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One thing to know about me is that I love to read. But year after year, I tend to reach for the same types of books, mostly mysteries and historical fiction.
Wanting to mix things up a bit, I decided to take on a reading challenge for 2026.
This year, I’m working through The 52 Book Club’s 2026 Reading Challenge, which includes 52 prompts and the goal of reading one book for each. It’s a simple framework, but it encourages variety and makes room for books I might not have picked up otherwise.
During the first month of the challenge, I read nine books. Here is what I read and how I rated them:
Books I Read in January
I, Medusa by Ayanna Gray
This book came highly recommended, and I was hoping to start the year off with a really great read. The story is a reimagining of Medusa’s life, following her from girlhood through her transformation and eventual death. While I liked the concept, I struggled with the characters and found them unlikable from the start. Paired with a story that felt longer than necessary, this ended up being a slightly above-average read rather than a standout.
Overall Score: 3.5/5
The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden
After her boyfriend breaks up with her, Mia joins a humanitarian mission in search of a new direction. I don’t typically gravitate toward romance and went into this with fairly low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of both the story and the characters. It offered more substance than I expected and felt thoughtful without being heavy. Overall Score: 3.5/5
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
This historical novel is inspired by the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and follows Esme, the daughter of a lexicographer who quietly collects words that have been excluded,many of them tied to women’s experiences. I found this to be an interesting and accessible look at how language, culture, and gender intersect, and how those omissions shape everyday life in ways we rarely think about. Overall Score: 4/5
A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong
This is the first book in a time-travel mystery series in which a modern-day homicide detective is transported to Victorian Scotland and must solve a murder to find her way home. The premise is more absurd than what I usually go for, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. I especially enjoyed that I couldn’t guess the culprit too early. While I’m not rushing to continue the series, I could see myself picking up another installment down the line. Overall Score: 3.5/5
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
As the title suggests, this book follows a group of knitters who come together on Friday nights, though the focus of this first book is primarily on the owner of the knitting store. She is a single mother whose story centers on relationships, loss, and the complicated return of someone from her past. I found the pacing too slow and didn’t feel invested enough in the characters. Overall Score: 3/5
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Yes, I read this classic children’s novel for the first time. I’ve seen countless film adaptations over the years and wanted to experience the original text for myself. It was just as bizarre as expected. Overall Score: 3/5
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
After divorcing a famous musician, Aurora returns to her hometown to reconnect with her roots and work through unresolved parts of her past. This is very much a romance, centered on a grumpy–sunshine love story that ultimately wasn’t my favorite. I found the characters to be too unrealistic, which made it difficult to fully invest in the relationship. What worked for me was Aurora’s backstory and the way certain parts of her past were explored and resolved, even if the romance itself never quite landed. Overall Score: 3/5
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
After reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches last year, I was curious to try another book by Sangu Mandanna. This story follows Sera, a witch who has lost her magic and is working to regain it. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and found the storyline more engaging than the author’s previous book. The pacing felt steadier, and I was more invested in both the plot and the characters this time around. Overall Score: 4/5
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Kate Quinn so far, so when The Alice Network fit one of the challenge prompts, it was an easy choice. This dual-timeline historical mystery spans both World War I and World War II and follows two women searching for long-buried truths. While it isn’t my favorite of Quinn’s books, I found the story compelling and couldn’t wait to see how the pieces came together. Overall Score: 4/5
Final Thoughts on Books I Read in January
January ended up being a strong start, with nine books finished. February has begun with Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which is a slower, denser read and has already slowed my momentum a bit. I’m aiming to finish five books this month, and I’m hopeful that the pace will pick up as I settle into it.
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