2026 TBR | Kait’s Library
Life is all about trial and error. Last year I did a monthly TBR with a review from the previous month… which failed miserably. I apparently really like to tell myself I have more time than I actually do. To make my life easier, I’m adding my entire 2026 TBR to one blog post and will update each book with a review once completed.
As for apps to keep track, I used Basmo for the longest time and recently switched to Bookmory. I LOVE IT. It’s very simple with a clean, aesthetic look. Apps like Goodreads, Storygraph, and Fable are overwhelming to me and have lots of features I don’t need or use.
Anyways, let’s get this party started!!
In No Particular Order…
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Book #2 In The Hunger Games Series)
Genre: Dystopian
Book Summary
In Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen returns home after winning the Hunger Games with Peeta Mellark, but their defiance of the Capitol has sparked unrest across the districts. To crush the rebellion, President Snow announces the Quarter Quell, forcing past victors to fight again. Thrown back into the arena, Katniss and Peeta must form uneasy alliances to survive. As the Games unfold, Katniss begins to uncover a secret plan to overthrow the Capitol and realizes she has become the symbol of a growing revolution.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Genre: Fiction
Book Summary
Normal People by Sally Rooney follows Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, two young people from a small Irish town whose intense but fragile connection unfolds from high school through their university years in Dublin. Despite their deep emotional and intellectual bond, differences in class, self-worth, and communication repeatedly pull them apart and back together, revealing how love can be both transformative and damaging. Through understated prose, the novel explores intimacy, power, and the lasting impact people have on each other, even when they struggle to fully understand or keep one another.
Family Of Liars by E. Lockhart
Genre: Fiction/Thriller
Book Summary
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart is a dark, atmospheric prequel to We Were Liars that follows Carrie Sinclair’s rebellious teenage summer on her wealthy family’s private island. As Carrie grows closer to her cousins and friends, long-buried tensions, secrets, and toxic family dynamics begin to surface, leading to choices that spiral into tragedy. The novel explores how lies, privilege, and silence can shape identity and cause irreversible harm, all told with a sense of looming inevitability.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Summary
Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, The Nightingale follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, whose lives take radically different paths under German rule. Vianne endures the occupation to protect her family, while Isabelle joins the Resistance and risks her life to save others. As the war escalates, both women are forced to confront fear, loss, and moral compromise. The novel highlights the quiet and overt acts of bravery often carried out by women. It is a deeply emotional story about survival, love, and sacrifice.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Book #3 In The Hunger Games Series)
Genre: Fiction/Dystopian
Book Summary
In the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss Everdeen becomes the reluctant face of a rebellion determined to overthrow the Capitol. As propaganda and warfare blur truth and manipulation, Katniss struggles with trauma, grief, and her own agency. The costs of war become painfully clear as friends are lost and trust erodes. The story questions whether any side can claim moral purity. Ultimately, it is a dark meditation on power, violence, and healing after devastation.
The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Genre: Fiction/Dystopian
Book Summary
This prequel explores the early life of Coriolanus Snow, long before he becomes the president of Panem. Assigned to mentor a tribute in the fledgling Hunger Games, Snow grapples with poverty, ambition, and his desire for control. His relationship with Lucy Gray Baird complicates his sense of morality and identity. As fear and self-preservation take hold, Snow makes choices that foreshadow his ruthless future. The novel examines how systems of power are born and sustained.
The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Adapted by Ted Adams and Jorge Coelho
Genre: Graphic Novel/Classic Literary Fiction
Book Summary
This graphic novel adaptation reimagines Fitzgerald’s classic through striking illustrations and streamlined narration. Nick Carraway recounts his fascination with the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and Gatsby’s longing for Daisy Buchanan. Set against the glittering excess of the Jazz Age, the story exposes the illusion behind wealth and status. Gatsby’s dream ultimately proves unattainable. The adaptation preserves the novel’s central themes while making them visually immediate.
The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Summary
Set in Victorian England, The Secret Book Society follows a group of women who secretly gather to read and discuss literature in a world that restricts their intellectual freedom. United by a love of books, they form deep bonds and begin to imagine lives beyond societal expectations. When one member faces danger, the group must act together to protect her. Their shared passion becomes a source of courage and resistance. The novel celebrates female friendship and the power of storytelling.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts (Book #1 In The Powerless Series)
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian
Book Summary
Powerless is set in a world where magical abilities determine status, and Paedyn Gray survives by pretending to be powerless in a deadly society. When she is thrust into the brutal Purging Trials, she must rely on intelligence and deception to stay alive. Her growing connection to Kai, a powerful enforcer of the regime, complicates her fight for survival. As secrets unravel, the line between strength and vulnerability blurs. The novel explores power, identity, and rebellion.
Reckless by Lauren Roberts (Book #2 In The Powerless Series)
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian
Book Summary
In Reckless, Paedyn faces the consequences of truths revealed and loyalties broken after the trials. As tensions rise between rebels and rulers, her relationship with Kai becomes increasingly strained by betrayal and opposing duties. Forced to make dangerous choices, Paedyn questions what freedom truly costs. The story deepens the political conflict and emotional stakes. It centers on trust, sacrifice, and the price of defiance.
Fearless by Lauren Roberts (Book #3 In The Powerless Series)
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian
Book Summary
Fearless continues Paedyn’s journey as the fight against the ruling powers reaches a breaking point. With war looming, she must embrace who she is and decide what, and who, she is willing to fight for. Love and loyalty are tested as alliances shift and sacrifices mount. The novel brings the series’ central conflicts to a head. It is a story about courage, choice, and self-acceptance.
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
Genre: Self Help
Book Summary
This collection of reflective essays challenges readers to reconsider how they think about emotions, relationships, success, and self-worth. Wiest blends psychology, philosophy, and personal insight to encourage emotional awareness and personal growth. Each essay offers a shift in perspective rather than prescriptive advice. The book emphasizes mindfulness and self-responsibility. It invites readers to rethink deeply ingrained patterns of thought.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Genre: Literary Fiction/Psychological Thriller
Book Summary
The Secret History follows a close-knit group of elite classics students whose intellectual obsession leads them to commit murder. Narrated by one of their own, the novel slowly reveals how beauty, privilege, and moral detachment mask corruption. As guilt and paranoia take hold, the group begins to unravel. The story focuses less on who committed the crime and more on why. It is a chilling exploration of intellect, power, and conscience.
The Book Club For Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Summary
Set in the 1960s, the novel follows a group of suburban housewives who form a book club that becomes a lifeline amid personal and societal change. Through literature and friendship, they begin questioning traditional gender roles and expectations. Each woman faces her own struggles, from marriage to identity. Their bond empowers them to seek fuller lives. The story celebrates community, courage, and self-discovery.
Crowntide by Alex Aster (Book #4 In The Lightlark Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
Crowntide follows Isla Crown as she navigates a brutal world of power, legacy, and ambition where rulers are forged through violence and sacrifice. Bound to a destiny she never asked for, Isla must outwit enemies, survive deadly trials, and decide what kind of leader she’s willing to become. Political betrayal and shifting alliances force her to question who deserves power and at what cost. As romance and rivalry intertwine, trust becomes both a weapon and a weakness. The novel explores fate, control, and the price of wearing a crown.
I, Medusa by Avana Gray
Genre: Mythological Retelling/Literary Fiction
Book Summary
I, Medusa reimagines the Greek myth from Medusa’s perspective, giving voice to a woman long reduced to a monster. The novel explores betrayal, power, and the cost of being punished for another’s cruelty. Through lyrical prose, Medusa reflects on love, rage, and injustice. Her transformation becomes both a curse and a form of survival. The story reframes myth as a meditation on agency and reclamation.
The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss
Genre: Fiction
Book Summary
The Second Chance Cinema follows a woman who returns to her hometown and the old movie theater tied to her past. As she reconnects with former dreams and unresolved relationships, she begins to question the life she built away from home. Memories unfold alongside the films that once shaped her sense of possibility. The story centers on healing, nostalgia, and rediscovering purpose. It is a gentle exploration of second chances.
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Book Summary
The Last Letter is an emotionally intense novel about love, loss, and the promises we make to the people we leave behind. When a soldier’s final letter brings two strangers together, grief becomes the foundation for an unexpected connection. As they navigate trauma and responsibility, love grows in fragile, painful ways. The story confronts sacrifice and the lasting impact of war. It is a devastating exploration of devotion and survival.
Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Book Summary
Maybe in Another Life follows Hannah Martin as her life splits into two parallel paths after a single decision on the same night. Each version explores different relationships, choices, and consequences, revealing how chance shapes identity. Love, friendship, and fate intersect as both lives unfold. The novel questions whether there is one “right” life or many meaningful ones. It is a hopeful meditation on possibility.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Book Summary
One True Loves centers on Emma, who must confront an impossible emotional choice when her husband, long believed dead, suddenly returns. Torn between her past love and the new life she has begun to build, Emma reevaluates what it means to move on. The novel explores grief, loyalty, and how love evolves over time. It asks whether loving again diminishes the love that came before. The story is deeply emotional and reflective.
Words I Couldn’t Find by Ella Wrenwood
Genre: Poetry
Book Summary
Words I Couldn’t Find is a poetry collection that captures love, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery. Through intimate and minimalist verse, the author gives language to emotions often left unspoken. The poems trace the quiet aftermath of loss and the slow return to wholeness. Themes of vulnerability and resilience run throughout. It is a deeply personal exploration of emotional expression.
A Court Of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Book #1 In The ACOTAR Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
A Court of Thorns and Roses follows Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress who is drawn into the dangerous and enchanting world of the fae after killing a wolf in the woods. Taken to the Spring Court, she becomes entangled in a curse threatening the entire realm. As Feyre navigates magic, politics, and growing affection, she must confront her own fears and prejudices. The story blends romance with high-stakes fantasy. It reimagines Beauty and the Beast with darker, mythic elements.
A Court Of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas (Book #2 In The ACOTAR Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
N/A - Avoiding potential spoilers for myself.
A Court Of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas (Book #3 In The ACOTAR Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
N/A - Avoiding potential spoilers for myself.
A Court Of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (Book #4 In The ACOTAR Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
N/A - Avoiding potential spoilers for myself.
A Court Of Frost and Starlight (Book #5 In The ACOTAR Series)
Genre: Fantasy
Book Summary
N/A - Avoiding potential spoilers for myself.
*I Did Not Write The Summaries*
WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Coming Soon
