17 Books to Read in 2017

I mean, there are far more than seventeen books that I would like to read in this year, but I've pinned down some of the ones that I would really like to read. I've also shaped this list to, hopefully, help guide my reading into the direction that I would like it to go in this year and future years: a mix of young adult and adult books as well as a few classics. Also, that one series that I've had unfinished since elementary school.  

These are all books that I personally own and have been sat, unread, on my shelves for too long. Too long, I say!

Part one of this list is The Chronicles of Narnia. My reread of the first book, The Magician's Nephew, was my first read of 2017. I have also reread The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe so now I am well set to continue on with this series. There are five remaining books in this series, and if I don't finish it this year, I don't know what I'll do with myself but the level of disappointment will be incredible.

• The Mime Order: I was and am an avid fan of the first book in this series, The Bone Season, which came out a few years ago now and was one of the first books I read and adored here on Tomes Project. (The mems, the mems, guys.)
• The  Black Prism: I have, since drafting this post, already aquired the second book in this series despite not reading the first book. Guys, I'm supposed to be on a book buying ban. I think January has been a good "weening" month for me and February will be full-blown "read 5 before you buy" ban. Anyway, this is a five-book-fantasy series that has been recieving amazing reviews over the past few years. The magic system deals with light which is super unique, and the more colors of the spectrum you can control, the more powerful you are.
• My Brilliant Friend: I've heard endless good things about this series. Also, it's translated fiction, which I want to read more of anyway.
• The Night Circus: I've never really been a fan of the circus. Ever since I went as a kid, I just have been very anti-circus. Clowns weren't there, but those are horrible too. But this circus has magic. I've had this book on my shelf forever. It's ridiculous.

• The Awakening: This is important feminist lit. How the heck have I not read this?
• Jane Eyre: Every bookish girl who has ever read this book absolutely loves this. I need to join their ranks.
• Pride and Prejudice: Every person on earth has read this except for me.
• Franny and Zooey: I've never read any Salinger, but a few friends of mine have read this and loved it. I want to be able to discuss this with them!

• Gemina: I mean, Illuminae was one of my favorite books of 2015, and I went to Jay and Amie's event when they came to Nashville. I've had this for too long. It needs to be read.
• This Savage Song: As I'm writing this, I'm actually a good chunk of the way through this one. Victoria Schwab is one of my all-time favorite authors. She's brilliant, and I'm loving this so far. 
• A Madness So Discreet: Trina @ Between Chapters is a friend that I have gained over the past year, and she's Mindy's #1 fan. I want to read some of her books so that I can talk to her about them. Also, Mindy is coming to SEYA fest in Tennessee in March. I'd like to have read at least one of her books before then.
• Crooked Kingdom: I'm about halfway through this. I've read the first half of this book about twice (maybe three times) now. It's not bad. I just don't want series to end because I have commitment issues. 

Have you read any of these? Which should I finish first. Convince me to read all of these ASAP with your words of praise down in the comments!

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Shelved Series to Start in 2017

Hello! Welcome to the third and final day of Series Week here on Tomes Project!

I am exhausted. So many graphics have been born for this. It needs to be a while before I make another.

These are not all but most of the series that have been sitting around unstarted and untouched on my shelves for too long. Too long, I say! Hopefully, I can correct this in the new year. Realistically, I know I won't start and finish all of these series, but as long as I take out a fair chunk, I think I'll be pleased. 

Let's get started!

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This is probably the thing I deem "most shameful" in my reading life. I also have never seen the movies. I FEEL ASHAMED. *hides behind my massive piles of books* I did just get new non-mass-market-paperback editions of this with non-hideous covers, so I can actually make myself read them.

Is that shallow? That's shallow.

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I actually started the first book earlier in 2016, but didn't get very far in so I'm not counting it. But it's a fantasy series about dragons. I seriously don't know how I haven't read it sooner.

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Monsters are not my #1 reading topic, I will admit. However, I am absolute trash for Victoria Schwab's writing. She is a master of words and characters and plot. I will read everything she writes. This story is uniquely interesting to me because it has so much inspiration drawn from the real world. If our actions had direct, physical consequences (in this case, actual monsters) what would happen? It's genius, I tell you, genius.

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I've heard great things about this series. I know next to nothing about this series. Nope, scratch that. I know nothing about this series other than that it's a fantasy series. That's literally it. Cinda Williams Chima is slated to come to SEYA in March, which is a book festival in Tennessee, and I own the first book. If I can finish the first book before then, I will be immensely happy.

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I actually own this entire trilogy. It's ridiculous, believe me, I understand. Nevertheless, this is another scarily-beloved fantasy series that is comprised of absolutely massive books. 

Ugh. Why am I so weak-willed?

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One of my favorite genres--yet least read of 2016--is historical fiction. I really like history; I was raised by a history buff, and I grew up learning about history and going to historical places all around the United States. Essentially, it runs in my blood. It's just hard for me to find one that I know I'll like.

And I know that I will like this because I am a Spanish major in school; I've spent a lot of time studying mainly South America (whereas this book takes place in Spain) and the language in general. As this is a translated piece of fiction, I have no excuses as to why I haven't read this yet.

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Can you sense the theme that these are books that everyone loves but I've put off reading because I have an incredible fear of being that one person who hates a book? It's stupid, I know, but that's just me, okay? 

This story supposedly has a ton of political intrigue, which speaks to me on a spiritual level because I am endlessly fascinated by politics. I know, I'm a dork. I've also heard that the romance is great and that the protagonist is more of a wits-over-brawn kind of girl, which again speaks to me on a spiritual level.

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Remember all the talk of political intrigue? This series has that too, except it's more adult-oriented. So, The Winner's trilogy can be my appetizer before the main course.

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This is an adult fiction series that I have herd zero bad things about. Genuinely. Mari @ mynameismarines is running a readalong for book one in this series in January. I was actually planning on starting this in December (and still might). I have books one and two on my shelves because I've heard they're highly addictive.

What series are you wanting to start in the new year? I really want to know so that I can add more books to my TBR pile. *nervous laughter* *fades into my bookshelves*

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Anticipated Releases of 2017 | January to June

There are so many amazing and beautiful books releasing in 2017. Of course, there are more than these that I am excited about, and these dates will probably change because publishing does that a lot.

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This year? No. A year ago? I read Josh's memoir, We Should Hang Out Sometime, and I not only found a 4.5 star book but also a YouTuber that I always love to watch. When I heard that he was writing a fiction book, I was all there because Josh is one of those unique humans whose's humor I actually really love and always laugh at. This story is about a blind 16-year-old, Will, who starts at a new high school. I'm excited to see what I think of it.

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THIS. IS. A. PHANTOM. OF. THE. OPERA. STORY. That's all I needed to know about this book before adding it to my TBR. I actually have an ARC of this book (*flails about like a madwoman*) and am planning on reading it ASAP. 

So, this is actually more of a "modern spin-off" of Leroux's story, which is one of my all-time favorite books, and not a retelling. Eh. Details. Either way, I'm beyond thrilled to read this book. Hopefully, I will like it; otherwise, I will cry for 64 years.

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Another book that I needed zero explanation for before adding to my TBR: it's a feminist scrapbook. It's filled with essays, poems, comics, illustrations, etc. from across media. I really don't need to know more, and neither should you. (But there's still a goodreads link...for reasons.)

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So, for those of you that have read The Night Circus, I've heard this is like that.

For those of you who have been meaning to read The Night Circus for 87 years (see also: me), you can read this book come the end of January to prepare yourself for the more adult magic that is The Night Circus. 

I kid. I've head great reviews of this already and can't wait to get my greedy little hands on it.

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I've never read Neil Gaiman, but I've heard that he's magic.

I've never read anything about Norse mythology save a few Thor comics, but those don't really count. 

I'm super interested by this, and I'm totally going to read it.

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This is an LGBTQIA+ contemporary YA book. I honestly don't know much more than that. I know it's about a girl who goes to college in New York, which I'm stupidly excited about because not enough YA books take place in the college years. Marin, our main character, pretty much left everything behind in California when she left for college, and it's not really until her old friend Mabel comes to visit over winter break that she has to face what she's left behind.

I think?

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This is the third and final book in Schwab's Shades of Magic series. I have already pre-ordered this this, and the second book is the next book on my TBR. This series is magic + amazing characters + parallel Londons + pirates. Yes yes yes.

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Another third (but not the final) book in a series. Another series that takes place in London, but this is like a science fiction, alternate, future London that is ruled by an organization called Scion. It has people with powers, and hopefully I can get my hands on this gorgeous edition of the book. 

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I haven't read anything Mindy McGinnis, but I've heard geniunely amazing things about her and her writing. But this is about a girl who was born to be fed to the water. I don't really know much about this, and I don't want to. It sounds intriguing enough.

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I absolutely love, love, love Becky's last book, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, when I read it earlier this year in anticipation of her attending SEYA fest in March. This is another LGBTQIA+ story, and I'm totally down for it. It follows our main character, Molly, who is essentially a perpetual Paris; her "love" is always unrequited. I don't like to know too much going in to contemporaries, so that premise is enough to hook me. 

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I don't know why this series is going onwards. I also only have a vague semblance of an idea as to why I'm continuing on with this final installment, and that was my significant dissatisfaction with the ending (and who Lara Jean ended up with) of P.S. I Still Love You. Even though I know the guy that I preferred probably won't turn up in this book, and Lara Jean will still be in a relationship with a guy that I absolutely despise. Here's to character development?

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I actually hate myself that this is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. I actually hate myself a little bit for it. I really disliked A Court of Mist and Fury, in case you're new to this blog or to me. I really dislike Sarah's writing. It's my least favorite writing that I've ever read in the entire world. I just can't stand it. Nonetheless, I want to know what happens. Ugh.

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A lot of people's early years of reading were shaped by Sarah Dessen; mine was not. I've never read Sarah Dessen, but this one--for some reason--really speaks out to me. Maybe it's the cover. Maybe it's the fact that it's about the daughter of a wedding planner. Whichever one it is, this is going to be a really fun and light summer read, which is something I'm sure I'll need after next semester.

What books are you looking forward to this year? Which of these are you most excited for? Tell me down in the comments!

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