Twenty books I'm immediately adding to my TBR

While I’ve always been a reader, I feel like I’ve rediscovered my love for it over the past two years and it has awaken the most intense desire to read everything I can get my hands on. Maybe it was discovering ACOTAR, joining a book club, or desperately needing something for myself as a mom- but once the fire was lit, the only thing I want to do is add fuel to it. If you’re hopelessly searching for the next book that takes you out of your head and into the most beautiful world, or maybe you just want to go head first into a rom com- then this book list should help. I tried to include a wide variety of genres, but my heart will always lie with romance/fantasy so I apologize in advance if a lot of the list leans that way.

1. All The Missing Pieces

For anyone who is a fan of small town-romantic suspense, this book has been all the rage lately. A sassy podcaster and a broody sheriff are forced to work together to investigate a cold case that suddenly turns hot and tensions rise as the stakes turn deadly. Sign me RIGHT up for this because who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine read. If you have kindle unlimited, this book is free!

2. Lady of Darkness

A slow burn dark fantasy romance with assassins and vampires, this book pretty much seems to have everything I like wrapped into one. A ruthless assassin is offered revenge against her mother once she completes a job, but the sudden disappearance of children derails all of her plans. This book is said to fit fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy so I can’t wait to read it. It is also free on kindle unlimited!

3. The Wedding People

Winner of multiple best book of the year in 2024 awards, this book has been on my radar for weeks now! In this book, a newly divorced woman arrives at an inn intending to end her life but instead becomes an unexpected confidante to bride-to-be. Through their connection, both women find clarity and healing amid the chaos of a wedding weekend. This sounds like one of those thought provoking reads that changes you and I can’t wait to try it out.

4. The Favorites

A book about figure skaters is exactly what I feel like I need in my life (hello my obsession with Scott and Tessa). Told through alternating perspectives and a fictional documentary, this novel explores obsession, rivalry, and the sacrifices of greatness in the high-stakes and often brutal world of figure skating. For fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid this book is supposed to be in a very similar vein.

5. Great Big Beautiful Life

While this book does not release until April 22nd, anything by Emily Henry is immediately added to my TBR list. She is one of my instant buy authors who has this way of writing romance that makes you feel like you stepped right onto the set of a rom com. If you haven’t read anything of hers yet, my top 2 recommendations are Funny Story and Book Lovers. This book tells the story of two writers who are competing to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years- and the premise sounds like it’s bound to be a good time.

6. Say You’ll Remember Me

Abby Jimenez is another instant buy romance author, and this book is slated to be released April 1st. If you haven’t read her Part of Your World series, stop everything and do that because then you’ll understand why we’re all so obsessed with her. In this book, two characters have a seemingly perfect meet cute, until the girl realizes she has no time for a relationship and leaves. The book then details some pretty serious topics as the characters find their way back to each other. I’m pretty sure I’ll need a box of tissues for this one.

7. The Knight and the Moth

I’m not going to lie, this book doesn’t come out to May and I didn’t even read the synopsis before putting it on my TBR. Why did I do that, you ask? Well, Rachel Gillig wrote such a beautiful gothic romantasy duology last year that anything she writes, I’ll read. The book is about a prophetess who has to go on an epic quest to defeat the gods with a knight whose future she can’t sense. If you like gothic style fantasy romances, then you have to give this author a try.

8. The Will of Many

I’m not entirely sure where I stand on reading purely fantasy novels, and I’ve decided that the only way to tell is to read some of the best in the genre. Fortunately for me, this book came highly reviewed so we’re adding it to the list. In this book, an orphan Vis, is thrust into an elite academy. While inside, he must navigate dangerous political intrigue and hidden agendas while secretly plotting his revenge against those who destroyed his family. As a huge fan of dark academia, I figure if this can’t interest me then I’m just meant to have sprinkles of romance in my fantasy reading.

9. The Book of Azrael

This book is actually my book club’s monthly pick so naturally I had to share it here too. In this book, we have a morally grey warrior who enters a deadly bargain to protect her sister, and a dangerous being whose path crosses hers. Together, they must work to defend their world from ancient enemies. If you like slow burn, enemies to lovers, plus gods and vampire shapeshifters then you might as well pick up this book and read along with me this month (it’s free on kindle unlimited).

10. First Time Caller

What happens when a romance hotline host falls out of love with love? This book follows the story of a jaded radio host, Aiden, who gets a call from the daughter of a mom who ended up on the wrong side of her love story. Together, all of Baltimore is listening on and hoping for her happy ending. As a lover of all things romance, and as a Maryland native- this book was an instant TBR add.

11. It’s Not Hysteria

I’m fully aware that this is an extremely niche read but as someone who studied neurobiology in college in hopes of becoming an OBGYN, and then went on to get her masters in Public Health- this book piqued my interest. In an era where women’s bodies are hardly ever listened to, I want to arm myself with all of the information I can not only for myself, but for anyone who needs advice.

12. Story of my Life

Lucy Score is always one of my, I’m just reading this for a fun feel good romance, authors and this book is exactly that. Plus when the description reads: A Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek redemption romcom you better believe I’m getting my hands on it. It comes out March 11th so we only have a few more days to wait. The plotline sounds a lot like Book Lovers by Emily Henry, where a NYC girl ends up hiding out in some disasterly small town, but maybe we’re all just obsessed with small town romances. Either way, I can’t wait for this (and it’ll be available for free on kindle unlimited).

13. Nightshade

Remember when I said I love academic romances, well then books 13 & 14 should come as a surprise to no one. In Nightshade, Ophelia Winters enrolls at Sorrowsong University in Scotland, determined to uncover the truth about her parents' mysterious deaths, which she suspects are connected to powerful businessman Cain Green. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Alex, Cain’s son, pulling her into a tangled web of secrets, danger, and forbidden attraction. Dark Academia + enemies to lovers + slow burn= my ideal book combination (and it’s free on kindle unlimited).

14. Avalon Tower

When our female main character is kidnapped and placed in some secret spy fey academy to be trained, she must not only figure out how to run a mile without getting winded but she also has to reign in her dangerous attraction to her captor. Plus everyone says this is for ACOTAR and Fourth Wing lovers so we’ll see how it actually stacks up. It’s also available for free on kindle unlimited.

15. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

I’ve actually had this book on my TBR for a while but have never gotten around to reading it, so we’re moving it to the top of the pile. In this book we have a brilliant but socially awkward scholar Emily, who travels to a remote village to study a mysterious type of fae. As she immerses herself in research, the arrival of her charming but secretive academic rival, Wendell, only serves to complicate her work, leading her to uncover magical secrets, dangerous fae bargains, and even matters of the heart. It’s supposed to be a cozy fantasy read, so if you’re in the mood for that- I’d check it out.

16. Love, Mom

Every few months, I like to test myself and see how I truly feel about psychological thrillers. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re amazing and always such a trip to read, but that trip also involves me not sleeping all night with some newfound anxiety. Alas, this is my new thriller that I just can’t resist getting back on the horse for. In this book, a daughter has to unravel the mystery surrounding her famous mother’s death. Along her journey, she uncovers some unsettling secrets that challenges her understanding on her family, and herself. It sounds like this is going to be a wild ride, and luckily it’s a free one with Kindle Unlimited.

17. The Briar Club

Historical fiction has been a new genre I’m dipping my toes into, but I’m never in the emotional headspace to try a Kristin Hannah novel so I thought this book would be a perfect introduction. This novel takes place in 1950’s Washington D.C., and follows the lives of a few women living in an all- female boarding house where a shocking murder tears apart the house. A mystery thriller mixed with female friendships, I think this is a must try, and it’s free on kindle unlimited.

18. Needy Little Things

I’m not usually a big fan of YA books, but this book popped up on my goodreads and I knew I had to try it out. It’s a YA mystery, where a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she and her friends finds themselves in the same danger. My interest has been piqued.

19. Left of Forever

A second chance romance between two parents who seem to have had the ultimate love story, until their marriage fell apart. Now, as they have to drive their son to college, they embark on a roadtrip to see if they can put the pieces of their marriage back together or if old wounds run deep. This book comes out May 20th, and it can’t get here soon enough.

20. A Well Trained Wife

A memoir about a wife escaping an abusive women in an evangelical marriage, and the steps she takes to protect her family- do I even need to say anything more? Listen, as far as memoir’s go, this one seems extremely interesting and it’s free on kindle unlimited.

I can’t wait to hear what you think about these books, maybe we’ll create a little substack subscriber book club? Did I convince you to add any of these to your TBR?