Whatcom County's beloved community reading program has officially launched its 2026-2027 season, and this year's selection is a work of literary fiction that blends dystopia, seafaring adventure, and dark humor into something genuinely difficult to categorize. The book is "I Cheerfully Refuse" by Leif Enger, and the program is already rolling out free community events and a writing contest that runs through October.
About the Book: I Cheerfully Refuse
Leif Enger is best known for "Peace Like a River," a novel that earned a devoted following when it was published in 2001 and has never really gone out of print. "I Cheerfully Refuse," his most recent work, is a different kind of book. Set in a near-future world that has clearly gone wrong in multiple ways, it follows a man named Rainy who sails a small boat through perilous waters in search of his lost wife, encountering a cast of characters that ranges from the menacing to the transcendent.
The novel contains elements of multiple genres: post-apocalyptic fiction, maritime adventure, love story, and social commentary. Author Jennifer DuBois described it as "a sociomedical mystery and ontological adventure bristling with satiric energy, dramatic irony and romance." It is the kind of book that rewards patient reading and does not fit neatly into a single category, which makes it a good conversation-starter for a community reading program designed to bring people together across different backgrounds and tastes.
The 2026-2027 Whatcom READS poster, which was just unveiled, features the book's striking cover art by Kelly Winton. The image depicts a sailboat near a shore with a wildfire burning in the background and islands visible in the distance, a visual that feels particularly resonant for a Pacific Northwest community that has watched wildfire smoke drift across the Cascades in recent summers.
How to Get the Book
Whatcom County residents can borrow "I Cheerfully Refuse" in multiple formats from the Bellingham Public Library and other local library branches, including Whatcom Community College's library and libraries in Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, and Birch Bay. The book is available as a physical copy, an eBook, and an eAudiobook through the library system, making it accessible for readers who prefer to listen during commutes or outdoor activities.
Village Books in Fairhaven, one of Bellingham's most beloved independent bookstores and a longtime community partner for the Whatcom READS program, is selling the book with a 10 percent donation from each sale going directly to support Whatcom READS programming. Buying a copy at Village Books is a way to acquire the book while also contributing to the program that brings the author to Whatcom County in March 2027.
Author Leif Enger is scheduled to visit the county in March 2027 for the culminating event of the Whatcom READS season. Details on that visit will be announced as the date approaches through the Whatcom READS website.
Whatcom WRITES: Submit Your Work by October 11
Alongside the community reading component, Whatcom READS runs the Whatcom WRITES creative writing contest, which invites community members to submit original work inspired by the season's theme. This year's writing prompt is "Light in the Dark," a phrase that connects directly to the themes of hope and perseverance that run through "I Cheerfully Refuse."
The submission deadline for Whatcom WRITES is October 11, 2026. Writers of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. The contest is open to residents across Whatcom County, not just Bellingham, and has historically drawn submissions from students, adults, and seniors representing the full range of communities in the county. Past Whatcom WRITES winners have had their work featured at public events and in program publications.
Detailed submission guidelines and contest rules are available at the Whatcom READS website. Writers who have participated in previous years should check for any updates to format requirements or submission procedures before preparing their entries.
Free Programming Throughout the Season
Whatcom READS is built around the idea that reading should be a community activity, not a solitary one. The program organizes free events throughout the season that give readers opportunities to discuss the book, hear from experts on related topics, and engage with the themes of the selection in different ways.
The full lineup of 2026-2027 community programs will be announced in the weeks ahead. Based on past seasons, residents can expect panel discussions, author-related events, readings, and tie-in programming at libraries, schools, and community venues across the county. The Bellingham Public Library typically serves as a central hub for these events, though programming often reaches into outlying communities as well.
The Whatcom READS program has operated for years as one of Whatcom County's signature civic and cultural initiatives. It is funded through a combination of library budgets, community partners, and local sponsorships. Participation is entirely free for readers, and the wide availability of the book through library systems means cost is not a barrier to joining the community conversation around "I Cheerfully Refuse."
More coverage of local literacy initiatives and upcoming community events in Bellingham is available here. For full program details, visit whatcomreads.org.
