Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Summer weather in Toronto begins in June and runs through the end of September (or longer some years).
We’ll have warm but still nice days at the beginning and end of summer season, but we also have many hot, humid ones when the best thing to do is to settle down with a book and save any exercising for cooler parts of the day.
This is doubly true this year thanks to the pandemic and the fact that all of our swimming pools and beaches are shut down for public health reasons. Here are a few of the many books I’m hoping to check out this summer as I stay cool.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Release Date: June 30
Why I Want to Read It: As soon as the saw the words “horror” and “Jane Eyre” in the blurb, I knew I had to read this. Not sure if this is a homage to that book or simply has similar themes. Either way, I’m thrilled to check it out soon.
Goddess in the Machine (Goddess in the Machine, #1) by Lora Beth Johnson
Release Date: June 30
Why I Want to Read It: The thought of being in stasis so long that everyone you know and love has died long before you wake up again makes me shudder. It also makes me eager to see how this character reacts to this fact.
Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
Release Date: July 21
Why I Want to Read It: There’s nothing like reading a spooky ghost story on a humid summer day.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Paola Santiago #1) by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Release Date: August 4
Why I Want to Read It: Middle grade novels are the perfect brain candy for hot, humid days. The fact that this one references La Llorona only makes me more curious about it!
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir by Sara Seager
Release Date: August 18
Why I Want to Read It: The existence of exoplanets are one of the most interesting aspects of astronomy in my opinion. I could read about them all day.
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
Release Date: September 1
Why I Want to Read It: The shameful Japanese internment camps of the 1940s are more relevant than ever given what’s currently happening in the U.S.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Release Date: September 1
Why I Want to Read It: I love visiting cemeteries in real life. They’re incredibly peaceful places to walk, and you can learn so much about the lives of strangers and the eras they lived in by reading their headstones. This love of cemeteries encompasses fictional stories about them as well. They’re not scary to me. They’re wonderful.
The Irish Princess by Elizabeth Chadwick
Release Date: September 12
Why I Want to Read It: I must confess to having no idea that Ireland ever had their own princess. Now I want to know more!
The Ninth Life by Taylor B. Barton
Release Date: September 15
Why I Want to Read It: Honestly, who hasn’t grieved the loss of a beloved pet and wished you could have more time with them? The fact that this cat came back as a young queer man makes the storyline even more appealing to me. I can’t wait to see how he adjusts to being human!
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Release Date: September 15
Why I Want to Read It: This mansion that goes on endlessly sounds deliciously weird, and I love stories like that. It also reminds me of dreams I’ve had about similar houses that are filled with more rooms than anyone could ever explore.
Great list! I’m so excited for Mexican Gothic, and The Ninth Life sounds really interesting. Happy reading!
Thank you! And totally agreed there.
Lots of “summer reads. I’ve tweaked my TTT this week.
Thanks. 🙂
Hope you enjoy reading about Aoife and Strongbow (Irish princess). I’d be interested in reading that book too so see how close it is to history 😊😊😊
Also Mexican Gothic is AMAZING! My fav book of 2020 so far
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it so much. And thanks.
Omg yes yes yes, I am clapping my hands in excitement with all the books on this list! Amazing 😍 I also can’t wait to read so many of these and they’re some of my most anticipated releases this year — some of them I think are quite “underrated” releases as well, but I hope they get more love closer to the pub dates! I hope you enjoy all these reads, Lydia! 🥰
Yay! I’m so glad, Dini. Thank you for your kind words.
I really want to read Cemetery Boys and Mexican Gothic – I’ve heard good things about both! I hope you enjoy all of these! 💛
Thank you. You, too!
Oh I really want to read Mexican Gothic as well!
Doesn’t it sound amazing? 🙂
I definitely want to read The Cemetery Boys!
-Lauren
Yay!
Mexican Gothic sounds intriguing but horror is a hard limit for me 😊. I think I’ll go with Goddess in the Machine!
No worries there. 🙂
I love this list!!
Thank you.
I’m so excited for Mexican Gothic and Piranesi, I hope we’ll both love them! I didn’t know about Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, but it sounds amazing, I’m adding it to my TBR! Happy reading! 😊
You, too! And yay!
I hope you enjoy all of these ♡
Thank you!
Good list! Mexican Gothic is on my list as well!
Thanks. I hope you like that one. I might gush about it. 😀
Mexican Gothic and Smallest Lights in the Universe both sound wonderful to me. I am a little worried, though, that Gothic might be too scary for me.
I hope it isn’t too scary for you.
Looks like this will keep you very busy as the days are longer.
For sure.
I really wanted to read Mexican Gothic, but I think it would be too scary for me. I hope you enjoy it, though!
Thank you!
I want to read Ghost Wood Song and actually heard it is coming out a week early. I’m also curious about Cemetery Boys and I started Mexican Gothic last night!
Oh, good to know. Thanks. Hope you’re enjoying Mexican Gothic.
The Ninth Life sounds intriguing! I’m seeing Mexican Gothic on a lot of people’s lists today. And I just added Sara Seager’s memoir to my Goodreads TBR list; it sounds wonderful.
I hope you enjoy Seager’s memoir.
Okay can we talk about ALL OF THESE COVERS!?! They are all so gorgeous. I have so many to add to my TBR. Some of them I’ve heard of and a few others I haven’t. Thanks for stopping by my TTT to comment.
Yes, they absolutely are. And you’re welcome.
Haha we have none in common 🙂
🙂
I’ve been hearing do many good things about Mexican Gothic. I’ll be anxious to hear what you think about it!
Thank you. I do hope to blog about it!
Mexican Gothic is on my summer TBR, too! I hope we enjoy it!
Yay. Fingers crossed that we do enjoy it.
I’m sorry, the only book I see on your list is Mexican Gothic. It was amazing and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Thanks. 🙂
I plan to read The Irish Princess at some point. I have so many books on my tbr list!
Yay! Hope you enjoy it.
Sounds like pretty similar weather here! And it does get humid at times, which definitely makes a read by the pool a very attractive option. 🙂
Mexican Gothic sounds awesome.
Cool. Then you understand the perks of sitting still and reading. 😀
Hope you like Mexican Gothic if you read it.
We Are Not Free looks interesting. Years ago I read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and it spurred my interest and my need/want to know more about the internment camps during WWII.
Ooh, that book sounds good. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I’m so interested in Mexican Gothic but I’m such a chicken when it comes to horror!! haha.
Heh, several people have said that this week.
So many great possibilities! Happy summer reading! Stay cool and safe!
Thanks. You, too!
I haven’t read anything on your list! Hope you enjoy all your summer reads.
Thank you.
Oh I love your list! And hello fellow Canadian book lover! 🙂
You’ve just given me several new titles to add to my ever growing book wishlist.
Thank you very much. Happy reading!
I forgot Paola Santiago and Cemetery Boys. Excellent choices!
Thanks. 🙂
OOh nice picks! Lots of new to me ones here. I hope you enjoy them all this summer.
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
You’re welcome.
I saw ‘Mexican Gothic’ on a lot of lists this week but I have no interest in that book because I don’t read horror. But it did peaked my interest a bit because of the bit part about the Jane Eyre-ish setting.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Happy reading!
Have a lovely day.
You, too!
Omg what an awesome list!! So many of these are books I really want to read too, especially Cemetery Boys!
Thank you. Happy reading!
Sounds like the weather is great! Great list.
Here is my TTT.
https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2020/06/16/top-ten-tuesday-6/
Thank you.
I live in Arizona, so it’s almost always hot here. At least it’s a dry heat. Humidity would make the heat unbearable! Our public pools are supposed to open in July, but you have to make an appointment to go in and only a certain amount of people can go at one time. It will be interesting to see how that works. Thankfully, we have a backyard pool so we can swim whenever we want. It’s a lifesaver during the summer! Good luck staying cool. I hope you enjoy your reading this summer 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
It’s nice that you have your own pool then. I have relatives who live in Arizona and, yeah, it gets very hot there during the summer.
I hope you get plenty of swimming time in this summer.
What a great list. So many interesting reads. We Are Not Free and Cemetery Boys look fabulous.
Thanks a lot! And totally agreed there.
I am seeing Mexican Gothic everywhere. I am not a big horror fan, but I might go out of my comfort zone and try that one. Enjoy all the books on your list, Lydia.
Thank you. I hope you like it if you read it!
I forgot to put it on my list this week, but I’m hoping to read We Are Not Free this summer too.
Cool!
Great TBR! I loved Cemetery Boys. I’m super curious about Mexican Gothic. I hope you enjoy all of these.
Thanks. You, too!
Great list, hope you enjoy all these. Mexican Gothic sounds so good, and I’m looking forward to Piranesi too.
Thank you. Happy reading!
I’m looking forward to read Cemetery Boys and Mexican Gothic! They both sounds great. Hope you enjoy them 🙂
Thanks. You, too!
This is such a cool list! I like how you described cemeteries — you’re right, they can be peaceful places, and places where you can learn so much.
Thanks a lot. I’m glad you liked that
Great list! Your summer is going to be awesome.
Thank you very much!
Ghost wood song sounds really good!! I love a good sppoky read!
-Michelle @ Book Briefs
I hope you like it if you read it.
Mexican Gothic and Paola Santiago and the River of Tears both look like great reads. Happy summer reading!
Thanks. You, too.
Great list! I want to read Mexican Gothic, as well as Goddess in the Machine too. Hope you enjoy them all, happy reading!
Thank you. Same to you!
Enjoy your summer reads.
Thanks. You, too!
I love Susanna Clark! I didn’t know she had a new book out!
Do you think you’ll be reading it? Hope you enjoy it if you do.
The Irish Princess sounds good. I never thought of them having princesses either, but I guess if they had kings, then they’d have princesses too, LOL.
Heh, for sure.
I need to get to Mexican Gothic too! I’m excited for it.
Cool. I hope you like it!
I really want to read Mexican Gothic as well! I’ve heard such great things about it. Great list!
Thanks. Hope you enjoy it!
This is the first I’ve heard of Mexican Gothic, but it sounds amazing! Love the comparisons to Jane Eyre and Rebecca – may have to check this one out, too!
Yay! That’s awesome.
Great list! I’m looking forward to Mexican Gothic, Cemetery Boys and The Ninth Life as well 🙂
Glad to hear it.
Great list! Mexican Gothic is going to be on my list as well. I preordered it and can’t wait to get it in my hands!
That’s awesome. Happy reading!
Great List!
I’ve had my eye on Goddess in the Machine for a while now, it just sounds so interesting?? Like the people think she’s a goddess with all knowing knowledge and she’s just like “riiiiight. I’m not but ok?” I NEED IT!
I’ve seen Mexican Gothic on a lot of lists and I hadn’t heard of it before?? But it sounds like a great read!
I hope you get to all of these books this Summer and love them!
Happy Reading! <3
Thanks. You, too!
I want to read Mexican Gothic so badly!! And now adding Piranesi to my TBR…
Cool. Happy reading!
Lydia, looks like you have a great selection of books liked up for the warmer months – There are some gorgeous covers. Also I have seen Mexican Gothic on quite a few new/summer lists and it sounds really intriguing. Happy summer reading! 😃
Thanks a lot. And, yeah, Mexican Gothic was super popular this week. I hope there will be tons of reviews for it popping up on various TTT bloggers sites this summer.
Mexican Gothic and Cemetery Boys are also on my TBR too! I hope you enjoy your summer reads.
Cool. Enjoy!
I am super obsessed with the cover of Mexican Gothic. It is absolutely stunning.
It sure is!
So many good-looking books on this list! I’m also now intrigued by The Irish Princess! I don’t really know anything about Irish history
Thank you. And, yeah, I don’t really know much of anything about Irish history either.
What a great TBR! Many of these are on my list, too. I’ve been really looking forward to Paola Santiago! I’m super curious about Piranesi, too. And so much yes to Cemetery Boys! Hope you enjoy these when you get to read them.
Thanks a lot! Hope you enjoy those books.
I see Cemetery Boys! Mexican Gothic good too. And I need to get to speed in my reading of all the Rick Riordan Presents books!
Heh, good luck! I hope you do.
Mexican Gothic was a great read. I hope you’ll like it too!
I am so curious about Goddess in the Machine and Cemetery Boys. I have high hopes for those two! <3
Thank you very much.
These sound like some incredible reads. I’ve already had to add a couple to my watch list 😀
Yay! Enjoy.
I need like half of the books on your TBR
How cool. 🙂