26 Books Written in Verse and Poetry Collections : Jan-Feb

26 Books Series #1: 

Read 26 Books Written in Verse and 

Poetry Collections in 2026

January- February 

One of my goals for my blog this year is to create post series. 

I'm starting a series this year where I read/talk about 26 books in different categories. The first in this series is going to be two of my favorite types of books, books written in verse and poetry collections. Throughout the year, I'm going to keep track of the books I read every two months.

1. We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride- Novel Written in Verse

- A beautiful book written in verse which deals with grief and depression. It is a story set in a contemporary world that feels magical. Whimsy uses fairy tales and other stories as a coping mechanism. They are her way of expressing the pain she feels because of the trauma she experienced in her past.

- Amber McBride's writing was stunning. She uses magical realism and metaphors to tell Whimsy and Faerry's story. I heavily related to them both throughout, especially since I too use poetry and stories to deal with my own grief. 

"You just have to learn
how to come back
to yourself
even when you can’t explain
your pain
in this part
of the Garden.

For you, your voice,
your story is everything" 

2. the witch doesn't drown in this one by Amanda Lovelace- Poetry

- Amanda Lovelace does it again in this beautiful collection of poems. She has a way with words that always stands out to me in each piece she creates. I love how her poetry collections flow together so well. The way she uses her formatting is another aspect I highly enjoy when reading her poems. You can tell that she not only thinks through her words but also how the poems look on the page and feel when read.                                

3. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds- Novel Written in Verse

- One of the most beautifully heart-wrenching books I have ever read. The whole idea of this, a boy in the hood dealing with grief combined with A Christmas Carol, is just incredible. It had me in tears by the end. Jason Reynolds is such a great author and his lyrical writing is so stunning.

“When bad things happen
we can usually look up and see
the moon, big and bright,
shining over us.

That always made me feel better.

Like there's something up there
beaming down on us in the dark.” 

4. For Every One by Jason Reynolds - Poetry

- An inspirational letter written to the dreamers out there as a long poem. Jason Reynold's lyrical writing is absolutely stunning. This poem is so special. I love how the poem was formatted throughout this book and I highly recommend listening to his audiobook read of the poem. He is one of my absolute favorite narrators. 

"THIS LETTER IS FOR US ALL,

to remind us

that we are many.

That we are right 

for trying. 

That purpose is real. 

That making it is possible.  

 

But this letter is not about making it,

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW 

NOTHING ABOUT THAT. 

 

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT

at all. 

Besides,

I'm not sure

making it 

even matters 

so much."  

5. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo- Novel Written in Verse

- Absolutely stunning! I loved reading about Xiomara falling in love with Slam Poetry and finding herself along the way. Such a beautiful story. This had me in tears many times. Elizabeth Acevedo does an incredible job showing the power of poetry. 

 
“Maybe, the only thing that has to make sense
about being somebody's friend
is that you help them be their best self
on any given day. That you give them a home
when they don't want to be in their own.” 

February 2026: Hobbies & Crafts 🎨

In February, I did a couple hobbies that I would like to share here. I'm hoping that there will be even more in March. Happy crafting everyone! 

 Make Market Flower Brick Sets 💐

Loved making these flower sets from Michaels. They look so beautiful on my shelves. Definitely some of my favorites from the brand.  

  Squirrels on Vacation Puzzle🧩

 

This is such a cute puzzle. Really enjoyed making it.   

February 2026 Reads 💖

 💌 February Reviews  💖

February 1st-28th

 In February, I read 18 books with 3706 pages. I found many new favorites which are: Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett, A Flowering of Ink by K. L. Noone, and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. 

Hope everyone enjoyed what they read this month! Happy Reading. 📖

 

Book 18: The Book of Delights: Essays

By Ross Gay

Read February 1st

Pages: 288

Release Year: 2019

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I loved Ross's first book of delights as much as I did his second last year. Such a wonderful way to start the month and I look forward to reading more of his books during the rest of the month. His books make you want to enjoy even the small aspects in life and find what can be considered “delights” even when it feels hard to do so in the world we are living in.

Some of my favorites of his essays are: 

~ "Remission Still" 
~ "Umbrella in the Cafe"
~ "Fishing an Eyelash: Two or Three Cents on the Virtues of the Poetry Reading
~ "Ambiguous Signage Sometimes
~ "Heart to Heart"
~ "Tomato On Board"- Loved this one so much
~ "The Marfa Lights"- Hilarious

Book 19: This Winter

(Heartstopper, #4.5)

By Alice Oseman

Read February 7th

Pages: 102

Release Year: 2015

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A beautiful novella which is about the Spring family's Christmas after Charlie comes home from the psychiatric hospital. They all just want to have a "normal" Christmas even though that is challenging with everything going on. I definitely recommend reading this after reading Heartstopper Volume 4, so you have context. The story is told from Tori, Charlie, and Oliver's perspectives, which I loved. It also has Alice's beautiful illustrations.

 

Book 20: Long Way Down

By Jason Reynolds

Read February 7th

Pages: 306

Release Year: 2017

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February 7th, 2026 reread: 
One of the most beautifully heart-wrenching books I have ever read. Jason Reynolds' lyrical writing is so stunning. This was even better the second time around. 

April 19th, 2020 read:
Novels written in verse have always been my favorite. The whole idea of this, a boy in the hood combined with A Christmas Carol, is just incredible. This novel was so beautiful and heart-wrenching. It had me in tears by the end. Jason Reynolds is such a great author and I can't wait to read more of his books.

 

Book 21: For Every One

By Jason Reynolds

Read February 8th

Pages: 102

Release Year: 2018

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An inspirational letter to the dreamers written as a poem. Jason's lyrical writing is beautiful. I highly recommend his audiobook which he reads himself. It added so much to the experience.

Book 22: This Wretched Beauty

By Elle Grenier

Read February 9th-10th  

Pages: 304

Release Year: 2026

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The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite classics. I find the story absolutely brilliant and I have wanted to read a more outwardly queer retelling of it for years. So, This Wretched Beauty was a book I have been highly anticipating ever since I first heard about it last year. I did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

The discussions on art and the depictions of artists were some of my favorite scenes. Basil was a highlight for me in this book. Also, the gothic feeling atmosphere added a chilling aspect to the story which fit so well with the plot. I love how Elle Grenier described the painting, especially after the changes. 

Dorian's portrait is obviously the most important visual from this story and that plays interestingly into Dorian's self-image. This book keeps the philosophical discussions and the themes of vanity, superficiality, and being one's own destruction from the original. Dorian is quite a different character this time around. This Wretched Beauty shows their journey to self-discovery though they were not as active as I would have liked in their story. 

We are in Dorian's mind the entire time and there is a disconnect because of the many scenes we don't see. The author states the reasoning behind this at the beginning of the book, but it did take me out of the story. 

I'm not sure what I think about the ending. It's hard to go into this book not thinking of how utterly brilliant the original's is and this pales a bit in comparison. I don't believe this book needed an ending quite like that but I wish it fit more with the book and Dorian's actions. 

I probably had too high of expectations going into this book, though I did enjoy it quite a bit. Elle's writing is beautiful and I love the discussions on gender identity/being one's true self. 

*Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Elle Grenier for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Book 23: Harder Than It Looks

(Real Hero Shit #2)

By Kendra Wells

Read February 11th

Pages: 200

Release Year: 2026

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A great continuation to this story. The illustrations were just as wonderful as the first volume. They go along perfectly with the world, characters, and story. 

I loved getting to know each of the characters better in this volume especially Michel and Hocus. This time around the group have to separate. It was enjoyable seeing the dynamic between Eugene and Michel. Also, the storyline with Hocus and Ani was very interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next with them. 

Love the diversity in this series and seeing this group working together again. I'm hoping the next part of the story comes out soon because I really want to know what is going to happen with the gang. Especially after that ending.

*Thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher, and Kendra Wells for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

 

Book 24: Nobody's Baby

(Dorothy Gentleman #2) 

By Olivia Waite

Read February 12th

Pages: 144

Release Year: 2026

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I had so much fun with this cozy science fiction mystery. It was just as great as the first novella in the series. The length was absolutely perfect to tell this story. I loved learning more about the passengers on the HMS Fairweather, especially Dorothy, her nephew Ruthie, and his partner John. I've grown quite attached to them and I am hoping for more mysteries in the series. 

Nobody's Baby can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend picking up the first. These are great characters. Also, the audiobook is fantastic. Blair Baker did a wonderful job narrating Dorothy's story.

The mystery dealing with the baby was interesting, especially since the passengers are not supposed to be able to get pregnant. It is told through Dorothy's perspective and it had me laughing quite a bit. Loved the intro when she first finds out about the baby from her nephew. Hilarious. 

Cozy mysteries have always been my favorite type of mystery and this book was a great example of one. It also has the science fiction elements that makes it even better. I need to find more books like this. 

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Olivia Waite for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

 

Book 25: The Poet X

By Elizabeth Acevedo

Read February 14th

Pages: 368

Release Year: 2018

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Absolutely stunning! I loved reading about Xiomara falling in love with Slam Poetry and finding herself along the way. Such a beautiful story. This had me in tears many times. Elizabeth Acevedo does an incredible job showing the power of poetry. I know that I will read anything she writes now.

 

Book 26: Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter 

By Heather Fawcett

Read February 2nd-16th

Pages: 368

Release Year: 2026

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I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I started reading it, especially Havelock and Agnes's dynamic. My favorite book of all-time is Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and this definitely had many elements that reminded me of that story. 

I love Agnes's character so much. At the beginning of the book, she is dealing with having to find a new shop after her last one was destroyed by magicians, while also dealing with grief from her husband's death. It's hard to find a place to have her cat shelter, because cats are looked down upon in her city. 

Eventually, she finds a place with surprisingly low rent and finds out why that is shortly. The landlord of the shop is the Wizard King, Havelock Renard, who is using her charity as a cover for his magic shop. I love how Agnes is always trying to see the good in people even the magician who apparently tried to start the apocalypse. Life has not been easy for her, but she still keeps going. She was a refreshing character who I just adored. Also, I love that she loves all of her cats so much and how attached she gets with them all. Oftentimes, even putting herself in danger to save them. 

Havelock reminded me quite a bit of Howl, he even has spiders everywhere and I loved every single scene he was in this book. I loved being able to see his personality from Agnes's eyes. He's a sarcastic man who would rather spend his time down in his magic shop away from mostly everyone. It was great to see him open up with Agnes. 

This novel is heavy at times but is also quite funny in others. The depiction of grief was wonderfully executed throughout this book. It had me in tears many times. Agnes is grieving for her husband who died young from a heart condition. She is trying so hard to hold herself together even though everything seems to be falling apart around her. Her determination and love really stood out to me. I loved seeing her relationship with her younger sister Elise. They have such a wonderful bond. 

I was drawn into this book because of my love for Heather Fawcett's writing in her Emily Wilde series and because of the idea of a mystical cat shelter. All of the characters made me fall in love with this world and I hope we get more adventures with Agnes, Havelock, Elise, Yannick, and all the cats. This is a wonderful cozy book with a lot of heart. I highly recommend it. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC of this book. Thank you to Heather Fawcett for my physical ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

 

Book 27: Spear

By Nicola Griffith

Read February 20th-21st

Pages: 184

Release Year: 2022

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February 20th-21st, 2026 reread:
This novella is absolutely beautiful. I have been wanting to reread it for years and I finally did with the audiobook. Nicola Griffith's narration of her book is perfect. I highly recommend it. 

March 16th, 2022 read (original review was of an ARC copy)
This started out slow for me but once I actually got into the book, it was very good. Stories about King Arthur have always intrigued me and when I read the description for this one it became one of my most anticipated books of the year. I'm so glad to say that I enjoyed this retelling a lot. 

The prose was lyrical and absolutely beautiful in every way. I loved the character of Peretur and her journey throughout the book to become part of Artos's court. 

I liked the different look at the "Merlin" character in this story and how he was different than any other depiction that I have seen done before. In truth, most of these characters were different than expected which I loved. Especially, the relationship between the Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot characters in the story. Gotta say that it was a great surprise that I have been wanting in an Arthurian retelling forever. 

Also, the ending was great. I liked where Griffith took this and how it diverges from what you think would actually happen. My only complaint is that I wanted more from this world and I hope that we will get more eventually. 

I highly recommend this queer retelling of the Arthurian legend. It was beautiful in every way. I'm going to have to order a copy of it for my collection, especially after hearing about the illustrations that are going to be in the finished copy. Please if you pick this up read the author's note. I loved hearing about the research that went into her writing this book and where Peretur came from. 

Book 28: James

By Percival Everett

Read February 22nd

Pages: 303

Release Year: 2024

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A beautifully written modern day classic that deserves all of the hype it has gotten. Percival Everett has taken the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and reimagined it in Jim's perspective (he thinks of himself as James). This is a powerful novel.

 

Book 29: e. 

By Matt Beaumont

Read February 22nd-23rd

Pages: 352

Release Year: 2000

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One of the funniest and most ridiculous books I have ever read. I love how it is entirely told through the emails of workers at an advertising agency and that Matt Beaumont was able to make each voice distinct from the others. You really get to know each of these characters very well throughout the book. This was hilarious.

 

Book 30: A Flowering of Ink

By K. L. Noone

Read February 24th

Pages: 99

Release Year: 2023

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I adored watching Burne and Devon fall in love through their words. It was enjoyable getting to learn about each of their careers and passions, while also watching them grow attached to one another. This was a beautiful little story that I know I will remember for a long time. 

I have to read more of K. L. Noone's stories. This is my second of her shorter works and I just love her writing style so much.

 

Book 31: Not So Cookie Cutter

By Aidan Wayne

Read February 25th

Pages: 112

Release Year: 2019

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I enjoyed Jerrell and Rafi's story quite a bit. It was a sweet low drama romance that kept me smiling throughout. They were adorable. Though, I couldn't help but wish this was a little longer and fleshed out more. Definitely, enjoy Aidan Wayne's writing and I will be picking up more of their stories.

 

Book 32: Loud and Clear

By Aidan Wayne

Read February 25th

Pages: 93

Release Year: 2016

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I enjoyed getting to know Caleb and Jaxon so well throughout this novella. Their dynamic was beautiful and I love how they both worked so hard to be able communicate with each other. It was an enjoyable low angst romance that brightened my night while I was reading. I couldn't help wanting more from these characters, but that didn't effect my enjoyment too much. It was such a wonderful story. I cannot wait to read more of Aidan's works.

 

Book 33: Counterbalance 

By Aidan Wayne

Read February 26th

Pages: 79

Release Year: 2016

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Such a sweet story. My favorite of Aidan Wayne's novellas that I have read so far. Bao and John's relationship was adorable. I loved seeing their friendship grow and then their relationship. This was short, but it was the perfect length for the story being told. It was beautiful.

 

Book 34: His Birthday Wish

(His Ever After #2) 

By Elle Waters

Read February 26th

Pages: 158

Release Year: 2022

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I've been wanting to read this book ever since I read His Coffee Shop Crush last year. That was such a cute story and I was looking forward to seeing more of that town. His Birthday Wish takes place in a different small town then the first book, which is okay. It just wasn't what I was expecting since this is a series. 

This overall book was just fine. I never connected to either of the love interests and just found the whole misunderstanding at the beginning of this book ridiculous, especially with the conclusion to it.

 

Book 35: Shadowboxing 

By Rowan Mai

Read February 27th

Pages: 144

Release Year: 2021

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Shadowboxing has wonderful disability rep. I did enjoy reading about Asher and Roy's relationship, but the writing style was not for me. Also, I don't feel like Roy's backstory was explained enough.

Happy Tell a Fairy Tale Day! 👸

 “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”- from the dedication in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis 

I have always been a fan of fairy tales, especially through the various retellings I have read over the years. It's interesting to see the directions an author will take an old tale. One of my book series that I'm writing has fairytale retellings along with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, etc. I have written the first book in this series and am about 90,000 words into the second. It is one of my proudest achievements. 

Here are many of my favorite books that deal with fairy tales whether that be through the classics, retellings of the classics, or brand new ones. 

 

Middle Grade March 2026 TBR

I will be participating in Middle Grade March again this year and will be reading the group read and prompts from the channel: Middle Grade March. There are many different books I have been saving for March and I'm looking forward to finally getting to them. 

 Below, I'm going to show the Group Read for this year along with the Reading Prompts from Krista and Katie's announcement video: MIDDLE GRADE MARCH 2026 || all the details. The group read looks great! I will also show some of the other books I'm thinking of reading during the month. 

  Group Reads:

🧚Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz- A fantasy historical fiction with Jewish folklore creatures. 

    - I enjoyed Adam Gidwitz series A Tale Dark & Grimm and think this book sounds very good. 

Prompts:

For each prompt, I'm going to show at least one idea I have for a book I would like to read. I have been coming up with ideas for books I would like to read this month for a while, so there are many different options.  

1. Name in the Title

🌌 Roswell Johnson Saves the Galaxy! (Roswell Johnson #2) by Chris Colfer- Chris Colfer is one of my favorite middle grade writers and I have yet to read the second book in the Roswell Johnson series. I loved his science fiction adventure last time, so I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen next. 

 

 

✨ Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan- I have owned this book for quite awhile and would like to get to it sometime soon. It deals with Pakistani Muslim culture and is partially in the magical land of the jinn. 

 

 

2. Books on Cover

📖 Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles #1) by Patricia C. Wrede- I heard about this series very recently and have been wanting to read it ever since. Dragon books are always favorites for me. 

📖 The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom by Temre Beltz- Another book I have owned for quite awhile. This witchy book sounds super cute.

3. Historical Fiction

🎵 Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan- I've had this for over ten years and it is one of the books on my 26 books to read in 2026 list. This book is both set in the past and a more contemporary time period. 

 

4. Siblings Featured

🐮 On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga #1) by Andrew Peterson- I have owned this book for many years and have been wanting to pick it up ever since I first saw it at a book sale. This is definitely a book I was drawn to because of the title and cover. It features the Igiby siblings and their adventures. This is one of the 26 books on my 26 books to read in 2026 list. I plan on reading the rest of the series this year, if I enjoy this one. 

5. BIPOC Author

🔥 Luka and the Fire of Life (Khalifa Brothers #2) by Salman Rushdie- I read the first book in this series Haroun and the Sea of Stories a few years ago, which is about Luka's older brother Haroun and the adventure he goes on. This book takes place many years later. I'm looking forward to finally finishing this series. 

 

Some Other Books:

There are many other books I'm thinking about reading during the month. If I don't get to them in March, I will definitely be reading them before the end of the year. 

☂️ Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers- Yet another book I have owned for years and have yet to read. I grew up watching Mary Poppins and have always wanted to read the book. 

🧙‍♀️ Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones- I want to at least read one Diana Wynne Jones book during the month. Diana is one of my favorite authors and I plan on reading every single one of her books in my life. This sounds pretty good. I believe it has Baba Yaga in it, who I always enjoy seeing in books. 

✨ Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin (release date April 7th, 2026)- This is one of the many eARCs I have from NetGalley. It is about a young girl named Nell, who wants to live a quiet life. Unfortunately for her, her family runs an inn where many questers come to stay before setting out on their quest. Her parents were also questers before they opened up the inn and everyone expects for Nell to become one too. Nell is sent to the capital to help her inn and gets herself into a quest. I love me a quest story and am looking forward to picking up this beauty next month. It sounds like a lot of fun. 

🐷 Brume, Volume 2: The Forest of Lost Souls by Jérôme Pélissier and illustrated by Carine Hinder (release date May 5th, 2026)- I started the Brume series last year and am looking forward to seeing what will happen next in Brume, Hugo, and Hubert's adventures. These are cute graphic novels which remind me of a cross between the Lightfall series by Tim Probert and the Hilda series by Luke Pearson. Looking forward to seeing what antics the characters get into in this volume. 

 

🧚 Falling to Fairyland by Sarah Jean Horwitz (release date March 31, 2026)- Told by a mischievous narrator, the story is about a human changeling named Cricket, who has lived with a fairy witch his whole life. He sets out on a quest to get a piece of Night Sky to impress his guardian but finds a cursed knight who needs Cricket's help to survive. They go into Fairyland, which is Grimm fairytale inspired. This book sounds like everything I would want from a fairytale inspired world. It will probably be one of the first books I read in March. Also, I adore this cover so much. 

 

 

✨ Lightfall: A Place Between (Lightfall #4) by Tim Probert (release date: April 7th, 2026)- I just got the ARC for this book today and will definitely be reading it during March. I cannot wait to get back into this wonderful series.