This week, I passed the halfway mark of my Goodreads reading goal for 2026.
Fifty per cent… in November. Sigh. My goal set in January this year was a modest 100 books. Seems I was a tad ambitious given how 2026 has unfolded!
For perspective, I read 85 books in 2025, 103 in 2024, 109 in 2023, 122 in 2022 and 135 in 2021. Then there’s 2020, the year Melburnians spent so much time in lockdown. I managed a rather ridiculous 223 books. 😂
It’s safe to say my reading habits have changed over the past few years. While time is a big factor, I’ve also become pickier about the books I choose. I’d rather spend those precious moments immersed in a story I’m likely to enjoy than risk being disappointed. I suppose I’m hedging my bets these days. 😉
However, I’m hoping to reach 60 books before the year is out. A little extra reading time between now and Christmas would be lovely! Thankfully, the past month has brought two wonderful reads from authors whose books I always enjoy.
Pride & Practicality by Pepper Basham is a sweet Regency romantic comedy I’ve been impatiently waiting for since I read Ms Basham’s previous Austenesque novel, Sense and Suitability. This romance follows reputation-in-tatters Arianna and newly appointed rector Thomas, whose relationship is anything but straightforward. Their connection is unexpected, their circumstances are complicated, and for much of the story I wondered how they were ever going to find their happily ever after.
I was delighted to return to St Groves after having fallen for Arianna’s eldest brother Simon in his romance with Thomas’s cousin Emme in Sense and Suitability. I enjoyed meeting new characters, particularly the orphaned children whose lives added another layer of warmth and complexity to the story.
I found the exploration of a rector finding love with a woman society deemed unsuitable rather refreshing. The contrast between social expectations and God’s heart for people kept me riveted. Arianna and Thomas’s story also reminded me of some marriages and family relationships woven throughout the Bible, including those in Jesus’s own lineage. God is the Redeemer, and Thomas and Arianna demonstrated that same heart by loving those that society had forgotten.
It was a beautiful reminder that a person’s worth isn’t determined by their standing in society. Amid the more serious issues, there was also plenty of romance, humour, swoony moments and delightful characterisation typical of Ms Basham.
Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh is a second-chance-at-love contemporary romance about Claire, a mid-forties heroine whose stage of life felt relatable. Her story follows the bumps in the road as she navigates a fresh start after a messy divorce, complete with an interstate move, unfamiliar surroundings and the rather daunting prospect of dating again.
Claire’s introduction is memorable, to say the least. I cringed so much during the opening scene I almost wondered whether I could keep reading! Thankfully, I pushed through my initial second-hand embarrassment and was soon invested in her journey.
The community Claire moved to was one of my favourite parts of the story. Her neighbours were fabulous, with Miles earning a special mention. I liked him from the beginning, even if he took ages to see what was in front of him. 😉
I also found Claire’s adventures in modern dating fascinating. Dating apps, unusual dating behaviours and the entire process of putting yourself out there again were equal parts entertaining and mildly disturbing. Claire and I are around the same age, so I couldn’t help comparing her experiences with my own. I’m still happily married to Mr Wonderful (25 years next week!), but the thought of navigating the dating world in my forties? I have a new appreciation for single women out there.
Another lovely touch was the Chicago setting. Having travelled there with my hubby back in 2009, I enjoyed revisiting some familiar places through Claire’s experiences. The scenery, the food, especially the pizza, brought back some wonderful memories.
If you enjoy Regency romance with heart and humour, Pepper Basham’s St Groves stories are well worth exploring. If contemporary romance with mature characters and a little life uncertainty is more your thing, Courtney Walsh’s latest would be a fabulous addition to your TBR.
As for me, I’ll stop worrying about the Goodreads numbers and concentrate on finding my next great read.
Sixty books, here I come!
Until next time,
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