First Read of 2026

Today was supposed to be a productive day for me. Unfortunately, I woke up exhausted with puffy eyes because I have no self control and stayed up till 3:30 am crying over the last several hundred pages of The Nightingale.

Wow.

I’ve been saving this read for a moment when I was in the mood for an emotional read, and I’m so glad I did, but also, why did I wait so long???

The last scene of chapter 37 tore me to shreds and left a gaping hole in my chest. Having personally experienced something extremely similar six years ago, that scene peeled away every scab that I thought I’d healed more than I had and left me sobbing.

I’m pretty sure everyone in the book world has heard of this book, but if you haven’t heard what it’s about, the book follows the story of two sisters through WWII. It is raw, real, and inspirational. It is not easy to share these sister’s world with them. Although the experiences are handled with care, they are brutal and difficult to read.

This is a book that will have a permanent home on my shelf and be reread over the years. I don’t think I could have asked for a better kickoff to 2026.

#bookrecommendations #nightingale #historicalfiction #BookReview