Hello fellow readers! Today, I am here to share with you my Spring 2026 Wrap-Up. I read quite a lot during this season so let’s jump right into it.

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.

I Was Feeling Epic by Samantha Highfill – Another nonfiction I picked up this spring was this oral history about the TV show, The Vampire Diaries. I binged watched the series for the first time almost two years ago and loved it so I had to pick it. It was fascinating to read the behind the scenes information and hearing the casts’ perspectives on the show. I would recommend it to anyone who grew up with The CW shows or is just a fan of the series itself.

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.

It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica – I recently posted a full review of this one (check it out here: https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2026/06/its-not-her-by-mary-kubica-review/) but I LOVED it. A book I was able to finish in 24 hours, this thriller that is set in the woods of Wisconsin never lost my interest and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Easily one of the most addicting reads I’ve had this year so far.

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.