Looking to start the year with a great read? Here are six picks from the staff of the Champlain Library to help you set the tone for a year of good reading
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers (Romance)
Romance novels thrived in 2025, and all signs point to that continuing into 2026. This warm, book-loving story follows Erin, who accidentally gives away a deeply personal book full of notes to a community lending library. A week later, it turns up, full of fresh notes and she begins an anonymous conversation with a mystery man in the margins of shared novels. It’s a gentle, hopeful read about grief, connection, and second chances.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (Romance)
Another romance pick, read it now before the film adaptation arrives in March. Kenna returns home after prison, hoping to reconnect with the daughter she’s never known. But everyone in her daughter’s life shuts her out – except one man. This emotional story explores forgiveness, love, and the weight of past mistakes.
Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo (Fiction)
A 2025 release and Goodreads Choice Award winner, this novel follows Gabriel, a gentle eight-foot giant with extraordinary gifts. Growing up in small-town Wisconsin, his life is turned upside down when he is taken in by his deeply devout Amish grandparents. What follows is a moving story that explores belonging, identity, and the ways we find our place in the world.
The Spirit of Scatarie by Lesley Crewe (Historical Fiction)
This 2025 release by a Canadian author is set on a remote island off Cape Breton. Blending history, romance, and a touch of the supernatural, it follows three friends shaped by the Second World War, change, and the spirit of a girl watching over them.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Mystery)
Winner of multiple awards and a fixture on last year’s bestseller lists, this layered mystery begins with the disappearance of a child at a summer camp, echoing the unresolved disappearance of her brother 14 years earlier. Secrets, grief, and class tensions slowly come to light.
The Comfort Book by Matt Haig (Non-Fiction / Mental Health)
If 2025 wasn’t your year, this gentle nonfiction book is a lovely way to turn the page on 2026. A collection of reflections and reminders, it offers reassurance and hope in small, comforting pieces. Perfect for dipping in when you need a lift.
Looking for something different? Stop by the library and we’ll help you discover the book that’s just right for you.
