My Book Club Books 2026 So Far (and my honest thoughts)
In January of this year I decided I needed to get some hobbies back in my life. Between mumming full time and homeschooling, I have very few hobbies. My hubby and I do rec-league sports (volleyball, kickball, softball, dodgeball etc. It’s actually so fun to do with your spouse and friends or to meet knew people! Maybe check out a local league.) Anyway, aside from that I do almost nothing else so a few friends and I decided to start a book club! We only read one book a month and it’s been so fun and such a good incentive for me to read more, without further ado here’s my book club books of 2026 so far (and my honest thoughts)
Click HERE for the list without descriptions and my opinions, HA!
January: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Our first book we read in January was Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book is actually what gave me the courage to start this blog. It had been a thought or an idea of mine here and there for awhile, but I never knew what I would write about or if what I wrote would be worth while. In the Atomic Habits book James talks about finding a few things that you are not the best at but are maybe above average at them. Next, he asks you to think about how you could combine those two things and make them into something you could maybe be successful at.
When I read this part I sort of chuckled at the example he gave; a man who was good at doodling and kinda above-average funny became a cartoonist. A very successful cartoonist. My husband was in the car with me and asked what I laughed about and I relayed all of this to him. He then asked what I thought my things were. I couldn’t think of anything for a long time, but landed on the fact that I am an above average packer.
I have packed for week long trips in a backpack and have packed our entire family of 5 for a week in one checked bag. This is my one small super power. He then reminded me of all of our lists and methods I have around our house and that is also something I am good at and have helped keep our home and family organized and productive. That’s when we decided maybe the place these things could come together would be on a blog. Hence was born The Miller Methods.
Honest Thoughts of the Book
The book itself is, pretty self explanatory, about habits and how to create good ones. It is really fascinating and has so many good ways to implement them. Whether it’s trying to lose weight or spend less time on screens there are methods to break or make habits. I did feel like it was a little long winded at times, but over all I feel like it’s a book you won’t regret reading and everyone can glean something from it. I will say once you’ve read it once, you probably won’t need to read it again.
February: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
This book surprised me in the best way! I will warn everyone; this book is thiiiiiick but, SO good. It took me a couple chapters to get into it and really grasp the characters, but the way Kristin explains things and paints pictures of her characters makes you really see them, know them, and love them. She also does a great job painting the picture of where they are and what it looks like.
The majority of the book is portrayed in the PNW and I feel like I’ve almost been there. She also does a great job tying in historical aspects which is so cool! This book takes some turns you don’t expect and keeps you engaged the whole time. Firefly Lane is about two very different girls from very different backgrounds that become very best friends, Tully and Kate. It follows them from adolescence to adulthood and everything in between.
Honest Thoughts on the Book
This book has become one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. It was really well written and I truly felt like I knew Tully and Kate. I did cry harder in this book than I ever have in any book (or movie) ever. I truly sobbed. So, here is a bit of a trigger warning, It’s so good but beautifully devastating.
March: The People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
A nice, lighthearted change of pace from the month before. If you’ve seen the movie already, the book was hard to get into in my opinion, but once you do get into the book, it will make you hate the movie. (They are both good but very different.) The movie is a cute, fun watch for sure, but the book makes you really grasp Poppy and Alex’s relationship and all the tension that has led up to this current vacation.
Poppy and Alex meet each other at college and at first don’t really like each other. Alex is very type A, strait laced and Poppy is very spunky and free spirited. They end up finding out they are from the same town and drive home together for a break. They decide to start doing one trip a year as platonic friends, that of course has tension. The book dances between their current trip they are on and their trips of the past.
My Honest Thoughts
Although I liked the movie, the book was better. I think they both serve their purpose in different ways, but the book is a sweet, easy read. It does have some spice (light smut) so just a little warning if you aren’t into reading anything like that! For our book club this month we did a fun little “board party” and watched the movie. We had a road trip board with road trip snacks, a chips and salsa and margarita board, a dessert board in the colors of the front cover, a cheese board, and an Italian themed board. All of these you will understand if you read the book!
April: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
In April we read The Correspondent. When this book came up as the book for us to read in April I was not excited. I was not intrigued at all and it seemed like a really odd layout. The first few pages were confusing and there are no chapters. The entire book is written as letters to and from an older women.
I am SO glad this book was suggested and I stuck it out. It was such an incredible story and amazingly well told. The way you learned about Sybil’s life from the past to the present all through correspondence is genius. When we met for book club I decided to write each women in the club with me a little letter. It felt very on theme and was fun to actually put pen to paper and spend time thinking about each of these girls. I am also going to send a copy of this book to my grandma and see if she would like to start corresponding with me through snail mail. I know I will treasure getting to know her and having her life and stories in writing.
Final Thoughts on This Book
Such a good book. It feels a little confusing in the beginning why she is writing and who is writing her back but you very quickly catch on. The author had to be part genius to be able intertwine everything in this way. Here is a trigger warning: there is child loss in this book. I am pretty sensitive to this and I handled it ok but wanted to put it out there!
May: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Our book for this month is Where the Crawdads Sing. I am only half way through this book, but was really excited to read it. I’ve watched the movie and loved it and so far the book is very similar. It’s based in a small town in North Carolina in the 1960s. Kya is from a very poor family that lives in the marsh near the town. There is murder, abuse, and love already in the first half but well written and very beautifully detailed. I’m excited to finish and will be coming back with my final thoughts.
How We Pick Our Book Club Books
We pick our book club books by all choosing a few and putting them “in the hat.” We keep a running list of all of our suggestions and take ones off if we decide we don’t have interest in them anymore. We then put them all in a wheel generator on Google and spin the wheel.
This has been such a fun outlet for me as a mom. We meet once a month, sometimes at a house, sometimes for dinner or coffee and discuss the book and life and plan the next one. If you don’t have a hobby, try a book club! We as moms deserve our own things and outlets too!
Our Book Club Books 2026 (so far) List
Buy any of These Books at the Links Below! These are affiliate links and I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
If you’d like to read more about mom life or my fitness journey you can click HERE!
