Category: Highlights

So far it’s been cold, but the snow has been lacking, for now the second year in a row! We know other places have been getting their share (if not MORE than their share at times). Why are we hitting negative digits but having to stare out at dirty, brown lawns?? Oh, who are we kidding. Our eyes are too glued to our books to be looking out windows. Here are some upcoming titles we can’t wait to check out!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Beasts We Bury” by D. L. Taylor

Publication Date: Feb. 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, I just think this cover is incredibly unique and interesting. For another, the subject matter sounds super unique and interesting! If a bit traumatic, since one of the main character’s abilities seem to be tied to animal death. I don’t love that topic, but if done well, I can also see how it could be used to craft a powerful character arc revolving around power and cruelty. It’s a duel POV title, however, between two love interests, something that I often struggle with. So we’ll see how this one goes!

Book: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett

Publication Date: Feb. 11, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Well, obviously. This is probably my most anticipated sequel of the year, honestly. After the wild success of the first two books, I have every confidence that Fawcett will nail the landing on this one, too! I’m not sure if this is the last one in the series or not (hopefully not!), but the stakes have definitely never been higher! Emily and Wendell are finally making their way together back into Fae to reclaim Wendell’s kingdom. Of course, this is an excellent academic opportunity. But Fae politics are also nothing if not dangerous. It’s really been killing holding off on reading my early copy of this one until an appropriate time!

Book: “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods

Publication Date: Feb. 18, 2025

Why I’m Interested: This one could go either way. On one hand, while the first book by this author I read had potential, I by no means loved it. It was maybe a 6 or 7? I also didn’t fail to notice the two portraits of men on the cover, heavily implying there will be a love triangle involved. But, on the other hand, I love fairytale fantasies, and “The Little Mermaid” has been a particularly difficult one to nail down. On the other, OTHER hand, I’m not so sure about the inclusion of “Cinderella,” as well! So, as you can see, I have some very mixed feelings going into this one. But the cover is gorgeous, and I’ve definitely had some surprises from authors on my second attempt with them!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Vengeful Dead” by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: February 18, 2025

Why I’m Interested: We are finally at the end of Darcy Coates’s “Gravekeeper” saga, and while I am eager to see how it ends, I’m also not ready to say goodbye to Keira and her ragtag group of friends and her ghostly adventures. I am such a fan of Coates and her really scary stories, but this sort of cozier and lighter series has been such a joy and has shown off her range. I am really hoping that she sticks the landing, but knowing her she will nail it.

Book: “Listen to Your Sister” by Neene Viel

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I am always on the look out for new voices in the horror genre, and this one has been getting a bit of buzz from other creators and horror reviewers that I generally trust. And when you are comparing it to the works of Jodan Peele I’m absolutely going to be very, very interested. “Listen To Your Sister” is a horror novel about family, hardship, sibling love and complications, and the way that our siblings can be both the most important thing in our life AND a huge stressor. This one caught my eye and I am very interested to see how it all shakes out.

Book: “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Well I am once again putting a book that is out of genre for me on my most anticipated list, and it in all likelihood won’t end up reviewed on here, but I don’t care, let me live! I have enjoyed almost everything Ali Hazelwood has put out, and she keeps up with the sub-genre jumping by taking on a sports romance with “Deep End”! I’ve had this one on pre-order from one of my favorite local bookstores for awhile now, and I can’t wait for it show up on my doorstep!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

There are always so many books to look forward to each year. So in this post, we tackle the impossible task of choosing some favorites that we’re most excited about in the next twelve months!

Serena’s Picks

Another year absolutely packed with great books! Now that we’ve finally started doing these “year of” lists, I’m not almost thinking that we need to do one every six months. As you’ll see, this list is heavily loaded towards the first half of the year, mostly because those are the ones that we have firm dates for at this point. I’m sure there will be tons more this coming fall that I haven’t even discovered yet. This year seems to be the year of sequels and returning authors, however, as after I made these lists, I only then noticed they were all picks from authors I’ve enjoyed in the past. To start, here are a few honorable mentions that didn’t make the list: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett, “Hemlock & Silver” by T. Kingfisher, “Queen Demon” by Martha Wells, “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods (this is an author I read before but didn’t love, so there you go, almost like a new pick!), and “The Witch Roads” by Kate Elliott.

Book: “The Amber Owl” by Juliet Marillier

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

Book Summary: Stasya lives in an isolated farming village on the edge of the mysterious Heartwood Forest with her unusual dog for company. Thought odd by the locals, she is tolerated for her rare gift with animals. Engaging with her fellow humans is difficult, with one goatherd Lukas, who shares her love of storytelling.

The peace of Heartwood is shattered when a group of soldiers descends, under orders from the Ruler of the Northlands. Their to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. Under the grueling decree, Stasya’s village falls into chaos. The task is clearly impossible. The forest is alive with bears and wolves, and the old tales speak of evil spirits, monsters and uncanny beings. Nobody has ever gone deep into Heartwood Forest and returned safe and well.

When Stasya raises her voice in protest she is removed from her beloved home and transported to court – a different world. Word of her special skills has reached the Ruler’s ears, and Lady Elisabeta has a job for her. But Stasya will not break her vow to protect the forest, even under the most appalling threat. Help comes from an unlikely quarter.

Secrets abound; dangers lie everywhere; and it is hard to tell friend from foe. As Stasya and her band of unlikely allies embark on a perilous mission, it becomes apparent that uncanny forces may indeed be involved. Maybe the old tales of the Hermit are true.

Book: “The Floating Word” by Axie Oh

Publication Date: May 13, 2025

Book Summary: Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…

Book: “The Listeners” by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: June 3, 2025

Book Summary: JANUARY 1942. THE AVALLON HOTEL AND SPA offers elegance and sophistication in an increasingly ugly world. Run with precision by June Hudson, the hotel’s West Virginia born-and-bred general manager, the Avallon is where high society goes to see and be seen, and where the mountain sweetwater in the fountains and spas can wash away all your troubles.

June was trained by the Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, and she has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. Now, though, the Gilfoyle family heir has made a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats. June must convince her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the frontlines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

She also must reckon with Tucker Minnick, the FBI agent whose coal tattoo hints at their shared past in the mountains, and whose search for the diplomats’ secrets disrupts the peace June is fighting so hard to maintain. Hers is a balancing act with dangerous consequences; the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal, and only June can manage the springs.

As dark alliances and an elusive spy crack the polished veneer of the Avallon, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.

Book: “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” by V. E. Schwab

Publication Date: June 10, 2025

Book Summary: Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532.
London, 1837.
Boston, 2019.

Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots. One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild. And all of them grow teeth.

Book: “Katabis” by R. F. Kuang

Publication Date: August 28, 2025

Book Summary: Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek: The story of a hero’s descent to the underworld.

Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality: her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world.

That is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.

Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams….

Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the very same conclusion.

With nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells, and the burning desire to make all the academic trauma mean anything, they set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like.

But Hell is not like the storybooks say, Magick isn’t always the answer, and there’s something in Alice and Peter’s past that could forge them into the perfect allies…or lead to their doom.

Kate’s Picks

At the beginning of the year I always love to scour through the titles that are gong to be coming out, and this year we have some GOODIES. So many authors I have adored in the past have books coming out this year, including Joe Hill, though his new book is a little mysterious at this point. After 2024 where I suffered some serious mental health burn out which affected my reading habits, I hope that this year will have more reading in it, no matter what it brings, though this is only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to titles. I’m sure I’ll have more by the time I leave ALAAC in June. But here are the ones that are sticking out right now! Some honorable mentions that didn’t make the final list definitely need a shout out though. So other books I’m looking forward to include “This Book Will Bury Me” by Ashley Winstead, “The Bewitching” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins-Reid, “Vanishing Daughters” by Cynthia Pelayo, and “Lucky Day” by Chuck Tingle.

Book: “The Haunting of Room 904” by Erika Wurth

Publication Date: March 18, 2025

Book Description: From the author of White Horse (“Twisty and electric.” —The New York Times Book Review) comes a terrifying and resonant novel about a woman who uses her unique gift to learn the truth about her sister’s death.

Olivia Becente was never supposed to have the gift. The ability to commune with the dead was the specialty of her sister, Naiche. But when Naiche dies unexpectedly and under strange circumstances, somehow Olivia suddenly can’t stop seeing and hearing from spirits.

A few years later, she’s the most in-demand paranormal investigator in Denver. She’s good at her job, but the loss of Naiche haunts her. That’s when she hears from the Brown Palace, a landmark Denver hotel. The owner can’t explain it, but every few years, a girl is found dead in room 904, no matter what room she checked into the night before. As Olivia tries to understand these disturbing deaths, the past and the present collide as Olivia’s investigation forces her to confront a mysterious and possibly dangerous cult, a vindictive journalist, betrayal by her friends, and shocking revelations about her sister’s secret life.

The Haunting of Room 904 is a paranormal thriller that is as edgy as it is heartfelt and simmers with intensity and longing. Erika T. Wurth lives up to her reputation as “a gritty new punkish outsider voice in American horror.”

Book: “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: March 25, 2025

Book Description: A chilling historical horror novel set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.

Book: “The Staircase in the Woods” by Chuck Wendig

Publication Date: April 29, 2025

Book Description: A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what. Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

Book: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

Book Description: In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. She’ll do it later, she always says. She has time. Until, on the night of Halloween, Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic brain injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, she’ll suffer a deadly aneurysm.

Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend.

She only has seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish. Jet is going to solve her own murder.

Book: “The Possession of Alba Díaz” by Isabel Cañas

Publication Date: August 19, 2025

Book Description: When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust… from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.

Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice her every time she enters a room or the growing tension between them… and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood grows stronger.

What books are you all looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments!

Welcome to 2025, for better or for worse! We never know what we’re going to get with a new year, but one things is always guaranteed: there are sure to be great books in the year ahead! We’ll be posting our regular monthly picks here, but look forward to our list of top picks for the entire year of 2025 coming in a few weeks!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Sea of Unspoken Things” by Adrienne Young

Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Adrienne Young is one of those awesome writers who not only produces incredible books, but also manages to pump that out practically on a yearly basis! Between her and Silvia Morena-Garcia, I’m always guaranteed a few great reads a year! This one sounds like another entry into her recent foray into contemporary romantic fantasy stories. Again, we follow a young woman with a mysterious past as she returns to a home town she fled from years before. Of course, there’s a second chance romance in there as well!

Book: “Water Moon” by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Publication Date: Jan. 14, 2025

Why I’m Interested: While I’m not a big fan girl of Studio Ghibli, I was also intrigued by the description of a highly whimsical contemporary fantasy story that follows the owner of a pawn shop that deals in regrets. The cover itself is also pretty great! Plus, it promises a nice romance at its heart, so there’s a lot of potential here! Can’t wait to check it out soon!

Book: “A Crown So Silver” by Lyra Selene

Publication Date: Jan. 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed “A Feather So Black” when I read it last year. Not only was it a unique version of “Swan Lake,” but it managed to tack in a love triangle that I didn’t end up hating. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, but there was definitely a lot left to be handled in the sequels. As the middle book in a trilogy, this one faces an uphill battle, but I’m excited to see how this one manages it! Mostly, I hope that the main couple doesn’t fall into the trap of pointless drama in the pursuit of “tension.” We shall see!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” by Clay McLeod Chapman

Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Clay McLeod Chapman is one of my favorite horror authors writing today, and I am always excited and apprehensive to pick up one of his novels because I know that he doesn’t hold back. Enter “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes”, his newest horror novel where he satirizes far Right wing media and the way that it seems like it brainwashes its consumers, and poisons the rest of American society. In this case, Right Wing cable news viewers (as well as other Right Wing media consumers) turn into violent possessed automatons who attack anyone who doesn’t think like them. A bit on the nose for 2025, but that’s the point. Buckle up. It’s gonna be rough.

Book: “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix

Publication Date: January 14, 2025

Why I’m Interested: I also really enjoy Grady Hendrix and the quirky horror stories that he comes up with, usually with a bit of a tongue in cheek flair. But this time around he’s not only taking on witchcraft, but also the tragedies and injustices of young unwed mother homes and the traumas that came with such circumstances for many, many teenage girls in the years before Roe v Wade. As someone who is deeply disturbed by the way we’re movie backwards on reproductive rights in America AND who loves witchcraft stories, this is a book that has been on my radar for AWHILE. I’m sure it will be heartwrenching as well as quirky. Which it absolutely should be.

Book: “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove

Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Why I’m Interested: Procedurals continue to be a guilty pleasure of mine, and I’m always thrilled to see procedurals written from more diverse perspectives. Berkley was kind enough to send me access to “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove, which is not only a police procedural dealing with missing women themes, it is also starring an Indigenous female former cop now working on a reservation who want to look into the disappearances of multiple Indigenous women. Throw in some mythology involving Deer Woman and I am even more excited. I hope that this is a start to a new series I can follow!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

It is so incredibly dark here in Minnesota. But at least we have Christmas and holiday lights to cheer us! The house across from Serena goes all out in this regard (seriously, there are tour buses that stop by this place every night!), and while Kate’s neighborhood can’t compete, she at least has the double whammy of Christmas tree AND Menorah lights in her own home to look forward to. However, when it gets dark so early, that just leaves more time to fully commit to the coziness of winter reading: book in hand, blanket on lap, warm drink within reach. Here are some titles we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Monsoon Rising” by Thea Guanzon

Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: December is always a light month, so it’s been great having this book to look forward to this season! I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, “The Hurricane Wars,” and the general set up of both the world and the enemies-to-lovers romance. There were a lot of pieces in play in the first book, so I’m curious to see how it is all balanced in this sequel. Second books are notoriously difficult, especially when trying to navigate both a high fantasy plot line and a central romance. However, the first book was such a fun time to read that I have high hopes that Guanzon can pull it off again!

Book: “Upon a Frosted Star” by M. A. Kuzniar

Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, this simply looks like a wintery read, perfect for the vibes of December! For another, I’m always interested in fairytale retellings of “Swan Lake.” I have yet to find one that really blows me away, but I’m ever hopeful! Luckily, the publisher reached out offering a copy of this for review, so count on seeing my thoughts on this one in a few weeks!

Book: “How to Steal a Galaxy” by Beth Revis

Publication Date: Dec. 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I love science fiction, but I’m also incredibly picky with this genre I’ve found. But the first novella in this series checked every box (even more impressive for managing this in a shorter page count than your average novel!). It was action packed, had a fun lead character, had a good twist, and balanced the burgeoning romance in a believable way. That being the case, I was thrilled to discover the next book was coming out only a few months later. Even better, it would be the rare unicorn of a new title releasing in December! I can’t wait to check this one out and see what escapades Ada gets up to this time!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “What The Woods Took” by Courtney Gould

Publication Date: December 10, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I hear a plot that has to do with one of those horrific wilderness survival schools that also has some horror elements (beyond the obvious THESE PLACES ARE HORROR STORIES) and I am immediately going to want to read it. And I have enjoyed some of Courtney Gould’s books in the past. So this was a clear choice for a book to take on. Devin is a teenager in foster care who is kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Well, not so much kidnapped, as her foster parents gave the full go ahead to send her to a wilderness retreat for misbehaving youth. The kids are told that they are to learn to change their ways, and that a fifty mile hike and camping trip will surely do the trick. But when the counselors disappear, and strange things start happening in the woods, Devin and the rest of the campers find themselves in a dire situation. Gracious this will no doubt be upsetting.

Book: “Alter Ego” by Alex Segura

Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I enjoyed Segura’s previous novel in the duology, “Secret Identity”, and when I saw that not only was there a sequel but there were ARCs available at ALAAC24 I snagged it up pretty damn fast. Set in the present day, we follow Annie Bustamante, director, comics artist, and writer who has made a mark, even if she’s been shoved aside as of late. When she is approached by Triumph Comics to help reboot her longtime favorite superhero the Lethal Lynx, the offer seems… off. For one, the company is being cagey with some of the details. For another, they expect her to work with a notorious filmmaker who is part genius, part ticking time bomb. And then the strange messages start arriving. Annie starts to peel back some secrets about her favorite superheroine, and realizes that she may be in danger should she not tread carefully. I really enjoyed “Secret Identity”, and seeing what Segura does next is tantalizing.

Book: “Earthdivers (Vol. 3): 1776” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: December 3, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Well OF COURSE I’M INTERESTED! I’ve been loving Stephen Graham Jones’s historical/fantasy/Sci-Fi series about Indigenous people from a climate disastrous future being sent back in time to different points in American history in hopes of changing the fate of the world, going from Columbus’s time to the Ice Age. And now? THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BABY! Now it’s Emily’s turn, the Two Spirit who went into the cave with no clue as to what awaited her, only to find herself in Philadelphia in 1776. Her plan is a different approach from the violence her compatriots thought could work; what if she can change history by working within the system? I have a feeling it’s not going to go AWESOMELY for her, but given that Emily was a favorite of mine from the first volume, I can’t wait to see what she does with the Founding Fathers.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

The candy high is passing (our kids’ candy highs, not ours…no…) and the madness of the holiday season is already setting in! What better time to escape from responsibility into the world of books?? Here are some titles that we’re most looking forward to this November!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Wheel of the Infinite” by Martha Wells

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This is actually a re-release of a novel that Wells published way back in 2000, I believe. I was reading her books near that time, but somehow missed this one. I’m thrilled, however, that her back catalog is finally get the loving attention it deserves and was super excited to add this to my reading list for November when I saw that Tor was putting out a new edition this month! A few things can always be counted on from this author: wholly unique second-world settings and strong main characters. Can’t wait to see what she has in store this time!

Book: “Servant of Earth” by Sarah Hawley

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Yes, another Fae fantasy book. There’s definitely a bit of fatigue setting in as far as Fae romantasy stories go, at least for me. But I’ve also still read a few great ones over the last few years, so I never want to wholly give up on the subgenre. Plus, the cover on this one feels unique from the art we typically see on this sort of story. The story itself, however, sounds rather familiar: deadly trials, powerful Fae, multiple potential love interests…All of these can be great, as well, of course! We’ll just have to wait and see!

Book: “The Songbird and the Heart of Stone” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This was probably one of my most highly anticipated titles for the year, so of course it was going to show up on this list! I loved the first duology in this world and was only too eager for any excuse to return to this story! Making it even better, this story follows Mische who was a fairly significant side character in the first two books! The story also seems to be a quest-like story that follows our characters as they travel into this world’s underworld, which sounds awesome as well! I’ve been waiting so long to read this one, and I’m so excited the time has finally come!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Guilt and Ginataan” by Mia P. Manansala

Publication Date: November 12, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I’m so happy that the “Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery” series reliably has a new book every year, and given that I try to soak in the cozy in November this is going to be a perfect read to match the vibes. And this one even takes place in the Fall, which makes it all the more seasonally appropriate! There’s another murder afoot in Shady Palms, this time happening during the annual Corn Festival, and also involving amateur detective Lila Macapagal is on the case. Especially since her friend Adeena is found unconscious next to the body. I really enjoy this series, and can’t wait to see what recipes come with it this time around!

Book: “Sundown in San Ojuela” by M.M. Olivas

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I saw M.M. Olivas on a panel at ALAAC this past summer and was very intrigued by the book she was promoting. That book happened to be “Sundown in San Ojuela”, as she said she took inspiration from spaghetti westerns as well as the films “Near Dark” and “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night”. I mean, COME ON. Of COURSE I wanted to read it. When Liz returns to San Ojuela after years of being away (and after enduring a trauma that left her clairvoyant), she has to not only face family strife, but also a monster that has been consolidating power for years. This has been on my radar for almost half a year at this point and it’s finally time to jump on in.

Book: “Heart Shaped Lies” by Elizabeth Agyemang

Publication Date: November 26, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I love a nice sudsy murder mystery, and given that this one is saying that it’s “John Tucker Must Die” meets “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” I was totally on board to give it a go. Tommy Harding is a popular online prankster, who just so happens to be stringing along three women as his star rises. But when his infidelities are exposed by a mystery person, Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh leave him in the lurch. Problem is that the next day he winds up dead, and the three of them become the most obvious suspects. I have high hopes for this one!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

October is here! It’s the month of Kate…we mean, Halloween! So far, it’s been on the warmer side, which Serena is happy about, but the trees are definitely changing color and the cooler weather will soon be here. Kate, of course, has her Horrorpalooza books to cover, and even Serena will get into the spirit of the season a bit. Check out our picks for the month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “How to Help a Hungry Werewolf” by Charlotte Stein

Publication Date: October 1, 2024

Why I’m Interested: See? Look, a Halloween-related story! Well, sort of. It does feature paranormal creatures like werewolves and witches, but let’s be real. This is a cozy fantasy/romantic comedy book at its heart. I also won’t lie that I wasn’t immediately drawn in by the simply adorableness of the cover image. The story follows a young woman who returns to her home town (you know, like almost all romcom plot lines…) and finds herself re-connecting with her childhood best friend who had betrayed her in high school. This seems like a fairly straightforward story, but I’m excited to see how it all comes together with the magical elements.

Book: “Monstrous Nights” by Genoveva Dimova

Publication Date: October 22, 2024

Why I’m Interested: “Foul Days” was one of those magical reading moments for me. I went in knowing very little about the story, having never heard of the author before, and really having zero expectations. And then it blew me away and became an instant favorite! While the book wrapped up in a satisfying way, I was thrilled to discover the second part was coming out so soon afterwards. And here we finally are! I can’t wait to return to this world and continue following the story of our favorite witch and her police officer side kick! A bit more romance would also be appreciated!

Book: “Pride and Prejudice in Space” by Alexis Lampley

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Why I’m Interested: It’s impossible to keep up with all of the Jane Austen retellings and adaptations out there. But this one had two major factors working in its favor. For one thing, it included beautiful artwork throughout. For a second, it re-located the story of “Pride and Prejudice” into space, merging the story into the science fiction genre, a favorite of mine. I’m so curious to see how this historical romance is changed by this massive shift in genre. Could go either way, but I have high hopes!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “This Cursed House” by Del Sandeen

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Why I’m Interested: We all know that I love a haunted house story, and if it also has a family drama with it AS WELL AS social commentary, I’m very much going to be all in. So I was definitely interested in “This Cursed House”, as it has all of those things! In 1962 a Black woman named Jemma leaves Chicago for New Orleans in hopes of starting over, banking on a promise to be a tutor for a wealthy family. But when she arrives, she realizes that she’s not there to be a tutor, but is expected to break a familial curse. To make matters more complicated, the cold and intimidating Duchon family has some secrets not only about their actual intentions, but also about their identities. In multiple ways. And what else? Jemma can see ghosts. And there are MANY around. I am very excited for this one, what a perfect Halloween read!

Book: “American Rapture” by C.J. Leede

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Well for one, the cover is pretty freaking cool. That was the first thing that caught my eye. But I also LOVE an apocalypse story, and “American Rapture” sounds like a VERY unique apocalypse story, involving sexuality, religious trauma, and hoping to find something left of humanity at the end of the world. The description is holding some things a LITTLE close to the vest so I don’t have much more information than that, BUT there is the hilarious tagline ‘the end times are ‘coming”, which is…. I mean that’s just perfect. I’m very much looking forward to this one.

Book: “All The Hearts You Eat” by Hailey Piper

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Why I’m Interested: First and foremost, I still haven’t read anything by Hailey Piper, even though she has been making waves in the horror genre for a bit now. So I thought that this was the time to jump in with her newest novel “All The Hearts You Eat”, a story about a dead woman, a notorious island filled with rumors, and ghosts upon ghosts. A woman named Ivory stumbles upon the dead body of Cabrina on the seaside, and it looks like she had been trying to swim out to a close by island that has lots of secrets and rumors that fly about it. And then when Ivory starts seeing Cabrina’s ghost, she wonders if Cabrina is trying to tell her something. I love a haunting Gothic tale that’s steeped in sadness, and it sounds like this one will be exactly what I want.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

In the midst of mid-summer, we’re both doing what we seem to do every year. Serena has fled West to the lovely dry heat of Washington and northern Idaho, and Kate’s has holed up inside dreaming of fall. Of course, regardless of location, we’re always on the lookout for the next great read! Here’s what we’re looking forward to this August.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher

Publication Date: August 6, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This is probably the least surprising pick of the year from me. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors, so I’m always thrilled when she comes out with a new book. And this one sounds like another fantastic blend of horror and fairytale re-telling, this time tackling a loose re-imaging of “The Goose Girl.” I’ve had my pre-order placed for this one for months now, and I can’t wait to check it out!

Book: “Ghostsmith” by Nicki Pau Preto

Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Last summer, I read “Bonesmith” very much on a whim. I’d read YA book by this author that I didn’t hate, but I also didn’t wildly love, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from her new duology. Turns out, I absolutely loved this new series and it was a good reminder never to write off an author, even if the first experience was a hit. There was a fairly significant cliffhanger at the end of the first book, so I’ve been counting down the days until I could check this one out! The stakes are sky-high, so I can’t wait to find out how it all gets resolved!

Book: “Asunder” by Kerstin Hall

Publication Date: August 20, 2024

Why I’m Interested: While the first two picks were either from beloved authors of mine or part of on-going series, this one is a completely new book for me! While Kerstin Hall has published other fantasy novels, I have yet to read any, so this upcoming title seemed like a great chance to check out her work! And based on the description alone, this sounds like a wild ride! A woman who has made a compact with some sort of demon now on a quest to not only save herself but also the a stranger who contains secrets of his own. I really have no idea what to expect from this, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Practical Rules for Cursed Witches” by Kayla Cottingham

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I have enjoyed Cottingham’s other two novels, and now that she is tackling one of my favorite horror sub-genres (WITCHES!) I am fully amped and ready to see what she does with it. Delilah is an aspiring young witch from a well known magical lineage, her father a known cursebreaker and her mother from a long line of cursed-in-the-romance-department witches. She is hoping to break her family curse as her Calling… but is told that she is instead supposed to break the family curse of a more powerful and elite family, the Pelumbras, as every generation twins are born and one succumbs to weakness as the other succumbs to becoming a monster. So Delilah teams up with Kieran and Briar to try and help them with their curse…. only to find herself drawn to Briar. This sounds more fantasy than horror this time around, but I’m definitely interested to see what Cottingham does with it!

Book: “House of Bone and Rain” by Gabino Iglesias

Publication Date: August 6, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I really loved Iglesias’s previous book “The Devil Takes You Home” so it stands to reason that his newest thriller novel would be a high priority for me. And seeing as it is being compared to “Stand By Me” I feel like that makes it all the more intriguing. Best friends Xavier, Gabe, Bimbo, Paul, and Tavo live in Puerto Rico and are thick as thieves, existing in a violent reality but leaning on each other. But when Bimbo’s mother is murdered in the street, the friends all promise that they will avenge her and kill her murderers, no matter what. But when it turns out that those behind her death are involved with a dangerous kingpin, they know they have to plan and be careful if they want to survive. To make matters worse, a hurricane is headed straight for the island as they go on their quest for revenge. I am sure this is going to be devastating, but I’m ready to be devastated.

Book: “Through the Midnight Door” by Katrina Monroe

Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Why I’m Interested: If you are sensing a pattern in my Highlights picks this month in that they are all authors I’ve enjoyed and therefore I am looking forward to their follow ups, you would be correct! But once again, I really loved Monroe’s previous novel so of course her new one was on the list of must reads! Three sisters were so close when they were young, always looking to explore abandoned houses and buildings in their hometown for a fun adventure. But when they found a house that had impossible features and terrible things within they gave up on their adventures, and tried to rebuild their lives. But when the youngest sister is found dead in that house years later, the ones left behind want to find out the truth of what happened to her… and to try and stop whatever it was that has been haunting all of them. Monroe’s stories are always scary as well as very emotional, so I am very ready for this.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Well, June was the fourth “above average” rain month we’ve had here in Minnesota. And while that’s great after last summer’s drought, there has been entirely too little reading outside in the sun for our preferences (ok, mostly Serena’s preferences). But, luckily, we did manage to escape off to sunny San Diego for the ALA annual conference! And now we have even MORE books to add to the TBR piles. Here are some we’re particularly looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Spellshop” by Sarah Beth Durst

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I have a complicated relationship with both Sarah Beth Durst as an author and with cozy fantasy as a subgenre. With both, there are books I’ve absolutely loved! And also with both, there have been books that I very much disliked. So, this one is a pretty big mystery! That said, the premise sounds right up my alley, with a librarian absconding to a remote cottage to protect her magical books. The cover is also everything one could want from a cottage-core cozy fantasy story!

Book: “Black Tide Son” by H.M. Long

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This is probably my most anticipated title for the month of July. I absolutely adored “Dark Water Daughter” when I read it last summer and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel! The combination of a unique fantasy world, an action-packed pirate plot, and a slow burn romance was everything I want from a book. And really, with this one, all I want is more of the same! I don’t have any particular cares about what the plot is, as long as I get to follow Mary and Samuel on their adventures and see their relationship progress. Honestly, I can’t wait for this one!

Book: “The Night Ends with Fire” by K. X. Song

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I featured this one on my list back in January of “Most Anticipated Titles of 2024” for one very simple reason: it’s an adult “Mulan” re-imagining. So it’s popping up here for the same reason! While I don’t think there have been that many re-tellings of this story, Sherry Thomas’s “The Magnolia Sword” currently holds the place as my favorite version to date. That said, I’m always on the look out for the next great take on this classic tale! I have really high hopes for this one!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “I Was A Teenage Slasher” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: July 16, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Given that Jones is one of my favorite authors writing right now, it’s no surprise that a new book of his is on this list the month it comes out. But this one is all the more special because of all the horror sub-genres, slashers are one of my all time favorite. And you just know that if Jones is going to be writing it, it’s going to be stupendous. In 1989 in a small Texas town a teenager is cursed to become a teenage slasher killer. It’s a simple premise, but I know that Jones is going to make it deeply complex and filled with nuance. I can’t wait to read it. And lucky me, I got a signed copy at ALA!

Book: “Bury Your Gays” by Chuck Tingle

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Why I’m Interested: Chuck Tingle proved two things last year with his debut full length queer horror novel “Camp Damascus”; the first was that yes, love is real, and the second was that he wasn’t just a one trick pony with his monster porn parodies (and hey, look at how far monster romance has come in the past year!). So yes, of course I was looking forward to reading his next queer horror novel “Bury Your Gays”. Misha is a screenwriter who has been working in Hollywood for years, and has been channeling some of his best work in a storyline involving a queer romance in a successful TV show. But when the higher ups tell him that he has to kill off one of the lovers in the finale, he steadfastly refuses, unwilling to give in to a bigoted trope. But then he starts being plagued by stalkers dressed as past monsters from his writing history. I am hoping that Tingle continues to be fresh and creative with horror stalwarts.

Book: “Ghost Camera” by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: July 30, 2024

Why I’m Interested: We have another horror favorite! I have been really digging Darcy Coates for the past few years, as her horror stories are so unsettling and so visceral, and now we got back to one of her first ones with a re-release of the novella “Ghost Camera”! A woman finds an old Polaroid camera and decides to take a photo just for fun. But when it develops she sees a strange apparition in the background of the photo. As she and her friends take more pictures they see more ghosts, and the ghosts seem to be getting closer. And closer. And as if that wasn’t already enough, we get some other Coates short stories on top of this one! This has been a highly anticipated read for sure.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

It’s official: Summer is here! Serena is planning to spend as much time outside as possible, as this season can feel all too short in Minnesota, and Kate is planning on also being outside, but shaded by an umbrella at the local pool. Oh, and the ALA Annual Conference is at the end of the month, and you know we will be there! But until then, we have some books that we are looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King” by Carissa Broadbent

Publication Date: June 4, 2024

Why I’m Interested: The first book in this duology, “The Serpent and the Wings of Night,” is probably my favorite purely romantasy book I’ve read in a while! It also ended with some big reveals and then dropped readers with a massive cliffhanger. That being the case, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this sequel for a while! While I’m expecting the late-game reveals in the first book to greatly affect the political stakes and lead to much in-fighting and shifting, I’ll be honest: I’m mostly here for the romance and I can’t wait to find out how Raihn and Oraya navigate this shift in their relationship. How do you rebuild trust in this situation? I’d typically be more concerned going in, but Broadbent wowed me with the first book, so I feel fairly confident that she’ll be able to bring it all together here in the end!

Book: “Foul Days” by Genoveva Dimova

Publication Date: June 25, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I’m always on the lookout for a new author and an original-sounding story! And this book promises both! The story follows a witch who has spent her life fighting the monsters that plague here walled city. And for the last several, this fight has included a constant state of flight from the most powerful of them all, the Zmey. So when she finds herself caught up in a murder investigation alongside a frustratingly dedicated policeman, she’s dismayed to find their investigation drawing them closer and closer to this terrifying being. I have incredibly high hopes for this ones!

Book: “A Rivalry of Hearts” by Tessonja Odette

Publication Date: June 12, 2024

Why I’m Interested: This is another one coming out from an indie author whom I’ve never read before! But this book sounds so much like others I’ve enjoyed before (“Emily Wilde” and “Half a Soul” come to mind) that I knew I wanted to check it out the moment I saw it! The story follows an author who goes on a book tour in the land of Fae, a place she’s never been but where her romance books are incredibly popular. Only problem is that she must share the press with a rival author, a frustrating Fae himself. We can all see where this is going, right? I know I can, and I’m here for it!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Horror Movie” by Paul Tremblay

Publication Date: June 11, 2024

Why I’m Interested: The most obvious reason is that it’s Paul Tremblay. But since I have to go into more detail than that, I will say that the idea of Paul Tremblay, one of my favorite horror authors, tackling a ‘cursed film’ story and no doubt bringing his own brand of creepy disturbing and pathos ridden terror to it is SO tantalizing. We meet a nameless man who had been the slasher in a hardcore art house horror film made on a shoe string budget with his friends, but it never saw the light of day due to on set tragedy. And then people involved in the film just kind of died over the years. When three scenes were posted online and the buzz and rumors of a cursed film made it go viral, Hollywood wants to make a reboot, and want him involved. And how can be do anything but accept? This is a most anticipated read of the year for me, and I’m sure it will destroy me.

Book: “Middle of the Night” by Riley Sager

Publication Date: June 18, 2024

Wby I’m Interested: One of the sure signs of summer is that Riley Sager has a new thriller coming out, which makes perfect sense because his thrillers are the PERFECT summer reads. So many twists, so many turns, so many messy protagonists! In this one we have a man still deeply haunted by the disappearance of his childhood friend when they were kids, living in a quiet community that was completely blindsided by the crime. When he returns to his childhood home decades later, he tries to keep it together. But in the middle of the night he hears strange noises outside, and sees a strange figure skulking around his yard. Could it be his friend? Or is something more sinister at work? I’m SO excited to find out!

Book: “Not In Love” by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: June 11, 2024

Why I’m Interested: I really love Ali Hazelwood’s romances, ever since I absolutely devoured “The Love Hypothesis”, so of course I’m excited for this book! I always enjoy her awkward and quirky (and potentially neurodivergent coded) protagonists, as well as the science-y themes even though I am not science minded in the least, and “Not In Love” sounds like it’s taking a forbidden romance trope and tossing some STEM on it! Rue is a biotech engineer for a promising startup run by a close friend and mentor. But when a corporate takeover by an outside group threatens her job, she is determined to stave it off as best she can…. the only problem is that one of the outsiders, Eli, is someone she knows and kind of connected with. And now they are sharing a heavy attraction to each other in spite of being on the opposite sides. I’m sure it will be spicy and humorous and charming.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!