2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club List
The Beyond the Bookends Book Club is unlike any other. Not only does the book club follow our yearly reading challenge, but every member of the book club will have an opportunity to talk with the authors of each book! Below you will find the 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club list.
Kirsten and I started doing author interviews years ago and absolutely loved that part of our job. Last year, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jo Piazza, Jill Santopolo, Clare Leslie Hall, Bruce Holsinger, and Virginia Evans, among others. There are not many things that bring more joy to book lovers than discussing books, and doing it with the authors is like icing on the cake. When we started the book club, we knew that everyone deserved the opportunity to ask questions and get real answers. To join the Beyond the Bookends Book Club, check out your options.
The 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club chooses a book that fulfills a prompt from the 2026 reading challenge. Kirsten and I provide you with a reading guide to keep track of your thoughts, and then we discuss the book. The author then joins us, and let me tell you, we get some juicy information. From alternate endings to character changes, we really get some seriously good tea.
If you are not interested in becoming a member but want to join in with reading our picks, we love that as well. The reading challenge is free for everyone.
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club List
Pictures of You
Author: Emma Grey
Year: 2024
Genre: Fiction
More info: Beyond the Bookends Book Club January 2026 Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Evie Hudson wakes up in the hospital after a terrible car accident with no memory of the last 13 years, including her husband, who died in the accident. She cannot reconcile the life she has now with the life she imagined for herself when she was 16, her last memories.
She has no contact with her best friends or her parents. With the help of an old friend, Drew, Evie starts to piece together moments from her past. Told in dual timelines and multiple POVs, the reader follows Evie on her journey toward health and healing.
Trigger Warnings
Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I love the multiple viewpoints in this book. The plot developed at just the right pace to keep me invested without feeling rushed. I am so excited to talk with Ms. Grey about this fantastic book.
Find this book in: Amnesia Books / Second Chance Romance Books
The Christie Affair
Author: Nina de Gramont
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: February 2022 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, February 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I adored this mystery novel set during the 11 days of Agatha Christie’s disappearance. It’s told from the perspective of Christie’s husband’s mistress and it is utterly absorbing.
This biographical fiction novel is totally fictional because there is no account of what actually happened to Agatha Christie during her missing days. There are layers of mystery throughout, with a side of a love story.
Why Kirsten loves it
I never felt I would be able to sympathize with a mistress but I was cheering for her by the end. I was also enchanted by the setting of the small hotel. If you love historical mystery books, this is a must-read.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Historical Mystery Books / Hotel Novels / Ultimate List of Mystery Books / Mystery Novels About Writers / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2022
Not Nothing
Author: Gayle Forman
Year: 2024
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
More: March 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Age: 10+
Plot
Alex is a twelve-year-old boy who did something very, very bad. When the judge sentences him to community service at a retirement home, he expects the worst. With Maya-Jade – the only other person his age who works there – hovering over his shoulder at all times, he fears that his secret will be revealed.
Alex eventually meets Josey who is a 107-year-old man who lived through the holocaust and hasn’t talked in many years. Josey entrusts his story to Alex, one of sadness, love, and death soon they form a close bond. But, secrets can’t be kept forever, and to do good, Alex has to confront what he has done.
Trigger Warnings
War, Antisemitism, Genocide
Why Jackie loves it
I’m not exaggerating when I say this is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s amazingly well-written, and one of the few books I have read to have made me cry.
Find this book in: Best Books for 11-year-olds / Books about the Holocaust / Best New Children’s Books of 2024
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
Author: Marianne Cronin
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: April 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is the story of 17-year-old Lenni, who has terminal cancer, and her art partner, 83-year-old heart patient Margot. They connect at the end of Lenni’s life in the hospital art therapy room where they decided to paint a picture for every year of their combined 100 years.
Trigger Warnings
Death, Terminal Illness
Why Kirsten loves it
GET READY TO UGLY CRY. This book wrecked me. While painting their picture, we get to learn about their lives before their illnesses and witness an incredible bond form. The ripple effects of their bond and friendship took my breath away numerous times. Truly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
Find this book in: Books to Emotionally Wreck You / Novels About Grief / Books with Older Protagonists
The Road to Tender Hearts
Author: Annie Harnett
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
More info: May 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
PJ Halliday won a million dollars in the lottery and has done nothing since other than sit in the bar and mourn his bad luck- and he has had his fair share. He lost a daughter, had a terrible divorce, and his health is steadily declining (which is not helped by the fact that he is an alcoholic). To top it off, his ex-wife is marrying his best friend, and they are headed to Alaska for four months- alone.
When PJ sees an obituary of his old rival, he decides to head to the Tender Hearts Retirement Community across the country to win back his high school first crush. It just so happens that he is now the guardian of two young orphans and a cat who can predict death. Oh, and did I mention that he cannot drive because he had his license revoked after his last DUI? Enter his daughter as the driver!
Trigger Warnings
Death of a parent, murder, suicide, drug use
Why Jackie loves it
Although this book deals with a lot of serious topics, it does it in a way that is heartwarming and funny. I laughed my way through this book, which is a series of one disaster after another. On the surface, this book should not work; however, it is a literary wonder. I absolutely loved this poignant, wonderful book. It is one of my favorites of the year, and you will hear me talk about it!
Find this book in: Novels About Addiction / Beach Reads 2025 / Best Fiction Books of 2025 / Books About Road Trips / Giftable Books / Best Books of 2025
The Family Recipe
Author: Carolyn Huynh
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
More info: June 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Duc is the founder of a chain of sandwich shops around the country. He has 5 estranged adult children and a wife he has not seen in years. When he decides to retire, he gives conditions to his children. His four daughters must revitalize failing shops within a year, but his only son will inherit everything if he gets married. The catch? Whoever does it first wins the whole inheritance.
But the store each sibling is given unlocks bigger mysteries, and soon, everyone will learn the real reasons for this bazaar scheme and the secrets their mother and father kept hidden.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, Hate Crimes
Why Kirsten loves it
I love a sibling drama, but I was not expecting to fall in love with this story so deeply. I didn’t want it to end. I loved each sibling’s journey. I loved learning the back story between Duc and Evelyn…and I craved a Bánh Mì the entire time! Gifted by Simon & Schuster & Simon & Schuster Audio
Find this book in: Sibling Books / Books About Food / Best Beach Reads 2025 / Best Fiction Books of 2025 / Family Inheritance Novels / Giftable Books / Best Books of 2025
Expert Tip
Are you interested in joining a book club but are not sure if you will like it? I have some great tips
- Have a look at the books the book club has read. Do they fit with your vibe?
- Sometimes book club may push you outside of your comfort zone- that is ok. When not everyone feels the same way about a book, that makes for great conversation, as long as everyone is respectful
- Love the idea of a book club but do not want to speak? That is ok too. The Beyond the Bookends book club provides a safe place to talk, text, or listen. The choice is yours with no pressure!
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are on the 2026 Beyond the Bookends book club list?
Pictures of You by Emma Grey, The Family Recipe by Carolyn Hyugen, The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, and Not Nothing by Gayle Forman are just a few of the books in the 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club!
When will you announce the rest of the Beyond the Bookends Book Club list for 2026?
We will be announcing the book picks for the 2026 book club by season. The first half of the year is up, and you can check back in April for the book picks from July to September.
Can anyone join the Beyond the Bookends Book Club?
Yes. Anyone can join the book club at any time! We love our members and our great community! If you do not want to join the book club, you are more than welcome to follow along with the reading challenge. That is free to everyone!
Related Content
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Epilogue
What do you think of the 2026 Beyond the Bookends Book Club list? I love the books we read this year and cannot wait to hear your thoughts. Which book was your favorite?
