Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
I was hard at work this month, and added so many new and exciting books to my tbr that I’m wondering, not for the first time, if I’ll ever get to them all.
But I just couldn’t stop myself. They all sounded so good!!!
Do you have any of the books below on your tbr? How many books did you add to your tbr this month? And how high is your tbr at the moment?
I checked mine, I’m at 178 books. It hasn’t reached a number yet where I feel I need to spring clean the heck out of it. As long as it stays under 200 I feel like it’s doable. I can read 200 books a year – lol.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.
As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.
The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.
Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Expected publication: March 2nd 2021
The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn




Two former best friends return to their college reunion to find that they’re being circled by someone who wants revenge for what they did ten years before—and will stop at nothing to get it—in this shocking psychological thriller about ambition, toxic friendship, and deadly desire.
A lot has changed in the years since Ambrosia Wellington graduated from college, and she’s worked hard to create a new life for herself. But then an invitation to her ten-year reunion arrives in the mail, along with an anonymous note that reads “We need to talk about what we did that night.”
It seems that the secrets of Ambrosia’s past—and the people she thought she’d left there—aren’t as buried as she’d believed. Amb can’t stop fixating on what she did or who she did it with: larger-than-life Sloane “Sully” Sullivan, Amb’s former best friend, who could make anyone do anything.
At the reunion, Amb and Sully receive increasingly menacing messages, and it becomes clear that they’re being pursued by someone who wants more than just the truth of what happened that first semester. This person wants revenge for what they did and the damage they caused—the extent of which Amb is only now fully understanding. And it was all because of the game they played to get a boy who belonged to someone else, and the girl who paid the price.
Alternating between the reunion and Amb’s freshman year, The Girls Are All So Nice Here is a shocking novel about the brutal lengths girls can go to get what they think they’re owed, and what happens when the games we play in college become matters of life and death.
Expected publication: March 9th 2021
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman, Jennifer Jordan




A chilling true story—part memoir, part crime investigation—reminiscent of Ann Rule’s classic The Stranger Beside Me, about a little girl longing for love and how she found friendship with her charismatic babysitter—who was also a vicious serial killer.
Growing up on Cape Cod in the 1960s, Liza Rodman was a lonely little girl. During the summers, while her mother worked days in a local motel and danced most nights in the Provincetown bars, her babysitter—the kind, handsome handyman at the motel where her mother worked—took her and her sister on adventures in his truck. He bought them popsicles and together, they visited his “secret garden” in the Truro woods. To Liza, he was one of the few kind and understanding adults in her life. Everyone thought he was just a “great guy.”
But there was one thing she didn’t know; their babysitter was a serial killer.
Some of his victims were buried—in pieces—right there, in his garden in the woods. Though Tony Costa’s gruesome case made screaming headlines in 1969 and beyond, Liza never made the connection between her friendly babysitter and the infamous killer of numerous women, including four in Massachusetts, until decades later.
Haunted by nightmares and horrified by what she learned, Liza became obsessed with the case. Now, she and cowriter Jennifer Jordan reveal the chilling and unforgettable true story of a charming but brutal psychopath through the eyes of a young girl who once called him her friend.
Expected publication: March 2nd 2021
Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson




Isda does not exist. At least not beyond the opulent walls of the opera house.
Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house’s owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high—and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.But Isda breaks Cyril’s cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she’s ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.
Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place.
Expected publication: March 9th 2021
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
Legacy by Nora Roberts
Thanks to Jonetta @ BlueMoodCafe for the blurb




Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her—before her mother, Lina, stepped in. Afterward, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents’ house in Maryland, where she spent the summer, made a new best friend, and developed her first crush—while Lina left to promote her popular fitness brand. There was no point in dwelling on the past.
Adrian Rizzo was seven when she met her father for the first time. That was the day he nearly killed her—before her mother, Lina, stepped in. Afterward, Adrian was dropped off at her grandparents’ house in Maryland, where she spent the summer, made a new best friend, and developed her first crush—while Lina left to promote her popular fitness brand. There was no point in dwelling on the past.
A decade later, Adrian has created her own line of yoga and workout videos, following in Lina’s successful footsteps. When she starts getting death threats, Lina dismisses them as a routine part of celebrity. Year after year, they arrive—the postmarks changing, but the menacing tone the same. They continue as she returns to Maryland and becomes reacquainted with Raylan, her childhood crush. Sometimes it seems like they are indeed routine, nothing to worry about. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins…
Expected publication: May 25th 2021
The Truth Project by Dante Medema




Seventeen-year-old Cordelia Koenig was sure of many things going into her last year of high school. For one, she wasn’t going to stress over the senior project all her peers were dreading—she’d just use the same find-your-roots genealogy idea that her older sister used for hers. Secondly, she’d put all that time spent not worrying about the project toward getting reacquainted with former best friend and longtime crush Kodiak Jones who, conveniently, gets assigned as Cordelia’s partner.
All she has to do is mail in her DNA sample, write about her ancestry results and breeze through the rest of senior year. Done, done and done.
But when Cordelia’s GeneQuest results reveal that her father is not the man she thought he was but a stranger who lives thousands of miles away, Cordelia realizes she isn’t sure of anything anymore—not the mother who lied, the life she was born into or the girl staring back at her in the mirror.
If your life began with a lie, how can you ever be sure of what’s true?Published October 13th 2020
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren




Single mom Jess Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no amount of number crunching can convince her to step back into the dating world. Raised by her grandparents—who now help raise her seven-year-old daughter, Juno—Jess has been left behind too often to feel comfortable letting anyone in. After all, her father’s never been around, her hard-partying mother disappeared when she was six, and her ex decided he wasn’t “father material” before Juno was even born. Jess holds her loved ones close, but working constantly to stay afloat is hard…and lonely.
But then Jess hears about GeneticAlly, a buzzy new DNA-based matchmaking company that’s predicted to change dating forever. Finding a soulmate through DNA? The reliability of numbers: This Jess understands.
At least she thought she did, until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with another subject in the database: GeneticAlly’s founder, Dr. River Pena. This is one number she can’t wrap her head around, because she already knows Dr. Pena. The stuck-up, stubborn man is without a doubt not her soulmate. But GeneticAlly has a proposition: Get to know him and we’ll pay you. Jess—who is barely making ends meet—is in no position to turn it down, despite her skepticism about the project and her dislike for River. As the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the “Diamond” pairing that could make GeneticAlly a mint in stock prices, Jess begins to realize that there might be more to the scientist—and the science behind a soulmate—than she thought.
Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.
Expected publication: May 18th 2021
Float Plan by Trish Doller




Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.
But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.
In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn’t mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.
Expected publication: March 2nd 2021
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
Confessions in B Flat by Donna Hill




The year is 1963. In Harlem, the epicenter of Black culture, the fight for equality has never been stronger. The time is now. Enough is enough. Yet even within its ranks, a different kind of battle rages. Love thy neighbor? Or rise up against your oppressors?
Jason Tanner has just arrived in New York to help spread the message of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., of passive resistance, while beat poet Anita Hopkins believes the teachings of Malcolm X with all her heart: that the way to true freedom is “by any means necessary.” When Jason sees Anita perform her poetry at the iconic B-Flat lounge, he’s transfixed. And Anita has never met anyone who can match her wit for wit like this…
One movement, two warring ideologies—can love be enough to unite them?
Confessions in B-Flat is a celebration of the hard-won victories of those who came before us, and a stark reminder of just how far we still have to go.
Expected publication: November 24th 2020
It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake: A Novel by Claire Christian




What if you made yourself your number one priority?
Of all the women and men Noni Blake has pleased in her life, there’s one she’s often overlooked—herself. After the end of a decade-long relationship, Noni decides it’s time for that to change. She’s finally going to prioritize her wants and desires and only do things (and people) that feel good in the moment.As she embarks on a pleasure-seeking quest that takes her halfway around the world, she discovers that maybe she can have everything, and everyone, she’s ever wanted.
Effortlessly hilarious and relatable, Claire Christian spins a fresh, feel-good tale about starting over as a thirtysomething woman who’s been living life for everyone else. A story of self-discovery for the ages, Noni’s journey serves as a sparkling reminder that life is what we make of it—so why not enjoy it?
Expected publication: February 23rd 2021
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
The Insiders by Tijan




Bailey is as normal as could be, with a genius IQ and a photographic memory. But still, normal for her. Then, things happen—a guy breaks into her house in the middle of the night to take her hostage. She finds out her father is actually billionaire tech genius Peter Francis, the same guy she’s idolized all her life. She learns all this when she meets dark, mysterious, and electrifying Kashton Colello. He’s an associate of her father’s, and he gives Bailey two choices—go with him and meet her father or survive on her own because those kidnappers are going to try again. It’s a no-brainer.
After this, three things become clear for Bailey:
1. She’s living at her father’s sprawling estate, complete with bodyguards and the best security that money can buy.
2. She’s no longer an only child. She has three siblings and has no idea what to do with them and vice versa.
3. She is being guarded by Kash himself. Personally guarded. And there is a lot of guarding going on there and some of it is going to drive her crazy.
A complete outsider in a world of wealth and decadence, Bailey has to find her way within a family that has more secrets than she could have imagined. One of these secrets could be deadly…
Expected publication: May 4th 2021
Not What I Expected by Jewel E. Ann




Are humans meant to mate for life?
After four kids and an unfortunate but fateful end to her twenty-two-year marriage, Elsie Smith meets the new guy in town.
Kael Hendricks is … a little younger, a lot sexy, and too confident for his own good. He also doesn’t believe in marriage and all that goes with it.
And …
He’s just opened a new business that threatens the livelihood of Elsie’s family’s store—just in time for the holidays.
The problem?
There’s an undeniable attraction that leads to out of control situations, a loss of inhibitions, and a lot of small town gossip.
As Elsie tries to redefine herself and convince her family she isn’t having a midlife crisis, she’s forced to answer the biggest question of all …
Can she love an enemy who will never surrender?
Expected publication: December 6th 2020
Books I added to my TBR / October 2020
I also added The Soulmate Equation and The Insiders to my TBR this month. The newest book I added was The Hustler Next Door by K.A. Tucker. I have 67 books on my GR TBR right now. Most of them are books that haven’t been released yet. I’ve been trying to keep the number of books on that list around 70.
I added The Hustler Next Door too, just hate that we don’t have a cover yet 😀
Also, I’m impressed with your restrain, under 70 books is quite the feat. Most of the books that are on my tbr are not yet released as well. I’m not big into backlist books.
I agree on that one. Well, it was over 70 the other day. I just try to keep it as low as possible.
Great additions! I hope you will enjoy all of these. xx
Thank you – hoping for the same!!!
I haven’t seen these books but hope you enjoy! I think my tbr is around 70/75 and it does make me a bit in a panic because so many more books are coming that I need! I really would like to be paid to stay home and read books!
I do feel if my tbr gets too high it doesn’t feel manageable anymore. I can only read so many books, and each month there are multiple books that I’m adding, something has to give, that’s why I spring clean my tbr a couple times a year. It feels better this way. And I do lose interest in some books if they’ve been sitting on my tbr for too long.
Maybe I need to do a spring clean!
Hi Corina, hope you’re doing fantastic. I’m publishing a novel in November and was wondering if I could give you a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review? Kindly let me know!
penableme@gmail.com
Thank you so much for thinking of me, but I can’t accept any review requests at this moment. Good luck, and I wish you a fabulous release day!!!
I didn’t know Christina Lauren had a new book coming out. Enjoy all your new additions.
oh yeah, they always announce their next release as soon as their newest book is out 😀
Ooooh, can’t wait to see your reviews for these!
haha – let’s see how it goes
Sing me forgotten and The Insiders both look amazing!! I haven’t read any Tijan and am dying to give the author a try bc I’ve heard such good things! Great list 😊
(www.thebubblybooks.com)
I’m looking forward to both of them, and I bet The Insiders will be a great first Tijan read. Hope you’ll enjoy it if you get to it.
Jewel E. Ann is always at the top of my Most Anticipated lists. I’ve taken a break from Christina Lauren, but maybe it’s time I give them a try again.
Same with me, as soon as a Jewel E Ann book comes out I pretty much drop everything else. And I can understand why you took a break of Christina Lauren books, they haven’t wowed me lately, but most are still solid romances.
Sing me forgotten sounds super amazing! I hope you like all of these books 😊
Have a great day and happy reading 💕
Thank you 😊, I’m looking forward to all of them and hope they all turn out to be great books. Have a happy Friday!!!
It’s Been a Pleasure sounds amazing and perfect for my next read because I recently finished a “self discovery” book about a leading male character that I really loved! It was recommended to me on my blog site and now I have to pass along the recommendation to you! The book is by author Andrew Zimmerman and it’s called “Journey: A Novel.” I really resonated with this book because it’s about a guy, Paul, who is stuck in the corporate game and has kind of lost his sense of self and gratitude for his family and for life in general. He takes a trip to Glastonbury to visit friends and has a total spiritual awakening. He even meets a soul reader who reveals his true purpose and flips his world upside down. He has to go back to his “normal life” and figure out what to do next… how to get his life back! I love a book that shows that it is never too late to change your path and to learn more about yourself. It was also a quite romantic and deep read as well. If you do check it out please let me know what you think (http://andrewzimmermanbooks.com/)
Happy reading!
It feels like it’s been ages since I last read a Trish Doller book. I love the sound of Float Plan and can see plenty of swoony and poignant moments on the horizon.
It will be my first book by her 😁 honestly I have no idea what to expect, I love the cover and the blurb sounds right up my alley.