The Wishing Spell, the first book in the Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer, follows twins Alex and Conner Bailey as they are magically transported into a fairy-tale world. To return home, they must complete the Wishing Spell by gathering magical items while encountering famous fairy-tale characters and discovering their own courage and strengths.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie follows young Haroun Khalifa as he sets out on a magical journey to restore his father’s lost gift of storytelling. In a fantastical world threatened by silence and censorship, Haroun learns the power of imagination, freedom of speech, and the importance of keeping stories alive.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie follows Junior, a Spokane Indian teenager who leaves his reservation school to attend an all-white high school in a nearby town. As he struggles with poverty, racism, and identity, Junior learns to balance hope, friendship, and resilience while navigating life between two worlds.

Butter by Asako Yuzuki follows journalist Rika Machida as she investigates a female gourmet cook accused of murdering wealthy men by seducing them with elaborate meals. As Rika becomes obsessed with the suspect and the indulgent foods she describes, the novel explores misogyny, appetite, power, and the expectations placed on women in Japanese society.

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again with her recent released novel, Atmosphere, touches on the hidden love between two women who share the same passion with space and the galaxy that it has to offer us.

I audiobooked this memoir, Belle Burden’s Strangers which lend us the perspective of the messy, lengthy, harrowing divorce that she went through with her then husband. A great read!

My students and I read this as part of Book 2 series from Amal Unbound by the same author, Aisha Saeed. This book follows Omar character development as he embarks on his new school journey. A wonderful read!

Circe by Madeline Miller tells the story of the minor goddess Circe, who is exiled to an island where she discovers her own power and identity through witchcraft. As she encounters gods and mortals alike, Circe learns what it means to choose love, independence, and her own fate.

Lily King’s Writers & Lovers follows Casey Peabody, a struggling writer in her early thirties who is grieving her mother’s death while juggling debt, waitressing, and complicated romantic relationships. As she navigates love and loss, Casey must decide what kind of life—and writer—she wants to become.

Wow! A page-turner kind of book. My first Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I am hooked with her writing, formatting, and the word choice she uses. Phenomenon!

After reading two amazing fantasy novels, it was refreshing to switch to reading Joan Didion’s Note to John, a deeply personal essay in which Didion reflects on her struggles with anxiety, depression, and her sense of self during therapy sessions addressed to her husband, John Gregory Dunne. The piece reveals her vulnerability and self-examination as she tries to understand her emotional patterns, fears, and identity.

This was my first read from Samantha Soto Yambao, a lyrical fantasy about a young woman who inherits a mysterious pawnshop where people can trade away their pain, memories, or regrets. As she uncovers the shop’s secrets, she must decide whether erasing suffering is worth the cost to love, identity, and human connection.

I started my 2026 with reading R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis. Truly an amazing read with many classic literature references to Dante Inferno, the setting and storyline focal point.