Top Ten Summer 2025 TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Summer 2025 TBR List

1. The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2) by Sarah Hogle - I enjoyed book 1 in this series more than I expected, but I've been putting this one off for some reason.
2. Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao - I actually forgot that I had this book for review. I need to knock it out soon.
3. Rules for Ruin (The Chrinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews - I have loved Mimi Matthews, but this one has been one that I've struggled to get into. I'll read it eventually, but I'm struggling a little with the beginning.
4. Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher - A newly acquired book.
5. The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar - I never read Holes, but I'm familiar with the author. I thought I would check this one out.
6. A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey - Eesh, I've had this book way too long. I feel sure I'll enjoy it, but I've just not been in the mood for this yet.
7. Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 2) by Lynn Painter - Ok, so I didn't research enough to figure out that this was book 2 in a series and I haven't read book 1 yet.
8. Til Heist Do Us Part (Simi Chopra, # 2) by Sara Desai - Same as the previous. I knew this was the 2nd in the series for this one, but I still haven't read book 1, so I keep putting this off.
9. A Touch of Shadows (The Lost Queen, # 1) by Jessica Thorne - I need to get around to this one. I keep seeing book 2 available for review request, but I feel unsure about requesting it since I've been putting this book off as well.
10. The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, # 1 ) by Alwyn Hamilton - I really enjoyed Alwyn Hamilton's previous series, and this one was on my radar for a long time. I need to knock this out.

Which books are on your summer TBR list? Let me know!

Ten Books Released in 2024 That I Didn't Get To

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Books Released in 2024 That Didn't Get To

1. Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao
2. Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 4) by Nisha J Tuli
3. A Drop of Venom (Venom, # 1) by Sajni Patel
4. A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey
5. The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
6. I Want to Trust You But I Don't by Lysa TerKuerst
7. A Touch of Shadows (The Lost Queen, # 1) by Jessica Thorne
8. Midnights With You by Clare Osongco
9. Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 1) by Lynn Painter
10. Til Heist Do Us Part (Simi Chopra, # 2) by Sara Desai

Which new releases of 2024 have you still not gotten around to yet? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Ex Marks the Spot

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Ex Marks the Spot

By: Gloria Chao

Expected Publication: December 31, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . .

Family secrets that can't stay buried . . .

A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . .

This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Filled with ingenious puzzles, a vibrant Taipei setting, and a delicious romance, Ex Marks the Spot is an exciting adventure by award-winning writer Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei, The Inheritance Games, and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Our Wayward Fate

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Our Wayward Fate

By: Gloria Chao

Expected Publication: October 15th 2019 by Simon Pulse

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Seventeen-year-old Ali Chu knows that as the only Asian person at her school in middle-of-nowhere Indiana, she must be bland as white toast to survive. This means swapping her congee lunch for PB&Js, ignoring the clueless racism from her classmates and teachers, and keeping her mouth shut when people wrongly call her Allie instead of her actual name, pronounced Āh-lěe, after the mountain in Taiwan.

Her autopilot existence is disrupted when she finds out that Chase Yu, the new kid in school, is also Taiwanese. Despite some initial resistance due to the "they belong together" whispers, Ali and Chase soon spark a chemistry rooted in competitive martial arts, joking in two languages, and, most importantly, pushing back against the discrimination they face.

But when Ali’s mom finds out about the relationship, she forces Ali to end it. As Ali covertly digs into the why behind her mother’s disapproval, she uncovers secrets about her family and Chase that force her to question everything she thought she knew about life, love, and her unknowable future.

Snippets of a love story from nineteenth-century China (a retelling of the Chinese folktale The Butterfly Lovers) are interspersed with Ali’s narrative and intertwined with her fate.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!