Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer 2020 TBR

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

White woman reading a book while sitting in a lawn chairSummer 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 book cover. Image on cover is of a young girl wearing a red dress, clasping flowers, and sitting down.

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 book cover. Image on cover is of a young black girl turning around.

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.

 

Book cover for Ghost Wood Song  by Erica Waters. Image on cover is of book title in the shape of curved pieces of wood.

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

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!

Book cover for Sara Seager's The Smallest Lights in the Universe. Image on cover is of an adult and two children walking outdoors at dusk.

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.

Drawing of three Japanese teenagesr on the side of a building next to a large pile of luggage.

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 book cover. Image on cover is of two teen latinos and what appears to be a zombie.

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 book cover. Image on cover is of a painting of a 12th century princess.

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 book cover. Image on cover shows three teens embracing while standing on a roof.

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

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.

130 Comments

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130 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer 2020 TBR

  1. Great list! I’m so excited for Mexican Gothic, and The Ninth Life sounds really interesting. Happy reading!

  2. Lots of “summer reads. I’ve tweaked my TTT this week.

  3. 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

  4. 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! 🥰

  5. Christine

    I really want to read Cemetery Boys and Mexican Gothic – I’ve heard good things about both! I hope you enjoy all of these! 💛

  6. Oh I really want to read Mexican Gothic as well!

  7. I definitely want to read The Cemetery Boys!

    -Lauren

  8. Mexican Gothic sounds intriguing but horror is a hard limit for me 😊. I think I’ll go with Goddess in the Machine!

  9. 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! 😊

  10. Good list! Mexican Gothic is on my list as well!

  11. 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.

  12. Looks like this will keep you very busy as the days are longer.

  13. I really wanted to read Mexican Gothic, but I think it would be too scary for me. I hope you enjoy it, though!

  14. 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!

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. Haha we have none in common 🙂

  18. I’ve been hearing do many good things about Mexican Gothic. I’ll be anxious to hear what you think about it!

  19. Mexican Gothic is on my summer TBR, too! I hope we enjoy it!

  20. 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!

  21. I plan to read The Irish Princess at some point. I have so many books on my tbr list!

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. I’m so interested in Mexican Gothic but I’m such a chicken when it comes to horror!! haha.

  25. So many great possibilities! Happy summer reading! Stay cool and safe!

  26. I haven’t read anything on your list! Hope you enjoy all your summer reads.

  27. 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.

  28. I forgot Paola Santiago and Cemetery Boys. Excellent choices!

  29. OOh nice picks! Lots of new to me ones here. I hope you enjoy them all this summer.

    Thanks for visiting my TTT!

  30. 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.

  31. Omg what an awesome list!! So many of these are books I really want to read too, especially Cemetery Boys!

  32. 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.

  33. What a great list. So many interesting reads. We Are Not Free and Cemetery Boys look fabulous.

  34. Carla

    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.

  35. I forgot to put it on my list this week, but I’m hoping to read We Are Not Free this summer too.

  36. Great TBR! I loved Cemetery Boys. I’m super curious about Mexican Gothic. I hope you enjoy all of these.

  37. Great list, hope you enjoy all these. Mexican Gothic sounds so good, and I’m looking forward to Piranesi too.

  38. I’m looking forward to read Cemetery Boys and Mexican Gothic! They both sounds great. Hope you enjoy them 🙂

  39. 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.

  40. Great list! Your summer is going to be awesome.

  41. Ghost wood song sounds really good!! I love a good sppoky read!

    -Michelle @ Book Briefs

  42. Mexican Gothic and Paola Santiago and the River of Tears both look like great reads. Happy summer reading!

  43. Kay

    Great list! I want to read Mexican Gothic, as well as Goddess in the Machine too. Hope you enjoy them all, happy reading!

  44. Enjoy your summer reads.

  45. I love Susanna Clark! I didn’t know she had a new book out!

  46. 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.

  47. I need to get to Mexican Gothic too! I’m excited for it.

  48. I really want to read Mexican Gothic as well! I’ve heard such great things about it. Great list!

  49. 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!

  50. Great list! I’m looking forward to Mexican Gothic, Cemetery Boys and The Ninth Life as well 🙂

  51. 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!

  52. 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

  53. I want to read Mexican Gothic so badly!! And now adding Piranesi to my TBR…

  54. 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.

  55. Mexican Gothic and Cemetery Boys are also on my TBR too! I hope you enjoy your summer reads.

  56. I am super obsessed with the cover of Mexican Gothic. It is absolutely stunning.

  57. 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

  58. 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.

  59. 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!

  60. 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

  61. These sound like some incredible reads. I’ve already had to add a couple to my watch list 😀

  62. I need like half of the books on your TBR

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