August 2026’s newsletter: “2026 Mid-Year Reads”
Normally in July I like to give an update on what I’ve been reading throughout the first half of the year.
So why am I sending this email in August?
Well… embarrassing mix-up. I had this email done and was preparing my newsletter for August, and somehow I guess I got it into my head that my August email was due for July? And then I totally forgot this one existed?
So you’re getting this newsletter a month late. Sorry about that! Here’s all the books I’d read by the mid-year for 2026, in July. Of course, I’ve now read more books since then, but I’ll tell you about those in the 2026 end-of-the-year wrap-up in January.
Fiction
5 star reads
“Mr Villain’s Day Off” series by Yuu Morikawa
I picked up the first book of this manga from the library on a whim, and now I adore it! It’s so unbelievably cute. It’s a series of slice-of-life bits that are humorous and heartwarming. Occasionally it tugs at the heart strings, and occasionally it punches you in the feels. I shared it with my family, and we ended up watching the anime too. It’s a quick read, so you simply must try it.
“Of Monsters and Mainframes” by Barbara Truelove
This stand-alone novel is perfect for fans of the “Murderbot Diaries” and classic horror stories.
It has Murderbot’s humor, heart, and AI protagonists while also staying surprisingly true to old horror lore. You don’t need to have read or watched the classics to enjoy this book, but I think you’ll get more out of it if you have. For example, Dracula’s introduction in “Of Monsters and Mainframes” has him repeating his same behaviors from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” but now with a sentient spaceship who take exception to him killing her passengers.
I cannot express in words how much I love Demeter and Steward. (Although Steward’s tendencies for experimenting on humans also worries me.) The chapter titles are exquisitely hilarious, reminiscent of the Percy Jackson books.
But as humorous as the book can be, it also allows its characters to be deeply flawed. They lash out at each other in anger, communicate badly, and make poor decisions based on trauma. And the situations they find themselves in could get so dangerous or unfair that I just had to peek ahead to see if they made it out okay.
I could keep ranting about this book for hours, but I’ll stop here and let you read it for yourself.
Go read it! It’s fantastic!
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
I read the book after watching the movie, and I had a lot of fun comparing the two.
The book is like reading the manual— it delves into the specifics of how everything gets done. How did Earth produce more Astrophage fuel? How did Grace isolate where to collect the Taumeba from the atmosphere? How do the Hail Mary’s engine’s work?
It also expands on a larger cast of characters. We get to know the astronaut teams better, and meet the scientists who contribute to various parts of the Hail Mary project.
Of course there are details changed and scenes switched around here and there. But I’d say the biggest difference is that the book has time to delve into details while the movie has to cut to the emotional core of the story in roughly 2.5 hours.
Which isn’t to say that I liked the book more or vice versa. There is a lot of science in the book, and I admit that even with my science degree and love of all things astronomy, my eyes glazed over more than once. But you don’t have to be a huge science person to love the book! While the science is fascinating, the story’s heart is about a beautiful friendship that crosses space and species.
“Tea Dragon” series by K. O’Neill
Each book in the trilogy only gets better! The first book is lovely little story full of warmth and care. The perfect cozy queer read. And just like the title suggests, it’s full of love for both tea and dragons. The second is a prequel– it introduces excitement and expands the world along with introducing our new characters. The third returns to the original timeline and brings back all the characters we’ve met so far together. It’s a gentle story about healing, and it made me cry.
A running theme throughout the series is finding belonging, self, and purpose in a loving community. Something as beautiful as the artwork.
MG
“The Court of the Dead” by Rick Riorden and Mark Oshiro
The second Nico di Angelo adventure.
One thing I’m loving about these books is their emphasis on emotional health and healing. In “The Court of the Dead,” the demigod face things they haven’t fully healed from and trauma they’re in the process of healing.
We see how far Nico has come since we met him in book 3 of the original Percy Jackson series. He’s become a councilor to newer demigods who are experiencing similar things he did. And Nico himself has still more room to grow.
It’s a beautiful mix of heart and action that gives this series a unique tone.
YA
“The Last Best Quest Ever” by F.T. Lukens
I think this is my favorite F.T. Lukens book, which is saying something because I’ve loved every one of their books! It combines many of my favorite elements: an exciting fantasy quest, a badass heroine, a queer romance, and a rag-tag team of friends. It’s also very relatable for anyone who’s struggled with imposter syndrome, a major theme throughout the story. We’re strongest when we’re our truest self.
“A Song Below Water” by Bethany C. Morrow
“A Song Below Water” is where Black Girl Magic and Sisterhood meet.
Tavia and Effie’s relationship is my favorite part of this book. No matter how complicated and scary their lives become, or what family members fail them, or community members betray them, Tavia and Effie are solid. Their love for each other is unconditional and beautiful.
This story also has a clear message about the horrors of police and societal violence against Black and brown people, which is so important in our current times.
Anyone who has ever felt different and like they have to hide who they really are will find a safe place in “A Song Below Water.”
“The Sunbearer Trials” and “Celestial Monsters” by Aiden Thomas
The first book in this duology has a pretty classic “hero must overcome deadly trials on live TV” plot, but I loved the unique setting. The world is so vibrant and alive. Every new city they went to had its own layout and vibe, depending on their dios. The descriptions were so vivid, it felt like watching the story unfold on a big theater screen.
The second book delves more deeply into the morality of the conflict between the dioses and the Obsidians, and how it’s affected the mortals and semidioses caught in the crossfire– which was so interesting and well done.
And I fell in love with the characters, particularly Teo and Niya. Their friendship is everything!
This duology was the first thing I read from Aiden Thomas, and now I think I’ll have to check out Cemetery Boys too!
Adult
“Isles of the Emberdark” by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson brings us another unique world, this one inspired by Polynesian culture. It has a lot to say about the evils of colonialism. Of course the villains are the colonizers who want to exploit Dusk’s world and consistently underestimate him. But even Starling, who’s an ally, underestimates Dusk. She literally wants to be the White Savior trope– I doubt it’s a coincidence she’s a white dragon. Yet Dusk and his beliefs are right every step of the way.
Like “Sunlit Man,” this book does take place in the future of the Cosmere, so there are spoilers for Scadrial and Roshar. I felt like there were fewer spoilers in this one than in “Sunlit Man,” although that might be because I’d already read “Sunlit Man” and so I knew a lot of the spoilers already.
So if you aren’t familiar with the future of the Cosmere, read at your own risk!
“The Phoenix King” by Aparna Verma
This book has fantastically rich world building. With all of the deep histories, civilizations, political intrigue and rising wars, and secrets that shake kingdoms, it was reminiscent of the Stormlight Archives.
The plot was gripping and kept me guessing. Who’s trustworthy? Who’s the Prophet? Every time I thought I’d called the twists, I had the rug pulled out from under me.
The slow burn romance takes the duo from distrust to lovers in a gradual progression, investing the reader without distracting us from the other plot-lines. And this isn’t a book where the heroine needs constant rescue by her love interest, even if he is her guard. They watch out for each other.
I can’t wait until my library gets book 2!
Graphic Novels
“Amulet” series by Kazu Kibuishi
This MG fantasy-scifi graphic novel series starts as a classic portal fantasy and builds into an epic, save-the-world saga. The artwork is gorgeous, particularly the landscapes.
And it’s surprisingly dark for a middle grade novel. In the first book, the heroine Emily watches an old man die. The artwork even zooms in on the man’s eyes as his pupils dilate. And that’s just within the first few chapters! It’s not a series that pulls its punches, so I wouldn’t recommend it for any kids who can’t handle frightening themes.
One of the most interesting things about this series is how it’s both epic fantasy and interstellar sci-fi. Emily is having a fantasy adventure with magical stones and dream quests. Meanwhile, her brother Navin is piloting giant robots in space. We don’t often see both side by side in the same story.
“A-Okay” by Jarad Greene
A middle-schooler struggles with acne, identity, school, and changing friendships. All of Jay’s trials are incredibly relatable, especially as a fellow ace person. It’s rare to find an lgbtq+ book that focuses on ace identity, not to mention a kid’s book.
“Fence” series vol. 1-6 by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad
This series does a fantastic job of incorporating both the sport and the romance/relationships into the story without either element eclipsing the narrative. The characters are wonderfully goofy and lovable, even with (or maybe because of) their rough edges. It’s a lot of fun to learn more about fencing as the characters progress through their training, and also watch them grow closer to each other at the same time. My local library only has the first 6 volumes of this series, and I’m dying to read more!
“Folk Remedy” by Jem Yoshioka
This exciting Japanese-folklore adventure feels somewhat “Spirited Away,” if “Spirited Away” was set in the Taoisho era and involved less hanging out in a hotel and more running-for-your-life in the woods! It maintains that classic middle grade feel that I associate most with portal fantasies like Narnia: the feeling that you’ve been swept in a wondrous but dangerous world and you’re in for a wild adventure.
“Girl Haven” by Lilah Sturges and Meaghan Carter
This MG graphic novel gives us a moving self-discovery, coming out story of a trans girl as she and her friends adventure through an immersive, whimsical fantasy world. Although it’s written for MG readers, it’s perfect for anyone who loves portal fantasies and heartwarming queer stories.
Junebug is my favorite character; I’d like to think that if I found myself in a fantasy world, I’d be the one super psyched for adventure. (Though in reality I’d probably be the one freaking out!)
“Magical Boy” duology by The Kao
Oh my gosh, this duology was so good! Some words I would use to describe it: epic, heartfelt, adorable.
Magical Boy is a story of finding one’s true self and blasting monsters with magic rainbows. Max’s story is a surprisingly realistic journey to self love in the face of societal and familial expectations, despite being set in a world of magical battles and goddesses.
Max’s friends are so supportive and goofy and wonderful. They’re the kind of friend group that you’d want to have rally around you when you’re figuring yourself out in high school. (And fighting extra-dimensional monsters.) And they each have their own personal growth/character arcs.
“One Crazy Summer” by Rita Willains-Garcia
I picked up this graphic novel after a recommendation from one of the librarians I work with, and I’m very glad I did. It was so interesting to learn what the Black Panthers were really like through the story. In my classes growing up, I was only ever taught the propaganda narrative. This story shows the real, human movement: taking care of and protecting each other in a hostile world.
“The Prince and the Dressmaker” by Jen Wang
A gorgeous book about being yourself, in life and fashion. It’s full of beautiful dresses and beautiful moments. This one has been on my TBR for a long time and it’s about time I finally got around to reading it!
“Thief of the Heights” by Son M. and Robin Yao
An exciting dystopian story about revolution in a broken system. The characters are easy to love, and it takes place in a rich, unique world. Honestly it gave me Arcane vibes, although not as depressing.
“Unicorn Boy” by Dave Roman
Wacky and adorable
A fun romp of a boy adjusting to his newfound unicorn powers and rescuing his best friend from the Underworld with the help of talking muffin, a black cat, and a grandma reaper.
Manga
“Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan” books 1 and 3 by Sasami Nitori
This MG manga is so adorable and funny! I just love how quirky and cute Kyuu-chan is, and the loving relationship between them and their human. The series adds new characters as it goes on, for even more heartwarming adorableness.
Short Stories/Novellas
“Mistborn: The Secret History” by Brandon Sanderson
This short story fills in Kelsier’s point of view throughout the Mistborn trilogy after his death. It’s something I’ve been meaning to read ever since I learned about it. (Which was long after I’d finished the trilogy, but who’s keeping track?)
The only other short story I’d read from the “Arcanum Unbound” collection previously was “Edgedancer,” Lift’s story. Glancing through the collection now, I think I’ll have to read the rest of the these sometime. It’s interesting to see snapshots of different plants throughout the Cosmere. Some of which are familiar and some aren’t.
“I Hate Dragons” by Brandon Sanderson
This short story is hilarious! It might be one of my favorite, if not the favorite, of the “Tailored Realities” collection.
Brandon’s postscript says it was written as a dialogue exercise where the story is completely dialogue, no tags or description. But the characters’ voices are so strong, you’re never confused as to who’s speaking when. As an author myself, I find it rather fascinating.
More importantly, it’s a hilarious story.
“Dreamer” by Brandon Sanderson
Another short story from the “Tailored Realities” collection. I don’t want to say too much about it because I don’t want to spoil the twist ending. So I’ll leave it at: it’s an interesting twist on the body-jumper trope.
“Defending Elysium” by Brandon Sanderson
I read this short story from “Tailored Realities” because Brandon’s postscript says it’s the backdrop to “Skyward,” a series I love, and I was interested to read the story that started it all. Spensa learns about the war that follows this story, but not this time or these exact events. It’s rather melancholy to know that their heroic intentions go so poorly until her eventual victory.
Nonfiction
“Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson
This book gives a strong analysis of America’s racist caste system and its similarities to India’s and Nazi Germany’s castes. Isabel Wilkerson analyzes USA’s history that created the foundation of our caste system and how the ramifications led to the 2016 election.
This is not an easy book to get through, but I think it’s critical for understanding USA’s society and our current politics/social climate. I would highly recommend it to anyone living in the US, especially white people who are less likely to have come face to face with these hard truths in our everyday lives.
“The Undocumented Americans” by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio tells the real stories of undocumented Latinx Americans living in various areas of the United States. These aren’t the harmful narratives the far right would have us believe, and they aren’t the idealized success stories. They’re about ordinary people and their fears, pains, and communities. Our government is trying to make our country so hazardous and toxic that these people are either forced to leave or die.
This book is heartbreaking. But if you want to learn who ordinary undocumented Americans really are, you should read it.
I read 23 books and 4 short stories in January-July 2026. (If we’re counting all series as 1, for ease of counting.) And look at that, 2 of them were nonfiction. That’s a record for me!
We’re back on track with my newsletter schedule, so I’ll see you in the next update.
Thanks for reading!
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