Christmas Haul!: What's On My TBR Pile Part 6

Hello, Book Nerds! Welcome back to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if you are new. As always, my name is Hannah and I am your captain on this journey into my bookcases.

Welcome to 2026, Book Nerds. Fingers crossed 2026 is a lot better than the clusterfuck that was 2025, though we are a week in and so far it doesn't seem good. But we’re gonna start the new year the same way I start most years here on RHRML: with an exploration into my TBR pile! Or what is essentially me showing off what books I got for Christmas. Either way, here are some of the books I’m most looking forward to reading this year.

Hooray books!

5. Kicking off this list is none other than a haunted house book. Please welcome The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas to the stage! I need to know the story behind the fifteen ghosts living in this manor home. Absolutely no one is surprised I am most looking forward to new haunted house reads. Bury me in a coffin made of haunted house books.

4. Next up is From Below by Darcy Coates. I am equal parts excited and terrified for this one. The ocean scares me. I have a very strong desire to stay away from the ocean forever. Never do I wish to enter this deep, dark abyss. So instead I shall terrify myself from the safety of my cozy bed. There is no way I’m going to be able to read this book unscathed though. I fully anticipate having at least one full blown panic attack whilst reading. Also, I didn’t realize From Below is as thick as it is. This thing is lowkey a weapon!

3. Ok, ok, next up is something a bit different. Please welcome The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig to the stage! While I don’t dislike the romantasy genre, I don’t read it all too often. It’s not one of my preferred genres. But there’s something about The Knight and the Moth that really drew me in. I think it’s the cover. I am truly judging this book by its cover, and I am intrigued, I am sold, I am in desperate need to see what its pages have to offer. Also, it has enemies to lovers. I love enemies to lovers!

2. One of my preferred genres is historical fiction. Which is why The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is up next. Lucrezia de’ Medici is a woman I know nothing about. I am familiar with the de’ Medici family from history, but Lucrezia’s story is a mystery to me. I’m very much looking forward to learning about her, even if some artistic liberties are in place in this novel.

1. Finally, in the number one spot, the book I am most looking forward to reading this year is The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Slowly, ever so slowly, I have been making my way through the most famous classic Gothic literature. I’ve read The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in White, Dracula, The Portrait of Dorian Gray; I’ve read most if not all of the big name Gothic literature books. So it’s time for another classic ghost story, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Thus endeth our list! Thank you very much for joining me today, Book Nerds! I hope you enjoyed your time here, and I would love to hear what books you got this holiday season and what titles you’re looking forward to reading in 2026. I will see you all again next week with the first review of the new year. If you can’t wait that long then you can give Reading Has Ruined My Life a follow over on Instagram (@ReadingHasRuinedMyLife). I post there almost daily so come back often to revel in literary goodness. You can also follow the blog on Twitter and BlueSky (@RHRMLBlog). If you’d like something not related to books then you can check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. The show stars me and two of my dearest friends as we talk anything and everything. The show’s second birthday is today, therefore I demand you go listen to the Nothing to See Hear.

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me.

See y'all then, bye!