January TBR + New Releases

Happy New Year, friends! I love the fresh start a new year brings (yes, even though there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st compared to any other day) because I feel like my motivation and energy levels are automatically set back to 100%. Kind of like drinking a good cup of coffee without the shakes and pounding heartbeat.

I've chosen BALANCE as my word for 2018, which is something I've been trying to work out for quite some time now. There are so many different things I want to do, but I am terrible at choosing how much time I spend on each "thing." I guess this applies to today's post because I am always overly ambitious in picking the books I want to read each month. Now, I want to be realistic and allow breathing space for the times I want to do something other than read!

JANUARY TBR 📚

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
I started this one before I went on vacation in mid-December, so finishing it shouldn't be a problem. I know it means I am committing myself to yet another fantasy series, but I am giving myself permission to take as long as I need between books one and two. I've heard it referred to as "the YA version of Game of Thrones," which I cannot say is accurate because I don't read or watch Game of Thrones, so do with that what you will! :p

The Round House by Louise Erdrich
This is the January pick for Joce's book club, Storytime with Squibbles! As with the rest of the books she's picked, I haven't heard of this one. Amazon's description states, "it is an exquisitely told story of a boy on the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family."

The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel
Here's to another year of actually reading the books I own! Blaedel is releasing another book in February (not connected to The Forgotten Girls) so I wanted to test the waters and see if she's an author I want to continue with. I sense this will be a creepy read, which I have been into this past year! (Still, don't ask to watch a scary movie with me. That is on an entirely different playing field and I will pee my pants.)

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Since the movie is out already, I thought it would be appropriate to finally read this book. I started it about a week ago, while I was in Hong Kong, and I love it already. Yes, this one is meant for younger readers, but I've already found value in reading from young August's perspective.

RELEASES I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ✨

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black // January 2nd
"Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself."

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely // January 2nd
"Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great ... the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot."

Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined to Meet edited by Jennifer L. Armentrout // January 2nd
"Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. Meet Cute is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today's most popular YA authors."

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner // January 9th
"When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution humanity has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and their message leads to the planet Gaia, a treasure trove waiting to be explored. For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an ancient alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study ... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Despite their opposing reasons for smuggling themselves onto the alien planet's surface, they're both desperate to uncover the riches hidden in the Undying temples. Beset by rival scavenger gangs, Jules and Mia form a fragile alliance ... but both are keeping secrets that make trust nearly impossible."

What are you planning to read this month?