I’ve always been proud of being an eclectic reader. No, I don’t read nonfiction. However, I’ve always read a wide variety of fictional genres.
Lately, I can’t find interest in anything heavier than romantic comedy. This is true in both my reading choices and my television choices. But, that’s another topic.
Here are the books I should be reading.
1. Darkdawn
by Jay Kristoff

Heaven Help me! I loved this series. I devoured books 1 and 2, and yet when I tried to start this book I just couldn’t feel it. It calls to me, and I’m dying to know how the trilogy ends, but I know if I tried to force it I would only feel resentment.
2. DEV1AT3
by Jay Kristoff

I started reading this book two days ago. I loved LIFEL1K3. The ending wrecked me. I really really want to finish this trilogy, but I can’t. I just can’t do YA right now, and I haven’t figured out why.
3. Dark Age
by Pierce Brown

Red Rising has been one of my favorite Science Fiction series for a long while. In my “nothing heavy” phase in life screams that this novel is going to be too much. Please pray I don’t kick the bucket before I pick this back up.
4. Finale
by Stephanie Garber

Finale was quite literally a finale. The culmination of Scarlet and Tella come together in this final book, and I want so badly to know how this story ends. Somehow I only made it to about 40% before I couldn’t keep going. It wasn’t bad. I just didn’t want to read it.
5. House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J Maas

I read the first chapter of this book, and I loved it. The hardcover is gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. I want this second opportunity to fall in lover with Sarah J Maas. But man, it’s dense. I feel like I’m not in the place these days for a book like this. My mind can’t handle it.
6. Wayward Son
by Rainbow Rowell

This one isn’t heavy. I’m sure it’s light and sweet. That cover is so adorable, and I love Baz and Simon. I recently bought this in hardcover because I hated that I didn’t have this book to add to my Rowell shelf. But, it’s YA. I’m in a YA rut.
7. The Place on Dalhousie
by Melina Marchetta

The House on Dalhousie is the book I’ve been waiting almost a decade for. It’s the story of my favorite character from all of Melina’s books, Jimmy Hailer. And yet, I’ve had this for months and months. I have the ebook, and I have the paperback. I have no reason to suspect it’s going to be too intense, yet I’m still secretly nervous it’s not going to be a “happy” read.
8. Beard With Me
by Penny Reid

I flew through the Winston Brothers series. I’m crazy about this group of bearded brothers, and I really really wanted to read Beard Necessities. The problem is Penny Reid wrote a prequel to Billy and Claire’s story and called it #6 in the series. It’s not a 5.5, which for some reason I feel like I don’t need to read. No, she made it book #6. Now, no matter how excited I am to read book seven, it will always feel tainted. I can’t read this book. It’s a tragedy, and the story of Billy and Claire already breaks my heart as it is. I don’t want to read this book. I don’t want to know the particulars. My heart can’t take it.
9. Kingsbane
by Claire Legrand

Annnnd, see above.
If it’s not light, fluffy, funny and romantic. I can’t do it.
10. Changes
by Jim Butcher

Changes is a whole new issue. I lost all my ebooks for this series when my computer kaputzed. I haven’t been able to break down and spend $9.99 on another copy. It’s killing me more now, because Peace Talks came out. I really really wanted to be caught up before it came out.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme previously hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but as of 2018 is hosted by hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!
I’ve tended to shy away from heavier reads this year, too. You’re not alone.
My TTT .
LikeLike
2020 is the year for only happy escapism.
LikeLike
I need to look into some of Jim Butcher’s books. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/07/ttt-072820.html
LikeLike
Dresden files are REALLY good. Worth the hype if you like UF.
LikeLike
What a great post. The global pandemic seems to have affected reading patterns for most of us. I’ve started doing re-reads, which has never been my ‘thing’.
I have sooo many Penny Reid books on my TBR list – one day I will get them read!
LikeLike
I’ve been rereading too! That’s what my last post was about. I really think it’s all about the last year (two if you really think about it). The world is heavy enough right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At the beginning of the pandemic (here in the US) I threw my TBR out the window and only read romantic comedies! I needed it!
My TTT: https://ichlese.blog/2020/07/28/top-ten-tuesday-my-favorite-seasonal-book-movie-sustenance-pairings/.
LikeLike
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who can’t handle heavy my books, since there’s so much that’s heavy in our reality. It’s a romantic comedy year, for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both Dark Dawn and Changes are outstanding. I hope you enjoy them.
Lauren @ Always Me
LikeLike
Oh, I’m sure I will when I pick them up. I think maybe I can do Changes soon.
LikeLike
You should defintiely be read Darkdawn and Finale! I love both of those!
My post!
LikeLike
All the love for Darkdawn is inspiring! I’ll try to hit it before the end of the year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Darkdawn looks good!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
LikeLike
I haven’t read it yet, but book 1 (Nevermight) was fantastic!
LikeLike
Noooooo! You DO need to read Winston Brother’s #6. It’s not a #5.5. It explains what happened between Claire and Billy back in the day. It’s REALLY good and you will want to know all those details. I promise!
LikeLike
Don’t be disappointed in me Deanna, but I’m already half way through book 7. I read the authors note at the beginning of 6, warning of how it’s a tragedy, and she said reading 6 wasn’t necessary. Even though I doubted her, I still ran with it. 7 is really good though… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, you’re probably okay then. It was sadder.
LikeLike
Eep, see. It’s the “sadder” that I run from. My mom has been begging me to watch Hamilton on Disney+, and I really want to see it. She just told me she cried at the end and now I’m gunshy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe she cried because it was so good?
LikeLike
I’m pretty sure not. LOL, she’ll wear me down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally get this mood!! I have so many books that I look at and make “bleghhhh” faces at. Like, I WANT to read them. Just… not right now!!
LikeLike
RIGHT! And right now just seems to keep happening. A week from now I’ll look at them and think, “not right now”. In a month it’ll still be “not right now”…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t been in a fantasy mood for most of this year. 2020 has been so tough.
LikeLike
It really has. 2020 has been terrible, and I just have the headspace for anything even “sorta” heavy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to read Deviate too, Lifelike is one of my fav series!!
LikeLike
LOL! I love that we say it’s a great series and yet we’ve only read the first book. haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just always feel like I should be reading ARCs, because I am a compulsive requester. I am with you on Kingsbane. I really need to read that one! But I’ll be rereading Furyborn first. I loved Finale, but it seems I was in the minority with that one.
LikeLike
You’d be the second person on this post to tell me Finale was good. I’m better about not reading my ARC’s if I don’t feel in the mood. It’s harder for me if it’s an ongoing series or a favorite author. Then I feel like I’m betraying the fandoms or something.
LikeLike
I’m yet to give Jim Butcher a chance hehe 😀
Here’s my TTT if you want to have a look!! https://readwithstefani.com/10-books-i-want-to-read-by-the-end-of-2020/
LikeLike
Oh, I highly recommend Dresden Files. They are fantastic!
LikeLike
I feel ya on the “should be’s”. Dark Age would make my list too, but I can’t bring myself to read it when the third one isn’t on the radar yet. I’d just have to reread it lol.
LikeLike
LOL! I didn’t even realize he hasn’t put out any info on the next one. Maybe that will be what pushes me to finally pick it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha I’m hoping it’ll get some news soon. I’m already going to have to reread the first one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should be reading Wayward Son too. I loved Carry On, but I’m so bad at reading sequels!
LikeLike
I usually love sequels! Maybe that’s another hangup for me. No on the sequels.
LikeLike
I’ve been shying away from a lot of the heavier reads on my TBR too. I think it’s the stress of the pandemic, but I’ve been all about the rom-coms and so I see several books on your “should be reading” list that are on mine as well.
LikeLike
RomComs are my go to these days. I could just read one after the other. In fact, I actually am!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate feeling like I *should* read something. It sucks all the fun out of it! I have tons of books that I feel obligated toward, but hit a wall a couple of weeks ago when I realized I wasn’t happy sticking to a list or a schedule — so for now, I’m ignoring my “shoulds” and reading what I feel like, Much better! I haven’t read many of the books on your list. I really liked Wayward Son, because I love Simon and Baz so much! Changes is an amazing entry in the Dresden series — it’s so dramatic and powerful! I’m caught up, but it’s been so many years since a new book came out that I’m afraid I’ll be completely lost when I finally get a copy of Peace Talks.
LikeLike
I wanted to be there so bad when it released. I wanted to be part of the hype. But I’ve been reading in your same playbook. I can’t follow too much of a schedule right now either.
LikeLike
I thought I was an avid reader until I read this post. I’ve never heard of many of these books or the series. Looks good though. I plan on checking a few out.
LikeLike
That’s surprising, some of these feel pretty popular. And I’m pretty sure the entire world knows Anne. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait, which one is Anne? I know, right. I seriously read all of the time and everything. I even do non-fiction. I feel so bad about it, actually (from one bookie to another). I just can’t keep up. LOL
LikeLike
See, you’re doing better than me. I read zero non-fiction, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person