Let it be known that 2026 is the year that has humbled me as a reader. Compared to my 2025 Reading Wrap Up, I’m on track to finish the year reading significantly less. Let’s discuss my 2026 quarterly reading wrap up and transition into my slow reader era.

Q1 Reading Wrap Up: Slow and Steady

This year has been a busy one. Starting school at the spur of the moment led to less time for reading and more time studying. Despite my jam-packed schedule, I still make time for reading, and I’m happy with how my reading quality and enjoyment have increased. Even if my quantity is the lowest it’s been in over two years. Let’s take a peek at the stats for my 2026 quarterly reading wrap up.

Quarterly Reading Stats

This quarter, I read a total of seven books, averaging 2,331 pages, with one month being average reading time. Top genres of the quarter were classics, nonfiction, literary/contemporary, and science fiction. As for format, print retains its crown, coming in at 86%, and digital, 14%.

The mood for this quarter was emotional, tense, and dark, which is on brand. Next, the preferred pace was medium, with 71% of books falling into this category and 29% slow. I made a goal to read more nonfiction this year, and it’s paying off. I read 43% nonfiction books and 57% fiction.

Finally, I can see how my taste is shifting. I had 2 three-star reads, 2 four-star reads, and 3 5-star reads, with an average rating of 4.14 stars.

Favorite Books this Quarter

All About Love by bell hooks

Introducing my favorite book of the quarter, and I’m positive this book will land on my yearly favorites list. This book transposes love from an emotion to a profound philosophical experience rooted in social justice and reciprocity. I had epiphany after epiphany while reading this. hooks changed my perspective on what and how to love, simultaneously validating what I’ve come to believe about love, community, and self.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Next, we have Kindred, a powerful novel that follows Dana as she settles into her new home with her husband, Kevin. She is whisked into the antebellum South to save a young boy before being whisked back into the present. These occurrences increase with intensity, leaving her to uncover what is causing this and how she can escape before it’s too late.

This was my introduction to Octavia E. Butler, and she definitely left quite an impression. I found myself both perplexed and moved by it as it explored complex themes regarding generational trauma, lineage, slavery, and identity. While dark, graphic, and disturbing, Butler does a masterful job, and I’m eager to read more of her work. Full review to come.

Finally, we have a mysterious and eerie horror where a young woman wakes in a coffin, buried alive, with no recollection of how she got there or who she is. Upon escaping, she relies on the support of the small community on the island, which seems standoffish and secretive. Yet, there’s a knowing in her gut telling her something is wrong, and they’re all lying to her. Can Mara piece together the truth and save herself from a fear just beyond her memory?

While it’s too early to add Neal Sharpson to my favorite author list, I can say he’s become my favorite folk horror author. This being my second novel by him, he used the ante and delivered an eerie, dark, yet redemptive story set on an isolated island steeped in lore and mystery. Sharpson knows how to open a story in a way that grabs you and propels you to continue turning the page. I guarantee this will make my list of the year’s top horror books. Review to come.

 

Books That Surprised Me

Persuasion by Jane Austen

This classic from the queen of yearning and English charm follows Alice, who regrets allowing herself to be persuaded into breaking her engagement with Frederick Wentworth. Seven years later, she’s eager for the opportunity to prove she’s ready to map her own destiny. 

As mentioned earlier, I’m committed to reacquainting myself with my love for classic literature. Hence, it was time for me to read my first Jane Austen. Honestly, I fully expected not to like this one, but it was such an amazing reading experience. From the character depth, commentary, prose, pacing, and plotting, it was magnificent. I adored Austen’s wit and lush, romantic writing style. Truly, superb. Review to come.

The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino

Although I’m not a big fan of romantasy or fantasy romance, I’m not one to indulge every now and then. I heard so many good reviews about this recent release that I decided I had to read it for myself. What happened was that I became enamored of this novel. It ticked all the boxes for what I enjoy in this genre: slow-burning romance, yearning, a chosen one trope, a unique magic system, an atmospheric medieval setting, and rich political intrigue. What is there not to like? Full review to come.

DNF’s

I received a NetGalley ARC for this book, and it just didn’t work for me. I really tried to make this work, but the FMC was acting foolish, and I had to DNF at 80%.

What didn’t work for me was the inconsistency in the characterization of the FMC, Ravenna. In the beginning, she was a tough, fearless woman who did what it took to ensure her family’s survival, only to become a lackluster, defenseless woman with an obnoxious obsession with the MMC, Saturnino.

The trope reads as enemies-to-lovers, but it felt one-sided to me. Saturnino gave us nothing. I mean absolutely nothing. Yet, Ravenna was head over heels. Additionally, the world-building felt disjointed, the prose was flat and lacking emotion, the magic system was lackluster, and towards the end, things were wrapped up too efficiently. It just wasn’t to my taste.

Pinky Swear by Danielle Girard

This was another NetGalley ARC that fell flat for me with a DNF at the 30% mark. This novel follows best friends Lexi and Mara after Mara reappears in her life following a traumatic experience, and Lexi provides her a refuge. Eventually, Mara becomes Lexi’s surrogate, who has been battling infertility for a while. However, trouble arises when Mara goes missing four days before the due date, prompting Lexi to search for her and her missing baby as she uncovers the dark truth about her friend.

This was so disappointing because it sounds so good, but it was poorly executed. Considering this story has emotional themes, the prose felt flat and devoid of emotion, and the stakes felt low despite the real danger to Lexi’s baby.

The structure felt disjointed, as the story started in a weird spot, leaving you trying to understand how all the pieces fit together. The flashbacks to their childhood also didn’t fit within the way the story was laid out.

The plot was clunky and slow to develop, given the urgency of finding the Mara before the due date. Lastly, the way Lexi talked about the baby was eerie. I believe the author was trying to establish a connection between Lexi and the baby to create an emotional angle, but it felt artificial and contrived, juxtaposed with Lexi’s stoic characterization. This premise had such promise, but alas didn’t work for me.

Reflective Reading Wrap Up

Going back to school and working on a significant career transition have made it challenging to commit to reading for long stretches throughout the day. And, while I’m still prioritizing my reading habit and yearly goals, I can’t get around the fact that my time is limited and I can’t read as much as I’ve been able to in the past.

Hence, I’ve entered into my slow reading season. Instead of fixating on quantity and setting unrealistic reading goals, which I learned last year isn’t beneficial. I prioritize fostering mindful reading habits in which quality supersedes quantity. I keep my TBR low and realistic and aim to read in small chunks as my schedule allows.

Another facet of quality versus quantity is prioritizing annotation and book journaling. Annotating and journaling about the books I’m reading deepens my experience and satiates my bookish heart. Additionally, reading comprehension, retention, and critical engagement have skyrocketed.

Consequently, I believe this has made me a bit more critical as my taste matures. I’m quicker to DNF a book that isn’t working for me. Furthermore, I notice and observe things I didn’t before in terms of writing style, plotting, technique, etc., that determine my view and enjoyment of the book. Which I believe is showing up in my ratings and reviews.

Lastly, I’m making strides toward sustainability and prioritizing ethical consumerism and slow consumption. I’m trying out various ways to decrease book waste and overconsumption. Such as the low-buy reading challenge that encourages me to be mindful about how many books I read versus how many I acquire, and shift my focus to reading down my physical TBR.

Reading Goals Check In

I was gentle in creating my reading goals this year. I’m experimenting with tiered reading goals and don’t think I’ll set a goal for how many books I read this year. My life is too busy to try and stress over hitting an arbitrary reading goal. What truly matters is maintaining a reading habit during a busy season with school, and as I transition to a new career.

That being said, I’ve been crushing it with my other general reading goals. Here’s a list of all the reading goals I’m on track with for this year.

• Slow reading (quality over quantity)
• Reading more classic literature and nonfiction (improve comprehension and analysis)
• Decrease book overconsumption (ethical consumerism and consumption)
• Support indie bookshops (shop local)
• Prioritize BIPOC and Marginalized Authors (diverse reading)

When it comes to re-reading books, I’m slacking and could use some room for improvement.

Looking Ahead to Quarter Two

I can confirm that this next quarter will be even busier. I’ve added an additional class to my coursework, and I’m working on various personal projects aligned with my career goals. So, time efficiency and schedule optimization will be of the utmost importance. However, I’m fairly confident I can meet my reading goals despite the chaos.

Here are the reading goals I’m working on for the next quarter:

• Purchase 1-4 books quarterly
• Reduce library books and prioritize reading physical TBR
• Organize my physical TBR
• Read more e-books
• Get caught up on my ARCs

Please share how your reading shaped up during the first quarter of the year. What were your favorite books, surprising reads, and DNFs? Til next time, happy reading!

Did a book I mentioned tickle your fancy? Visit my book nook on Bookshop.org to peruse and decide which one will be your next read.