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Just so you all know, I’ve been having trouble leaving comments on some WordPress blogs recently. They ask me to log in even though I’m already logged in, and then when I leave my comment it never appears on the post. If I don’t comment on your post, I am not ignoring you.
The photo I included in this post made me chuckle because the beaches in Ontario are often inaccessible in the winter.
Windy days are common here in Southern Ontario, and in the winter all of that wind can blow freezing water up the shore and onto any sidewalks or piers nearby.
So not only it is well below freezing for us then, the land next to our lakes is often coated in a thick layer of ice that can be incredibly slippery and dangerous.
I’m glad that people in some other parts of the world can take leisurely strolls next to their lakes or oceans in the winter without possibly slipping straight into the freezing water, though. It must be lovely, and I mean that sincerely if also slightly humorously.
With that mental image firmly in place, here are some books I’m looking forward to checking out this winter.
1. Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin
Publication Date: January 13
Why I’m Interested: Book bans are something I’m always curious to read about, especially from the perspective of a librarian who is fighting them.
2. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days: Tales from Hawthorne Cottage by Jessie Sylva
Publication Date: January 20
Why I’m Interested: Honestly, the title is what drew me to this one. I love puns and cozy speculative fiction.
3. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Publication Date: February 3
Why I’m Interested: Animal rescue is one of those topics that will draw my attention to all sorts of different books. There’s nothing like reading about an abandoned animal finding a happy new home.
4. The Daughter Who Remains by Nnedi Okorafor
Publication Date: February 17
Why I’m Interested: It will hopefully encourage me to finally begin this trilogy. I’m generally a fan of Ms. Okorafor’s work and the afro-futurism genre as a whole.
5. Onward: 16 Climate Fiction Short Stories to Inspire Hope by Erin Entrada Kelly
Publication Date: February 24
Why I’m Interested: To be honest, climate change is not looking good at the moment. I worry about what the future may hold as the Earth continues to warm up. My fingers are crossed that this book will imagine some cleaner, cooler futures for us all.
Some of these have cover art that draw me in… so now I have MORE books to read about and maybe add to my mental TBR. 😉 Hope you enjoy these all!
Glad to hear it, Rissi!
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is on my TBR too. I also would like to read How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days: Tales from Hawthorne Cottage and Is This a Cry for Help.
Glad to hear it!
“Is This a Cry” has an interesting title/cover juxtaposition!
Totally agreed with you there. I hope my comment on your post went through this week. I’m trying other browsers for WordPress blogs that give me trouble.
Not only is the title “Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter” completely awesome, but it’s also written by Heather Fawcett??!! I immediately put it on my TBR.
Here is my TTT: https://thissideofstoryland.blogspot.com/2025/12/top-ten-tuesday-winter-2025-26-tbr.html
May you enjoy it!
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days caught my ear too! XD
Yay!
That’s a fantastic cover on Is This a Cry for Help?
Totally agreed there. 🙂
WordPress can be so screwy sometimes! I am also very excited to read Agnes Aubert and How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days. In fact, I have not seen a Top Ten list today that DOESN’T have Agnes Aubert on it:-)
Yes, it sure can be.
And just about every TTT post I’ve seen this week has also mentioned Agnes Aubert!
I love it when titles like How to lose a Goblin in Ten Days draw you in.
Same!
The Daughter Who Remains looks interesting! I haven’t read anything by this author beyond the Binti trilogy, and I really should try to catch up a bit. I’m looking forward to the Heather Fawcett book too. Hope you enjoy your winter reading!
Thank you. Happy reading to you as well.
Nice picks. Some covers are pretty. Happy Reading. Have a great day and a great week. Here is my TTT. https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/top-ten-tuesday-14/
Thank you. 🙂
Be safe out there in all that ice!
Thank you. I try to avoid most of it. 🙂
How to lose a Goblin in ten days sounds interesting! I hope that we both enjoy the Heather Fawcett book!
I’m 50 mins or so from the coast so we don’t get that sort of weather. We do have windy moments though and ice. I hate ice. Terrified of it 😂
Have a great week!
Fingers crossed we do. And, yeah, ice is scary for sure.
Ooh, Onward sounds great and exactly what I think I should pick up. Things have been feeling pretty dismal lately, so climate stories to inspire hope sounds ideal! 😍 I’m also excited for How to Lose A Goblin and Agnes Aubert—I’ve seen it on so many lists today as well. I hope you enjoy all of these reads!
Also, glad to know I’m not the only one having these WP commenting issues. My platform is on WP and I still get asked to login sometimes—it’s so frustrating!
I’m sorry you’re having WP issues as well!
Happy reading to you, Dini.
I’m too much of a desert rat to survive a Canadian winter. Brr!
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days sounds like a fun one. I just love cozy fantasy and have been looking for more. This might just fit the bill.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
I’m glad you’re in a warmer place, Cholla. 🙂
I’ve seen The Mystical Cat Shelter on several lists today. I think I’d better check it out and find out what all the hype is about. Thanks.
Don’t give up on commenting on my blog. I see your comments. I just have to go into Disqus to approve them.
I can see myself buried in fluffy blankets with all three cats sleeping on me while I read Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter. 💚💚💚
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter looks intriguing. Hope you’ll love all of these!