1 summer.
3 months.
13 weeks.
91 days.
7,699 pages.
The #20BooksofSummer Challenge is hosted by Cathy at 746 Books. The gist: from June 3 until September 3, attempt to read 20 books this summer.
And maybe keep your sanity. But that’s optional, really. Since I forfeited my sanity a long time ago (if I ever really had any), I thought this would be a great challenge to join!
Seeing as how I’m so behind on my ARCs, I’ve decided to use this challenge to catch up, so I declare this summer the Summer of the ARC!
Now, I am not very good at sticking to TBRs, but … we’ll give this one a go, yeah? Books subject to be change on a whim because I’m spontaneous (read: have a short attention span). Book covers link to Goodreads. You know, in case your TBR needs more love.
The Dragon Queen || 316 pages
I read the first book and loved it, and I’ve been looking forward to reading the second one.
Mjolnir || 336 pages
Norse Gods are always a plus. Norse Gods having to be human is as tragic as it is funny. Plus, Ragnarok is fun, right?
Scoundrels || 281 pages
Comedy! I always want to try new comedy reads. I read a sample of this and I loved the tone, so I’m excited to read this.
Scoundrels: The Hunt for Hansclapp || 369 pages
Sequels! More comedy! With all the sad books on this list, I feel like these will make a nice break.
The Middleman || 416 pages
I don’t read a ton of espionage and suspense, but I do like to read them now and then, because I like to read a little of everything. It’s been a while, and I’ve heard good things about this one.
The Reader || 445 pages
There is something both exciting and terrifying about a world where reading doesn’t happen and a book is an unimaginable artifact that makes me just have to read this.
The Wolf in the Whale || 560 pages
I’m pretty much a sucker for any book that involves gods. I’m predictable like that. Plus, the mixing of an Inuit shaman and a Viking? Now there’s a unique combination.
The Ruin of Kings || 542 pages
” What if you weren’t the hero?” — Yup, this says it all. It has pretty much everything I want in a book: anti-hero, demons, dark magic, dragons, and special swords.
The Night Tiger || 384 pages
I’m really loving the recent rush of books based on Chinese folklore, and this is no exception. I’ve been seeing a lot of books playing with the belief that a soul has 49 to depart, and I haven’t read one that I haven’t liked yet.
Second Star || 352 pages
I’m not usually big into sci-fi when it comes to spaceships and tech and such, but a retelling of Peter Pan with spaceships? I admit, that’s hard to resist, even for me.
Duckett & Dyer: Dicks for Hire || 300 pages
Remember how I said I love comedy? Welp, I couldn’t resist this one, either. I read the opening and knew I needed to read the book.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill || 352 pages
The whole “book about books” trope is one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t read it often, but I’ve seen a lot of people talking highly about this one. I also just love the tone the blurb is written in, and I can so relate to Nina’s situation. Peopling is hard. And sometimes terrifying.
Shatter The Sky || 304 pages
I’m a big fan of all the LGBTQ books that have come out lately. Pair that with a female lead, dragons, and dark prophecies, and there’s really just no way I could’ve possibly resisted this one. I’m only human, you know.
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley || 400 pages
I’m sort of a fan of retellings that paint people in a different light (with quite a few creative liberties taken, obviously). I found an excerpt of this online, and I really liked the tone of it.
When Death Takes Something from You Give It Back || 152 pages
Every now and then, I love to read a book that will totally destroy my feels and make me ugly cry. So for this list, I’m fairly certain this will serve that purpose just fine. After losing my grandmother last year and dealing with not only my grief but helping the rest of my family through theirs, this one just spoke to me. I also don’t read as much poetry as I’d like, so I try to consciously squeeze it in.
The Lady Rogue || 384 pages
I’m a fan of rogues, lady or otherwise, so this definitely caught my attention. Treasure hunting is always a fun sort of trope, and I’m all for magical items.
Gideon the Ninth || 448 pages
Lesbian necromancers and swords. Yes. Sooo much yes. I got this ARC from EW, where you’re actually required to give a reason for wanting the book (pfft, like they don’t already know why you want to read it), and I’m pretty sure it would’ve been easier if I had just sent a Howler with me fangirl screaming. That’s pretty much what it amounted to anyway, except with words. And I’m not sure they even made sense.
The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind || 496 pages
This is such a freaking good title. I couldn’t NOT pick it up, now could I? Teagan sounds like an epic character. The sort that I can relate to, deep in my bones, because we may or may not be the same person. Minus the awesome abilities, obviously. Because I’m lame.
An Argumentation of Historians || 374 pages
This is a series I started forever ago and haven’t actually caught up on (though, with the way Jodi Taylor releases books, I may never catch up with it!). The plot (or lack thereof, specifically) really irks me, but these characters are hilarious, and Taylor has a really fun, easy-to-read writing style.
Firestarter || 488 pages
I got this ARC when it was released, promptly bought the two previous books (in hardback, of course, because the covers are gorgeous and shiny and I love them) … and then my grandfather was diagnosed with dementia and I didn’t read this ARC in time. I feel bad. But I did support the author, so there’s that. And I am still so looking forward to reading it.
✦ Bonus Reads ✦
Because 20 books isn’t a good enough goal or something? Or maybe I’ve just fallen that far down the rabbit hole that this seems like a good idea? To be fair, the 20 above are ARCs, and some of them require previous reads, so these are just extra bonus points, either in series with the ARCs or books I already have out of the library and need to read and return.
These look excellent! Glad we are both doing #20BooksofSummer and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Mjolnir!! Love some Norse Gods!
That’s why I grabbed it, too. xD I’m a sucker for Norse books. Have you heard of Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzie Lee? It comes out in early September, and I’m so looking forward to it! Loki is one of my favorites, and Lee’s a great writer. :3
No I haven’t but I have a soft spot for Loki stories (long before Hiddleston) as those stories fit within the Mischief God stories found in a lot of mythology and I find it fascinating- so novels about Loki will certainly appeal!!!
I mean, Hiddleston is pretty awesome and did a great job portraying him, but I love OG Loki, from the Nordic stories. xD Always have.
Ditto!
Good luck getting these all read! I currently only have seven ARCs outstanding, and two of them don’t come out until October/November, so they’re not high on my priority list since I can’t review them for a while.
Teach me your ways! I can never request in moderation. xD Heck, since I’ve made this list, I’ve got yet ANOTHER ARC. Wait, well, one ARC and one that’s already been released but just approved me on NetGalley. So there’s that. I have a problem. There should be a help group for this. xD
Ooooh, I haven’t heard of this challenge before! Hmmm, I might have to participate…
And I love how you’ve geared this towards ARCs–You got this, girl!
I also have an eARC of Shatter the Sky! I’m so excited to read it!
Oooh, The Lady Rogue sounds interesting. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!
Happy reading! I hope you enjoy all of these books!
You totally should participate! You know you wanna. 😉 They also have levels for 10 books or 15 books, in case 20 is too much.
And thanks! I feel so bad that I fell behind on ARCs in the first place, so I’m hoping to take this opportunity to catch up and then get ahead. 🙂
Will be interested to see what you think of Shatter the Sky, then, too, when you get to it! I hope The Lady Rogue is even half as interesting as it sounds. xD It’s really hard to go wrong with everything in the summary, I would think.
I think I will! Though is the goal to read any 20 books for the summer or a specific 20 books?
And don’t feel bad about being behind! All that matters is that you’re trying to get around to them now! If it happens, that’s awesome, but if it doesn’t, don’t stress.
And I can’t wait to see what you think either! And true about TLR! 🙂
Any 20 books. Or there’s also goals of 15 or 10, if you need a smaller goal. You make your own TBR. 🙂
Ahhh, okay. But do you have to make a TBR and complete it for the challenge or can you just aim to read 20/15/10 books in general, if that makes sense?
I think it’s whatever you want to do. I saw one blogger who isn’t good at sticking to TBRs, so she just posted announcing she was joining and said she’d just update the post with books as she chose them and read them, since she didn’t know yet what she wanted to read. 🙂 So it seems like people have done a little bit of everything, so if you’re not sure, that’s just fine, too.
Okay, cool cool! Lol, thanks for answering my many annoying questions! <3
Ha, no problem! Not annoying at all. I have an eight-year-old, so trust me … you’re fine. xD
Great list! I am trying to catch up on my arcs right now too – I’m drowning. I mean it’s a good problem to have I suppose but then you really have to get your ass in gear and stick to a TBR – which I’m terrible at as well LOL
We have a few of the same! I’m excited for Gideon! Good luck with your TBR!
It’s a great problem to have, but at the end of the day, drowning is still drowning. 😛 TBRs are super hard, but I guess it’s a little easier when they’re technically books you’ve already agreed to read and review. Slightly easier. Still hard, though.
Hope you enjoy Gideon!
So many books! And long ones too! Good luck though. I want to read more of the books that I own this summer. I have Chainbreaker to read, though I loved the first one. I’m also curious about the Nina Hill book.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Yes, because I’m clearly a glutton for punishment. So glad to hear you liked Timekeeper. I’ve heard really good things about that series, so I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for the luck. I’m pretty sure I’m going to need it.
I’m not participating, but I love your TBR. That’s a great set of books. I’d like to read Ruin of Kings too.
Thanks! I’ve heard really good things about it. I hope you get to read it. 🙂
I’m doing the 20 Books challenge. Like you I have a lot if unread ARCs. When I came up with my TBR, I thought about adding more ARCs, but decided against it. I’m just going to stick with hopefully plowing through a few of them during ARC August. Happy reading!
I didn’t know ARC August was a thing. 😮 Never heard of it. Though, I have enough to stretch out over the summer, obviously. *cough* Because I have a problem. I hope you’re able to get through some of your ARCs. 🙂
I found it last year. It’s hosted by Read. Sleep. Repeat.. The announcement and sign up post came out in July. Hopefully they will do it again. I really did try to complete that Bingo board.
Thanks for the link! I’ll be keeping an eye out for it. 🙂
Thanks so much for joining in! Best of luck xx
Of course! Thanks so much for hosting. I could definitely use the motivation. 🙂