All the Little Houses by May Cobb absolutely delivered and then some. I am genuinely thrilled I chose this as one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 because it earned that spot without breaking a sweat. Set in a small Texas town from the tail end of the school year straight through a sweltering summer, the tension rises with the temperature. Every day the dial turns higher. This story is juicy, sassy, and soaked in gossip, the kind that dares you to put the book down and then laughs when you cannot. Cobb leans fully into the mess and makes no apologies for it, creating an unhinged thrill ride that feels bold, scandalous, nostalgic, and completely addictive.
The novel unfolds in three parts with multiple points of view, each one sharp and delicious in its own way. Nellie, Charleigh, Jane, and Jackson guide the chaos, and every chapter feels like another secret slipping loose. These characters are authentic, catty, and wildly self interested, though never in the same way or for the same reason. Whether they are dripping in wealth or scraping by in a hand me down dress, the backstabbing is ruthless and the motivations are layered. Cliques, infidelity, swindling, manipulation, secret pasts, overprotective parents, and betrayals pile up fast, turning this into a dark, gossipy thriller that thrives on social tension and quiet cruelty.
And then there is the ending. A full on cliffhanger ending that will leave you staring at the final page and immediately demanding more. This book practically begs to be adapted for television, with its sharp dialogue, volatile relationships, and escalating drama. All the Little Houses is the kind of story you inhale in one sitting, equal parts wicked fun and psychological suspense, and proof that May Cobb knows exactly how to keep readers hooked and hungry for whatever comes next.
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