The Librarian's Nightstand, Winter 2026

Kiran Desai’s novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, is a powerful story about love, identity, and feeling out of place in a connected world. It follows Sonia and Sunny’s complicated, ebb-and-flow romance, shaped by class, culture, and family pressure as they move between India and the U.S. 

The book explores many kinds of loneliness—romantic, cultural, family, and personal—and shows how isolation exists everywhere, even in today’s “global village.” It features vivid, memorable characters, including the politically incorrect but entertaining Babita, Sunny’s mother, and Elon, Sonia’s cruel and dominating first lover. Readers should choose this 700+ page novel for its emotional depth, rich storytelling, and meaningful themes. Ideal for fans of thoughtful literary fiction, slow-building romance, and big novels that reflect shared human experiences across cultures.

Kumkum often reads two to three books at a time, selecting from various genres, including mysteries and thrillers, relationship fiction, contemporary and historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction.

A Reading Challenge Match for June – A book that explores identity and acceptance. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is a clear standout for its deep focus on belonging, cultural identity, and being seen.

I am a Dan Brown fan and have read all his books, so had to pick this one up. I read The Secret of Secrets as an eBook because there were tons of holds on the print copy. It feels like a classic Dan Brown thriller: fast, mysterious, and easy to read. The story follows a race to uncover a powerful hidden secret, moving through clues, symbols, and sudden twists. This book has very short chapters, making it hard to put down. It’s not especially deep, but it’s entertaining and fast-moving and delivers the kind of suspense you expect from Dan Brown.

Teacher-turned-librarian Deepti loves a good suspense mystery—especially books by master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer—or young adult fiction adventures.

A Reading Challenge Match for November – A book that sends shivers down your spine. The Secret of Secrets is a gripping Dan Brown page-turner, packed with high tension, dark secrets, and nonstop suspense.

I wanted to read something a bit different for the first month of the 2026 BPL Reading Challenge, and since I love a book set in the extreme cold or mountains, I chose The Arctic Fury, a historical fiction novel by Greer Macallister. The story flashes back and forth between a secret 1850s Arctic expedition including twelve women, sent there by the rich Jane Franklin to find her husband's lost expedition, and a year later, when the expedition's leader, Virginia Reeve stands trial for murder.

Greer Macallister's writing style gripped me from the first page. With a delightful pace and constant intrigue, I was completely invested in the journey and uncovering what truly happened on the Arctic ice. If you're up for a chilling winter read, this one's for you.

Sarah's favourite genres include romance, cozy Christmas fiction, and the niche realm of space horror. Her top picks from last year were Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, and the Rebel Blue Ranch series by Lyla Sage.

A Reading Challenge Match for August – A book about a real person or event (and also January's journey theme). The Arctic Fury blends historical fact with dramatic storytelling—an excellent fit for August’s theme of true or inspired retellings of real lives and history.

As someone who loves lighthouses and who dressed up as a witch almost every year for Halloween, when I came across the beautiful cover of The Lighthouse Witches, I knew I needed to read it. Hoping for a fresh start, single mother Liv moves with her three daughters to a remote Scottish island after being hired to paint a mural in an old lighthouse. When tragedy strikes, and two of the girls vanish, the island’s dark history suggests witchcraft may be involved. 

Told across three timelines—the Scottish witch trials, 1998 during the girls’ disappearance, and the present day when one missing daughter returns unchanged by time—the story slowly reveals how past and present intertwine. Full of twists that have you second-guessing everything, this novel blends historical fiction, mystery, and a touch of fantasy. 

Sarah enjoys switching up her reading genres to keep things fresh, though fantasy, romance, and action books hold a special place in her heart. She leans towards character-driven stories and series, but likes it when a plot takes an unexpected turn. Favourites include The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, and Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

A Reading Challenge Match for November – A book that sends shivers down your spine. The Lighthouse Witches is unmistakably eerie and atmospheric, and a perfect spooky season pick!

This month I read Heart the Lover by Lily King, a novel that follows a college student in the late 1980s who becomes entangled in a love triangle with two brilliant, intense male friends. The story traces their intellectual and romantic bond, its fracture after graduation, and a return to their lives years later.

At its heart, this is a novel about youthful mistakes, self-discovery, and recognizing what may have been lost along the way, while understanding that the present is all we truly have. King’s writing is simple yet elegant, and her characters feel deeply real. The emotional impact was so strong that I finished the book in a single day, tears streaming down my face.

Kathleen loves historical and contemporary fiction that spans time and place—especially a good family saga. She's drawn to stories that offer fresh perspectives and insights into different lives. Lately, she’s also been hooked on dystopian and speculative fiction, with favourites like Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard.

A Reading Challenge Match for February – A book that makes your heart skip a beat. Intimate, emotionally charged, and relationship-driven, Heart the Lover makes a strong Valentine-season match.

In We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes, Lila Kennedy juggles a broken marriage, rebellious daughters, a crumbling house, and an elderly stepfather when her estranged father unexpectedly shows up after thirty-five years, forcing her to confront unresolved feelings and discover unexpected lessons about love and family amidst her chaotic life.

I am a big Jojo Moyes fan, and this book has been on my radar for a while now. True to form, she has written another heartfelt and funny novel filled with richly drawn, relatable characters who feel completely authentic. If you enjoy character-driven stories, as I do, this is a great one to pick up. The story pulled me in right away, and I quickly found myself emotionally invested in the characters—which I always love. I’m so glad I kicked off the New Year with this quirky and wonderfully complex read.

Emma likes to tuck into literary and historical fiction, family sagas, and memoirs. She lists Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Long Island by Colm Toibin, Night by Elie Wiesel, and The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams as some of her favourite novels. 

A Reading Challenge Match for March – A book that makes you laugh out loud. Warm, witty, and uplifting, We All Live Here is a feel-good spring read.