Now that we’re into the last quarter of 2026, it’s time for another update on my quest to read 1,000 books. Read on for my summer 2026 reading update, including my top five summer reads.

Michelle’s Top 5 Summer 2026 Reads

I read 23 books over the last three months. Here are my top 5 picks.  

Rilla of Ingleside – L.M. Montgomery

This final instalment in the Anne of Green Gables series focuses on Anne’s youngest daughter Rilla during World War I. As her brothers go off to war, and her sisters help with the war effort, Rilla is the only of Anne’s children remaining at Ingleside. As she throws herself into running the Junior Red Cross and raising an orphaned war baby, Rilla transforms from an awkward teenager into a strong young woman.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Anne series since reading the first book during our tip to PEI in May. Other than the classic first book, this final book is my favourite of the series. Montgomery offers readers a look at life during wartime for those left at home. It’s a story of love, hardship, sacrifice, tragedy and hope that brings Anne’s story to an emotional and hopeful conclusion.

Still See You Everywhere – Lisa Gardner

Missing persons expert Frankie Elkin is summoned to visit Kaylee Pierson, a notorious serial killer scheduled to be executed in a couple of weeks. Kaylee’s dying wish is to know her long-lost sister Leilani is alive and well, she wants Frankie to find her.

Following a lead Kaylee received in a letter from her sister, Frankie travels to a remote Pacific atoll, where a charming tycoon is constructing an upscale resort—and possibly holding Leilani against her will. Trapped on an island with a dozen strangers, Frankie must figure out who to trust. Her life may depend on it.

This is the first book I’ve read by Gardner, although it’s the third book in her Frankie Elkin series. It featured interesting characters and many plot twists that kept me guessing. I’ll look for the other books in the series.

Our Perfect Storm – Carley Fortune

George and Frankie have been best friends since they were eight years old. When Frankie’s fiancé dumps her the day before their wedding, Frankie returns home to lick her wounds.

A couple of months later, George announces he has a plan to help Frankie heal and convinces her to join him on the honeymoon trip to Tofino that she had planned with her fiancé. Amid the beauty of Vancouver Island’s coastline, George and Frankie rediscover their friendship and uncover feelings they had suppressed for years.

This is a beautifully written love story that had me feeling like I was right there in Tofino with George and Frankie. A terrific read!

This Sea Within – Deborah J. Brasket

Newly graduated with a degree in journalism, avid surfer and anti-war activist Lena Landon leaves her home and family behind to travel to San Balanque, the homeland of her estranged mother, Dolores Machado. Dolores is married to San Balanque’s corrupt president’s second in command.

Lena soon finds herself caught up in a torrid romance with Raoul—the charismatic leader of the rebel group working to overthrow the corrupt government. As she is drawn deeper into the fight for freedom, she faces difficult choices between life, love, and justice for the people of San Balanque.

This is Brasket’s second novel and, like her first novel When Things Go Missing, it’s a beautifully written book that grips you from the early pages. Brasket’s vivid descriptions make you feel like you’re right alongside Lena throughout the joys and trials of her time in San Balanque. A terrific read!

All the Other Mothers Hate Me – Sarah Harman

Florence is a former girl-group star who has fallen on hard times. When a boy in her son’s class goes missing, she suspects her son Dylan may have had something to do with it. Florence teams up with lawyer friend Jenny to investigate, but her real motive is to cover up Dylan’s involvement.

As Florence rushes to piece together the puzzle, she doesn’t realize danger is lurking closer to home than she thought.

Harman’s debut novel offered an interesting combination of comedy and mystery, culminating in a surprise twist I didn’t see coming. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Summer 2026 reading update – Fiction

The House by the Sea – Louise Douglas

When Anna DeLuca died, she left her villa in Sicily to her son Joe and his ex-wife Edie. Edie blames Anna for the accident that destroyed her family, so she is anxious to sell the villa and return to England as soon as possible.

As Edie spends time at the villa and learns more about Anna’s past, she finds herself drawn back to Joe. They soon learn that someone wants to leave the past in the past and will go to any lengths to stop Edie and Joe from learning the truth.    

This was a good mix of romance and mystery. Although the plot was a little predictable, it was a good light summer read.

Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley – L.M. Montgomery

Over the summer, I continued to listen to the audiobooks of the Anne series on my morning walks.

Anne of Windy Poplars follows Anne during her three years as principal of Summerside High. The book is told mainly through Anne’s letters to fiancé Gilbert while he is away at medical school. It’s delightful to see Anne mature as we’re introduced to a whole new cast of characters and friends.

Anne’s House of Dreams picks up Anne’s story as she and Gilbert start their married life. We meet more beloved characters as the couple settles into their adorable cottage at Four Winds Point. I loved the depth of the relationships they developed with the locals.

Anne of Ingleside continues Anne and Gilbert’s story 7 years later. Now a busy mother of six, the story focuses less on Anne and more on the children, with each child taking centre stage in various chapters.

In Rainbow Valley, Anne again takes a backseat as the story centres mainly around the mischievous antics of the Blythe’s neighbours, the Merediths. Reverend John Meredith, a widower, moves into the manse with his four children. The Meredith and the Blythe children become fast friends as Reverend Meredith struggles with his role as a single parent. Written just after World War I, the end of this novel sets up the final book that takes place during the war just as the Blythe and Meredith children are coming of age.

As I got deeper into this series, I continued to adore Montgomery’s writing style. Her breathtaking and vivid descriptions of the PEI landscape, along with her ability to develop complex and beloved characters, are what made this timeless series a classic.

Normal People – Sally Rooney

Connell and Marianne grew up in a small town in Ireland. In high school, she was an outcast and he was a popular student. They had a secret “thing” that I hesitate to call a relationship. Their on-again-off-again “thing” continued during their time at Trinity College in Dublin and the book follows their sexual adventures with each other, and other partners.

This book was a big disappointment to me. I found the main characters frustrating and self-absorbed and kept waiting for some sort of positive resolution that never really came.

Carrie Soto is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Carrie Soto is the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen. Six years after her retirement, her record of 20 Grand Slam titles is at risk thanks to new sensation, Nikki Chan.

At age 37, Carrie comes out of retirement for one last season to defend her record. Coached by her father, Carrie’s comeback delivers some hard lessons about winning, losing, and what really matters in life.

Jenkins Reid has a knack for creating complex characters and seeing them through life’s challenges. While I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as some of her other books, it was a great read.

The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah

Haunted by his experience in the Vietnam War, Ernt Allbright uproots his family and moves to Alaska with his wife Cora and 13-year-old daughter Leni. As the family struggles to become self-sufficient and live off the harsh Alaskan landscape, the darkness and isolation of winter magnify Ernt’s troubles and he becomes increasingly abusive. Cora and Leni fear for their lives as Ernt makes enemies of the locals in their tight-knit community.

This is the second of Hannah’s book I’ve read. Unlike The Women, which gripped me from the start, this one was a slow burn. In the first half, I kept wishing she’d pick up the pace. By the end, I couldn’t put it down. Overall, a worthwhile read.

Dear Debbie – Freida McFadden

Debbie Mullen writes an advice column for a New England newspaper, counselling women who are abused or ignored by their husbands. When Debbie unexpectedly loses her job, and her husband Cooper quits his after being turned down for a promotion, their life starts to unravel. It turns out Debbie and Cooper have both been keeping big secrets from each other, and Debbie’s quest to avenge wrongs done to her in the past sets of a chilling chain of events.

McFadden consistently comes up with bizarre storylines and throws in unexpected plot twists in the closing pages of her books. I think this might have been my favourite of her books since The Housemaid.

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece – Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks’ first novel offers an inside look at the making of an epic superhero film. The first part of the book provides the backstory starting in 1947 where gifted artist Robby meets his uncle and namesake Bob Falls who has just returned home from the war. Fast forward to 1970 when Robby writes and draws comic books for a living. After being reunited with his uncle, Robbie draws a comic about a flame-throwing soldier.

When filmmaker Bill Johnson discovers Robby’s comic in 2020, he decides it’s perfect for his next production. From there, the story follows the lives and stories of the film’s cast and crew as the movie becomes reality.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I am a big fan of Tom Hanks and enjoyed his collection of short stories Uncommon Type. When a friend gave me this book to read, I was curious. Overall, it was a good read, but the backstory could have been more concise. The pace of the book picked up once the movie production started and everything gets tied together in the end.

The Divorce – Freida McFadden

Naomi appears to have the perfect life—a handsome husband, a beautiful house, and an adorable son. When she arrives home one day to find the locks on her house changed, things start to unravel. Her husband Jeremy convinces her to move out, claiming he’s arranging a major renovation for their house. Then he shocks her by announcing he wants a divorce and Naomi learns he’s seeing a woman 15 years his junior.

As her life unravels further, Naomi soon develops an obsession with Jeremy’s girlfriend.

This book follows McFadden’s typical winning formula with bizarre storylines and last minute plot twists. Although her books aren’t great literature, there’s just something compelling about them. I read this one in two days.

The Day After the Party – Nicole Trope

On the day after her 36^th birthday party, Katelyn wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of the previous evening’s events. When her husband Toby and best friend Leah evade her questions, Katelyn quickly realizes something terrible must have happened.

As Katelyn tries to make sense of what happened at the party, the storyline weaves back and forth between present day, the party, and Katelyn and Leah’s childhoods revealing long-buried secrets that could change her life forever.

This is a story of toxic friendships and tangled relationships. It’s a bit of a soap opera/thriller mashup, but it was an enjoyable read that I finished on a rainy weekend.

Waiting for the Long Night Moon – Amanda Peters

This is a collection of short stories by Mi’kmaw author Amanda Peters. The stories explore various elements of Indigenous culture, along with many of the issues facing Indigenous peoples—racism, residential schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women, poverty and addictions.

I loved Peters’ novel The Berry Pickers, but this collection of short stories didn’t grip me in the same way. Some of the stories were excellent, whereas others were hard to follow.

The Defector – Chris Hadfield

This is the second novel from Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and, like everything he does, it did not disappoint. Set at the height of the cold war era in the 1970s, it follows the story of a Soviet pilot who defects to the United States along with his MiG-25, the fastest highest-flying fighter jet in the world.

But can the defector really be trusted? NASA flight controller and former top US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis is assigned to accompany the defector to the United States, setting off an exciting tale of espionage.

Although I found some of the technical flight details hard to follow at times, this was a terrific novel that kept me wondering and guessing to the end.

Summer 2026 reading update – Poetry

I don’t read a lot of poetry. I wasn’t sure whether this book would fit in fiction or non-fiction, so I decided to create a new category.

By Another Name: Poetry and Reflections – Scott Alexander Beaudry

I first connected with Scott under the name Monty Vern when I wrote a couple of guest posts for T.B.C. Monty created wonderful illustrations to accompany my Love at First Song and 24 Christmas Wishes for Our World posts.

Scott has retired his pseudonym, and this is the first book published under his own name. It’s a collection of poems and reflections he wrote after his career ended and he searched for a new identity. It’s a short, but thought-provoking, read.

Summer 2026 reading update – Non-fiction

Retirement Voices – Stories of Reinvention, Purpose, and Possibilities – Retirement Coaches Association

It was an honour to write a chapter for the Retirement Coaches Association’s latest anthology. This collection of retirement wisdom—written entirely by women authors—is a must-read for anyone who is retired, thinking about retirement, or seeking purpose as they contemplate any mid-life transition.

Don’t take my word for it, though. Read this wonderful review from my friend Vicki Atkinson for her thoughts on the book.

The Art and Science of Retirement Coaching – Robert S. Laura

This is the textbook for the Certified Professional Retirement Coach 2.0 course and it’s a terrific read for anyone preparing for retirement.

Most retirement planning books focus on financials, but money alone is no guarantee of a fulfilling life after we leave our careers behind. This book is the ultimate guide to planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement that are often dismissed as “fluff” as we focus on money—or ignored altogether. Although it is written primarily for retirement coaches, it is an essential read for anyone who feels like something is missing from their retirement.

Saving Us – Katharine Hayhoe (4/5)

I was inspired to read this after hearing Hayhoe speak at a recent webinar. Hayhoe is a well-known climate scientist who gives us reason to hope in the face of climate change.

Along with the science behind climate change, and facts to bust some common myths, Hayhoe offers solutions and tips for climate conversations. This book was written six years ago but contains useful information.

The road to 1,000 books

The 23 books I read this quarter brings me to 150 books toward my ambitious goal of reading 1,000 books.

Next on my reading list

Fall has arrived bringing cooler weather and an opportunity to curl up with a good book. Here’s what’s next on my reading list:

• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• This is How We Create by Yvette Prior et al
• The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny
• Known to the Victim by K.L. Armstrong
• Eliza Sunshine by Michelle Good

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What’s on your reading list? Have you read any of the books on my fall or winter reading lists? Drop me a comment below to let me know. I’d love to hear your book recommendations.