Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2026 TBR List

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books on My Fall 2026 to-Read List.

Where did all that leisurely summer reading time go? It’s hard to believe autumn is here already. From my 2026 summer TBR list, I read 8 out of the 11 books I’d hoped to read (yes, eleven — ten new books, plus one holdover from my spring list, which I did finally read!). I do intend to read the remaining three, but probably two of them will get deferred for a bit, and one will be via audiobook whenever my library hold comes in.

The spring holdovers are:

And as for a new batch of picks…

For my fall TBR, I’m going with a fresh list of even more books I plan to read! My top 10 are:

As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers
Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong
Monsters of Ohio by John Scalzi
Murmuration by TJ Klune
A Divided Duty (October Daye, #20) by Seanan McGuire
Eight Ways To Say I Love You by Amanda Elliot
Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel
A Symphony of Echoes (The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, #2) by Jodi Taylor
Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger
Wool by Hugh Howey

I should also mention that I have three book group books coming up this fall as well… and being a responsible book group member, I fully intend to read them in time for our discussions!

What books are on your fall TBR? Do we have any in common?

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15Sep2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’ve met

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Authors I’ve Met. I love getting the opportunity to go to book signings and other bookish events, and over the years have had the opportunity to meet some of my favorites.

1. Diana Gabaldon: At a massive speaking/signing event in Arizona for the release of the 9th Outlander book.

2. John Scalzi: I attended an event where he was in conversation with another sci-fi writer, and then got a few books signed.

3. Joe Hill: At a signing for his first novel, back when he was new and pretty unknown, and then again for a later book, when a very large crowd showed up.

4. Rainbow Rowell: At a signing for a Simon Snow book — such a packed room!

5. Gail Carriger: I’ve been to a few of her events!

6. Felicia Day: Did a very fun speaking engagement when her book You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) came out, and I got my book signed.

7. Chris Bohjalian: I attended a presentation he did at the local Armenian Cultural Center, and of course got books signed.

8. Mary Doria Russell: When a local girls’ high school chose her book The Sparrow for a school-wide reading project, she came to give a talk and engage with the students. I was able to attend as a guest, and actually got a little time to chat with her before the event started.

9. Susanna Kearsley: A long-time favorite, she was kind enough to Zoom with my book group last year, and we found her so lovely and interesting.

10. Matt Haig: I attended a recent speaking engagement of his, which was funny and revealing, and got books signed.

How about you? Have you had any memorable author encounters?

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8Sep2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Let’s hear it for indie bookstores!

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Indie Freebie with the prompt: This topic encompasses a lot: your favorite indie bookstores, indie books, indie authors, indie publishers/presses, indie books on your to-read list, indie authors I read before they became traditionally published, etc.

My list today includes some favorite indie bookstores, plus a few ways to support indie booksellers.

First, my local faves:

1. The Love Potion Library: A new romance bookstore!

2. Borderland Books: Mainly sci-fi and fantasy, but also horror, mystery, and all sorts of cool and eclectic items for sale.

3. Green Apple Books: A San Francisco destination for new and used books (now with two locations).

4. Peninsula Books: A non-profit bookstore selling used books and hosting a variety of bookish events, supporting Peninsula Book Collective.

Next, a few other ways to shop and show support for indie bookstores and authors:

5. Poisoned Pen Bookstore (Arizona): For non-locals like me, a great source for virtual events and for ordering signed books copies, especially for Outlander books (but also plenty of others)

6. Bookshop.org: An online alternative to you-know-what, with purchases supporting the bookstore of your choice.

7. Libro.fm: Up to now, a great resource for audiobooks, but about to expand into ebooks as well. And like the previous item on my list, you can designate a bookstore to support via your purchases.

8. Independent Bookstore Day, sponsored by the American Booksellers Association: The last Saturday in April each year, this is a terrific event offering all sorts of opportunities to get out and enjoy indie bookstores across the country.

9. Check your favorite authors’ websites for preferred sellers! Many authors I follow have a designated local bookseller where we can order signed books (and sometimes fun extras too! It’s a nice way to support an indie bookseller while also getting access to a bookish treat for ourselves.

10. Gumroad: A place for creators to sell directly to consumers (rather than through the big A). I only know about this thanks to author Gail Carriger, who has several of her books and audiobooks available here.

What indie bookstore or resources do you recommend?

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1Sep2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Nationalities In The Title

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books With Nationalities In The Title with the prompt providing example such as The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Mexican Gothic, An American Marriage, etc. Well, clearly I can’t use those! But I did manage to come up with ten others…

The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (review)
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith (review)
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende (review)
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris (review)
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L Sanchez (review)
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey (review)
American Hippo by Sarah Gailey (review)

What books made your list this week? Do we have any in common?

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25Aug2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Places I’ve Visited

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Bookish Places I’ve Visited with the prompt: Share all the cool places you’ve been that are bookish or tied to books! This includes neat libraries, book stores, places featured in books, places inspired by books, author homes/places they’ve stayed, etc. You can also share your bucket list of the bookish places you’d like to visit someday. (submitted by Susan @Bloggin’ ’bout Books)

Here are nine places I’ve been that have some connection to books — plus one that I really want to get to:

Note: Images from online sources are credited; uncredited images are from my camera roll.

1. Forks, Washington: A road trip last summer took me through the Olympic Peninsula, and I totally fangirled out over the Twilight-ness of it all.

2. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: I love everything about the annual festival in Ashland, Oregon, and hope to make it an annual tradition.

3. New York Public Library: Iconic! Need I say more?

4. The Morgan Library and Museum in New York: I visited with my book group, shortly after we’d read The Personal Librarian, which is set at this gorgeous location.

5. Harry Potter World at Universal Studios: Okay, sure, this is mainly based on the movies… but close enough!

6. Muir Woods: This national monument, just a quick drive from where I live, is one of my favorite local destinations, and has the added bonus of being an important site in the world of the October Daye series. Every time I visit, I hope to catch a glimpse of Toby and Tybalt. Hasn’t happened yet, but I can dream!

7. Salem, Massachusetts: Connected to so many books, and I found the small park with the names of the witch trial victims incredibly moving (despite being hemmed in on all sides by so much witchy kitsch)

8. Powell’s, Portland, OR: This immense bookstore is just as amazing as everyone says! I was so happy to finally get a chance to visit last year.

9. Florence, Italy: I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Florence during college, and read The Agony and The Ecstasy immediately before the trip, then planned my sight-seeing around checking out as many Michelangelo masterpieces as possible.

10. Jane Austen’s House, Chawton, UK: Finally, one from my bucket list! I don’t know when this will happen, but someday, I absolutely want to get to this Jane Austen landmark!

*Image from A Jane Austen Year; see https://janeaustens.house/a-short-history-of-jane-austens-house/ for more information*

Have you visited any bookish places? Are there any you especially hope to visit?

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18Aug2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Next, please! Books coming up in series I’m reading

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Book Series I Want to Catch Up On (or series you’d like to start)

I generally start each year with a post about my series reading goals (here’s the version I shared for 2026), where I share my intentions regarding new-to-me series that I plan (or hope) to start. For today’s post, I decided to focus on the next books in series that I’m already involved with. Most of these are series that I’m totally committed to, basically just checking my calendar until the next installment is available — and a couple are series where I’ve read a book or two and feel interested in continuing, but perhaps a little less motivated to dive in the second I get hold of them.

In no particular order, here are the top ten next installments from series I’m reading — can’t wait to get to all of these!

1. October Daye by Seanan McGuire

Up next: A Divided Duty
#20 in the series
Release date: September 2026

2. Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire

Up next: A Song of Sugar Sparrows
#12 in the series
Release date: January 2027

3. InCryptids by Seanan McGuire

Up next: Pride and Poltergeists
#16 in the series
Release date: March 2027

(Yes, that’s three from three different series by Seanan McGuire!! Moving on…)

4. Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

Up next: Steel Rain (no cover yet — this is an earlier book in the series)
#7 in the series
Release date: April 2027

5. Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong

Up next: Last Resort at Haven’s Rock
#5 in the series (series finale)
Release date: February 2027

6. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Up next: We Chase Shadows
#2 in the series
Release date: September 2026

7. The Marys by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows

Up next: My Imaginary Mary
#2 in the series
Published: 2022

8. Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Up next: Well Versed
#5 in the series
Release date: September 2026

9. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Up next: The Neverfear
#3 in the series
Release date: September 2026

10. Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart

Up next: Roundabout
#2 in the series
Release date: January 2027

What series do you hope to start or continue?

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11Aug2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Was Reading On This Day Over the Last Ten Years

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I Was Reading On This Day Over the Last Ten Years, with the prompt: … the idea is to share what you were reading on August 11th of 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

I love this concept! What fun to look back at past years and see what books were in my hands! Based on my Goodreads history, I was able to get a pretty good idea of what books I was reading at this time for each of the last 10 Augusts.

Let’s jump in:

2025

The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley (review)

2024

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey (review)

2023

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center (review)

2022

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (review)

2021

The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary (review)

2020

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (review)

2019

Our War by Craig DiLouie (review)

2018

Night and Silence (October Daye, #12) by Seanan McGuire (review)

2017

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig (review)

2016

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (review)

So many years of reading… so many great memories! I’d completely forgotten about some of these — it’s nice to get a reminder, and to see the variety of genres and topics I’ve read over these last ten summers.

What memorable books have you read over the last decade of Augusts?

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4Aug2026

Top Ten Tuesday: [Cover Freebie] Books with spaceships on the cover

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is a cover freebie, with the prompt: Pick any topic related to book covers. You can make up your own topic or pick one from the list of previous ones!

I decided to go with spaceships… historic, modern, or science fiction! Anything involving space flight counts from where I’m standing!

Here’s my batch of 10:

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton
Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Spaceman by Mike Massimino
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
Serenity: Those Left Behind (graphic novel)
Space by James A. Michener

What books have you read (or do you have on your TBR) with spaceships on the covers?

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28Jul2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read.

As the host explains, this is a throwback topic from 2022. My post from back then is here, in case you’re interested. And I’m a bit embarrassed to say that of the ten I highlighted, I’ve still only read three!

And yet, I keep buying books! (Don’t we all?)

Here’s a new batch of books I couldn’t wait to get my hands on… and still have not touched:

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty
Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
The Fair Folk by Su Bristow
The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi

Have you read any of these? Any recommendations about which should be my top priorities?

Do you have any books that you couldn’t wait to buy… but still haven’t read? Please share your TTT links!

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30Jun2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026.

So many to look forward! Plus all the other books already on my shelves that I still need to read! How will I ever keep up?

Here are ten books scheduled for release from July through December that I’m looking forward to: