This blog post is all about the books I read in January 2026.
I had a pretty slow start to the year with reading and I’ll be honest, life in general. So I wasn’t expecting to get through too many books.
Throw in a country music festival (yeehaw) which involved four days of camping and no reading, I’m actually a little surprised I read eight books this month.
I read some pretty great books to start 2026 with a bang, and a few mediocre ones too.
Below you’ll find my reviews and ratings of the books I read in January.
And if you’d like to keep up with my reading in realtime, you can follow me on Goodreads here!
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- Thoughts on the Complete Rebel Blue Ranch Series by Lyla Sage
- Goodreads’ 15 Best Books of the Year 2025: Add These to Your TBR
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in December 2025
Reviews and Ratings of the 8 Books I Read in January
These are the reviews and ratings of the books I read in January. Here’s to a great year of reading and hopefully a lot of five-star reads!
1. Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
Nothing Like the Movies picks up with Wes and Liz navigating the messy reality of college and the fallout from a heartbreak neither of them planned. After a devastating event derails their future just as they’re about to start UCLA together, Wes ends the relationship, leaving Liz hurt and guarded. Months later, fate puts them back on the same campus, older, bruised, and very much unfinished.
Determined to win Liz back, Wes leans into the grand, rom-com-style gestures he knows she once loved. But Liz isn’t interested in playing along, especially now that she has a new guy friend in her orbit. As Wes schemes, stumbles, and slowly grows up, the novel explores second chances, grief, and whether love can survive once the movie magic fades and real life sets in.
My Rating: ★★★★★
I had to finish this two-part series after reading Better Than the Movies in December. I gave it a 5-star and loved the chemistry between Wes and Liz so much that I had to continue. In this second book, we finally see Wes and Liz at college, and find out that they’re no longer together. This is leaning towards enemies-to-lovers once again and second chance romance, and I ate up every bit of it. I’m obsessed with Lynn Painter’s characters!
RELATED Books I Read in January blog post to read: Better Than the Movies Book Series by Lynn Painter: Review
2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus follows the arrival of Le Cirque des Rêves, a mysterious black-and-white circus that appears without warning and opens only after dark. Beneath its breathtaking illusions and otherworldly performances lies a secret duel between two magicians, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, who have been trained since childhood by rival mentors to compete in a deadly game of magic and intellect.
Unaware that the contest allows for only one victor, Celia and Marco fall deeply in love, threatening to unravel the rules of the game itself. As their rivalry intensifies, the lives of the circus performers and patrons become entwined in the outcome, leaving the fate of the entire circus hanging in the balance in this lush, romantic tale of love, sacrifice, and enchantment.
My Rating: ★★★★★
This book has over 1 million reviews on Goodreads. Yes, 1 million. It’s been on my TBR for the longest time and I finally took the plunge to start off the year. In a way it wasn’t what I expected, as it’s set a very long time ago in the past, but when I was around 2/3 of the way into it, I couldn’t put it down and read the last 150 pages in one sitting. I can see why it’s so popular and would highly recommend for some escapism and mystery.
3. Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
After losing both her job and her fiancé, Natalie Vos returns home determined to rebuild her life, only to discover that accessing her trust fund requires one inconvenient thing: marriage. Desperate, she proposes a mutually beneficial fake marriage to August Cates, a vineyard owner she can barely stand and can’t stop thinking about, whose struggling business is in desperate need of a financial lifeline.
What begins as a sham arrangement quickly turns complicated as Natalie and August are forced to live together, their sharp banter giving way to intense chemistry. As they work to save August’s vineyard and stick to the rules of their deal, it becomes clear that their attraction is anything but pretend, blurring the line between obligation and desire in this steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance.
My Rating: ★★★
This is the second book in a two-part series by Tessa Bailey that I had on my shelf and thought I might as well close out, finishing two series in one month. That’s not like me at all. We’re taken to Napa Valley wine country and focusing on two new characters this time. I enjoyed the storyline, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between our two main characters, especially compared to the first book. Classic Tessa Bailey with a lot of NSFW (not safe for work) sections, so I’d recommend as one to read over the Valentine’s period.
RELATED Books I Read in January blog post to read: The 7 Best Tessa Bailey Books to Read in Order
4. Off to the Races by Elsie Silver
Vaughn Harding returns to small-town Ruby Creek determined to save his family’s troubled ranch and restore its reputation. Hiring Billie Black to train his most difficult racehorse feels like the perfect solution, until her sharp wit, undeniable talent, and irresistible presence make staying professional nearly impossible.
As Vaughn and Billie clash and circle each other on the close quarters of the ranch, their rivalry turns into scorching chemistry. With his business on the line and his heart unexpectedly at risk, Vaughn must decide how much he’s willing to gamble, because this time, winning might mean more than crossing the finish line.
My Rating: ★★★
This is now my third Elsie Silver series that I’ve started, and I just can’t get enough of her writing. I had heard good things about this series in particular, which focuses more on the horse-racing world, so less about cowboys and ranches. Comparing to Elsie Silver’s other work, I didn’t love it as much. I’m much more inclined to continue with the Chestnut Springs series over this one.
RELATED Books I Read in January blog post to read: 7 Cowboy Romance Book Series to Dig Your Heels Into
5. Out of the Gate by Elsie Silver
Dermot Harding has always been off-limits: older, a family friend, and an employee on her father’s ranch. After one stolen kiss at eighteen ended in rejection, he disappeared into the army, leaving her to pick up the pieces. Now he’s back at Gold Rush Ranch, and the looks he gives her, the lingering touches, and the time they spend training her dream racehorse crack open feelings she insists she’s buried.
Their chemistry is undeniable, even as Dermot claims he’s too old and too broken to be what she needs. Torn between pride and desire, she must decide whether risking her heart again is foolish, or the only way to finally get what she’s always wanted.
My Rating: ★★★
Off to the Races ended with a short story that gave a glimpse to some of the older characters’ backstory. It was the story of our main character from book 1, Vaughn’s grandfather and how he met his grandmother. It definitely played a part in giving more depth and understanding to what happened in Off to the Races, and I actually enjoyed this just as much as the main book itself.
6. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
As Panem braces for the fiftieth Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell twists the knife deeper by doubling the number of tributes taken from each district. In District 12, Haymitch Abernathy clings to simple hopes: surviving the day and staying close to the girl he loves. When his name is called, those hopes shatter as he’s dragged into an arena designed to break him, alongside three very different fellow tributes.
From the moment the Games begin, Haymitch realizes the odds are stacked deliberately against him. But beneath the fear and brutality, something fierce takes root. A refusal to go quietly. What follows is not just a fight for survival, but the beginning of a defiance that will echo far beyond the arena itself.
My Rating: ★★★★
This was such a nostalgic read for me, going back into the world of The Hunger Games. I read the trilogy back in my teens and never expected to go back into it, but with so many great reviews and the fact that it’s being adapted for the screen, I couldn’t miss out. And I’m so glad that I did. Even though I knew what the ending would be since this is Haymitch’s origin story, I still enjoyed being back in the world of the Capital and Districts, and enjoyed the nod to the original characters at the end too.
7. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
On the glittering opening night of The Manor, a lavish new luxury resort, everything appears perfectly curated: flowing cocktails, pristine linen outfits, and guests basking in midsummer indulgence. But beneath the polished surface, tensions simmer as old friends, buried grudges, and long-held secrets converge for a weekend meant to celebrate new beginnings.
As the festivities unfold, the past intrudes with deadly force. Set against an eerie ancient forest and told through multiple perspectives, the story slowly peels back layers of lies, ambition, and betrayal. With everyone hiding something and motives colliding, the question is no longer who has secrets, but who will survive when they finally come to light.
My Rating: ★★★★
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Lucy Foley, but considering I’ve read all of her other work, it would be rude to leave this one on my shelf. It was very White Lotus/Liane Moriarty style of writing and with the very short chapters, was very easy to read. There were a lot of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming at all, so it was a very strong 4-star read for me, and probably one of my favourites from her.
RELATED Books I Read in January blog post to read: The 3 Best Lucy Foley Books to Read: In Order
8. Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
A sudden building-wide infestation leaves professional cleaner Abi Mariano scrambling for a place to stay, and the solution feels almost too convenient: the empty penthouse she cleans while its owner is away. The arrangement is smooth until she wakes up to find two strangers in the kitchen who believe she’s not the maid, but their son’s girlfriend. Caught off guard, Abi is swept into a misunderstanding she never agreed to.
That son, career-driven Declan Powell, is equally stunned to discover his fictional girlfriend has somehow become very real. To save face with his parents, he proposes a mutually beneficial deal: pretend to date him, and he’ll take care of her living situation. It’s meant to be strictly practical, no emotions involved, but as their fake relationship unfolds, lines blur, sparks fly, and both Abi and Declan begin to question whether this arrangement is more real than either of them planned.
My Rating: ★★★★
I needed some more Lynn Painter to round out my month and I don’t know how she does it, but she’s incredible at writing love interests. The two main characters in this book had incredible banter and chemistry and I found myself laughing out loud and smiling throughout. I’m going to go through Lynn Painter’s entire catalogue this year if I can and I’m so glad I started reading her work last year.
RELATED Books I Read in January blog post to read: The Best Lynn Painter Books to Read: In Order
The 8 Books I Read in January 2026
And there you have it, the reviews and ratings of the books I read in January.
Some standouts included two books by Lynn Painter and The Night Circus. Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast was a very strong four-stars, but not quite a five.
I’ll be reading a lot more Lynn Painter this year, I can tell that already. And as you can see, cowboy romances are still prevalent in my monthly round-ups.
RELATED Books I Read in January blog posts to read:
- The Most Anticipated 2026 Book Releases by Month
- The 29 Best Valentine’s Day Romance Books to Read in 2026
- Thoughts on the Complete Rebel Blue Ranch Series by Lyla Sage
- Goodreads’ 15 Best Books of the Year 2025: Add These to Your TBR
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in December 2025
By Orlagh Shanks
Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and moved to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.
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