2026 book 121

 Meg Charlton’s Voyagers

Really interesting novel about a dude who, when he was six, disappeared with his friend, and when they returned, they told a story that seemed like an alien abduction, and became somewhat famous as a result. Now he’s an adult, living under a different name, working as a lawyer, when the whole world starts getting a signal from space. Is this contact? This is all interspersed with flashbacks to his childhood and his friendship, and how they eventually became estranged, as well as pieces involving their imaginary alien friend. The writing is super engaging, I really loved reading this! A/A-.

2026 book 120

 Madeleine Gray’s Chosen Family

Honestly I wish this had a better title, it’s so generic when this book is SO GOOD and funny and heartbreaking and super queer! It centers on a woman, Eve, whose partner Nell has left her and their child and cut contact completely, and flashes back to how they met as twelve-year-olds, became best friends, and everything along the way. Just really engaging writing full of messy queer people, I resented having to put this down to go to sleep last night. A/A-.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on July 14th.

2026 book 119

 Grace Curtis’ Heaven’s Graveyard

I was psyched already for a new Grace Curtis novel, but then it turns out this is a sort of companion to her book Idolfire! See, the protagonist here is an archivist who’s determined to prove her favorite legendary heroine was a real person—but also, that heroine is one of the two main characters of Idolfire. I haven’t seen this mentioned in any of the marketing, I’m guessing because this works perfectly fine as a standalone? But I love connections like that! I seriously like sat straight up when I realized! This did feel a lot darker though (I don’t remember any animal sacrifices in the previous book), which wasn’t my fave. Anyway, our historian also has to solve the murder of her mentor—with her ex girlfriend’s help, of course—plus there’s a whole impending war she’s been ignoring. The second half is super entertaining and action-packed, really fun. Another great one from Curtis! A/A-.

2026 book 118

 T. Kingfisher’s The Wonder Engine

Satisfying follow-up to Clockwork Boys, as our merry band (well, band) tries to unravel the mustiness of the Clocktaurs. This is a very fun read, though perhaps not as well-developed as some of her more recent works. I’m not gonna complain about a fun read though. 

2026 book 117

 T. Kingfisher’s Clockwork Boys

Reading Daggerbound made me want to reread this duology, since both feature Learned Edmund! I forgot how good this is—lots of action and dark humor as our little band (featuring three criminals—a formerly demon-possessed paladin, an assassin, and the lady forger leading them all—plus an earnest and super sexist young scholar) goes on a suicide mission to investigate some mysterious war machines. And have some supernatural adventures along the way! Fun stuff!!!

2026 book 116

 Nina LaCour’s Meet Me in the Garden

I’ve loved all of LaCour’s novels, but this one really feels different, more ambitious (is this her first adult novel? I know it’s all marketing categories). It’s the story of a (deeply closeted) Creole woman and her family from 1944 through the 1960s, as they move from New Orleans to Los Angeles and raise their children. Just a really beautiful story about art and various kinds of love and families and friends and making a life. Maybe some bits were a little on the nose but I loved this. A.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on August 4th.

2026 book 115

 Sarah Orne Jewett’s A Country Doctor

This classic novel (originally published in 1884) is getting reissued in August, and I’ve never read it, and the premise sounded interesting, so here we are. It involves a country doctor who takes a young girl in as his ward, and she grows up to want to be a doctor too, but much of society is skeptical of a lady doctor. I see why this is a classic! A little too much Christianity for my personal taste but a really well-written story. 

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This edition will be released in August.

2026 book 114

 Jaleigh Johnson’s The Reimagining of Thornwood House

Do you want to read a cozy fantasy novel? This is the quintessential example of a cozy fantasy novel circa 2026. Our protagonist is a land witch who takes a job as a caretaker of a magical sentient house, only the house has kicked out all its previous possible caretakers. And if the house doesn’t let her stay, she won’t be able to finalize the adoption of her daughter! Plus there’s a magical mystery to untangle! Luckily there are quirky townsfolk and a handy neighbor (the requisite love interest) on hand to help. I’m not trying to sound facetious. I liked the house and the relationship with the daughter. But a lot of this, especially the romance, felt very rote, and it really dragged for a lot of the story. I was pretty over it by the end. But if you want more cozy fantasy to read, this exists! B.

2026 book 113

 Camille Perri’s Social Animals

OBVIOUSLY I one hundred percent read this because of the cover, but it turned out to be a great story too! It involves a PI who’s hired to find out if a woman is cheating on her husband—and she has to adopt a dog and befriend her at the dog park to find out! But then it turns out someone ELSE at the dog park is ALSO watching this woman. But despite how that sounds, it’s not a thriller, it’s a really nice story about these three women and their adorable and goofy dogs (aside from the horrible husband). Sidebar to locals: an RDU airport hotel plays a role, lol. I really liked this—perfect summer read. A/A-.

2026 book 112

 Mollyhall Seeley’s We Hexed the Moon

I admit to being mildly distracted while reading this, trying to figure out if it was set in Hilton Head (verdict: yes). Anyway, it’s about four girls and their friendship and what happens when they drunkenly do a ritual involving the moon…and then the moon disappears from the sky and turns up to mess with them—and tells them she won’t return to the sky so they had better find a replacement. I liked everything with the girls and their friendship, but the way the moon replacement stuff played out was kind of silly? I’m not sure how else it could have gone, though, and I don’t want to be spoilery with my specific issues. Interesting read for sure. A-/B+.

2026 book 111

 Ursula Vernon’s Castle Hangnail

Sometimes you just wanna reread a book where a twelve year old girl tries to con her way into becoming the Wicked Witch running a castle, in a castle that desperately needs a new master. I never see this one talked about when people talk about Ursula Vernon’s books—maybe because it’s not under the T.Kingfisher name? I think it’s just as good as her other middle grade books and super satisfying and funny. 

2026 book 110

 Alexandra McCollum’s Into the Midnight Wood

Look, I love a grumpy/sunshine pairing, but this grumpy guy—our only POV character—is legit an asshole, mostly to his love interest, for WAY too long. It was really upsetting to read!!! He takes the other guy’s sunshine-ness away!!! Ok, the premise here is two guys who are roommates in a world with a vague fantasy tinge, and the POV guy can’t stand his adorable quirky roommate, except obviously they secretly love each other. But like, he is so cruel for 75 percent of the book. And then there’s a late miscommunication, my least favorite thing in a romance novel. I don’t know why I kept reading this, except I liked the writing style? I liked the magical bits that kept creeping into the contemporary romance? But I was so mad at this dude!!!! B.

2026 book 109

 Katherine Addison’s The Goblin Emperor

I was talking about Addison’s books on Bluesky this week, which of course made me want to reread this! Why aren’t there more books like this, full of political intrigues but also full of kindness?! If you haven’t read this book (and you should!), it’s the story of a young man, raised in isolation, who suddenly becomes emperor after his father and older brothers are all killed. Lots of mysteries and plots to unravel, but also lots of new friends and allies to make. Just really interesting world building, wonderful characters, and a satisfying story all around. One of my faves.

2026 book 108

 Rebecca Thorne's Moss'd in Space

I read and liked Thorne's first couple of Tomes and Tea fozy fantasy novels, but haven't kept up with her more recent stuff--clearly I need to catch up! This was a very fun cozy fantasy involving a woman who's determined to go to another planet to save her sister's life, and buys the only spaceship she can afford--which is run by a colony of sentient moss with abandonment issues. Fun adventures and new friends ensue! Looking forward to book 2. A-.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on June 30th.

2026 book 107

 Ann Patchett’s Whistler

I always love Ann Patchett’s books, and maybe this is recency bias, but I think this might be her most beautiful novel. It centers on a woman who’s visiting the Met with her husband when they run into a man who was briefly her stepfather, and the two reforge their relationship while uncovering pieces of the past they never knew. Just a lovely story and full of grace. Cannot recommend this enough and my book club will be discussing it in July! A.

2026 book 106

 Shauna Lawless’ The Children of Gods and Fighting Men

I said recently that I am always looking for more books with political intrigue, and this definitely fit the bill! It’s set in Ireland in the 900s and there are Irish people, Vikings, early Christians, pagans, and a lot of people straight out of folklore. The two protagonists are both women from long-lived people, one up to her ears in political machinations on behalf of her son (and saving herself from various dangers); the other, a healer, afraid of mortal men but forced to spy on them. I liked this a lot, but it was very slow at times. I do want to read more of this series, but I have too many other books on my kindle right now! A-.

2026 book 105

 Rainbow Rowell’s Cherry Baby

Reread for book club! I still think it was a missed opportunity that Rowell didn’t get one of the comic book artists she knows to draw some of the webcomics since most of the plot involves a woman who has separated from her husband, who is famous for drawing comics based on their life (and writing a movie based on same). I thought some of the issues I had the first time I read this would be assuaged on a reread, but that wasn't entirely the case! I still love it, though, bc Rowell writes such wonderful characters. As another fat lady with an eccentric wardrobe, Cherry is such a fave.