September 2025 TBR list:  Hello, dear readers, I’m so excited about my TBR this month. I have some old favorites, some new authors to me, and some ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). I have two books from last month’s list. I’ve started them and almost finished: The End of the World as We Know It and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. I have an ambitious list of 11 books (not counting the two books listed above.  5 of the books are on the short side, and one is a novella. 

This month I’m going to more book signings. Yes, I’m kind of addicted. One signing is at the Chattanooga Comic Con, where Alex Segura will be signing. Another is at Parnassus Books. Alma Katsu will be featuring her new book, Fiend. Rachael Harrison will present her new book, Play Nice.  I will probably do another book haul from the Chattanooga Comic Con trip.  Lots of great reads to look forward to this month.

TBR September 2025:

ARC Books:

Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night, edited by Stephanie Rose and William Sterling, is a fun Halloween Horror Anthology. The stories are inspired by Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, a book I loved as a kid. The stories are fun middle-grade horror. I’m looking forward to stories from Brian McAuley, Clay McLeod Chapman, and William Sterling. I have a couple of Brian McAuley set for October TBR. Thanks, Netgalley and Death by TBR Books, for sending me a copy. Twisted Tales to Tell in the Dark will be published on September 16, 2025.

The Small Hours by Bob Pastorella is about Jay. He is convinced his next-door neighbor had something to do with his friend’s brutal murder. The neighbor keeps odd hours, visitors arrive but are not seen leaving. Jay thinks he has the evidence he needs. All he has to do is break into a shed. The shed leads down to the basement. Bob Pastorella is the co-host of the podcast This is Horror. Bob’s horror recommendations have been spot on for me, so I’m excited to support him and read his novel. This is my first Arc thanks to Book Sirens and Ghoulish Books. Small Hours is to be published on September 30, 2025.

Physical Books:

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is the ultimate people trapped on an island, where murders happen. This book was either the first or second book I can remember reading. My first completed adult novel was either And Then There Were None or The ABC Murders, both by Agatha Christie. Both are great books to have as a first read. The last time I read And Then There Were None was 20 years ago. I want to see if my memory holds. I do still remember the shocking ending.  I’m excited to have a buddy read with my wife. She has never read it. She knows nothing about the story other than what I have briefly told her.

Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille is book 4 in the John Corey series. John Corey is a member of the Federal Anti- Terrorist Task Force. His job is to stop attacks before they happen. In the novel Night Fall, it ends with 9/11 happening.  In this novel, government, military, and business leaders gather. They meet to discuss a plan called Wild Fire for retaliation for 9/11. Soon after the meeting, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is found near the meeting site. John Corey and his wife Kate investigate. They discover a sister plot that includes other members of the meeting and Nuclear sites. The series has been a great read so far. I’ve got my father-in-law hooked, and he has asked me about more.

Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds is about Miles dealing with losing his spidey-sense and getting suspended over a misunderstanding. He doubts whether he is even meant to be a superhero. I love Miles Morales through video games and the Spiderverse movies. I have yet to read a comic book or story about him. What excites me about this book is Jason Reynolds. He is one of my favorite middle-grade authors. The man can write subtext like no one’s business.  You can read his works on the surface, or you can dig deeper and get so much more.

 Ghost by Jason Reynolds is an amazing middle-grade novel.  Ghost is the first book in the Track series. Ghost is a reread for me, an instant 5-star book. The story is about a boy nicknamed Ghost, who is a basketball player who has recently been through a drive-by shooting at the park where he plays. Ghost is quick, always has been. He gets challenged by a sprinter at school to race and wins. The track coach watches and sees something in the boy. Ghost has to get over his PTSD of the starter pistol to compete.

Patina by Jason Reynolds is the second book in the Track series. The story follows Patty. She just transferred to a fancy new school where she runs to prove she is something. She runs to avoid problems, but when self-doubt sneaks in, can she outrun it? I have not read this book before. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy for Coach, the fifth book in the Track series.

Sunny by Jason Reynolds is the third book in the Track series. The story is about Sunny. He is a great runner, but running is not his passion in life. His passion is to dance. Sunny has to choose between dance and his team.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is about a scientist, Olive, who does not believe in romantic relationships. She’s a scientist who believes in facts. Her best friend believes in love. To test a theory, she kisses the first man she sees. This man happens to be rival Adam. She is shocked that he finds this experiment amusing and pretends to be her boyfriend.  This is a book that my grandma-in-law loved and enjoyed. Last year, I got her to read the Silo series by Hugh Howey, which she loved. I thought it would be cool to read a book she loved.

The Keep by F. Paul Wilson is the first book in the Adversary Cycle series.  This book is all about a vampire against the Nazis. This book is a hidden gem in the horror community. The story reminds me of The Wolf’s Hour by Robert McCammon. It features a werewolf against Nazis and is one of my favorite books. This is my first F. Paul Wilson book. Horror author Brian Keene praises his writing. So I’m going to dig in. I also think my father-in-law, whom I share my books with, will love it.   

Star Wars: Poe Dameron Free Fall by Alex Segura is a Poe Dameron origin story. It takes place way before the events in The Force Awakens. Poe is dealing with the loss of his mother. His father gets lost in grief. Poe is looking for any reason to leave Yavin-4. He finds an opportunity to pilot and smuggle goods for smugglers. But he finds out too late that these aren’t smugglers but a deadly spice runner syndicate.  I got this book a couple of days before Alex Segura was announced to come to Chattanooga Comic Con. I already had The End of the World as We Know It: Anthology for him to sign. He has Enemy of My Enemy, which is a Daredevil crime novel that I am eagerly anticipating in February. I will be buying his Dick Tracy Volume 1 graphic novel at the Con, which I’m told is amazing. 

The End of the World As We Know it: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand is my most anticipated book. I have been waiting for it all year. It is edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. 34 horror writers making new stories in the world of The Stand. The writers’ stories I’m looking forward to the most are Chuck Wendig, Nat Cassidy, Josh Malerman, Richard Chizmar, Alma Katsu, Paul Tremblay, Catriona Ward, Joe R. Landsdale, and Tim Lebbon.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King is a graphic novel. It tells the story of Supergirl taking revenge on the bad guys who destroyed Krypton. I saw Superman last month and loved it. I especially loved the Supergirl tease. Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King is what they are basing the new Supergirl movie on.