
You may know that I have decided to focus on sequels this summer and it is going well so far! I have finished two series and caught up on another one. However, I plan to read books other than sequels in between so that I don’t get burnt out. I thought I would share a few that I have my eye on.

I have a couple buddy reads happening in July. Btw, I don’t think I have ever mentioned this, but I am always open to buddy reading, so feel free to reach out to me!
I am buddy reading Malice by John Gwynne with some friends from BookTube in July. We will be hosting reading sprints as we encourage one another to get through this 700-page high fantasy novel. This book is so far out of my comfort zone, but I am excited about it!
I am buddy reading Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough with a group on Instagram. I was sent an unsolicited ARC from the publisher but never got around to reading it because it is another book that is outside my comfort zone. I am more drawn to thrillers this time of year though!
I have this feeling that Lousie Erdrich is going to become a new favourite author, and I own three of her novels. I am going to start with The Sentence because it has been getting a lot of award buzz and it’s about a ghost in a bookstore!
I adore Anna-Marie McLemore and have been meaning to read more of their work! Lakelore looks like the perfect summer read and it follows two non-binary characters who discover an entire world underneath the lake. I love the way this author does magical realism!
An Arrow to the Moon is one of the books I still have to read from my “best first line” TBR! I have been meaning to read something by Emily X.R. Pan and I cannot remember the last time I read a Romeo and Juliet retelling!

My friend Sarah is hosting a T. Kingfisher readathon at the end of July (I will share my TBR for that later!), and one of the books I want to read is The Twisted Ones. I have really fallen in love with T. Kingfisher this year, so I am excited to read more from her.
Cover Story looks like the perfect beach read! I am so in the mood for a con story and this one has been getting a lot of attention on Instagram.
Better Than the Movies is a YA contemporary romance that looks adorable. Look at all of those classic romcom references on the cover! I have heard such great things about all of Lynn Painter’s romances.
By the Book is the second book in the Meant to Be series and I had such a good time with the first one. This is a series of Disney Princess retellings and they are all written by different authors. I am excited to read something by Jasmine Guillory that is outside of her Wedding Date series!
Hook, Line, and Sinker is the sequel to It Happened One Summer. I have had a copy of this book since it was released a couple of months ago but I have been saving it for the beach. It isn’t summer if I don’t read a book by Tessa Bailey!
What is on your summer TBR?
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We loved Better Than the Movies!!
I’m so excited about it! It looks adorable!
I’ve been meaning to try one of McLemore’s books for a while now and Lake Lore sounds kind of fantastic!
It really does! I think it’s going to be beautiful!
I still need to read Lakelore, too.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-on-my-summer-2022-to-read-list/
I hope we both love it!
I hadn’t heard of any of these before, but if I had to pick just one, that would be The Sentence. Ghost in a bookstore? I’m all in. Thanks for the rec!
Right?? I think it’s a ghost of an annoying customer too 😂👻
Interesting choices. I love that cover on The Sentence.
All of Louise Erdrich’s books have great covers!
I really do hope to read It Happened One Summer this summer. haha
Lauren @ http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
You really do! Especially since it is being adapted!!
I need to get to Malice, and Hook, Line and Sinker soon!! I hope you end up enjoying all the books on your TBR!
I am so excited about both! I will probably read Malice first and then pick up Hook, Line, and Sinker as a palette cleanser!
This looks like a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy them all! I’m a T. Kingfisher fan, so I especially hope you like that one. 😉
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2022/06/28/top-ten-tuesday-past-tbr-books-still-to-read/
I love her too! I want to read her entire backlist 😂
Me too! Though I’m trying to pace myself so that I don’t run out of backlist too quickly. 😉
I hope you enjoy all of these!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/top-ten-tuesday-374/
Thank you!
🙂
Ooh, I totally forgot how much I wanted to read Better Than the Movies! I’ve heard great things 😍 Also, I hope you enjoy Malice because it was such a pleasant surprise for me esp. cos it was also out of my comfort zone. Happy reading, Kristin!
I don’t think I have seen a single bad review of Better Than the Movies!
That is great to hear that Malice was also out of your comfort zone and that you enjoyed it!
I havent read any of these but have An Arrow to the Moon to read (at some point!!) Hope you enjoy them!
I hope we both end up loving it!
Yay for summer reading! Enjoy!
It’s the best!
I’ve heard great things about John Gwynne’s books but have yet to read one! It Happened One Summer was one of my favourites last year, and I thought Hook Line and Sinker was also a good time. I hope you enjoy it, happy reading!
I have too! I don’t think I have seen a bad review of Malice!
You have some awesome books on your list! I want to read a lot of these too! I hope you enjoy them when you read them! 😀
Thank you so much. I’m excited about them!
Great list and I’m glad the sequels are working out. I need to block off a chunk of months and do that. I hate that I love the first book and then stop. lol Malice is really good! I just read it with Dini last month and we really enjoyed it. Ohh, we should buddy read a book sometime!! I think the only one I have on this list is Hook, Line, and Sinker! I also pre-ordered it and still haven’t read it. LOL
It’s really been motivating for me! I’ve never finish sequels, so it’s been refreshing.
I am so happy you loved Malice! I’m so up for a buddy read!!
I made myself try to finish a series if I started it this year. I did sooo well in January and February and then failed since then. lol!
Yes!! Okay, just let me know!! 🙂
It Happened One Summer made my TTT today, and I’ve heard nothing but great things about that and its sequel! I hope you enjoy it.
FangirlFlax @ FangirlFlax
https://fangirlflax.wordpress.com/2022/06/28/top-ten-tuesday-five-books-on-my-summer-2022-tbr/
It’s the perfect summer romance!!
That’s the perfect rec to hear!
Ooh have fun with the buddy reads! Those are fun. 🙂 Insomnia does look like a good thriller, I’ve never read Pinborough but have wanted to. The McLemore book too- love the sound of that!
The Twisted Ones looks spooky!
Thank you! I’m hoping I end up loving Insomnia but either way it will be fun to discuss it.
I love how T. Kingfisher writes spooky books!
I have heard excellent things about that Louise Erdrich book, I definitely need to read it.
It’s supposed to be fantastic!
The Twisted Ones was my first T. Kingfisher novel which I really enjoyed. I’m really looking forward to picking up more from her. I hope you enjoy all these!
That is good to hear! I hope you enjoy whatever you read next from her!
Curious on your thoughts for By the Book, I didn’t like it as much as the first one. I really wasn’t to give Malice a try at some point but think I’m going with Shadow of the Gods for my first John Gwynn.
Here’s my post: https://susanlynknits.com/2022/06/28/top-ten-tuesday-summer-2022-tbr/
Beauty and the Beast retellings are so hit or miss for me, so we will see!
I definitely want to try Shadow of the Gods at some point as well!
AHHHH you’ve just made my tbr SO MUCH TALLER, and I’m not even mad about it?? All of these look AMAZING!! and omggg I’ve never heard of ‘the sentence’ before (or any of the books from the author actually) BUT DID YOU MENTION GHOST IN A BOOKSTORE??? I AM SOLD AND NEED THE BOOK RIGHT AWAY, THANK YOU!!! I hope you enjoy all of these and am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!!
Yes!! And I think it’s the ghost of an annoying customer! I’ll hopefully get to it soon!
Louise Erdrich is wonderful, The Sentence is also high on my TBR. The Round House and the Night Watchman are also great. I love T. Kingfisher but haven’t read The Twisted Ones. I haven’t read Tessa Bailey yet but I’ve seen her on so many lists I’ll need to pick up the first one in this series.
I love hearing that! I have The Night Watchman and The Plague of Doves.
It Happened One Summer is the perfect summer romance!
Wonderful list, Kristin!! I would love to do a buddy read with you some time ♥️ I so enjoy reading your opinions of books after the fact and I think getting to hear them as you read the book would be even better
That is so nice! I would absolutely be up for a buddy read!
I’m going to be reading The Sentence with my book group in September. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it! I really enjoyed By the Book, and I love T. Kingfisher. I hope you enjoy!!
Oh that is awesome!
T. Kingfisher is incredible! I am so happy that I discovered her this year!
Hook Line and Sinker is on my TBR too. Hope you’ll enjoy all of these!
I hope we both love it!
I’ve been meaning to read Malice for ages! Maybe sometime soon.
I have a vague goal to work on my series books this summer too. One of my best friends recommended The Twisted Ones to me but it was checked out of the library when I went looking for it. I read Hollow Places instead and really liked it! Twisted is still on my TBR. I hope you enjoy these!
I have been curious about Hollow Places as well! They didn’t have at my store. I hope you can get your hands on a copy of The Twisted Ones soon!
I’d be interested in seeing what you thinnk of the Twisted Ones. It didn’t work for me, but many peeps enjoyed it, and I’m still interested in trying more of T. Kingfisher’s work.
From the reviews I have read it’s seems The Twisted Ones gets the most mixed reviews
The Twisted Ones is SO good and creepy! I especially loved the audiobook. Enjoy!