Hello, dear readers!
For years, I’ve selected 10 books for my monthly TBR, but I’m shaking things up and trying something new. Instead of choosing 10 books, I’m moving to a structured seven-book TBR. I’m using a TBR Jar for two picks, continuing at least one series, and reading at least one ARC. I’ll also have a free pick that can go to an ARC, continuing a series, or reading a signed book or a book I plan to get signed. I’m keeping my Monster of the Month and My Wifely Pick as well.
The TBR Jar is filled with 200 possibilities. I have prompts about words used in titles, prompts about covers, prompts about authors, and prompts about series. I went through all my books and really tried to find prompts that would challenge my reading. The first two prompts did just that.
I have one potential signing event this month with S.A. Cosby, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, and J.H. Markert. S.A. Cosby is an author I have read and enjoyed in the short story anthology The End of the World as We Know It. I’m trying to get every author to sign that book, so that’s my main reason for wanting to attend. Everybody has told me I will love his books.
David Heska Wanbli Weiden is a Native American author who is featured in Never Whistle at Night. J.H. Markert is a horror author who also blends crime fiction into his work. There will be a couple of other authors as well. The event is hosted by the Perks of Being a Book Lover Podcast. I have a potential conflict, but if I can make it, I’m excited about it.
Prompt 1: Read from a series of more than 10 books that you have started
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
This is the first book in the Pendergast series, which has 23 books. There is also a spin-off series called Nora Kelly, with six books. This prompt comes at a great time because Grand Central Publishing just sent me an ARC of the next Nora Kelly book, Dead Man’s Journey, releasing on January 26, 2027.
I read Pendergast: The Beginning earlier this year, which is the prequel to the Pendergast series that starts with Relic. Relic will be a reread, but I originally read it before I was a blogger. I’m looking forward to rereading it after having read the prequel.
Prompt 2: Read an author whose unread books you own the most of
The Lost Level by Brian Keene
I did my tallies, and Brian Keene is the author whose books I own the most of that I haven’t read yet. He has a lot of books and anthologies. I’ve read 30-plus of his short stories, but not many of his novels.
I have a good number of his books signed since he runs AuthorCon, which is my favorite convention that is all about books. He used to run a very cool bookstore in Pennsylvania called Vortex, which is now online.
The Lost Level is a book I decided on because it isn’t signed, and I’m bringing it to AuthorCon next year. The Lost Level is his take on the television show Land of the Lost. It’s a weird fantasy with horror elements. The cover has a dinosaur fighting a robot. I’m down for that.
Monster of the Month:
Good Dogs by Brian Asman
Good Dogs is a werewolf novel about a woman who becomes a den mother to stray werewolves. However, a careless mistake leads to a severed leg on the property. They need to flee and live in the wilderness, but they find out they aren’t the only creatures with a savage bite.
I read Man, Fuck This House last year by Asman and really enjoyed his mix of horror and comedy.
Wifely Pick:
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Sunrise on the Reaping is the story all about Haymitch. I recently finished the original trilogy, which was all my wife’s idea and her picks. I’m going to take her to see the movie based on this book, and I wanted to finish both this book and the original trilogy first.
I did get a preview of the events of the book in Catching Fire when Katniss and Peeta watched Haymitch’s Hunger Games. So I know this book is going to be intense.
Continuing Series:
Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Black House is the second novel in the Talisman series. It takes place more than 20 years after the first book. Jack has forgotten all about the Territories and his ability to travel there.
This book is one of those rare DNFs. I tried to read it in my 20s without knowing it was connected to another book, and I was lost. The book has a long first chapter where you’re a floating head just looking at the world with no substance for a brutal 45 pages.
I’m determined to read it so I can get to the final book in the trilogy and understand this book’s connections to The Dark Tower.
ARCs:
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
The Caretaker is a book I’ve heard so much about. People either love it or hate it, but everyone has said there are parts that terrified them. I haven’t read this author before, but I have heard great things about We Used to Live Here as well.
The Caretaker has already been released, but I received an ARC copy after publication. It’s also one of my selections for 10 Before the End.
Rising Thunder by Neal Shusterman
Rising Thunder is the prequel novel to the Arc of a Scythe series. I’m obsessed with this series. I have read the entire series and all the short stories connected to it. I received an ARC and am going to a book release and signing for it.
Rising Thunder comes out on December 1, 2026, from Simon & Schuster.
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