My 10 before the End (of 2024)
In no particular order…
1- The Nightmare before Kissmas – Sara Raasch
I recently picked up this book at a local bookstore and knew I wanted to read it during the holiday season. It's about the Prince of Christmas and the Prince of Halloween falling for each other while both going after the Princess of Easter. It seems like a very fun holiday book, and I fear if I don’t get to it by the end of the year then I will want to wait until next holiday season to read it.
2- An Unkindness of Ghosts – River Solomon
A science fiction book that tackles hard to discuss topics like race, politics, and social issues. It follows Aster who works aboard a spaceship called the HSS Matilda which is on a trip to a fabled promise land. The ship leaders have imposed restrictions on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster and she finds herself on the brink of a civil war. This book sounds like a deep and important read that I am excited to get to. I have been enjoying science fiction books as of late and was excited to add this to my TBR.
3-Wrapped with a Beau – Lillie Vale
A Christmas read from last year that I refuse to let pass me again, a holiday romance. In this book, we meet Elisha Rowe who is a film liaison trying to get permission to film a holiday movie in her hometown, and Ves Hollins, the owner of the house needed to film the movie. It has a grumpy – sunshine, forced proximity, and small-town tropes. I am very excited to dive in this Christmas season.
4- Educated – Tara Westover
Educated has been a book I have long heard of but only recently picked up. I plan to read it for my book club's quarter 4 reading challenge, and I have already ventured about a third into the book. The book follows Tara as she grows up in a fundamentalist Mormon family who doesn’t believe in going to school, modern medicine, or help from the government. Tara first steps into a classroom at age 17 and her life is forever changed. So far, I find this to be a highly interesting read and I understand why it has won awards. I am eager to finish it and see where Tara’s journey with schooling goes.
5- Heartless Hunter – Kristen Ciccarelli
I have a large mental block around picking up books that don’t have sequels out yet, but my pile of new releases is getting too large to let that stop me. I have heard nothing but great things about Heartless Hunter which is a book about a witch and a witch catcher who use each other for different reasons and end up learning a lot about each other and their world along the way. I am very eager to dive in and already have the sequel preordered.
6-Witch of Wild Things – Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
It's a cozy fall read I hope to get to in the next month or so. The book follows Sage Flores as she returns to her hometown after leaving 8 years earlier. She comes from a family with generations of magic, and hers is the ability to communicate with plants. When she returns to her hometown, she must work with her high school boyfriend to try and find rare plants, and a second chance romance is brewing.
7- Lovelight Farms – B.K. Borrison
Another Christmas novel this story is about two best friends who pose as a couple to try and win a social media contest to save a Christmas tree farm. I’ve heard great things about it, and I am very excited to jump in. I already read the sequel and enjoyed it, so I am excited to read this best friends-to-lovers, small-town Christmas romance.
8- Lost and Lassoed – Lyla Sage
Lost and Lassoed is the third book in Lyla Sage’s cowboy romance series called Rebel Blue Ranch. As a huge fan of books 1 and 2, I have been waiting impatiently for this release. This book features Teddy and Gus, who are mentioned in the first few books. Teddy is Gus’s little sister's best friend. When Gus is overwhelmed over the summer with his daughter and running the family ranch, Teddy steps in to help. Featuring enemies to lovers, single dad, and forced proximity, I think this will be a great addition to the series.
9- Scythe – Neil Shusterman
I received Scythe for Christmas two years ago and have yet to pick it up. Part of my resolution was to read more of my physical TBR and thus I will be putting off Scythe no longer. This book follows two teens who are trained to kill people in a world where no other causes of death exist. It's part of a trilogy, with an add -on fourth book.
10- A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
A classic Christmas story about a man haunted by ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. I wanted to add a classic Christmas book to my list this year and A Christmas Carol is my favorite story. I love watching all the renditions from Mickey Mouse and Muppets to the classic animation and newer live action. I am excited to finally sit down and read the story that I love so much.
