Tammy’s Top Ten Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2013

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! It’s hosted, as always, by The Broke and the Bookish. I love this week’s theme, because I always look forward to sharing books I’m excited to read. I’m going literal here, and only including books that will be released in June, July and August of this year. A couple of these are already out, but I haven’t read them yet. And I had to leave a few off the list because I’ve already read them (like the amazing Charm & Strange). Obviously this is only a small portion of the summer releases that I’m excited about! Here they are, in order of release date (click on the covers to go to Goodreads):

Joyland by Stephen King. Release date: June 4 2013 (Hard Case Crime). Of course I’m going to list this book! I haven’t read a lot of reviews, but it does seem to be getting favorable press.  This is more of a hard-boiled mystery than horror, but I’ll read just about anything King writes. King made the unusual decision to publish this as a mass market paperback only (no e-b00k) as a nostalgic look back at the wonderful days of pulp fiction. Although I have seen a collector’s hardcover edition of Joyland, I still think this is the nicer package.

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes. Release date: June 4 2013 (Mulholland Books). I’ve been seeing this book everywhere, and I’m dying to get my hands on it.  It’s a horror/serial killer/time travel story, I mean, who wouldn’t want to read that?? This is Beukes’ third book, I believe (she may have some self-published books as well) but I haven’t read her yet. The cover is deceiving, and makes this look like literary fiction. But I’ve read lots of good reviews, and with all the YA books I’ve been reading lately, I’m looking forward to an adult book for a change:)

In the After by Demitria Lunetta. Release date: June 25 2013 (Harper Teen). This was a Waiting on Wednesday way back when, and I’m still waiting on it! I was lucky enough to get approved for this title on Edelweiss, so I’ll be reading and reviewing it soon. It’s a post-apocalyptic thriller with a teen and a toddler as main characters, and it’s got a horror vibe going as well. I love that it breaks away from the typical boy/girl protagonists. (Although there may be a boy in the story, I don’t know!)

Ink by Amanda Sun. Release date: June 25 2013 (Harlequin Teen). I’ve been trying to snag a copy of this (on both NetGalley and during the Ink blog tour giveaways), but so far no luck. Ink takes place in Japan, which is near and dear to my heart since I lived there for a year back in college. It sounds amazing, and there is a paranormal element to it, which I love. But mostly, I love looking at the gorgeous cover art! I wish more publishers would move away from using photography on book covers, and hire artists instead. Photography on covers has been a trend for a long time, and I think it might be time for a change…

Three by Jay Posey. Release date: July 30 2013 (Angry Robot). I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Posey’s debut. If you read this blog on a regular basis you know I’m a huge Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry fan, so I’m very excited about Three. Plus, it’s the first in a new series. Plus, I love the cover! Look how beautiful it is…And check out one of the pre-release reviews: “Stark and powerful, THREE is a stunning debut. Reinventing the post-apocalyptic western as a journey across interior badlands as dangerous as the cyborg-haunted terrain his hero must cross, Posey has crafted a story that is impossible to put down.”
– Richard E. Dansky, author of Snowbird Gothic

Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig. Release date: July 30 2013 (Amazon Children’s Publishing). Chuck is my new favorite author. That’s quite a statement, because I love so many authors, but he seriously blew me away with The Blue Blazes (you can read my review here), so much so that I had to create a special award for the book. I also love his blog, and I seriously recommend you follow it, especially if you are an aspiring writer. I was thrilled and confused to see this title on NetGalley. Thrilled, for obvious reasons. Confused, because he seems to have switched publishers. Hmmm, I need to find out why.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. Release date: August 20 2013 (Bloomsbury USA). Don’t hate Shannon because she’s only twenty-one and has inked a seven book deal before she’s even got her college degree (not to mention sold the movie rights). Rather, let’s all read this book that’s got some great reviews on Goodreads already! I’m thrilled that I was just approved for this title on NetGalley. And yes, this is the first of a seven book series. It makes me a bit tired to think about that, but my previous reading experiences with seven book series have been awesome, so I’m keeping an open mind…

Relic by Renee Collins. Release date: August 27 2013 (Entangled Teen). I love the world building idea of this story: in a small town in Colorado, people mine the bones of long dead magical creatures, bones that contain residual magic and can give the owner powers.  Cool idea, right? Plus, lovely orangey/purply cover! It’s described as “western fantasy,” a sub-genre that I love. And with almost all five-star reviews on Goodreads so far, I’m hoping this is going to be fantastic.

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler. Release date: August 27 2013 (Knopf Books for Young Readers). Ghost story! Spiritualism! Séances! This historical book is set at the turn-of-the-century when spiritualism was becoming popular, and takes place at a college in Cambridge, England. It’s recommended for fans of Libba Bray, and that’s good enough for me.  I’ve seen some great reviews for this book, and I can’t wait to read it!

The Returned by Jason Mott. Release date: August 27 2013 (Harlequin MIRA).  I don’t usually jump on the hype bandwagon, but I am intrigued by this book. What happens when your dead loved ones come back? Not as zombies, mind you, but as themselves, when they were alive? How do the living cope with such a phenomenon? That’s the concept behind this story that’s getting an awful lot of attention and is being compared to Stephen King. Yes, I want to read it.

So, what are your top picks for the summer? Leave me a link so I can visit your blog!