Summer is in full swing so it’s time for another update on my road to 1000 books. Read on for my spring 2026 reading update, including my top 5 reads of the season.

Michelle’s Top 5 Spring 2026 Reads

I read 20 books over the last three months. Here are my top 5 picks.  

Joyspan, The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half – Dr. Kerry Burnight

After a few disappointing reads in a row, I decided to take a break from self-help books. I’d requested a hold on this one at the library after hearing an interview with Dr. Burnight late last year. When the library emailed to let me know it was ready for pickup, I decided to give it a read. I’m glad I did.

By far, this is one of the best books on positive aging I’ve read. Burnight explains, in simple terms, theoretical background gleaned from her work as a gerontologist. She supplements the theory with real-life stories of people she has worked with. What sets this apart from other self-help books is the practical and actionable advice, checklists and tools that can make an immediate impact.

I liked this one so much that I’m going to order a physical copy for my bookshelf!

The Correspondent – Virginia Evans

Retired lawyer Sybil Van Antwerp is an avid letter writer, expressing herself in writing in ways she cannot manage verbally. This novel is a collection of letters written by Sybil as she nears the end of her life. These letters to friends, neighbours, strangers, and beloved family members, help Sybil reconcile past mistakes, heal from the grief of lost loved ones, and repair divisions within her family.

I often say writing, in any form, helps us make sense of the world. Through her heartfelt letters, Sybil achieves closure that has eluded her for decades. Deb, from Closer to the Edge, recommended this book to me and I loved it.

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

This book tells the story of two young people in Europe during World War II. Marie-Laure is a young, blind girl who flees Paris with her father to live with her Great Uncle in Saint-Malo. When her father goes missing, Marie-Laure and her Great Uncle’s housekeeper join the resistance effort.

German orphan Werner grows up with a fascination with radios and electronics. The German army recruits him to use his talents to track down the resistance.

The book follows the activities of Marie-Laure and Werner throughout the war until their stories converge in Saint-Malo. It’s a powerful tale of grief, love, loss and hope amid hardship and the horrors of war. It’s one of the best books I’ve read so far in 2026.

The Only One Left – Riley Sager

More than 50 years after Lenora Hope’s parents and sister were murdered in their mansion, Kit McDeere starts a new job as Lenora’s caregiver after her previous nurse disappeared with no warning. Everyone suspected Lenora was responsible for the murders of her family, but she was never charged. Now crippled and mute, Lenora communicates by tapping out sentences on a typewriter. When she tells Kit she wants to tell her everything about that fateful night, Kit finds herself caught up in a mystery, not knowing who to trust or who to suspect.

It has been a while since I read anything by Riley Sager and I loved this book. It had so many twists and turns and a surprise ending that I did not see coming. A terrific read!

Slivers – Vicki Atkinson

From the first pages, Slivers delivers all the elements of a classic ghost story—strange voices, moving objects, spooky houses and mysterious neighbours.

As teenage friends Jane, Katie and Eric struggle to make sense of what’s happening, they start to piece together a dysfunctional family history and a tangled web of lies and well-intentioned deceit. When all is revealed, their lives will be changed forever.

I enjoyed Vicki’s memoir, Surviving Sue, and I’ve been following her updates on her blog as she wrote her debut novel. I was so excited to read it, and it didn’t disappoint. Although I’m not usually a fan of ghost stories, I found myself drawn into the labyrinth of family secrets and lies and couldn’t wait to find out how the story would end.

Spring 2026 reading update – Fiction

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

Three women of different backgrounds, each trapped by the oppressive societal expectations of the late 1800s, receive a mysterious invitation to tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury, Under the guise of a secret book club, Lady Duxbury offers them hope and courage to overcome their desperate situations.

Deb at Closer to the Edge recommended this one as well. It’s a story of courageous women and the power of female friendship and solidarity. I loved it!

Endling – Maria Reva

I put this one on my reading list when it made the CBC’s top books of 2025 list. Set in Ukraine in 2022, it centres on the country’s marriage industry. Eco-warrior Yeva agrees to rent her van to Nastia and her sister Solomiya, who kidnap 12 bachelors in Ukraine for a marriage tour. Nastia and Solomiya hope the kidnapping will generate publicity to reunite them with their missing mother. Their plan is derailed when Russia invades Ukraine.

Confused? So was I. Quite honestly, this was the most bizarre book I’ve ever read. The story was interspersed with Reva’s experience in Ukraine. I struggled to finish it and when I got to the end I said, “Huh?” because, despite the book’s critical acclaim, I really didn’t get it.

A Fatal Grace – Louise Penny

The second book in the Armand Gamache series sees Chief Inspector Gamache back in the beautiful village of Three Pines investigating the murder of unpopular resident CC De Poitiers who was mysteriously electrocuted as she watched a curling match on the day after Christmas. During their quest to find the killer, Gamache and his team uncover unlikely connections and long-lost secrets.

I enjoyed this book enough that I’ll continue reading the series. It was a bit slow moving at first, but the pace picked up.

The Secret of Secrets – Dan Brown

Professor Robert Langdon is back in another thriller set in Prague. When Langdon’s new love interest Katherine Solomon’s manuscript containing explosive scientific information about the nature of human consciousness mysteriously disappears, and then Katherine herself goes missing, Langdon finds himself caught up in a bizarre mystery involving the US Ambassador, the CIA, and the local Czech authorities.

I haven’t read much by Brown since the The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have mixed feelings about his latest novel. At almost 650 pages, it was long—too long in my opinion. It was also heavy on scientific details which made it a difficult read. 

The Teacher – Freida McFadden

Eve and her husband Nate are both teachers at the same high school. Troubled student Addie had been at the centre of a student-teacher affair controversy that got her favourite teacher fired. When both Eve and Nate end up teaching Addie, it sets off a disturbing chain of events that puts them all at risk as secrets of the past are uncovered.

When I start reading one of McFadden’s books, I know I won’t get anything else done until I finish it. In true Freida style, this one had plot twists and turns to the very last page. I read it in a day.

Killing Kelly – Heather Graham

When a mysterious on-set accident puts soap star Kelly Trent in hospital, the show puts her on hiatus fearing the attempt on her life may be connected to two mysterious deaths. After signing on to make a music video to fill the time, she falls for her dance instructor and ex-cop Doug O’Casey who fears Kelly’s life may be in danger.

I enjoyed this book. It had a good mix of romance and intrigue.

Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery

After struggling through Little Women over the Christmas holidays, I wasn’t sure I wanted to tackle another classic. However, our recent trip to PEI inspired me to pick up Colleen’s copy of Anne of Green Gables and read it while I was there.

Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew plan to adopt a boy to help on their farm on Prince Edward Island. Imagine their surprise when they found Anne waiting at the station. Despite the mix-up, they decided to take a chance and Anne quickly settled into life in Avonlea.

I love this story and see why it became a classic. It’s full of strong female characters, and Montgomery’s vivid descriptions of the PEI landscape are spot on. I’m inspired to read the remaining books in the series now.

Ward D – Freida McFadden

Medical student Amy is a little uneasy when she’s assigned to an overnight shift in Ward D, the hospital’s mental health unit. When patients and staff mysteriously start to vanish, and Amy discovers the code she was given to get out of the secure unit doesn’t work, she realizes something evil is lurking. Will she get out alive?

I honestly don’t know how McFadden finds time to write on top of her work as a doctor, but I’m glad she does. Like all her books, I couldn’t put this one down. 

Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island – L.M. Montgomery

The second book in Montgomery’s Anne series follows Anne through her two years teaching at Avonlea school. I decided to listen to Anne of Avonlea as an audiobook on my morning walks. (Read more about my audiobook experiment in this post.)

After listening to Anne of Avonlea, I continued the series with Anne of the Island. This third book follows Anne through her four years at Redmond College in Nova Scotia.

I love the simple yet profound lessons and messages in these stories. In Anne of Avonlea, we see themes related to family loyalty, intergenerational friendship, the importance of community, political corruption, and the role of women. Anne of the Island sees our heroine spread her wings at college, while many of her childhood friends marry and start families. Meanwhile, Anne has no shortage of suitors but, although she’s reluctant to admit it, her heart truly belongs to her childhood friend Gilbert Blythe.

Everyone Here is Lying – Shari Lapena

Nine-year old Avery Wooler has always been difficult. When she mysteriously disappears after an argument with her father, her family’s secrets become public news. Her father William, a prominent doctor, has been having an affair with Nora, a neighbour who volunteers at the hospital where William works. When another neighbour, a nurse at the same hospital, comes forward and says she saw Avery getting into Nora’s son’s car, the police believe they have their suspect. But have they?

This is the first of Lapena’s books that I’ve read, and I was hooked from the first page. Avery is an unlikely and unlikeable victim, and none of the police’s leads seem to add up. This kept me guessing until the very end. A great read!

One True Loves – Taylor Jenkins Reid

When Emma Blair’s husband Jesse’s helicopter crashes on the eve of their first wedding anniversary, she finds herself grieving the devastating loss of the love of her life and the life of adventure they had built together.

Amid her grief, Emma moves back to the comfort of her Massachusetts hometown, embracing a life she once couldn’t wait to get away from. When she runs into old friend Sam a couple of years later, she feels ready to move on. When Jesse reappears a few weeks after her engagement to Sam, Emma is forced to choose between her first love and her new love.

This is a heartbreaking tale of love and loss. Like Emma, I found myself rooting for both Jesse and Sam as she struggles to make sense of Jesse’s reappearance and choose the man she wants to spend forever with. It’s a terrific read.

The Five-Star Weekend – Elin Hilderbrand

As popular food blogger Hollis Shaw rebuilds her life following the death of her husband in a car accident, she hosts a “Five-Star Weekend” at her home on Nantucket. Hollis invites four close friends—one from every phase of her life—for a weekend of food and fun. She also asks her daughter Caroline, an NYU film student, to film the festivities.

Each of the ladies brings along their own baggage and, as the weekend progresses, secrets are revealed and lives are changed forever.

This is the first of Hilderbrand’s books I’ve read. The plot is simple, but it was a nice light summer read.

Celestial Lights – Cecile Pin

On the day Oliver Ines was born, the Challenger space shuttle fell out of the sky. As if the events of his birthdate predestined his path, decades later Ollie is a renowned astronaut. After a couple of missions to the International Space Station, an ambitious billionaire offers Ollie a chance to command a 10-year mission to distant moon Europa.

Ollie accepts the opportunity, and the book tells the story of Ollie’s mission and the struggle between loyalty to his loved ones and his career ambitions.

Although I am not a lover of science fiction, I enjoyed this book.

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Spring 2026 reading update – Non-fiction

After struggling through about half of Brene Brown’s Strong Ground before adding it to my Did Not Finish shelf on Goodreads, I decided to abandon non-fiction for a while and focus instead on fiction and biographies.

100 Rules for Living to 100 – Dick Van Dyke

I have fond memories from my childhood of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Subtitled “An optimist’s guide to a happy life” this book is a collection of his life lessons and wisdom, each wrapped up in stories about his life.

Van Dyke wrote this book as he approached his 100^th birthday. Remarkably, he continues to work and seek purpose, while acknowledging the limitations of his advanced age. It’s an inspiring and uplifting book for fans of all ages. 

The road to 1,000 books

The 20 books I read this quarter brings me to 127 books toward my retirement goal of reading 1,000 books. So far in 2026, I’ve read 38 books, putting me ahead of pace toward my reading goal of 70 books.

Next on my reading list

Summer is here and I look forward to more relaxing afternoons reading on the deck. Here are some of the books on my summer reading list:

• This Sea Within by Deborah J. Brasket
• The House by the Sea by Louise Douglas
• The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
• Normal People by Sally Rooney
• Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

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