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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (4)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)

International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (4)
- China (2)
- England (27)
- France (2)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (3)
- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 50 books. 104% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


51 / 52 books. 98% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


37 / 40 books. 93% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


25 / 25 cozies. 100% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


5 / 26.2 miles (4th lap). 19% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


51 / 100 books. 51% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


98 / 109 books. 90% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


139 / 165 books. 84% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


88 / 100 names. 88% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


40 / 80 skills. 50% done!
Tuesday, May 01, 2018

TTT: The Early Bird Gets the ARC


One of the perks of being a book blogger is gaining access to books before they become available to the general public.  This is especially exciting if a book's written by a favorite author and/or is creating lots of early buzz in the publishing world.  While ARC availability/distribution has changed a lot over the years I've been blogging, I still get a fair amount of them, which is one of the things that keeps this gig exciting!  I'm not the only one whose greedy little heart beats triple time at the thought of hot new ARCs on my doorstep, as is evidenced by today's TTT topic:  Top Ten Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early.

Before we get to that, though, make sure you head over to That Artsy Reader Girl to get the low-down on this fun weekly meme.  You're definitely going to want to make your own list every week and join in—it's always a good time, I promise!  It's a great way to spread the love throughout the book blogging community while adding to your TBR mountain chain (because you can NEVER have enough reading recommendations, amirite?).

I have to say first off that I wouldn't actually slay a lion for the following books because (1) I'm not into animal cruelty, (2) I'm a pretty big wimp (Simba would eat me long before I got anywhere close to him), and (3) I'm not that desperate.  I wouldn't be above begging for the following, though:

Top Ten Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early



1.  The Witch Elm by Tana French (available October 9, 2018)—Although details have been pretty hush-hush, Book Riot swears the Irish crime novelist's newest will be appearing in early October.  Supposedly, it's a standalone (French's first) about a boy (man?) who discovers a skull on his family's land while he's in town taking care of his uncle.  Honestly, I don't care if it's about how grass grows, I want to read it!


2.  The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton (available October 9, 2018)—Publishing on the same day as the above, is Morton's newest.  I adore everything I've ever read by her, so naturally I'd be stoked to get an early copy of this one, which appears to follow a similar dual-timeline plot as all her other novels. 


3.  A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (available October 2, 2018)—I'm a long-time Picoult fan, so I'm excited about this one.  It's about a desperate gunman who rushes into a women's health clinic and holds the people inside hostage.  I'm down for what sounds like another tense, thought-provoking story from one of my favorite authors.


4.  The newest from Kristin Hannah—Yeah, yeah, I know Hannah just barely published The Great Alone.  I loved that book and The Nightingale, so I'm anxiously waiting for her next big, immersive novel.  I snagged an early copy of The Great Alone, so I'll keep my fingers crossed ...


5.  Al Capone Throws Me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko (available May 8, 2018)—I had no idea there was another book in this fun series coming out until I got an email offering me an early copy of it.  Score!  It's on its way to me as we speak and I'm super excited.  If you haven't read Choldenko's excellent middle grade series about life as a kid living on Alcatraz during the 1930s, you really should.


6.  A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs (available August 21, 2018?)—It feels like I've been waiting decades for this one to come out and it looks like the wait isn't over yet.  Reichs just announced that, because of health issues, she's going on sabbatical and won't be releasing the book when planned.  Bummer.  I have to see what happens next to Tempe Brennan, my favorite forensic anthropologist, so an early copy of this one would be especially awesome!


7.  In Her Bones by Kate Moretti (available September 4, 2018)—This one certainly sounds intriguing!  It's about Edie, a woman who becomes obsessed with the families of her serial killer mother's victims.  When Edie is accused of murdering one of them, she launches a desperate search for the truth in an (probably futile) effort to clear her name. 


8.  When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica (available September 4, 2018)—Kubica's latest is about a woman whose social security number raises some surprising red flags.  As she tries to figure out what's going on, insomnia plays with her mind making her wonder what is true and what is not.  ARC, please!


9.  The Second Life of Ava Rivers by Faith Gardner (available August 28, 2018)—I've read a few books with this premise, but I still find it fascinating: a person who disappeared as a child returns suddenly as a young adult, leaving their family with more questions than answers.  I'm in! 


10.  White Elephant by Emily Raymond (available December 4, 2018)—This one's a heartwarming holiday tale about an intense white elephant gift exchange in which an ugly vase, which was once used as a murder weapon by one of the participants, comes up for grabs.  Who added the vase to the exchange?  What do they know?  I was just kidding about the "heartwarming" part, but still, this one sounds compelling.  I'd be happy to find an early copy in my mailbox!

So, there you have it, ten books I would be stoked to receive early.  Which ARCs are you most coveting right now?  For which others should I be begging my contacts?  Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor.

Happy TTT!

38 comments:

  1. Ooooo! Kate Morton has a new book coming out? Fun! I’ve only read one of hers but I loved it and have all her others torturing me. I’ll get to them soon...hopefully.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read and loved them all, so I can't wait for a new one!

      Delete
  2. That Tana French novel does sound good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a little disappointed that it's not a standalone, but that's okay -- I'll read anything French writes!

      Delete
  3. In Her Bones is definitely going on my list! The new Tana French was on my list today too even though I've not yet read her other series... terrible! I know. It's on my goal list for the year. :)

    http://www.fortheloveofwords.net/top-ten-tuesday-books-id-fight-a-care-bear-for/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds good, doesn't it? And I love Tana French, I just wish she would publish more often. I love her Dublin Murder Squad books -- it will be interesting to see how a standalone from her differs from her series books.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  4. The Kate Morton novel would be wonderful since I have read all of her captivating novels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't she great? She's one of my all-time favorite writers.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. That cover for Jodi Picoult is gorgeous!! I like the French books that I've read. Only two.. I'm slacking!! LOL! Great list! Thanks for stopping by my blog :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. French doesn't publish very often (every 2-4 years), so you have time to catch up!

      Delete
  6. I like the looks of the Al Capone book, and I am a Jodi Picoult fan also-though I read her sparingly as I always get emotional!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! Picoult likes to write about controversial issues. I don't always agree with what she says, but her books do make me think about things in different ways.

      The Al Capone books are great. I had no idea there were kids on Alcatraz living alongside the most dangerous criminals in America. Choldenko really brings this fascinating historical setting to life.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  7. White Elephant sounds super intriguing! I'll have to add it to my tbr :)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does, doesn't it? It has such a simple but intriguing premise!

      Delete
  8. Kate Morton's novels have the prettiest covers. I've always wanted to read The House at Riverton but just haven't gotten around to it yet, lol. Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they really do! They're really good reads, too. You should definitely give her a try.

      Delete
  9. I so want to give Tanya French a try. I've been meaning to for years but just haven't. Kristen Hannah too. I've heard a lot about her lately. I started watching the show Bones before I read the first 3 books. I got so involved in the show that I quit reading. I haven't watched the show in many seasons though so I might give Kathy Reichs another try...sad to hear about her health issues though. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read everything French has published and I love it all! I've only read a couple Hannah books, but I've enjoyed them as well. As for Kathy Reichs, it's funny ... I love the Tempe books but could never get into Bones. I think I was too weirded out by how different the books are from the show! I do hope Reichs gets better soon and that she'll be able to write again. It would be sad if she couldn't!

      Delete
  10. Ooh, these all look so good! A Spark of Light looks particularly interesting, especially since I haven't read anything by Jodi Picoult yet and I really want to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You haven't? I really like her books, although I feel like her older ones are better than her newer ones. I hope you enjoy her writing when you read her.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  11. This is a really interesting list! I haven't read enough mystery and thriller novels, so this is a great jumping-off point!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes it seems like all I read is mystery/thrillers! I just can't get enough of them, even when they give me nightmares. LOL.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete
  12. Great list. I haven’t read any Jodi Picoukt books yet but I have heard great things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like her books. She generally takes a hot-button issue and examines it from every side through her characters' different experiences/outlooks. Her books always entertain me and make me think at the same time.

      Thanks for stopping by, Jolene!

      Delete
  13. Oh wow, In Her bone sounds awesome. And her mom is the serial killer? Fascinating. I'm also curious about White Elephant now too!!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? The premise totally hooked me! I can't wait to see how the story plays out. WHITE ELEPHANT intrigues me, too, especially because the premise is so simple but so chilling.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  14. A Spark of Light was on my list this week too!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/top-ten-tuesday-157/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always look forward to a new Picoult book. I like some of hers better than others, but they are always entertaining.

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  15. My favorite on this list is the new Jodi Picoult! Love the cover and the description.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always look forward to her books. It's interesting to see which issues she chooses to tackle and how she handles it in the story. Sounds like A SPARK OF LIGHT will definitely spark some conversation :)

      Delete
  16. I'm glad there's another Al Capone book coming!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! It's such a great series.

      Thanks for coming by, Jennifer!

      Delete
  17. I definitely need that new Kate Morton! I don't want to wait to October. I've got a few books to catch up with Tana French so I do have something to read until then. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I've never gotten a paper ARC of a Morton book, although I think her last one might have been on Netgalley? I can't remember, but I CAN hope :)

      Delete
  18. I should really try Kubica one of these days. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've only read one of her books and I didn't love it. Her newest looks really good, though!

      Delete
  19. When the Lights Go Out sounds good! Thanks for the heads up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I hope the story lives up to that intriguing premise.

      Thanks for coming by!

      Delete

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