first-book – Book Journey

First Book Of The Year 2026!!!!

Published on January 1, 2026January 1, 2026 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Happy New Year! It’s snowing here in Central Minnesota. I’m at my kitchen table with my COFFEE looking out the glass sliding door to the deck.
This morning, I have spent time putting together this annual post. Thank you, friends, fellow book lovers, and Authors who sent me what book you are starting the New Year with. It’s so fun to see the variety – both new and old titles… hopefully some will get added to your TBR pile (mountain).
Be sure to watch for the authors – Thank you to PJ Tracy, Cary Griffith, William Kent Krueger, Jill Hannah Anderson, Allen Eskens, Randy Sue Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Kao Kalia Yang, Barbara Claypole White, Heather Gudenkauf, Joshilyn Jackson, Adriana Trigiana, Julie Schumacher, Laurie Frankel, Nadia Hashimi, Erin Soderberg Downing, and Jenna Blum. So fun to see you in the mix and what you are reading 😀
If I missed anyone, please let me know.. pictures come to me by text, email, Facebook, PMs…. I can easily miss someone, so please resend, and I will get you added.

And with no further babbling from me – here are this year’s wide variety of First Books (titles linked below for easy access.

The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Secrets You Can’t Keep by Debra Webb

A Mercy by Toni Morrison

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 2 picked this!

The Secret Library by Hanna Reeves

The Bravest Battle by Dan Kurzman

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

State of Retribution by Marie Force

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

We Did OK, Kid by Anthony Hopkins

The First Witch Of Boston by Andrea Catalano

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Cougar Claw by Cary Griffith

Mercy by Sara Cate

Framed In Death by JD Robb

Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Tom’s Crossing by Mark Z Danielewski

The Miracle Among Us by Marci Siegel

The Deepest Cut by PJ Tracy

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Daughters Of The Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi 2 picked this!

Women of Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Heartbreak Hollow by Frank Weber

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

A Gambling Man by David Baldacci

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

The Onion Came First by Elinor Wilder

This American Woman by Zarna Garg

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

The Home For Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

Heart The Lover by Lily King

What The River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz

We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Wisdom Corner by David Heska and Wanbli Weiden

The Book of Kin by Jennifer Eli Bowen

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

Death of The Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Ghosts of Fourth Street by Laurie Hertzel

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Let Them by Mel Robbins

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

That’s A Great Question, I’d Love To Tell You by Elyse Myers

The Book Of Daniel by EL Doctorow

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

Something To Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Flashlight by Susan Choi

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

The Moonshiner’s Daughter by Donna Everhart

The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad

Note about my pick: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. As usual, I was back and forth on my choice… for a while there I felt certain I was going to go with a re-read (#comfort read) and then I recently was reunited with a book that I thought was a standalone and found out there are more and that this would be a great time to dig back in ( more about this later), there was also one I am intrigued by that a friend is also reading and I could not decide if it was for me now- or better to read once we travel to Florida when I can be all in when I have nothing but time over that three days of travel… – and then finally, Theo Of Golden caught my attention. This book was already in my peripheral vision as a “I need to read this,” and a recent post by a friend sharing her experience with this book sealed the deal.

If you missed this year’s participation deadline, feel free to send it today. I almost always have a few trickling in on New Years and I am happy to update to include your First Read.

Happy Happy New Year to you all! May 2026 bring JOY and Peace.

Love,
Sheila

Happy New Year! What Are You Reading? 12th Annual First Book Results Are Here!

Published on January 1, 2025August 21, 2025 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Hey all! Happy New Year! If you are wondering where the First Book post is… here it is 😀 I have had a quiet morning of reflection and COFFEE… gone are the days of my staying up past midnight to have this post in your in boxes by 6 am…
I’m as devoted as ever… just not as insane about it lol.

I usually make you search for my book choice within the pics… oh I am in there, but I thought this year starting this post off with not only my book choice – but also my word of the year choice : JOY

Again – I hope to review more… get back into a rhythm here which also means writing more…. and learning how to find that balance.

With no further ado… below you will find the First Books of 2025. What a fun selection! Among these book selections, you will also find some authors – keep your eyes out for:
Cary Griffith
Kaira Rouda
Joshilyn Jackson
Heather Gudenkauf
Lorna Landvik

Fun Facts – very few duplications this year! That actually excites me! While in the past years there may have a been a hot tile that several selected – I love the diversity of what you will see below. I love that first book, as well as all books you choose, are a personal preference. Books/genres speak differently to us at different times in our lives. We have everything here from some heavy hitters, comfort reads, education, historical, non fiction, memoirs, fun, heart-wrenching, a little spooky, a little romantic and MORE! We played participants!

AND – below the pics the book titles (if I was able to read them :D) and links to the books so you too can learn about them and maybe select them for future reads this year.
If I missed anyone please let me know and I will post an update tomorrow. There is usually an add-on after I post and with all the ways the pics are sent between texts, emails, and Facebook messages… it is quite possible I missed something.

You Will Be Peter by Jerry Lathan

Keeping Watch: 30 Sheep, 24 Rabbits, 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca, and a Shepherdess With A Day Job by Kathryn Sletto

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam

The Torah Codes by Ezra Barany

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

The Day The World Came To Town: 911 in Gander, Newfoundland

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

The Brothers Karanazav by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Olive, Mabel, and Me: Life Adventures With Two Very Good Dogs by Andrew Cotter

The Secret History of Audrey James

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Who Will Carry The Fire? Darrell J Pedersen

The Clinic by Cate Quinn

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Breath: The New Science Of A Lost Art by James Nestor

Lighthouse by Eugenia Price

James by Percival Everett

A Place In The Woods by Helen Hoover

Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands

Titans by Leila Meacham

Family Doctor by J M Dalgliesh

Rough Pages by Lev AC Rosen

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Wintering – The Power of Rest and Retreat by Katherine May

When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner

CHER The Memoir Part 1 by Cher

Horseman: A Tale Of Sleepy Hollow by Christina Henry

The French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens

How To Be Online and Also Be Happy by Issy Beach

Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver

The Love Of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Lula Dean’s Little Libray of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore ( second time selected AND the first repeat title!)

The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik

The Brothers of Karamazov by Fyoder Dostoevsky (second time selected!)

Somewhere Beyond The Sea by TJ Klune

All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker

James by Percival Everett (send time selected!)

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (second time selected!)

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca ThorneL

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

The Second Mrs Astor by Shana Abe

Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson

Every year there are a few people that are head slapping right now going “DOH! I totally forgot to send mine in!” No worries – other years there have been a few that come in later and I add them and repost tomorrow so feel free to send 🙂
Thanks all – this is a project that helps me through the New Year and brings a smile to my face as I see the selections and learn about books that were not on my list to read but now are. (I added quite a few to my TBR this year by putting together this post.
Happiest of New Year and Happy Reading!
Sheila

Presenting The First Books of 2024

Published on January 1, 2024January 2, 2024 by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments

Thank you to everyone who sent in a picture for First Book! For such a tipsy turny event this year, I am thrilled to see all the First Books! Below the Photos you will find the book list. While perusing through these great ready – be on the look out for authors – Heather Gudenkauf, Randy Sue Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Cary Griffith, Jill Hannah Anderson, and Fiona Davis who shared the book they are starting the New Year as well.
If you find me… you will see I went old school. There is something about the New year that makes me want to re-read an old favorite that brings back the warm fuzzies I had when I first read it. Books… make memories…
I hope your year is filled with great reads and amazing adventures.

Happy 2024.
~Sheila

First Book of 2024 – The 11th Annual!

Published on December 17, 2023 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

It’s Happening! I am excited to announce that this is the 11th Year of The First Book Event! If you put “First Book” in the search on this page you can bring up the years and years of fun posts and pictures of people all over the world with their first book of the year that they are planning to read or are reading into the New Year! It’s a great way to get ideas on what is being read and what to add to your own To Be Read list!

So what is First Book? First Book is the first book you plan on reading in the New Year. It can be a long-coveted read you have not had time for, a guilty pleasure read like a re-read of a favorite… really it can be anything – it is…after all…YOUR First Book.

Make it AWESOME.

Once you have picked what it will be -email/ Facebook message/ text me a picture of you with the book (send it to sdechantal@gmail.com). This adds to the excitement of the First Book. You have between now and December 31st to send in your choice. On January 1st I will post all the pics in a collage format of all of you around the world that are doing First Book. I do hope you will join me – friends, family, fellow book lovers, a friend of a friend of a friend… you there in the corner looking at this crazy site for the first time – you as well. I enjoy putting this together every year and seeing all the great books and pics come in really makes my heart smile.

Here are just a few of the over 100 books that came in last year: