Books I have preordered for the rest of the year
One thing I’ve become a fan of in the last few years is preordering books. I keep a cart going when I hear about a book that I am interested in and once that cart is up to about 5 books (or Barnes and Noble has one of their preorder sales) then I go through the list and put in an order. It’s been a good tactic for me because it makes it easier for me to keep up with reading what I bring in since they are usually one at a time rather than buying multiple at once on a trip to the store. It’s also a nice surprise when I get the shipping notice. So here’s what I have ordered for the rest of the year (or start of next year)
Dark Restraint by Katee Robert – Okay I’m counting this as a preorder I haven’t gotten yet since it literally comes out tomorrow. This one is the 7th book in an ongoing romance series that’s a take on Greek myths set in a contemporary world. This books is Ariadne/The Minotaur though in this world, The Minotaur is a man not a bull man. Like all the other books in the series, this promises to be smutty and to further the ongoing mystery plot running through the series.
Witches Among Us: Understanding Contemporary Witchcraft and Wicca by Thorn Mooney – Despite not being Wiccan myself, I do really love Thorn’s books and her YouTube channel. This book is a departure from the kind of normal how-to book on witchcraft and is more of an academic style book on modern witchcraft and occult. I’m looking forward to a book talking about the different types of practices and belief systems and how they are influenced in and by the culture at large.
Shadow Work for Hot Messes by Mandi Em – I’ve read all of Mandi Em’s books and I love that she is very open and honest on her socials about mental illness and how witchcraft practices are impacted by chronic illness and disability. I’ve found that shadow work books that are witchcraft focused seem to have the goal of getting you to a love and light path. Blessings to those who are on t–hat path but it’s definitely not mine. I’m also looking forward to the mentality that you can do all the shadow work you want but it’s not going to “cure” you and that’s okay.
Haunted Ever After by Jen De Luca – I am here for a RomCom about a haunted town that promises to have plenty of banter and if the author’s other books are any indication, some moderately spicy scenes. But I mean, the male lead has a ghost roommate. What more could I ask for?
For One Night Only by Jessica James – While I’m always a fan of second chance romances, I am a huge fan of fake dating romances. As my favorite booktuber says “and then they fall in love for reaaaal!” I also like the idea of former band mates who ended on bad terms having to deal with each other again for PR reasons. Plus, the band’s name is Glitter Bats, so clearly this required me to buy it.
In Defense of Ska: Expanded 2nd Edition by Aaron Carnes – Admittedly this one isn’t _strictly_ for me. For those of you who know my partner Lodur, you’ll know that if you give him the slightest opportunity, he will tell you all about why Ska music is both fantastic and underappreciated. So I had to buy this for him, though I’ll probably read it myself as well since I love a good music history/critique book.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – I read Assistant To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer earlier this year and loved the premise of “girl knows boy is The Bad Guy in Ye Olde Fantasy World buy falls in love with him anyway” so when adding in the twist of her falling into the world of her favorite book it sounds like it has the potential to have some really funny shenanigans.
Live Nourished: Make Peace with Food, Banish Body Shame, and Reclaim Joy by Shana Minei Spence – Back into the world of more serious non-fiction, I am always looking for books that talk about food and nutrition from an anti dieting lens. I have followed the author online for a while now and she frequently talks about destigmatizing food, especially cultural foods and processed food and how racism and classism fits informs a lot of that stigma. I’m excited to read her thoughts and research in a more long form way instead of just small video bites.
The Village Library Demon Hunting Society by CM Waggoner – Admittedly I had added this to my list strictly based off the title before I even looked at the blurb. The title is pretty self explanatory though. Librarian tries to solve murders in her village by starting a demon hunting club. As someone who grew up on cozy mystery books and TV shows like Murder She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder I am always down for amateur sleuths and I can only imagine how wacky this can get when you add in supernatural elements.
The Psychic Art of Tarot by Mat Auryn – I don’t know if you would count this as part of a series, but it kind of is. I’ve read and worked through his spellcraft books in the series, so I’m interested in what his approach to tarot is. I’ve read off and on since high school, but I enjoy reading new takes on cards and new techniques to improve my readings, especially when I read for others.
Desperate Measures by Katee Robert – This is _technically_ a purchase of a book I already own, but I own the ebook not a physical copy. It’s the first in the Wicked Villains series, which is a smutty romance series where the heroines of Disney movies fall for the bad guys instead. This first book is Jafar/Jasmine (though I think in this new traditionally published version her name is changed to avoid legal issues) but as a CW, it’s consensual non-consent smut, so it’s definitely a thing to note if that is not something you’re into.
The Hunger Games deluxe edition boxed set by Suzanne Collins – When I got divorced I lost a vast amount of my book library and for some reason I never replaced my copies of The Hunger Games series. Once I saw this box set with the gorgeous covers (and in paperback!) I knew I had to pick it up. It will also give me a chance to read the Songbirds book since I didn’t read it when it came out.
Sweet Obsession by Katee Robert – This is the next Dark Olympus book after Dark Restraint. It’s Poseidon/Icarus, though I haven’t looked at much for tropes yet. Katee is an autobuy author for me if that isn’t clear from this list, so I’m looking forward to seeing her tags for it. For those who don’t know, her tags on her site and in her newsletters are hilarious and include things like “a virgin for all of 2 pages”, “I didn’t mean to write Astarion fanfic but here we are” and “Hera is a menace”.
Well that’s what I have up on preorder. What about everyone else? Are you a preorderer or do you just see what seems good online/at the store once it’s out?