book superlatives
the most wonderful time of the year!
Hey! You’re here. Thank you.
Well, it’s full on winter here now. Icy, crunchy, dark, boogers freezing in your nose, capital W Winter.
We’re all being really brave about it.
Despite the booger freezing cold, I love the invitation this season brings to reflect on the year that’s been. Particularly, of course, when it comes to books and reading.
If you’re a fan of year-end, best-of lists, then gird your loins because next week I’m coming at you with my ten favorite reads of the year. I know you’ve been waiting!!!
We set a high bar last year thanks to the help of my creative director so here’s hoping we can meet the moment this year.
In anticipation of the big one next week, this week I’ll give you a little taste of some books I adored that just didn’t make the top ten list. Many of these superlatives were inspired by Traci Thomas’ best books of 2025 column for shereads.com. Her list is unsurprisingly excellent and her influence on my reading life will be abundantly clear. Thank you, Traci!
Best Book to Start the Year
I started my reading year with some Mary Oliver dog poetry and I do think I did it right. I’m a reader who believes it’s crucial to start the reading year off with a guaranteed banger. My advice? Read something that is deeply on brand for you. It’s not too early to start planning your first read of 2026, and may I gently suggest some Mary to get you going?
There is also an audiobook version narrated by Mary herself and it just doesn’t get much better than that.
Books I Love Recommending
Trust & Safety by Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman
I successfully recommended this novel to both Rebecca and MJ so I’m calling that a major win. This one is like if Jane Austen wrote about millennials in the Hudson Valley and I ate it up with a spoon. It’s funny and surprising and just a very good time.
Woodworking by Emily St. James
I recommended this debut novel to my Mom and she is reading it right now! This story of a trans teacher in South Dakota is moving, funny, and deeply compelling. One way I measure the impact of a book is how often I bring it up in conversation (apologies to anyone who ever has to talk to me) and this one kept coming up again and again. It also made me laugh out loud (lol for real) in a way very few books really do.
The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck
Like many of my favorite reads, this one was recommended to me by my bestie MJ. And now I’m just passing on the gift and reaping the rewards of her good taste. She is particularly an advocate for the first, titular story in this collection and she is, of course, correct. That story is an all-timer. I haven’t seen the movie adaptation yet, but it’s high on my list. I love recommending this whole collection, though, because both Western Massachusetts (my current home) and Brunswick, Maine (my hometown) feature throughout the collection. If you live in and love either of those places (I know many of you do!) then this is essential reading.
The audiobook is also one of the best I’ve listened to in recent memory. If you aren’t an audiobook reader, this one may convert you.
Romance that Lives Rent Free
First, please know that if you like any of my romance recommendations, you really just like Grace’s recommendations and you should just follow her bookstagram @dogbuttsandbooks immediately. Grace hand selects perfect romance recs for me and it’s truly a gift that once again I am simply passing on to you.
Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao
A trans femme graduate student gets help organizing a union from her gorgeous butch electrician roommate. We’ve got forced proximity, we’ve got bisexuality, we’ve got sapphic love, we’ve got unions!! What else do you need, really??
Wherever is Your Heart by Anita Kelly
This little novella gets it’s title from a Brandi Carlile song and quite frankly that’s enough for me. It’s also about a longhaul trucker and the bartender she’s been pining over for years. And now that *really* is enough for me. I read this one way back in February and these two women have been top of mind ever since.
Don’t you just love a book that weasels into your mind/heart and takes up permanent residence?? Tell me about a book you read this year that you just can’t quit thinking about.
I hope you come back next week for my top ten of the year. I hope you get to pet a dog today. I hope something makes you laugh and something makes you put your hand on your heart just to remember it’s there.
I’m glad you’re here.
Love,
Rosamond
Just saying "History of Sound" can make me cry on-command, and we know I am heartless monster so that is saying something. Trust & Safety was not only fun, but saved me from a rash decision, I owe that book - and you.
I just love your newsletters. And Duncan and Yaya. Thanks for sharing those doggies with us!