Abi’s 5 Star Book List of 2026
THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M. LION
BY BETH BROWER
To no surprise, I am reading The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion for the second time and they are even better the second time around.
Beth Brower knows the key to my heart. Part of me gets frustrated because I want the story to go by faster but then she pulls me back in with the twists and turns and character development. A lot of people have asked me if it’s worth it to keep going because books one and two are kind of slow, and my answer is, keep going! I promise it will pay off. It’s a slower burn, but enjoyable none the less. Truly one of my favorite series of all time.
5 stars! 0/5 spice (I wish there were more!)
WHAT THE WIND KNOWS
BY AMY HARMON
This is easily one of my favorite books of all time.
I actually had the chance to meet Amy Harmon, and I absolutely fan-girl over her. She’s genuine, kind, incredibly talented, and a huge inspiration to me as both a reader and a writer.
As for the book… I genuinely don’t have anything I’d change. The pacing is excellent, the characters feel like real people, and the story is so smart and captivating that I found myself thinking about it long after I finished. Amy has become one of those authors where I’ll read anything she writes because her books are consistently exceptional.
If you love historical fiction with a beautifully woven romance, this one is absolutely worth your time. The history feels immersive without ever becoming a history lesson, and the romance adds heart without overshadowing the story.
5 stars! And 2/5 spice!
ANTHEM
BY AYN RAND
This week we listened to Anthem in a single sitting.
Ammon has begged me to read it for a long time. But it took me a minute. I’m so sad I didn’t read it sooner. I already want to read it again. It’s only about an hour long, but somehow manages to pack more ideas into that hour than many books do in hundreds of pages.
Set in a dystopian future. I don’t even want to tell you more than that. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since we finished. It’s one of those books that makes you pause, stare out the window, and reconsider things you thought you already understood.
Beautiful. Thought-provoking. Deep. If you’re looking for a short read with a big impact! ANOTHER FULL 5 stars!
EAST OF EDEN
BY JOHN STEINBECK
I don’t even know what to say about this book except that it completely lived up to the hype.
I absolutely loved it. I cried at the end. There were passages I wanted to underline and save forever. It’s one of those books that makes you stop and reread a paragraph because the writing is so beautiful.
One of my favorite things was that there wasn’t a clear hero or villain. Every character was capable of both good and evil, kindness and selfishness, redemption and failure. Steinbeck doesn’t let anyone be all one thing, which made the story feel incredibly real.
The book parallels the story of Cain and Abel not once, but twice, and explores some of the most fascinating themes I’ve ever read in fiction: free will versus fate, the choices that shape us, the complicated relationship between parents and children, jealousy, forgiveness, identity, love, and what it truly means to overcome our nature.
It asks the question: Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of those who came before us, or do we have the power to choose differently?
That question stayed with me long after I finished.
NO BAD PARTS
BY RICHARD SCHWARTZ PHD
I listened to No Bad Parts twice this week and it is still an easy five stars. It is technically a self help book, which is not usually what I reach for. I tend to want to be entertained when I read. But this one is different. It is practical and surprisingly powerful.
I highly recommend the audiobook because Richard C. Schwartz actually walks you through exercises that help you process in real time. It is not just something you consume, it is something you experience. Go back to it as you wish.
I have recommended this before and I will keep recommending it. Some books are worth returning to, and this is one of them.
THE LAST LOVE NOTE
BY EMMA GREY
I started reading The Wolf and the Crown of Blood and it was so good until it started getting too smutty for me. I need some things left to the imagination. Sheesh. Although I know many people love that, I got uncomfortable and couldn’t finish. Call me a prude, but it was a no for me. I DNF’d this one and the Spice scale: 6/5.
On the flip side, I did read a book that made me cry twice and might be my favorite book of the year. It’s called the Last Love Note by Emma Grey and it was just beautiful. So many people told me they loved that book and have read it multiple times. I can see myself reading it again. For sure a 5 star!
REBECCA
BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER
This was the best book I’ve read this year. 5/5 stars easily. I love a good mystery. The storyline was amazing. The character development was spot on. I cannot wait to get home and watch every single movie that has been made from this book. Truly worth the read.
