Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Winter 2020-2021 To-Read List

Hi everyone! I’m a little late with today’s Top Ten Tuesday post, but it’s better late than never. The topic this week is a winter TBR. I can’t believe how quickly the fall has gone by. I feel like I just posted my fall tbr. Sadly, I only read one book that was on that tbr. I am very much a mood reader. So instead of picking ten books, I am choosing five books that I am looking forward to reading in the next few months. Maybe I’ll actually read all of them since it’s half the number (probably not, but one can always hope).

1. The Raven Boys (and the other books in the series) by Maggie Stiefvater: This series has been on my tbr since September 2019. I originally started reading this book as an ebook, but I felt like I needed to physically read the series. I finally bought the series, soI would like to actually start the series in the next few weeks.
2. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles: This was on my Fall tbr and sadly I did not get a chance to read it. But I am still so interested in this book. I want to experience the Phantom of the Opera/Moulin Rouge/circus vibes.
3. Ruinsong by Julia Ember: Another one I didn’t read from my Fall tbr. I just got my preorder stickers and character card, and that has got me even more interested in this Phantom f/f retelling. Whoever the artist was did an amazing job illustrating the characters and I just want to read the story and learn about them.
4. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: This book has been on my radar since it was published earlier this year. I’ve been seeing a lot of author panels that Kacen has taken part in and I am always impressed by Kacen’s eloquence. Kacen is also extremely humble and does not brag at all. They recently won the National Book Award for King and the Dragonflies, and while I do want to read that as well, I currently do not own it. So I will start with Felix Ever After and make my way through Kacen’s backlist.
5. Iron Heart by Nina Varela: I read Crier’s War last month and absolutely loved it. I was so caught up in the world and the tension created by the plot and the characters. I am so ready to read the sequel and find out what happens to Ayla and Crier. My library copy is available for pickup after Christmas and I cannot wait to pick it up and finish it.

What are some of the books on your winter TBR? Have you read any of the books on my TBR? Until next time!

~Anneliese

November Wrap Up and December TBR

Hello everyone! After two months of not reading much I finally read an average amount this past month. I’ll be posting the books that I read plus a quick review of each of them.

1. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert: I read Chloe Brown earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I loved this book even more. I thought Dani was a great character and I absolutely loved Zafir and his story. The romance was steamy and I was rooting for them to make it. I gave it 5 stars (out of 5).
2. Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli: I got an eARC of this book through Netgalley. I love Becky Albertalli’s writing and this book is about theater kids, which I love. It’s about these 2 best friends, Kate and Andy, who always crush on the same boys. But when their summer crush ends up transferring to their high school, things get complicated as their feelings for the crush get more intense. I enjoyed the writing but I did think the lack of communication and the oddness of pursuing someone your best friend also likes took me out of the story a lot. It was a good book, but not the best. I gave it 3 stars.
3. Crier’s War by Nina Varela: OMG THIS BOOK! I am not the biggest fantasy reader, but I loved this book. The tension, the romance, the plotting against a king and quest to save the kingdom. I love f/f romance in contemporary, but this book has opened up the world of f/f fantasy for me. I’ll likely do a full review of the entire series once I read the sequel in December (sneak peak for my Dec. TBR). Of course I gave this 5 stars.
4. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert: After reading (and loving) Dani Brown earlier in the month, I knew the next logical step was to read the arc of the final book in this series, which I received through Netgalley. I’ll be posting a full review of this book closer to its publication date, but I really enjoyed it. This book has representation for autism and I felt that it was done in a great way. Eve Brown is a unique character who grows a lot throughout this book. While I think Dani Brown is my favorite, I think Eve Brown’s book is definitely a close second and I also gave it 5 stars.
5. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen: This is my most anticipated releases of 2021. It follows a basketball player named Scottie Zajac who decides to fake date her nemesis, cheerleading captain Irene Abraham, to make her ex girlfriend jealous. I am a huge fan of Kelly Quindlen and her stories. I felt that this book was both fun and quick to read but also insightful and enjoyable. I gave it 5 stars.
6. Some Other Now by Sarah Everett: Another 2021 arc I received through Netgalley, I really enjoyed this book. I love the themes of family and the relationship that Jessi has with both her parents and the Cohen family who is like her “found” family. The way it was written with glimpses of the past interspersed throughout the present really worked with revealing information at critical moments. I love how much Jessi grew and the lessons she learned from the Cohen family.

Some of the books on my December TBR include Iron Heart by Nina Varela, In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston, and an arc that I have of Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft. What are some of the books on your December TBR? Until next time!

~Anneliese