It’s my first book thoughts post of 2026! During this postpartum winter, I have read four books and am currently on my fifth. The first book I read after having our December baby was Kiss Me at Christmas, which was fine, but not my favorite of Jenny Bayliss’s (I’d recommend this one). It was easy, at least, to read in the middle of the night while breastfeeding those first few weeks. I was too tired at the time to take a photo of the book or write out more thoughts! Here are the next three books I read…
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Buckeye was my first read of 2026. Set in Bonhomie, Ohio, Buckeye tells the story of two couples, Cal and Becky, and Felix and Margaret, and how their lives become intertwined and develop over the years, beginning with World War II. Buckeye was an easy read, and I spent most of my time with it in the night while feeding baby. I enjoyed it, particularly the final third of the book, which I found the most compelling. Much of the book was readable but without making me very intrigued by the story or characters, whom I didn’t particularly care for. But by the end, I had grown fonder of most of them and appreciated the book.
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
Gone Before Goodbye is a quick-to-read thriller about Maggie McCabe, an Army combat surgeon. She has lost her license but is hired for a job by a mysterious client who requires her skill and discretion. The book, while readable (though not very well-written), was a little all over the place with the plot. It continually tossed in random twists and turns that made things feel incohesive to me. I read until the end, hoping it would get better or come together, but it did not. Read if you just want something quick and easy, but know that it’s a bit nonsensical.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
I loved The Correspondent. This epistolary novel is composed of letters and emails written by and to Sybil Van Antwerp, a woman in her 70s who lives alone and spends much of her time sending correspondence to family, friends, authors she admires, and others. It was a delight to read, and much of it was very funny. There are also parts that broke my heart. Overall, it’s a beauty story of a life and all the day-to-day mundanities plus bigger moments of love, loss, and regret, and I highly recommend it.
What are you reading this winter?
