Halfway There

It is July – we are about ½ way through the year, so I thought I would check in on this year’s already read list.  As you know last week, I admitted the number of books on my to-be-read list.  It was a shock and I spent a good part of Monday afternoon seriously culling the list.  It is now down to 16 or so.  The or so counts the books I own in the house that are not read, which I am not counting! 

For the first half of 2026, I have read 105 books so far this year.  According to Fable, I am a thrilling heart reader.  The blurb says, “You’ve read heartwarming stories of second chances and then tales of chilling escapes.  You let your imagination run free, chasing the unexpected in both love and life.” Although Fable has me reading one less book than Goodreads, I am thinking close enough! 

I have read everyday this year to date with an average star rating of 4.

(5 stars – 24 books, 4 stars – 53 books, 3 stars – 20 books, 2 stars – 5 books and one star – 3 books).  I have to admit – Goodreads does keep track of books that I did not finish, but I am not going there!   I have to admit, if I do not like a book and I do not have to report my opinion to Netgalley – I just dnf it without feeling bad.

Elise sent in an interview with Liz Lawler and her newest book, The Next Wife.  The book is about domestic violence in all forms.  The author wanted to explore coercive control, the kind of abuse that often starts so subtly. Elise tells us the book starts with a murder and ends with a twist that you do not see coming!