Tag: TBR

20 Books Of Summer 2026 – A Mid-Challenge Update #20BOS26

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Our host for this year’s 20 Books of Summer, which takes place from 1st June to 31st August, is Annabel at AnnaBookBel. You can find out all about the event here. As we’re roughly at the midpoint I thought I’d share an update on my progress.

In past years I’ve attempted to stick rigidly to my original list and not take advantage of the option to swap books in and out. This has inevitably resulted in failure. Since it’s wise to learn from your mistakes, this year I’m adopting a more laidback approach. Below is the current version of my list, arranged in order of date read (if they have been) but not necessarily in order of date reviewed! Safe to say, I’m pretty happy with my progress.

Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads or my review.

  1. Prey by Graham Hurley Read & reviewed
  2. Dwell by Rue Baldry Read & reviewed
  3. A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie Read & reviewed
  4. Deception by Alan Parks Read & reviewed
  5. Country People by Daniel Mason Read – review coming soon
  6. Murder at the End of the World by Akane Araki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood Read & reviewed
  7. A Fatal Love by Louisa Treger Read & reviewed
  8. Throw Away the Key by Jason M. Hough Read & reviewed
  9. Daughters of Naples by Diana Giovinazzo Read & reviewed
  10. Land by Maggie O’Farrell Read – review coming soon
  11. Where are the Kings by Donal Ryan Read & reviewed
  12. Invitation from a Dictator by Rory Clements Read & reviewed
  13. The Millionaire Waltz by Anthony Quinn Currently reading
  14. The Eagle and the Wolf (Age of Attila #1) by Gordon Doherty Currently reading
  15. The Draw of the Sea by Wyl Menmuir Currently reading
  16. The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman
  17. Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood
  18. Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
  19. Under a Metal Sky: A Journey Through Minerals, Greed and Wonder by Philip Marsden
  20. Boundary Waters by Tristan Hughes

Listed below are the books I’ve removed from my original list so far.

If you’re taking part in 20 Books of Summer, how are you getting on? Have you had any standout reads so far?

20 Books Of Summer 2026 Reading Challenge Sign-Up #20BOS26

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Last year Cathy at 746 Books handed over the baton of the 20 Books of Summer Reading Challenge to two new hosts: Annabel at AnnaBookBel and Emma at Words and Peace. This year Annabel has taken on sole hosting duties producing brand new graphics and a new hashtag #20BOS26.

The 20 Books of Summer 2026 challenge runs from 1st June to 31st August. You can find all the information you need about the challenge here where you can also sign up to participate. 

Every year I approach the challenge high on ambition and usually low on likelihood of success. I’m aiming for the full 20 books again but this year with a healthy dose of realism. Therefore the majority of books on my list are from my NetGalley shelf, prioritising those with publication dates between June and September that I should theoretically be reading during that period anyway. I’ve added a couple from my current Classics Club list, my book club’s June pick and a couple of nonfiction books. Finally the remaining books longlisted for this year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction that I haven’t yet read.

I usually like to stick to my original list but this year I’m going to take advantage of the option to swap books in and out, especially where I need/want to move newly acquired books up my reading pile. Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads or my review.

  1. Country People by Daniel Mason Read – review to follow
  2. A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie Read and reviewed
  3. Prey by Graham Hurley Read and reviewed
  4. Invitation from a Dictator by Rory Clements Read and reviewed
  5. The Eagle and the Wolf (Age of Attila #1) by Gordon Doherty
  6. The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman
  7. A Fatal Love by Louisa Treger Read and reviewed
  8. Where are the Kings by Donal Ryan Read and reviewed
  9. The Millionaire Waltz by Anthony Quinn Read and reviewed
  10. Daughters of Naples by Diana Giovinazzo Read and reviewed
  11. Throw Away the Key by Jason M. Hough Read and reviewed
  12. Dwell by Rue Baldry Read and reviewed
  13. Murder at the End of the World by Akane Araki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood Read and reviewed
  14. Deception by Alan Parks Read and reviewed
  15. Land by Maggie O’Farrell Read – review to follow
  16. Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Heywood
  17. Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
  18. The Draw of the Sea by Wyl Menmuir
  19. Under a Metal Sky: A Journey Through Minerals, Greed and Wonder by Philip Marsden
  20. Boundary Waters by Tristan Hughes

Wish me luck! If you’re taking part too, enjoy your summer of reading.