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Hey Reader,
Commence 2026 Uncorked Reading Challenge Bingo.
The best way to get started is by heading over to our Facebook group, Uncorked Readers and letting us know what theme and book you are starting with on this discussion thread. It's not too late to invite your friends.
Throughout the year, be on the lookout for group discussions, extra challenges, and maybe a few casual online book club sessions...
New & Updated On The Website
I'd love to know what you think of the newer format for book lists (each is a little different): shorter, fewer books, a small summary, a 'lil personal review, and who I think might enjoy each title. Feel free to respond to this email with your thoughts.
Our Uncorked January to March 2026 Reading Challenge Bingo Card
Upload bingo cards to any app or editing program that you like. They are 1000px by 1500px. If you prefer using Canva, here is a link to easily edit these templates (just upload your book covers).
Of course, you can use any tracking method you like, including writing down prompts journal-style.
January through March topics include:
- Sweater – Think sweater weather, sweater on the cover, or a destination where you might want to pack an extra sweater (like Iceland). Maybe it’s just the book you read while wearing a sweater.
- Grandmacore – Trending now… With this aesthetic, fashion, and lifestyle, embrace the cozy and vintage vibes of a stereotypical grandmother’s home. For me, this means big floral patterns, beautiful wood furniture, lace and crochet everywhere, Hershey Kisses, dolls and plushes, CATS, and sweet activities, including writing poems, baking, knitting, and gardening (or maybe drinking, a special kind of travel, and dancing). Get your Golden Girls on! Read a book with a sweet grandma.
- Comedy – Read a book that makes you laugh, or pick up a rom-com. Maybe this is a book about a comedian.
- Dessert – Our Uncorked Reader survey had SO many food requests… Let’s start with dessert. Pick up a book with dessert on the cover, or read something about your favorite dessert. Dessert cookbooks are always fun, too! Maybe this is a book that feels like dessert.
- Friendship – We have a list featuring our favorite friendship books.
- [Hidden] Gem Destination – Read about a place that is special to you or one you’d like to visit. My favorite gem destinations: Riga, Latvia & Parnu, Estonia; Salzburg, Austria; Trieste, Italy; Paraty, Brazil; Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Marsala, Sicily…
- Circus – Join the circus with a good book, or maybe read a book where it just feels like a circus… Holiday family gatherings included.
- Love – This is a great opportunity to read book tropes such as childhood sweethearts, love triangles, second-chance romance, miscommunication, and more. Find a book all about love: family, friendships, romantic, pets, and more.
Themes are meant to be interpreted any way you wish, which makes this challenge extra special and hopefully fun.
Ways To Get The Most Out Of This Challenge
Not required, there are two ways to enhance your reading challenge experience:
- Join our private and very chill Facebook group, Uncorked Readers. Post your book reviews, recommendations, and bingo cards. Ask questions, and chat books, libraries, travel, & more.
- Join us on The StoryGraph, adding books and tracking your challenge progress.
Currently Reading
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I'm working on a list of my favorite books of 2025 - but also reading quite a few that had long library waits.
I'm counting Taylor Jenkins Reid's Atmosphere for our final 2026 bingo card's "Celestial" theme. I didn't love Daisy Jones, but I can't seem to put down this one, even though space books really aren't my jam. Our Facebook group noted this was one of their top books of 2025, and I can see why. I stayed up reading two more chapters than I wanted to last night.
5 Books I Recently Enjoyed:
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The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - From a sweet bed and breakfast in the mountains with the nicest guests to a cautious, endearing veterinarian landlord, I couldn’t put this one down. I fell in love with Custard the dog, Rashad, Nan, and Mei. There’s hiking, ice cream, and temporary tattoos, along with silly tipsy nights and murder basements. There are also heavier topics, such as grief, parenting, and mental health. |
Happy New Year!
TWs: health, family and pet death
I hope you have a great start to the new year. While working on the "best of 2025 books," I'm also hoping to share my most anticipated books of 2026.
It is no secret that 2025 was a rough year here at The Uncorked Librarian.
I lost multiple beloved family members - some very suddenly - and we had to say goodbye to our senior (cat) lady, ZoomBa, which was expected but incredibly hard. She worked every day with me in my home office. Staring at her empty chair is heartbreaking.
My Ulcerative Colitis, TED, and Graves' Disease are still teetering in and out of remission (I started Rinvoq for my UC), and we had/have multiple family members battling cancer and autoimmune diseases who have been in and out of the ER.
Besides surviving and hoping for autoimmune disease remission (and not needing steroid IVs at the ER), we want to do more international travel. I'm pretty sure last year was the first time I haven't left the country since my early 20s.
Of course, I hope to read many, many good books!
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