Top new-to-me authors I found in 2021!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by **ThatArtsyReaderGirl!**

When I was making this list, I realized the majority of the authors I read were new to me, at least for novels. All the manga I read pretty much weren’t. So I have nine authors that I found and think are pretty neat today, in no particular order:

Joe Abercrombie I found because of my buddy reads with Zezee @Zezeewithbooks. I really like his gritty, dark style of writing that combines wry humor and sense of utter bleakness.

Jonny Sun I found to have a really nice cute style, though to be fair I’ve only read what is basically a picture book from him. I’d be interested in more.

Grant Morrison and Dan Mora – the author and illustrator respectively I presume – I found last minute in 2021 when I picked this book up as my annual Christmasy read. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and plan on getting the next volume around Christmas next year.

Jennifer L. Armentrout I know has been around for a while, but I’d never read anything by her until this year as part of a buddy read. And I gotta tell ya, it’s wild. I was so entertained.

N. K. Jemisin I was really late on the bandwagon for. I know she’s won multiple awards at this point and after reading her Broken Earth trilogy I can see why.

Ruth Ware is one of my first dives into thriller, and I think I picked a good place to start. I really enjoyed her writing and buzzed right through her book.

A. G. Slatter I think is a relatively new author. All the Murmuring Bones was her debut, and with it she’s become an auto-buy author for me. She has a new book coming out this year that I plan on picking up after my ban is over.

Greta Kelly is another debut author that I ended up really liking. I have the second book to her duology already and plan on reading it soon!

Robert Jackson Bennett is not a debut author by any means, so I’m late to the bandwagon on him, but his Founders books have made me wanna read basically everything else he’s written. I’m very pumped about it.

And that’s it! If you’ve read any of these authors, lemme know! Peace!

Top 2021 releases I was excited for but didn’t get to

Happy Tuesday! Last year I did an anticipated releases post, detailing books coming out in 2021 that I thought looked neato. Well as expected I didn’t get to all of them. Partly because of a reading slump, partly because of who I am as a person. Keep in mind I did buy all of these. I own them. But they are unread. :”D

These were the neato books I didn’t read:

The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson – Release Date: Jan 19th

Goodreads synopsis: On the never-ending, miles-high expanse of prairie grasses known as the Forever Sea, Kindred Greyreach, hearthfire keeper and sailor aboard harvesting vessel The Errant, is just beginning to fit in with the crew of her new ship when she receives devastating news. Her grandmother–The Marchess, legendary captain and hearthfire keeper–has stepped from her vessel and disappeared into the sea.

But the note she leaves Kindred suggests this was not an act of suicide. Something waits in the depths, and the Marchess has set out to find it.

To follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, Kindred must embroil herself in conflicts bigger than she could imagine: a water war simmering below the surface of two cultures; the politics of a mythic pirate city floating beyond the edges of safe seas; battles against beasts of the deep, driven to the brink of madness; and the elusive promise of a world below the waves.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo – Release date: March 30th

Goodreads synopsis: (Potential spoilers for King of Scars) The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

Hail Mary by Andy Weir – Release date: May 4th

Goodreads synopsis: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission–and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that’s been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

For the Wolf by Hanna Whitten – Release date: June 15th

Goodreads synopsis: The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.

And that’s it – only four! My original list had seven books on it, three of which I read. Which if I’m being honest is pretty good for me.

So maybe this year?

Top ten most recent books on my radar

Today’s topic is technically “Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection” but considering I do hauls monthly anyways that would be a bit repetitive. So I’m twisting it a bit and doing ten books that have recently caught my attention but I haven’t actually picked up yet.

I will preface this by saying that I have fallen into the bottomless pit of BookTok recently, so if you’re on that at all you’ll likely recognize a lot of these titles.

These are all the most recent books that sound neat to me!

What strikes me as interesting in these ten most recent additions (plus a lot of books I’ve read and picked up recently) is that I’m noticing my reading tastes are starting to shift.

Normally I like a lot of heavy fantasy and while I still do like that, I’ve found myself drawn to some new genres for me. Romance, for one. And “weird” books. Thrillery books. I can’t say I’ve read many of them before but lately that’s what I’ve been wanting. So I think that’s neat!

If you’ve read any of these, do let me know.

Happy reading!

2022 Anticipated Releases! pt 1

Hi it’s Tuesday, and the Top Ten Tuesday topic coincides perfectly with what I wanted to post anyways, so here we are.

I haven’t done too much research about books coming out this year, so I don’t have a super long list. Not yet, at least. And I do want to wait to talk about releases for the second have of the year until June or so, just so we have more accurate release dates. So these are books I’m pumped for coming out between now and June.

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Tentative release: Jan 18th

Goodreads synopsis:

Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus.

Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on Earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects—a pig—develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet.

And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin

Tentative release: April 12th

Goodreads synopsis:

In a world reeling from an unusual plague, monsters lurk in the streets while terrified survivors arm themselves and roam the countryside in packs. Or perhaps something very different is happening. When a disease affects how reality is perceived, it’s hard to be certain of anything…

Spence is one of the “cured” living at the Ironside rehabilitation facility. Haunted by guilt, he refuses to face the changed world until a new inmate challenges him to help her find her old crew. But if he can’t tell the truth from the lies, how will he know if he has earned the redemption he dreams of? How will he know he hasn’t just made things worse?

The Fervor by Alma Katsu

Tentative release: April 26th

Goodreads synopsis:

1944: As World War II rages on, the threat has come to the home front. In a remote corner of Idaho, Meiko Briggs and her daughter, Aiko, are desperate to return home. Following Meiko’s husband’s enlistment as an air force pilot in the Pacific months prior, Meiko and Aiko were taken from their home in Seattle and sent to one of the internment camps in the Midwest. It didn’t matter that Aiko was American-born: They were Japanese, and therefore considered a threat by the American government.

Mother and daughter attempt to hold on to elements of their old life in the camp when a mysterious disease begins to spread among those interned. What starts as a minor cold quickly becomes spontaneous fits of violence and aggression, even death. And when a disconcerting team of doctors arrive, nearly more threatening than the illness itself, Meiko and her daughter team up with a newspaper reporter and widowed missionary to investigate, and it becomes clear to them that something more sinister is afoot, a demon from the stories of Meiko’s childhood, hell-bent on infiltrating their already strange world.

The Path of Thorns A Path of Thorns by A. G. Slatter

Tentative release: June 14th

Goodreads synopsis:

Alone in the world, Asher Todd travels to the remote estate of Morwood Grange to become governess to three small children. Her sole possessions comprise a sea chest and a large carpet bag she hangs onto for dear life. She finds a fine old home, its inhabitants proud of their lineage and impeccable reputation, and a small village nearby. It seems an untroubled existence, yet there are portraits missing from the walls, locked rooms, and names excised from the family tree inscribed in the bible. In short order, the children adore her, she becomes indispensible to their father Luther in his laboratory, and her potions are able to restore the sight of granddame Leonora. Soon Asher fits in as if she’s always been there, but there are creatures that stalk the woods at night, spectres haunt the halls, and Asher is not as much a stranger to the Morwoods as it might at first appear.

Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett

Tentative release: June 21st

Goodreads synopsis of book one, Foundryside:

Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne’s docks, is nothing her unique abilities can’t handle.

But unbeknownst to her, Sancia’s been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic–the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience–have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact’s secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims.

Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there’s nobody with the power to stop them.

To have a chance at surviving—and at stopping the deadly transformation that’s under way—Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact’s power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.

And that’s it! Ideally I will pick all of these up and read them. I suppose I could always look and see if I did that come Blogmas 2022. Could be neat!

Happy reading!

Top 10 books that made me laugh out loud

Happy Tuesday! Today’s topic is books that made me laugh. This is one of the few topics where I actually had a hard time narrowing it down, as opposed to having a hard time finding enough books. Originally, I came up with over 20 books that made me laugh, and I’ve narrowed it down to these, in no particular order:

Dragon Wing by Margart Weis and Tracy Hickman – This one I’m actually currently reading. There’s one perspective – a dwarf – that really has me tickled. Each time I get a chapter from his pov, I find myself giggling like a madwoman.

Absolutely Boyfriend by Yuu Watase – This is a six volume comedic romance about robot boyfriends, heavy on the comedy. I reread it for the first time since high school earlier this year and really enjoyed it. It’s so ridiculous..

Black Butler by Yana Toboso – I read this one recently – early 2020 – and fell in love. It’s hilarious, on top of all of its other amazing qualities.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett – Again, a recent read. I wasn’t expecting this one to be funny but it really surprised me. It was hilarious. Especially any scenes with Clef, they cracked me up.

Mogworld by Yahtzee Chroshaw – I expected this one to be funny, as it’s written by the guy who does Zero Punction, but I still found myself surprised at how funny it was. This book was great.

Demon Diary by Kara – This is a seven volume comedy series about a young demon who has no idea what he’s doing being made into a demon lord. It’s cute and fluffy and so entertaining.

Life, The Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams – I feel like Adams is an obvious choice for this list. This one is my favorite so far.

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks – The narration in this has a bit of comedy in it itself, but the one character Kip is hilarious. He’s one of my favorites.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud – This is a series I read back when I was a teen, and I remember cracking up at Bartimaeus. He’s a djinn and he’s so funny. So sassy.

Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi – While this isn’t a comedy persay, it has a lot of comedic elements that are portrayed very well through the art style. This is a good one.

~~~

And that’s it! Books that make me laugh tend to automatically get high marks from me. I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for a good joke.

Top 10 Mardi Gras colored covers!

Happy Tuesday! Aside from yesterday, my blog has been a bit quiet. This tends to happen to me after Blogmas finishes out – it’s like I burn out for a couple weeks. But I think I’m getting out of it now. I still intended to post the eight planned posts for February, they’ll just be on different days than originally intended.

So today’s topic is gonna help that: Mardi Gras colored covers – ie covers that are yellow, green, or purple.

Here’s a stack of ’em:

Some of these I’ve read, some I haven’t. I gotta tell ya though, I had plenty of yellow and green spines to pick from, but the purples shown are almost all the purples I own, minus one or two. If I ever publish a book, I’m going to make it have a purple spine, just to bolster the numbers for poor people like me who want purple books in their pictures! Rah!

If you’ve read any of the above, do let me know. :”D Happy reading.

Most Anticipated Releases! | 2021 pt 1

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by **ThatArtsyReaderGirl**, Top 5 Wednesday topics **can be found here**!

So both Top Ten Tuesday and Top 5 Wednesday apply to this post, so I’m just gonna combine them! The TTT post for this topic was technically in December of 2020 some time, I just wasn’t ready for it yet. the T5W topic for this is a retro one that I’m re-using! So here we go, it’s both!

These are all the books I’m looking forward to coming out in 2021 between January and June! And the typical reminder, these are the posted release dates as of today, and they may change. Dammit Jackie, I can’t control the weather.

Release date: Jan 12th

Genre: YA Fantasy

Goodreads synopsis: Askia became heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh because of her devotion to her people. But her realm is facing a threat she cannot defeat by sheer will alone. The mad emperor of the Roven Empire has unleashed a horde of invading soldiers to enslave her lands. For months, her warriors have waged a valiant, stealth battle, yet they cannot stop the enemy’s advancement. Running out of time, she sets sail for sun-drenched Vishir, the neighboring land to the south, to seek help from its ruler, Emperor Armaan.

A young woman raised in army camps, Askia is ill-equipped to navigate Vishir’s labyrinthine political games. Her every move sinks her deeper into court intrigues which bewilder and repel her, leaving her vulnerable not only to enemies gathering at Vishir’s gates, but to those behind the palace walls.

And in this glittering court, where secrets are worth more than gold, Askia fears that one false step will expose her true nature. For Askia is a witch gifted with magical abilities—knowledge that could destroy not only her life but her people. As her adversaries draw closer, Askia is forced to make an impossible choice—and no matter what she decides, it may not be enough to prevent Seravesh’s fall.

Release Date: Jan 19th

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads synopsis: On the never-ending, miles-high expanse of prairie grasses known as the Forever Sea, Kindred Greyreach, hearthfire keeper and sailor aboard harvesting vessel The Errant, is just beginning to fit in with the crew of her new ship when she receives devastating news. Her grandmother–The Marchess, legendary captain and hearthfire keeper–has stepped from her vessel and disappeared into the sea.

But the note she leaves Kindred suggests this was not an act of suicide. Something waits in the depths, and the Marchess has set out to find it.

To follow in her grandmother’s footsteps, Kindred must embroil herself in conflicts bigger than she could imagine: a water war simmering below the surface of two cultures; the politics of a mythic pirate city floating beyond the edges of safe seas; battles against beasts of the deep, driven to the brink of madness; and the elusive promise of a world below the waves.

Kindred finds that she will sacrifice almost everything–ship, crew, and a life sailing in the sun–to discover the truth of the darkness that waits below the Forever Sea.

Release date: Feb 16th

Genre: YA fantasy romance (New adult?)

Goodreads synopsis: Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

Release date March 9th

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads synopsis: Long ago Miren O’Malley’s family prospered due to a deal struck with the mer: safety for their ships in return for a child of each generation. But for many years the family have been unable to keep their side of the bargain and have fallen into decline. Miren’s grandmother is determined to restore their glory, even at the price of Miren’s freedom.

A spellbinding tale of dark family secrets, magic and witches, and creatures of myth and the sea; of strong women and the men who seek to control them.

Release date: March 30th

Genre: YA Fantasy

Goodreads synopsis: (Potential spoilers for King of Scars) The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.

Release date: May 4th

Genre: Sci-fi

Goodreads synopsis: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission–and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that’s been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Release date: June 15th

Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads synopsis: The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.

And that’s it! I’m particularly excited about this last one – I’ve been kinda stuck on Beauty and the Beast retellings lately, I don’t know what it is.

If you’re interested in any of the above, lemme know! Buddy reads are fun!

Books I hope Santa brings

It’s Tuesday! Therefore it’s Top Ten Tuesday Day. Today’s topic is books I hope Santa brings, and well, I hope he brings these:

All of these I’ve requested either from friends or family. I tried my best not to put the same books on multiple versions of my list so nobody had to worry about buying something that someone else already got.

Aaaaaand I’ve basically already decided that any I don’t receive I’m gonna get myself as self-Santa. Pbtbtbt, dun judge me. :”D

Whatever happens though, I will be happy with whatever Santa deigns to give me, even if it’s just a bunch of socks (because I love socks). But if I’m very lucky and if I was good enough this year, hopefully I’ll get a few of these.

Happy Blogmas!

End of Year TBR potentials – My book buying ban is complete!

Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books on my Winter TBR, so I’m kinda warping it and combining it here with my book buying ban info, so bear with me.

Yay! I’ve completed my book buying ban! I put myself on one back in September or so, during my last book haul.

So during the past few months, I’ve purchased 0 books in an effort to get my physical fictional TBR down. And today is the last day, it’s over! I’m also happy to say that because of it, I’m definitely gonna reach my goal. I’m 1 book away, and with this TBR listed below, I’ll 100% achieve it, yay.

Though I gotta say, I probably won’t buy any books until after Christmas. I requested a few from friends and fam, and they’re the top ones I’d like, so I don’t wanna go buy them now.

After Christmas though, it’s on, man.

Speaking of Christmas

Starting this Saturday the 19th, I’m on vacation until January 4th. I have an entire 16 days off work in a row and because of the plague, I won’t really be going anywhere. Sure, I’ll play porch santa with friends and family – dropping their gifts off and running away – but I won’t be socializing or sharing meals with anyone aside from my husband. We might do some video calls to family but otherwise, nothing much.

That means I’m going to have a lot of open time, particularly the 21st through the 23rd, as I’m off work and my husband isn’t. So I’m gonna do a lot of reading. At least, I’m going to try to.

This is what (tentatively) I plan on picking up:

The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh – I picked this one up last night and am only a few pages in so far. I was luke warm to the first one, so I’m hoping I will enjoy this one more.

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead – This is my current audio book and again I’m only a tad into it. I think I bought this book when I was 14 or so. It was one of my first purchases when I really got into reading fiction, but for some reason I never actually picked it up. So here’s hoping I love it.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin – This is a buddy read I’m doing with a friend irl and honestly I feel like I’m reading a different book than everyone else. It gets super good reviews but honestly so far I’m not super impressed. Granted, I’m only about half way through so that could change but honestly it kinda reads like a fanfiction to me. If you’ve read this and loved it, please tell me what I’m missing (without spoiling if you can, please). This book we have on schedule to finish by the new year.

Renegade’s Magic by Robin Hobb – This is another buddy read! I’m reading this with Zezee @Zezeewithbook s and it’s a bit slow-going. I don’t know what it is about this book, but it’s lagging for me. I’m enjoying it for what it is, mind you, but it’s not the kind of book I can binge read. We’re doing four chapters a week at the moment, so this probably won’t be finished until 2021 unless something happens in the plot where it makes us go ‘LET’S JUST READ THE LAST 300 PAGES IN ONE SHOT NOW, OK’. But yeah, will be reading this, but probably won’t finish it with the pace (and I don’t know if my brain would let me even if we wanted to).

The Book of the Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick – This is another book I’ve owned for a long time, but haven’t read yet. I figured, it’s the perfect time of year. The Dead Days referred to in the book are the days between Christmas and New Year’s, so I’m gonna read it then! This is a favorite book of a buddy of mine so I’m hoping I love it too.

Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori – I used to love this series as a teen and figured it was time for a reread. I have the box set so I’m hoping to get through the whole thing. I feel like it’s been ages since I picked up a manga due to me trying to make that physical TBR goal so I’m particularly pumped about this.

Hands Off! by Kasane Katsumoto – This is another one I read back when I was a teen, and am rereading. I’m about half way through the series – on volume 5 out of 8, so I’m hoping to finish this one as well.

Hotel Africa by Hee Jung Park – I read vol 1 of this last year and loved it. I’m about half way through this one and am liking it as well! I only have volume 2 to read. There is a mysterious volume 3 listed on Goodreads but I don’t know if it ever actually came out or not. Ho hum.

~~~

And that’s it! I’m hoping to get to more manga as well honestly, but I don’t wanna lock myself into what exactly I’m going to read. Let me know what you’re planning on doing for the rest of the year because really, I’m just gonna be a lump and I’m so excited.

All the Christmas books I’ve read to date

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is ‘holiday freebie’, so I’ve decided to literally just list all the Christmas books I’ve read, in order of how much I liked them, because I gotta tell you, it’s fewer than ten. This doesn’t include like, picture books my parents read to me when I was little for Christmas. Chapter books, yes. Picture books, no.

So in order of least favorite to most favorite:

The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told by Jeff Guinn – This one is technically cheating, as I DNF’d the thing. I got about two thirds through it and had to put it down. It had gotten weird and basically started to pull a Bill and Ted, where Santa went around collecting people.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans – This one I read a while ago but I remember enjoying it. It follows a widow and her family as they find this Christmas box. It’s wholesome (but then again, so are most of the ones on this list).

Santa & Pete by Christopher Moore and Pamela Johnson – My mom read this book to me when I was little, one of the few I remember her reading. Usually it was my dad that read to us and mom would do other things to spend quality time, but in this case it was her reading. This story is told through a grandpa telling his grandson a tale while driving around on a city bus. I still reread the thing every few years.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – This one’s a classic and I feel like it’s not even worth going into what it’s about. This is really nice to read, though.

The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans – Out of the two Christmas books I’ve read by this guy, this one is my favorite. It’s a kinda-sorta Christmas Carol retelling? Kinda? It’s pretty good I think!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson – This is my favorite Christmas book, hands down. It’s also for the youngest audience. The cover above is not the one I have, but I chose it because the one I have on Goodreads is teeny tiny and wouldn’t resize well, so pbtbt. But this is another book I’m pretty sure my mom read to me. It’s about a town trying to put on a kid’s Christmas pageant and a bunch of rambuctious “problem” children get cast as the main roles. It’s about understanding the backgrounds of other people and wanting to help them anyways. It’s really sweet and I like it. My copy is riddled with holes and all ripped up. Yes, actual holes, apparently 8 year old me at some point took a hole puncher to the thing. Bad Emily.

~~~

And that’s it! Like I said, I didn’t have ten. I’m always on the hunt for new Christmas books though – I try to read one every year. This year I’m rereading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, but if you have any suggestions, do let me know! Happy Blogmas!