Happy 2026! I know the whole “happy new year!” train has come and gone, but I’m fully leaning into “better late than never” this year. Here’s a little recap of what’s been going on in my world since this time last year.
I’ve been pretty disconnected from the bookish space for basically an entire year. I was appearing offline all of 2025 even though I’d occasionally open my bookstagram and scroll through recent posts on here. I read 2 books in 2025. 2! Doubt started to creep in. At first, I figured that it meant that it was simply time to hang my hat and close this chapter, because obviously, I haven’t felt called to it like I used to. But cue an existential crisis because what am I saying? I’ve been a reader my whole life, and there’s no way I’m giving that up!
As I reflect on my lack of reading activity in 2025, I realize that it comes down to simple growing pains. I’m 25 now and turning 26 this year. Basically, I’m starting to age out of the YA fantasy genre. And that’s okay.
My reading interests have pivoted to more environmental science and nature topics because that’s what my career is. In place of reading books from Barnes & Noble last year, I started reading a lot more scientific articles related to work. For a lot of people that probably sounds like torture, but I love it. It keeps me connected to my time in college as I start to get further from it, and it keeps my knowledge up-to-date when I’m speaking to people in my field. Win-win!
Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean I will never pick up another YA fantasy book again. In fact, I am currently 40% of the way through Iron Flame, which is the second book of the Fourth Wing series. I started reading it as part of a mini book club with my coworkers and I am LOVING it. Reviews to come.
All and all, I think the last year has been tough in more ways than one. But I’m doing the best I can and still showing up which is all I can ask of myself. I’m feeling good about creating more and stepping back into this space this year, so let’s talk about some books I’m looking forward to reading in 2026!
Click on any of the book covers to go to its Goodreads page.
Young Adult Books
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
As I said, I’ve already read Fourth Wing and am quickly marching towards being half way through Iron Flame. I am SO excited about this book series and I haven’t felt this way since reading Girls of Paper and Fire. I also JUST learned that this is going to be a FIVE BOOK SERIES!! My reading vlogs are about to be so back.
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
I read the first two Emily Wilde books back in 2024 and neglected to finish the series last year. I still think it’s fresh enough to just power through the last book this year without rereading the first two. While I didn’t write comprehensive reviews for these books, I read them as Kindle e-books, and all of my highlights and comments are public on Goodreads if you want to have a laugh!
The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones
I briefly started reading this book last year, but couldn’t keep up with it and set it aside. That definitely wasn’t for a lack of interest but rather a poor headspace on my end. The driving force of this book is so interesting, and I love a cast with a diverse set of powers/abilities. I’m excited to actually get into this title this year.
The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey
Despite being MIA for a year, I am lucky enough to still occasionally receive Advanced Reader Copy review requests from authors and publishers. This title came through as an ARC review request at the end of last year. I’m not usually a thriller reader, but there’s something about this title that I have to know more about. So I accepted the request, and I will read/review this one before its publication day in April!
Environmental Science Books
Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez
I am reading this book as part of another (but different!) work book club with some colleagues from different organizations. After a particularly enlightening conference in winter 2024, a group of us decided to form a book club dedicated to examining and challenging core tenets in the invasive plant management field. To do this, we have intentionally read books authored by Indigenous peoples and discussed ways to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into our work. I can go on and on and on, but it has been super fulfilling. Fresh Banana Leaves is our next read!
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by Camille T. Dungy
A friend of mine posted her thoughts on this book after reading it, and I was immediately intrigued. On a surface level, it is my hope that I can one day have enough space to nurture a garden. On a deeper level, I know this book will challenge racial stereotypes about black people not being outdoorsy, which is what my soul craves more of. As a Black Ecologist, my anticipation for this title runs deep.
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
I have a deep appreciation for the field of forest ecology despite having very little formal training in it. I just love forests. This title came up as a possibility for the aforementioned book club, but it turns out that most of the group had already read it minus me! That changes this year. I’m eager to gain more technical information about forest ecology outside of the one course I took in college.
If you stayed until the end, I have one last surprise…🐈⬛
Another reason that I spent more time away from the bookish space last year is that I got my first ever cat! Everyone, meet Oracle. She’s my mischievous, playful, and super sweet baby girl.
I adopted Oracle from a nearby shelter in October last year. She’s around 9 months old now, and I legitimately cannot fathom that there was ever a time when I didn’t have her. Between biting cables, chasing balls, and destroying toy mice, she keeps me on my toes. I would absolutely have it no other way.
Oracle is now featured on my About page as the Editor in (Mis)Chief.
Until next time, friends 🖤
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