I love curating a fresh, new tbr stack for every month! It makes me so excited for the month ahead.
As a mood reader, I never know what I’m going to feel like reading next, so I love to pick a stack that includes a variety of genres.
I curate my tbr list from several places each month:
- choosing a few prompts from my jar (just because it’s so much fun);
- deciding which new releases I’m dying to read that will be coming out throughout the month;
- choosing my picks from this month’s book subscription box selections;
- deciding which advanced reader copies that I need to read and review before publication;
- and hauling new books from my local library.
I have another post that lists all the new releases this month. You can check that out here.
In this post, I’m sharing all the library books, prompt jar picks, book boxes, and advanced copies I’m planning to read in November.
Here are all the books I’m hoping to get to this month!
TBR Jar Prompts
I love curating my tbr list for the month by picking prompts out of a jar. If you frequent booktube, you’ll definitely have seen the rise in this trend lately.
I don’t have a massive physical tbr shelf. There are usually less than twenty books on my unread shelf at any given time. But I still enjoy doing this every month, even if there aren’t a ton to choose from.
Making a game of your tbr list is such a fun way to help choose what you’re going to read next.
I highly recommend trying this method out for yourself! Especially if you are like me – a mood reader who can never decide what they want to pick up next.
These are the six books I chose to fulfill each prompt:
Prompt #1: A book with less than 5,000 ratings on Goodreads.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 540
Published: October 3rd
I imagine this book will probably amass thousands more reviews before the end of this month but luckily for me at the time of pulling this prompt it had less than 5,000. I’m so excited to read this book! I’ve been hearing great things about it. This is the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition and it is gorgeous!
Prompt #2: A book with a color in the title.
A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 456
Published: October 10th
I keep seeing and hearing about this book literally everywhere. I just had to get it. It sounds like something I will love and I’m hoping it lives up to all the hype. I love that BookTok helps these authors get noticed and picked up by big publishers.
Prompt #3: A book I hauled recently.
A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 448
Published: October 24th
It is finally the moment we have all been waiting for! The epic conclusion to this series that I absolutely adore. This is the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition and it is stunning. I am equally excited to see how it all ends and sad that it will be over after this. And I can’t wait to see what she is working on for us next after this.
Prompt #4: A book with flowers on the cover.
Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 576
Published: October 3rd
I really enjoyed the original Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy and I’m so excited for this spin-off book. I loved Envy’s character. I’m also intrigued to see how she has expanded upon this story world. I hope we get even more from other characters after this one.
Prompt #5: A book in a genre I’ve been loving lately.
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Pages: 480
Published: October 3rd
First of all, I’m living for this cover! It is stunning. Secondly, I have been hearing about this book and so looking forward to its release. I can’t wait to dive into this one. The world and magic system sound so intriguing and full of depth.
Prompt #6: A book on a best seller list.
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 604
Published: October 10th
This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year! I can’t wait to pick this one up. I am so thrilled that she is starting something new. I have no doubt that it is going to be good, possibly a five star for me. No surprise, it was an instant New York Times best seller.
Book Subscription Boxes
I have been a member of BOTM for a little over a year now and it has been by far my favorite book box.
This month, however, I ended up skipping. My library already had a copy of the book I was interested in picking so I decided to save my money and read get it from there.
If you’re interested in Book of the Month, you can check out this month’s selections here. And I have another post that has everything you need to know about BOTM and how it works here.
I recently subscribed to Aardvark Book Club and I’m really enjoying it!
November’s selection is probably the best they’ve ever had. You can check out this month’s picks here.
Unfortunately, I had already read the two picks that I would have gotten because I had advanced copies of them. But I still have one from last month that I’m hoping to get to finally.
Here are the two books from book boxes that I want to read in November:
Book of the Month:
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 320
Published: October 24th
My interest in this one was piqued because it seemed similar to a surprising five star that I read earlier this year, River Sing Me Home. This one has a similar setting but it also has added magical and fantastical elements to it. I think it’s going to be a really good one!
Aardvark Book Club:
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
Genre: Horror
Pages: 289
Published: September 19th
This was a previous month’s pick that I still haven’t gotten to yet and I can’t wait to read it! I had it on my tbr last month but didn’t get a chance to pick it up. Hoping to make time for it this month since it’s a perfect read for this season. I’ve never read from this author before but I’ve seen many people recommend her books.
Advanced Reader Copies
I love working in the book industry because it gives me so many amazing opportunities to work with authors and publishers that I love! I am so grateful for the chance to get books early and to share with everyone the ones that I enjoy.
I use Netgalley frequently, which is a platform for requesting early copies of books from publishers and I am also part of a few influencer programs at publishing houses.
Typically, I read about 4-8 ARCs every month and I try my best to get my reviews posted the month before their release date. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out that way and I’m unable to get them read in time, particularly if I’m sent a physical copy that doesn’t arrive until the last minute, but I do my best.
As the year comes to a close, I don’t have as many ARCs that need to be read immediately. Most of the ones I have currently are 2024 releases. But I was recently sent a few that I definitely need to get to this month.
These are the ARCs I am planning to read in November:
All the Little Raindrops by Mia Sheridan
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 397
Published: November 1st
I’ve read another of this author’s books, a romance, and I enjoyed it. I was excited to see her releasing a thriller and I can’t wait to pick this one up. It reminds me a lot of Verity by Colleen Hoover, which I loved. Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me a copy! I will definitely be reading this one this month and I’ll have a full review to come.
Midnight Showing by Megan Shepherd
Genre: Horror
Pages: 368
Published: October 3rd
This is the second book in a series. I absolutely loved the first one, Malice House, and I am so excited to continue with this story. It’s so much more than just a horror. There’s mystery, supernatural elements, found family, rich lore, and possibly even a budding romance! I highly recommend reading this series.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Genre: Horror/Historical
Pages: 576
Published: October 31st
This is a historical horror set in Jim Crow Florida at a school for boys. It is based off of real places. I think it will be a very impactful novel, with harrowing paranormal events and an evocative setting. It has amazing early ratings and I’m so happy to have an early copy!
Library Books
I love my local library! I mean, who wouldn’t love to go book shopping for free?
The one near me is three stories and I’ve come to have a great relationship with everyone who works there because I’m there so often. They also have the coolest work pods and rooms that I like to use.
This month I have seven books from the library that I’m hoping to read.
The Hike by Lucy Clarke
Genre:
Pages: 384
Published: August 29th
With the new printing of this book that first released earlier this year, it has really gained traction in the last month. It sounds like an exciting survival thriller. I also have it on audiobook from the library and I think it will be a great one to immerse myself in. This is a new to me thriller author but if I enjoy it I’ll definitely be checking out her previous books as well.
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 648
Published: September 26th
Another one we’ve all been waiting for. I didn’t absolutely love the original trilogy like everyone else seemed to, and I actually only read the first book. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to jump into this new series without having read the rest of the that one but I’m going to give it a try. I loved the story world and magic system and hopefully I’ll love these characters more than the others. It’s not a top priority read for me this month for that reason but it’s still a potential choice.
House of Marionne by J. Elle
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 400
Published: August 29th
I got to read an early excerpt of the first few chapter several months ago and I immediately wanted to read the rest of the book. I was so excited that my library got it. I already loved the main character. The magic system and story world are very captivating. I think this will become a popular new series.
The Night House by Jo Nesbø
Genre: Horror
Pages: 245
Published: May 30th
I saw several people on BookTube reading and recommending this book and I was so happy to find it at the library. I’m still in the mood for spooky season. This cover is so intriguing. I honestly haven’t even read any of the synopsis but I love going in with no expectations or prior knowledge.
Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 322
Published: March 30th, 2022
I can’t remember where I first saw this book but something about it just really caught my attention. I’ve had it on hold at the library for a while now and I’m so excited to finally have it! I love reading alternating between thrillers and fantasy. This one sounds like it’s going to be super creepy. This is another new to me author so who knows, maybe I’ll find another favorite thriller writer.
An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 384
Published: October 5th
I hadn’t heard anything about this book nor seen it anywhere before discovering it at my library. The cover really drew me in and and from the synopsis it sounds like it will be a fun witchy book. I love discovering new, good books at the library that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. This one is the start to a new series.
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 96
Published: September 28th
This is just a short little novella that I can easily read in one sitting. Swanson is a popular thriller author, although I have yet to pick up any of his books. I think this one will be a fun, fast read in between some of the huge fantasy books I want to get to this month.
Will I get to all of these books this month? Probably not! (My average books per month is about 15-20.)
But I love giving myself a large variety and selection to choose from throughout the month because I just never know what I’ll be in the mood for at the time.
And if I don’t get to all of them, or even change my mind, it really doesn’t matter all that much anyways. It’s all about spending time doing something I enjoy.
Let me know in the comments below…
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