Most Anticipated Book Releases | June 2024

There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! 

This is what I’m looking forward to:


The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

Pop Star and Rock Star Romance Books

After watching the movie The Idea of You on Amazon Prime, which is inspired by the book The Idea of You by. Robinne Lee – it reminded me of when I was into rock star romances a few years ago. So I wanted to list a few of those books that I read and some newer ones about K-Pop stars since they are so big right now.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these!


When It’s Real by. Erin Watt

Wealth, fame and a real-life romance she never expected—seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett lands it all when she agrees to become a pop star’s fake girlfriend in this smart, utterly addictive novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt 

Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths. 

There’s nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy pop star’s got Grammy Awards, millions of fangirls and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he’s settling down—and who better to help him than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary

Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley’s image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She’ll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little. 

Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there’s no telling what your heart will do…

**I read this one when it came out in 2017 and I loved it! I’ll have to re-read it and do a full review and see if I still love it 7 years after I read it.**


Idol (VIP, #1) by. Kristen Callihan

Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.


Midnight Blue by. L.J. Shen

It should have been easy.
I needed the money. He needed a babysitter to keep him from snorting himself to death.
I was cherry-picked especially for him. Responsible. Optimistic. Warm. Innocent.
The worst part is that I should have known better.
Alex Winslow. British rock star. Serial heartbreaker. Casanova with whiskey eyes.
“Don’t get near the devil in a leather jacket. He’ll chew you up and spit you out.”
Guess what? I didn’t listen.
I signed the contract.
World tour. Three months. Four Continents. One hundred shows.
My name is Indigo Bellamy, and I sold my soul to a tattooed god.
Problem was, my soul wasn’t enough for Alex Winslow. He ended up taking my body, too.
Then he took my heart.
Then he took my all.

From bestselling author L.J. Shen, comes a new, standalone, contemporary romance.


Lick (Stage Dive, #1) by. Kylie Scott

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

** It’s been so long since I read this one but it’s part of a series. I didn’t read all of the books in the series but the ones I’ve read I did enjoy. My Goodreads review says I gave it 4 stars.**


Play (Stage Dive, #2) by. Kylie Scott

Kylie Scott returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to international bestseller Lick.

Mal Ericson, the drummer for the world-famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl.

Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

**I felt like I read this one? But it doesn’t say I did on my Goodreads.**


Lead (Stage Dive, #3) by. Kylie Scott

Stay up all night with the sexy rockers in Stage Dive, the epic New Adult series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, author of Lick and Play.

As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it’s booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.

Lena’s not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

**I apparently gave this one 4 stars on Goodreads which means I liked it a lot!**


Don’t miss a beat with the fourth and final novel in the USA Today bestselling Stage Dive series from Kylie Scott.

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible… but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

**I didn’t rate this one so I don’t think I read it but I really should, it’s a book that’s under 300 pages. Maybe I’ll re-read the whole series?**


The Mixtape by Brittainy Cherry

Since the death of his twin brother, Oliver’s caught between pleasing his fans and finding himself. Emery finds him first. Emery has never felt more alone. Raising her daughter is both her pleasure and her pain as she struggles to hold on to her job as a bartender and keep a roof over their heads. With no one to help them―no support system―any unexpected expense or late bill could turn their whole world upside down. Reeling from the death of his twin brother and bandmate, rock star Oliver Smith is trying to drink his problems away. Apparently he isn’t very good at it; they follow him wherever he goes. Also in hot pursuit are the paparazzi, who catch Oliver at his lowest low. He could have walked into any bar in California, but he walked into hers. Emery helps Oliver lose the crowd, and they find themselves two people whose paths are marked with loss and pain. However, they hold an unshakable hope for healing. They find solace together, but can their love withstand the world?

**I do remember reading this one! If you want to see my review just click here: The Mixtape by. Brittainy Cherry | Book Review **


XOXO by. Axie Oh

Cello prodigy Jenny has one goal: to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious, handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. But in a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure…before he disappears without a word.

Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she’s shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she’s enrolled for the semester. And he’s not just any student. He’s a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world—and he’s strictly forbidden from dating.

When a relationship means throwing Jenny’s life off the path she’s spent years mapping out, she’ll have to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

**K-pop romance is so popular right now. And I loved this one! Here’s my review: XOXO by. Axie Oh | Book Review **


ASAP (XOXO, #2) by. Axie Oh

New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh’s ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.

Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.

Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .

So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?

**Second book in the XOXO series! More K-pop romance and XOXO is still my favorite, but this was a good second chance romance story. Here’s my review: ASAP by. Axie Oh | ARC Review **


Somewhere Only We Know by. Maurene Goo

10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she’s just performed her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She’s about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She’s in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.

11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She’s very cute. He’s maybe curious.

12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same.

**All the books I featured in this post featured hot rock and pop boys, but hey the ladies are pop-stars too! So here’s one that I really loved – I even gave it 5 stars? Here’s my review: Book Review: Somewhere Only We Know **


Were you into a rockstar romance phase like me? 😅 It makes for such a fun, sometimes steamy, sometimes super sweet romance story.

Most Anticipated Book Releases | May 2024

There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! 

This is what I’m looking forward to:


The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

The Tortured Poets Department: Anthology – My Thoughts

Well, it’s finally out, The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift and it was a double album like she’s been hinting for so long with her 2’s. I’m Swiftie enough to follow all the easter eggs and clue and investigate things etc…I just go on TikTok and watch the people that do have theories – it’s fun but I don’t have the time! 😅 But I’ve been so curious about this album because of the grayscale or “greige” as she says in one song of her songs, it’s such a gloomy aesthetic. There is a lot of songs to process and just remember, this is just my interpretation of her songs and my first impressions. Everyone has their own and that’s all good! Let’s get into it:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone) – unexpected slow tempo, beat is very pop-synth, lyrics are interesting…(fortnight is 2 weeks – so is this about Matty Healy?!🤭 since they were so short lived in public last year), kinda thought Post Malone’s part would be more pronounced but I think I like it. This one is a grower I think.
  2. The Tortured Poets Department – slow tempo beat again, Matty again…”a tattooed golden retriever” lol…oh wow…this situationship she had with him really affected her – relatable!😅
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys – so far the beats feel the same, feels like one continuous song, slight differences here and there but tempo is the same and feels like the same song…”once I fix me, he’s gonna miss me” YUP…all the time. “stole my tortured heart, left all these broken parts” ouch.
  4. Down Bad – still kind of slow but I love the funky sounds it starts with – oh she said “fuck it if I can’t have him” – he really had her down bad! “I loved your hostile takeovers” – I felt that. He really screwed with her heart and brain. The ending sounds like a song from Lana Del Rey 🤔
  5. So Long, London – track 5? Will it break my heart? Love how it starts like bells chiming? Another slow one. Oh Joe…this one is sad and I think about their relationship or the ending of it. This one reminds me of Folklore and Evermore – and it makes sense because it’s co-written with Aaron Dessner and I LOVE her songs with him.
  6. But Daddy I Love Him – AH! this gives me Fearless/Love Story vibes and I love it! Another Aaron Dessner song. My favorite so far 🥰 maybe because it sounds so different from the first 5. Great lyrics – she even came for the fans who was going on and on about her and Matty “all this bitching and moaning” and that chaotic time! 😅 It is her life guys and girls, she’s grown enough to make her own mistakes and learn from it. Such a good song!!
  7. Fresh Out of the Slammer – back to slow but again, that guitar sound in the beginning and throughout giving me Lana vibes, maybe “Brooklyn Baby”?. She was in prison doing her time and now she’s out and running back to “him”. Whoa – tempo change.
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + the Machine) – someone explain Florida to me, or the significance of it. She mentions Florida in Fortnight too. Love how this song is more hard hitting at some parts of the song, love Florence’s voice. What happened in Florida?! lol…🤷🏻‍♀️. I know this one has layers, I just can’t decode it right now. Also…I’m realizing all these guitar sounding/Lana vibes are Jack Antanoff songs which makes sense.
  9. Guilty as Sin? – she’s fantasizing! Ah! 🤭 Kind of reminds me of her song “I Can See You”…fantasies. Question is who is she fantasizing about? 👀
  10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me – ohhhh this one is good. She screams, finally! Reminds me of 1989 and I’m a 1989 girly. Love this song and the theme. “I was tame, I was gentle till the circus life made me mean”. Seems like she’s talking about the entertainment industry and how it’s changed her.
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) – another slow one that gives me Lana vibes – oh Matty how you had her in a chokehold. But so relatable. “I can fix him, no, really, I can and only I can.” Yes, I have been this delusional but not anymore. LOL..love that she comes to her senses at the end of the song!👏🏼👏🏼
  12. loml – giving me Evermore vibes – UGH, this one is so good and such a sad, heartbreaker song. Thank you Aaron Dessner. “Talking rings and talking cradles”. I wanna say both about Joe and Matty.
  13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart – finally an upbeat song?! wow! Aw damn, her heart was breaking and broken but she had her Eras Tour, she kept going even with her broken heart…honestly she deserves to take a break as long as she wants! Very synth-pop.
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived – Aaron Dessner song again. “Cause it wasn’t sexy once it wasn’t forbidden.” This one reminds me of All Too Well…great story telling. Love it.
  15. The Alchemy – she likes her white wine. “Touch down”? Is this aTravis song?! 🤭 aww she’s saying why fight the magic happening between them – cute!🥰
  16. Clara Bow – yup another Aaron Dessner song, love how it sounds. Another song about her experience with fame and the music industry. As much as I love her sad love songs, I totally love any songs about herself and how she deals with fame, the public, the fans, etc…great song! “It’s hell on earth to be heavenly”. That’s heavy. I love how she mentions her own name at the end…almost like talking about the next starlet, a successor, who will have to endure this hell of the entertainment industry.
  17. The Black Dog – love how the hard guitars came in, I like this one a lot and probably need a few listens but I like how it builds.
  18. imgonnagetyouback – this one’s okay I think, still same slow tempo so it kind of sounds like other songs and nothing is really standing out for me on it – giving me 1989 vibes but I wish it was a little more dynamic maybe just to make it stand out a little more.
  19. The Albatross – Folklore vibes – gotta be an Aaron song. Love the sound, not sure what it’s about yet, need a few more listens but I love it. I think she’s saying she’s the albatross? Will have to see what people say about it.
  20. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus – Evermore vibes – wait – she mentions “scarlet maroon” and I was getting that it’s about Matty way before that line….but does this mean Maroon is about Matty?! Because I love Maroon and I didn’t feel like it was a Joe song. Whoa…”Will I always wonder?”. Oh that wondering and what ifs.
  21. How Did It End? – wow these extra songs are the Folklore/Evermore storytelling songs. Sad, sad song. ☹️ “It’s happening again, how did it end?” UGH. To go from ending it with Joe after 6 years, to the crazy ending with Matty right after? I don’t know how she did those first Eras Tours shows with all this going on.
  22. So High School – YES. guitars, drums! 1990’s/2000’s teen rom-coms?! Awww a Travis song!! I love it. So cute! Oh this is sooo high school, at least when I was in high school! lol I’m rooting for them.
  23. I Hate It Here – “secret gardens in my mind” yes…I escape too Taylor! Folklore/Evermore vibes again.
  24. thanK you aIMee – I saw this one being broken down on Tik Tok and I was like ohhhhh. I can definitely see it! It’s about a certain person who tried to tear Taylor down. Great song, just a big F-U to any person that’s tried beating you down.
  25. I Look in People’s Windows – this is an interesting song. “I’m addicted to the ‘if only'” – I used to relate to that! I’ll need a few listens on this one. I think this one is just okay for me.
  26. The Prophecy – Folklore/Evermore vibes – so so good, so witchy! Love the lyrics “please, I’ve been on my knees, Change the prophecy”. Ugh the begging. This is one of my favorites! Shades of “greige”?! Yes I had to google that word old. Gray/beige pallete.
  27. Cassandra – more Folklore/Evermore vibes! amazing storytelling “In a mourning warning no one heard.” WOW – tortured poets for real!! This one is deep – love it and need a few more listens!
  28. Peter – Peter Pan? Another Matty song? But this time a sad Matty song and not so much anger, more reflective. “And I won’t confess that I waited, but I let the lamp burn.” Sadness that she was pining for him that long.
  29. The Bolter – for sure the Aaron Dessner songs are probably some of my favorites in this whole Anthology! It’s the story-telling for me, I love it. I love that this one is a little upbeat since it’s kind of rare on this album.
  30. Robin – I think this song is about innocence. I picture Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh) but as a mom this is giving me so many visuals of children and my hopes of them to stay innocent as long as they can be.❤️ Sweet song.
  31. The Manuscript – hmmm looking back on All Too Well?! whoa…”But the story isn’t mine anymore.” She’s not going to dwell on it – good for her! I like this ending.


I need a few more listens to figure out which of 31 songs is my favorite. Top ones so far is But Daddy I Love Him, loml, and The Prophecy. I’m sure a few more will be growers. I know I love So High School

I will say this on my first two listens…I feel like it’s too slow in tempo and the first couple songs blend into one continuous song it feels like. It’s why I love But Daddy I Love Him, because it changed sound and beat, made me think of Fearless, which is a much needed switch up. Then it went back to slow tempo but I get it…it’s “The TORTURED POETS Department”…so these were going to be sad, slow songs! Who knows maybe it’s like Midnights and will grow on me?

It’s obvious I loved all the Aaron Dessner produced songs. The storytelling just shines and Folklore is in my top 3 Taylor albums. Funny, I never really listened to Evermore until this year! Yeah I don’t know why…I think during the pandemic and Folklore was on repeat, I couldn’t take more sad songs so I didn’t listen to Evermore. I took a chance this year and started listening to it and really love a bunch of songs on there!

It sounds like this album is Midnights/Folklore/Evermore combined with a few nods to Fearless and Red? I will say I am a 1989/Rep/Folklore girl so I’m happy about all the Aaron Dessner tracks – he and Taylor together make amazing music. Most of the songs on TTPD just felt like they blended into one which was just okay to me. I was waiting for a song to jump out at me and Florida! definitely did but I guess I should have expected something more low tempo since the theme was “greige”.

As for subject matter…wow! I didn’t anticipate it being a lot about Matty Healy but I TOTALLY get it and it allllll makes sense now with all that took place last year between them – she really unloaded all her feelings about this situation-ship. I love that there is a song or 2 about Travis – it’s the only happy tracks on this album! Of course the Joe was are just sad but definitely a goodbye. I think she already made 5 albums about their relationship so what else is there to say there? I love how she also addressed how people need to stay out of her business and if she wants to go wreck her life with some guy she’s so in love with – LET HER – she’s a grown up and she can make mistakes and learn from them too. 😅 Why is it always the bad boys that wreck you so bad? So relatable lol…and SO glad that phase of my life is over. She talks about her mental health a lot and she was really going through something bad and smiled through it all with a drink in her hand.

I love how she ends the Anthology with The Manuscript. Very much like “Dear Reader” but it’s definitely telling us that this whole chapter of messy guys, etc…is over for her. And I hope she does find Happiness and I’m rooting for her and Travis so hard but even if it’s not with him I think as fans we just want her to be okay. ❤️


And yeah…I bought the vinyl even though I have no record player. 😅 Last time I had a record player I was a kid and I would play my uncle’s records like Queen and my grandpa’s music from the 50’s. I’d beg to play with the records. I guess it’s time to get one! I have wanted to get some vinyls but I figured I didn’t need another expensive hobby. 😭 I bought The Albatross because I love the grayness of it and I liked the title of that song. I’m glad I love the song also now that I have heard it, but I now wish I had the vinyl for the DOUBLE album.

A poem from Stevie Nicks
Love this song!!
this song gutted me

This poem Taylor wrote is at the end of vinyl and I LOVE the line:

“A smirk creeps onto this poet’s face

Because it’s the worst men that I write best.”

😅 Because YES, we can’t have this album if Matty wasn’t the worst to her unfortunately. I don’t feel like Joe was the worst…I think they tried hard and it just fell apart.

Are you going to listen to the album? What did you think of the album?

I have been listening to a few major drops like Ariana and Beyonce’s records so I may do a post of them too since I haven’t been finding good books to read lately. 😔 At least music is doing it for me!

Most Anticipated Book Releases | April 2024

There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! 

This is what I’m looking forward to:


The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

Most Anticipated Book Releases | March 2024

There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! 

This is what I’m looking forward to:


The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

#5OnMyTBR: Title Starting with an ‘M’

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.

This week’s theme is: Title Starting with an ‘M’

Title: Meet Me at the Lake

Author: Carley Fortune

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s Muskoka lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?


Title: Mirrored Heavens

Author: Rebecca Roanhorse

The interwoven destinies of the people of Meridian will finally be determined in this stunning conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy.

Even the sea cannot stay calm before the storm. —Teek saying

Serapio, avatar of the Crow God Reborn and the newly crowned Carrion King, rules Tova. But his enemies gather both on distant shores and within his own city as the matrons of the clans scheme to destroy him. And deep in the alleys of the Maw, a new prophecy is whispered, this one from the Coyote God. It promises Serapio certain doom if its terrible dictates are not fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Xiala is thrust back amongst her people as war comes first to the island of Teek. With their way of life and their magic under threat, she is their last best hope. But the sea won’t talk to her the way it used to, and doubts riddle her mind. She will have to sacrifice the things that matter most to unleash her powers and become the queen they were promised.

And in the far northern wastelands, Naranpa, avatar of the Sun God, seeks a way to save Tova from the visions of fire that engulf her dreams. But another presence has begun stalking her nightmares, and the Jaguar God is on the hunt.


Title: More Than This (The Davenports, #2)

Author: Krystal Marquis

The anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller featuring escapist romance and a wealthy Black family in 1910s Chicago

Like the blazing Chicago sun, the drama is heating up for the Davenports and their social set. Before the summer of 1910 drops its last petal, the lives—and loves—of these four young women will change in ways they never could have imagined:

Newly engaged Ruby Tremaine is eagerly planning her wedding to the love of her life when a nasty rumor threatens her reputation and her marriage. Olivia Davenport has committed to the social justice cause and secretly hopes she’ll be reunited with dashing lawyer Washington DeWight—until her parents decide she’s to marry someone else. Amy-Rose Shepherd is making her lifelong wish of owning a salon come true, but when an incident forces her to return to Freeport Manor, she’s back in the path of John Davenport, who still holds her heart. Helen Davenport is determined to get over her own heartbreak and bring the Davenport Carriage Company into the new century, even if it means teaming up with a thrill-seeking racecar driver who just loves to get under her skin.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, More Than This is the second book in critically adored Davenports series, following four empowered and passionate young Black women as they navigate a rapidly changing society and discover the courage to steer their own paths in life—and love.


Have you read any of these? Or plan to read any of these?

>>>>>

February

  • 05/02/2024 — Artsy (character/setting/non-fiction…)
  • 12/02/2024 — Title Starting with an ‘M’
  • 19/02/2024 — Set in a Foreign Country (can be your own if you usually read about foreign ones or choose a different continent)
  • 26/02/2024 — Released in the Decade You Were Born

January

  • 01/01/2024 — New Year Freebie
  • 08/01/2024 — 2024 Releases
  • 15/01/2024 — The Longest on Your TBR
  • 22/01/2024 — Speculative
  • 29/01/2024 — Part of a Series

Most Anticipated Book Releases | February 2024

There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! And how pretty have these purple covers been so far this year? I love purple book covers!

This is what I’m looking forward to:


The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

#5OnMyTBR: Part of a Series

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.

This week’s theme is: Part of a Series

Title: The Grandest Game

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Get caught up in the puzzles, games, danger, romance, and riches of this lush new chapter in the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games saga.

Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers a brand-new series in the world of The Inheritance Games, where fan-favorite and new characters collide in a game you’ll never forget.

Do you have what it takes to play?


Title: Heavenbreaker

Author: Sara Wolf

Preorder now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, as well as exclusive endpapers and special design features. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run, a must-have for any book lover while supplies last in the US and Canada only.

They take what they want. They kill who they want. Now she’s going to end them all… From New York Times bestselling author Sara Wolf comes a pure adrenaline shot of a read―about retribution, catastrophic attraction, and becoming the fury within the machine.


Title: Ghostsmith

Author: Nicki Pau Preto

In this action-packed finale to the House of the Dead Duology, Wren and her friends put everything they know to the test as they battle the living and the undead to save their world.

Wren is still reeling from the revelation that the mother she thought was dead is actually the Corpse Queen, a ghostsmith with the terrifying power to control the undead. It was Wren’s own mother who created the iron revenants—an army of near unbeatable undead soldiers. When the iron revenants attack, no one in the Dominions will have the strength to stand in their way.

Now Wren, Leo, and Julian find themselves once more in the Breach, this time on the run from Wren’s father, who is determined to secure more power for himself and the House of Bone. The three are desperate to stop the upcoming war, but working together is easier said than done with Julian still furious about Wren double-crossing him. And to make matters worse, Wren is plagued by powerful new abilities that force her to reassess everything she knows about being a bonesmith.

When Wren’s long-lost twin brother shows up and vows to help her destroy the well of magic that feeds the iron revenants, she must decide if trusting him is worth potentially playing right into their mother’s hands.

After all, the dead might be dangerous, but it’s the living who can betray you.


Title: Reckless

Author: Lauren Roberts

The second heart-racing instalment in this bestselling and sizzling fantasy romance trilogy. Perfect for fans of Red Queen and The Hunger Games.

The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil…

After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn Gray has killed the King, and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she’s running from the one person she had wanted to run to.

Kai Azer is now Ilya’s Enforcer, loyal to his brother Kitt, the new King. He has vowed to find Paedyn and bring her to justice.

Across the deadly Scorches, and deep into the hostile city of Dor, Kai pursues the one person he wishes he didn’t have to. But in a city without Elites, the balance between the hunter and hunted shifts – and the battle between duty and desire is deadly.

Be swept away by this bestselling, kiss-or-kill romantasy trilogy taking the world by storm.


Title: Wisteria

Author: Adalyn Grace

#1 New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace delivers a sensational conclusion to the deathly and decadent Belladonna trilogy, with dramatic twists and a seductive new romance that will set readers’ hearts ablaze.

Blythe Hawthorn has never let anyone tell her what to do—not society, not her overprotective father, and certainly not the man she’s bound herself to, no matter how rude and insufferable he is. In fact, she’s determined to be a thorn in his side for the rest of her days, even as he ensures that her life in his palace is anything but a fairytale. But as Blythe discovers a new side of herself linked to his past, she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to let an unexpected spark ignite…and to discover the truth about who she really is.


Have you read any of these? Or plan to read any of these?

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January

  • 01/01/2024 — New Year Freebie
  • 08/01/2024 — 2024 Releases
  • 15/01/2024 — The Longest on Your TBR
  • 22/01/2024 — Speculative
  • 29/01/2024 — Part of a Series

#5OnMyTBR: Speculative

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.

This week’s theme is: speculative

Title: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Author: Suzanne Collins

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined — every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute… and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.


Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors.

Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles.

Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.
Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.


Title: Thunderhead

Author: Neal Shusterman

Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.

Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?

nature.


Title: The Toll

Author: Neal Shusterman

It’s been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver.

In this pulse-pounding conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead.


Title: Gleanings

Author: Neal Shusterman

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.


Have you read any of these? Or plan to read any of these?

>>>>>

January

  • 01/01/2024 — New Year Freebie
  • 08/01/2024 — 2024 Releases
  • 15/01/2024 — The Longest on Your TBR
  • 22/01/2024 — Speculative
  • 29/01/2024 — Part of a Series