We’ve nearly made it to the end of 2020, guys! December is typically more of a relaxed blogging month for me, as I don’t have very many December review copies, and so I like to use it to catch up on books I didn’t have time for earlier in the year. This year is no different. I technically only have three books for review that come out this month (all on December 1st, thanks publishers…). The rest of the month I hope to read a few books I’ve been super excited for but just haven’t had time to read them. I’d also like to throw in a couple of personal purchases if I can. And of course, it would be nice to look ahead and read at least one January review title early. We shall see how all that goes! But one thing’s for sure, I’m going to let my mood guide me this month. Here’s what I hope to read:
These first three are all review books, and technically they are my ONLY December review books, so at least one month out of 2020, I will be able to say I read all my review books of the month! Ha ha. First up is We Hear Voices by Evie Green. This sounds so interesting and has both a pandemic (!) and an imaginary friend as elements.
Bone Chase by Weston Ochse has been getting some negative reviews on Goodreads, and although I like to form my own opinions of books, it’s tough not to notice a bunch of one star reviews. I’ll keep you updated when I get to this one!
The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller sounds like an interesting mix of ghost story and social commentary about gentrification. I’m not really sure I understand the whale on the cover, but hopefully reading the book will give me the answer to that burning question!
The next four books are all “late” review books, books I really want to make sure I read before the end of the year. First up, The Ghost Dance Judgement by R.S. Belcher. I actually got a PDF review copy from the author, but I really don’t like reading PDF formats for review, so I ended up buying the paperback, which I’m happy to do to support the author. I can’t wait! I hope to be reading this by the end of the week.
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel is so so so late! I’m sorry Tiffany! The end of the year is so overcrowded with new releases that it’s hard to fit everything in. But I’m determined to read this in December, especially since the author was kind enough to send me a finished copy:-D
Next are two review copies from the very generous Quirk Books! By the time you read this post, I will have finished This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey, which is a YA version of the movie The Truman Show, if there is anyone out there old enough to remember that movie, lol. I wish I had read this earlier because it’s actually science fiction, and it would have been a good book to review for SciFiMonth. I’m enjoying this a lot, and I’ll have a review up soon.
Secret Santa by Andrew Shaffer is a November release, but the subject matter works well with December. This is a Christmas horror story that revolves around book publishing, so it should be a lot of fun!
OK, I know Jade City by Fonda Lee might be an odd book to see here, but I’ve literally been trying to start this series for years. With book #3 on the horizon to be released in 2021, I’m making the push to get caught up before it comes out.
Finally, I’d love to squeeze in A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. This was a purchase and I need to start doing better in reading the books I actually buy. Plus I’m curious about this because I’ve seen so many mixed reviews.
Best Books of the Year
Near the end of the month, I’ll be bringing you my “best of” lists, which is of course one of my favorite parts of the year. 2020 may have been a shit year for many reasons, but it was a fantastic year for book publishing! I don’t have my posts finalized, but you’ll probably see at least two best of posts on the 22nd and 29th.
Here’s a recap of what I read and reviewed in November. Click on the titles to read my reviews:
Call of the Bone Ships by R.J. Barker
The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie
The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman
How the Multiverse Got Its Revenge by K. Eason
Eight Cylinders by Jason Parent
Secret Santa is on my reading queue as well and I look forward to some creepy Christmas stories… 🙂
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I look forward to comparing notes:-)
There may be a lot of books released this time of year, but isn’t it so darn fun to have so many exciting new reads?!
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It is! We shouldn’t complain, because it could be the other way around, lol.
I’m curious about your opinion on A Deadly Education if you end up reading it. Many mixed reviews like you said. So would love to know your take on it.
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It’s short so I feel good about reading it this month:-)
Jade City is amazing, Tammy! I hope you enjoy it!
I can’t wait! I have yet to hear anything bad about that book:-)
Sounds like a great TBR! I’ve been meaning to read A Deadly Education as well, but the mixed reviews have scared me off a bit. I’m excited to hear all your thoughts!
I’m so curious now! I feel like I’m going to love it, so I’m optimistic:-)
I have Jade City, but like you I’ve yet to read it. I hope you have a pleasant and relaxed month full of some fantastic reading!
Thanks Todd, you too!
I hope to read more of “my” books in December too – I don’t have any review books with release dates before January, and I’m hoping to make a big dent in my book piles! Enjoy your reading!
Good planning! Next year I’m going to try to leave December completely open:-)
Oooh, Jade City. I’d be really curious to see what you think of that. Have a great month, Tammy!
Thanks, you too Lisa!
I’m hoping I’ll be the same in December, I’m trying to do best of posts every day for the month, nice and quick freeing up time for book reading and hopefully reviewing, well that’s the plan.
Have a good month!
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I’ll be watching for your posts!
Bone Chase, We Hear Voices, Secret Santa – all are on my list and I’m conflicted as to which to start first. Though I guess it would make more sense to save that last one closer to Christmas 😀
They all come out on the same day, so I guess it doesn’t matter which is first, ha ha.
At least 2020 brought us amazing book releases!! I’m going to have a hard time with my best of list this year. I’m not sure I can narrow it down the way I normally do!
Me too! I need to start pulling it together. It’s going to be way more than ten, that’s for sure.
This is Not the Jess Show sounds fun and I might check it out. I plan on reading Secret Santa this month too and have a feeling we’ll be seeing it a lot. Can’t believe the year is ending – about time! It’s been a shitshow for sure.
I also love your snowflakes. I added some to my blog once and then it was May before I could figure out how to remove them – haha!
It’s the perfect time for Secret Santa. And I love snowflakes! I limit myself to using them only during December, but I’d use them year round if it wasn’t so weird:-)
I’m also hoping to catch-up on ARCs and mood-read a bit! I’d love to keep working on the Spellslinger series and read A House on the Cerulean Sea by the end of the year. Happy December!
Happy December, Caitlin! I hope we both get some good mood reading in:-)
My goal for December is reading ahead and trying to get in some 2021 books so I don’t get behind like I did this year! 🙂 We shall see how it goes…lol. You have a couple books on your plate I hope you get to cause I am curious about your thoughts! 🙂
I hope to read an least one January book, lol.
I’m really intrigued by The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller, I read Blackfish City last month and even if it was very weird, I enjoyed it very much (and it also featured a whale 😉 )
I really want to read Jade City, I will put it on my list of books to read next year because I’ve heard only amazing things about this series but, like you, I haven’t had the chance to read it yet!
Have a good month!
I always look forward to the end of the year for those Best of lists too. I get so many recommendations from them.
I am curious to know what you would think of A Deadly Education! I was pleasantly surprised by it (I went in blind and I got lucky!) and I hope you would enjoy it too!
I’m also curious to see what you make of A Deadly Education. As far as I can work out – those who like it (me included) quickly bonded with El, the protagonist, despite her edges. Those that found it heavy going disliked her voice and therefore didn’t enjoy her monologuing. I never mind that aspect of a book in first-person, so long as it stays in character and I enjoy their personality… You have intriguing stack of books lined up for December, Tammy and I hope you find them enjoyable:)).
Also curious about the Novik book.
And isn’t Secret Santa just a great title for this time of year.
Lynn
I will shout Jade City which will probably come as no surprise to anyone. It is so good and I am so looking forward to Jade Legacy.
A Deadly Education was a decent read. But a lot of racism was pointed out by own voices reviewers so take that in mind when reading.
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You’ve got some great looking books there! I wish I had a copy of Secret Santa to read. I’ll have to get it before next year and read it then. Can’t wait to see what you think of all of them!
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