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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (3)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)

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

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 50 books. 104% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


51 / 52 books. 98% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


37 / 40 books. 93% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


25 / 25 cozies. 100% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


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

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


51 / 100 books. 51% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


99 / 109 books. 91% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


139 / 165 books. 84% done!

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

My Progress:


88 / 100 names. 88% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


45 / 80 skills. 56% done!
Tuesday, July 05, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday: Shiny New Distractions


I really should do myself a favor and skip the TTT prompts that focus on new releases. All they do is make me salivate over shiny, new delights while distracting me from the hundreds of books already on my bookshelves waiting for a look-see. And yet, I can't resist Googling all the tantalizing up-and-comers, collecting your recommendations, and adding them all to my already about-to-topple Mount TBR! Honestly, why do I do this to myself? It's such sweet, sweet torture... 

If you're also into masochism-by-new-release, you should definitely join in this week's TTT fun. Just click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the info.

Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2022
- in order of release date -


1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (available today!)—This adult contemporary novel features a pair of best friends who form an incredibly successful video game creation partnership. The story follows their lives over several decades. 

I can't tell exactly what the plot of this novel is, but I trust Zevin to deliver a powerful read. I'm looking forward to checking this one out soon.

2. Upgrade by Blake Crouch (available July 12)—I'm not much for sci-fi, but I do love Crouch's immersive, engrossing mind-benders. His newest concerns Logan Ramsay, an ordinary guy with a dark past, who's been chosen for a genome upgrade. As Logan feels himself changing into something a little more—and a little less—than human, he wonders if evolving in this way is really the only way to save his species.

3. We Made It All Up by Margot Harrison (available July 12)—Moving from Montreal to Montana leaves Celeste feeling lonely and out of place. She finds solace in writing a fan fiction love story between the school's most popular guy and its resident stoner. When, at the urging of her only friend, Celeste tries to create reality out of her fantasy, a boy ends up dead. Celeste can't remember what happened on that fateful night. Is she responsible for his death? 

This YA mystery/thriller sounds intriguing!

4. The Night Ship by Jess Kidd (available August 4)—Based on the real-life story of Batavia, a ship that wrecked on an Australian island in the 17th Century, this dual-timeline tale sounds epic. Can't wait. 

5. Madwoman by Louisa Treger (available August 23)—Nellie Bly's famous investigative sojourn in an insane asylum on Blackwell's Island, New York, is the subject of this historical novel. 

6. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (available August 30)—I've enjoyed this Knives Out-ish YA series and am looking forward to seeing how the story ends in this finale to the trilogy.

7. The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck (available September 13)—Based on the true story of young World War II refugees who fled over snow-covered French mountain passes to escape the Nazis, this historical novel features a group of children hiding in a crumbling castle overseen by Swiss nurses. When Germany invades southern France, their safe haven is no more. Can the children's protectors smuggle them over the dangerous passes to safety? Or will all of their lives be lost in the attempt?

8. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (available September 20)—This twisty psychological thriller sounds unique and compelling. It's about a mother who is shocked when she witnesses her funny, good-natured 17-year-old son murder a man in cold blood. When he's taken into custody, she's shattered with no idea what to do next. Upon awakening the next morning, she's stunned to realize that she's reliving the day of the murder. The next morning, she rewinds another day, then another. With time moving backward, can she figure out a way to stop the murder she witnessed before it happens? 

9. In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth C. Bunce (available October 4)—I adore this middle-grade mystery series, so I'm excited for the next installment. In this fourth book, an heiress who was presumed to be lost at sea returns to claim her fortune. Myrtle's father is hired to determine whether the young lady is truly who she says she is. When he is waylaid by tonsilitis, it's up to Myrtle to solve the mystery as well as a murder her father may—or may not—have witnessed while in the throes of a fever.

10. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng (available October 4)—Ng's newest is hard to describe, but it sounds fresh and interesting. Here's the official plot summary:

Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old.
 
Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.
 
Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.

There you go, ten up-and-comers I'm eager to read. What do you think of my list? Are you excited about any of these? What new releases are you most looking forward to? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

47 comments:

  1. Ooh, so many of these look intriguing. I hope you enjoy all of them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me, too! It's a good crop of new releases, so my hopes are high :)

      Thanks for popping in, Alicia!

      Delete
  2. I know, my TBR has grown so much today. haha! I am looking forward to The Final Gambit. I pre-ordered the second book but haven't read it yet.. definitely waiting for the last book now so I don't have a long wait. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're smart! I keep telling myself to wait until a series is finished to start it so that I can just binge it all in one go and not forget everything that happened in between books, but I never listen to myself. Ha ha. I'm going to have to skim the first two books to remember what's going on before I read the third. Curse my aging memory!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

      Delete
  3. I love the cover for We Made It All Up! If I ever end up reading that book, I'll definitely get a physical copy just so I can admire its stunning cover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? It definitely makes you look twice. I always like an interesting cover.

      Thanks for stopping in, Abigail!

      Delete
  4. Great list Susan. There are a few here that I was not aware of and will be checking out. I love the look of The Night Ship and The Winter Orphans sounds good. I hope you enjoy all of these, Susan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THE NIGHT SHIP and THE WINTER ORPHANS both sound especially good, I agree. I hope we enjoy them!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

      Delete
  5. One of my favourite procrastinating things is to look up new releases! This week's TTT has been great for hearing about all the ones I've missed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. For sure! It's one of my favorite hobbies as well :) It's always fun to see what's up-and-coming in the book world.

      Thanks for popping by, Ellie!

      Delete
  6. I’m curious about Our Missing Hearts, too.

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-books-releasing-in-the-second-half-of-2022/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds so interesting, doesn't it? Here's hoping it's as good as it looks!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

      Delete
  7. Ooh Mad Woman sounds soo good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't it? I want to read both it and THE MAD GIRLS OF NEW YORK by Maya Rodale. I find Nellie Bly fascinating!

      Thanks for stopping in, Charlotte!

      Delete
  8. Oh wow, Wrong Place Wrong Time sounds amazing, and I'm really curious about Mad Woman too.

    Lauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the premise of WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME. I'm interested to see how the author handles the unique story format. MAD WOMAN sounds excellent, too. I hope it's as good as it seems.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lauren!

      Delete
  9. I had the Blake Crouch book on my list already. And I've now added Gillian McAllister's new one. Yes, our lists...so, so long. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My list just never seems to get any shorter. For every one I read, I apparently add twenty! LOL. The math is not in my favor.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!

      Delete
  10. Nice list, Susan. I like that you have so many books on your list that I haven't seen on other lists. I'm going to have to check these out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tried to find some different titles to highlight. Pickings were a little slim, but I think I managed to find some good ones. Fingers crossed they're all as good as they sound!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

      Delete
  11. Haha, I always love your titles. My distractions don't even have to be shiny or new in order to be just that, distractions. LOL

    I think "The Winter Orphans" sounds like a book I might be interested in. In any case, thanks for your list. And thanks for visiting my TTT this week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! True. All books are distractions for me, but the shiny new ones distract me from the ones already on my bookshelves. The struggle is real!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. I buy a lot of used books, so the new ones aren't necessarily shinier than the old. Still, they always distract. LOL

      Delete
  12. Nice eclectic mix, Susan! I hope you enjoy all of these!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Me, too. I have high hopes for all of them.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  13. Thanks for adding yet more books to my own TBR list. ;D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha! Sorry/not sorry :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  14. All of these sound really good! I hope you love them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope so, too! Fingers crossed they're all as good as they sound.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

      Delete
  15. Great list! I sympathize with the way these posts just add more books to the TBR. I have a few new ones now, too. ;-) Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? It's the best/worst thing about TTT. Sorry/not sorry about adding to your pile :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

      Delete
  16. Even thought they're not on my list this week, I'm really looking forward to the Blake Crouch and Gabrielle Zevin books too!! (Just forgot to include them...) Hope you enjoy all of these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always spy books on other people's lists that I should have included. My memory's SOOO bad, ha ha.

      Thanks for popping by, Lisa!

      Delete
  17. Ha ha! I completely agree with your about these TTT lists being sweet sweet torture. TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW was my pick for Book of the Month for July. I'm so excited to get it! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For real, though! I can't stop torturing myself by finding new books to add to my TBR list. The struggle is real.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jenni!

      Delete
  18. Yay for Upgrade! I love Crouch's books. :-) I need to read that Barnes' series, it sounds so good. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Barnes series is really fun. I'm enjoying it. And, yes, I'm a big Crouch fan as well, although there are still a bunch of his that I haven't read. So many books, so little time!

      Thanks for stopping in, Andie!

      Delete
  19. I have 3 of these on my list, too: Tomorrow, Upgrade, Our Missing Hearts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think (read?) alike! I hope we both enjoy these books.

      Thanks for popping by, Mary!

      Delete
  20. My husband reads Blake Crouch sometimes. I'll have to remember that he has a new release coming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crouch is great if you like immersive, fast-paced sci-fi thrillers and horror. The latter is sometimes a little much for me, but I really like his sci-fi books and, like I said, I'm not even a sci-fi fan!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tanya!

      Delete
  21. Looks like we share similar book love💜

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Book twins! I love it! I'm so glad to have found your blog. I see lots of awesome reading recs in my future :)

      Thanks for stopping in, Jonetta!

      Delete
  22. So many good reads on your list! Happy to see your Top Ten list!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I haven't heard of any of these books so I look forward to seeing what you think of them. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I can never resist new shiny books which is why my shelves look like they do! The only one on your list I'm familiar with is Madwoman and it looks like a good read!

    ReplyDelete

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