It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday post. Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s prompt is a Halloween freebie and I decided to list some of the mystery/thriller/horror books on my TBR. I don’t usually read these genres, but I a looking to diversify my reading and there are some books that look interesting. I’ll only be listing the titles, but I’ll link to the Goodreads page if you want more information about them.
Back in January when I was setting up my reading bullet journal I decided to include a spread of my favorite quotes from books I read each month. And while I stopped writing them down in July, I still find myself jotting down memorable quotes that I come across. I have a pretty bad memory when it comes to book quotes, so this list will only include my top 10 book quotes from books I read this year. And I have to say, it was very difficult narrowing it down to just 10 quotes. I’ve been lucky to have read some very impactful novels this year. Here are my top 10 book quotes.
“But love is complicated, it’s messy. It can inspire selflessness, selfishness, our greatest accomplishments and our hardest mistakes. It brings us together and it can just as easily drive us apart.”
Sadie by Courtney Summers
“It’s a dark place, not knowing. It’s difficult to surrender to. But I guess it’s where we live most of the time. I guess it’s where we all live, so maybe it doesn’t have to be so lonely. Maybe I can settle into it, cozy up to it, make a home inside uncertainty.”
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
“I can show weakness. I can be real, and when I reveal my true heart not everyone is going to approve. What I know now is that I don’t need them to.”
More Myself by Alicia Keys
“My youth is infinite but my fears are intimate.”
Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen
“You can’t run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be.”
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
“You always have a choice. Making choices even when they scare you because you know it’s the right thing to do – that’s bravery.”
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
“No one can stop me but myself, and I’m never going to stop.”
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
“We don’t get to take our possessions with us everywhere. We leave those behind. But the memories…we get to take the memories with us wherever our next road may lead.”
The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters
“The worst thing you could do in this life is live it without ever knowing who you are.”
The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters
“You can die and still live on. You can be alive but be consumed by death. The difference between living and being alive is: Everything.”
It’s finally fall and my favorite season of the year. I’m not usually a fantasy or mystery/thriller reader but for some reason I really want to read those kinds of books this season. My top ten books on my Fall 2020 TBR are some 2020 releases and some that have been on my TBR for a few years.
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles – This book has been pitched as Phantom of the Opera meets Moulin Rouge and I am so intrigued by this premise. I have the Owlcrate edition of this book and I am so mad that I still haven’t read it when I had it for over two months before it was finally released. But hopefully I will be able to read it in the coming months
Ruinsong by Julia Ember – This book is a Phantom of the Opera retelling with a f/f relationship and I am so excited to read this! I preordered a copy so hopefully when it releases in November I will be able to get my copy quickly.
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas – This book is a gothic thriller set in an educational institution. This book seems suspenseful and mysterious and I am interested to see what it is about.
Crier’s War by Nina Varela – This book includes a Sapphic relationship between a human servant and the daughter of the Sovereign who has been made to be beautiful. It’s a fantasy novel and I am really excited to read it.
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron – Cinderella retelling with a Black main character and it’s queer? Sign me up! Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales and I cannot wait to see how Kalynn puts her spin on this story.
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk – The cover for this book is so gorgeous and it is a Newbery Honor Book. It’s a historical fiction middle grade novel and that’s pretty much all I know about it. I love reading historical fiction in adult and young adult novels, but I have not read many historical fiction middle grade novels. I’m curious about this story, and it’s been on my TBR since 2017 so I think it is time to read it.
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan – Another historical fiction middle grade novel, this one also is a Newbery Honor Book and has aspects of magical realism. I’ve had this book on my TBR since 2016 and like Wolf Hollow I do think it is time to read it.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – This is a historical fiction adult novel set in Alaska. I loved her book The Nightingale and am really looking forward to this book.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Yet another historical fiction novel – are you seeing a pattern? This one has had such good reviews from those lucky few that received advanced copies. I have not read any of V.E. Schwab’s adult books, but I read and loved her two middle grade novels so I am looking forward to this book and am hoping for the best.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust – This book has LGBT+ rep and is a retelling of a Persian fairytale. Like Cinderella is Dead, I am excited to read this book especially because it is a story that I am not familiar with.
What are some of the books you are planning on reading this fall? Have you read any of the books on my TBR? Leave me a comment and let’s talk! Until next time!
I’ve been reorganizing my bookshelves and I noticed that a lot of the books that I own have roads or streets on the cover. Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is a book cover freebie, so I figured this would be a good time to show you some of these books.
Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans (This is a five book series and every book has a road or street on the cover)
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel
I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
Hearts Inn by Lily R. Mason
Taking the Long Way by Lily R. Mason
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
In the Silence by Jaimie Leigh McGovern
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters (I don’t have a physical copy of this book, but I do have an eARC so I am including it on the list.)
What are some books you have read that feature roads or streets on the cover? Have you read any of the ones I’ve mentioned here? Let me know in the comments! Until next time!
Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is one that I am so excited about. One of the reasons why I still read young adult books is because there are so many more diverse books that weren’t available when I was a child. In the past five years alone I have read so many great books that I wish I could have read at earlier points in my life. Here are ten books that I wish my younger self had read.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo – I have a full review of this novel on my blog. Everything about this book reminds me of my family and I felt seen as a Latinx woman. I would have loved reading this book as a teen and seeing girls that not only look like my family but also have so much in common with me.
2. American Street by Ibi Zoboi – Even though this story is about a Haitian girl coming to American and staying with her cousins and aunt, this book reminded me so much of my own cousins. They were loud city girls and that is how my cousins are. Like with Clap When You Land, I wish I could have read this book when I was younger to see my family represented in books.
3. Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy – I wish I had this book when I was in 7th grade. I love that Sweet Pea’s problems have nothing to do with weight and everything to do with regular things that middle school students go through with friends and family separation. She’s young so she makes mistakes and has flaws but Sweet Pea was an enjoyable character.
4. Dumplin by Julie Murphy – Julie Murphy is an author that writes the most relatable characters and Willowdean is no exception. I could relate so much to her. It’s not easy putting up an air of confidence to the world when in reality you’re so self-conscious about yourself. And yet everyone has insecurities. We all have different ways of dealing with them, but all of us struggle with things everyday. I wish I had this book growing up. Seeing fat characters in books and not being harmful caricatures is something I definitely needed as a teen.
5. There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon – The fat representation in this book is so good. There was so much I related to in this story. Sweetie is on the track team and is actually very healthy even though she is fat. Her mother still tries to get her to lose weight, but Sweetie remains confident in herself. This is another book I wish my younger self would have read so that I wouldn’t have felt so self-conscious about my weight.
6. Dear Martin by Nic Stone – I grew up in New York City and was exposed to different cultures and races. But as an adult I have realized that there is so much more that I could have done to stand up against White Supremacy and racism. Reading this book in my late 20s, I felt enraged at some of the things that the white characters did. I wish I had this book in high school simply because it might have helped me begin the conversations to stand up against racism and advocate for equality for all.
7. Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen – I will be honest and say that I read this at the perfect time. In my early 20s I was struggling with my sexuality and religion. I read this during that time and felt like there was a way to both have a belief in God while still questioning my sexuality. Yet even though this book did come at the right time, I still wish I had read it just a few years earlier so I wouldn’t have been so judgmental in my teen years and didn’t have to struggle so much in my early 20s.
8. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera – I really struggled with homophobia in my teens because of my environment and religion. It took me a very long time to realize that it is okay to be in a same sex relationship and that these relationships are healthy and valid. I think reading about two teen boys who end up having a great connection and love story would have helped me realize earlier that there is nothing wrong with loving someone from the same sex. I loved this book so much, and I know that teenaged me would love it just as much even if she didn’t fully understand same sex relationships yet.
9. Taking the Long Way by Lily R. Mason – Another book that deals with a same sex relationship, this book spans from senior year of high school through the Natalia and Bridget’s adult years. I think reading this book as a late teen would have really helped me for the reasons why I think They Both Die at the End would have. To see a same sex relationship endure through all those years and all the challenges is something that would have been really impactful for me.
10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – This book was so relatable and I wish I had it during my first year of college or even senior year of high school. Cath’s love of fanfiction, her difficulty in her college classes, her desire to just hole up in her room and write fanfiction, her avoidance of social activities and parties – all of this describes me during my college years. Even reading this in my first year would have been enough for me to know that I wasn’t alone in what I was feeling.
What are some of the books you wish your younger self had read? Do any of mine make it onto your list? Let me know in the comments. Until next time!
Miss New Village Reads 