The NeverEnding Physical TBR

Following on from my neverending TBR posts about audiobooks and ebooks, let's now look terrifyingly at my physical TBR which, if you look at my shelves, is a mess. I really should do a tidy-up on them a tiny bit. Maybe have a sort out and do a book cull. (And yes, I have put affiliate links to Bookshop.org with these titles next to the * so am playing fair and not tricking you. Plus, if any catch your eye, would love to hear!)

The NeverEnding eBook TBR

After doing my neverending audiobook TBR post of last week, I thought I would do the same with my physical and ebook TBR (as I tend to buy or request quicker than I can read them). I will split these up in separate posts as it will be easier for my brain (it seems to want to only blog every now and again or when I feel like I have something to say) and there's one or two physical books on this list that I am kinda ashamed is still on my TBR so trying to push this post back.

So, with this, I will show off a mix of ebooks I've bought and kindly gifted by publishers (in exchange for an honest review/reaction - I know I go on about this and I feel like this goes without saying), though I sense this will be more titles I have purchased as my eproof list scares me when I try to look them over! I, hopefully, have a nice mix of titles and genres for you to see.

Plus, like before, I will put affiliate links to Bookshop UK but will put a star next to most titles I mention, so you can find out more about these titles art your leisure.

The NeverEnding Audiobook TBR

It always feels like I am writing about my audiobook TBR. I keep banging on about several audiobooks that I will get to one day but never do. But, as this is the year that I want to try and read (in all forms) books that make me fulfilled (and it has been VERY hit and miss so far), I thought I will mention several audiobooks that I plan to tackle this year and, hopefully, this will keep me on track and listen to them! While, at the same time, allow me flexibility to listen to others that catch my eye (I'm going to do this with my physical and ebook TBR as well as there are a few that I want to try! Plus, I will put affiliate links to Bookshop UK but will put a star next to titles.).

Library Audiobooks On Hold List

As I try to slowly ease myself back into book blogging and trying to to find the joy (I am now wondering if I should focus on this and my Twitter/X less in 2025 and focus more on Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph), I was thinking about the heck-ton of audiobooks I have to listen to. 

I have a good few on my Audible that I purchased. Same goes with NetGalley (audiobooks for review). But I do snoop on my local library’s audiobook app. In the past, I look to see if I can find the audiobook version of any NetGalley eProofs I have and, if I can find it, I do try to request and listen. 

But, as I am very much a mood reader, I have a tendency to request then change my mind and cancel my request, but I keep that title on “My Reading List”, which is very, very long and has a real mix of genres (fantasy, thriller, non-fiction, classics, etc), lengths and a nice mix of rereads and audiobooks I have never read before. 

Now, I know I wrote a post about this MONTHS ago (it was filled on crime audiobooks), but this time, I want to show you some titles that I know I’m going to listen to in the next few months and are currently either on hold for me or are downloaded on my phone.

Golden Age of Crime TBR

As you guys know, I love my fantasy and crime reading. These (YA, middle-grade, adult, New Adult, etc) is my bread and butter when it comes to reading. But with the role of being a book blogger, you feel guilty if you’re not reading the newest or newer releases compared to books that were written and published decades go. Yes, I feel this guilt all the time and, remember, when I first started blogging 14-odd years ago, I focus SOLELY on YA fiction whereas now, I am a magpie and love to take risks with my reading/reviewing (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t). 

And because I go flit about with my reading and my podcast listening when it comes to fiction, I wanted to make a small(ish) post about some crime titles I have on my “I Will Read You One Day” list that fit in the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction” (for those of you curious, the years most people class as this Golden Age is 1920s and 1930s). 

Now, I am not going to reference EVERY book that fits this term that’s on my To Be Read List as we will be here all day, but I wanted to pick a few out as, I am hoping that if I do, it will make me more likely to read them this year. Now, before I go any further, I have a good mix of books that I have bought, am borrowing from my library and titles that were gifted to be by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, so I will make this a short (for me) post and I will let you know if the title I am chatting about is a gifted book for review as I will put a * by the title. Plus, I will put links to bookshop.org, which will be affiliate. 

Now, get your Jessica Fletcher on and let’s begin!

NetGalley November Maybe Audiobook TBR

I did warn you that I was thinking of doing this: a NetGalley TBR of some of the audiobooks the lovely publishers/authors/PR companies have gifted to me via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review/reaction. 

Now, I have quite a few to power through (too many, if I am going to be complete honest with you all), but there are a few that I would like to attempt to listen to (or just start then rage-quit them. These still count, and I fear I will write a post of my DNFs for your reading pleasure. Sorry in advance). So, while I am in the depths of October, writing this and wondering if I will actually follow through with my reading plans (I am a mood reader, we all know this), let me share a few audiobooks that I have my eye on…

Oh, not sure if this will be of any use to you but I have put some affiliate links in this post for some ease if any titles catch your eye. I’ll put a * next to the links for openness. Now, the titles on my radar this month…

NetGalley November 2023

I decided that I’m going to do this back in the middle of August (same with my All Hallows Reads!), but I’ve decided that it’s time that I get my TBR under control. Mainly my NetGalley TBR (both my eProofs and my audiobooks).

Now, I did this last year (I forgot I did), but for those of you not sure what NetGalley is, NetGalley is a website where publishers can “aimed at the distribution of digital … proofs of books [and audiobooks], some of which have not yet been released” to booksellers, librarians, reviewers, educators and bloggers to help promote the title. So, it’s free? No, because in exchange for this, you must leave a review and promote the title.

Now, earlier this year, something strange happened my kindle/Amazon account (was it hacked? Did they delete it by accident? Who knows?!) but most of my eProofs from NetGalley that were on my kindle were wiped so I had to start again from scratch. And with NetGalley’s ideal feedback percentage for users being 80% (and mine is at 51% at time of writing), I needed to get self back on track with reading/review. I have been a bit on-the-outs of blogging/review of late so I want to push self into blogging again. 

I have some titles in mind I want to read/audio this month. I want them to be slightly different from last month’s “spooky” reading, but you know me, I love a good creepy thriller/fantasy. Plus, I don’t exactly stick to my reading plans as I am very much a mood reader. But, like I said, I do have a few titles I would like to attempt to read this month/by the end of the year. 

So, shall I tease some titles that I would like to try/attempt to read this month…? (Oh, if any titles catch your eye, I have put some affiliate links in this post for some ease. I have put a * next to the links in question. Hope these help!)

All Hallows Reads - Spooky TBR

I know I should have planned my Halloween reading/TBR lists in advance. But am a mood reader, so when have I ever done that?!

But I do have titles on my radar that I know I would like to read over the course of the month. Highly unlikely, truth be told, but these titles feel like PERFECT reads and listens so I thought a little post to shout a few titles out would be a good idea. Plus, you might think that there would be good reads for you as the nights draw in for us lot in the Northern Hemisphere (there will be affiliate links in this post when referencing titles in this post.

Changing Reading Plans

And now, we enter my reading in 2022! I didn't realise that taking a longer Christmas/New Year blog break would push my write-ups back. And I hope to hit the ground running with a bunch of reading that will show you guys where I wish/hoped to take The Pewter Wolf Reads this year. 

Alas, my first planned book of 2022 - Peril at End House by Agatha Christie - ended in me quitting/DNFing it at around the 50%. I do plan to go back one day (maybe as an audiobook) and I do have other Agatha Christies that I want to read. Plus, I had plans. I made reading plans (vague plans, more like musings if we're being completely honest with each other, dear reader) what of I wanted to read this year. I want to try and read the whole Sookie Stackhouse series (which I am planning to do! I just need to get past the first chapter of Dead Until Dark). I, also, have an idea over a series or two that I've started but not finished and I would like to go for it and finish this year (keeping these under my hat as I need to plan...)

But after quitting Peril at End House, I wasn't exactly wanting to stick my reading ideas for the next few weeks. I left a little deflated and a little run down. The last few books/audiobooks I read in 2021 were very meh/three stars reads. And because I had plans to read several titles throughout the course of January and February 2022. I had plans to read The Maid by Nita Prose, a Dan Brown novel (either Angels and Demons or Digital Fortress) and a few other titles that I planned to keep hidden as I like the idea of mystery on here (though if you guys follow me on social media, they won't be that much of a surprise!).

So, I decided (as I felt a little rundown and close to a reading slump) to read some short stories/novellas and, as it happened, one of the MM romance authors I follow through socials said she had a short story up on Prolific Work's MM Romance Group's 2022 Giveaway, and I went "Oooh" and downloaded that as well as a few others to try out new authors or to get my rear in gear in a series or two I should start. 

Sometimes, you need a platter cleanser or a moment to recharge and reset your reading. Sometimes, it's taking time away from reading for a while. Sometimes it's reread a book you love and know inside and out. And sometimes, it's reading something that you know you are reading quickly and manage to finish in a short space of time. 

And the last opinion is what I did (normally it's reread or just having a reading break). 

Now, I'm not gonna talk too much of the short stories/novellas I read (The Real Deal by KM Neuhold, The Cubby Hole by Blade James, Pick One by May Archer and The Straight Friend by Raleigh Ruebin) as I will probably chat more about it on my Goodreads, but I thought I would write this to say that while I never do Monthly TBR lists, I do like to know what am reading next (even though I am a mood reader at heart) and while having these lists are great, sometimes throwing it out of the window and just going where the winds take you are just as helpful and kind. 

And with everything that's happened to us all in the past few years, I think we all need to be kinder to ourselves and make ourselves happy. 

November and December Reading Plan

I'm not entirely sure why I'm writing this post, but if you have been following the blog or me on ANY of my social medias, you probably have guessed by now that me sticking to a monthly TBR doesn't exactly work for me. I do much better with themes or ideas, but even then, I have a habit to break the theme when the mood takes me or if/when I need a break. 

Yep, am very much a mood reader. 

But I wanted to write something about my reading plans for the rest of 2021, maybe even the start of 2022, for the main reason that I can say "Ok, I might be having a wobble with my feelings with reading and blogging of late, but here's an idea of what I should read the next few weeks till 2021 is over [thank goodness!] or till the blog goes on Christmas holiday". 

So, my crazy, shocking idea: to read fun and no pressure on self. 

Yes, I know, I say this all the time, but it's hard to not put pressure on yourself when you are involve in the book blogging community (and when I say this, I am using this term VERY loosely, to include book vlogging, bookstgramming, podcasts, TikTok, Goodreads and anything else that I know exists but can't think of right about now) and everyone is reading at warp speed and you feel slow, not reading books on trend and what not. 

And so, am going to try not to worry about that and read/audiobook stories that call to me. Which means over the next few weeks, my reading (therefore, my blog post about these stories) is going to be deliciously weird! If you look at my Currently Read on my Goodreads, you'll see what I mean! Same goes if you ask me what I'm eyeing up to read next on Twitter (I'm not know to keep things secret!)

I do have one or two things that I would like to do in the next few weeks that might be seen as "rules", but am planning real fast on loose on these: read at least three eProofs from NetGalley/publishers as it's getting really out of hand (that or do a cull), try and do some rereads (I keep saying this every year and every year, I don't!), make a decision on when the blog is going on Christmas break and to plan my 2021 year long reading challenge (I have the series in mind and it's a long series. I need to read either the first in December 2021 or read two books in one month and I haven't decided which is better...)

So yes. Randomly decided to read freely the next few weeks. What are your reading plans for now till one minute to midnight, 31st December 2021? 

Breaking Your TBR Rules Is Ok

Have you noticed that if you follow most bookish people - booktubers, book bloggers, booktokkers, podcasters, bookagrammers and others that I am not hip enough to understand or too old to understand the lingo (oh hell, am the below gif, aren't I?) - that they created their To Be Read list for the upcoming month and they stick to them? They stick to them, no matter what. yes, they quit some reads but, 9 times out of 10, they read their list and they don't break the list or impulsively read something else? 

I do this all the time, hence why I never make TBR lists. I never stick to them. Yes, I am a mood reader. 

And I break my rules with TBRs all the time. Hence why I never do them. I try and do themes. And yet, I break them too. I mean, I did it last month and no one really commented on it. And I'm 95% certain I will break my TBR plans this Spooky Month as well. 

Ok, let me explain. 

Last month, I was planning to read crime and thrillers. I had several thrillers I was desperate to read. One them being Lies Like Wildfires by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Hell, this was the book that inspired the idea of doing a crime/thriller themed month! That's how excited I was to read, and how excited I still am to read this. And I started it... only to stop at page 16. I kid you not, 16 pages! My brain wasn't in the right space to read this. And so, I put it back on my TBR and, on a whim, read Drilled by KM Neuhold (final books in the Four Bear Construction series), hoping that this would be a platter cleanse, something I can read as a side project. Only for me to binge read this over the course of a weekend. 

So yeah... I broke my TBR rule for last month. And I felt no guilt WHATSOEVER in doing so. And I'm surprise no one talks about that - that, sometimes, breaking your TBR or not setting one is quite freeing. 

Now, saying that, I would like to stick to my Halloween reading this month (and hopefully read more than two books/audiobooks), but I know I am going to break it. I might have agreed to read two books for blog tours. One that I might have done (writing this post in late September) and another for the end of the month so... yeah... October might not be a spooky as I would like. 

Oh well, reading should be fun, after all. And sometimes, doing left field reading, away from you TBR for the next few reads is a good thing. Can't wait to freak you guys out over what I plan to read from now until my Christmas Blog Holiday... 

Summer of Love?

This was meant to be a review post of sorts. A “I read a bunch of short MM romance stories and wanna talk to you about (I will reference them below)” , not a “This might be the TBR vibe for the rest of Summer” post. Which kinda screws my TBR over as... well... you’ve seen my TBR on Goodreads or Readerly, you would see that I REALLY should tackle my full length stories – you know the ones. The long ones that scare the heck out of me that you all love, but the love and their sizes has kinda scared me (plus the recent UK heatwave threw my reading out).

Like I said, the past few months, I seem to be leaning towards shorter reads. I mean, during my walking holiday in north Wales in June 2021, I read four short stories as part of Prolific Works giveaway: The Day Pass by Slade James (part of the Bear Camp series), Door Number Two by Vinni George (part of the Open Doors series), French Tryst by Isla Olsen and Fan Service by Zoe Lee. They were really short and read one a day (perfect holiday reading) and quickly wrote mini-reviews on Goodreads, most of them I liked and one, not so much. But if you don’t try out new authors, you’ll never know if you’re going to like them (One of the stories made me buy the author’s debut in the series and another has made me researching their current series and go “Where should I start?”)

And recently, I read two more short stories/novellas: The Date by May Archer (prequel novella to the author’s Love in O’Leary series) and Winter Waites by Lucy Lennox (the prequel short story/novella for the author’s Aster Valley series, and yes, I did audiobook the first book in the series, Right as Raine). And both I enjoyed. So much so, I am making plans to read more from them in the coming months so keep your eyes peeled for that. I just need to do some forward planning...

This was meant to be a review for The Date and Winter Waites. Honestly, this was. But I started writing this and went “Actually, I’ve read quite a bit of MM romance since UK first lockdown in March 2020, [though I have dipped toe into these waters before then, but lockdown did something with my reading hence me going hard with KM Neuhold's Four Bear Construction series and my recent discoveries of the Vino and Veritas series and Ana Ashley's Chester Falls series]) and I’m not ready to leave this sub-genre/the genre of romance and go back to YA fantasy/crime just yet. I will, but not yet. It’s summer, I want to read light and summery reads” (I know, dear readers, who have I become?)

So, I have a sneaky suspicion that this summer’s reading will be more on the romance side than my normal fantasy/crime side. Yes, I fear a Summer of Love a-coming.

For this, I would like to apologise in advance for the love hearts/mushiness coming off my blog the next few weeks. Don’t worry, will probably take a tiny blog break sometime during the month (I suspect middle few weeks. I will still be active on social media so keep eyes peeled on that) to get over the sweetness, and I might throw a book or two that have a slightly dark edge/bite that balance out the sweetness. I’m a little surprised on the titles that am leaning towards if my reading gets to sugary... be warned on the sudden reading gear shift (and be warned that I might not review everything I read in the next few weeks on here...)

But August and, maybe, the start of September is going to be a little different reading from me. Brace yourselves! 

March 2021 TBR

I love how, last week, I wrote about February & Blogging Burnout and, this week, I decided to write about my March 2021 TBR and not, as I thought, me fanboying over awesome TV shows I've been watching or need to start (and before you all say it, yes, It's A Sin in on my To Be Watched list but, from all your tweets, it's going to be put me through the ringer. And it should! If you haven't seen it, GO! Please watch! Same goes with WandaVision. I am going to watch the latest episode once I've finished writing this post and yes, I have seen spoilers for this week's episode and my reaction to reading them is a mix of "Goddamnit!" and "I KNEW IT!!!"). I will probably do a post about podcasts that I loved during the UK's second and third lockdowns (though I worked through them as I couldn't work from home). 

But that's for another day. Today's is me talking about my reading plan for March. Don't get too excited, I have been talking about this for the few weeks. So, no big surprise here but I have my eye on Middle Grade. 

No reason, but Middle Grade stories have been calling to me the past month or so and who am I to refuse the call of delicious stories? Plus, I've already started on one or two Middle Grade reads and they are wonderful fun! 

Now, I am going to say right here and now that I am not going to force myself to read only exclusively Middle Grade. I've tried sticking to one genre for a month in the past and it never ends well. So, I'm going to throw a few others in the mix, just to keep me on my toes. Most of the audiobooks I have either bought, requested from publishers or my library are a really mix bag and while I might not review them all on here (but on my Goodreads or my Twitter. That's a different story!), you will see that I'm try to inject some fun and odd reads back into my life! 

So, keep an eye on here, Twitter (@PewterWolf) or Goodreads (goodreads.com/pewterwolf) to see what I am up to. 

Oh, before I tease you with a pic of titles that I MIGHT read in March (definitely will in April), I've decided that I will be taking a few weeks off over April. I usually take two weeks off for Easter but, last year, I didn't due to COVID. This year, I want to get back into the habit of knowing when/if I need blog breaks. So, heads up, might be taking two weeks off in April for blogging recharge. 

Happy reading everyone. Oh wait, teaser pic time! 

February 2021 TBR

Hello to my first TBR post of 2021! I decided to give myself a little break from doing this as having Christmas/New Year break and I like to not rush January reading as, last year, I apparently read/audiobook 100 stories (100?!) so no pressure. Plus, trying to get back into the groove of normal reading/blogging is a little harder to do so reading/blogging might be a little more chill compared to last year's "Reading & blogging is going to save me from COVID-19 paranoid!" 

Because I've decided to be a little more chilled out (easier said than done. I mean, have you seen my To Be Read shelf on my Goodreads [goodreads.com/pewterwolf] or any of my social media?!), I'm going to not stress and go with the flow. Well, that was meant to be the plan. But seeing as I'm reading a few romances lately, I thought it would be fun to try and read a romance or two during February as, of course, Feb is the only month we can be romantic to our Other Halves and ourselves - sorry for that hint of bitter sarcasm. I will behave, honest. 

So, I want to read a few romances books. I have my eye on a few that I will ATTEMPT to read, but as you guys know, romance isn't a genre I normally read and I'm not sure I can binge a whole month of romance novels so I'm going to add a few slightly dark reads to my TBR. 

You've guessed it. I am going to throw in a few crime/thriller books in the mix. At the time of writing this, I am currently audiobooking a book I read YEARS AGO and am having a weirdly great time revisiting this story... 

So, February is love and murder reading, and here are a few ideas of the direction am going in... 

December TBR

CHRISTMAS IS ROUND THE CORNER! And England's Second Lockdown will be over in the next few days (but I think all of us in the UK/worldwide are worried about what's going to happen next...). So, of course, this month's blogging will be shorter due to Xmas/New Year! 

But till then, let's carry on! So, what is December 2020's TBR? Well... no idea. I have no hard rules. I want this month's to be fun and getting us ready for the holidays, and yet, have a slight edge of darkness and murder. I have one or two ebooks in mind for my darkness. 

I might - and I stress this, MIGHT - casually take part in a readathon this month. I am strongly considering the Reindeer Readathon. But, if I do take part, it will be casually so I will only do probably two or three prompts. Plus, I will be using books, ebooks and audiobooks and, if I do include a book into this readathon, I will tell you in the blog post's title. 

DASHER - 15 PTS 

A book with a one word title. 

DANCER - 10 PTS 

A companion novel or a sequel (as in a dancing parter). 

PRANCER - 15 PTS 

A book with a map in it. 

VIXEN 25 PTS OR 20 PTS 

A book with a fox on the cover. (Alternatively, a strong female lead for 20 points). 

COMET - 30PTS 

A book you find intimidating. 

CUPID - 10 PTS 

Read a genre that you love. 

DONNER - 15 PTS 

A book with something hidden inside (under the dust jacket, chapter heads, art etc.) 

BLITZEN - 20 PTS 

A book with some sort of struggle (internal struggle, war, battle etc) 

RUDOLPH - 20 PTS 

A book where the main character doesn't seem to fit in (outsider, misfit).

15 BONUS POINTS: CHRISTMAS STAR (To be used with one above prompt ONCE)

Read a book 500 pages or more

50 BONUS POINTS: SLEIGHING IT (To be used once when ALL above prompts including Christmas Star have been completed)

For extra points, read a book that works with one prompt.

But what, I hear you ask, are the books I have my eye on? Well, as you know, I am very much a mood reader, so I can't say that I will stick to my ideas (Ha! I never do!), but I sense one or two of these might be appearing in one form or another... 

November TBR

This month's TBR is going to be a tad different from my previous attempts of making a TBR list (lists I normally don't stick to, FYI). This month doesn't really have a theme, either, though I do have a challenge in my head, which is why I am going to chat about it now in this small(ish) post. 

This month, my main TBR challenge is to focus on my TBR from NetGalley. 

Now, if you don't know what NetGalley is (I do reference it, but am not sure if I have ever explained), NetGalley is a site that booksellers, bloggers/reviewers, librarians, educators or those in the media can use to get Advance Reader Copies of books in eBook form. 

Now, I recently looked at my TBR on NetGalley and it's a lot. More than I thought. At the time of writing this (18th October, for those of you curious), I have around 160. So yeah, I need to sit down and get my backside in gear and make a tiny dent in them. 

Now, I am not going to review every single read from NetGalley on here. Lockdown reviewing has still burnt me out so some eProofs I read will only have a short review on Goodreads (goodreads.com/pewterwolf for those of you not friends with me or, if that's too much of a commitment, just follow!), but I will try and write a good few reviews up. My only warning for this month is that this month's reading is going to be really erratic, and because of that, I am weirdly excited to see what I read this month! 

I hope you join me for this month's weird reading on here, Goodreads (link in previous paragraph) or on Twitter on @PewterWolf (I am quite active on Twitter. I am a little worried that I might have an addiction problem with my phone/Twitter so might have to do a few days where I hide my phone and not touch it!). It's gonna be a weird one! 

October 2020 TBR

Am trying, for once, to get ahead of the game by writing my October TBR several weeks in advance. I'm trying to add some order to the Pewter Wolf for the remainder of 2020 (might not do this in 2021 as I never fully stick of my "This is my TBR list for This Month"! I mean, I put four up last month and I only really stuck to one, two at a push!). 

And October 2020's is going to be exactly the same. I have a few on my radar, but am going to keep these quiet as I don't want to jinx myself and I want some room to change my mind and go with my mood. 

But, I did have plans. A few months, I decided to take part in a readathon throughout October - the Charmed Readathon. This is inspired by the TV series Charmed, starring Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan (let's not talk about the drama happening between a few of the actors, shall we?). I had plans to do a few of the prompts. I even bought a few of the book spinoffs to read during this time... 

... and yet, I realised in late August/early September that there was NO WAY I could take part. My TBR is getting out of control and I wanted to attack some of my backlog of crime/thrillers throughout the month. An unofficial Murder Month, if you will. 

So, while that's my trail of thought for October, there is one book I know for a fact that I will be reading to get me in the mood for Halloween. A creepy yellow number that should give me the creeps. I know some of you guys have already read and loved this so this won't come as a huge surprise to you!

But yes, am hoping to read Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis this Halloween. I don't think I need to go too in-depth with it - most of you have read it - but Lola's famous movie director dad filed Nightjar, a cult horror classic at Harrow Lake. She knows all about it. She knows about the caves under the fairground, the sunken graveyards, the tree in the woods that are hung with teeth (eww!). But she doesn't know about the town's secrets and as she tries to discover why this town has such hold over her family, someone is watching her every move... 

So yes. That's my solid "I WILL READ YOU" read as I won a copy a month or so ago and I knew, as soon as it arrived through my letterbox, that this was going to be my Halloween read! So, I'm curious: what are you planning to read this spooky month? 

September 2020 TBR

I don’t do Monthly TBRs. I never stick to them. I am very much a mood reader, as you guys can probably tell from how I pinball around genres. But, I want to try this out for a month or two, see if it keeps me on track on one or two books. 

Now, before I go further, I want to say that I am not going to list EVERY book/audiobook I want to read/listen to this month. That will defeat everything. I want to say one or two titles, maybe three at a push. This is because I am a little of a slow reader, normal life is slowly returning (define “normal life” lately) so I will have to adapt my reading to that, I have a ton of preorders coming out this month and I’m very much a mood reader so I want to be flexible! Plus, it’s nice to surprise you guys with a curveball once in a while… 

But, there are a few titles I do want to try and read/audiobook this month for one reason or another. So, am going to reference these now and, hopefully, will stick to my reading plan.

I can’t go any further without mentioning To Sleep In A Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini. Quick backstory time. I preordered the audiobook version of this at the beginning of the year, but I was very kindly sent a limited edition Advance Reader Copy of this, and I planned to read this and Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer back-to-back last month. However, Midnight Sun (which I thought I would fly through) is taking longer than I thought so this is on backburner. I suspect that I will be starting to read this again at the end of the month so I might go quiet for a while. You have been warned. 

But the first book I want to mention on here is The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. I know, I’ve never read Lord of the Rings and while I have no need to, I put this on my Amazon Wishlist MONTHS ago as I kept going “I do want to read Tolkien. Or, at least, attempt to.” I kept getting pulled to it. And someone very kindly gifted it to me (thank you!). But the main reason I want to read it (or attempt to) is because two booktubers I love are doing a readalong to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - #TolkienALong. And seeing as I missed another readalong of The Bone Season by Samatha Shannon, I REALLY want to do this one, just to say I have read the Hobbit and see everyone’s reactions to it. I will put announcement videos from both booktubers down below! 

Another title I want to try and read this month is The Hungry Ghost by H.S Norup. I don’t know much about this book. I got a copy of it via NetGalley and I want to try and read it this month as I really like the cover and, because of cover, I might be involved in a possible blog tour for this book next month so, for once, I want to be ahead of the game! It’s rare, I know, but I want to try! And because I might be involved in tour, I don’t really want to say much about it, but it’s a middle-grade and set in Singapore at the time of the Hungry Ghost Festival. 

Third and final book - ok, audiobook - I would like to read/listen to this month is Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. In a few days times, you will read my write-up of my reread/listen of Illuminae and because of this, I bought audiobooks 2 and 3 in the trilogy and hope to audio them by end of the year! Gemina follows two new characters, Hanna and Nik, two teens so far removed from each other on the Heimdall space stations, little realising that Kady and the space ship, Hypatia, is coming towards Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion (from Illumanae)… 

That’s all I am going to admit here and now. I do have a ton more books/audiobooks I want to read this month, but like I said, I want this to be causal and relaxed so I have room to be a mood reader. Plus, if doing this the next few months works, I might do a small TBR Jar next year of 12 titles. But it all depends on how this works out so, we shall see… 

Big Ass eBook TBR

Continuing on from yesterday's Big Ass Physical Book TBR (or just Big Ass Books), here are 6/7 eBooks that are over 550 pages long and make me mentally think "How on earth am I going to read them?!".

So, let's get started on those TBR eBooks that scare me a little due to their length! And would you believe it, I can only find 4. FOUR (five if I wanna push my luck - which I am including)! It seems I use my kindle a lot more for buy eBooks when there is a sale on! But, I have found a few that fit my Big Ass Book so, let's get started!

BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore
I got the entire trilogy on sale and it's one of those trilogies that I always want to read, but never find the time. Plus, with buying books on my kindle, I kinda forget I have them. This just hits the Big Ass Book category with 576 pages, but from what I hear, this trilogy is one I need to read as am a fantasy fan! But, maybe I should start with Graceling or Fire first and leave this one till last...

NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult
I have always been a fan of Jodi Picoult, though I have never read her books. I admire her because she write books that tackle subject matter that most books would flinch away from, and yet, she writes them in a way that you go "That's different". Out of all her books, Nineteen Minutes is the one I always have my eye on. its 660-odd pages tackles a high school shooting and the fall out of it. And I've been holding off because I need to brace myself. But this is the year I want to read her. Not only am I planning on reading this, but I am planning to read her latest, Small Great Things, when it comes out in November so brace yourselves in the latter months of the year... you have been warned...

OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon
I haven't watched the TV series. I tried to watch the first episode, but I couldn't get past the first half an hour. But I keep hearing from people who have read the book (and who I trust) that I will really enjoy the book so, when I saw it on sale for 99p, I had to. I HAD TO. And with these people saying I will fly through this, I think this might be a challenging read. But a read I would like to attempt before the year is out...

THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt
Ok, am going to admit this. I'm not exactly sure why I bought this. I have read The Little Friend by Donna Tartt many MANY years ago and was 50/50 over my reaction. I didn't love/hate the book. It's was just... ok. And I have tried to read The Secret History (on the promise that I would love due to my obsession with the TV show, How To Get Away with Murder), but I just found the book dull. So why I have this is anyone's guess? I just want to try again with Donna as I think this could be the book that changes my mind on her... we shall see...

THE CHRESTOMANCI SERIES by Diana Wynne Jones
Ok, I'm cheating here. I know this, I accept this. But I got this in one HUGE eBook collection and because of a mistake Amazon made, I preordered and bought this for a under £2. BARGAIN!!! I remember reading one of the Chrestomanci books YEARS ago (Witch Week, maybe...?) but I think this is a series I would have loved if I discovered it when I was much younger... so, why not try and reclaim my youth? I might surprise myself!

Big Ass Physical Books TBR

Because last month was very heavy (murder! MURDER EVERYWHERE!!!), this month is going to be a little more light-hearted and fun. Hence today's and tomorrow's post of BIG ASS BOOKS!

Let me explain. Back in April, I asked you guys on Twitter what you call a Big Ass Book. How many pages or over does a book have to be before it makes you look at it and mentally panic-think "How in Hades am I going to read that?!". And you guys voted.

Guys, what do you guys class as a "Big Ass Book"? Am planning a possible themed month late in year or blog post...

— Andrew Hall (@PewterWolf13) April 12, 2016

I was planning on showing you guys the thick, scary books in my TBR pile anyway, but the vote confirmed that I was going to do it. So, here I am, doing it. And it's surprising how many books I'e taken off my TBR shelves, thinking they are way over 550 pages, only to find they aren't. The trick of the spines!!!

I am going to split this over 2 posts - today is physical books in my TBR and tomorrow will be eBooks in my TBR (I have LOADS on my kindle!) - and each post will have either 6 or 7 books each. So, let's get started with Big Ass Books!

CRESS by Marissa Meyer
This only just gets classed as a Big Ass Book, with it being 552 pages (but it looks a hella lot more!). I have read Cinder and Scarlet and I really, really, REALLY want to continue with this series, but this series's books are just getting bigger and bigger! The final book in the series, Winter, is over 800 pages long! 800!!! And I keep holding off reading this as the last two books have done things to characters that has stressed me out, so reading Cress will freak me out no end. Plus, I feel scared about reading Winter...

MORTAL HEART by Robin LaFevers
Again, this just gets called a Big Ass Book with having 553 pages (557 if you include the Author's Note). I have actually read the first book in this series, Grave Mercy, several years ago and I think I enjoyed it (I gave away my copy to someone else so I can't go back and reread to be certain. Maybe this is a future buy...). So when the publisher offered me both book 2, Dark Triumph, and this book, I jumped at it. Historical novels about assassin nuns! SOLD!!! But I never been in the mood to jump into this world. Plus, with these books being companion (so you don't need to read them all), I should be able to jump into this world no problem. It's just I need to be in the right headspace...

ILLUMINAE by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
I have to admit this: I was so excited when I heard this book had a UK publisher and was surprise thrilled when I got an early copy. And with this book being written in a unique way, the 599 pages should fly by. So why, WHY, haven't I read it yet? I have no idea why. I have just let it slip by and with the sequel, Gemina, coming out in the next few months and I really want to read them quite close together, I shall read this soon... If not, you have permission to shout at me, ok?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS by Marlon James
When you look at this book, it doesn't look like a Big Ass Book. My TBR copy of Patrick Ness's The Knife of Never Letting Go looks bigger than this. But while Knife of Never Letting Go is 528 pages (so close but not enough!), A Brief History of Seven Killings is 688 pages! I got this when at a blogger's event (I kept picking it up and reading the back so often, the publisher just gave it to me [even though I did actually have plans to buy myself a copy as soon as the event was over]), and was so excited. This book has won how many awards!? But this book is a book where you must FOCUS. It's not a book you can pick up and read for 5/10 minutes. You need to pay attention. And, at the moment, I am doing that "I can spare 5 minutes to read before I have to go to work" so it's bad timing on me. But I will read this! I WILL!!!

LADY MIDNIGHT by Cassandra Clare
Just when I thought I was free from the Shadowhunter world, I read a snippet from Lady Midnight from last year's YALC and I was dragged back in. While I haven't read the final 3 books in the Mortal Instruments series for one reason or another, I am very curious over where Cassandra is going to go in this 669 page volume (with extra content but not counting that... yet). I am very curious over Cassandra's other upcoming trilogy, The Last Hour, but I feel I need to read this before I go anyway else. I mean, it's Cassandra Clare, how bad can she make it? *reads fellow book bloggers reviews/reactions* ...oook. Read this when I'm on holiday - I sense long sleepless nights ahead...

AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman
I got this from the publisher after chatting about Neil Gaiman. I wasn't fishing for a copy. Honest! I was talking about the upcoming TV show and how this is The Gaiman novel. When asked if I had read it, I went "No. But I plan to". And they very kindly gave me a copy. And I am actually going to try and read all 736 pages this month. It's my reward for surviving Murder Month. This & Eowyn Ivey's To The Bright Edge of the World. Yes... So, am not reading this now, but I should be starting before this month is out so beware, Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads followers for very excitable updates!

A GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin
This, my friends, is the big Mama! Just over 800 pages and with the tiniest type I've seen in a while, I have EVERY intention to read this book before the year is through. I'm thinking of reading this in October or November, strangely. Plus, as someone who hasn't seen the TV show (I watched the pilot with my Other Half and after we finished, he went "Nope. Not watching that! I mean, incest and pushing a child out of a window to his death - come on, Andrew! I know you like your TV shows slightly twisted, but this is taken it to a new level."), I am very intrigued to see what the fuss is about. But yes, I will planning on starting this book this year sometime... should I be scared?