TBR: What I’m Reading in January 2020

This is the first month of a brand new decade of TBR lists, so I really want to make it count! I’m excited for every book on the list this month, as every one has either been recommended highly to me or just one that I’ve been dying to dig into for awhile now.

Another key component of this month’s TBR is that every author I’ll be reading is a woman! The folks behind the Ladies of Horror Fiction blog are hosting a super fun readalong of THE TWISTED ONES in January, and while I won’t be participating in that one specifically, they’ve opened the entire month to their #LadiesFirst20 challenge to have the first book of 2020 be written by a woman author. I might add on a couple things as the month goes (like a book club read from Instagram), but mostly, this is what I’m sticking to!

Because of this, I chose to form my whole TBR around the theme! Not all of these books are horror, but they’ve all got at least some sort of dark edge to them. 😉

JANUARY READS

1) THE LUMINOUS DEAD by Caitlin Starling

(Goodreads)

This is one of two books I’ll be reading with a buddy of mine, and I’m really excited about it! I’ve heard some great things about the story, and it’s been sitting on my shelves for the last few months just begging for me to pick up and read it. Plus, the cover is so cool! I’d have grabbed it on that alone, even without reading the synopsis – bonus points that the back of the book sounds cool as heck, too!

2) BABY TEETH by Zoje Stage

(Goodreads)

Zoje Stage has a new book coming out this year, WONDERLAND, so I knew it was time to finally catch up and read this one! This is the second of my buddy reads with my pal E, and I’m just as excited for this one as the last! I love a good creepy child story, so I’m hoping this one turns out to be as compelling & entertaining as the book summary and reviews have made it out to be.

3) THE FESTERING ONES by S.H. Cooper

(Goodreads)

This is one of the shorter ones I’ll be reading this month, but I’m looking forward to it immensely. Cults, eldritch spider creatures, and a female protagonist? Sign me up! I’m also in love with the spooky cover on this one, which was designed by Elderlemon Designs – fellow horror author Kealan Patrick Burke’s book design company! So cool.

4) TRUE CRIME by Samantha Kolesnik

(Goodreads)

I had this one in my “Anticipated 2020 Books” wishlist on Amazon when I saw that the author was reaching out to reviewers on Twitter about ARCs – and boy, what timing! I requested it immediately ’cause I was so looking forward to the release. It’s also a shorter book this month, but novellas are probably my preferred format for reading if I’m being honest – I’ll read other things, of course, but the impact & efficiency of a well done short novel is just one of my favorite things!

5) BUNNY by Mona Awad

(Goodreads)

I have no idea what to expect from the reviews I’ve seen of this one, which I admit I’ve been sort of avoiding because I don’t want to spoil it for me. That said, I’ve seen it hyped up so much in my friend’s posts, that I knew I had to push it up on my TBR for 2020 so that I could see what all the buzz was about. I also love a pink book cover, so I’m super sold on this one!

6) DARLING ROSE GOLD by Stephanie Wrobel

(Goodreads)

I received a copy of this one from Berkley Publishing in exchange for a review, and I’m SO psyched for it! I obsessively watched The Act on Hulu, so hearing a book was coming out that compared to the show immediately drew my interest. And again, those pink covers though! 😍

7) THE DEEP by Alma Katsu

(Goodreads)

I am SO excited for this one! You’ve probably seen me talk about it in my Most Anticipated Reads of 2020 post, and I’ve been sitting on this ARC digital copy since November, just forcing myself to hold off ’til it was officially 2020! I’m going to be honest: I opened my Kindle up at midnight on NYE, and started this one right away, hahaha. I’m SO here for historical fiction horror, especially when it involves the Titanic! I’m only partway in and I can already recommend it – so good!

What are you reading this month? I’m likely open to buddy reading any of these if you want, too! Send me your monthly TBRs so I can see what you’re up to this month reading-wise. 🙂