Besides the seasonal Top Ten Tuesday prompts, my favorite ones are those that focus on new releases. Even though I have THOUSANDS of older titles on my TBR lists, my head is always turned by these bright, shiny up-and-comers. I love knowing what titles are forthcoming so I can get excited about reading them! So, yay for today's TTT topic: Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2025. 

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Thanks to ARCs, I've already read a few of the July-December titles I was looking forward to most, including:

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (available July 8)

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White (available July 22)

Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell (available July 29)

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (available July 29)

Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright (available August 1)

Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Colman (available August 19)

Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen (available September 23)

Outside by Jennifer L. Holm (available October 7)

The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan (available November 18)

(The title hyperlinks will take you to my review of the book on Goodreads.)

Here are ten I haven't read yet, in order of publication:

1. The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani (available July 8)—It's been a hot minute since I've read anything by Trigiani, but I've enjoyed many of her books in the past. This one centers around a woman whose heart has been broken by her recent divorce. When another tragedy hits, she retreats to her ancestral home in Italy, where she uncovers secrets about her family's past. As she learns more about her kin, she also learns more about herself and her place in the world, all of which might be exactly what she needs to heal and begin her life anew.

2. Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza (available July 15)—Although they were best friends in college, Bex and Lizzie haven't seen each other in years. Bex disappeared after graduation, eventually transforming herself into a trad wife who shows off her perfect family life to her millions of Instagram followers. When Bex reaches out, offering a struggling Lizzie an opportunity to share some of the limelight, Lizzie can't refuse. When Bex disappears again and her husband is found dead at their ranch, Lizzie is left with a million questions. Who is Bex now? What has she done to get where she is? Did she kill her husband or is she the one who's become a victim? It's up to Lizzie to find out.

3. D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. by Abby White (available August 5)—This YA novel stars the titular character, a teenage girl who is prepping for her bat mitzvah while also trying to figure out what really happened to her cousin. Everyone says Rachel took her own life; D.J. is convinced she was murdered.

4. The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols (available August 19)—Mrs. B is the landlady of a series of bungalows near the beach in Santa Barbara, California. She's careful about renters, letting only to people she cares about. As a result, she's surrounded by an eclectic group of lovable misfits. When an ex-con who maybe has the potential to be violent moves in and a dead body is soon found in the neighborhood, the police naturally suspect the former prisoner. Mrs. B is so sure he's not a murderer that she confesses to the crime herself. Her arrest prompts her tenants to form an investigation club to find the real killer and free their beloved landlady.

5. The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso (available August 26)—The time space is a library of books filled with the memories of the dead, one that can be accessed only by special timepieces that were passed down from father-to-son, although they're now mostly possessed by the government. Lisavet Levy is an 11-year-old girl who was hidden in the time space in 1938 by her watchmaker father, who never returned. When she discovers that government agents are destroying books in the time space, she sets out to save them. 

The premise of this one sounds complicated (I'm not sure if I've described it correctly), but intriguing. I'm in! 

6. The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (available September 9)—I'm probably going to have to reread the first five books in the Robert Langdon series before I move on to this sixth installment, but that's okay. In this newest book, the symbology professor is in Prague attending a lecture given by his new girlfriend, Katherine Solomon. She is about to publish an explosive new book that could shatter long-held beliefs about human consciousness. When a murder occurs and Katherine vanishes along with her manuscript, Langdon finds himself on a desperate, dangerous search for answers and for his missing girlfriend.

7. The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (available September 16)—Since I'm not totally sure I understand what this one is about, here's the official plot summary:

8. You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson (available September 16)—This short YA novel is supposed to be an "interactive" murder mystery, although I'm not quite sure on the details. At any rate, it's about a group of people, each of whom is hiding a guilty secret, who are invited by an anonymous source to a posh house party. When one of them is killed, seemingly without anyone seeing a thing, Scotland Yard is completely flummoxed. Needing a fresh pair of eyes, they call in, well, you, to solve the murder. 

Sounds fun!

9. The Whisper Place by Mindy Mejia (available September 16)—I reread the first book in Mejia's Iowa Mysteries series earlier this year, then read the second installment right after. Since I enjoyed both so much, I was thrilled to discover that a third one is coming out soon. Fortunately, I was able to secure an e-ARC, so I'm already a few chapters into this engrossing mystery.

Old friends Max Summelin (a longtime police officer) and Jonah Kendrick (a tortured psychic) have formed a private detective agency that is doing well, but not well enough to turn away business. So, when a scruffy young man drops $20,000 in cash on their desk, begging the duo to do anything necessary to find his missing girlfriend, they can't really refuse, no matter how sketchy the whole thing seems. Turns out, the young man doesn't even know his girlfriend's real name. Max and Jonah have their work cut out for them. Who is the young woman, really? Did she run away when her boyfriend started asking too many questions or did someone else cause her disappearance? 

10. 6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk (available September 23)— This murder mystery gets a low overall rating on Goodreads, but I don't care, I'm going to read it anyway! I love a locked room mystery and trains make such compelling settings for them. In this one, a writer is using the six-hour train ride from Toronto to Montreal to get some much-needed work done on her book. All of her plans go awry when her fellow passenger suddenly dies. Soon, the peaceful journey becomes a desperate race for survival against a vicious killer. 

There you are, ten upcoming titles that I'm excited to read. How about you? Which ones are you looking forward to? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. 

It's Election Day here in the U.S. and I've never been part of a more divisive one. Yikes! I can't wait until it's over. If you haven't voted yet, do it now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my candidate can pull off a win and also that the aftermath of the election will be peaceful and calm, no matter what happens. 

Instead of talking politics, let's yap about what we can all agree on: books. Today's TTT prompt—Top Ten Books With X On the Cover (You choose the item. It can be anything at all.)—sounds so simple, but I had the toughest time trying to come up with something unique. After discarding a bunch of different topics (keys/keyholes, lanterns, lights in the darkness, clocks, staircases, houses on cliffs, etc.), I decided to stick with a bookish theme. I love perusing bookshelves in libraries, bookshops, and homes, so it's no wonder that covers featuring them appeal to me. It was simple to put together this list, even if it feels a little generic. Oh well! Here we go.

(As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.)

1. The Legend of the Last Library by Frank L. Cole—This middle-grade dystopian/fantasy novel is my current read. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm already really enjoying it. It's about a teenage girl who lives in a world without trees. Paper is priceless and she needs money to pay for her grandpa's medical care. When she comes across an actual book—a marvel she's never seen with her own eyes—she's stunned. Although she could make a fortune by selling it, she discovers it contains clues to finding what could be the last library in the world. She needs that treasure, but she will have to face a fearsome foe in order to get it.

2. The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander—I'm listening to this cozy mystery on audio. It's the first in a new series starring Annie Murray, a bookseller with a degree in criminology. When a dead body is discovered during the book festival she organized, she's horrified. She's even more shocked when the dead woman turns out to be someone she once knew. In order to get justice for her acquaintance (no matter how much she disliked her), Annie must channel everything she knows about detecting and solve the puzzling murder.

3. Better Off Read by Nora Page—When a storm damages her town's library almost beyond repair, librarian Cleo Watkins refuses to just let it close. She takes to her trusty bookmobile to rally support for the library. She's not sure what to think when a man checks out all the books she has about getting away with murder—and then ends up dead. Cleo's best friend is accused of the killing, which can't be right. Using all the detecting skills she's learned from books, the librarian sets out to solve the case. 

4. The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss—This non-fiction title does exactly what is says it's going to: presents a history of bookstores in the U.S. It begins with Benjamin Franklin's shop in Philadelphia, stops in various other famous stores, and even takes a look at Amazon's bookselling empire. Sounds super interesting.

5. That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk—I've highlighted this thriller before, but since I still haven't read it, I'm going to include it again. On the eve of their graduation from college, seven students gather in the rare books library at their university. No one's supposed to be in the building after closing time, but they can't resist the atmospheric setting for an ancient Greek ritual they want to perform. It takes only minutes for the whole thing to go sideways. Soon, one student is dead. Then two. Who is the murderer? And will any of them survive the night?

6. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron—This non-fiction book was hugely popular here in the book blogosphere when it came out in 2008. Somehow, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. It tells the true story of an abandoned, frostbitten kitten who was shoved through the book return of a library in the small town of Spencer, Iowa. The employees took in the forlorn creature and nurtured him back to health. In return, he spread his warmth and love to all who knew him, earning him international fame.

7. An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly—Another cozy series opener, this one features twin sisters who receive a surprising inheritance from their grandfather: an antique bookstore in Ireland. Not long after they arrive in Shamrock Cove, they discover a well-known resident dying on his own doorstep. With his last breath and within hearing of many townspeople, he accuses one of the sisters of murder. Desperate to clear her name, the twins must band together to solve the case.

8. The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne—A winter storm traps several lonely people inside a library in a small Colorado town. As they ride out the weather, they share secrets, struggles, and strength. This sounds like such a warm-hearted, hopeful read!

9. Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly—I don't know any book lover who isn't envious of the Beast's library in the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. Who cares if it's a cartoon? That place is #personallibrarygoals. In this YA novel, Belle discovers a magical book on the library shelves that offers her everything she's ever dreamed of. Can she trust the promise of this tantalizing volume? Or is she safer staying put, even if she is being held prisoner by a snarly beast?

10. Double Booked for Death by Ali Brandon—This series opener sounds like a combination of #2 and #7. Darla Pettistone moves from Texas to New York when she inherits her great aunt's bookstore. Determined to prove she's up to the task of running the shop, she throws herself into organizing an author event. It's a roaring success...until the author ends up dead. The police call it an accident, but Darla's not so sure...

There you go, ten books on my TBR list whose covers feature bookshelves. Have you read any of these? What other books can you recommend that would fit this prompt? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also respond to comments left here.

I'm a little late to the party today, but I didn't want to miss my favorite weekly book blogger event. Today's prompt is an appropriate one for the start of a new year—Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2024—but I had so much fun with last week's topic—Top Ten Most Anticipated Reads Releasing in the First Half of 2024—that I decided to make a Part Two. (If you missed Part One, click here.) In addition to the up-and-comers on my TBR list that I didn't mention last week, I added a bunch more titles from your lists, and now I'm even more excited for 2024's exciting lineup of books.

Before we get to my list, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our hostess, Jana, some love.

- in order of release date -  

1. Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink (available February 1)—I'm not a big fan of romantic suspense, but this one sounds exciting. When Yosemite National Park is leveled by a massive earthquake, a K9 handler and his ex-fiancee are thrown together to save the life of her young daughter. With dangers both natural and human throwing roadblocks in their way, they are quickly running out of time to save the child and themselves.

2. Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin (available February 6)—When a young widow escapes to London after the Nazis invade The Netherlands, she becomes separated from her 4-year-old son. While working to help a British agency evacuate children to safety, she enlists the help of a handsome journalist to help her locate her lost boy. With bombs and a series of murders causing chaos in London, it's becoming increasingly clear that they are running out of time and into more danger than either one of them bargained for. 

3. Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber (available February 20)—You all know I can't resist a Titanic book! Based on a true story, this historical novel concerns the Fortune sisters, three siblings returning home to the U.S. from their Grand Tour in Europe. Their voyage on the grandest ocean liner ever built changes all of their lives in irrevocable ways.

4. The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker (available February 20)—Billed as Orphan Train meets Water For Elephants, this historical novel concerns a young orphan who finds unexpected acceptance and belonging when she is sold to a traveling circus at four years old. Almost 100 years later, she receives a DNA kit as a gift, the results of which open up old secrets and new questions about her family, her past, and herself.

5. Baby X by Kira Peikoff (available March 5)—In this futuristic thriller, DNA from anyone can be used to create babies. Celebrity DNA is especially desirable, creating a thriving black market for eager fans who are also prospective parents. In an effort to prevent the theft of his biological matter, singer Trace Thorne hires Ember Ryan, a bio-security guard, to protect his interests. Despite Ember's strict protection, a pregnant woman claims to be carrying Trace's child. Is it true? What are Trace and Ember going to do about it? 

6. These Tangled Threads: A Novel of Biltmore by Sarah Loudin Thomas (available April 2)—Almost a decade ago, the friendship between Lorna Blankenship and two of her friends was torn apart by a betrayal. Now, Lorna, a master weaver, has been given the opportunity of a lifetime to design a gown for Cornelia Vanderbilt's society wedding. In order to do it, she will have to face past secrets and hurts in order to reunite the women and enlist their help in accomplishing her monumental, life-changing task.  

7. The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi (available April 9)—Based on a true story, this historical novel tells the story of Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective. Also a Union spy, she's tasked with befriending a Confederate socialite. With a working-class background and secrets of her own that must stay hidden, that may be more difficult than it seems. If she can succeed in her mission, it could mean the end to America's bloody Civil War. 

8. That Night in the Library by Eva Jurczyk (available June 11)—On the eve of their college graduation, seven students sneak into their school's rare books library to perform a Greek-inspired ritual asking for wisdom from the Gods. Minutes after they start, the lights go out and one member of the group drops dead. As more students die, the others must root out the murderer before it's too late for them all. 

9. The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant (available June 18)—Emlyn is happy with the simple life she lives as a hunting and fishing guide in the wilds of Idaho, far away from her past life. When an old flame seeks her out to enlist her help in finding a mutual friend, who seems to have disappeared, Emlyn is reluctantly pulled back into a world she's desperate to leave behind. She can't deny that her survival skills make her especially suited for the task, so she reluctantly agrees to follow the man she once loved into the woods to search for her former best friend in spite of the increasing danger.

10. Secrets of Rose Briar Hall by Kelsey James (available June 25)—In Gilded Age New York City, a beautiful young woman marries a wealthy stockbroker and moves into his luxurious mansion. Everything changes after the party she throws for her husband's powerful associates goes awry somehow. Millie can't recall what happened at the event, but it must have been horrible for her friends to have shunned her, leaving her alone and bewildered in her cold, empty house. What really happened on the night of the party? 

There you go, ten more 2024 releases I'm looking forward to reading. Do any of them strike your fancy? What new releases are you excited to crack open? What are your bookish goals for 2024? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also reply to comments left here (although I am a week behind at the moment).