I always have my nose in a book—with my morning coffee, before bed, even while walking from the parking lot to my office. Just ask my Virginia Living colleagues, who’ve seen me dodging potholes mid-read. Books are educational, comforting, entertaining, and magical. As Virginia Living’s de facto book editor, I’m thrilled to curate this list to help you set your reading goals for 2026.
Fresh From the Old Dominion
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby: This instant bestseller, set in fictional Jefferson Run, Virginia, tells the story of Roman, who’s willing to do anything for his family after things go awry. (Pine & Cedar/Macmillan)
Marriage and Other Monuments by Ginny Pye: This love letter to Richmond, set in the tumultuous summer of 2020, chronicles the imploding marriages of two estranged sisters amid the turbulence of the season. (Koehler Books)
Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell: The serial killer Phantom Slasher is terrorizing Northern Virginia, and seasoned Dr. Kay Scarpetta is tasked with stopping them. (Grand Central Publishing/HBG)
When Shadows Burn by Todd Brown: Set in the fictional Virginia town of Ravens Cross, this is the story of a true crime podcaster who investigates the haunted legacy of the Scott house. It’s Twin Peaks meets Shirley Jackson. (Koehler Books)
Virginia Classics You Should Know
VCU and UVA alum and native Richmonder David Baldacci’s Hour Game follows multiple points of view—a serial killer and two detectives on the case (Grand Central/HBG).
Richmond native and Maggie Walker grad Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a sweet young adult romance novel that traces Lara Jean, who keeps secret letters to her crushes until they are mysteriously mailed to their recipients (Simon & Schuster). The 2014 book was made into a Netflix film in 2018.
Hampton native Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures explores the female “human computers” who helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space (William Morrow). The 2017 movie focused on their critical contributions to NASA’s space race of the early ’60s.
Charlottesville resident Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is a story about a group of classics students who become involved in a murder. Published by Knopf in 1992, it was Tartt’s first novel. She went on to achieve international acclaim with The Goldfinch in 2019.
Breaking Your Book Drought
Reading, admittedly, takes more thought than mindlessly scrolling through a screen, so sometimes we all need a little push. It doesn’t matter if you read two or 200 books last year; interacting with different words and voices is a crucial part of belonging to the reading community! Here are five tips to elevate your reading game:
Start a book club. It doesn’t take much; just grab a friend or two and choose one book a month to discuss over coffee or dinner. Library branches and indie bookstores often host their own book clubs. Many publishers and their imprints, like Random House, Penguin, and HarperCollins, offer online discussion guides that make starting conversations a snap.
Listen to audiobooks. This is my favorite solution, and it’s a great solution especially if you’re on the go all the time. Listen to books while getting ready for work, on your commute, on roadtrips, and more.
Create a routine. Find the best time in your day to read a book. Reading at bedtime is considered a healthy habit—as it’s reported that blue light from screens before bed can affect your sleep—but you could also commit yourself to reading when you drink coffee in the morning, for example. Add it somewhere to your routine, and it’ll quickly become a habit.
Don’t put pressure on yourself. You don’t have to finish that book you simply couldn’t sink your teeth into. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it, so lose the guilt. Forcing something just because it is popular will only put you further in your slump—start fresh!
Get a library card. It’s easy, and they’re free. Take an afternoon to browse your local library. Reading feels a little more casual when dollar signs aren’t attached.
My Must-Reads
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (HarperCollins)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Smith, Elder & Co.)
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (Ecco)
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (Tor Books)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (Penguin Classics)
This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue.
