Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is: Most Anticipated Book Releases for the First Half of 2020
First, Welcome to the New Age!
This is the Twenties. Not your grandparents’ twenties, though I am still floored that it’s our twenties. I feel like there’s the same amount of misogyny and racist rhetoric, but not as many flapper dresses and speakeasies and frankly, who decided we keep the worst parts of the 20s? ?♀️ (Just kidding, it’s Trump supporters.)
Oh yes, welcome to The Twenties. I think it’s our responsibility now that we’re basically in The Future™ to be as savage as possible. And by that, I don’t mean being rude or awful. I mean speaking our truths, standing up for the right side of history. Make no mistake, we are on the right side. As I thought about this new decade, I thought about that more than all else- this isn’t a moral gray area like the books and shows we adore. This is crystal clear. There is a right side, and a wrong side, and as the right one, it’s our responsibility to be as loud as possible. And when there is an actual duty, we must heed its call. It’s been easy to watch in horror as this debauchery unfurls before us. But truly, we have one more chance to quell the storm in the “normal” fashion, so if you can vote, you must. You. Must. If you can make calls, donate, drive to polls, do so. Imagine the consequences otherwise.
In truth, I have hope. Maybe that’s naive, but I still have to believe that “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”. Otherwise, how do we keep at it?
From a personal perspective, I plan to implement the same tactics. I have been heartily enjoying a “Whatever the Hell We Want” approach to blogging, but that should really carry over a bit. In a way that means maybe I be a bit more clear about what I am trying to say. In work, I accept things, try to be “easy to work with”. I try to not cause waves with people in friendships and family relationships. And frankly, I am no longer about this. If you are shitty to me, I am done being nice. I still firmly believe in being the Good Guys, but I don’t think that includes being a pushover.
And there are things I am so excited for, and so dreading, and 2020 is just going to be… something else, friends. Something. Else.
- Unity Days 4! In only two weeks I am headed to Vancouver for what is straight up a dream come true, getting to go to a The 100 convention, as press. Being Presskru is beyond exciting, and I cannot wait to bring you all the scoop!
- The Election. Okay this is a scary one, I admit it. It could go very well, or. Well. But first, it’s the primaries! I am so all in for Elizabeth Warren, have been for some time, and I am so excited to be able to start doing stuff, you know?
- The 100 Season 7. Okay guys this is hard to even type about. This is the final season of the show I love with my whole heart. I genuinely don’t know what I will do when it ends, but send baked goods and liquor probably. So I am super excited for the new season, but. Heartbroken, too.
- Who knows! Honestly, the best thing about this decade is that the possibilities are endless and unknown. It’s a fresh start for me in many, many ways, and I am just kind of excited to find out what will happen!
And now… books!
Fun fact: I copied this as a draft from last year’s post, which was copied from the year before that, and so on as one does. Look, I could pretend to be sorry, but I am not. At all. So I am taking the easy way out, I barely changed this paragraph even! I’ll still link all the books and such, because I am awesome. If you want to see all the 2020 books I added to my TBR, here they are!
I also only used books with covers, because apparently I am superficial like that. Even two years later, when I first said that. Also, obviously some of these fit in more than one category, so I just… picked one. Also I absolutely forgot some.
The Debuts
The Sequels
The New Series
The Standalones (includes books that might be series but I am not a psychic, so ?♀️)
The Ones I’ve Read (and loved!)
(This is impressive as hell, considering I am only counting 4 Stars and Above here. Get ready!)
Well I obviously can’t wait for Girls With Razor Hearts and Network Effect. Clearly that one should have been on my Top Ten but I boo-boo’d. Arghh. And the Mike Chen one which I seem to keep forgetting but I loved the last one, so … yeah. Need that.
The Vanishing Deep looks amazing too, adding that.
And sooo true about 2020. Good grief scary to think about what if dystopia continues? I mean, it’s fun to READ about but enough already lol. Here’s to hope!!!
I am sure I forgot PLENTY, so you’re good hah. MIKE CHEN you need him. We all need him, I don’t think we even deserve him. I really hope he gets the honor he’s due, I felt like people slept on Here and Now and Then wayyyy too much. Vanishing Deep DOES look good. I need to add that to my wishlist, I think I forgot.
Also speaking of hope at the end times feels like we need a Bellarke GIF ?
Oooo! “Rebel Spy” looks really intriguing. Makes me want to take a look what that one is all about. 🙂
So many pretty books!!! I’m glad to hear you liked Followers. I’m so curious about that one. And oh yes, happy new year, welcome to the 20’s. The bad guys need to GO AWAY!!! I do love Elizabeth Warren as well. 🙂
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I did! It’s slower-paced, but VERY good character development! I hope you enjoy it too! And YAY for #TeamWarren!!
So seriously, I feel like just adding your whole post to my wishlist. And I’ve not seen Burn before but come on, waiting for dragon at a Chevron, how could I pass that up? I love the “what the hell” attitude and yes, you can be kind without being a pushover. I hope you have a wonderful 2020 and enjoy your convention!
AW yayyy! That makes me happy! And seriously, plus it’s PATRICK NESS and he is awesome! And thank you SO, so much ♥♥♥
I’m looking forward to season 7 of The 100 as well.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday
I mean, I am scared and sad and excited, and wow. Emotions much? ?
I’m intrigued by the idea of a new Hunger Games book, but also a bit nervous it won’t stand up to the original trilogy. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I definitely get that! I worry too, but since it is a prequel I am less nervous, if that makes sense?
I loved your speech at the beginning of this post. Couldn’t agree more.
My TTT .
Aw thank you SO much!! ♥♥
Love your first paragraph! You’re absolutely right. Nothing will change unless we get off our butts and make it happen! Now, for books. I’m trying really hard this year to read books that are already on my physical and digital shelves, which has made this week’s TTT hard for me. I’m trying so hard to resist adding ALL the new releases. But off your list, I’m very intrigued by The Deep. 🙂
My TTT
I’m excited for the roaring 20s. I want a flapper dress and fancy hat! I’d totally wear them while I’m convincing people to vote this November. I hope you love your 2020 books! A few of the books on your list are on my must-read spreadsheet.
I love so much of what you said here, Shannon. I might be across the pond, but I’m sending you all the good vibes I can for the election! (Also seriously, where are the flapper dresses? I want one.)
Oh wow, have an amazing time at The 100 convention – that sounds like an amazing opportunity!
Quite a few of these books made my list this week, too. I haven’t read any Patrick Ness yet and somehow Burn has completely passed me by – that sounds so interesting! I’m much more of a unicorn girl than a dragon girl, but thanks to The Memoirs of Lady Trent I’ve been checking out a lot more dragon books lately.
I am excited that I get not just one, but TWO Katie Cotugno books. I am reading the one you mentioned and the co-write with Candace Bushnell.
I just added so many new books to my TBR, haha! Thanks!! I was only familiar with a few of these, and only vaguely. I don’t think I’ve read any of them. PRESSKRU?? HOW EXCITING! I know you love The 100 (I still haven’t watched past the third (?) season…don’t hate me). I love that you’re speaking out more and sharing your feelings. I think we all do that — try to push parts of ourselves down so that we don’t make waves. My parents and in-laws are all BIG Trump supporters (it’s very aggravating), but any mention of him being a d-bag is met with heavy resistance. I want to vomit every time they say he’s “the best president ever” and “doing so much for this county”. I’m gagging just thinking about it. I provide them with FACTS, printed out and emailed, and they tell me that “if you look hard enough, you can find something to support any belief,” which is true to an extent, but people are scientists for a reason. They, like, went to school for it. FOR YEARS. It’s incredibly frustrating, but not saying anything doesn’t work either… they’ll keep voting for someone that’s less compassionate than a mushroom.
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
Also, reading The Diviners made me want to bring back some 20’s lingo! The bee’s knees! Swanky! Are you copasetic? 😉
So many great looking books on your list! It’s going to be a great year. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
I’m excited for The Deep! The cover and the blurb really reminds me of Ghost Ship.
I’m going to have to borrow some of you r optimism. Some days it’s tough but I know we’ll get through it. One consolation is that I think people who used to be quiet aren’t anymore and we need everyone to speak up and out for each other.
I just want to want to read again. anything. Old or new. lol
Karen @ For What It’s worth
You have a nice mix of books here. Chosen Ones is also on my 2020 TBR.
Welp, now I’ve officially got Radioactive by Imagine Dragons stuck in my head, so thanks for that. xD We should bring back the flapper dresses, just out of spite. Also because they’re cool.
Oh my gosh, so many new books I hadn’t heard of. 😮 How is that possible?! Also, I totally forgot Patrick Ness has a new one coming out! *flails* I’m excited. I’ve added several of these to my watch list now, and oh my poor, aching TBR.
Can I say I love that so many of those books seem to mirror your own intent to be viciously on the side of the right? LOVE IT. Yep, gotta install razor-edged truths. That’s hard when it comes to work, the place where all of us are at the mercy of our work “culture” (a.k.a. the whims of the old, rich, white dudes running the company), but everywhere else: Speak the Truth, Take No Shit, Examine Your Biases Often, Save the World.
Gah, I am all for this public service announcement esque talk before getting to the books.
Also recognized the title reference to a song from The 100! Amazing!
I’m so excited you’re going to UD of course! Ah, it’s going to be fantastic! It’s so heartbreaking about The 100. Look at it this way, The Hunger Games went away and came back yearsss later! Maybe a spinoff will come about. It is the 20s after all!
I’m all for recycling blog posts! No use mixing things up if the originals do just as well. And look amazing.
I’m so excited for Girls With Razor Hearts and Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know Even though I forgot to mention them in my own post. Ridiculous.
Okay, I don’t even know about like, over half of the others. On top of the books, I am not. I’m off to stalk your GR shelf.
I’m having a really hard time being optimistic about the political situation, if I’m being honest. I mean, I WANT to believe that sanity will prevail, but I am constantly shocked and appalled anew at how many people still wholeheartedly support Trump. It’s really affected the way I think about the world. (I actually just vented a whole lot more and then deleted it because no one needs my opinions in your comments.) So, I truly hope you’re right and that there’s hope for 2020. Please, please, please let there be hope for 2020!!!
Oh, and yeah … books … good. 🙂
I have also been on the whatever I want to do approach to blogging, but now I have settled on trying to post at least once a week, and hopefully twice a week on my channel, but we shall see how all of that pans out for me. I hope that this will be a good year for you blogging wise and reading wise! A lot of the anticipated books here are new to me, and I am especially loving the cover to the The Gilded Ones!!
I try to consider all sides of every story, but I do think it’s important to speak out for what you believe in and not take shit for things. I’m firmly in the choose your battles camp, but that doesn’t mean you should take shit from people. I think in the end that’s better for you and the people around you, and if someone can’t take it, maybe they weren’t supposed to be in your life in the first place (or only to teach you a lesson). I wish you very well for 2020 and the new decade. It IS crazy that this is our twenties. I didn’t really make any resolutions, but if I had to make some up on the spot they’d be to let go of guilt and just be true to myself while trying my best to be kind. And to write more, because there’s always that. 😀 May this be your best decade so far!
New Age and A new Beginning <3 .
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