Tag: new releases

To Be Read

2023 New Releases TBR

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One of the things that excites me the most about a new year is the list of all the cool things that are coming in that new year. However, I’m not a very patient person, but I try! With that being said, of course, I can’t write blog posts in January and NOT make a 2023 New Releases TBR. If you read last week’s post, you know one of my reading goals this year is to read at least 12 new books, and I’ve already been doing some research and picking out a handful. Let’s jump right into the books I’m so excited to get my hands on when they come out:

A mystery thrill set in Alaska where a stranded detective tries to solve a murder. I love mysteries. I love the small town vibe. I love the idea of the great Alaskan outdoors. So I’m excited to pick this one up. I’ve been saying for a long time that I like detective fiction and want to love it and really see it take off, so hopefully this one is a bit of a catalyst. Yamashita is a new author to me, but I’m not worried. If you’ll notice, most of the books on my TBR this year are thrillers and that’s partly because I really want out of this horrible slump and partly because I think this is the year that the mystery thriller genre comes out on top. We shall see!

When Vera Wong finds a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, she takes the flash drive in his hand before alerting the police. After all, who else is going to solve this case if not the lonely shopkeeper? Okay, I can’t tell if this book is supposed to be a super serious murder mystery, a cutesy one, a humorous one. But no matter what, I think I’m totally here for it. The title had me hooked, the idea of the nosy older neighbor lady trying to solve a mystery just reminded me so much of my grandma. She was the neighbor that watched the neighborhood through her window (though she honestly didn’t gossip and stir up trouble, she was just genuinely interested in her neighborhood) and she loved a good mystery. I’m hoping this one is a fun read!

A fake dating story where the couple, Harriet and Wyn can’t admit to their break up and break their family’s hearts. Even though I don’t care for romance, the fake dating trope is one that I tend to enjoy. Plus, it seems like everything Henry writes just instantly becomes a best seller, so obviously I want to pick this one up and see what all the inevitable hype is about. You guys know I try to pick up a few super popular books a year just so I can join in on the conversations and I think this will definitely be one of them!

When Nina’s husband, Jake, first does missing, she thinks he just needs time and space. But when she doesn’t hear from him for five days, she realizes he’s missing. What she doesn’t realize is her friend and coworker, Lily Scott, knows exactly what happened. But she’s decided not to tell.

I read Local Woman Missing and enjoyed it, so of course I don’t mind picking up Kubica’s latest mystery. I think she’s really making a name for herself in the mystery genre, which is exciting, because even though Local Woman Missing wasn’t just a stand out, to die for, I totally loved it read for me, it was enjoyable. So I’m interested to see if this is just as thrilling and twisty!

Set in an affluent New England suburb, the powerful town decides to protect their own when a young woman is found dead. First off, can I say that I love the name? That’s a weird little fact about me, but I love books that have the names of streets as their title. Don’t ask me why, because I honestly could not tell you. Anyway, I’m super intrigued by the idea of a rich, guarded town getting in the way of a murder investigation. Lately I’ve been really into a well-developed setting and very atmospheric pieces, so this one feels like it might fit that bill. We’ll wait and see, but I’m hopeful.

Six years after a perplexing murder in South, a journalist, is in search of the truth. Maybe it was just the cover, but this book gave me serious fantasy vibes. I swear I read somewhere that it low fantasy, but anyway, it’s definitely a mystery, which is so interesting to me. And even though I’ve been having a total love-hate relationship with fantasies in the last few years (I want to love them so bad, but I always end up so unimpressed by them every stinkin’ time) I really need one on my TBR that I’m excited about.

What new releases are you guys excited about checking out in 2023? Let me know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow my blog for more discussions about the latest and greatest reads.

Happy reading,

-kj

Book Lists

2022 Books That Weren’t For Me (2022 Miss List)

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Tis the season to be kind and hopeful and thankful. And believe me, I am. Just look at last week’s post about all the new releases I really liked this year. However, with the good, come the bad, so of course I have to make my miss list for 2022.

My usual disclaimer before I jump in: I’m not saying any of these books are bad. In fact, I can see how someone might enjoy any of them! However, they were just really not for me. Sorry.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s jump right in, because I have so much to cover.

Lux McCallister and her boyfriend, Nico, have been hired to sail two women to a remote island, but the job quickly turns into something neither of them could have ever imagined out of what should have been easy money.

I’ve talked about this one in my post about Hot Books That Weren’t For Me when I was talking about a different Hawkins book. Overall, though, the main character spent too much time telling me she was tough than actually being tough and the whole story just wasn’t as interesting as I wanted it to be. Cool concept, just wasn’t executed in a way that meshed with my taste.

Chloe Davis has believed her father was behind the six teenage girls who went missing in her small Louisiana town when she was a child. Now he’s in prison and Chloe starts to question whether or not he’s really guilty.

I wanted to love this book. I even talked about it in my Thriller Beach Reads Reviews, but I was just bored. It was a generic mystery where I didn’t love the writing style and I just felt like I had to pull myself through the story. Honestly, I only didn’t DNF it because of the Netflix series (which I haven’t watched) and because I knew it was going to blow up, so I wanted to be able to have conversations with people about it. Now I wish I had just picked up something else, because this one just really wasn’t for me.

When Merritt Coletto opens the door and finds her husband’s first wife, Lydia—a woman who had been missing for ten years and was presumed dead—she doesn’t know what to think. Lydia has a harrowing tale about how she escaped from her kidnapper and his torture, but the more Merritt tries to help, the more she realizes that Lydia has more secrets than just her disappearance.

Actually, I read this book because of a March Bingo Competition we were doing at school. And I picked this one because it was a one word title, it was relatively short, and it was a new release, which gave me a bingo and another check on my reading goals. I talk more about the book in my Thriller Beach Reads Reviews, but overall, I was kind of bored with the style. It just wasn’t a real page turner like I had wanted. The premise is awesome, but the execution just wasn’t what I expected from the synopsis.

Shea Collins runs a true crime website where she attempts to solve cold cases—or at least figure out whether there’s more to the story. Then she gets the opportunity to interview Beth Greer, the rich woman who seems to be the perfect suspect for Lady Killer Murders that were never solved forty years earlier. Shea may be the only person who manages to uncover the truth before it’s all too late.

Another book I talked about in my Thriller Beach Reads Reviews, and the whole reason I didn’t like this book is entirely my fault. I saw it blowing up everywhere and it sounded interesting, so I knew I had to get my hands on it, but I should’ve done my due diligence. This is a horror story, which I don’t mind, I just wasn’t expecting. So the twists were cheapened (wouldn’t have been if I had been wanting a horror instead of a straight thriller). I can get why it was so popular, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Reece has always dreamed of working on the popular cooking show Friends of Flavor, and when it finally happens she gets more than she bargained for, including her own series with the other intern Benny. The only problem is, they’re both competing to earn the same fall job.

I talked about this one in my Romance Beach Reads Reviews. And I don’t like to be rude at all, I don’t like to be totally negative about books, but I gave this one a one star review, because I genuinely did not like it at all. Honestly, I can’t tell you why I finished it. After twenty pages I knew I was going to really, really not like it, but I soldiered through, thinking it would be huge with my students (which it’s done okay). But it was so preachy and so self-important and so wannabe relevant that it hurt. Nope. No. Just not for me at all.

Solange Pereira was just supposed to help her wedding planner cousin on a random couple’s big day when she accidentally ruins the entire event. Now the would-be-groom needs a pretend girlfriend to impress at his job just as badly as she needs a pretend boyfriend to impress her family.

I don’t really like romance, but this one kind of got big overnight for a while, so I thought why not try it out. It was poised to be the new The Love Hypothesis so I grabbed it. And it’s basically just smut with a fake dating plot somewhere in the background. If that’s your thing, you would love this book. The writing wasn’t terrible or anything. It’s just not what I’m crazy for in a book.

Leo wants to reconnect with his first love, Lily Wilder, who is trying to buy back her beloved family ranch by taking tourists on fake treasure hunts. Except, what happens if the treasure appears to be real?

Everyone loved this one and I wanted to love it to. I love the idea of a treasure hunt and this kind of adventure/mystery vibe. I was even prepared that it was supposed to be a romance. But overall, I just didn’t care for it. The characters didn’t really grab my attention, the premise wasn’t as high stakes as I felt like it seems in the synopsis. It just didn’t fully deliver on any of its promises of being a good adventure, a good mystery, or a good romance. It was just kind middle level in my opinion. Not a bad book at all. I can see why people loved it. I just didn’t.

Violet is a morally gray witch who falls in love with a cursed prince and must help him survive the prophecy that predicts his death and the destruction of his kingdom.

I talked about this one in Sequels I Won’t Be Reading, but basically, it’s like every other YA fantasy on the market from the last five years. MC is a bad, tough girl that just wants to tell you she’s bad and tough and also that she’s morally gray instead of just doing what she needs to do in the story. It’s very much a telling story as opposed to a showing story. That’s just not what I enjoy. It’s fine as a YA fantasy, just not what I want.

Anastasia Allen has her sights set on the USA Olympic figure skating team when suddenly her college’s ice rinks are combined and she’s forced to share practice time with Maple Hill’s hockey team, including their dreamy captain Nathan Hawkins.

This book was only a little teeny-tiny bit better than Love From Scratch in my opinion, because instead of just making broad statements about how relevant it was, the story just kind of was more relevant (if that makes sense). The characters were annoying and I kept waiting for them to grow and change and become…better? But they just never did. And I forced myself through this book for essentially nothing. People that love no stakes romance will love this. I just don’t.

What did you guys think this year? Were there any new releases that just weren’t for you? Did you like (or hate) any of the ones that made my miss list? Let me know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow my blog for more reading roundups.

Happy reading

-kj

Book Lists

Best Books of 2022 (2022 Hit List)

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It’s that time of year again where I do my year-end round ups! I always love these, because I get a chance to just really review what a year I’ve had for reading. This year, I hit a serious reading slump in the fourth quarter, just because I was so, so busy at work, so even though I hit my reading goals, I still feel like I didn’t read quite as much as a I wanted to. Nonetheless, I did read a lot more new releases this year than I ever have before and I wanted to get through as many of the books as I could.

I try to avoid super big posts because I’m busy, you’re busy, I like things to be short and sweet, but I will say that I compiled this list by going back and looking at my Goodreads and picking which books stood out for me. I’ve talked about each one before, so I’ll just share a few thoughts on each, but please keep in mind that sometimes the timing and distance has made me change my feelings about books a little (but probably not a lot).

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s jump into the best 2022 releases I read:

As a senior in high school, Micah Wilkes boyfriend was convicted of murdering her best friend. Now, ten years later, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about her friend’s death.

This one I talked about in my Thriller Beach Reads. Overall, the mystery was solid, the writing was good, and the whole premise was engaging. I’m not saying it’s my favorite thriller ever, but it was definitely one that I got some enjoyment out of!

When Kit Walker was abducted by Manny Romero, she found herself becoming his partner-in-crime. But as he becomes abusive, she makes her escape. Now, thirteen years later, she’s made a home for herself and her daughter when Manny shows up, claiming to be a changed man.

I’ve talked a bit about this book already, (and even did a full review), so some of you know I was way more interested in the flash backs than the “present day” parts of the novel. Still, even though I was disappointed with it, I realize that disappointment stemmed from my expectations being so high. Overall, this was actually a good, enjoyable book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes that kind of southern gothic feel.

The story of a serial killer on death row told through the eyes of the women who shaped his life and inevitable downfall. This tells the story of Ansel, who is scheduled to die in twelve hours, his mother, the homicide detective responsible for capturing him, his ex-wife and her twin sister who was Ansel’s wife.

I mentioned this book in my “Next Big Book” Beach Reads and overall, I still have pretty fond feelings of this one. Just the style, the characters, the way it all came together. I found myself engaged from beginning to end. It had some hard topics, so uncomfortable matters, but that’s what made it a book that I really did enjoy.

Sally Holt’s older sister, Kathy disappeared fifteen years earlier. Now the only one who can possible understand how it feels to be left behind, always wondering is Kathy’s boyfriend, Billy, who is strictly off limits. This is the story of how the absence of one person can leave a gaping hole in the lives of so many.

Even though I was taken aback by the title and how the book was pitched (spoiler: it’s not a mystery!) , I actually really enjoyed this book. I did a full review, but to summarize my thoughts, I loved the atmosphere. I loved the hurt and anguish coupled with the nostalgia and love. I just thought it was really well rounded and very engaging.

At just six years old, Margot’s best friend, January Jones, was murdered in small town Wakarusa, Indiana. Now, twenty years later, news breaks of five-year-old Natalia Clark going missing one town over at the same time that Margot moves back to Wakarusa to take care of her ailing uncle. She feels she owes it to her childhood best friend to solve the case, but Margot soon realizes that small town secrets are darker and more twisted than she had ever imagined as a small child.

Even though I talked about how I didn’t really care for the woe-is-me-small-towns-are-the-devil-and-the-only-reason-I’m-not-a-good-person-now cliché I talked about in my full review, I really, really liked this book. I liked the atmosphere and the setting (even if the social commentary got super preachy at points). The mystery was good, I liked the characters, I liked all their flaws. I liked how the whole story developed and I especially liked that the twist was a twist, but not, if that makes sense? Anyway, it as one that helped pull me through the fourth quarter lull!

When John Neville, the man convicted of murdering April Coutts-Cliveden dies in prison, her best friend, Hannah (aka, the girl who put him in jail) starts to wonder if he was the real killer.

I took a while to read this one, because it came right in the middle of my busiest time at work so far, but it was one that, while long, was engaging enough to keep me coming back. It was a solid story with enough interest to make me want to know the end. I will say, it could’ve easily been 100 pages shorter and still been a good book. Probably even a better one without that kind of drag that long books often get.

The third book in the Beartown series about those who run toward fire.

This book destroyed me. “This hurts too much to touch with words.” Expect a full review on this one. I am still reeling.

What new releases did you fall in love with this year? Did you read any on my list? What were your thoughts? Let me know the answer to these questions in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow my blog for more year-end roundups.

Happy reading,

-kj

Book Lists, To Be Read

2022 Most Anticipated Reads

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One of my favorite parts of the new year is seeing all the exciting new releases that are coming. Except then I get too excited and have trouble waiting. Unlike most people, I am not someone who loves countdowns and surprises, but I do try to enjoy a little bit of the fanfare.

But I can honestly say I am stoked about what’s coming this year in the world of reading! I always like to sit down in January and just kind of get an overview of what the trends in literature are going to be and I think this year might be one for us mystery lovers. Okay, I know, I know one of my goal is to get a little bit outside of my genre, but c’mon. I just found so many titles that I am thrilled to get my hands on and I thought it would be fun to talk about those with you guys today. So without further ado, let’s jump right in:

Continue reading “2022 Most Anticipated Reads” →
Book Lists

Best Books I Read This Year (2021 Reads)

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Here we are, the last post of 2021 and what a year it’s been! I’ve had so much fun this month with my wrap up lists and I’m thrilled about todays, because I actually read so many great things and I’m so excited to talk about them. If you’ve been following these roundups and doing the math, you might realize that I haven’t talked about every book I read, but I suppose I have in one way in or another throughout the year. But I just decided to pick out books that I was drawn to (for good or bad reasons), but I do have a Goodreads if you are interested in checking it out, so you can keep better track. I need to get better about leaving reviews there (maybe a goal for next year?).

Anyway, we have a lot of books to talk about today, so without further ado, let’s jump right in:

Continue reading “Best Books I Read This Year (2021 Reads)” →
Book Lists

Books I Didn’t Love (2021 Reading)

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Don’t be mad, but I’m not done being mean quite yet. This year, I read more books than I have in a long time, and I love lists (as you know). Plus, I actually had a lot of fun discussing books published in 2021 (even the ones I didn’t care for), so thought, why not look at the rest of my reading list for the year and do the same? And I thought I’d start with the negatives so that we can end the year on a high note with the books I loved next week?

Again, I’m not saying these books are bad books or that that these authors are bad writers, or that you’re a bad reader if you like them. I’m just saying they weren’t for me. Same rules as always, right? I’m trying to be as fair as possible, so please don’t take offense. Not every book is going to work for everyone and these were just the ones that didn’t work for me. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in:

Continue reading “Books I Didn’t Love (2021 Reading)” →
Book Lists

2021 Miss List- New Releases that Weren’t for Me

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Guys, I feel so bad, because you know I like to try to be positive, but I’ll be honest, I struggled with the new releases this year. Overall I just read twelve (one for each month to meet my reading goals), but I found a lot more I just didn’t like. And that makes me feel like a bad person, but whatever. I like to give you guys my honest opinions about books and we had a lot of fun last week talking about the best of 2021 that I read, so it’s time to turn to the opposite side.

As I usually do, my disclaimer: I’m not saying these books are necessarily bad or that the authors or bad or that you’re wrong if you like them. I’m just saying these books really weren’t for me. If you like them, good! These writers worked really hard and I’m so happy someone is enjoying their work. I wish them all the best and I’m so proud of them for following their dreams and getting publish. I just wasn’t drawn to these books for reasons I’ll discuss today. So, now that that’s out of the way, let’s jump right on in:

Continue reading “2021 Miss List- New Releases that Weren’t for Me” →
Book Lists

2021 Hit List- A Year of Reading

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How are we at the end of the year already? In some ways this year has seemed never ending and in others it feels like we only started yesterday, but here we are now in the thick of holiday season. Last year I had so much fun talking about my yearly reads and it felt like such a great way to wrap up one year and prepare for the next, so I thought it would be fun to do it again!

As most of you know if you’ve read any of my posts lately, I set some reading goals back in January, and I actually accomplished all of them! I read a classic novel every month, a new release every month, and at least one book a week (actually I ended up doing a little more than just one ever week, but whatever). And today, since I know new books are always really exciting to talk about, I would do a 2021 hit list! These were my favorite new releases that I read in 2021:

Continue reading “2021 Hit List- A Year of Reading” →