My Months in Books: All the Books I’ve Read in the First Half of 2026

Howdy, folks! I didn’t mean to go radio-silent in the blog the past couple of months. And I admit that I have been far more active in my Substack lately. But I know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I skip these reading rundowns. So in an effort to restart again, here’s a rundown of all the books I’ve read the past couple of months. A mid-year reading update (stats and all) are due from me as well, so stay tuned!

My first 6 months in Books

In the first 6 months of 2026, I read a total of 15 books:

• Ultra-Processed People: Why We Can’t Stop Eating Food That Isn’t Food by Chris van Tulleken – 3.5/5☕
• The Wedding People by Alison Espach – 5/5☕
• A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides by Gisèle Pelicot – 5/5☕
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin – 4.5/5☕
• When the Crow’s Away (Evenfall Witches B&B #2) by Auralee Wallace – 4.5/5☕
• Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ translated by Lin King – 4.5☕
• Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong – 4.5/5☕
• Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett – 4/5☕
• Famesick by Lena Dunham – 4/5☕
• She Who Remains by Rene Karabash – 5/5☕
• The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor, #6) by Laurie Gilmore – 3.5/5☕
• Margo’s Got Money Trouble by Rufi Thorpe – 4/5☕
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – 4/5☕
• The Art of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More by Annie Raser-Rowland – 3.5/5☕
• Death by Dumpling (Noodle Shop Mystery, #1) by Vivien Chien – 3.5/5☕

Here’s a rapid fire log of thoughts for each book that I read in this list!

Ultra-Processed People: Why We Can’t Stop Eating Food That Isn’t Food by Chris van Tulleken – 3.5/5☕

My first book of 2026! This has been a staple during my gym workouts and I finished listening to this in the middle of one. Which is fitting because I mainly started reading this because I wanted to start being more intentional and careful about what I eat. This is very educational and informative, and will definitely make you think about what you consume on a daily basis. It almost sounded like a horror book – given that it made me realize how much ultra-processed food (UPF) has dominated our diets. Lesson learned is: eat whole foods as much as you can.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach – 5/5☕

My first 5-star read of the year! It was a very unexpected one because this is just a random audiobook I’ve popped on to accompany me on my daily walks. I was emotional through a lot of it: laughing, tearing up. I think this is my new Anxious People (in relation to where I am in my life right now). IT feels very much like a mix of Anxious People and Sorrow and Bliss (another book I absolutely loved). I bought the physical book right after finishing this because I really wanted to highlight a lot of things. So yeah, giving this book so much love. It’s so nice to unexpectedly discover books that will mean so much to you.

A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides by Gisèle Pelicot – 5/5☕

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2026. And when I finished this, I didn’t think I can rate it any lower than 5. I listened to this book during may walks and it probably was not a good idea because I kept getting emotional in random parts of the book. I was fighting back tears in a sidewalk for that last 1 hour or so. This is a woman coming to terms with what happened to her in the way she knows how. It also homed in the idea that people really do cope and react to things differently. Some dwell and feel, some stay steady and focused. There is no one ‘correct’ way of dealing with things. Gisèle Pelicot, you are made of different stuff, what a strong woman you are.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin – 4.5/5☕

I’ve had this book for so long in my TBR and having the TV series premiere this year definitely was a motivator in me finally actually picking this up. And boy did I enjoy that so much! I miss GRRM’s writing so much and reading this made me reminisce about all the times I spent all night reading the chunky ASOIF books when I was in my college dorm. It reminded me how readable George’s writing is. This was a very cozy read with truly enjoyable characters, and an immersive world. I can see why these characters are so beloved both by the author and the fans for the series. It was also really worth it reading these stories before diving into the (extremely well-made) TV show.

When the Crow’s Away (Evenfall Witches B&B #2) by Auralee Wallace – 4.5/5☕

The first book will still always has my heart but the second one is a force on its own. Such tragic story, embedded in an otherwise comforting world. Nora still remains to be my favorite witch and I can’t wait to read through the next book as this one left in such a cliff hanger (or at least, with such an interesting open story line). This series never missed. Love this book so much!

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ translated by Lin King – 4.5☕

How can I even start with this book? This book seamlessly blends food and travel writing — which are two genres I find myself loving so much lately. I didn’t know what I was expecting when I went into this book blind, but I didn’t expect all the darker undertones peppered throughout. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this as well is the biting commentary on colonialism, tokenism, identity erasure and power deeply embedded in this story. How meaning and perspective shift when travel is seen through the colonizer’s vs. the colonized’s lens. There were a lot of uncomfortable moments in the book, even if they’re mostly subtle. I dearly appreciate the restraint in all of it. What a book. Those last 80+ pages in particular were pretty special. Such a privilege to be able to read this. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read lately. More than how amazing this book is and its many layers, I do have very fond personal memories of this book. From purchase, reading it, and carrying it around across various travels. When you move with a book like this in your life — one that is both comforting AND uncomfortable at times — it stays with you. I am a little bit biased towards this book so I was really happy when Taiwan Travelogue won 2026’s International Booker Prize.

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong – 4.5/5☕

This is the first time in a long while that I read a poetry book and I am glad it is by Ocean Vuong. His writing has always read poetic to me so it makes so much sense how at home his writing felt in this book. Definitely one of the most affecting poetry books I’ve read. And the way his words paint picture ands pierces the heart is such a thing of beauty. I think I liked this better than Emperor of Gladness (which is the only other book I’ve read from him). I might need to check out Time is a Mother next.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett – 4/5☕

Another Heather Fawcett! This was such an incredible trip of a book. Cozy fantasy has always been really nice for my soul — and this book, that centers a protagonist that just wants to take care of her cat was really nice. This came from the same author that made the Emily Wilde series (whose first book I really loved) so I had high expectations for it. I feel like it delivered. And I liked that this is a standalone. I am not too crazy that this leaned heavily into romance, and I felt like that sudden realization of romantic feelings was a bit too sudden. If this book didn’t involve any romance at all, I feel like I would enjoy it more. I also wasn’t too captivated by the narration. But the magic systems was nice and the mystery of the beginning when Agnes just moved in to the new rental was funnily amusing. All of these shenanigans made up for it.

Famesick by Lena Dunham – 4/5☕

Reading Famesick felt like dipping your toes back to the murky waters that is 2010s pop culture. I was only here initially for all the tea to be honest, but I didn’t expect this to end up being a peak behind the curtain to one of the most polarizing pop culture figure of the 2010s. Say what you will about Lena Dunham, but she knows how to write. She’s someone with a point of view and is fearless in the face of scrutiny. This came with a lot of downsides obviously, but the way she carried herself through it all is a thing to be admired. This book also put a spotlight on women’s health and chronic illness, something I think are still not talked about enough. The intersection between the two: how long it is to diagnose women, and that a lot of women endure pain because society tells them that it is part of their existence. It shouldn’t be this way. I’m just glad that this book shed a light on it, even for a little bit. I have not watched Girls, but now I feel like I am interested to try.

She Who Remains by Rene Karabash – 5/5☕

She Who Remains is one of the most important books I’ve read in a while and one that makes me appreciate reading from a different culture than mine. If I hadn’t read this book, I wouldn’t know of the sworn virgins of Albania – those who renounce their womanhood in order to live as a man for the rest of their days. This book has been going around lately because of the recent International Booker Prize and deservedly so. I am a little biased towards Taiwan Travelogue but I do really think this book comes so close as my pick. The prose is haunting, the story disturbing and heartbreaking at points. I can’t help but be mortified about a lot things – mostly around the laws that governed how a women should exist and be treated. This book was so impulsively readable. I read this in record time (given my focus issues lately, finishing a book in one to two sitting has been a struggle). Part 2 in particular was a rollercoaster of emotion. This was an easy 5 out of 5.

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor, #6) by Laurie Gilmore – 3.5/5☕

This is the latest installment of the Dream Harbor series – a series I ended up following ever since the first book was published. The book wasn’t really memorable if I am honest, but it is a comfort at this point. This is reading as an escape. Hearing about ensemble characters new and old has been really lovely, it almost felt like checking in on a friend from time to time. These lighthearted cozy romances have been a lifeline to me and I think I will still continue to subscribe and read each installment even if there are misses from time to time.

Margo’s Got Money Trouble by Rufi Thorpe – 4/5☕

I started this book because I was planning to watch the TV adaptation (which I hadn’t watched yet) but this was surprisingly really good. Truly enjoyed this book, and I think Elle Fanning’s narration really added a lot to it. I’ve watched too much clips already that it is so hard for me to unsee the actors playing them in the TV show as the characters playing in my head. This was a heartwarming story at its core – and maybe a little bit of coming-of-age, having someone be forced to grow up and take charge. I’m so glad I read it before watching the show because (from the clips I’ve see so far) they changed quite a bit in the adaptation. Looking forward to it though!

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – 4/5☕

Yesteryear was wild, y’all! It’s like influencing in steroids (I don’t even know, because I suspect that this is how it actually is in some corners of the world). I am all for unapologetically angry women, but boy are all the characters here extremely unlikeable. The twist at the end was a little anticlimactic and feels rushed compared to the rest of the book but the whole thing was entertaining af. I finished this while in a friends gathering because I couldn’t put down those last couple of chapters. I think this deserves that hype if only for how it (scarily) mirrors influencer economy in this day and age.

The Art of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More by Annie Raser-Rowland – 3.5/5☕

Finished this very short book on a whim one weekday, which became my after-workout breakfast soundtrack. This book contained a lot of practical tips on enjoying life without breaking the bank. There is an entire subculture of people taking this to the wire but for the average citizen wanting to save a little while still making sure to get the most out of life, there are still a lot of lessons to learn from here. I particularly like the chapter on relishing – which is something I am fond of doing in my life. If anything, the whimsy of the colors in the cover really spoke to me. It’s a lesson that if you squint hard enough, focus and linger long enough, it doesn’t really take a lot to be happy. Not that I’ve mastered it, but everyday is an effort to be a little better at noticing.

Death by Dumpling (Noodle Shop Mystery, #1) by Vivien Chien – 3.5/5☕

Decided to try this cozy mystery to fill the hole that Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries left when it ended, as well as my ongoing search for the audiobook continuation of the Coffeehouse Mysteries. I am always in the lookout for good cozy mysteries because it’s a genre I have enjoyed so much through the years. And now I found a potential candidate to continue this love affair – plus, it looks like there are a lot of books published in the series alreay as well. I liked that it has an Asian flair to it; as an Asian myself, these books tend to tackle topics that are so close to my heart so one way or another, I end up cherishing a story just because of various points I closely relate to. This was a very nice first book but I am expecting more and excited to dig deeper into this world. I gotta say, I love all the cover designs!

What I’m currently reading and looking forward to

Here are books I am actively reading right now:

• Pomegranate Seed and Other Ghostly Tales by Edith Wharton – Coming as a recommendation from C, I’ve already read the titular story and really liked it. There’s something about Edith Wharton’s writing that just hooks you in. I didn’t even know she dabbled in horror before I heard of this. Anyway, I will pick it up at one point to finish.
• Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash – Almost halfway into finishing this book. This is an extremely funny book. For some reason, it reminds me of Anxious People but on a less profound but funnier and more ridiculous angle. Kind of excited how the author will tie all this mess up. And I mean ‘mess’ in a good, ridiculous way lol.
• Receipts from the Bookshop: A Bookseller’s Year in an English Seaside Town by Katie Clapham – I’ve been following Katie’s Substack for a while now and I was absolutely stoked to hear that she is publishing a book! This was such a cozy read and has lived in my bedside table ever since I bought it.

2026 Book Read Count as of writing: 15 /24

HOW ABOUT YOU? HOW WAS YOUR READING THIS FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR? DID YOU HAVE ANY NOTABLE FAVE? 

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