Mini Book Reviews: October 2026

Disclaimer: I received copies of The Memory of Borrowed Books, Friends and Family, and Luna Phoenix Queen from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Only 5 books read this month, but I was happy to get 3 NetGalley books off my list. Naturally, I had 6 library holds come in all at once, but I had to let most of them go, as I got bogged down in Big Little Truths. I enjoyed all the books I read this month, but my favorite was Luna, Phoenix, Queen. It was an unexpected joy! 

When Claire, a small town librarian, learns that the library has been approved for closure, she is determined to stop the process. For Claire knows of a secret room full of memories that no one else can see. It's as if the library is trying to tell her something. It takes a while to get there, and once she rallies the townspeople behind her, the story really gets going, and all is revealed. I loved that The Memory of Borrowed Books showed the power of books, friendship, and community. Interesting plot development, and while I'm not a lover of fantasy, it worked well in this story. 

Friends and Family is a wonderful book that tells the story of a friendship torn apart by a tragic event involving their children and differing perspectives on how to handle it. One of the families is black, the other white; the white family has an adopted black son who is struggling to find his identity. I found this to be a thoughtful and eye-opening book on race and, yes, white privilege. Not preachy at all, just a really good story that gave me a lot to think about. 

In Down with the Shipmans, three sisters travel to their childhood coastal home for a family reunion, but soon learn their father plans to sell the house. Each sister arrives with baggage, literally and figuratively, and tensions rise, as you might expect. As they begin packing up the house, memories of the past haunt them. I had so much hope for this story, having gone through a similar situation with my family. Reading this reminded me of the different perspectives everyone brings to the table. Families are messy, aren't they?

Well, wow. Luna, Phoenix, Queen was one of the best books I've read in a long time. The star of the story is a dog who has lived a rough life and is found living in a kill shelter with only a few days to live. As the story unfolds, layer by layer, the reader learns more about each character, their flaws, betrayals, and secrets. But it all comes back to the dog. The story is told beautifully. I did not want to put this down. A most perfect novel...

I was so excited to finally get to read Big Little Truths after several months in the library queue. A sort of sequel to Big Little Lies, this one takes place 10 years later. The kids are all older now, but there's plenty of drama again. I didn't really remember much from the previous book or show, but the reviews said this could be read on its own, which was spot on. The book starts out very entertaining, but by the middle of the book, I admit to being a little bored. Was it too long? Did the author also lose interest in the characters? Stick with it, though, because the story picks up again and the ending is a banger. Or skip the book and wait for the series, which is currently in development for HBO.

What did you read this month? Have you ever been looking forward to reading a book, only to be disappointed once you've read it? What are you currently reading?

I'm linking up with Jenn and Jenny for Tuesday Topics!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Also with Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life and Not in Jersey.