How is it already time to be talking about my October TBR? I’m overwhelmed by how quickly time goes when you’re an adult. It’s baffling. Anyway, let’s dive in! I mostly succeeded at my September TBR, so I’m going to give you a list in the same sort of order!
1. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
This is my book of the month, which I hope you all will join me in reading! This book is so topical and so important and I think it’s going to take the world by storm, similar to how The Hate U Give has really taken off. We, as a society, need books that are tackling these serious subjects and (based solely on her Twitter), Nic Stone seems like an excellent human to navigate some of these topics. I can’t sum up this book better than the synopsis (especially since I haven’t read it) so here you go:
Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.
Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget.
Release Date: October 17, 2017
2. Scalia Speaks: Reflections on Law, Faith, and Life Well Lived by Antonin Scalia as edited by Christopher Scalia and Edward Whelan
I impulsively requested this book from NetGalley and was approved, which I am kind of regretting in hindsight. To be honest, most of the reason I was excited about this book was to read RBG’s Forward. Unfortunately, it’s not included in the ARC. That said, I’m excited to read this compilation of Justice Scalia’s speeches. He was an interesting man and did a lot of good in his life. I was the Executive Editor for the First Amendment Law Review last year and our Symposium focused on Scalia’s First Amendment legacy and I’m really excited to read more of his thoughts on some of the topics our speaker’s talked about. Neither I, nor our speakers, always agreed with Scalia’s decisions so we’ll see how this goes.
Release Date: October 3, 2017
3. Hamilton’s Battalion: A Trio of Romance s by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan, and Alyssa Cole
Y’all. I am beyond excited for this book and I am so lucky to have gotten an ARC from the author’s. This is an anthology with each of the three authors writing a novella that I am so unbelievably excited about. Rose Lerner wrote A Promised Land, wherein the heroine is taller than the hero (exciting!) and basically, Rachel dresses as a man so she can join the Continental Army and arrests a former love, Nathan Mendelson. Courtney Milan wrote The Pursuit Of…, which is her first m/m relationship, so that’s exciting. It’s about a black American soldier fighting for the Continental Army and a British officer who has abandoned his post. And finally, Alyssa Cole wrote a book called That Could be Enough and Eliza Hamilton is in it so WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? Okay, but for real, it’s about Mercy Alston (Eliza’s maid) and Andromeda and they’re going to fall in love so that’s delightful. I’m very excited. VERY EXCITED.
Also, I’m debating whether I want to write one review for the entire thing or write three separate mini reviews leading up to the release date and a final post on release day. What do you all think?
Release Date: October 17, 2017
4. Touch of Red by Laura Griffin
This is book twelve in the Tracers series, each of which can be read as standalones. I have not read all of the Tracers series and I think that’s totally fine. These are romantic suspense books and the last one I read was Deep Dark, which I was basically reading through my fingers I was so nervous about what was going to happen. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this from NetGalley so you can expect a review a little before release day! Here’s the synopsis for this one:
When crime scene investigator Brooke Porter arrives at the home of a murdered woman, the only thing more shocking than the carnage is the evidence that someone escaped the scene. But where is this witness now? A thorough search of the area yields more questions than answers, and before Brooke even packs up her evidence kit, she’s made it her goal to find the witness and get them out of harm’s way.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has seen his share of bloody crime scenes, but this one is particularly disturbing, especially because Brooke Porter is smack in the middle of it. Sean has had his eye on the sexy CSI for months, and he’s determined to help her with her current case—even if it means putting his attraction on hold so he and Brooke can track down a murderer. But as the investigation—and their relationship—heats up, Sean realizes that keeping his work and his personal life separate is more complicated than he ever imagined; especially when the killer sets his sights on Brooke.
Release Date: October 31, 2017
5. American King by Sierra Simone
This book comes out on Halloween, so it may seem silly to include it on my TBR, but you do not understand how badly I need this. I’m dying not having this in my possession already. Like… Y’all. I need this. I talked about it and Hamilton’s Battalion in my Autumn Book Tag and explained that this book is an erotic romance and I need it. It’s book three and I’m hoping that Ash, Greer, and Embry somehow get their happily ever after even though Ash is POTUS, which makes the concept of an HEA difficult to fathom and the way book two ended was like…. Ugh. I’m still upset with Embry.
Anyway, this series is very much not for everyone because this is very much a Triad relationship where each character has sexual relations with each member of the Triad. Also, Ash is kinda dominant. It’s steamy, y’all, but also the relationships feel so real and intense and different? I just love and am in awe of Sierra Simone’s writing. She’s just amazing.
Release Date: October 31, 2017
So there you have it! My October TBR. What about you all? What books are you excited about in October?
xx
firewhiskeyreader 