The end of the year is coming, and I have selected 10 books that I want to read before the year ends. I mainly read Horror, Thrillers, and Fantasy, so I challenged myself with some Romance, Romantasy, Science Fiction, and Literary Fiction as well as the standard Horror, Thriller, and Fantasy. I’m so excited to read all these books.

All the releases came out this year and are giving me FOMO.

Let me know if you have read any and what were your thoughts, so I can prioritize.

Horror:

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer is a book I’ve heard so much about. People either love it or hate it. But all have said there were parts that terrified them. I have not read this author before but I have heard great things about We Used to Live Here as well.

Other World Than These by Peter Straub and Stephen King is the third book in the Talisman trilogy. I read The Talisman years ago and loved it. I have started my reread of it this month, then will read Black House in November, and finally will give a Christmas present to myself and read Other Worlds Than These in December. I’m excited about this book and how it connects to the Dark Tower series.

Romance:

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie is a romance about a girl who works at a video store and dreams of writing for SNL, meets a boy that she connects through acting and improv and meet up later on a Science Fiction series that is an ode to Star Trek. This nerdy romance sounds great to me.

Romantasy:

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews is the first book in a series about a woman who is obsessed with a grim dark fantasy and falls into the book. She knows this world and the characters. She will use that knowledge to succeed and fall in love at the same time.

Thriller:

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney is a trippy thriller about a stolen identity. I have read Alice Feeney before with His and Hers, so I know not to trust the synopsis and enjoy the ride.

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams  is a pulse pounding thriller in a deep dark cave. I have heard it is claustrophobic and will leave you less in the best ways. I have not read Tayor Adams but he has been highly recommended.

Fantasy:

Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan is a dark fantasy about a dragon in alternate history France. I heard this is hauntingly beautiful.

Science Fiction:

Rising Thunder by Neal Shusterman is the prequel novel to the Arc of the Scythe series. I’m obsessed with this series. I have read the series and all of the short stories connected to it. I received an ARC and am going to a book release/ signing for it.

Literary Fiction:

John of John by Douglas Stuart is a book about a gay man who is away at college and has to come back to his small Irish Island, with his farmer father who doesn’t understand him. The book has a huge reveal in the second chapter, that Ann Patchett revealed at the release party I attended, that has me very excited for the father and son relationship.

Five by Ilona Bannister was marketed as a thriller, but I’m told it is more of a literary fiction character study. The book is about 5 people waiting for a train. We know one of the 5 people is going to die, but who. The reader gets to sort of play God and decide based on the actions of the individuals who we think deserve to die. I find this fascinating.