Beyond The Shelves: 2026 Reading Challenge Recommendations

In this episode of Beyond the Shelves, Sarah and Jes discuss the 2026 reading challenge, recommend books to complete your bingo board, and in the book bulletin, talk about the hit series Heated Rivalry on HBO. 

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Learn more about the reading challenge here

SHOW NOTES

What We’re Reading

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Discontent by Beatriz Serrano

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Game Changer by Rachel Reid

The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk  

Big Reads of 2026

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

No Friend To This House by Natalie Haynes

Reading Challenge

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

Exiles by Mason Coile

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

The Colony by Annika Norlin

Always Never by Jordi Lafebre

The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

All Of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles 

Published on January 12, 2026
Last Modified January 14, 2026