Y’all, I am so excited that it’s officially autumn! Fall is unquestionably my favorite season: I can finally turn off my air conditioning, put on a jacket, and breathe in that cool, crisp autumn air! Plus, cooler temps make it the perfect time to snuggle up on my couch with a blanket and a good book. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is 10 books on your fall TBR list, and I’m really excited about the books on my list! Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Jenn Bennett, The Lady Rogue — I saw a review for this book at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and it looks like a ton of fun! It’s described as a romp through 1930s Romania as the heroine searches for a cursed ring that belonged to Vlad the Impaler. So basically, it sounds like Indiana Jones meets Dracula, and I am here for it!

2. Alix E. Harrow, The Ten Thousand Doors of January — I think the beautiful cover is what drew me to this book, which appears to be a portal fantasy with gothic vibes. In other words, a perfect fall read!

3. Sarah M. Eden, The Lady and the Highwayman — This one is a romance between two rival authors of “penny dreadfuls” in Victorian London. The heroine writes under a pseudonym, and the hero, not knowing her true identity, asks for her help in discovering the identity of his rival. I adore the premise and can’t wait to see how it plays out.

4. Rainbow Rowell, Pumpkinheads —  As a huge Rainbow Rowell fan, I’ve been dying to read this graphic novel ever since I found out about it more than a year ago! I don’t read many graphic novels, but I’m desperately hoping for one of Rowell’s signature swoonworthy romances. And the pumpkin patch setting is perfect for fall!

5. Jessie Mihalik, Aurora Blazing — I enjoyed the first book in this sci-fi romance series, Polaris Rising, so I’m excited to read this sequel, which comes out in the US on October 1. It’s a bodyguard romance, which I find to be a fun trope.

6. Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea — The long-awaited follow-up to Morgenstern’s hit debut novel, The Night Circus. I had mixed feelings about The Night Circus, but I’m definitely interested to read more of Morgenstern’s work. (Also, where is my The Night Circus movie directed by Baz Luhrmann? Get on it, Hollywood!)

7. Maggie Stiefvater, Call Down the Hawk — Much as I loved the Raven Cycle, and especially the character of Ronan Lynch, I’m undecided as to whether I need another whole trilogy about him. Nevertheless, I’ve already placed a hold at my library for this book and hope that it exceeds my expectations.

8. Amanda Grange, Henry Tilney’s Diary — Of all the Austen heroes, Henry Tilney might just be the one I’d most like to date in real life. (Sure, Darcy is great, but Tilney is indisputably more fun!) I’ve had this book on my shelves for ages, and I think it’s finally time to pick it up.

9. Francis Duncan, Murder Has a Motive — For some reason, autumn always makes me crave vintage British mysteries. I previously enjoyed Duncan’s Murder for Christmas, so it’s time to check out more of his books!

10. Tessa Dare, Do You Want to Start a Scandal — Sometimes I just need some romantic Regency silliness, and the plot description of this book sounds an awful lot like Clue (except, you know, less murder-y). I’ve only read one other book by Tessa Dare, but I remember enjoying it, so I have high hopes!

Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to focus on one of my favorite aspects of the season: summer reading! Let’s face it, I’m not outdoorsy at the best of times, but it’s especially true in summer’s heat and humidity. So any activity that allows me to stay indoors, sipping a cold beverage and enjoying the air conditioning, is a good thing in my book (see what I did there?). Here, in no particular order, are 10 books I’m excited to read in the next couple of months. What’s on your summer TBR?

1. J. Kathleen Cheney, The Golden City — This may be cheating a bit because I’m actually reading it now! It’s the first book in a historical fantasy series set in 1902 Portugal, and so far it’s very interesting, although a bit slow to start.

2. Ellis Peters, The Heretic’s Apprentice — It’s been a while since I’ve visited the world of Brother Cadfael!

3. Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns — Despite the fact that I haven’t enjoyed much YA fantasy recently, the premise of this one really appeals to me. Apparently it combines magic with a slow-burn romance, and there’s a library!

4. Abby Jimenez, The Friend Zone — I think I read about this romance on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and it sounds like fun!

5. Linda Holmes, Evvie Drake Starts Over — I mentioned this one last week, and I’m super excited to read it when my library hold comes in.

6. Abbi Waxman, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill — Another new release I’m very excited for. The cover alone! *heart eyes*

7. Kristan Higgins, Life and Other Inconveniences — I’m always up for the latest Kristan Higgins release, even though I wish she’d go back to writing straight-up romance rather than “women’s fiction.”

8. Mary Stewart, The Stormy Petrel — Stewart’s books tend to follow the same formula: innocent young woman travels to foreign destination, meets one or more mysterious men, and becomes involved in a dangerous situation. But it’s a formula I really enjoy, so I don’t mind one bit!

9. John Bude, The Cornish Coast Murder — So I actually own two books by John Bude, but I’ve never read anything he’s written! I blame the lovely new British Library Crime Classic editions of vintage mysteries. Time to see if this is an author I want to keep on my shelves.

10. Patricia C. Wrede, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles — I think I read the first book in this series, Dealing with Dragons, as a kid, but I don’t remember a thing about it. But I’m a huge fan of Wrede’s, and I’ve been wanting to read the whole series for a long time. Now is my chance!

We’re almost halfway through 2019, which means it’s time to start looking ahead to the second half of the year. Below are my top ten nine upcoming releases in publication order. They range from graphic novels to romance, new-to-me authors to old favorites, but what they have in common is that I’m excited to read them all!

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1. Linda Holmes, Evvie Drake Starts Over (6/25) — Right out of the gate I’m cheating, because the book comes out on June 25, which is technically in the first half of the year. But it hasn’t come out yet, so I’m still counting it! This romance has been blurbed by the likes of Rainbow Rowell, and it’s been described as “quirky,” “warm,” and “hilarious.” Sounds like my cup of tea, for sure.

2. Abbi Waxman, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (7/9) — This book is about an introverted heroine who works in a bookstore and is being romantically pursued by her bar trivia nemesis. Yes, this is relevant to my interests!

3. Kristan Higgins, Life and Other Inconveniences (8/6) — I’m a big Kristan Higgins fan, although I’ve been a little wary of her switch from the romance genre to straight-up women’s fiction. The synopsis of this latest novel doesn’t mention a love story at all, which is somewhat disappointing, but I’m still going to give it a try.

4. Rainbow Rowell, Pumpkinheads (8/27) — I’ve had this one on my wishlist for at least a year. I love Rainbow Rowell and am really eager for this graphic novel about two high schoolers who work in a pumpkin patch every fall. Maybe I’ll save it for a crisp autumnal day…or maybe I’ll devour it as soon as it comes out!

5. Alix E. Harrow, The Ten Thousand Doors of January (9/10) — This one just sounds really cool: it involves a neglected girl and a magical book, and it sounds like it might have a creepy gothic feel. In other words, perfect fall reading!

6. Mhairi McFarlane, Don’t You Forget about Me (9/10) — McFarlane is one of my favorite chick-lit authors, and I know I can expect humor, romance, and a charming narrative voice from all her books. This one appears to feature a second-chance romance, which isn’t my favorite trope, but I remain optimistic.

7. Jessie Mihalik, Aurora Blazing (10/1) — The sequel to Polaris Rising, which I read and enjoyed earlier this year. And based on the few glimpses we got of this couple in the first book, I’m excited to read their story! If you like a few spaceships and some intergalactic politicking in your romance novels, this series may be for you.

8. Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea (11/5) — So, I’m one of those strange people who didn’t absolutely love The Night Circus, but I’m still very intrigued by Morgenstern’s second novel! The marketing blurb on Amazon calls it “a timeless love story set in a secret underground world — a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.” Sounds good to me!

9. Maggie Stiefvater, Call Down the Hawk (11/5) — I’m a little nervous about this book, because I really liked the Raven Cycle and thought Stiefvater concluded the story in a fitting and satisfying way. But if she’s going to continue to follow the fortunes of Ronan Lynch and his family, I’m certainly going along for the ride, at least for the time being.

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Are you also looking forward to any of these books? What other upcoming releases should I add to my to-read list?

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is one of my all-time favorites: the top 10 things that make me want to read a book. Why do we love the books we love? What makes us add some books to our TBR list and not others? What plots, tropes, and topics appeal to us so strongly that, when we encounter them in a book, we feel like that book has been written just for us? These are questions I love to think about, although I’m far from having answers to them! Still, here are 10 things that always excite me about a book and compel me to learn more, in no particular order.

1. Anything related to Jane Austen — This one is obvious, but I’m always going to be drawn to Austen-related books! Whether it’s a retelling, a new biography, or a piece of literary criticism, I’m definitely going to at least learn more about it — that is, if I don’t buy it right away!

2. Epistolary novels — I love a good epistolary novel, and I think it’s because I enjoy character-driven books and don’t really care about setting. Novels in letters (or emails, texts, etc.) naturally don’t spend a lot of time on descriptions of scenery; everything is dialogue and character development.

3. Fake relationships — This is probably my very favorite romance trope, although I’m not sure I can explain why! I think it’s a great way to set up romantic tension in which the conflict is mostly internal. It all comes down to whether the characters will be brave enough to reveal their true feelings.

4. Thieves and con artists — There’s just something about protagonists who cheerfully bend or break the rules for the sake of a greater good. They’re super charming and compelling to me, even if I wouldn’t necessarily agree with them in real life.

5. Magical Regency — As a diehard Austen fan (see #1), the day I learned that there are books that combine an Austen-esque world with magic was one of the greatest days of my life!

6. Historical mysteries — I’ve been an Agatha Christie fan since I was about 12, and I love mystery novels that aren’t too gory but instead focus on the puzzle of whodunit and why. Combine that type of mystery with an interesting historical setting — especially the 19th century or the Golden Age of detective fiction — and my interest is definitely piqued.

7. Spies — Give me all the twists and turns of a plot filled with espionage, double-crosses, and people keeping secrets!

8. World War II — The past few years have seen a real boom in the number of books set during World War II, especially from the Allied perspective in Europe. While part of me wants to shun anything too trendy, a larger part of me just wants to keep ’em coming!

9. Music and musicians — As an amateur musician myself, I’m always intrigued when I learn about characters who play music, either professionally or as a hobby. It’s especially satisfying when an author describes the experience of playing (or hearing) music in a way that rings true to me.

10. Happy endings — This is a bit simplistic, since I have also really loved some books with sad endings. But in general, I read for pleasure, so I prefer endings that are emotionally satisfying: the murderer is caught, the lovers end up together, the quest is fulfilled. I do see the value in reading difficult books that make you think and engage with the hard aspects of reality; but given the choice, I’ll go for the happy ending almost every time.

In creating this list, it was fun for me to refer back to the last time this topic came up . . . turns out, my list hasn’t changed all that much! What are some of your favorite topics or tropes in books? Do you agree or disagree with anything on my list?

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is 10 books on our spring TBR lists. These days, I’m trying not to plan out my reading in advance; I’ve been choosing books by whim, and I’m really liking it! But here are 10 books that I’ve bought recently, have put on hold at the library, or intend to buy and read as soon as possible:

1. Jasmine Guillory, The Proposal — I didn’t fall in love with The Wedding Date like so many others did, but I enjoyed it enough that I’m intrigued for this follow-up novel featuring one of its supporting characters.

2. Soniah Kamal, Unmarriageable — A Pride and Prejudice retelling set in modern-day Pakistan = sold!

3. Elinor Lipman, Good Riddance — I haven’t read any Elinor Lipman before, and I was honestly drawn to this book because of the cute cover. But I do like a good romantic comedy, so I’m excited to try this one.

4. Sophie Kinsella, I Owe You One — I’ve found Kinsella to be hit or miss, but the synopsis of this one sounds intriguingly similar to I’ve Got Your Number, my favorite of her books to date.

5. Jessica Khoury, Last of Her Name — If a novel is marketed as some sort of Anastasia retelling, I’m obviously going to read it!

6. Zen Cho, The True Queen — I loved Sorcerer to the Crown and have been waiting for this sequel for what feels like forever!

7. Tracey Garvis Graves, The Girl He Used to Know — I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book, which is about a second-chance romance featuring a neurodiverse heroine. The publication date is April 2.

8. Lucy Parker, The Austen Playbook — This one doesn’t come out via e-book until April 22 (or April 30, if you wait for the mass market paperback), but I NEED IT NOW OMG. I adore this series of contemporary romance novels, and this one features a grumpy hero and an Austen-related plot!

9. Jennifer E. Smith, Field Notes on Love — I’m so intrigued by the premise of this one, which is that a guy and girl who are complete strangers take a cross-country train trip together. Pub date is May 5.

10. Beth O’Leary, The Flatshare — Another adorable premise: a man and a woman share an apartment but are never there at the same time (she works during the day, he works nights and weekends). Yet they forge a relationship by leaving each other notes — how cute is that?! Sadly, the release date isn’t until May 28, so I have to wait.

Well, that’s a nice long list of romance and “fun” books! Did anyone else notice a theme (intentional or otherwise) with their picks? What are you reading this spring, and what should I be adding to my list?

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is an interesting one: 10 books you love that have fewer than 2,000 ratings on Goodreads. I tend to read a lot of backlist and otherwise unpopular books, and it was still hard for me to come up with 10 titles! But I’m glad to have the opportunity to praise some lesser-known books that I really enjoyed. So without further ado, my list is below; the number of Goodreads ratings (as of February 13) is in parentheses after each title.

1. Aline, Countess of Romanones, The Spy Wore Red (1,666) — A delightful memoir that reads like a spy thriller! My review is here.

2. Walker Percy, The Thanatos Syndrome (1,599) — Probably my favorite novel by this author. It’s about a contaminated water supply, a modern-day hermit, and an extremely nasty conspiracy. Fans of Southern literature should definitely check this one out.

3. Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager (1,508) — If you’re looking for the next Georgette Heyer…well, nothing is going to quite measure up, but Loretta Chase’s traditional Regencies come pretty close! This is my favorite so far, about a rake who tries to seduce a prim and proper bluestocking, only to find himself (of course) falling in love.

4. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (1,136) — A very short book that explores how people can obtain interior freedom, from the perspective of a Catholic priest. This book made a huge impact on me; my review is here.

5. McKelle George, Speak Easy, Speak Love (773) — Does the idea of a Much Ado about Nothing retelling set in the 1920s appeal to you? If so, you need to pick this one up! I enjoyed it SO much more than I thought I would. My review is here.

6. Emily Gee, The Laurentine Spy (771) — Fans of fantasy and political intrigue will enjoy this book about courtiers (who hate each other) with double lives as spies (who…don’t hate each other). My review is here.

7. Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon, No Bed for Bacon (180) — The movie Shakespeare in Love is actually based on this hilarious sendup of the Elizabethan era. My review is here.

8. Stephanie Burgis, Congress of Secrets (172) — Historical fiction plus fantasy plus con artists plus romance is totally my catnip. If it’s yours too, check out this book (and author) immediately! My review is here.

9. Leo Bruce, Case for Three Detectives (151) — This ingenious detective novel parodies three of the most famous fictional detectives: Lord Peter Wimsey, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown. The book really only works if you’re familiar with these three characters, but if you are, the spoof is absolutely spot-on! My review is here.

10. Patricia Wynn, The Birth of Blue Satan (82) — I really enjoyed this historical mystery set in an unusual time period: the Jacobite rebellions of the early 18th century. It’s the first in a series, and I’m eager to read the rest! My review is here.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is the 10 books you’re most excited for in the first half of 2019. I’ve got a lot of long-awaited sequels and follow-ups on my list, as well as a few books that just sound really cool! So without further ado, here’s my list of ten eight books I’m really looking forward to in the first half of this year:

1. Katherine Arden, The Winter of the Witch (1/8) — After loving both The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, of course I can’t wait to read the final book in this trilogy! If you like lush, descriptive fantasy and/or Russian folktales, I highly recommend these books.
2. Alan Bradley, The Golden Tresses of the Dead (1/22) — More Flavia is always fun, and I’m especially optimistic because I thought the last book was a return to form for the series.
3. Sally Thorne, 99 Percent Mine (1/29) — I adored The Hating Game so much that I put Sally Thorne on my list of auto-buy authors immediately. I’ve already preordered my copy of 99 Percent Mine, and I’m really hoping it will meet my high expectations!
4. Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars (1/29) — When I read the original Grisha trilogy, I mentioned that I’d love a book featuring the secondary character of Nikolai…and the book gods must have been listening, because now it’s here!
5. Jessica Khoury, Last of Her Name (2/26) — Look, if there’s a retelling of Anastasia set in space, I’m going to read it!
6. Zen Cho, The True Queen (3/12) — Ever since I read and loved Sorcerer to the Crown, I’ve been dying for the sequel. I’m so excited that it’s finally (almost) here!
7. Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief (3/19) — Apparently this is the last book in one of my very favorite series. I can’t wait to see how it all ends, and I’m excited to go back and reread the previous books in preparation for the finale.
8. Lucy Parker, The Austen Playbook (4/22) — I’ve loved all Lucy Parker’s books so far, so I’m super excited for this one…it involves a very grumpy hero and a Jane Austen connection, which is basically all my catnip!

Are you also looking forward to any of these books? What should I be adding to my list?

It’s the first Top Ten Tuesday of the year, hooray! And naturally it’s about looking back at 2017 and acknowledging all the great new authors we discovered! Here’s my list of 10 11 favorite new-to-me authors in 2017. (Look, I tried to narrow it down to 10, but I just couldn’t!)

1. Sally Thorne — Is it possible for someone to become an auto-buy author after just one book? After reading The Hating Game, I can unequivocally state that the answer is yes!

2. Katherine Arden — I loved the gorgeous The Bear and the Nightingale, and I’m planning to read The Girl in the Tower this month.

3. Darcie Wilde — A Useful Woman unites two of my favorite things, the Regency era and mysteries! Best of all, it’s first in a series, so hopefully I’ll get to read many more books by Wilde!

4. Keigo Higashino — While I had reservations about one plot point in The Devotion of Suspect X, I really enjoyed this contemporary mystery novel set in Tokyo. I’d like to check out some more books in the series; luckily several of them have been translated into English!

5. Stephanie Kate Strohm — After reading the adorable Prince in Disguise, I definitely need to check out some more of Strohm’s books! I’m intrigued by It’s Not Me, It’s You…

6. Dolores Gordon-Smith — I love discovering a new mystery series, and A Fête Worse Than Death is a very entertaining start to the Jack Haldean series. I’m excited that my library has most of the rest of the books!

7. Jenny Colgan — Occasionally I’m in the mood for some chick lit, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Café by the Sea. I’ve already picked up another Colgan novel, The Bookshop on the Corner, on a friend’s recommendation.

8. J. Jefferson Farjeon — The Z Murders definitely requires some suspension of disbelief, but I loved its overall style and tone. I’m looking forward to more Farjeon, and I’ve already acquired both Thirteen Guests and Mystery in White.

9. Leo Bruce — I think it was the spot-on parody of G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown that really sold me on Case for Three Detectives, but I adored the humor and cleverness throughout.

10. Stephanie Burgis — Hooray for well-written historical fantasy! Congress of Secrets was so entertaining, and I can’t wait to read Masks and Shadows as well.

11. Melissa McShane — I really liked Burning Bright — another well-written historical fantasy, this time with pirates!