Hey, lovelies! We’ve reached the end of the year. This month wasn’t a super easy one for me reading wise. I dnf’d so many books and did a huge book unhaul. So, I listened to a bunch of audiobooks and managed to read ebooks when I could, but I didn’t have that much time for physical reading.
Physical Books The Choice by Nora Roberts Astrid Parker Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons Beartown by Fredrik Backman Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
eBooks Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Books-Dalton Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
Audiobooks Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott The Wilderwomen by Ruth Enna Lang The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
Hello, lovelies! It’s that time of year again, the always wonderful Vicky (from What Vicky Read) and I are back to host another end-of-the-year, last-minute readathon. Like all the previous years, the only thing we care about for this readathon is that you read with us to close out the year! But, for those of you like me, we have five prompts that we change a smidge each year. This year’s prompts are shared below. I’m also sharing the book I think I’ll read for this, but I’ve been mood reading so I might not follow them this year.
read a 2022 release One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig This was sold to me as a comp fir For the Wolf, which we all know is my favorite. I have high hopes for this book and it’s the perfect time of year to read it.
read a book with an lgbtqia+ character A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson I know two things about this book: something about Dracula and it’s queer.
read a book in a series The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons I’m more than excited to continue this series.
read a book under 200 pages Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia This is cheating a smidge because it’s 207 pages, but it’s the shortest book on my physical tbr. Also, I make the rules and I say it’s allowed.
read a book with snow on the cover Beartown by Fredrik Backman Who doesn’t love an emotionally devastating book for the holidays? I’m rereading this because I’ve finally gotten my hands on a hardcover copy and I want to tab it. Also, the new book in the series is out now and I’d like to reread book two before reading the new release.
Are you participating? If yes, share your tbr with me! If no, what books are you reading to close out the year?
Hello! We’re back to wrap up another round of five-star predictions. We shared these for Blogtober and managed to read some of them for once. Here’s what we thought!
Amanda’s Predictions
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun I finally read this and I really loved it. It was absolutely the perfect holiday season romance.
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake I knew this one was going to hurt me emotionally and it certainly did. Five stars for sure.
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton This book was strange in a way that I really enjoyed. I don’t think five stars, but I would definitely recommend it.
Antonia’s Predictions
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers I absolutely loved this. It was the perfect continuation of Dex and Mosscap’s story. Definitely a five star read for me.
The Choice by Nora Roberts I really loved this one. I thought it was a perfect ending to this series and really tied everything up for me.
Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima I found this one really interesting. It was hard for me to get into initially with all the unusual terms but once I did I could hardly put it down. The ending was a little anticlimactic but still five stars overall.
Someone give us a high-five! We both managed to read all of our predictions! Do you have any upcoming reads that you think will be five stars?
Hello, lovelies! I’m here with another NetGalley update. Here are my statistics, 267 approvals with feedback sent for 217 which gives me an 81%. I’m working on this post ahead of time, so hopefully I’ve gotten most of the 2022 approval’s read and I just have next years books to start fresh with.
Approvals on my TBR
The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon Publication date: August 2, 2022 I liked the first two in this series. So, I’m excited to be approved for the third.
Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco Publication date: September 13, 2022 Chupeco is an auto-buy author for me. I hit that request button so fast.
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Publication date: September 13, 2022 I think this is an older book that’s being reprinted. Her books are hit-or-miss for me, but I still keep trying.
Called to the Deep by Desiree M. Niccoli Publication date: September 20, 2022 I’ve been dying to read this one, but all the moving chaos has me behind.
The City Beneath Hidden Stars by Sonya Kudei Publication date: September 27, 2022 NetGalley caught me browsing. This adult fantasy sounds super good.
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Publication date: October 4, 2022 This was a random ‘read now’ email offer I got from NetGalley, but it sounds really good.
Built to Last by Erin Hahn Publication date: October 18, 2022 I’ve liked some of Hahn’s YA romance, so I’m excited to try her adult romance debut.
The Scratch Daughters by Hannah Abigail Clarke Publication date: October 25, 2022 This is the sequel to The Scapegracers and I’m very excited to read it.
The Vermillion Emporium by Jamie Pacton Publication date: November 1, 2022 Pacton’s fantasy debut, and I’ve seen lots about it. So, I’m excited.
The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang Publication date: November 15, 2022 This was a cover request for me. The cover is stunning and then I read that it was about people with magical abilities and that is right up my alley.
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales Publication date: December 6, 2022 A book where the main character goes on a reality dating show and falls in love with one of the fellow contestants? Yes fucking please.
The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford Publication date: December 6, 2022 I’m reading much less YA fantasy, but I’ve liked other books by Rutherford. Hopefully I’ll like this one too.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert Publication date: January 3, 2023 Sign me up for anything Talia Hibbert, please and thank you.
Retro by Sofía Lapuente & Jarrod Shusterman Publication date: January 24, 2023 I love their tiktok’s together. I’m very excited to try this one.
Begin Again by Emma Lord Publication date: January 24, 2023 I like Lord’s books. I’m exctied to see what she’s come up with for this one.
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni Publication date: January 31, 2023 I will always immediately request queer romance.
The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy Publication date: February 1, 2023 I requested this one while browsing randomly. It sounds good.
Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood Publication date: February 7, 2023 I read Within These Wicked Walls last year and really enjoyed it. I’m definitely interested in reading this one too.
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah Publication date: February 21, 2023 This was another one that I got an email about and it sounded like something I’d like.
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder Publication date: February 21, 2023 All it takes is a ‘read now’ email and a synopsis that’s halfway interesting. I’m actually really excited for this one.
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill Publication Date: February 28, 2023 I really like the cover and this is from yet another NetGalley email.
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones Publication date: March 7, 2023 I love a good mystery/thriller. edc
A House with Good Bones by T.J. Klune Publication date: March 28, 2022 I think I only requested this because I know it’s going to be all over the internet when it comes out and I will want to read it because of peer pressure.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin Publication date: May 2, 2023 I just can’t seem to say no anymore. I have no explanation.
To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Publication date: May 9, 2022 The cover really drew me in for this one. I got a ‘read now’ email from NetGalley and I’m truly a sucker for those.
All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley Publication date: May 16, 2023 YA Horror is still sometimes my jam. So, I’m trying this one out.
A Song of Salvation by Alechia Dow Publication date: July 11, 2023 I’ve loved Dow’s other books. I hit request so fast.
Approvals I’ve Read
Bronze Drum by Phong Nguyen Publication date: August 9, 2022 I liked this one. It was definitely detail-heavy and it felt I wasn’t being shown anything, only told. But, I still enjoyed it. I think it was well written and I will definitely be trying more books from this author in the future.
Please Join Us by Catherine McKenzie Publication date: August 23, 2022 I enjoyed this one. It was a little predictable but it was still fun with good twists and turns. I’d recommend this one for sure.
Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, & Evelyn Skye Publication date: August 30, 2022 I love Roshani Chokshi’s books, so I loved her bits and didn’t care very much about the rest.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Publication date: August 30, 2022 It’s always exciting to get approved for a popular book that I know will have a long wait with the library. I feel the same way about this as most others. I don’t care about tennis but this was a good story.
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young Publication date: September 27, 2022 I enjoyed this. I wanted a bit more of the fantastical elements. It’s her adult debut, but it still felt like a YA novel with all of the flashbacks from the characters’ childhoods.
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle Publication date: October 4, 2022 I dnf’d this. I’m over the ‘celebrity in disgrace’ character.
When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke Publication date: October 4, 2022 This was a little heavy with the body issues, but I liked it overall.
Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner Publication date: October 11, 2022 This left me feeling icky with all the lying.
Little Eve by Catriona Ward Publication date: October 11, 2022 This was another miss for me, sadly.
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams Publication date: November 1, 2022 I love this series and this book was no different. This one was so, so good. I loved checking in with all the past characters.
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun Publication date: November 1, 2022 I really loved this one. It was so perfect for the season.
Do you have any advanced copies or books you’re behind on?
Hi, lovelies! Another month down with only one left in the year. This is my halfway point for the Clear Ur Sht Readathon. I think I’m doing okay. I’m behind, but I’m honestly not super worried about whether or not I catch up. I’m just having fun reading along with the prompts. Here’s what I read this month!
Physical Books Kingsbane by Claire Legrand Birds of California by Katie Cotugno Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young Invictus by Ryan Graudin The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
eBooks The Perishing by Natashia Deón When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye, & Sandhya Menon A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
I didn’t manage to finish my audiobook, but I’ve been slowly working my way through Bronze Drum all month. What books did you love in November?
Hi, lovelies! I feel like I’ve been sharing mostly recommendation posts lately which made me start thinking about all of the fun books on my TBR that I haven’t been talking about. Dystopian is my favorite genre. I’ve had this post saved to my drafts until I could find enough books to share them with you all. I grew up as a teen at the height of the dystopian craze (think Hunger Games and Divergent). So, I’m always looking for new (or old!) dystopian books that I haven’t read yet.
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan “Frida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. What’s worse is she can’t persuade her husband, Gust, to give up his wellness-obsessed younger mistress. Only with their angelic daughter Harriet does Frida finally feel she’s attained the perfection expected of her. Harriet may be all she has, but she’s just enough. Until Frida has a horrible day. The state has its eyes on mothers like Frida — ones who check their phones while their kids are on the playground; who let their children walk home alone; in other words, mothers who only have one lapse of judgement. Now, a host of government officials will determine if Frida is a candidate for a Big Brother-like institution that measures the success or failure of a mother’s devotion. Faced with the possibility of losing Harriet, Frida must prove that she can live up to the standards set for mothers — that she can learn to be good. This propulsive, witty page-turner explores the perils of “perfect” upper-middle-class parenting, the violence enacted upon women by the state and each other, and the boundless love a mother has for her daughter.”
All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown “When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world’s population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, it’s to be scared of what other desperate people will do . . . so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other? After danger breaches their shelter, they flee south in search of civilization. But something isn’t adding up about Andrew’s story, and it could cost them everything. And Jamie has a secret, too. He’s starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion to an already tumultuous journey. The road ahead of them is long, and to survive, they’ll have to shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and find the courage to fight for the future they desire, together. Only one thing feels certain: all that’s left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other.”
Alone Out Here by Riley Redgate “The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up. While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet. This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot’s enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.”
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa “On an unnamed island off an unnamed coast, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses—until things become much more serious. Most of the island’s inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few imbued with the power to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten. When a young woman who is struggling to maintain her career as a novelist discovers that her editor is in danger from the Memory Police, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards. As fear and loss close in around them, they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past. A surreal, provocative fable about the power of memory and the trauma of loss, The Memory Police is a stunning new work from one of the most exciting contemporary authors writing in any language.”
Feed by Mira Grant “The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives—the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will get out, even if it kills them.”
Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman and various authors “There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control. Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between. Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.”
The High House by Jessie Greengrass “Perched on a sloping hill, set away from a small town by the sea, the High House has a tide pool and a mill, a vegetable garden, and, most importantly, a barn full of supplies. Caro, Pauly, Sally, and Grandy are safe, so far, from the rising water that threatens to destroy the town and that has, perhaps, already destroyed everything else. But for how long? Caro and her younger half-brother, Pauly, arrive at the High House after her father and stepmother fall victim to a faraway climate disaster—but not before they call and urge Caro to leave London. In their new home, a converted summer house cared for by Grandy and his granddaughter, Sally, the two pairs learn to live together. Yet there are limits to their safety, limits to the supplies, limits to what Grandy—the former village caretaker, a man who knows how to do everything—can teach them as his health fails. A searing novel that takes on parenthood, sacrifice, love, and survival under the threat of extinction, The High House is a stunning, emotionally precise novel about what can be salvaged at the end of the world.”
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton “Augustine, a brilliant, aging astronomer, is consumed by the stars. For years he has lived in remote outposts, studying the sky for evidence of how the universe began. At his latest posting, in a research center in the Arctic, rumors of war arrive. The scientists are forced to evacuate, but Augustine stubbornly refuses to abandon his work. Shortly after the others have gone, Augustine discovers a mysterious child, Iris, and realizes the airwaves have gone silent. They are alone. At the same time, Mission Specialist Sullivan is aboard the Aether on its return flight from Jupiter. The astronauts are the first human beings to delve this deep into space, and Sully has made peace with the sacrifices required of her: a daughter left behind, a marriage ended. So far the journey has been a success, but when Mission Control falls inexplicably silent, Sully and her crew mates are forced to wonder if they will ever get home. As Augustine and Sully each face an uncertain future against forbidding yet beautiful landscapes, their stories gradually intertwine in a profound and unexpected conclusion. In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives?”
Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin “Across the world, thousands of people are shocked by a notification that they once chose to have a memory removed. Now they are being given an opportunity to get that memory back. Four individuals are filled with new doubts, grappling with the unexpected question of whether to remember unknown events, or to leave them buried forever. Finn, an Irish architect living in the Arizona desert, begins to suspect his charming wife of having an affair. Mei, a troubled grad school dropout in Kuala Lumpur, wonders why she remembers a city she has never visited. William, a former police inspector in England, struggles with PTSD, the breakdown of his marriage, and his own secret family history. Oscar, a handsome young man with almost no memories at all, travels the world in a constant state of fear. Into these characters’ lives comes Noor, a psychologist working at the Nepenthe memory removal clinic in London. The process of reinstating patients’ memories begins to shake the moral foundations of her world. As she delves deeper into how the program works, she will have to risk everything to uncover the cost of this miraculous technology. A provocative exploration of secrets, grief, and identity—of the stories we tell ourselves—Tell Me an Ending is a sharp, dark, and devastating novel about the power of memory.“
Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace “Wasp’s job is simple. Hunt ghosts. And every year she has to fight to remain Archivist. Desperate and alone, she strikes a bargain with the ghost of a supersoldier. She will go with him on his underworld hunt for the long-lost ghost of his partner and in exchange she will find out more about his pre-apocalyptic world than any Archivist before her. And there is much to know. After all, Archivists are marked from birth to do the holy work of a goddess. They’re chosen. They’re special. Or so they’ve been told for four hundred years. Archivist Wasp fears she is not the chosen one, that she won’t survive the trip to the underworld, that the brutal life she has escaped might be better than where she is going. There is only one way to find out.”
And there you have it, ten dystopian books that I’m very interested in reading. Gleanings isn’t actually published yet, but I have it preordered and I know I’ll be reading it as soon as it’s delivered. I also read Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace which I’ve been told relates back to Archivist Wasp. So, I’m excited about that.
Do you have any dystopian books that you recommend?
Hello, lovelies! I’m back to share some more books that I may or may not actually read for this readathon. This is my favorite readathon, so I’m very excited to pick out my books for all of the prompts.
Meet Cute // a book with a romance plot
Birds of California by Katie Cotugno
Date Night // a book you could read in one night
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
Spicy Night // a book that’s sexy under the covers
An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
Kidnapped! // a book with a quest for a lost person or item
The Perishing by Natasha Deón
Soulmate Rescue // mini boss battle // read a book in a different genre from my last read
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
Happily Ever After // a feel good book
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
Discover Your Powers // “secret world” trope
When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke
Training Montage // a book with a journey
Invictus by Ryan Graudin
Find Your Team // a book with a group cast
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
Bonding Time // side quest
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Arch Nemesis // a book with an epic battle
City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
Victory Parade // free space
to be determined when I need to pick something to mood read.
Giant’s Books // your longest or physically largest book
The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons
Useless MC // a sequel you have low hopes for
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin I know I’m going to love this book, but I’m not going to read a sequel I don’t think I’m going to like, sorry Narrator.
Age Gap MC // a book with a trope you hate
Sister Stardust by Jane Green
Beanstalk // green cover or book with plant themes
The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass
Clout Readers // mini boss battle
tbd.
Time to Nap // free space
tbd.
Cryosleep // a book you keep forgetting is on your tbr
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
Robot Side Characters // a book featuring robots or tech
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Crash Landing // a book set on another planet
The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons
Capitalistic Hellscape // a book that was or looks expensive
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Missing Parts // continue a series
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
Escape! // a book with found family
The High House by Jessie Greengrass
Spooky! // a book with a dark cover
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
Slasher is coming // a book with a supposed twist
Little Eve by Catriona Ward
RUN // a fast paced or short book
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
everything is a-ok // free space
tbd
Final Battle // final boss battle
tbd
Always Double Tap! // read a book from another strength/weakness prompt
tbd
SURPRISE ENDING // don’t worry about this one
well, that’s reassuring Narrator…
This is hopefully what I’ll be reading for the rest of the year.
Hey, lovelies! Another month is gone and this past one was a great one for my reading. I had lots of family visiting this month, so I had lots of time to read. I also got lots of new books while they were here because they love the book store too. I will share a haul post in November.
Physical Books The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes The Yosemite Six by Tess Sharpe The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochran
eBook Stay Awake by Megan Goldin Please Join Us by Catherine McKenzie
Audiobooks The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
These are all the books I read this month! Are any of these on your tbr?
Hello! We’re back for another round of five-star predictions. We will be back with a wrap up during Blogmas. We’ve both gotten some new books since the last time we did one of these.
Amanda’s Predictions
Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Antonia’s Predictions
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers The Choice by Nora Roberts Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima
Check back in December to see our thoughts! Have you read any of these? If not, read them with us!
October 4, 2022 The Wolves are Watching by Natalie Lund “The night little Madison disappears from her crib, Luce sees a pair of eyes–two points of gold deep in the forest behind her house–and feels certain they belong to a wolf. Her town, Picnic, Illinois, is the kind of place where everyone knows one another and no one locks their doors. It’s not the kind of place where a toddler goes missing without a trace, where wolves lurk in the shadows. In town, people are quick to blame Madison’s mom. But when Luce’s English teacher shares an original script about the disappearance of another little girl in Picnic back in 1870, Luce begins to notice similarities that she can’t ignore. Certain that something deeper is going on, Luce tracks the wolf she saw into the woods and uncovers the truth about her town: magical animal-women, who have remained hidden in shadows for centuries, have taken her cousin for their own purposes–and they have no intention of bringing her back.”
October 4, 2022 Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle “Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a ridiculous collection of designer shoes and a stealthy addiction to CBD oils. That is, until her parents snipped her purse strings. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is: Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea. Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when a drunk Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backwards and accidentally conjures Hall, an unexpectedly charming Holiday Spirit in the form of a man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé. But as the wiles of magic lose their charm, Bettie finds herself set off-kilter by Hall’s sweet gestures. Suddenly, Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways come back as soon as the holidays are over?”
October 4, 2022 The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud “Twelve-year-old human Sophie Dawes lives a good life in Hopetown. There, vampires and humans live in harmony and Sophie and her adoptive vampire moms are living (or unliving) proof. There are a lot of rules that vampires must follow to keep the humans they live around feeling safe, but if regular visits from child protective services and abiding by a nightly curfew keeps their family together, Sophie will do anything to stay with her loving vampire parents. But then, normal, law-abiding vampires begin to go rogue. After Sophie’s own mother— the sweetest person she knows— goes rogue, Sophie decides it’s up to her to find a cure. But taking matters into her own hands might be way more than she bargained for if it means braving a secret council of vampires, executing epic heists, and facing the true bad guys head on. With her best friend by her side, Sophie will fight for hope, freedom and a family bonded by a love that’s thicker than blood.”
October 4, 2022 The Lords of Night by J.C. Cervantes “Fourteen-year-old Renata Santiago is the most powerful godborn of them all, a bruja with the ability to manipulate shadows and a magical rope that controls time. Ren is also a girl with ordinary hopes and dreams. She’s always been convinced that there’s a connection between aliens and the Maya civilization, and she wishes her blog about extraterrestrial activity would garner more respect. When Ren receives an email about a possible alien sighting in Kansas, she thinks it could be her chance to prove her theory. It could also mean that the cinco—five renegade godborns—are up to no good. Soon Ren finds herself embroiled in a quest to prevent the troublemakers from awakening the nine Aztec Lords of Night and overthrowing the Maya gods. None of Ren’s usual friends are available to help, including her bestie Ah Puch, the god of death, so Ren has no choice but to team up with two strangers: Edison, a teen demon hybrid, and Montero, an eleven-year-old Aztec hunter. Will this oddball trio have what it takes to succeed? This isn’t just another challenge. It could well be an impossible one that leaves Ren questioning her very existence.”
October 4, 2022 The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler “Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them. The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android. The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves. But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it. A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.”
October 11, 2022 Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman “Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother who just passed away, and she feels like she’s the only one. She’s less than excited to move to her new house, which smells like lemons and deception, and is searching for a sign, any sign, that ghosts are real. Because if ghosts are real, it means she can find a way back to Babung. When Eliot chases the promise of paranormal activity to the presumably haunted Honeyfield Hall, she finds her proof of spirits. But these ghosts are losing their memory, stuck between this world and the next, waiting to cross over. With the help of Hazel, the granddaughter of Honeyfield’s owner (and Eliot’s new crush), she attempts to uncover the mystery behind Honeyfield Hall and the ghosts residing within. And as Eliot fits the pieces together, she may just be able to help the spirits remember their pasts, and hold on to her grandmother’s memory.”
October 11, 2022 Ithaca by Claire North “Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom. Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door. No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus’ empty throne—not yet. But everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, and Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war. Only through cunning, wit, and her trusted circle of maids, can she maintain the tenuous peace needed for the kingdom to survive. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca’s shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses— that will change the course of the world.”
October 11, 2022 The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal “Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor and an heiress, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She’s traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Armed with banter, martinis and her small service dog, Tesla is determined to solve the crime so that the newlyweds can get back to canoodling—and keep the real killer from striking again.”
October 11, 2022 Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner “When Cassie Klein goes to an off-campus bar to escape her school’s Family Weekend, she isn’t looking for a hookup—it just happens. Buying a drink for a stranger turns into what should be an uncomplicated, amazing one-night stand. But then the next morning rolls around and her friend drags her along to meet her mom—the hot, older woman Cassie slept with. Erin Bennett came to Family Weekend to get closer to her daughter, not have a one-night stand with a college senior. In her defense, she hadn’t known Cassie was a student when they’d met. To make things worse, Erin’s daughter brings Cassie to breakfast the next morning. And despite Erin’s better judgement—how could sleeping with your daughter’s friend be anything but bad?—she and Cassie get along in the day just as well as they did last night. What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?”
October 11, 2022 The River of Silver: Tales from the Deavabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty “Now together in one place, these stories of Daevabad enrich a world already teeming with magic and wonder. Explore this magical kingdom, hidden from human eyes. A place where djinn live and thrive, fight and love. A world where princes question their power, and powerful demons can help you…or destroy you. A prospective new queen joins a court whose lethal history may overwhelm her own political savvy…An imprisoned royal from a fallen dynasty and a young woman wrenched from her home cross paths in an enchanted garden…A pair of scouts stumble upon a secret in a cursed winter wood that will turn over their world… From Manizheh’s first steps towards rebellion to adventures that take place after The Empire of Gold, this is a must-have collection for those who can’t get enough of Nahri, Ali, and Dara and all that unfolded around them.”
October 18, 2022 Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai “Indian Matchmaking meets Date Night in this fun, romantic adventure in which a match-made couple about to be engaged gets caught up in a caper that puts their future—and lives—in danger. At thirty-five, with a stable job as an accountant, Mira Chaudhary wants nothing more than to find a boring man to spend the rest of her life with. Having had enough excitement in her younger days and desperately trying to escape her dysfunctional past, she turns to a matching app specializing in Indian American singles to help her find someone to settle down with. Enter Naveen Desai. An English professor with an uneventful, normal, and—dare she say it, boring—life, Naveen is perfect. But just when things are going well, Mira receives news that her aunt has died. Suddenly a trip to Las Vegas to settle her aunt’s affairs turns into a mad dash to escape kidnappers, evade art thieves, and consorting with hackers who can decipher just what it was Mira’s aunt was involved with. Mira just hopes that Naveen isn’t chased away by the very same life of “excitement” that she’s been trying to get away from. But maybe, over the course of one wild night, Mira and Naveen will find the love connection that neither expected.”
October 18, 2022 Built to Last by Erin Hahn “Shelby Springfield has spent the last ten years trying to overcome her past, sanding it away like she does the rough spots on the vintage furniture finds she makes over. But as a former child star, it’s hard to forget a mediocre pop career, a meltdown widely documented by the paparazzi, and a huge public break with her former co-star Lyle Jessup. It’s also hard to forget her other co-star and childhood sweetheart, Cameron Riggs — the one who got away. Anytime Shelby has called, Cameron has come running… And then he runs right off again to chase stories around the world by making documentaries, too scared to admit what he really wants. But when Lyle stirs the pot, getting the two back in the spotlight with a home renovation show, Cameron can’t help but come on board. There’s something in it for everyone — almost. Cameron wants to come home and set down some roots. Shelby wants to prove to the world she’s not the messy party girl anymore. And Lyle wants to twist the screws on his two childhood friends who had more chemistry than he could dream of with anyone. Sparks and sawdust fly as Shelby and Cameron film the pilot for “Homemade” and battle Lyle’s shenanigans at every turn.”
October 25, 2022 The Scratch Daughters by Hannah Abigail Clarke “It’s been a wild year for Sideways Pike. After forming a coven with the three most popular girls in school and developing a huge crush on a mysterious stranger named Madeline, Sideways’ Halloween was ruined by finding out that Madeline wasn’t trying to make out with her, but to steal Sideways’ specter, the force that gives witches the ability to cast magic spells. From Madeline’s perspective, it’s not her fault: after a doomed relationship with one of the creepy near-identical Chantry Boys turned into a witch hunt, they took her specter, so, really, she’s only borrowing Sideways’ until she can recover her own and punish the Chantrys. The specter-less Sideways is in a horrid, distracted mood, unable to do magic and with part of her consciousness tied to Madeline’s, on the lam as she uses Sideways’ specter to hunt Chantrys. The other Scapegracers are much jollier, heading into the winter holidays having set up shop as curse crafters for girls in their school who’ve been done wrong by guys. When Sideways—through Madeline—gets a flash of how to track down both her foes at once, she asks the Scapegracers to help entrap them, only to be told her plan is unsafe and unwise. So if she’s going to find Madeline, her only ally is Mr. Scratch, the inky book demon currently inhabiting her as life support until she gets her spectre back. Sideways is used to being an outcast loner, and is desperate to do magic again, so she’s not going to let little barriers like facing an betraying crush and a family of six demented witch hunters practically alone stop her. But she and her trusty stolen bike are in for a bumpy ride…”
October 25, 2022 The Atlas Paradox by Olive Blake “Six magicians. Two rivalries. One researcher. And a man who can walk through dreams. All must pick a side: do they wish to preserve the world—or destroy it? In this electric sequel to the viral sensation, The Atlas Six, the society of Alexandrians is revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. But the cost of knowledge is steep, and as the price of power demands each character choose a side, which alliances will hold and which will see their enmity deepen?”
These are the books releasing this month that I’m very much looking forward to reading. I have Partners in Crime preordered and quite a few of these as eARCs (that I’ll hopefully have read by now). What new books have you excited this month?
Hello, lovelies! Welcome to the first day of Blogtober! It’s the third day of the month, I know, but I don’t post on the weekends anymore. This month I have some fun things planned. I have today a list of the books I’m likely to be choosing from to read for spooky season. I’m pretty behind with my NetGalley tbr, so I want to work on that. But I have some books on my physical tbr here too that piqued my interest for the reading mood I’m looking for this month.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley The Yosemite Six by Tess Sharpe Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather The Walled City by Ryan Graudin The High House by Jessie Greengrass
NetGalley TBR
Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal The River of Silver: Tales from the Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty Little Eve by Catriona Ward Built to Last by Erin Hahn The Scratch Daughters by Hannah Abigail Clarke
I will definitely not manage to read all of these as I’m planning to do some prep work for NaNoWriMo next month. But I’m feeling the itch to read again, and my husband will be gone for a bit this month so, I’ll have more time to myself. What spooky books are you reading this month?
Hello, lovelies! I’ve had this idea on the back burner for a while. I wanted to share some books that I really thought I was going to totally love, but didn’t. These won’t be books that I actively disliked, just books that I thought I was going to like more than I did.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones I think maybe I didn’t get this one. It was weird and not in a fun, creepy way.
Yesterday is History by Kosoto Jackson I felt like this book was too short. I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters well enough to believe anything they were doing or feeling.
Horrid by Katrina Leno I hated the ending. I liked everything else about this book but the ending absolutely ruined it for me.
Majesty by Katherine McGee I really liked the first one, but this one had so much girl hate and drama that I just didn’t want to even finish it.
Eve of Man by Giovanna Fletcher & Tom Fletcher I dont remember what I specifically didn’t like about this. But I remember wanting to DNF it and being disappointed that I didn’t.
Hello, lovelies! I’ve been wanting to share some trope-specific recommendations for a long time. But I’ve been slowly reading and adding to my lists. I think I finally have a few lists that I can post this year. So, I obviously have to start with my favorite (and real-life) trope: friends to lovers.
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne “Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough. When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that’s inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.”
When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting “Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy. But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur. Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.”
People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry “Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together. Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since. Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees. Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?”
Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams “Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan. Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.”
Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Dating by Christina Lauren “Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun. Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air. Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?”
I also have a few on my tbr that I’m excited to read and I’m pretty sure are friends to lovers. I’ll share those too!
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren Kulti by Mariana Zapata Hands Down by Mariana Zapata
Do you like to read books with the friends to lovers trope? Let me know your favorites that I should read!
Hey, lovelies! I’m absolutely done to do another preorder haul but with the move coming up, I knew I was going to need to wait until after we settled. So, since I can’t preorder anything, obviously all I can think about are the books coming out the rest of the year that I need to I’m buy once we’re in our new house. Since I’ve thought about this extensively, I wanted to share some upcoming releases that I will be preordering as soon as I’m unpacked.
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Publication date: August 30, 2022 “To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her. But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player. Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.”
The Yosemite Six by Tess Sharpe Publication date: September 27, 2022 “This second action-packed Middle Grade Novel features Maisie Lockwood on all-new adventures along with everyone’s favorite dinosaurs from Jurassic World Dominion—roaring into theaters June 10, 2022! Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Dominion releases in theaters on June 10, 2022, bringing with it all the wonder, adventure, and thrills of one of the most popular and successful franchises in cinema history. This all-new motion picture event sees the return of favorite characters such as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Maisie Lockwood, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Dr. Ian Malcolm as well as all the dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures that fans love, including Blue; Tyrannosaurus rex; and Mosasaurus! This second book in the series tells the all-new adventures of Maisie Lockwood as she navigates a world filled with dinosaurs both ferocious and friendly.”
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal Publication date: October 11, 2022 “Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor and an heiress, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She’s traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Armed with banter, martinis, and her small service dog, Tesla is determined to solve the crime so that the newlyweds can get back to canoodling– And keep the real killer from striking again.”
Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai Publication date: October 18, 2022 “Indian Matchmaking meets Date Night in this fun, romantic adventure in which a match-made couple about to be engaged gets caught up in a caper that puts their future—and lives—in danger. At thirty-five, with a stable job as an accountant, Mira Chaudhary wants nothing more than to find a boring man to spend the rest of her life with. Having had enough excitement in her younger days and desperately trying to escape her dysfunctional past, she turns to a matching app specializing in Indian American singles to help her find someone to settle down with. Enter Naveen Desai. An English professor with an uneventful, normal, and—dare she say it, boring—life, Naveen is perfect. But just when things are going well, Mira receives news that her aunt has died. Suddenly a trip to Las Vegas to settle her aunt’s affairs turns into a mad dash to escape kidnappers, evade art thieves, and consorting with hackers who can decipher just what it was Mira’s aunt was involved with. Mira just hopes that Naveen isn’t chased away by the very same life of “excitement” that she’s been trying to get away from. But maybe, over the course of one wild night, Mira and Naveen will find the love connection that neither expected.”
A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams Publication date: November 1, 2022 “Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity. It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together.”
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin Publication date: November 1, 2022 “Every great city has a soul. A human avatar that embodies their city’s heart and wields its magic. New York? She’s got six. But all is not well in the city that never sleeps. Though Brooklyn, Manny, Bronca, Venezia, Padmini, and Neek have temporarily managed to stop the Woman in White from invading–and destroying the entire universe in the process–the mysterious capital “E” Enemy has more subtle powers at her disposal. A new candidate for mayor wielding the populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia, and “law and order” may have what it takes to change the very nature of New York itself and take it down from the inside. In order to defeat him, and the Enemy who holds his purse strings, the avatars will have to join together with the other Great Cities of the world in order to bring her down for good and protect their world from complete destruction.”
Gleanings by Neal Shusterman Publication date: November 8, 2022 “There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control. Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between. Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.”
A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout Publication date: November 15, 2022 “The truth about Sera’s plan is out, shattering the fragile trust forged between her and Nyktos. Surrounded by those distrustful of her, all Sera has is her duty. She will do anything to end Kolis, the false King of Gods, and his tyrannical rule of Iliseeum, thus stopping the threat he poses to the mortal realm. Nyktos has a plan, though, and as they work together, the last thing they need is the undeniable, scorching passion that continues to ignite between them. Sera cannot afford to fall for the tortured Primal, not when a life no longer bound to a destiny she never wanted is more attainable than ever. But memories of their shared pleasure and unrivaled desire are a siren’s call impossible to resist. And as Sera begins to realize that she wants to be more than a Consort in name only, the danger surrounding them intensifies. The attacks on the Shadowlands are increasing, and when Kolis summons them to Court, a whole new risk becomes apparent. The Primal power of Life is growing inside her, pushing her closer to the end of her Culling. And without Nyktos’s love—an emotion he’s incapable of feeling—she won’t survive her Ascension. That is if she even makes it to her Ascension and Kolis doesn’t get to her first. Because time is running out. For both her and the realms.”
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake Publication date: November 22, 2022 “For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval. However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants? “
Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca Publication date: December 6, 2022 “A high-powered attorney from a success-oriented family, Louisa “Lulu” Malone lives to work, and everything seems to be going right, until the day she realizes it’s all wrong. Lulu’s cousin Mitch introduced her to the world of Renaissance Faires, and when she spies one at a time just when she needs an escape, she leaps into the welcoming environment of turkey legs, taverns, and tarot readers. The only drawback? Dex MacLean: a guitarist with a killer smile, the Casanova of the Faire… and her traveling companion for the summer. Dex has never had to work for much in his life, and why should he? Touring with his brothers as The Dueling Kilts is going great, and he always finds a woman at every Faire. But when Lulu proves indifferent to his many plaid charms and a shake-up threatens the fate of the band, Dex must confront something he never has before: his future. Forced to spend days and nights together on the road, Lulu’s interest in the kilted bad boy grows as he shows her a side of himself no one else has seen. The stresses of her old lifestyle fade away as she learns to trust her intuition and follow her heart instead of her head. But when her time on the road is over, will Lulu go with her gut, or are she and Dex destined for separate paths?”
It’s a few books, but I’m trying to be more selective about the books I’m buying. All of these (except for Partners in Crime) are sequels to series’ I already own. Once I find my new local library, I want to visit it more often and try to read most newer releases that way (depending on their selection and whatnot). Do you have any preorders for these final months of the year?
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