TBR 2026 :: As Noted By Me

I asked...and you answered!!

Here is the list of YOUR favorite reads from last year. Consider them added to my TBR (to be read) shelf - and a big thank you to Goose Feather Books in Spirit Lake, IA for the haul.

1. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

A quiet river. A winter that won’t loosen its grip. A story buried beneath the ice.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon sounds like mystery, part history, and completely atmospheric. Set in a frozen New England town, it promises secrets, strength, and a woman at the center who refuses to stay silent.

This one feels like a slow burn in the very best way.

2. P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

A note you never wanted to read. A past that refuses to stay quiet. Feelings you didn’t plan on revisiting.

P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly sounds sharp, emotional, and impossible to ignore. It promises tension, heart, and the kind of love story that’s anything but simple.

This one feels messy in the best way.

3. A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

A remote place. A past that won’t stay buried. A cold that cuts deeper than winter.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall sounds dark, chilling, and full of unease. It promises secrets, survival, and the kind of suspense that creeps in slowly and refuses to let go.

This one feels icy, tense, and impossible to shake.

4. It's A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

Old feelings. New timing. A story that knows exactly how love complicates everything.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan sounds warm, witty, and full of heart. It promises charm, second chances, and the kind of romance that feels honest and real.

This one feels cozy, hopeful, and quietly swoony.

5. The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

A small town. A family curse. A past that refuses to stay in the past.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young sounds moody, mysterious, and beautifully haunting. It promises secrets, love, and a story where time itself feels fragile.

This one feels atmospheric, emotional, and quietly powerful.

6. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Long summers. Old memories. A love that never quite let go.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune sounds tender, nostalgic, and full of heart. It promises second chances, lake days, and the kind of love that lingers long after the last page.

This one feels warm, wistful, and perfectly bittersweet.

7. The Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

A remote island. A rising sea. A world where survival is never guaranteed.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy sounds haunting and deeply connected to the natural world. It promises isolation, resilience, and a story shaped as much by the land and sea as by the people clinging to it.

This one feels wild, eerie, and impossible to forget.

8. Sandwich by Catherine Newman

A crowded house. A family in motion. A moment in life that feels both full and fragile.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman sounds tender, funny, and deeply relatable. It promises motherhood, marriage, and the beautiful chaos of being caught in the middle.

This one feels honest, warm, and achingly real.

9. Wreck by Catherine Newman

The sequel to my #8 selection above, Sandwich.

The same woman. A later chapter and life is a little messier than before.

Wreck by Catherine Newman sounds raw, reflective, and quietly powerful. It promises growth, grief, and the courage it takes to keep going when things don’t look the way you imagined.

This one feels vulnerable, thoughtful, and deeply human.

10. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

A small place. Long-held secrets. A past that refuses to stay quiet.

Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall sounds emotionally filled and quietly intense. It promises love, loss, and a story where the land holds just as much weight as the people who live on it.

This one feels haunting, reflective, and deeply felt.

11. The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

A family over time. Quiet moments that shape everything. Love that lingers through the years.

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff sounds tender, emotional, and deeply heartfelt. It promises connection, growth, and the beauty found in both the ordinary and the hard.

This one feels gentle, nostalgic, and full of hope.

12. Life & Death, & Giants by Ron Rindo

Big questions. Ordinary lives. Moments that quietly shape who we become.

Life & Death, & Giants by Ron Rindo sounds thoughtful, layered, and deeply human. It promises connection, meaning, and a story that lives in the spaces between joy and loss.

This one feels introspective, tender, and quietly powerful.

13. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

A woman at a crossroads. A summer that changes everything. A love story that doesn’t follow the plan.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan sounds witty and full of heart. It promises second chances, unexpected romance, and finding yourself when life veers off course.

This one feels cozy, charming, and quietly delightful.

14. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

I KNOW - I KNOW - How in the world have I not read the much celebrated book of 2025? Oops...better late than never!

Letters exchanged. Lives revealed. A story told in quiet moments.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans sounds thoughtful, intimate, and beautifully reflective. It promises connection, memory, and the way words can bridge distance and time.

This one feels gentle, observant, and deeply personal.

15. Long Bright River by Liz Moore

A city divided. Two sisters. A mystery rooted in love and loss.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore sounds gripping, emotional, and quietly powerful. It promises suspense, family bonds, and a story where place and personal history are inseparable.

This one feels tense, compassionate, and impossible to put down.

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Fifteen stories, countless pages, and every single one inspired by you. Proof that my followers have impeccable taste.

Thanks for filling my 2026 TBR with the best recommendations.

My 2026 reading list is officially stacked.

As Noted By YOU for As Noted by Me.

Go out and support your local book store.

Happy reading,

Jos