20 *More* Books on my Fall TBR!

Happy First day of Fall, Bookworms!

Did you know that Fall is my most favorite season ever? I love everything about it! The beautiful colors, the weather getting cooler, sweaters and hoodies, and ... SPOOKY SEASON! Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday.

Yesterday I shared my Top 10 *New Releases* on my Fall TBR, but I wanted to share a few more books I am hoping to read on this official first day of fall! I am definitely feeling in the season at the moment, and my fall TBR  reflects that. There are SO many books that I am excited to read! I have a great selection of mysteries, thrillers, witchy reads and ALL kinds of spooky books both old and new to read this season. I've been waiting so long to get started on this TBR, and now I finally can!!

As I said above, I have a LOT of books on my TBR this season, but I'm going to share my top 20 reads here! Keep scrolling to check them out!


A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell



Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia



The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin



A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith



Small Favors by Erin A. Craig
Horrid by Katrina Leno



Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse



One by One by Ruth Ware
The End of Her by Shari Lapena



No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus



The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
(My yearly re-read!)
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo



The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

•     •     •

So many awesome books, right?! I am so excited to get started on these. Most of them I have been saving to read this fall, and I'm beyond thrilled that I can finally get started on them. :)

What about you? What books are you hoping to read this fall??

Waiting on Wednesday: Daughter of the Deep & A Spindle Splintered

Daughter of the Deep
by Rick Riordan

Expected publication: October 5th 2021 by Disney-Hyperion

New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan pays homage to Jules Verne in his exciting modern take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family's she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.

But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full broil, and the freshman are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.

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A Splindle Splintered
by Alix E. Harrow

Expected publication: October 5th 2021 by Tordotcom

USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow's A Spindle Splintered brings her patented charm to a new version of a classic story.

It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no one has lived past twenty-one.

Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.

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•     •     •

Two awesome books for my WOW picks this week! I am SOOOOO excited for the new book by Rick Riordan! I am definitely having withdrawals after finishing all of this books.

And I'm excited to finally read something by Alix Harrow as well! I have this one AND Once and Future Witches on my TBR this fall, and I'm very excited for both!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

My Thoughts: Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

Portrait of a Scotsman
(A League of Extraordinary Women #3)
by Evie Dunmore

Publication Date: September 7th 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9781984805720
Genre: Adult Fiction / Romance / Historical
Source: Netgalley Review Copy / Own

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Going toe-to-toe with a brooding Scotsman is rather bold for a respectable suffragist, but when he happens to be one's unexpected husband, what else is an unwilling bride to do?

London banking heiress Hattie Greenfield wanted "just" three things in life:

1. Acclaim as an artist.
2. A noble cause.
3. Marriage to a young lord who puts the gentle in gentleman.

Why then does this Oxford scholar find herself at the altar with the darkly attractive financier Lucian Blackstone, whose murky past and ruthless business practices strike fear in the hearts of Britain's peerage? Trust Hattie to take an invigorating little adventure too far. Now she's stuck with a churlish Scot who just might be the end of her ambitions....

When the daughter of his business rival all but falls into his lap, Lucian sees opportunity. As a self-made man, he has vast wealth but holds little power, and Hattie might be the key to finally setting long-harbored political plans in motion. Driven by an old revenge, he has no room for his new wife's apprehensions or romantic notions, bewitching as he finds her.

But a sudden journey to Scotland paints everything in a different light. Hattie slowly sees the real Lucian and realizes she could win everything—as long as she is prepared to lose her heart. (Goodreads)

Portrait of a Scotsman is the third book in the A League of Extraordinary Women by Evie Dunmore, and was also another of my most anticipated reads for this summer! Not only because I really enjoy the series, (I DO!), but also because this is Hattie’s book, and I have been SO curious for her story since we met her in the first book. I’m so thrilled to have finally read this!

As I mentioned above, Portrait of a Scotsman is all about Hattie! She has been so intriguing since the beginning of the series, and I really wanted to know more about her. I love her so much more than I expected! Add Lucian into the mix, and they are perfection. I very much enjoyed their story and watching their relationship blossom as I turned the pages. I was invested in their story! (I also really enjoyed getting to see the characters from the previous books as well! It’s so great to get a fun little update on them.)

I really, really enjoy the storyline for this book (and series)! Not only because I love reading about the women’s suffrage, but also because I don’t read nearly enough historical fiction, (including romances), and this series definitely makes me want to read them more. I definitely need more books like this in my collection, and I’m beyond thrilled to see so many are coming out soon!

I also want to add that while I started reading the physical version of this book, immediately switched the audiobook once I found out that Lucian was a Scotman… with a lovely Scottish accent. SO worth it! I ended up reading along with the book while I listened to the audiobook, and it really is the best experience ever. If you can do both, then please do both! Lol! Oh and the narrator for the book is Elizabeth Jasicki, who also narrated the previous books in the series!

Overall; Portrait of a Scotsman was a great addition to this absolutely fantastic series! Now I will be anxiously waiting to get my hands on the fourth book in the series, which as of this moment is currently untitled and without a release date. I can only assume that it is Catriona’s story, and I can’t wait to read it as well!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2021 TBR!

September 21: Books on My Fall 2021 To-read List

Happy Tuesday, Bookworms! Today I'm sharing some of the *new releases* coming out this fall that I am super excited to read! There are so many awesome books coming out, it was hard to choose just 10.

Here are a few that I am excited for!

The Bronzed Beast by Roshani Chokshi
Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco



The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Well Matched by Jenn DeLuca



A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper



A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown
The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh



You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
Heartstopper Vol 4. by Alice Oseman

•     •     •

Those are just a few new releases that I am excited to check out!
 Stop by tomorrow to see EVEN MORE books that I'll be reading this fall!

My Thoughts: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits
(Meant to Be #1)
by Julie Murphy

Publication Date: August 3rd 2021
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781368050388
Genre: Adult Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America's favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own. (Goodreads)

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy is the very first book in a brand new series by Disney Publishing titled Meant to Be! From what I have read about this series, the books are modern retellings of our favorite fairytales, written for adults, and each book will be by a different author. Sound exciting? It definitely does to me!

I am a big fan of fairytale retellings! I love when someone takes one of my favorite stories and puts their own spin on it. It’s familiar, yet all new at the same time. Cinderella is not my most favorite fairytale, but I do always appreciate a good spin on the original.

There was SO much to love about If the Shoe Fits! The one thing that I loved the MOST was that there was no evil stepmom/stepsisters in this story. I want to get this out there because that’s probably my least favorite part of the original story. I LOVED that this story was different! The stepmom and stepsisters were great!

Also another thing I loved about this book were the characters. There were so many character in the book to love! From the main character, Cindy, to the secondary characters, they were really all great. (Ok, except for the one. Read the book and you’ll see.) I also really enjoyed the storyline for the book! The modern take on the original story, with the reality show twist, was fantastic. I devoured this book in no time, I was so hooked.

Overall; If you can’t already tell, I really, really enjoyed If the Shoe Fits! I am very excited to read more books in this series. There is very little information so far on the second book, but I did manage to find that the next book is titled By the Book, written by Jasmine Guillory, and is a BEAUTY AND THE BEAST retelling! (Beauty and the Beast is my Favorite fairytale!) I am definitely excited to get my hands on that book, and the rest of the series, as soon as possible!

My Thoughts: Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Bombshell
(Hell's Belles #1)
by Sarah MacLean

Publication Date: August 24th 2021
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 394
ISBN: 9780063056152
Genre: Adult Fiction / Historical / Romance
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk. (Goodreads)

Bombshell is the very first book in the brand new Hell’s Belles series by Sarah Maclean, and it’s also my very first ever read by her as well! I have quite a few of Sarah’s books on my TBR, so I’m thrilled to have finally read something by her!

Historical romance is a genre that I used to read ALL the time, but haven’t read much in the past few years. I was really excited to start reading it again, especially after starting the Bridgerton series and all the success with the tv adaptation. I definitely wanted to read more, but was honestly a little overwhelmed by ALL of the historical romance series that are available to read. When I found out Bombshell was the first book in the series, I jumped to request it, and I am so glad I did.

This book was so much fun … and not really at all what I was expecting from a historical romance. First, I love Lady Sesily and Caleb together SO much! (Even though I never though Caleb was going to get his head out of his ass and see what an awesome heroine Sesily was.) They were super cute together, and I am definitely going to have to find out which other books these two were in previously so I can see how they got started!

(If you’re wondering about that, Sesily’s sisters have been in some previous series… I’m pretty sure it’s the Scandal and Scoundrels series, but The Bareknuckle Bastards series was mentioned as well, and of course I will be checking out both series asap!)

Moving on … I also want to add that I love this awesome group of women! Known as The Hell’s Belles, each one was special in their own way. Of course Sesily kicked us off with her awesome story, but I am so excited to get to know the rest of them more as well! (Especially the Duchess!) Imogen’s story is coming next, and I absolutely can’t wait to see what next for this gang of wonderful women.

I also really loved the storyline for this book. I don’t want to go into it much and give anything away, but I promise you, you’re in for a treat! It was absolutely fascinating and a whole lot of fun! Especially if you’re a fan of kick ass women who love taking down the bad guys. *wink*

Overall; Bombshell is my first ever read by Sarah MacLean, but it definitely will not be my last! I will be over here pining away for the second book in the series, which at this time is currently untitled and set to release sometime in 2022. While I wait I plan to devour the rest of Sarah’s books as quickly as I can! Fans of historical romance, or those that are new-ish to the genre like myself, do check out Bombshell! It’s a fantastic read.

Waiting on Wednesday: Defy The Night and Steelstriker

Defy the Night
by Brigid Kemmerer

Expected publication: September 14th 2021 by Bloomsbury YA

From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer's captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.

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Steelstriker
(Skyhunter #2)
by Marie Lu

Expected publication: September 28th 2021 by Roaring Brook Press

Explosive action and swoon-worthy suspense collide in this riveting conclusion to the Skyhunter duet from #1 New York Times–bestselling author Marie Lu

As a Striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the Shield who watches your back, to the Strikers who risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all, to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny.

But Mara has fallen. And its destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare.

With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive by the Premier, Talin is forced to betray her fellow Strikers and her adopted homeland. She has no choice but to become the Federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter.

Red is no stranger to the cruelty of the Federation or the torture within its Skyhunter labs, but he knows this isn’t the end for Mara – or Talin. The link between them may be weak, but it could be Talin and Red's only hope to salvage their past and safeguard their future.

While the fate of a broken world hangs in the balance, Talin and Red must reunite the Strikers and find their way back to each other in this smoldering sequel to Marie Lu’s Skyhunter.

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•     •     •

Yayyyyy! I'm so excited for both of these!

Defy the Night sounds fantastic, AND it's by Brigid Kemmerer, so you know it's going to be fantastic.

And I loooove Marie Lu's books! I haven't read Skyhunter yet, but I am really looking forward to binging it and Steelstriker together!

Are either of these on your TBR??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Most Anticipated August '21 Releases

August is going to be another great month for book releases!
There are so many that I am excited to check out... I hope I can read them all!

Here are just a few that I'm excited for ...


The Heart Principle
by Helen Hoang

Expected publication: August 31st 2021 by Berkley

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Bombshell
by Sarah MacLean

Expected publication: August 24th 2021 by Avon

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom…and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him…and the way she talks to him…and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting…she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

A Slow Fire Burning
by Paula Hawkins

Expected publication: August 31st 2021 by Riverhead Books

The scorching new thriller from the number-one 'New York Times' best-selling author of 'The Girl on the Train'.

When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are – for different reasons – simmering with resentment. Who are, whether they know it or not, burning to right the wrongs done to them. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smolder before they explode into flame?

Look what you started.

Velvet Was the Night
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Expected publication: August 17th 2021 by Del Rey

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.

Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.

Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he comes to observe Maite from a distance—and grows more and more obsessed with this woman who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.

Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.

Velvet Was the Night is an edgy, simmering historical novel for lovers of smoky noirs and anti-heroes.

Redemptor
(Raybearer #2)
by Jordan Ifueko

Expected publication: August 17th 2021 by Amulet Books

The hotly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling YA fantasy about Tarisai's quest to change her fate

For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar's throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend into the Underworld, a sacrifice to end all future atrocities.

Tarisai is determined to survive. Or at least, that's what she tells her increasingly distant circle of friends. Months into her shaky reign as empress, child spirits haunt her, demanding that she pay for past sins of the empire.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, assassination attempts from unknown quarters, and a handsome new stranger she can't quite trust . . . Tarisai fears the pressure may consume her. But in this finale to the Raybearer duology, Tarisai must learn whether to die for justice . . . or to live for it.

A Lesson in Vengeance
by Victoria Lee

Expected publication: August 3rd 2021 by Delacorte Press

For fans of Wilder Girls and Ninth House comes a dark, twisty, atmospheric thriller about a boarding school haunted by its history of witchcraft and two girls dangerously close to digging up the past.

Felicity Morrow is back at Dalloway School.

Perched in the Catskill mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she’s returned to graduate. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.

Witchcraft is woven into Dalloway’s history. The school doesn’t talk about it, but the students do. In secret rooms and shadowy corners, girls convene. And before her girlfriend died, Felicity was drawn to the dark. She’s determined to leave that behind her now; all Felicity wants is to focus on her senior thesis and graduate. But it’s hard when Dalloway’s occult history is everywhere. And when the new girl won’t let her forget.

It’s Ellis Haley’s first year at Dalloway, and she’s already amassed a loyal following. A prodigy novelist at seventeen, Ellis is a so-called “method writer.” She’s eccentric and brilliant, and Felicity can’t shake the pull she feels to her. So when Ellis asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five for her second book, Felicity can’t say no. Given her history with the arcane, Felicity is the perfect resource.

And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway–and in herself.

If The Shoe Fits
by Julie Murphy

Expected publication: August 3rd 2021 by Hyperion Avenue

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America's favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own.

The Dating Playbook
(The Boyfriend Project #2)
by Farrah Rochon

Expected publication: August 17th 2021 by Forever

When a personal trainer agrees to fake date her client, all rules are out the window in this delightful romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Boyfriend Project!

When it comes to personal training, Taylor Powell kicks serious butt. Unfortunately, her bills are piling up, rent is due, and the money situation is dire. Taylor needs more than the support of her new best friends, Samiah and London. She needs a miracle.

And Jamar Dixon might just be it. The oh-so-fine former footballer wants back into the NFL, and he wants Taylor to train him. There's just one catch -- no one can know what they're doing. But when they're accidentally outed as a couple, Taylor's game plan is turned completely upside down. Is Jamar just playing to win . . . or is he playing for keeps?

Wait for It
by Jenn McKinlay

Expected publication: August 10th 2021 by Berkley Books

A woman looking for a new lease on life moves to Arizona where she rents a guest house on a gorgeous property with a mysterious owner--a man who teaches her about resilience, courage, and ultimately true love, in this funny, bighearted novel about hope and healing from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

Stuck in a dreary Boston winter, Annabelle Martin would like nothing more than to run away from her current life. She's not even thirty years old, twice-divorced, and has just dodged a marriage proposal... from her ex-husband. When she's offered her dream job as creative director at a cutting-edge graphic design studio in Phoenix, she jumps at the opportunity to start over.

When she arrives in the Valley of the Sun, Annabelle is instantly intrigued by her anonymous landlord. Based on the cranky, handwritten notes Nick Daire leaves her, she assumes he is an old, rich curmudgeon. Annabelle is shocked when she finally meets Nick and discovers that he's her age and uses a wheelchair. Nick suffered from a stroke a year ago, and while there's no physical reason for him not to recover, he is struggling to overcome the paralyzing fear that has kept him a prisoner in his own home.

Despite her promise to herself not to get involved, Annabelle finds herself irresistibly drawn to Nick. And soon she wonders if she and Nick might help each other find the courage to embrace life, happiness, and true love.

So many awesome books! I can't wait to check them all out!
Are any of these on your TBR for this month??

My August '21 TBR!

Happy August, Bookworms!

Really? How is it August already? This year is going by both too slowly and too quickly at the same time. lol!

July was a pretty decent reading month for me, and while I got a bit off track with my TBR, (thanks to an awesome new podcast I've started listening to, lol), I read a good bit of books and did a bit of catching up as well. I am hoping to keep that motivation for August ... while hopefully not being distracted this time. :) There are SO many books that I am hoping to tackle and I can't wait to get started.

Here are some books I'm hoping to read this month!

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Windwitch by Susan Dennard

I also have a few review copies to check out as well ...

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

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So many great books! I can't wait to get started on them. Especially Bombshell! It's my first read ever by Sarah MacLean, and I'm super excited to start it. I'm also to get back to the Bridgerton series as well, and continue my re-read of The Remnant Chronicles!

What books are you hoping to read in August??