My TBR is a never ending mountain... and I would not want it any other way.
My Goodreads goal is 100 books, and I'm at around 75 so far this year. I read primarily paranormal romance and urban fantasy, with a smattering of YA, historical romance, and contemporary romance to round things out.
Best Adult Romance: This is such a hard choice! It was a close one between Xeni, by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Queen Move, by Kennedy Ryan. I'm going to have to go with Queen Move for this one, just because it took me so much by surprise. Second chance romance, friends to lovers, babylogues... these are not in my wheelhouse. But the writing is masterful, the characters are incredible, and this book hit me HARD in the feelings. I had such a book hangover afterward, and this was truly a 5 star, recommend to anyone who loves romance read.
Best Erotic Romance: Truth be told, I've read a lot of Katee Robert this year, and a week or so ago, I would have had to choose from one of the Wicked Villains series. They're all steamy, quick reads that I could not put down until I'd binged my way through them. But last week I finally got to The Priest, by Tiffany Reisz, and remembered why I love The Original Sinners series so damned much. Number 9 in the series, but suitable to be read as a standalone, this book picks up with our favorite sinners--Nora, King, and Soren--after their move to New Orleans. These books aren't for everyone; they toe the line with darkness, for sure. But this book was my catnip on so many levels, and I have not wanted to read a single thing since finishing it.
Best YA: This came down to Starfish, by Akemi Bowman Dawn, and A Song Below Water, by B.C. Morrow. Both books were extremely hard-hitting emotionally, and Starfish is a tough read that deals with parental emotional abuse and does not always handle mental health representation as well as it could. A Song Below Water is captivating from start to finish, and I loved both of the young women whose eyes we're seeing this world through. Both books made me cry, made me angry, made me hurt with the protagonists. Starfish has 1 quote in particular that resonated with me. I actually tried to share the quote with a friend... and couldn't read it out loud because my voice broke on the first word.
"I can't decide whether I'm glad they're listening or whether I'm annoyed that the conversation's gone unheard for so many years. I think I'm both." - A Song Below Water, Bethany C. Morrow
"I draw a dragon breaking free from its grave and finally seeing what its wings and fire are for." - Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
Book I'm Most Looking Forward to: Tangled Wires, by Lillian Lark. I had the pleasure of reading this dark, sci-fi romance last month, and I am SO EXCITED for it! Follow Lillian on Goodreads and Instagram because this book is going to be so steamy this fall! The perfect naughty, not-so-basic read to accompany that PSL.
You may be asking, where are all the vampires, Cat?! Have no fears! Here's a list of the books that blooded my vampire soul so far in 2020:
What are some of your favorites from 2020 so far? Subscribe to my email list, follow me on Instagram, and let me know what I should add to my TBR mountain!
Until next time, Witchlings!
<3 Cat