Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Most Anticipated Books for the first Half of 2026

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I know I just posted a lot of these in my 26 books I want to read in 2026 post but it's still find to distill it down even further...

Guest Review: Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland

It's never too late to find yourself... 💫

When she unexpectedly loses her husband, Yvonne Kellerman's world turns quiet and grey. Five years on, her days are filled with the gentle chatter of her loyal parrot, Trevor, and the comfort of her crafting table—but she can’t shake the feeling that life is slipping her by and Yvonne feels lost and lonelier than ever.

When she joins the local crafting club at Willowdale Village Hall, Yvonne expects nothing more than a few afternoons of sewing. Instead, amongst the other local crafters, she discovers friendship, laughter and a renewed appreciation for her gorgeous Lake District home. It’s a reminder that she isn’t alone and, with each new stitch, her confidence returns, and so does her belief that it's never too late for fresh starts and new beginnings.

When a familiar face from her past reappears, Yvonne finds herself standing at a crossroads: will she protect her heart, or embrace the chance to love—and truly live—again?

A heartwarming story of friendship, courage, and second chances by the million copy bestseller Jessica Redland.

Guest Review: This is the fifth book in the author’s Escape to the Lakes series, with all stories set near to Derwent Water, one of the many lakes in this beautiful area of England. Although there are some recurring characters in this and the other books in the series, each title can be read as a standalone. The author has included a helpful list of characters who have appeared in previous books at the beginning of this one. Once again, the attractive cover of this book shows a scene typical of the area.

This story centres on Yvonne Kellerman, who, approaching her sixtieth birthday, realises that it’s time to get more out of life. She has been living on her own apart from her chatty parrot for the past five years, following the death of her husband. As a keen crafter, her eye is caught by an advert for a crafting club that meets in a local village hall, and she decides to give it a try. Suddenly, she has a group of wonderful friends who, like her, have found the club an invaluable lifeline. Then, one day, she comes face to face with someone from the past who she thought she would never see again but has never forgotten. Having found friendship and a renewed confidence through her hobbies, she wonders whether she could also find love again and complete her ambitions for her future.

I can highly recommend this truly heartwarming story. Yvonne is a character in a situation that will be recognised by many, men as well as women, who have become lost and lonely, particularly after the departure of a partner. How marvellous that she had the courage to step outside her world and find friendship as well as opening up to the possibility of a second chance at love. I loved the new friends that Yvonne discovered through the crafting club, and I especially liked that they all had their own stories going on. It was also nice to bump into one or two familiar faces. As with the other books in this series, the author gives the reader the chance to picture the wonderful scenery of the Lake District. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series and perhaps catching up with Yvonne and her friends.

To order your copy now, just click here!

Top Ten Books I Read in 2025

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Always a massively difficult list to make but actually slightly easier now I read less books in a year!

As always, this list is in no particular order...

26 Books I Want to Read in 2026

 I love making these lists every year and it's ncie to look back at the end of the year as to what I didn't get to from the previous year and make plans to read it. In fact I am doing this right now. 

I've roughly ordered into publication months but as always, these dates are subject to change..

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

2025 Q4 Reading Wrap Up

 Here's everything I read in October, November and Devember of 2025. I have enjoyed doing these wrap ups in quarters like this rather than in months but I don't know whether to go back to months in 2026, what do you think? 

Again I really like the balance of fiction, non-fiction and adult romance vs YA vs Thriller here!