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The 2026 midterms brought left-leaning and progressive voters a feeling that’s been sorely missing for the past several years: collective hope. As the closing polls on November 3 confirmed, the anticipated blue wave proved to be a “ blue-nami ”—inspiring celebrations at watch parties across the country, while social media was filled with gleeful voters “libbing out.” Historic wins by female, POC, queer, millennial, and Gen Z candidates were a nationwide rebuke to the current administration. So now, looking forward to 2028, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Unfortunately, the euphoria of the blue wave can't be eternal. With healthcare premiums expected to skyrocket and more harmful provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill coming into effect in the new year, things are expected to get worse before they get better.

Over the past year, I’ve leaned into my love of reading as an alternative to doomscrolling and despair.…