Welcome to my first TBR of 2026. I’m setting intentions. I’m manifesting good vibes. I’m trying to be a girl who reads the books she says she’s going to read. Will I succeed? …Let’s not put that kind of pressure on me.

But the stack is STACKING this month, and the vibes? Immaculate.

Here’s what I’m diving into.

For the Rest of Us – Edited by Dahlia Adler

Genre: YA Contemporary Anthology
Mood: festive, cozy, multicultural joy, wholesome chaos

I’m starting the year with a warm hug of a book: a YA anthology featuring 13 different holidays, from Lunar New Year to Juneteenth to Eid to Día de los Muertos to Christmas. This book seems like it’s perfect for New Year’s Day reading. It feels like the book equivalent of nibbling on leftovers and listening to your family retell the same stories while you’re curled up under a blanket.

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

Genre: YA Thriller/Psychological Suspense
Mood: unhinged, tense, messy in a good way, “sis what is happening?”

This one is inspired by the Sarah Lawrence cult, which is one of the wildest modern cult stories ever. If you don’t know it, go ahead and Google. You’ll say “WHAT?!” at least five times.

Tiffany D. Jackson always eats when it comes to thrillers, so I’m fully prepared to be stressed, shocked, confused, and pacing my living room.

We love a page-turner that keeps you up past your bedtime questioning humanity.

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

Genre: Fantasy
Mood: feral, dramatic, magical, deliciously unhinged romantic tension

Black fae?

Enemies to lovers??

Dark fantasy romance???

Count me IN.

This books feels like the exact kind of fantasy chaos I want in the winter – a little dark, a little spicy, a little violent, and a whole lot of vibes.

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Mood: emotional devastation, sisterhood, tragic royalty, “I choose violence against my own feelings”

Apparently I decided my January needed sorrow.

The Lost Crown follows the four Romanov sisters – Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia during the collapse of the Russian Empire and the final years of their lives. Yes, it’s a re-read, and yes, I will cry again like it’s brand new.

Sometimes you just need a historical tragedy to reset your emotional equilibrium, okay??

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fairy Tale Retelling
Mood: nostalgic, futuristic Cinderella, cozy reread energy, gearing up for a series binge

I’m stepping back into the Lunar Chronicles world because it’s time – TIME – to finally finish this series. We’ve got Cinderella but as a cyborg mechanic, evil moon queens, a cute prince, a slow-burn romance, political drama…everything the 2010s YA era did right. It’s the perfect palate cleanser after the emotions dealt to me by The Lost Crown and The Scammer.

Six of Crows + Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA Fantasy / Heist
Mood: Found family, morally gray chaos squad, “no mourners, no funerals”, clever banter, heartbreak

I’m also finally finishing Six of Crows and then finally diving into Crooked Kingdom. If you’ve watched Shadow and Bone on Netflix, you already know Kaz Brekker is a menace, Inej is grace incarnate, Jesper has swagger, and Nina + Matthias? Ugh. I need to finally finish the duology so I can actually find out what happens to these trauma-bonded battle buddies. If you see me crying after I finish Crooked Kingdom, mind your business.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Genre: Fantasy
Mood: Gritty, immersive, political, high-stakes

2026 is the year of entering my epic fantasy era, and Jade City has been staring at me from every reading challenge list for years like, “Girl…be serious. Read me.”

It’s an Asian-inspired gangster family saga with magical jade, intense politics, and enough tension to make you grip the book with both hands. This is the “main course” fantasy read of my month – the one I’m committing to slowly savoring, annotating, and probably screaming over.

Final Thoughts: Will I Stick to This TBR? I Would Like To Think So.

January is all about intention, not perfection. So yes, this is the plan.

Will I wander off? Also yes.

Will I let myself be chaotic and joyful about it? Absolutely.

What matters is reading – following my curiosity, following joy, and letting my TBR be a vibe, not a prison.

If I finish even three of these, I’m calling January a win.

Either way, it’s going to be an excellent reading month.

What books are YOU reading to kick off January?