Beloved,
In my usual fashion I set a reading goal for the total number of books I wanted to read this year and a sub-list of must reads which I yet again abandoned for frivolous romance stories.
By the time I had read eleven books I had literally read none – and I mean absolutely none – of the books on my this years TBR. In an upgrade from last year, not only did I DNF one but two of them. But it’s fine, it takes me time to get into Morrison’s work even if I’ve only read Beloved, so I know I’ll pick up Tar Baby again one day. The Bell Jar not so sure, because this is the fourth time in like six years I’ve started it and left it alone.
In 2026, I will try again to be a well read literary girlie, but as of this year, here are mini reviews of the books I read.
1. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
This is like Hallmark but better? However, I’m a very pine-y and angst romance girl and this just didn’t have it??? They literally get together in the first chapter and spend the rest of the time together but still managing to will they, won’t they-ing into oblivion even though they were both very willing. Still, I did enjoy it. Daniel was an absolute sweetheart. I’ll probably be picking another Jimenez book. 3/5 stars
2. Othello by Julius Lester
An accessible retelling of Shakespeare’s Othello. Picked this up because Angasa told me the title character of this classic is Black. This short book has it all. Racial dynamics, love, betrayal and the ultimate heartbreak – blind trust in a bromance. It proves once again, that men are their own worst enemies. Nothing particularly wrong with it except I didn’t find it compelling until towards the end. The escalation in those last chapters? Wild. Still, it packs unforgettable lines and some sharp lessons on trust. A solid 3/5 for Shakespeare made easier. Full review here.
3. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
I should have read this a decade ago when surfing the internet hadn’t spoiled one of the twists and introduced me to similar stories. Still, I enjoyed this quite a bit. I found myself gasping at some of the scenes. Very readable and very gripping. A high 3/5 stars.
4. Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard
This was aggressively okay. It reminded me that teenage characters actually annoy me (in a good way). Great mental health rep but by the time I’m publishing this I’ll only vaguely recall ever reading this book. 3/5. Full Review here.
5. Two Friends in Marriage by Jackie Lau
Another contender for okay-est book of all time. Best friends to lovers with some solid diverse sexuality rep. This one, this one I will truly forget. 2.5/5. Full Review here.
6. Before I let go by Kennedy Ryan
It’s so weird because while it’s true that this book had such a visceral effect on me, I wasn’t 100% rooting for them to end up together. I knew they would of course but something about their chemistry felt off. Half the time I just thought the chasm between them was just too wide to get over. I think it’s heightened by the fact that there’s not enough romance between the two characters outside the physical attraction. I’m not sure what makes them great for each other aside just being told “oh wow, they were great for each other.” I think like 75% of the conversations they have are actually arguments now that I think about it. I don’t know man, it’s whatever. Still a decent time though. 2.5/5
7. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
Started this at 2 a.m. mid-insomnia spiral while halfway through Luster. I wanted comfort, I wanted romance, I wanted tropes – and this gave me slow burn and marriage of convenience. You know – the good stuff. It won’t change your life, but if you’re moody, on your period, and up at 2 a.m., it might save your night. 3/5 stars. But a high 3 stars.Full Review here.
8. Luster by Raven Leilani
This book felt cold, detached, and emotionally flat for me. Ironically it was lackluster. The writing tries to be clever but left me unmoved. The characters felt unreal, their choices implausible, and despite the chaos, I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Maybe it’s brilliant. Maybe it’s just trying too hard. I just know it wasn’t for me. Was absolutely glad when it was over. 2.5/5 stars.Full Review here.
9. Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
I don’t know man, kinda feel cheated that this is Hazelwood’s least goofy book – which I think contributes to the dull (?) chemistry between the two main characters. I was having a good time, sure, but definitely not giggling and kicking my feet. You have to suspend a bit of disbelief at the circumstances surrounding the whole relationship but I think it does try (not amazingly but A for effort) to explore non-conventional relationship dynamics (both romantic and platonic). Fine time, but I won’t remember it much. 2.5/5 stars.
10. Wild Side by Elsie Silver
This is literally just 85% “the Wall of Winnipeg and Me” vibes. So it shouldn’t surprise you that this took me like six hours to read cause I was avoiding work. All I can say to that is I wish I could read books like Purple Hibiscus and The Kite Runner at the rate I read cozy and goofy romance stories with the same plot over and over again. 3/5 stars.
11. Tumbling over the Tight End by Vai Denton
Let’s see? Obsessed man, taking care of an overworked woman? And it’s a sports romance? Count me in as always. Deals with some heavy topics but is really charming and easy to read. Sort of found it hard to believe that they were in their late twenties at first cause they felt kinda young, then remembered “hold up, that’s my age. Plausible”. 3/5 stars. (Can I also say, I really don’t like these covers)
12. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
At first I was going to give this like 3 stars because though the writing is good, the story felt flat. Not boring per se but like “nothing special” for lack of better words. (I bet if I read it a decade ago I’d be more moved.) However towards the last 100 or so pages I experienced such a wild range of emotions that I cannot even begin to describe. A low 4 stars but 4 stars regardless. I wish I read this a decade ago. Wow. Full review here.
13. Gridlocked on the Gridiron by Vai Denton
Definitely preferred Tumbling over the Tightend, but that didn’t make this one any less sweet and charming. Not a fan of either’s third act break ups, especially this one. But I hate both their covers in equal measure. 3/5 stars.
14. Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalou
I didn’t initially think I’d like this book because the beginning is kinda fast and our main female character is kind of a lot of digest at first. But as I went on I found myself laughing out loud, if not at the humour then at then audacity of the things being said and going on. The plot is extremely manufactured but I had a blast. Full review here. 3.5/5 stars
15. Play Along by Liz Tomforde
This book had me crying and laughing and kicking my feet. Another lovely sports marriage of convenience. Isaiah Rhodes is definitely the blueprint. Can be read as a stand alone (like I did) but there are so many characters to keep up with I recommend you read the other books in the series. Which I’ll be doing. 4/5 stars.
16. Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
This book convinced me I don’t have taste and that maybe, y’all shouldn’t really be taking my reviews that seriously cause man, the more I think about it the more I think I didn’t like this book. There’s so many mixed feelings I have, ’cause while yes I think it’s a good portrait of being human, there’s just quite a few things that were off for me. Anyway read my full review here. A questionable 3/5 stars for me.
17. Gloves Off by Stephani Archer
After reading The Fake Out and The Wingman by Archer last year, I couldn’t wait for this book to come out. In my entire life this is the only book I’ve ever anticipated and it did not disappoint. I stayed in bed and devoured this in six and a half hours. And even after I finished it I found myself coming back to reread chunks and chunks of it over and over again as the days went. To the point I just decided to reread it altogether two months later. 4/5 stellar stars. But check with me again in a few months. Could be 5/5.
18. Mile High by Liz Tomforde
DNF-ed somewhere after the half way mark. Both Zanders and Stevie – our main characters – are lovely but I just couldn’t do it. It’s like 300 pages too long but also maybe I just have sports romance fatigue. Might pick it up another day but today I need to move on. 3/5 stars at where I left it.
19. This Could be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Man, this story literally had me in the first half. It was quite good and Judah in that half, my God yes yes and yes. It drawls kind of in the middle and like the end is way rushed. However I did enjoy this more than the other Kennedy Ryan I read this year. I think it’s mainly because in general I couldn’t call what Ryan writes as romance more than I’d call it contemporary fiction with romantic elements. However those romantic elements shine more for me in this than in Before I Let Go. Anyway as a story I think it’s like 2.5 stars but Judah Cross deserves his own star for who he is. 3.5/5
20. The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells
This story purely exists for the younger you who stayed up in 2014 to read 156 chapters of some Wattpad story. I say this as a compliment. Because listen, does this story have plot holes you can swim in? Yes. Is the main male character a grunting jerk. Of course. Will it leave you with questions that might or might not be answered in the other books in the series I might or might not read? Absolutely. But were the vibes also immaculate? Did it make me giggle? Did I read this in like less than 24hrs and stay up until the a.m.s neglecting my responsibilities. A resounding yes. 3 stars in general but 5/5 in Wattpad rating scores.
21. When Breathe Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
This book sets out to answer “what makes life worth living in the face of death” and then proceeds to just not answer that question. Well not to me anyway. What it did do is make me reflect profoundly on my own mortality in ways I’ve never done. It also made me realise the things I take heavily for granted. 4/5 stars. Full review here.
22. The Favor by Suzanne Wright
A slow burn, marriage of convenience? Count me present all the time. I really enjoyed this book and what it had to offer. I could have done without the endearment “baby girl” but sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad. 4/5 stars.
23. Marriage for One by Ella Maise
This book is super drawn out that you kind of forget that the reasons this fake marriage exist are flimsier than my self control when it comes to reading slow burn marriage of conveniences. Honestly all the motives in this book are curious at best. The plot kinda checks out as soon as the story begins. Our two protagonists just sort of do domestic couple things and say each other’s names a lot. The guy is pretty sweet for the strong silent type tbh but there really isn’t that much grovelling towards the end (iykyk). Anyway, it was a bit too long, I kinda clocked out after the third act break up but it was also really cute and sweet. 3/5 stars.
24. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Have you ever wondered if your sole purpose in life is to work in a convenience store? Well wonder no more because this book will answer that exact question. This is an odd little book that explores societal expectations especially vis-a-vis people who just don’t fit the norm. 2.5/5 stars Full review here.
25. Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalou
When I heard that Honey & Spice was going to get a sequel, I thought it would be absolutely unnecessary but turns out I was wrong. It was sharp and barbed and full of wit. Admittedly I think I love this one more than the first. This is second chance romance done absolutely right! I’ve read a few books with this trope which barely convinced me the two needed to get back together (I’m looking at you Before I let go) but this one? I was rooting for my darlings Kiki and Kai. 4/5
26. Alive and Wells by Hannah Bailey
I think I had a good time reading this but I’m already blanking on most of it even as I write this. It was an alright romance book about cowboys nothing to ride home about (wink. wink.) 3/5.
27. The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer
Not as exciting on the second read but Hazel and Rory are still cuties. 3.5 stars.
28. Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Sadly, at the point I am, I would read Hazelwood’s grocery lists. I can however tell you this is my second least favourite of hers I’ve read. Right after Deep End. 3/5
29. Power Play by Chelsea Curto
Now, I love marriage of convenience as much as the next girlie as evidenced by this list, however in this one felt a bit too gimmicky. I feel the book could have done without it – especially since the marriage comes halfway through the book. It doesn’t really change much about the dynamic the two main characters had except the guy got to now say “my wife”, which, not gonna lie, does it for me in any shape or form. 3/5
30. The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie
Not sure if I am rooting for these two to be together. Or if I am even convinced they will last in the long run. But Logan was literally so perfect and I personally believe he could do better but whatever. All 3 stars I gave this book are for him.
