As you know, in 2026, I’m doing an experiment I’m calling: The Taste Test. It’s a reading challenge where I’m choosing one genre per month and reading a few recent/popular books from it, in an attempt to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult… and maybe (hopefully!) even find a new author/genre to obsess over!

At the end of each month, I write a recap of my thoughts, including the list of books I read and how I experienced each one. In January, I read 4 memoirs and remembered why I enjoy them. In February, I read 6 mystery/thrillers and LOVED that genre! And in March, I discovered I don’t really like historical fiction…

For April, I decided to read some science fiction and came up with a list of 5 books I’d try to read! Did I get through them all? And what did I think of this genre? Let’s see…

Subscribe now

The Story I Told Myself About Science Fiction

I start each of these recaps by sharing what my initial thoughts were on the genre. Any assumptions I had, judgments I made, and any resistance or intrigue I noticed in myself before reading the books. Because this is all an experiment, you could say this is the “hypothesis” of the month! And I found this one interesting…

When I decided to include science fiction in this challenge, I noticed I felt almost… icky about it. “Science fiction” conjured images of aliens and space, of complicated worlds that make no sense, and of the nerds who love them. (If this sounds judgmental, I know! Stay with me!) I’ve been into more bookshops than usual this year, and one of the other things I noticed is that sci-fi is a section I skip entirely! So I guess the story I’ve been telling myself is that science fiction was “not for me.”

Then, I started researching which books I might read…

The Reading Research Experience

I’m going to tell you about the reading experience below. But truthfully, almost everything I learned about myself happened during the research process! The experience I had with science fiction is so different from the first three genres, and reminded me of what you learn how to do in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): question your assumptions. To ask yourself questions like: What evidence do I have to support this belief? It turns out, that’s not only a great question to ask yourself when you’re going down an anxious spiral. It can also help you figure out you might be WRONG in assuming something isn’t for you! And the evidence does NOT back up my belief, friend! It tells me I have enjoyed a lot of sci-fi over the years…

When I was a kid, one of my all-time favourite books was THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. (I re-read this during the pandemic and loved it just as much as an adult.) I also loved movies like BACK TO THE FUTURE and ET. And one of my favourites was THE ABYSS. (I’ve been wanting to re-watch it for years, but can’t seem to find anywhere to stream or rent it in the UK!)

I don’t remember much about the content I consumed in my teens/20s (other than a few TV shows), which feels strange to say but is true. I do remember gobbling up THE HUNGER GAMES books once I finished university, though. And I enjoyed movies like APOLLO 13, ARMAGEDDON, AVATAR, INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE MATRIX…

It was helpful to be reminded of this. I may not have gotten into some of the big franchises, like STAR WARS or STAR TREK or DOCTOR WHO or BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. But I liked space enough! I could get into a dystopian world! And when I reflected on content I consumed in my 30s, I found even more proof of this…

When I started reading middle grade books during the pandemic, I found that I LOVED sci-fi stuff. THE WILD ROBOT series was a particular favourite, but there have been many others. I also loved (and gave away a copy of) ALONE by Megan E. Freeman, which was a dystopian/survival thriller. I included TILT by my friend Emma Pattee in that giveaway, which is more of a realistic dystopian thriller, and SO freaking good! And one of my favourite books from the last 5 years is one I probably haven’t mentioned: KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro. A lot of this is probably considered fairly “light” sci-fi, but it’s still sci-fi nonetheless!

Compared to my overall choices, it’s still a genre I don’t read a lot of. But I have WATCHED and loved plenty of sci-fi in the last decade… Shows like: BLACK MIRROR, THE HANDMAID’S TABLE (I couldn’t read the book but watched the show), LOST, RUSSIAN DOLL and SEVERANCE. (And I haven’t finished STRANGER THINGS, but that’s on the list too.) So many good movies: ARRIVAL, CHILDREN OF MEN, INCEPTION, INTERSTELLAR, and the DUNE trilogy which wraps up this year. And if you remember how this whole challenge started: I finally watched all 9 of the STAR WARS films with Tall Man, and found I actually really loved some of them!

Do you see what I mean about the research experience providing more answers than I could’ve imagined!? The final stage of that was researching which books I might read this month, and I discovered so many of them sounded intriguing! All I had to do was challenge the story I was telling myself, and I was able to quickly prove that I was wrong. Maybe I wasn’t a HUGE fan of sci-fi, but some of it was definitely for me…

The Reading Experience

I was really excited about the books on this month’s reading list, friend! And, April had some other plans for us. The kids were off school for two weeks, we were down to one car for that time, and then I was trying to get a ton of work done before packing up/leaving the country for a month. There was just generally more to juggle, and I didn’t have as much time to read! But that’s ok! I still finished two books (and started and DNF’d a couple others) and learned a few things about my reading taste…

1. THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley - I found this to be a really fun read. It was set in a not-too-distant London, and I’m learning I do seem to prefer books that feel a bit modern/contemporary (compared to historical). And even though it’s about time travel, it didn’t go too deep into the science/technicalities of that, but rather focused on what the characters were doing now and why. In fact, I would say that this book was probably 75% character development, with most of the action at the end. And that worked for me! The final paragraph was also so meaningful (compared to how the rest of the book was written), it actually caught me off guard. I’d love to leave my own readers with a statement like that, one day.

2. Middle Grade Option: THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly - This was also fun to read! It was set in the 90s, which gave it a certain nostalgic feel for this millennial reader. Another book about time travel, this one did go into the science/technicalities more… and I would say, that’s where it almost lost me a couple times? Not because science is boring (it’s obviously not!), but because it felt too… explanatory. I don’t want to read technical writing. I want STORIES! Thankfully, I didn’t lose myself in those pages, and instead kept reading and found the stories I was looking for. The characters also felt very human, which I love. But personally, I liked WE DREAM OF SPACE by the same author more! (And now I strongly believe that one should’ve won a Newbery!)

The book(s) I didn’t finish (DNF):

Now, here’s the part of this recap I haven’t been looking forward to writing… because I know so many people LOVE this book! But I DNF’d PROJECT HAIL MARY. 😬

I got through a third of the audiobook, and agree with everyone’s reviews: the narrator is great! He’s so animated, I found myself smiling or laughing in parts. Sometimes, I even thought I was listening to Tom Hanks, who I love! But I got lost in all the technical explanations of how things were working… I found those parts SO boring that I guess I would tune it out, then realize I had no idea what the author had just said or where we were in the story, and I’d have to rewind the book again (and again and again). I could only do this so many times before I decided to just give up…

I was still curious about the story though, and wanted to see the movie! So TM and I went last weekend! And sadly,… I didn’t love that either. It was ok! (SPOILER ALERT) I obviously got emotionally attached to his little alien friend! You know I love an animal/inanimate object story, haha. But my (very personal) review of the story/movie is: it’s basically just INTERSTELLAR but not as good!? (If you haven’t watched that movie, I would highly reco it!) And it is WAY too long…

The second book I DNF’d was THE OTHER VALLEY by Scott Alexander Howard. The writing was good and I do actually think I could like this book… but I found it reminded me of THE GIVER and imagined where it would probably go? (And, as I’ve learned, my brain gets bored when a story feels obvious!) I wasn’t intrigued enough to keep going with it this month, anyway. But maybe one day!

The Aftertaste

The main reason I’m doing this challenge is to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult. The story I told myself is that science fiction wasn’t for me, and that’s definitely not true. Even though I didn’t end up finishing many books this month, I still feel confident saying: I like science fiction! And I want to read/watch a lot more of it! In fact, I finished the month with at least 10 books on my sci-fi TBR list, including: AUTOMATIC NOODLE by Annalee Newitz, AWAKE IN THE FLOATING CITY by Susanna Kwan, NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro, and SEA OF TRANQUILITY Emily St. John Mandel. And I still want to explore Becky Chambers’s work, too.

When I look at this list, I can see that I seem to be most drawn to dystopian worlds (as long as it’s not TOO dark, like no more HANDMAID’S TALE stuff for me thanks). I don’t enjoy reading some of the more hardcore stuff, which uses more technical language. Instead, it might be true that I prefer “softer” or “lighter” sci-fi. Literary sci-fi, as one author friend said to me. And that’s ok!

One thing I’m learning through this challenge is that every genre has a ton of sub-genres, and there’s probably something for everyone… 🤓

I’m Taking a Break in May!

I’m flying home to Canada next week and spending most of the month there, so I’m going to “skip” a month of this challenge and not force myself to read/think about books too much. But I’m going to take this as an opportunity to read some contemporary stuff, which I already know I like/haven’t included as part of this challenge! I just started YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke, and wow, I can see why it’s getting so much early attention!

Even though I’ll be in Canada, I’m still planning on writing here! And, a lot more often than I usually do! Think: tiny reflections (max 300 words), most days. I’ve already told paid subscribers all about this idea, and you can read a bit more about what I’m planning to do and why… for now, just know that I’m still feeling VERY energized by it! I’ve even been sending texts to family/friends about things I might include (like: pictures of places I’ve lived before!).

If you’re interested, it would be wonderful to have you follow along.

And when I come back in June, I’ll be diving into a summer of romance, fantasy, and the genre I have the most feels about… romantasy!

See you soon, friend! ☺️

xx Cait

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

These reading recaps are free, because I believe literacy is a human right and books should be accessible to everyone! I send everything else to paying subscribers. We’re a thoughtful bunch, full of curiosity and compassion. If you’d like to hangout with us, it’s £21/year ($28 USD/$38 CAD). And your support goes directly into my bank account, and helps me keep the lights on and eat—and WRITE!

Support a writer

As you know, in 2026, I’m doing an experiment I’m calling: The Taste Test. It’s a reading challenge where I’m choosing one genre per month and reading a few recent/popular books from it, in an attempt to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult… and maybe (hopefully!) even find a new author/genre to obsess over!

At the end of each month, I write a recap of my thoughts, including the list of books I read and how I experienced each one. In January, I read 4 memoirs and remembered why I enjoy them. And in February, I read 6 mystery/thrillers and added another 25+ to my future TBR list. (It’s safe to say: I really like that genre!)

For March, I decided to read historical fiction and came up with a list of 5 books to read (plus extras, if I finished them all). What did I think of this genre, before/after these books? Let’s find out. 🤓

Subscribe now

The Story I Told Myself About Historical Fiction

I start each of these recaps by sharing what my initial thoughts were on the genre. Any assumptions I had, judgments I made, and any resistance or intrigue I noticed in myself before reading the books. Because this is all an experiment, you could say this is the “hypothesis” of the month. But I didn’t really have a clear hypothesis for this genre…

The story I told myself about historical fiction was more of a noticing: that it had never really interested me. When I started researching the most popular titles from the past few years, I recognized the covers… and was even drawn to some! But when I read the descriptions, I often lost interest. I didn’t understand why, until I started reading them…

The Reading Experience

In last month’s recap, I shared a list of what I was going to read in March. My plan was to attempt to read 4 adult novels + 1 middle grade book. I knew that was a stretch, but wanted to try anyway!

Well, as it turned out, that was a massive stretch for this genre, friend. Because the first thing I need to tell you is that I only finished two books all month. One of the adult novels + a middle grade book (and a different one, from what I first put on the list).

So far for this challenge, I’ve been writing recaps of how I experienced every book I finished. But since there weren’t many, I’m going to start by telling you about all the reasons I didn’t finish all the others…

• Sometimes, the story ended up being a romance—and one that revolved around a really unhealthy relationship dynamic. This isn’t cute or something I can look past. When books romanticize people in bad relationships, it apparently makes me feel angry. More on this below.

• Sometimes, the language felt too old-timey for me. Correct for their time periods, perhaps, but something I found myself struggling to read.

• Sometimes, the story felt really drawn out… with way more background info than “present” storytelling. I like character/story development! But there needs to be a plot. And when you’re 2+ hours into an audiobook and don’t have any idea when it’s going to come back to the plot…?

• Sometimes, they were too relevant/on the nose, for the times we are living in right now. (Aka: wartime books.)

• Sometimes, I got stuck because I kept telling myself “I should” finish it. That these were stories “I should” read. And it’s taken a long time for me to get here, but I am fully committed to wanting book-reading to be my JOYFUL hobby. “Should” takes all the joy out of it.

• And sometimes, they were just too sad. And as my friend Marci said to me, “I don’t need books to make me feel good, necessarily. But I need them to not feel like they are deliberately trying to ruin my day.” And that is how I felt about some of the historical fiction I attempted to read.

I am intentionally not telling you which books made me feel each of these things, because I didn’t finish any of them (some were from the original list + I tried 4-5 more!) and therefore don’t feel comfortable writing anything that feels like a review. But compared to most (where I quit within the first 75 pages), there was one book I gave a really solid effort to—and I have some things I want to say about it.

So I’m going to share what I learned about myself and my reading taste, based on the two books I finished this month, and the one I got halfway through…

1. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah (DNF’d halfway through) - Let’s start with this one, because it gave me A LOT of information. And full warning: there will be spoilers in this paragraph. Because outside of getting halfway through and still feeling like there wasn’t really any plot (she just worked/hung out with coworkers/slept), it felt like the only thing that was really happening in this book was that the main character was attracted to unavailable men. The married surgeon. The guy who was engaged. And without properly developing these relationships, she somehow fell in love with one of them!? As I was reading, I noticed two things happening inside me: I was annoyed, and then I was angry. When I got to the part where, in an intimate moment, one of the guys said he wished he’d met her first (before getting together with his actual partner), I yelled out “OH COME ON! RED FLAG! RUN AWAY!” and knew I had to stop reading. It was such a strong emotional reaction… one I don’t have often, when I’m reading. I’ve thought about it a lot since. I think there was a time in my life when I could’ve enjoyed this book and this type of romance. But it all felt really gross to me… bad enough that I couldn’t even finish it. Maybe that says something about my morals and who I am today. But partnered/unavailable men? Not sexy. (And if you’re curious: I read spoilers so I know how it ends, and I’m totally ok with the fact that I didn’t finish this one.)

2. BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall - I picked this one because it was nominated for Readers’ Fave Historical Fiction in 2025 and was Reese’s Book Club Pick last March too. And I liked it! This won’t be surprising after last month’s recap, but I liked how mystery/intrigue was used in the storytelling, and was really sucked in at the end. There was just one thing I didn’t like about this book. (And this isn’t a spoiler, it’s on the front cover of the UK edition!) It romanticizes an affair. And in line with what I said above, I don’t think affairs are sexy (perhaps especially when her husband felt like such a good human). So I wasn’t “into” this romance in the book. It felt really sh*tty to read about, actually.

3. Middle Grade Option: WE DREAM OF SPACE by Erin Entrada Kelly - The book that saved my reading experience. I really struggled to finish any historical fiction this month. I know that was partially a result of feeling distracted by the news and anxiety about what’s been happening around the world. But it was also because of all the reasons I didn’t like the books I tried reading (listed above). Something I know about myself is that if I’m having a hard time focusing on books written for adults, I should try a middle grade book instead—and that’s exactly what helped me out of my reading slump this month. I DNF’d the first MG option I tried reading, then scrolled this list to see what else might interest me. Then I was happy to discover: we already had a copy of this one on our bookshelves here! (The benefit of living with kids!?) It’s set in the 80s, which didn’t feel historical at first… but I suppose it is! Especially because it’s centered around an event that made history. Told through the perspective of three siblings, I felt connected to them all. This book is human and full of heart. I read it within a week and loved it… and would go so far as to say: this book is middle grade perfection, friend. I can certainly understand why it was nominated for a Newbery! It also helped me learn an important lesson about what kind of historical fiction I do like: books that are a little more recent, and almost feel contemporary.

The Aftertaste

The main reason I’m doing this challenge is to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult. The story I told myself about historical fiction is that it didn’t really interest me—and that’s not quite true. I think what’s more true is you need to know which time periods you’re actually interested in. And after this challenge, I have a better understanding of what that is!

• I’m not interested in reading wartime books. Truthfully, these are the books I get bored of just reading the descriptions. That’s not true for so many readers (people LOVE wartime books, I know!), but it’s what’s true for me and I’m going to honour that!

• I do like books set in the mid-to-late century (1950s-90s). Books that feel a little more recent, almost contemporary… and where the setting/story isn’t depressing AF, lol. Think: THE DUTCH HOUSE, THE VANISHING HALF, HELLO BEAUTIFUL, and basically all of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work!

• I’m not interested in historical romance. I should’ve known this one already. I don’t like it in movies/TV shows either.

• I do like generational stories. And more recently, seem to be drawn to Korean stories, which is interesting!? Particularly ones that show the relationship between Korea and Japan, and how that has impacted people’s lives and culture. I have no idea why and might need to read more to understand my interest! (It might be about understanding/forming your own identity…?) But think: PACHINKO and FLASHLIGHT.

• And I haven’t read them yet, but I think I might like stories that feel a little lighter… like THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN and MEET THE NEWMANS. They feel similar to LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, which I never read but enjoyed the TV adaptation of. (And to that end: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL is one of my fave shows ever.)

All of this is to say: I don’t hate historical fiction! But I’ve finished this month with only a few titles on my TBR list. So it’s probably not a genre I’m going to become obsessed with! But I’m happy to have a better understanding of which ones I might enjoy. ☺️

In April, I’m Exploring: Science Fiction

And all the feelings I’ve had around it have already been interesting, friend! When I just think of “science fiction,” I have thoughts like: space, aliens, nerdy, and not for me. But when I started researching books I might read??? SO MANY of them sounded interesting! (And I was reminded of all the sci-fi books I’ve enjoyed in the past!) It was hard to pick just a few! But here’s the list of what I’m going to attempt to read this month…

1. DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor - Nominated for Readers’ Fave Science Fiction in 2025, a finalist for the 2025 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and a TIME Must-Read Book of 2025. The description already intrigues me, and the accolades bode well! I got it on audio.

2. THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley - Winner of Readers’ Fave Science Fiction in 2024. I remember seeing this one everywhere, and a few reader and writer friends have shared that they loved it! I bought a copy from an independent bookshop in Berwick last month.

3. THE OTHER VALLEY by Scott Alexander Howard - Nominated for Readers’ Fave Science Fiction in 2024. This one sounds really interesting. And, I think it might be the first book I’ll have read by a male author this year!? That was a funny realization.

4. PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir - For the challenge, I’m mostly reading books published in the last few years, and this one is from 2021. But I want to read it before seeing the movie adaptation! And I really want to see the movie soon! (Also: a second male author! lol)

5. Middle Grade Option: THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly - After loving WE DREAM OF SPACE, I knew I wanted to read more of EEK’s work. Lucky for me, she wrote this science fiction novel after… and it WON the Newbery!

I also want to read MONK AND ROBOT by Becky Chambers, but am waiting until they release the two-book series as one book (in May!).

Have you read either of the two books I finished this month? Or any of the books on next month’s list?

I’d love to hear your (spoiler-free) thoughts!

xx Cait

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

These reading recaps are free, because I believe literacy is a human right and books should be accessible to everyone! I send everything else to paying subscribers. We’re a thoughtful bunch, full of curiosity and compassion. If you’d like to hangout with us, it’s £21/year ($28 USD/$38 CAD). And your support goes directly into my bank account, and helps me keep the lights on and eat—and WRITE!

Support a writer

As you know, in 2026, I’m doing an experiment I’m calling: The Taste Test. It’s a reading challenge where I’m choosing one genre per month and reading a few recent/popular books from it, in an attempt to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult… and maybe (hopefully!) even find a new author/genre to obsess over!

At the end of each month, I write a recap of my thoughts, including the list of books I read and how I experienced each one. In January, I read 4 memoirs and remembered why I enjoy them. And even though February could have been the “perfect” month for romance, I decided to read crime/mystery/thrillers… and I finished SIX books, in just 30 days!

(I finished the last one on March 2nd, but we went away for two weekends so I lost a few reading days this month… give me a pass for being late!?)

What did I think of this genre, before/after these books? Let’s find out. 🤓

Subscribe now

The Story I Told Myself About Crime/Mystery/Thrillers

I start each of these recaps by sharing what my initial thoughts were on the genre. Any assumptions I had, judgments I made, and any resistance or intrigue I noticed in myself before reading any books. Because this is all an experiment, you could say this is the “hypothesis” of the month! And I was very clear on why I wanted to read this genre next…

The story I told myself about crime/mystery/thrillers is that I would like them. I had some history to back this. The first books in this genre I can remember reading were in high school, when my boyfriend’s mom loaned me her copies of ASHES TO ASHES and DUST TO DUST by Tami Hoag. I might have been 15 years old!? I haven’t read many (or any!?) specific “crime” novels since (where you’re in the mind of the cops/detectives on a case). But I remember reading these two quickly and liking them at a young age.

I didn’t read many books in this genre after that—at least not that come to mind. Then a couple years ago, I borrowed YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang from the library and DEVOURED it in a few days. That was the first time I can remember thinking: wow, I like psychological thrillers (where you’re in the mind of someone who might be a bit unreliable/unstable, and which use paranoia, obsession, manipulation, etc. to carry the plot). But I didn’t look for more, because my follow-up thought was: they also stress me out.

Then last summer, I found what I will call: funny mysteries. Specifically, the VERA WONG books (2) + THE AUNTIES series (3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I listened to all 5 while I was packing and cleaning and moving out of The Lighthouse, and loved them. I also devoured TILT by my friend Emma Pattee last year (a fast-paced thriller), along with WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy (a slower mystery/thriller by comparison). Out of 27 books, I was surprised to discover that the charts in my 2025 Reading Wrap-Up on Storygraph said mystery was one of the genres I “spent the most time with!”

So going into The Taste Test, the story I told myself is that I would probably like reading more of them. I enjoy the tactics used to keep stories moving along in mysteries/thrillers. I like a good page-turner! But it needs to be done well—meaning, it can’t be too formulaic or obvious. If I can see what’s coming next, I get bored and want to DNF/quit a book. And it can’t have much violence either. Consuming violence scrambles my insides. (Reading THE NAMES by Florence Knapp was about as far as I could push my limit.)

I wasn’t sure if I would like crime/detective books, because I don’t have much experience reading them. But I knew I would like psychological thrillers, even though they would probably stress me out. And I knew I would enjoy reading more “light” mysteries, as fun palette cleansers.

Was I right!?

The Reading Experience

In last month’s recap, I shared a list of what I was going to read in February. My plan was to read 3 adult novels + 1 middle grade book, and that already felt like a stretch. But somehow, I ended up reading 5 adult novels and my middle grade choice. SIX books!? This probably answers the question of whether I liked this genre or not, lol.

As you read my recaps, remember I’m trying not to write these as reviews (though I’m sure a few notes will slip in). I want them to reflect my personal experience of each book. Why I chose it. How it felt to read. What pulled me in, or where I got lost. And if I can find any patterns of thoughts/feelings. Anything that will help me figure out what I like/don’t like!

Here’s what I learned about myself, while reading these books:

1. BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney - I chose this one because it was nominated for the Goodreads Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2025, and I saw it was about a writer and it was set in Scotland. Seemed like it could be the recipe for a “Cait” book! But I also wondered if it would be too procedural for me. Too formulaic, obvious, or repetitive. I would say that this is an assumption/judgment I’ve made about books in this genre, in general. That the reason the most “popular” authors can push out 1-2 new books/year is probably because they are following a formula. There’s nothing wrong with this. I also know that some people really enjoy when the mystery is a bit obvious! It’s calmer; easier on the nervous system. But as I said above, the way my brain works, if I can see what’s coming next, I’m already bored and want to quit. (This is also why I don’t read much romance. I just get bored!) I’m happy to say that this book did not bore me for a second. It was more quiet intrigue, less intense thriller. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. And it kept me guessing, until the end! The only thing I didn’t like was the one mention of child sexual abuse. It was just a few sentences of the whole book, but that was enough to almost make me quit reading. (It also didn’t feel very relevant to the story. Like, that detail wasn’t essential. It could’ve been swapped for something else!) I already knew I wouldn’t want to read stories that include any sexual abuse, let alone involving a child. The best thing I learned after reading this book is that there’s a “content warnings” section for every book on Storygraph. In the future, I’ll be checking these before reading more in this genre!

2. WHAT WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS by Heather Darwent - This book wasn’t on my original list for the month, but when Heather offered to send me a copy, I happily said yes! And that was the correct answer, friend! Because this book SERVED. It is a psychological thriller, and delivered everything you could want in one. And even though I didn’t really like any of the characters (which is exactly right for this subgenre), the story was intoxicating and I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen to everyone. I had a theory about one character, which I ended up being right about—but Heather’s writing was so good, I didn’t get my answer until the very last chapter! So I kept turning the pages, faster and faster each day. I got to the end knowing: I do really enjoy pyschological thrillers… but they ALSO stress me out! To the point that I had the most f*cked up dreams for THE WHOLE WEEK I WAS READING THIS BOOK. Dreams that included people I haven’t thought about in almost 20 years. People who reminded me of Tabitha, and who I am glad to not have any contact with today. If this were a book review, I would tell you that I finished it and messaged Heather to say: THAT WAS YOUR DEBUT!?!?!?! because it was so so so well done. And, I can’t read another book like that for a little while, haha.

3. JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang - I spotted this on the Canada Reads’ 2026 Longlist and didn’t know what to expect. Was it going to be a serious/scary thriller? Or something more lighthearted? The answer was: a mix of both. I enjoyed the first half, which felt somewhat realistic and included a good mix of humour (it’s a satire) and suspense. But the second-half felt… I still don’t know how to describe it. Like it took a hard turn and went over-the-top. And it kind of lost me there. Rather than comment on the book or writing itself (which was still good! and I finished it!), I’ve been reflecting on how I felt while reading the book—thinking about where it lost me, which parts I judged, etc. The answer is actually really simple: I find the topic of social media boring. And the whole book is a satire of influencer life/culture. So that’s probably why I had a hard time staying interested, and even found myself speeding up the audiobook—because I wanted to move on from the topic.

4. MY HUSBAND’S WIFE by Alice Feeney - After enjoying BEAUTIFUL UGLY, I did a little research on what else this author has published. I listened to a few samples of other audiobooks, and LOVED hearing Bel Powley’s voice read the first few minutes of this one. I loved it so much, I felt EXCITED to listen. So I got it! And listened! And I was engaged, the whole way through! Until the last few chapters, when the entire plot was finally explained… in a monologue. It felt like such a massive letdown, after liking the rest of the book. And I judged it, friend. The words that came to mind re: the ending were lazy and rushed. The lesson I’m trying to take from this is: I really value the work that goes into writing a story that slowly pieces a puzzle together. It takes WORK to write a good mystery/thriller. And that work takes TIME and THOUGHT! So maybe I don’t want to read mysteries by authors who can pump out 1-2/year. Maybe I’d rather read mysteries by someone who writes ONE GREAT BOOK every few years. That seems to be what the next author does…

5. THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore - This was the winner of the Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2024. I remember everyone sharing pictures and reviews of it online, and now I understand why. This book was exceptional, friend. I correctly guessed what happened to one kid about halfway through, but I couldn’t have guessed what happened to the other. It was a beautiful book… that I almost didn’t finish. There was something about the writing that really threw me off, at first. I’m talking about the nitty gritty details. Like: the use of extra adjectives and punctuation used constantly to add more details. There were sometimes 4, 5, 6 commas in a single sentence. And I feel like a slow reader as it is, but there was something about these sentence structures that really slowed me down. Like my mind was trying to take in every detail, but also stay on track with the story, and it just couldn’t. After 40-45 pages, I felt like I’d never get to the end. (And the paperback is 435 pages, so I felt like I was holding an impossible challenge in my hands!) I almost quit there. But I told a friend I was going to read the first 100 pages, then decide if I wanted to keep going or quit—and I’m so glad I pushed through. Not only did the writing get easier to read1 but the story is just SO GOOD. And it is beautifully pieced together. This is a perfect thriller that I would recommend to anyone. And it was a good reminder that sometimes writing can feel clunky in my head, but it’s worth trying to catch on…

6. Middle Grade Option: MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller - And last but certainly not least, this middle grade book was a sweet little treat enjoyed in-between some of these more intense reads! I have no notes! It was filled with memorable characters, and important reminders of what the immigrant experience can be for kids/families—especially in bigger cities in the US. If you’ve read any other Newbery books, you will understand why it was nominated. The only note I would make for myself is that the age range was 7-11, which is actually a bit young for middle grade—and younger than the other kids’ books I typically like to read. I didn’t do my homework on that, and will make sure I check for ages in the future. I wanted to support Chanel Miller anyway, and still enjoyed it! But I find books in that age range too easy to read, whereas some middle grade books could easily be written for teens/adults—and those are the ones that stay with me.

The book(s) I didn’t finish (DNF):

If you’re a paid subscriber, you might remember that I found a copy of THE HOUSEMAID in the little free library in our village? I read ~50 pages and hated it. The writing felt… immature? Maybe that is just a reflection of the main character! But I couldn’t get into it. I know SO MANY PEOPLE loved this book (it has 3.5 million ratings on Goodreads!), and love all her books! Maybe I’ll try one that’s not in the HOUSEMAID series, to see if the characters/writing are more my style!? But something tells me this author’s work just isn’t for me, and that’s ok too.

The Aftertaste

The main reason I’m doing this challenge is to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult. The story I told myself about crime/mystery/thrillers is that I would like them—and I was right, friend. I enjoyed all of these books, for different reasons. And I’m researching a lot of books for this challenge, and I finished this month with another 25+ on a possible TBR list for the future, lol. So it’s safe to say, I like this genre!

But my TBR list is being compiled with two different kinds of books: ones I feel excited to read/confident I could like, and ones I still have questions about. And I think the fact that I still have so many questions about this genre tells me… it’s one I might start to get really into!

Here’s what I’ve learned about my reading taste:

• I really like psychological thrillers. And they take my mind to wild places! So I should probably only read a few per year, lol.

• I enjoy a slower mystery/thriller, filled with more intrigue than intense interactions.

• I value the time/thought/work that goes into writing a story that slowly pieces a puzzle together.

• I love character development.

• If books are too formulaic or obvious, I will quit/DNF it.

• I probably don’t want to read books written by authors who pump out more than one per year. But I’m willing to continue testing this theory.

• I do not like reading about violence, period. But especially any kind of violence towards kids. (Check the content warnings!)

• I didn’t end up reading any this month, but I know I like funny mysteries! And have more on my list!

• And this is niche, but I find the topic of social media boring now. Probably best for me to skip books where that’s the focus!

And here are some of the questions I still have:

• What are the differences between crime novels, mysteries, and thrillers? I grouped them together, for this challenge… and I know there’s a lot of crossover… but I know they are all different, too! And have subgenres underneath them! I’d love to do more research, and be able to speak about this confidentally and give recos for each one.

• I still don’t feel I’ve read many crime novels. Would I like a crime series? Something like what LJ Ross writes? Or will I find them too formulaic?

• Might I like any books written by the authors who publish often and seem to always become global bestsellers!? And if not, WHY!?!?!

In March, I’m Exploring: Historical Fiction

This post is already close to 3,000 words, so if you’re still reading, HI! In March, I’ve decided to pick a genre I feel neutral about: historical fiction. I’ve read some books in this genre before, but it’s not one I’ve necessarily been drawn to—and that feels true for where I’m at today!? I researched a lot of options, and can’t say I felt overly excited about many of them. I’m not sure why yet!? But we’ll find out, soon!

For this genre, I tried to choose books that span the globe, with stories set in the US, Vietnam, England, and Australia. I’m going to attempt to read:

1. THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah - Winner of the Readers’ Fave Historical Fiction in 2024, and one I’ve seen many of my book friends share

2. BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall - Nominated for Readers’ Fave Historical Fiction in 2025, and a Reese’s Book Club Pick

3. THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride - Nominated for Readers’ Fave in 2023, and winner of the Kirkus Prize

4. THE FAR-FLUNG LIFE by M. L. Stedman - Brand new! Out today! I was sent a free copy by the publisher and am excited to dig in. (Her last book was the winner of Readers’ Fave back in 2012.)

5. Middle Grade Option: THE LUMINOUS LIFE OF LUCY LANDRY by Anna Rose Johnson

If I have time, there are a few more books on my possible TBR list. I’d say the one that intrigues me most is THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick! MEET THE NEWMANS by Jennifer Niven sounds funny. I’ve also heard good things about JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine.

Have you read any of the books I finished last month? Or any of the historical fiction choices on this month’s list?

I’d love to hear your (spoiler-free) thoughts!

xx Cait

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

These reading recaps are free, because I believe literacy is a human right and books should be accessible to everyone! I send everything else to paying subscribers. We’re a thoughtful bunch, full of curiosity and compassion. If you’d like to hangout with us, it’s £21/year ($28 USD/$38 CAD). And your support goes directly into my bank account, and helps me keep the lights on and eat—and WRITE!

Support a writer

As you know, in 2026, I’m doing an experiment I’m calling: The Taste Test. It’s a reading challenge where I’m choosing one genre per month and reading a few books from it, in an attempt to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult… and maybe even find a new author/genre to obsess over!

I’m not going to write about it all month. Instead, I’m just going to write a recap at the end of each month. And at 2,800 words, this first one is a beast, haha. But I’m not sorry! Because it’s the first one, it explains how I’m going to format these posts. And it helped me understand what questions I want to be asking myself, as I read.

In January, I read the only nonfiction genre I’m including in the challenge: memoir. This is a genre I already knew I liked, but it was still fun to dig a little deeper and pay attention to some of the stories I told myself as I read each one! If you like books, or like exploring within yourself, I hope you enjoy this!

Subscribe now

The Story I Told Myself About Memoirs

I’m going to start each of these recaps by sharing what my initial thoughts were on the genre. Any assumptions I had, judgments I made, and any resistance or intrigue I noticed in myself before reading. Because this is all an experiment, you could say this is the “hypothesis” of the month! But let’s label it as what it really is: the story I told myself about the genre. As a rule, I think being comfortable with challenging the story you tell yourself about anything is a great life skill! And it’s one of the main objectives of The Taste Test. But I gave myself a soft start in January…

The story I told myself about memoirs is that I typically like them. Because I’ve been focused on reading more fiction, I haven’t read as many in recent years. A few celebrity-ish memoirs: THE THIRD GILMORE GIRL by Kelly Bishop, I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy, and FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough (loved this one). ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER by Elizabeth Gilbert. ON WRITING by Stephen King. Plus, AMBITION MONSTER by Jennifer Romolini, SOCIOPATH by Patric Gagne, and WHAT MY BONES KNOW by Stephanie Foo (another fave). Ok, that list is longer than I first thought!

I listened to most of them as audiobooks, because I like hearing an author narrate their own stories. It feels more human, and helps me feel more connected to their words. And one of the reasons I enjoy memoirs is because I think they inspire me to try new things with my own writing. That’s the reason I decided to start with this genre: because I’m currently working on a nonfiction book proposal, and have found that reading books in the same genre helps keep my head in the game while I do. So the other story I told myself was that reading memoirs in January would help me stay focused.

The Reading Experience

For the next part of these recaps, I’m going to share what it was like to read the books I’ve chosen for each genre. I don’t want these to be read as book reviews. I want them to reflect my personal experience of each book. Why I chose it. How it felt to read. What pulled me in, or where I got lost. And if I can find any patterns of thoughts/feelings. Anything that will help me figure out what I like/don’t like about books!

In December, I originally came up with a list of three memoirs to read in January. But when I finished my second audiobook on January 7th, I decided to add 1-2 more to the list and see how many I could get through.

The first three were all nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Fave Memoir in 2025—and couldn’t have been more different. So let’s start with those…

1. THE HOUSE OF MY MOTHER by Shari Franke - I’d never heard of Shari Franke before. I also hadn’t heard of her mother or the family’s YouTube channel. So I had no invested interest in this book. I chose it because it won the award for readers’ fave memoir of 2025 and just thought: let’s start here. The audiobook is short (7 hours) and the pacing was fast-enough that I finished it in a couple of days. But that doesn’t mean I liked it… I thought most of the writing felt young and clichéd (then looked her up and discovered she’s only 22, so that makes sense). And I appreciated the boundaries she had around sharing her siblings’ stories, but kept waiting for her to share stories of her own that felt… worse? (I later learned the abuse some of her siblings experienced was horrendous. But wondered what it says about me that I didn’t find some of Shari’s stories more shocking? Or maybe she was just withholding a lot?) Overall, it was fine to listen to. Not a bad book. But I finished it wondering why/how it got the most votes for this category. I don’t really understand that, other than perhaps the “celebrity-ish” factor. People have followed her/her family online for years. I also have a theory that people who openly talk about religion/spirituality gain the most followers (especially in the US)… anyway, I finished it wondering: how might this book have been different if she’d waited and done some therapy and written it 10 years from now? And, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Because it was fast-paced, which I like. And I finished it quickly.

2. CARELESS PEOPLE by Sarah Wynn-Williams - This book got a ton of press in 2025, and it’s not hard to imagine why. Described as an “explosive memoir” that gives you a “front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them.” Yea, that’s intriguing… and yet, I hesitated. I’d seen the cover many times and thought about reading it, but didn’t pick it up—even when I saw it sitting on the shelves at the library. I hesitated because I already didn’t like Facebook, and in general I don’t like reading more about things I don’t like… some might call this “hate-reading?” It feels like a waste of time and mental energy, so I try not to do it. But I do have some interest in tech, and I am curious about where it’s going next, and what role it will play in our lives… so I finally decided to read it—and it felt ok. I mean, the stories are not ok. And I still don’t like Facebook, and definitely don’t trust its leaders. But I didn’t feel like I was hate-reading the book. I felt like I was learning and processing new information and asking myself questions—including about the author herself (who I felt could’ve taken more responsibility for the impact of her own indifference). Again, the writing was fast-paced, which I’m quickly learning is something I like. The audiobook is over 13 hours long and I finished it in 5-6 days.

3. RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton - In comparison to the first two books I listened to, this is one I was genuinely looking forward to reading. It’s the story of a woman in the UK who finds and raises a baby hare—and what she learns about them, and herself, through their time together. I didn’t know what to expect, other than it felt like a “Cait” book—and it was, friend. It reminded me of the years when the hedgehogs were living in my garden at The Lighthouse. How I never went near them, but took care of them from a distance. How afraid I was for the day they might leave and never return. And how much I cried when I found Mama Hedgie dead on the patio. (There weren’t many hedgie spottings after that.) Compared to the first two books, this one was slow-paced and meditative. I noticed I felt “bad” that it was taking me so long to finish it (2+ weeks for a 6.5-hour audiobook) which is an interesting observation in and of itself. Was there something wrong with me? I wondered. No. Was it a boring book? Not at all. Her stories were so vivid, I could have been standing inside her home! There were just a few times when I thought: is this really all the book is about? Stories of a woman paying close attention to a wild animal? The answer is yes. And by the end, I realized that’s exactly what my nervous system needed. ❤️

Outside of my initial TBR list, I picked up two more memoirs this month:

• YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL by Maggie Smith (finished and loved it. Written by a poet, it was also a bit slow/thoughtful at times, and that was exactly right for it)

• and HUNGER by Roxane Gay (not done yet)

First published in 2023 and 2017, they don’t quite fit the original criteria for The Taste Test. But I read/am reading them for a different reason: because I see them as potential comp titles for my next book. That means I’m taking my time… paying attention to how they do things… studying them. That’s not the same as simply reading a story or reading for pleasure. But reading for the sake of trying to find inspiration and wanting to be a better writer? It makes for a slower read. But it lights me up in a different way. 💡

The Aftertaste

The main reason I’m doing this challenge is to figure out what my reading taste is as an adult. So to close these recaps, I’m going to reflect on the original stories I told myself about the genre (many of which I haven’t read much of before) and how I feel about it now. Then I’m going to share any personal lessons I’m taking away from my reading experiences, which I hope will help me choose more “Cait” books in the future!

The story I told myself about memoirs is that I typically like them—and that remains true, friend. I can’t imagine this ever being a genre I was obsessed with/wanted to read all the time!? But I do enjoy memoirs, and their ability to help us feel connected via the human experience. I can imagine always reading a few each year! But I’m definitely going to be more selective about them, after this challenge.

A few things I want to remember, when I choose memoirs in the future:

• I don’t want to read “celebrity-ish” (person who is well-known) memoirs, unless it’s about someone/something I feel genuinely interested in.

• It’s still true that I don’t want to hate-read books. I’m not interested in the gossip or shock factor—and think it’s better for my nervous system if I avoid consuming it.

• I also know there’s something we can learn from everyone—probably the key takeaway of this genre on the whole.

• I would love to read more memoirs by writers. (By that I mean, memoirs where writers talk about their writing lives!)

• And even though it can take me a while to finish nature memoirs (which isn’t a bad thing!), they serve as a balm. They help me slow down and feel present and notice more in my life. They aren’t meant to be rushed. So if I want a quick read, I shouldn’t pick up a nature memoir. But when my nervous system needs a balm, these + Mary Oliver’s poetry are the books for me.

And as for the story that reading memoirs would help me stay focused on my book proposal? Well, I’m happy to report that was true too. I still have a ways to go… but it definitely served its purpose!

Just for Fun: Middle Grade Options

Before I sign off, I want to share one more thing. Last month, I told you I had an idea for something extra I could add to this challenge. A very “Cait” idea, and it’s this: for some of the months, I want to also read a middle grade option in that genre. Middle grade books are written for ages 9-12, but I believe can be enjoyed by anyone—especially adults. Sales of middle grade books have been going down for a few years, and I’m starting to think that finding a new audience (like adult readers) might be their only hope of going back up. (And maybe if kids see us reading them, some of them might be inspired to read more again too!?)

Goodreads used to have a category for children’s/middle grade books in their readers’ awards, but they seemed to cut it after 2022—and I think that was a huge mistake. And because these books haven’t been written for us, it may not be the easiest age category to dip back into. So, how do we discover new middle grade books!? By browsing the shelves at your library! Talking to booksellers! Scrolling through the books that have been nominated for the Newbery Award and/or Carnegie Medal! And sharing the ones we’ve read with other adults. That’s what I’m going to do here.

As far as I know, there aren’t many “memoirs” written by kids aged 9-12… (Anne Frank got her diary at age 13, and Naoki Higashida was 13 when he wrote THE REASON I JUMP.) So I would say the best comparison is realistic fiction. Stories with people/places/plots that could happen in real life. I didn’t read any middle grade books this month, but realistic fiction is probably my favourite genre for this age group—and the one I could imagine writing someday. If you’re curious, a few of my faves over the years have been:

• OCTOBER, OCTOBER and THE LIGHT IN EVERYTHING by Katya Balen

• SARA AND THE SEARCH FOR NORMAL by Wesley King

• RAYMIE NIGHTINGALE and FERRIS by Kate DiCamillo

• ROBIN by Sarah Ann Juckes

In February, I’m Exploring: Crime/Mystery/Thrillers

I thought about saving this genre for one month in the fall. Darker months feel like a great time to read books with darker themes. And February could’ve been the “perfect” month to read romance!? But I have a theory about crime/mystery/thrillers, which is that I think I might really like them. I could be wrong! And I know I wouldn’t like all of them. (I hate reading anything with a lot of violence.) I haven’t read many thrillers over the years… but whenever I have, I DEVOURED them. So I want to test out my theory! I want to know if I’m right or wrong about this!

I’m not sure I’ll actually get through all of these books (4 novels in one month is a stretch for me), but here’s what I’m going to attempt to read:

1. BEAUTIFUL UGLY by Alice Feeney - Nominated for Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2025. I’ve seen the author’s name many times, and assume she probably writes “classics” in this genre!? I don’t know. But I chose this one because it’s set in Scotland! Yes, please!

2. THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore - This was the winner of the Readers’ Fave Mystery & Thriller in 2024. I remember seeing EVERYONE share it on social media. I read a sample and now I want to see what all the fuss was about!

3. JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang - I spotted this on the Canada Reads’ 2026 Longlist. I can’t tell if it’s going to be serious or more lighthearted. But I’ve read it’s perfect for people who liked YELLOWFACE and that was me, me, me!

4. Middle Grade Option: MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller - I feel like a lot of middle grade novels have a mystery in them… but the plot for this story feels like a true mystery. And it just sounds so cute and wholesome! (And was probably a balm for her, after publishing KNOW MY NAME.)

Because I’ve been so excited about diving into this genre, it probably won’t surprise you to know I have (many) more options saved! But let’s see if I can get through these ones first, and how I’m feeling on the other side…

Ok, that was a doozy of a first recap, friend! If you’re still reading, you must really love books, haha.

Have you read any of the memoirs I finished this month? Or any of the books on next month’s list?

I’d love to hear your (spoiler-free) thoughts!

xx Cait

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

This newsletter has a paid subscription option, simply because that is one of the best ways to support me while I work on my next book. It helps reduce any financial stress, which makes it feel safer for me to dive into a big project. And it’s just £21/year ($28 USD/$39 CAD).

Support a writer

It started with a question: would it be possible for me to follow along with a book club for a year? That was my original idea for a “resolution” of sorts. I would choose a book club and try to read the 12 books it chose in 2026. And it would’ve been a good-enough challenge! It would’ve tested a couple stories I tell myself, including the one about how book clubs are “not for me” and that “I’m too slow of a reader” to possibly keep up. It also would’ve required me to read some books I wouldn’t have known about or chosen for myself. This intrigued me, but it didn’t excite me. So I let the idea simmer.

A couple weeks later, I started seeing some of the authors I follow share news that their books were nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award. The award system is imperfect (starting with the fact that Goodreads is owned by Amazon lol). But the initial nominations are based on user activity, and then books go through multiple rounds of voting by readers who use the site. In the end, 15 books are chosen as “readers’ favourites.” Might I like to read all the winners from 2025? was the next question I asked myself. But when I went through the list, I wasn’t excited about most of those titles either.

What did feel exciting was looking at the different categories. Most of them are specific genres, and many are ones I don’t typically read books from. Historical fiction, crime/mystery/thriller, science fiction, fantasy, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror (and the only book I’ve read by Stephen King was his memoir). And romantasy? These are genres I haven’t been drawn to… but why? What stories have I told myself about them? What assumptions or judgments have I made? Why am I drawn to some books more than others? And what might I discover if I tried reading some new genres this year?

I don’t know why the idea of analyzing my judgments + the stories I tell myself about books/genres felt so intriguing, friend. (Maybe it’s my version of “fun” personal development!? 😂) But exploring genres is what finally felt REALLY exciting to me!

That’s how I came up with my own reading challenge…

Introducing: The Taste Test Reading Challenge

A year of curious reading across the genres 🔦📚

Here’s how it’s going to work, friend:

In 2026, I’m going to choose one genre per month (I’m only doing 10 in total and will explain why below) and read a few books from it.

I’d like to read books that are fairly new, because I do enjoy staying on top of what’s happening in the publishing industry and want to understand which books are shaping our culture right now. So I’m going to choose from “popular” books published in 2024-2026. They will be a mix of bestsellers, big book club picks, nominees/winners of various awards, etc. I’ll share how/why I chose each one.

At the end of each month, I’ll share my initial thoughts (including assumptions + judgments!) on the genre, followed by my reviews + reflections of how it felt to read the books I chose. I will also include any new thoughts/curiosities I have about the genre going forward, and if it feels like one I’d like to read more books from in the future. And then I’ll share the genre + list of books I’m going to read next, in case anyone wants to follow along!

The Genres

There are so many genres I could choose from. The Goodreads Choice Awards has 15 categories. Reedsy says there are 35 popular genres in publishing. Other sites list up to 100! There’s no scientific formula for this, so I’m going to choose 10 of the most popular genres that I’m intrigued by, many of which I often avoid. In alphabetical order, I’ll be reading…

1. Crime/Mystery/Thriller

2. Fantasy

3. Historical Fiction

4. Horror

5. Memoir*

6. Romance

7. Romantasy

8. Science Fiction

9. YA Fiction

10. YA SFF (Science Fiction & Fantasy)

My intention is to study the books/authors and study the genre—well, as much as you can, in just a month’s time. I’m only choosing 10, because I can look ahead at my calendar and see there are two months when I’ll be pretty busy and won’t be writing much: May and August. As the year goes on, it’s possible I’ll change this list slightly—but this feels like a great starting point!

It feels worth noting that I will also be reading contemporary fiction, all throughout the year (maybe mostly in May and August!?). This is the genre I read the most already, and there are so many books on my TBR list in 2026! I may write about it, but for the sake of this challenge, I probably won’t. I don’t feel the need to “study” the genre. I know I love it!

Finally, for some of the months/genres, I also have an idea for something extra special I want to add to my reflections. You’ll have to stay tuned for that, but I’ll tell you this: the idea is very Cait. 🤓

*Note: You’ll notice this is the only nonfiction genre I’ve included and that is intentional. Outside of memoir, I do not—and do not want to—read most nonfiction books. At the very least, I am done with self-help.

The Questions

As I explore each new genre, I’ll be asking myself some of the questions I listed above. Like: What stories have I told myself about this genre? What assumptions or judgments have I made? Why am I drawn to some books more than others? What do/don’t I like about the stories? And so on.

I’ll also be asking myself some personal questions, throughout the year. I’m curious to find out: can I keep up with a reading challenge, if I created it for myself and it actually feels fun!? Could I be someone who joins a book club in the future? Am I really the “slow reader” I tell myself I am!?

And going back to what I shared last week, the biggest question I have is this: is there a new genre out there that I might fall in love with? Or any authors/series I might become obsessed with? Because I don’t think I have much experience with this, friend. And I want to know what it feels like.

What started as a simple question has turned into a fully mapped out challenge for myself. I’ve written potential TBR lists for each genre, imagined which genres I might read in each month of the year, etc. And nothing about this has felt like work, friend. I am having SO much fun1 imagining what this could look like and all the books I might read. (Even the ones I feel extremely judgmental about, which we’ll chat more about soon enough!) It’s filled with questions! Curiosities! And a deep desire to reflect and learn!

I’ve never been a fan of new year’s resolutions, and I don’t think January 1st is the best time to start most things. But if you know me, and especially if you’ve read my books, you know: I love doing personal experiments. And I think they are the most interesting and effective when you create ones you are genuinely interested in doing (“create” being the operative word here). When you feel open to challenging yourself, exploring within, learning and changing in some way. And you come up with “rules” that feel good for you.

A new rule of mine is that I want any experiment I do to start from a place of joy—not lack. It’s taken decades, but I can confidently say that I actively pursue well-being, pleasure, and personal enjoyment in my everyday life. (See: am I happier than I think!?) And reading books + wanting to find something I can be obsessed with feels like a joyful pursuit to me!

In January, I’m Exploring: Memoir

I know it’s already the 13th, and it’s taken time for me to write and share this post with you… but I’ve been reading my first genre since the Christmas holidays! I’m dipping my toes into this challenge by choosing a genre I have a lot of experience reading: memoir. It’s also a genre I’ve largely skipped over for the last few years. Why did I stop reading them!? is one question I’ve been asking myself. Because even if I don’t enjoy them all, I seem to fly through memoirs. I’ve already finished the three books I was considering reading!

1. THE HOUSE OF MY MOTHER by Shari Franke

2. CARELESS PEOPLE by Sarah Wynn-Williams

3. RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton

All three were nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Fave Memoir in 2025—and they couldn’t be more different. I have a lot to say about them! But I might actually read a couple more, so I’ll save it for my reflections at the end of the month.

What’s on your TBR list this year, friend? Are there any books coming out in 2026 that you’re REALLY excited to read?

xx Cait

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

This newsletter has a paid subscription option, simply because that is one of the best ways to support me while I work on my next book. It helps reduce any financial stress, which makes it feel safer for me to dive into a big project. And it’s just £21/year ($28 USD/$39 CAD).

Support a writer for a year

Hi friend,

Up until 2024, I was a card-carrying member of the NSSWC: the Never Seen Star Wars Club. Truthfully, I haven’t seen most movies (or many TV shows, for that matter). But Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon, and is one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history. It feels safe to assume that most people have watched at least one of the films, and many of those people have watched them all. I just wasn’t one of them.

I hadn’t seen Star Wars, but I still knew a few things about it, because that’s what happens when you’re in pop culture. You can find references to Star Wars everywhere. In other movies, TV shows, video games, song lyrics, and so on. I knew who Chewy was and what he sounded like. I knew who Luke’s father was. And thanks to Friends, I knew Ross (and perhaps “real” men?) had always fantasized about Princess Leia in “the” gold bikini. Had I ever seen that scene or the infamous gold bikini? No, but I could use my imagination.

And, I did. Well… kind of.

What I imagined is that I wouldn’t like Star Wars. Based on the little snippets I saw, I told myself the story that it “wasn’t for me.” And I never even thought about watching it. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything either, to be fair. Nobody in my family watched Star Wars. None of my friends seemed into it. I don’t even remember my high school boyfriends caring much about it. Maybe Star Wars wasn’t a big thing for any of my people? I don’t know. I just knew it “wasn’t for me.”

I was 40 years old when I realized I’ve never been really “into” anything. I’ve never bought and read the new book in a series on publication day. Never stood in line to see every new movie in a trilogy on opening night/weekend. Never had a music artist I liked so much that I saw them every time they came to my city. There were a few things I liked as a kid, and some network TV shows and artists I kept up with in my teens and early 20s. But I can’t remember being a die hard FAN of something, especially as an adult.

I don’t know the exact “why” behind this… and that’s one of the things I’d like to reflect on this year. I think there have been times when I’ve judged whatever was in pop culture. Where I didn’t want to like what everyone else liked, and wanted to be different in some way. (Was this part of the “be the cool girl” messaging we got in the 90s?)

But there have also been times when I didn’t think my own taste was cool enough—usually when I compared it to whatever a boy was interested in. So I would hide what I liked from them, and just do whatever they wanted to. (I could eye roll at my younger self, but I imagine this is a relatable experience for many… especially us recovering co-dependents!)

I think there’s more to this, of course. You can always find a deeper reason, when you start exploring within. I think there’s something about trust under it all. Something about vulnerability. And something about being afraid to be witnessed. I’ve never proudly let myself be seen or known for having any special or unique interests (perhaps, outside of hedgehogs? lol). For really liking or LOVING something! And I’ve always been afraid to share my reviews and opinions. What am I afraid will happen? I’m not sure…

As a result, though, one thing has happened: I don’t really know what my own taste is. So at 40, I’m sending myself on a little quest to discover it! And I’m starting with books!

Long-time readers will know: the one thing I have always loved is books. My mom said I was reading by age 4, and I’ve never stopped. But my relationship with books got complicated in my early 20s, probably around the same time I was finishing college and starting my career. For 10+ years, I mostly bought books I thought I “should” read. The self-help and nonfiction that might help me personally and help inform my writing too.

If you read THE YEAR OF LESS, you know I also used to buy books for other versions of myself. The books I thought would make me look more interesting or informed. The ones that a “respected” writer would read. Not surprisingly, they sat on my shelves and collected dust. I decluttered them all, and am grateful I can say: I learned that lesson. I do not buy books for a fictional version of myself I think I should become. I buy them for who I am today.

But for the first few years after the shopping ban, I still continued to largely read nonfiction. I did not read for fun (fiction). I read for work. And it felt like work. I was finally able to name this in 2020, and have slowly started reading more and more fiction over the last six years. (Probably since starting to read middle grade. Maybe that’s a special interest I’m becoming known for?) And last year, only 8% of what I read was nonfiction!

But here’s what I’ve been noticing more recently, friend: I stay on top of enough publishing news/newsletters, have enough bookish friends, etc. that I hear about + see countless books every day. And I look at a lot of them and think: “not for me.” This is a story I’ve told myself about so many things, over the years. A story that, I am now realizing, is filled with assumptions—and judgments too. And the only “goal” or “resolution” I have for 2026 is that I’d like to challenge it. To pay attention to my thoughts and take a deeper look at why I skip over these books. What assumptions do I make? What judgments do I have about the book or the genre its in? And then I’m going to read some of these books and share what I discover on the other side!

I typically try to avoid setting any “goals” around my reading, because I don’t ever want it to feel like work again. But I’ve created what feels like a unique reading challenge for myself for 2026. I’ll tell you more about what this is going to look like in a few days! (I’m currently trying to edit down that post because it’s gotten HUGE, haha.)

For now, I just want to say that I’m entering this new year feeling energized and curious! I’m curious to learn more about some of the books and genres I typically skip over… but I’m also curious (and hopeful!) that I might actually find something new that I LOVE. And perhaps even become a die hard fan of.

Because here’s what surprised me most over the holidays, friend: Tall Man and I finished the last two Star Wars movies and I really liked them. It took us ~18 months, but I have finally seen all nine of the “trilogy of trilogies.” And in the days since, I’ve found myself thinking… I kind of want to rewatch some of them. And soon.

Maybe it “wasn’t for me” when I was younger. But I like it now!

And I wonder what else that might be true for?

xx Cait

PS - I think you know I’m not normally a fan of resolutions or starting anything new on January 1st. I believe in beginning when it feels right, which is what’s true of this reading challenge. But if you’re looking for inspiration on how to have more FUN this year, I loved this list!

The Way of Beauty

50 Fun & Whimsical Resolutions for a More Joyful 2026

New Year’s Eve may be my favorite holiday, and in my ongoing attempts to create more converts to the New Year’s Eve hype, I want to remind everyone of one very important thing: you can harness the energy of the new year however you want…

Read more

4 months ago · 4623 likes · 68 comments · Hannah Liz

Thank you for reading this little newsletter of mine. There are so many ways you can support a writer. Buy our books. Leave reviews. Share them with others. Read our newsletters and click on the little heart buttons to show you like some of what we have to say. It is all helpful!

This newsletter has a paid subscription option, simply because that is one of the best ways to support me while I work on my next book. It helps reduce any financial stress, which makes it feel safer for me to dive into a big project. And it’s just £21/year ($28 USD/$39 CAD).

Support a writer for a year