My January TBR 2026 is very simple: keep it chill! I’m so sick of trying to force myself to read “good” books, when what I need are books that are fun, chill, and might even blow me away.
That’s not to say I’m going to stop reading other books – not at all – but my reading goals for 2026 are all about using reading to relax.
I think the issue is that many of the books I have read over the last couple of years took me at least a week to finish, and while I don’t care how many books I read in a year, sometimes I just want to burn through a book in a couple of days like I’m a teenager again!
With that being said, here is my January TBR 2026:
#1 – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
I’ve already finished Fourth Wing and you can read my review here. I really enjoyed it, giving the book a rating of 3.5 on StoryGraph, so I’ll be heading on into the other books currently out in The Empyrean series.
I have low expectations, considering they came out so fast and rushed after the success of the first book, but I liked the characters and the writing style is addictive as hell, so I’ll burn through these:
- Iron Flame (Book #2)
- Onyx Storm (Book 3)
#2 – Swordcrossed by Freya Marske
I am currently 30% into Swordcrossed which is a book I have only picked up because other queer authors I like recommended it! It’s a queer “romantacy” but I am yet to see any magic! It’s set in a secondary world, though, and has a wonderful historical fiction atmosphere.
I’m struggling a little with all the talk of wool trade, but at least it’s different! A plot of political intrigue (except its businesses, rather than kingdoms) and some forced-proximity romance. I’m hoping the plot speeds up soon, and we get to see a little more character development.
#3 – Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
The last book I read in 2025 was Crown of Midnight, which is the second book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. It had been several years between reading the first and second books, so, after enjoying book two, I am determined to keep going with this series this year.
Heir of Fire is book three, and the next book I need to read in the series, then the following:
- Queen of Shadows (Book #4)
- Empire of Storms (Book #5)
- Tower of Dawn (Book #6)
- Kingdom of Ash (Book #7)
#4 – Powerless by Lauren Roberts
I have heard some of the “drama” or whatever surrounding this book, but I don’t actually know any of it, and neither do I care. I don’t use TikTok, and I’m rarely on any other social media either.
Powerless looks and sounds like the sort of thing I’m looking for right now. If it’s bad, I’ll put it down. If it’s good, that’s a trilogy to read in 2026.
#5 – Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
The final book in my January TBR 2026 is Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. This sounds SO good! Yes, I have high expectations, and yes, it’s because the people recommending it are reviewers I often agree with.
I’m sure I’ll drop this in between one of the Throne of Glass books as a break from the series.
January MBR – 2026
Talking of taking breaks from a series, these two books could easily be picked up at any time. I’m a mood reader, so anything could happen:
- A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
- Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
I’ve started so many series over the past few years that the idea of going back to all of them feels a bit overwhelming – especially with how long it would take to read the rest of the books! I love fully disappearing into books for weeks at a time (I adored Blood Song by Anthony Ryan, for example!) but right now that’s not the reading experience I’m looking for.
What books are you hoping to get into this year?
