzanne who embarks on a road trip to find answers about her childhood. Flashbacking to the summer of 1989 when Suzanne was ten, we enter a world of drugs, sex, and rock n roll with Suzanne’s father at the center of it. As always, the story was excellently written by Ms. Rio but the story itself fell very flat for me. I do hope the next book Ms. Rio publishes harped more back to If We Were Villains than this one.
The Girl on the Platform by Ellie Midwood – This year I really wanted not only to read more historical fiction but also to get back to some of my favorites whose catalog of books I have fallen very behind on. Ms. Midwood has been pushing out great historical fiction books since she started and I knew I had to jump back into her world. This World War Two story tells the true story of Libby and Haro who resisted against the Nazis. As always, it is meticulously researched and a very fast read with a heart wrenching ending. Another well deserved 5 out of 5 stars for Ms. Midwood.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino – In the later part of March, starting with The Girl on the Platform, I hit a stride of reading one great book after another. This 2025 thriller, released at the end of the year, will be one of my favorite books I read this year. It follows Margo who, like many other Americans right now, is struggling to buy a home. She and her husband want to start a family, but feel that they can’t until they have a house of their own. When Margo’s dream home hits the market she decides she will do whatever it takes to get it, even if it means breaking a few laws. This was a super fast read that packed female rage and humor in a powerful package. I absolutely loved it!
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore – Speaking of books that blew me away, this nonfiction by Kate Moore was not only the perfect book to pick up during Women’s History Month but one that everyone should read. Telling the remarkable story of the radium girls, who were exposed to dangerous levels of radium while painting the dials on clocks during war, I could not put this one down. Despite it’s length, I managed to finish this one in record time. It is a story that will pull at your heart strings, make you cry and laugh at the same time, and leave you with a story that will remain in your mind for a very long time.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Even year I tend to read at least one book from Taylor Jenkins Reid and this time around I decided to pick up her newest release. Telling the story of female astronauts in the 1970s and 80s, Atmosphere was a solid read but not one of my favorites. There isn’t much else to say about this. If you enjoy TJD’s books this might be worth it for you but I would go in with lower expectations.
Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian – We have now come to my first DNF of the season. The low ratings on this one should have been enough for me not to pick up this short book dealing with two college professors but I thought maybe, just maybe, it might be worth it. Unfortunately it wasn’t and I can confirm the Goodreads ratings were right on this one.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry – Fellow reader, have I become a fantasy reader? That’s what I found myself asking when I finished this fantasy story. Odessa finds herself unexpectedly married off to Zavier, a prince whose country, Turah, is often in conflict with Odessa’s home. As Odessa braves this new country, serving as a spy for her father, she discovers some evil is lurking in the land. Working with her new husband’s top protector, the Guardian, Odessa attempts to discover what is happening. For someone new to fantasy, I thought this was a great introduction into the genre and I will be picking up book two.
Towards the Horizon by Gabrielle McMaster – April means I need to read at least one Titanic book and this year I was thrilled to pick up this new release from Gabrielle McMaster. Focusing on the ship’s Irish legacy and following a young female apprentice, I greatly enjoyed this new perspective. The ship’s legacy in Ireland has truly grown over the last few decades and I liked reading from that view point. The story read quickly and was a great addition to my Titanic book collection.
My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney – When it comes to the thriller/mystery genre, Alice Feeney is one of my go to. So when she released a new book at the start of this year I had to pick it up. Eden is an artist who has just purchased her dream home and is staging her first art exhibit in the small town. But when she returns to her home from a morning run, she discovers another woman there and is claiming to be Eden. I loved the premise of the book but I did find the twists at the end to be a little bit too unbelievable. Rock, Paper, Scissors is still my favorite Alice Feeney book.
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins – It’s hurricane season and the sleepy coastal town of St. Menard’s is preparing for another season. While hurricanes are not unusual for the area, many can’t stop talking about the one that hit in 1984. Not because of the storm itself but because Landon Fitzroy, the son of a political legend, was murdered during it. His young lover, Lo Bailey, was accused of the crime but was never found guilty. Now, decades later, Lo has returned, determined to set the record straight. This thriller was a very quick read and pretty short, which worked to its advantage. Sometimes Rachel Hawkins’ books run a bit too long but the page length for this was just perfect. It was a bit predictable but a fun read.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh – During the spring it has become a bit of a tradition for me to read one “weird” book, a story with an out there premise. This one focuses on a young woman living in New York City in 2001 who, tired of life (literally and figuratively), decides she wants to sleep through the year. Besides this, there isn’t much of a story and is more of a character analysis. I found it to be a step up from the “weird” book I read last year, Bunny by Mona Awad, but still not a favorite.
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – A wonderful but unexpected 5 star read for me this season was this historical fiction set in Iran from the 1950s-70s. Centered around two friends whose actions result in them living vastly different lives, Lion Women is a heartful and emotional story that seems more important than ever. I will be reading more of Marjan Kamali’s books in the future.
The Whisper Man by Alex North – While scrolling through social media I saw that Netflix was adapting this horror/thriller by Alex North. Since I like to read the book before the movie (most of the time) I decided to grab this one from my local library. Following a widowed father who has a complicated relationship with his young son, the broken family relocates to a small town. While it is a picturesque community, the town holds a tragic past. Twenty years ago several young boys were kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer who not only stalked his victims but would also whisper through their windows. The man was caught and locked up but now children are disappearing again. This story had a very good, creepy atmosphere but the last fifty pages felt very rushed and didn’t leave a satisfying ending.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote – For my classics book club I got to read the book that is often credited with starting the true crime genre. I’ve heard a lot about this book and was excited to pick it up. While I think it is a good introduction to anyone wanting to dip their toes into the true crime genre, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. I kept comparing it unfavorably to Ann Rule’s The Stranger Beside Me, which, in my opinion, was much better.
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston – Following a somewhat mediocre classic I grabbed a somewhat mediocre thriller. Anatomy of an Alibi was one of the first big releases of the year and the premise sounded interesting. Two women’s lives become intertwined when one agrees to pretend to be the other, offering an alibi. But, when the woman’s husband ends up dead, they must work to keep their lies straight. Again, interesting premise but the execution fell flat and I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters.
Passion Project by London Sperry – The final book I read in Spring 2025 was this romance set in New York City. Though it has been several years since her boyfriend’s unexpected death, Bennet has been unable to move on in her life. Living in the city where they always planned to settle in once they graduated college, Bennet feels haunted by her boyfriend’s presence and feels she can’t go on enjoying life without him. Desperate to help her friend, Bennet’s roommate sets her up on a blind date. While that doesn’t go as planned, Bennet is introduced to Henry, a charming photographer who makes it his mission to help Bennet fall in love with life again. This was romance that had a lot more emotion than I expected, which I felt somewhat hurt the book. Yes, there is nothing wrong dealing with complex emotions in a romance book (looking at you The Wedding People) but it became very overwhelming after a while. I often switched from feeling sorry for Bennet to being upset with her and poor Henry was just along for the ride.
Hello fellow readers! Once again we find ourselves half way through 2026, which means it is time for the yearly Mid Year Freakout book tag. This fun tag was created by fellow book creators where you respond to a series of questions related to what you read so far in the year and what you hope to still get to in the future.
Happy June, fellow readers! Summer has finally arrived and today I’m sharing with you ten books that I’m hoping to read during this sunny season. So pour yourself a lemonade and let’s get into it.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams – The newest thriller from Taylor Adams, whose book The Last Word became one of my favorite books of 2024, follows two girlfriends who become trapped inside a cave. I’m sure this will be a fast paced thriller with many twists and turns. I do hope that Mr. Adams learned how to give his book an actual ending and not two or three. Even if he does, I’m sure it will keep me on my toes.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – Speaking of summer traditions, every year around the Fourth of July I participate in Summerween, a yearly readathon in which participants read spooky, scary books during the summer time. The last two years I participated I read a Riley Sager book and this year will be no exception. This is one of his early books and has great reviews on Goodreads so I’m hoping it will be a new favorite. It follows a woman who returns to the summer camp where, fifteen years earlier, three of her roommates went missing, and she becomes determined to find out what happened to them.
When Courtney sees her niece running from her family’s cabin to Courtney’s she is concerned. But that quickly turns to fear when she finds the little girl covered in blood. Soon, a horrific crime scene is revealed in which Courtney’s brother and sister-in-law are the victims. Worse still, while the couple’s two youngest children are unhurt, the eldest, Reese, is missing. As the story switches from Courtney’s perspective in the present to Reese’s in the past, a tangled web of secrets and lies are revealed with the killer coming from the most unlikely of places.