This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details..
New Year, New Books! This year, I’m committed to reading 36 books in 2026, and in January, I’ve already read 5! If you’re interested in what I read, a summary, and my honest opinion, this post is for you. I’ll also share my top pick of the month and what’s TBR for February!
Book List Overview (with links to purchase)
- In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
- Behind the Forecast by Evie Daniels
- Elevator Pitch by Evelyn Leigh
- Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
- Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
📖 In Your Dreams – Sarah Adams
- Genre: Romance
- Why did I read this? This is the 4th and last book in Adams’ When in Rome series, so I had to read it as soon as it dropped!
- Synopsis: Madison barely passed culinary school, but she can’t go home to Rome, Kentucky and tell her family she failed…again. But, when she accidentally calls family friend James, he invites her to come home to run his new restaurant. James doesn’t tell Madison that he’s been in love with her for years, and Madison doesn’t tell James that she has a panic attack every time she enters a kitchen. Both of them have secrets, both of them have feelings, but can they get past their insecurities to make their dreams come true?
- Tropes/themes: Small-town romance, grief TW, panic attack TW, some spice, dual POV, friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, he falls first
- My Thoughts: I can’t believe this is the last book of this series! I love the Walker family and all the characters in Rome, so it’s so hard to say goodbye, but this book was amazing! I love the whimsy and romance in an Adams’ novel, and her work is always the perfect mixture of cutesy, emotional, and deep. I could not put this one down and literally read the entire thing in one day! I love this series, and this book was no different!
- Favorite Quote: “Being known is beautiful. Especially when they know the worst things about you and choose you anyway”.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes! If you love romance, especially small-town romance, you will love this entire series!
📖 Behind the Forecast — Evie Daniels
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Why did I read this? I was in between long novels and wanted a short, Black romance in the meantime.
- Synopsis: Eden returns home to get her life together, but she can’t stop bumping into insanely attractive Dawson–a man who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. When they start working together, things heat up even more, and they find themselves feeling things they can’t ignore.
- Tropes/themes: Black romance, dual POV, workplace romance, forced proximity, billionaire romance, dislike to lovers, banter, spicy, short read
- My Thoughts: This book was a cute romance with lovable characters, and it was a lot spicier than I was expecting! However, with being a short read, I find that it lacks the plot and depth to be great. There were some moments that I was confused, like, “Where did this come from?”. The plot could have flowed a lot more smoothly, but it wasn’t too bad.
- Favorite Quote: “There was something about the way he said my name, the way his voice curled around it like a secret. And damn it, I hated how much I liked it.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Maybe…it’s nothing special, but it’s not the worse romance I’ve ever read. If you want a good short, Black romance, I’d recommend a Mimi Grace book over this one.
📖Elevator Pitch — Evelyn Leigh
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Why did I read this? This book has been on my TBR forever, and after receiving it as a Christmas gift, I finally felt ready to tackle it!
- Synopsis: Selah has a list of “fun” things to check off before she turns 30, but a series of horrible dates isn’t helping. Then, she runs into her extremely sexy, kind, and intriguing neighbor Greyson. He pays attention to her every word and says he would do anything to make her happy. They enter an agreement to help each other, but when a deadline approaches and emotions run strong, they find out that their arrangement may be deeper than they both thought.
- Tropes/themes: Interracial romance, dual POV, slow burn, panic attack TW, PTSD TW, domestic abuse TW, SPICY!!!, forced proximity, friends to lovers, billionaire romance, he falls first, opposites attract, fake dating
- My Thoughts: I was nervous to read this book because it’s lengthy and intimidating, but I’m so glad I finally did! This book definitely lives up to the hype! It had the longing, the banter, and the slow burn I long for in a romance read. And Greyson…ULTIMATE book boyfriend behavior! I think this author has more books in this series to come, and I can’t wait!
- Favorite Quote: “His gaze feels like the warm sun on my skin on a spring morning. I want nothing more than to bask in it”.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? YES!! If I could rate it 6 stars, I would! Any reader of romance should pick this one up!
📖Anatomy of an Alibi — Ashley Elston
- Genre: Psychological Thriller
- Why did I read this? It was one of the “Book of the Month” options, and although it’s not a romance, it sounded very interesting!
- Synopsis: Camille has the picture-perfect life…except she thinks her husband Ben is cheating on her with a woman named Aubrey. When the two women meet, they find that Aubrey is connected to Ben, but not in the way of a romance. Camille and Aubrey hatch a plan to uncover the secrets, but the next morning, Ben is found murdered, and only one of the women has an airtight alibi. Can they even trust each other? Uncovering family secrets, twists and turns, and lies upon lies, this “whodunit” gets interesting!
- Tropes/themes: Whodunit, identity swap, dead spouse, alibi, dual timeline, multiple POV, small-town, rich vs. poor
- My Thoughts: Normally, I stick to romance, but I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone! This book had so many plot twists that I audibly gasped multiple times! I finished this entire book in 1 day because I could not put it down! I would characterize it more as a mystery than psychological thriller, but either way, I was hooked!
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? YES!! If I could rate it 6 stars, I would! The twists, turns, secrets, and lies kept me glued to this book!
📖Part of Your World — Abby Jimenez
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Why did I read this? Come on. Every romance reader has read this one! I happened to pick up Just for the Summer a couple of years ago, not knowing it was part of this series, so I’m finally getting around to reading book 1. It was discounted with Book of the Month, so I was able to grab the hardcover for only $12.99.
- Synopsis: After a one-night stand with small-town carpenter Daniel, Alexis’ life turned upside down. She needed to see him again, but between her toxic family, her uppity friends, and her abusive ex that won’t leave her alone, Daniel definitely can’t fit into her world. And she can’t leave her family’s legacy to be with him in a small-town in the middle of nowhere. She has to decide: is love enough to risk it all?
- Tropes/themes: Opposites attract, small-town romance, dual POV, age gap, abuse TW
- My Thoughts: Abby Jimenez can do no wrong! She is my favorite romance writer of all time, and it’s not just because we have the same last name! Her books always combine emotional depth, poetic writing, banter, lovable characters, and plot. I feel every emotion after reading her books, that I need at least a week to recover, and this one was no different. I love a good small-town romance, and the emotional depth gave me everything I need in a romance novel.
- Favorite Quote: “It’s amazing how someone can touch you, even if you only knew them for a moment in time. How they can change you, alter you indelibly.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? YES!! If you’re a real lover girl, Abby Jimenez is the writer for you!
My Top Pick This Month is…
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston! January was a great reading month, so it was hard to choose, but the way I was glued to this book, I knew it had to take the cake. I didn’t know what to expect with a Thriller, but I’m pleasantly surprised!
What’s TBR for February?
- Recipe for Second Chances by Ali Rosen
- Promise by Jheanell Westonberry
- It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica (BOTM)
- Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
That concludes the first reading wrap-up of 2026! What did you read this month? What are you looking forward to reading in February? Let me know, and don’t forget to share this post with any book lovers you know!
