My Top Ten Reads of August 2020

Today I’m sharing my TBR for August, but I’m doing this a little differently. I receive so many books within the month that it’s physically difficult for me to read them all. Knowing your threshold for reading is always helpful. If you can find the average number of books you can read in a month, then you can use that average to set reading goals for yourself. Of course, this is entirely up to you and you’re not in any way obligated to do this to have a great reading experience.

I, personally, like doing this because it keeps me on track with my reading and I discover new authors my mood wouldn’t normally pick up. It’s a great way to keep on reading, but I will admit it’s also a way to put your anxiety at risk of going up. I’ve gone many months thinking I can read 15 or more books and it turns out I can only read eight. Don’t push yourself to read more than you can manage, but also I do like to play around with my limit.

So what I’ve decided to do is pick the ten books I’ll read this month and do spotlights on the other books that might make it later in the month. This month is a little bit special because there were so many ones I received that I wanted to read. In order to accommodate that, I added one more. This blog post series will normally be ten, but today, I’m taking it up to eleven.

Here’s What I’m Reading

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

I’ve been anticipating this book for a very long time, so I’m so happy to finally read it! It’s the sequel to Gideon the Ninth and so far, it’s bonkers. I’m going to continue reading, but I will say that I’m nervous about how this book will turn out. So far, it’s just as wild as the first book, but there are definitely differences in the stories and that makes it confusing. However, I’m still holding out for a really great ending.

How Long Til Black Future Month? by NK Jemisin

I tried to start this book back in June, but because of my mental health I didn’t finish it. Also, I’m learning that reading a story a day is a commitment that I can’t hold. I need to sit down with one book and one book only. So I’ve scheduled some time to finish this incredible book of short stories from NK Jemisin. From the four or five stories I’ve already read, I absolutely love it. I think I’m a die hard fan of NK Jemisin for life.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Last month, I read The Extraordinaries, which was TJ Klune’s YA book that came out so close to when this book published. I tried starting this book last month on audio, but it wasn’t working for me. I think trying to world build and listen to it on audiobook just doesn’t work with my brain. So, I’m giving this an official reading timeline and plan on getting it read this month. I heard it’s a tearjerker, so I’m already ready with the tissues.

Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang translated by Ken Liu

I’m so excited to read Vagabonds this month! I’ll be reading with a friend online and I’m so glad. This will be my first piece of translated SFF. I’ve read translated fiction in the past, but I’ve never read SFF from another country before. I’m excited, but nervous with what to expect. I trust Ken Liu’s writing and taste, so I know the book will be really good. I just hope it’s not too over my head, if that makes sense.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I’m continuing my read of Sabaa Tahir’s series this month with the second book. If you couldn’t tell from last month, I really loved the first book and hope that the second and third books are just as good as that first one. I can’t wait until I’m all caught up and ready to read the final book coming out later this year!

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Witches aren’t really my thing. When everyone was about witches, I was all into vampire books, so I didn’t read many books about witches. However, this sounds like a good one with the feel of Salem, but a little bit more. I’ll be buddy reading this one as well with a friend, so I know it’ll be a fun experience.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

I recently picked this one up and intrigued by the title and the premise. But you know me, I’m big into that quantum theory in science fiction that this one dives right into that with multi-verses, time and space jumping, and a whole lot of other sci-fi themes that draw me into the world.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

I’ll be reading this one for my book club, but I’m excited. I’ve been wanting to read Dread Nation for a while and it’s finally time for me to read it. This one sounds super complex with some American history, so it’ll be an interesting read. I imagined this more like a fantasy, but it looks more like historical fiction. But I also see it’s partly horror and partly fantasy. That’s fine with me! Genre is important to me when I read, but I’m not an entire snob who won’t pick up a book because it’s not a genre I read all the time.

Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson

I recently picked this up from a bookstagrammer program, but really intrigued by the story. I’ll be reading this one with a buddy and perhaps I’ll write something about it. I love having books that I know little about or an author I would overlook. It makes me feel like I’m making room for books that are great, but don’t get a lot of love.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

Speaking of love, I know this one gets a whole lot of praise and I can’t avoid the love any longer. This particular story takes place in Seoul, South Korea, which is where my family is from originally. I can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this book for a year! I’ll be happily reading this one this month.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

My final book of the month is Boyfriend Material for my romance book club. This will be my only romance novel of the month, which is kind of funny because this month is Romance Appreciation Month. I’m glad to be finishing the month with a lovely romance especially between two British fellows with a fake relationship trope. OMG, I cannot wait to see where this one goes!

What are you reading this month? Do we have any overlap?