This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is about books we're looking forward to in 2018. Below I've listed nearly all the upcoming releases that've caught my eye, and while I know I won't get to all of them, I'm sure going to try! Are you excited for any of the same ones I am? What books are you eagerly anticipating in the coming months?
January 2
From Goodreads: Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn’t help you survive. Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As memories of her old life haunt her, she has been forced to forge ahead in the snow-covered Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap to survive. But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community -- most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who sets in motion a chain of events that will force Lynn to fulfill a destiny she never imagined.
My thoughts: This reminds me vaguely of another post-apocalyptic thriller that I loved, The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis, and I'm super intrigued! I've got an advance-read copy and I'm excited to get to it -- especially since I'm totally craving some cold-weather settings!
January 9
From Goodreads: If you were told the date of your death, how would it shape your present? It's 1969 in New York City's Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children -- four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness -- sneak out to hear their fortunes. Their prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in '80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11, hoping to control fate; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.
My thoughts: The premise totally caught my attention and I'm looking forward to seeing how the Gold family handles this knowledge -- and whether it becomes a blessing or a curse.
January 9
From Goodreads: From Lauren Willig comes this scandalous New York Gilded Age novel full of family secrets, affairs, and even murder. Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil live a charmed life...But then Bayard is found dead with a knife in his chest on the night of their Twelfth Night Ball, Annabelle goes missing, presumed drowned, and the papers go mad. Bay’s sister, Janie, forms an unlikely alliance with a reporter to uncover the truth, convinced that Bay would never have killed his wife, that it must be a third party, but the more she learns about her brother and his wife, the more everything she thought she knew about them starts to unravel.
My thoughts: It's been a while since I've read anything by Lauren Willig, but I'm planning to check out her new gothic mystery! The early reviews have been mixed so I'm not expecting to be blown away, but I'm hoping for an absorbing, easy read.
January 16
From Goodreads: Five women. One question. What is a woman for? In this ferociously imaginative novel, abortion is once again illegal in America, in-vitro fertilization is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. In a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom.
My thoughts: I immediately added this to my to-read list when I first came across it months ago! Early reviews are positive, and I have very high hopes for this timely novel.
January 16
From Goodreads: In the industrial 1860s at the dawn of the Carnegie empire, Irish immigrant Clara Kelly finds herself in desperate circumstances. Looking for a way out, she seeks employment as a lady's maid in the home of the prominent businessman Andrew Carnegie. Soon, the bond between Clara and her employer deepens into love. But when Clara goes missing, Carnegie's search for her unearths secrets and revelations that lay the foundation for his lasting legacy. With captivating insight and stunning heart, Carnegie's Maid tells the story of one lost woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist.
My thoughts: I enjoyed Benedict's previous drawn-from-fact book, The Other Einstein, and this one sounds like it'll bring to light another little-know woman.
January 25
From Goodreads: One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr. Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on… and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost. Where will their ambitions lead? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess?
My thoughts: This sounds ever so slightly reminiscent of this year's The Essex Serpent, which I found to be a slight disappointment, but I'm intrigued enough by the plot to check it out.
February 6
From Goodreads: Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.
My thoughts: This sounds like one of those books that, once picked up, is impossible to put down.
February 6
From Amazon: Alaska, 1974. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture.
My thoughts: I've only read one Kristin Hannah book before and I didn't like it -- and I still need to read the ubiquitous The Nightingale -- but I'm willing to give this one a chance because ALASKA! I'm just a wee little bit obsessed with books set in places like Alaska and Antarctica so obviously this went on my to-read list!
February 13
From Goodreads: It’s 1944, combat in the Pacific is intensifying, and Violet Iverson and her daughter, Ella, are piecing their lives back together one year after her husband vanished. Violet enjoys the camaraderie of her friends as they open a pie stand for the soldiers training on the island for a secret mission. But even these women face their own wartime challenges as prejudice against the island Japanese pits neighbor against neighbor. And then there’s the matter of Sergeant Stone, a brash marine who comes to Violet’s aid when the women are accused of spying. She struggles with her feelings of guilt but can’t deny the burning attraction -- or her fear of losing another man when Stone ships out for Iwo Jima. Set amid the tropical beauty of Hawaii, Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers offers a fresh perspective on World War II as it presents timeless depictions of female friendship, the bond between a mother and her child, and the enduring power of love even in the darkest times.
My thoughts: It's always fun to read books set in places you've lived or visited, so this WWII book set in Hawaii, where we currently live -- with a gorgeous cover and a catchy title -- immediately went on my to-read list. I love WWII books, so I've got high hopes for this one!
March 6
From Goodreads: A powerful novel about a gutsy showgirl who tries to conquer her past amongst the glamour of 1960s Las Vegas--and finds unexpected fortune, friendship, and love.
My thoughts: I happily awarded 5 stars to Church's debut, The Atomic Weight of Love, so there was no question I'd read whatever she wrote next!
March 27
From Goodreads: In an enthralling new feat of historical suspense, Ariel Lawhon unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's 50-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess, a beloved daughter and revered icon, or is she an imposter, the thief of another woman's legacy?
My thoughts: Reading books set in Russia is a new interest of mine, and I really don't know a whole lot about the Romanovs. I came across this novel on a list of anticipated historical fiction for 2018 and look forward to learning a thing or two.
May 1
From Goodreads: The bestselling author of The Paris Wife returns to the subject of Ernest Hemingway in a novel about his passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn -- a fiercely independent, ambitious young woman who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the twentieth century. In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in devastating conflict. She also finds herself unexpectedly -- and uncontrollably -- falling in love with Hemingway, a man already on his way to becoming a legend. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man's wife or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. It is a dilemma that will force her to break his heart, and her own.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed both The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun, and I was excited to see McLain has a new book coming out in a few months!
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn HardcastleSeptember 2018
From Goodreads: A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie "Somebody’s going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won’t appear to be a murder and so the murderer won’t be caught. Rectify that injustice and I’ll show you the way out." It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden -- one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party -- can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...
My thoughts: This doesn't come out in the U.S. for months (though the UK release is in February) and it's already got tons of hype! The premise sounds really interesting and the reviews have been fabulous.
Veronica Speedwell #3
January 16
My thoughts: Possibly my favorite ongoing series! If you like historical mysteries and spunky female protagonists, I highly recommend getting acquainted with Veronica Speedwell, butterfly enthusiast and amateur sleuth.
Red Rising #4
January 16
My thoughts: The first book in this sci-fi series set on Mars, Red Rising, is probably my most-recommended book. And everyone I've suggested it to has liked it. I *hangs head* have still not read book 3, Morning Star, but I WILL -- and then I'll avoid the excruciating wait for the next book!
Me Before You #3
January 30
My thoughts: I didn't really think Me Before You needed any sequels, and while After You was ok it was nowhere near as good as the original. But I like Lou and I enjoy Jojo Moyes' writing, so I'll give her next adventure (in New York!) a try.
Aaron Falk #2
February 6
My thoughts: The Dry -- possibly the most-hyped mystery of 2017 -- was the best recently released book in the genre I'd read in a while. And I especially enjoyed that the series is set in Australia! I'm looking forward to rejoining Detective Falk for a new mystery.
The Ancestor #2
April 3
My thoughts: The first book in this fantasy series, Red Sister, was one of my top reads in 2017. If you like fantasy, READ IT!
Wayfarers #3
July 24
My thoughts: I recently read and looooved the fun and engrossing sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and I'm going to read the second Wayfarers book, A Closed and Common Orbit, in the next couple months. Then I'll be all ready for book 3!
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine ArdenWinternight Trilogy #3
August 14
My thoughts: I enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale and I just finished the second book, The Girl in the Tower. It took me some time to get into it, partly, I think, because it'd been over a year since I read the first book. So I'm glad to see the series conclusion is only 8 months away rather than a whole year!
