As I’ve been catching up with myself after being down with the flu a couple of weeks ago, I realize I missed putting together my Top Five Books list for the Winter season at the Spring Equinox. (As I’m sure you remember, at the end of each season – very near the equinox or solstice – I “force” myself to choose five books to highlight for you. Only five.)

But . . . no worries. I’m nearly caught back up with myself. So . . . here we go! On with my Top Five Books, Winter 2026 edition.

(Better late than never.)

I read some interesting books this season. A lot of kinda weird titles that I don’t expect many of you would be much interested in (some obscure memoirs, a lot of new poetry, and some interesting – if a little dry – non-fiction). Not bad. But also not terribly . . . mainstream. I also spent the better part of January (and well into February) trying desperately – but not really succeeding – to get into Adam Johnson’s new novel, The Wayfinder. This book (all 736 pages of it!) is really quite delicious . . . BUT. I was both listening AND reading-with-my-eyes at the same time and I still struggled to keep everything straight. I blame my limited (but improving!) attention span, and so I plan to come back to it in the future. Maybe this summer. (I do love Adam Johnson, and I’ve heard this one is worth the investment.)

So. What DO I have for you?

Well, first I’ve got Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler (which is just out today – April 7). I’m a big fan of Kate Bowler, and find benefit in most anything she writes, so I was really happy to nab an advance copy of this one. Part memoir, part “self-help” (I don’t like that term, especially in describing this particular book, because it’s more . . . “self-understanding,” really) Joyful, Anyway is just Great Storytelling . . . with a real-life slant. Kate Bowler writes like she’s writing to you, personally. Like she’s a good friend just talking with you over a glass of wine. Totally accessible, completely relatable (even when she’s running off a cliff to try para-sailing), and always tender, Kate’s new book is the perfect book to take you through the aftermath of any of life’s (many) disappointments. And she’ll make you laugh while she’s doing it. I gave this one 5 stars, and would highly recommend it for anyone going through a rough patch . . . and thinking they may never recover.

Next up, I”ve got Douglas Stuart’s newest novel . . . John of John. (Those of you that . . . Read With Us . . . will know Douglas Stuart from his earlier novels Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo.) I really hate to tease you with this one because I read an advance copy and it’s not quite available yet. . . but you won’t have long to wait. It will be published on May 5. Anyway . . . after I read John of John, I agonized for weeks about how to do this stunning novel justice with my review. Because, friends . . . Douglas Stuart has absolutely done it again! He reached right in and stole my heart with this incredible story of community and family and belonging, and the ties – and secrets – that bind us. As always, Stuart’s writing is sublime. His dialog sparkles and his narrative flows surely and easily. When it comes to characters, Stuart is a master. I don’t think anyone writes better “messy” characters than Douglas Stuart, each so fully alive and bursting with humanity that they all make my heart ache. And, of course, his remote Scottish island setting is the perfect moody-broody background for all that transpires. John of John is an immersive, compelling read, and will likely end up as one of my 2026 top reads. I gave this one 5 stars . . . and would give it 6 if an extra star was available.

Next, I’ve got The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. I found this book randomly . . .while browsing at my local bookstore. The beautiful cover illustration of a snail caught my eye right away. And the title, of course. (What DOES a wild snail sound like when it’s eating?) When I picked the book up to look closer, I was charmed by the smaller-than-usual size of the book – and the deckle-edge pages. (I am a total sucker for deckle-edge pages.) I was intrigued, and brought the book home with me, not knowing what to expect. When I opened the book and started reading, I was immediately enchanted by this . . . I don’t know how to describe it exactly . . . part memoir/part nature study. It’s beautifully written, compelling, thoughtful, and . . . strangely soothing. Unexpected, really, in a compact little book about a bed-bound woman and her “roommate.” Who happens to be a snail. (Yeah. Like a wild snail from the woods.) In these strange times, when I’m desperately trying to re-gain my lost and fragmented focus and attention span, this was a perfect book for me to pick up. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a brilliant little study in contemplative observation – and exactly what I need right now. I gave this book 5 stars, and I heartily recommended it for anyone feeling lost and alone. And for fans of snails, of course.

Then, just as the Spring Equinox arrived and Winter was ending, I finished Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser. As a child I loved fairy tales, and now as an adult, I tend to gravitate to re-tellings of my old favorites when I’m looking for a “comfort read.” I was delighted to discover Lady Tremaine, a recently released debut novel on the shelves of my library. In this version of the Cinderella story, we hear the tale anew – this time from the “wicked stepmother’s” point of view. Etheldreda (Ethel to her friends) is a confident, curious, and capable young woman . . . who also understands that her “place” and security in society depend on a successful marriage (or two). When Ethel loses her security after both of her husbands die, she is left to raise her two daughters and an unusual stepdaughter on her own. Ethel does her best to keep up the façade of a thriving, secure home and family. Smart, plucky, and resilient, Ethel makes the best of things, foils a sinister royal plot, and keeps all three of her daughters safe and strong – with an eye to a better future for all of them. The writing is lovely, the pacing keeps readers turning the pages, and the storyline reveals some surprising twists. There are also hawks! The book cover is wonderful, by the way — one of my favorite covers of the year. I gave this book 4 stars.

And last, I give you The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (ALL the volumes; there are 8) by Beth Brower. I know many of you are already familiar with Emma’s journals, but I only recently picked them up to read. (Which is – I’m just going to say it – kind of a pain; each volume is short and you need to collect-them-all. It feels a little like hunting down comic books or something. But that is my only complaint.) With so many of my bookish friends talking about The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, I decided to check them out for myself . . . and, like with any tasty confection, I was immediately hooked. These novellas, written as a series of journal entries following Emma’s calendar years of 1883 and 1884, really do go down as easily as . . . M&Ms. Or potato chips. They’re charming. Sweet. Fun. Joyful. And in March of 2026 (or any month of 2026 I’m afraid), who doesn’t need some of that? Consistently delightful. Believe the hype! I gave the whole series 4 stars.

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How about you?
What books would make it onto YOUR Winter Top Five list?

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If you want to see what I’m reading now, or if you’d like to check out my recent reviews on Goodreads, just check out the sidebar on my home page.  You can find me here on Goodreads.

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