Bookends Jan-Feb
best books of the month and my new tbr!
The 2026 reading year has already been off to a great start! I made it my mission this month to dedicate time to reading new books and the new releases I have been eagerly anticipating. My range has been incredibly varied, and as a result, incredibly fun! I’ve read from some genres I don’t usually dabble in, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every single book I have read this month. Which is a huge success in my opinion! I honestly don’t remember the last time I loved every book I read in one month.
It’s also made me feel really positive and motivated about my reading goals for the year and what I want to achieve. I think I mentioned this before, but more than just counting the numbers, this year I really want to read books I haven’t heard of before, or are not super hyped up on social media. I want to find those hidden gems and then shout about them from the rooftops (to my friends).
So without further ado, here are my Jan-Feb Bookends, with some new favourites and some unexpected finds.
January wrap up
The Witch of Willow Sound by Vanessa F. Penney
This was my first read of the year and immediately I wanted to reread it. After stumbling across a picture of this book on pinterest, I was super intrigued by the premise. I have never read a book quite like this before, and the atmospheric setting swept me up right from the start.
In this gothic, mysterious, female-led novel, we follow Fade as she returns to the ominous town of Grand Tea in Nova Scotia, following news of her Aunt’s disappearance. With a history of witchcraft and darker chapters of the town’s past, Fade struggles to uncover the truth about what happened to her Aunt as well as the looming danger of the landscape and people around her.
I read this in a few sittings as each chapter had me hooked, and it was a great way to start the reading year with not only a five star read, but a different genre to my usual rotation.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Having been recommended to read this by multiple friends, I finally caved and picked it up. And I loved it! The world that Pierce Brown has created is so descriptive and thrilling, you really get a sense for the setting from the start.
In this sci-fi/dystopian adventure, we follow Darrow, a member of the lower class Reds, who infiltrates the high society in order to start a rebellion and bring down the corrupt regime.
I’m not usually one for Sci-Fi, however, this was so gripping that I am definitely going to continue on with the rest of the series, and it was great to immerse myself in a different genre to what I would usually read. Also, Darrow is a fabulous protagonist!
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Eloise, or Eloise at the Plaza, is a beloved illustrated children’s series, and I read it this month for two reasons. The first being that I just love how cheeky and over the top the story is. Eloise is such a wonderful character and these books are overflowing with joy and mischief so they are perfect companion for blustery weather and when you just need a little bit of nostalgia.
The second being that I adore Hilary Knight’s illustrations. As an aspiring illustrator myself, I read these almost as a form of study to really understand Knight’s illustration style and see how he brings Eloise to life. I read at Eloise at Christmastime in December, and then this month I finished the series with Eloise in Moscow and the principal story, Eloise at the Plaza.
Perfume: The Alchemy of Scent by Jean-Claude Ellena
Perhaps the most rogue read on my January wrap up, this book was just as gorgeous as it was educational. It’s no secret that I am obsessed with perfume, and more specifically, the history and manufacturing of scent. It’s mainly off the back of a visit to the Fragonard factory in Grasse early last year where I started to learn about the role of a Nose and what goes into perfume design and production. It’s such a fascinating industry and this month I furthered my intrigue by reading a whole book about the chemistry, production and marketing of fragrance.
Written by an expert in the field, who has worked for many companies including Hermès, Ellena explores the history of perfume from the very molecules that make up certain scents to the way the packaging is made to target the consumer. I highly recommend it if you are a perfume fiend, as it is truly fascinating! I adored this.
His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora
My favourite read of January! Instant five star! Instant favourite! Loved, loved, loved.
There is so much I can say about this book but I don’t want to give too much away and I will probably include it in a later article about favourite reads. But ultimately, this was the first fantasy I have read in a while that I instantly wanted to reread.
It’s a YA historical fantasy set in Ancient Egypt with so much detail and lore on the mythology and magic system that you really become transported to Ancient Egypt with each chapter. Corpora crafts a beautifully atmospheric world where you follow the lives of four different characters as they embark on their own prophetic journeys through danger and magic. Intertwining at certain points, each story has its own weight throughout the plot and that was what I loved so much about this. You really root for each of them and Corpora keeps you right at the edge of your seat.
I can’t wait for the next instalment in this series, and I will be recommending this to everyone!
February TBR🐉
After a fabulous start to the reading year, I want to continue with my grand fantasy quests in February as I am certainly still in the mood for magic. However, I simply must include a romance somewhere in the month, as it is Valentine’s Day soon after all.
Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter - I have been recommended this multiple times and have never read any Lynn Painter before but I really want to!
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez - (one of my favourite authors and a new release!)
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Heart the Lover by Lily King
The Odds of You by Kate Dramis
Happy reading! x