Anticipated Releases (July-September 2026)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I realised this morning that I have 5 days to think on this, and then post it! 

So I figured, I best get a move on! 

Officially starting on 25/6/26. Let's see what date I post this! 

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy reading about all the new releases that I can't wait to read! 

Really hope this is out before July... 

~July~

1. Heartstopper: Volume 6 (Heartstopper Volume #6), by Alice Oseman 

Release date: 2/7/26

The last volume is out in a matter of days! Genuinely thinking about taking all six volumes with me to Blackpool at the end of the week (to get ahead of my reading goal to say the least). 

Let me know if you're a fan of the TV show, or the graphic novel in the comments! 

2. Corpse de Ballet, by Megan Kearney 

Release date: 7/7/26

The phrases that drew me in were graphic novel debut, perfect for fans of Black Swan and dark academia and brutal competition. 

I have always loved ballet (though if I tried it, I'd probably be the clumsiest), add the fact that this is a graphic novel, debut, with a psychological thriller thrown in, I just had to add this book to the list! 

Corpse de Ballet follows Rosamund Hammond, a new student who has enrolled at Saint Anselmus in the middle of term, determined to work hard, and prove to everyone that she deserves to be there. 

 

It's not until she finds out that another student disappeared, right before her arrival. Was it really a leave of absense- or something more sinister? With her new roomate, Rosamund spirals into a deeper obsession about actually happened in the lead up to her disappearance. As her class prepare for their final performance Coppélia, can she commit to her hard-earned ballet dreams, or will she lose herself in a midst to figure out the truth?

I will always be interested in stories that show the grit, the determination and the work ethic of ballerinas, or athletes. The fact that it's a psychological thriller is just a cherry on top. Really hope I can actually prioritise this one. 

3. To Dance the Moon and Stars, by Tasia M S & Barbara Perez Marquez

Release date: 7/7/26

I don't think I'll be able to describe this one justice, so I'll just quote the Goodreads blurb instead:

"Eighteen-year-old Myra has spent her entire life training to replace her Grandmother as High 

Priestess. But with the day of her ascension rapidly approaching, she's not sure if she's meant for 

this path. How can she become the Herald of the God Alrun when he forbids the thing she loves

most: dancing?

Her kingdom can't afford her hesitation though. Not only is the Emporer looking for Alrun's wisdom 

ahead of a peace treaty, but forces of darkness are seeping through the barrier between worlds. 

The only source of light Myra has is her childhood best friend, the crown prince. Without his support

and...love, she may not be able to stop what's coming. 

To save her people, Myra must delve into her kingdom's forgotten history, even if it means defying 

the laws of her land. But the key to salvation may just require her to make the biggest sacrifice of all."

I don't typically tend to add books like this to this list, but this one intrigued me. Sometimes it's nice to pick up a book from one of the less well-known authors, and God forbid, try something new. 

 

4. Alex, by Proxy, by Karen Myna Cantor 

Release date: 21/7/26

I think this one will be best done in bullet points. It makes the most sense that way anyway:

• Alex, victim of Munchausen by proxy, but also witty, sarcastic, with a talent for astronomy and unusually good crossword skills- or that's who he used to be. 
• Or he used to be at least. Now, he's a struggling teenager whose having to find his own identify again, after years of his mother inducing an illness- that he never had in the first place. 
• Not to mention, he has to decide if he can testify against the person who gave birth to him. 
• As Alex awaits his trial, his friend convince him to start a podcast- to record his truth- in an effort to find himself again. Should he? Who would even believe him?
• Day by day, Alex struggles with his mental health, until he can no longer tell the difference between truth and fiction. Should he trust himself to testify? And if so, which truth will he share?

This sounds so intense, so interesting, I am almost certain I will be buying a copy, as soon as I can. Don't you think it sounds interesting? I certainly do. 

~August~

1. Kitten, by Stacey Yu

Release date: 4/8/26

A book about a cat, and how it can lead to any number of possibilities. 

Basically, newly graduated student (Katie) down on her luck, not speaking to her mother, and roommate has left without a word to her. 

Meets a guy, and has a very surreal, giddy, yet strange reaction to her boyfriend's cat. 

As her affection deepens, she begins to fall away from all of her other relationnships. 

And soon it becomes clear, what Katie must confront in order to achieve what she wants, and what she must risk in order to get it. 

This sounds like such an incredible debut. That's all I'm going to say about it. 

2. Etna, by Paul Yoon 

Release date: 4/8/26

Book about a dog. I knew this had to go on the list. 

"Set in a fictional country in the present day, this is a story told through the eyes of an ex-military dog, Etna. After surviving years of a devastating war, Etna decides one night to leave the men he has 

fought alongside for years and return home- to the place where he was taken from when he was

young, in the thin but persistent hope that if a home exists for him, it might be there. 

Thus begins an exhilarating odyssey told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses across ruined

landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious. 

Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to 

start again. What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each 

other again after such profound loss?

This is a novel about the power of an idea, about never giving up, and ultimately a novel about 

finding hope in the most dire of times."

I love books about war, about hope, especially books with animals. 

This was always going to be on the list, purely for the unique POV we're reading from. I bet this novel will win a bunch of awards. 

Definitely hinting to my boyfriend that I want this. 

3. Under the Falls, by Richard Russo

Release date: 11/8/26

The second book in the award-winning Falls series, by Richard Russo. 

Under the Falls has been published twenty-five years after the first book, but this feels just as interesting as the first (which, upon reading the blurb for book one, already feels like a book I should pick up). 

Under the Falls follows world famous musician Tyler Sinclair. He is returning to his hometown for a benefit, to raise money for an old friend, eighteen years after he escaped Stone Mountain, with nothing more than a few quid, stolen from his father's dresser, a few clothes, and his priced possession; his guitar. 

The town is full of his old favourites: Curt, Tyler's childhood best friend- now Stone Mountain's Chief of police, Freddi, Curt's wife and Tyler's former lover. Freddi is the woman whose questional dealings, and fraught behaviour will act as a catalyst for the upcoming tragedy that proves one thing: if you're lucky enough to escape Stone Mountain a first time, if you come back, there's no possible way out a second time. 

Something is telling me I should try and read book one, before I attempt this, but I'm still adding it to the list. 

~September~

1. Blightfall (Riftwake #1), by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson 

Release date: 1/9/26

A NEW BOOK IN THE SKYWARD SERIES! 

...I'll add it to the pile. 

Seriously, this is becoming beyond a joke now. 

I'll get to them all soon, I promise guys! 

By the end of the year- I promise. 

Maybe September. 

The whole series. 

It really doesn't matter what it's about, does it? 

It's space, and flying, and airships, probably, but Brandon Sanderson. 

So it'll be amazing, regardless. 

2. Rebel: The Graphic Novel (Legend #4), by Marie Lu

 Release date: 1/9/26

I'm adding this onto the list because I only ever read the original trilogy (which I picked up for £1.50 in Tesco- I thought I was dreaming when I saw them). 

I figured the graphic novel would be a quick, engaging read. 

If you didn't know, Rebel follows Day's brother, a decade after the events of the original Legend trilogy. He is constantly in his shadow- the shadow of what his brother used to be. 

Day is no longer legendary. All he cares about is keeping Eden safe, so he can hide away from anything and everything. He'd even give up the love of his life, June, to keep the city safe. 

As the two brothers struggle to accept who they've become since the days of glory, a new danger creeps into the distant they've created between eachother. Eden finds himself drawn so close to the dark side of Ross City, maybe, not even his legendary brother can save him. 

3. Taipei Story, by R. F. Kuang

Release date: 8/9/26

Although I was kind of hesitant to add this to my list, I knew I needed to. Any R.F. Kuang book has a welcome place on my shelf- regardless of whether this is the type of book I'm used to reading from her. 

I feel I will only do this premise justice if I quote the blurb, which you can also find on Goodreads: 

"College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program 

like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she 

inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, 

her roomate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely 

knows soon has her classmates vicioudly gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she

thought would feel like home. 

Then shocking news Lily's Grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-

unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she's drawn into a journey of self- 

discovery- piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and 

devastating attempts of connection."

Now that sounds phenomenal. To me at least. 

4. The Secret to Belonging, by Megan E. Freeman 

Release date: 15/9/26

Again, this feels best described as a bullet point. It's simple, it's straightforward and to the point. 

• A teenager, invisible within her family. A family where her brother, and his drug problem, is at the very centre of her family. 
• Her only way out is college, and the fund that has been in her name for the longest time- until her parents uses it to fund her brother's rehab. 
• Just when her future seems bound to collapse, a silver lining- a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It's the chance to escape, to begin life in a new place, with a whole new world of people. 

Seems very different to a lot of books, and I'm here for it. Perfect release date as well, mid September. 

Really hope this is in UK stores, come September. 

Okay! Those are all of my Anticipated Releases for July, through to September! I hope you enjoyed reading about them, and if there are any that I've missed, or you're excited for, let me know in the comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all in July! 

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

I Finally Get Some Answers

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I have a real treat (I hope) for you today! 

You know that story I was writing last year, and then promptly forgot for about five months? Well it's back, and this is the next entry! 

In truth, I never really did forget about it, but I was having a hard time figuring out where I wanted to go with it. But I finally figured it out! 

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy it. 

I Finally Get Some Answers

Gus leads me into the glass building. I’m wondering if this is the last place I’ll ever see.

Something tells me this Mr Budgeswop is someone that shouldn’t be messed with.

Really hope I’m not about to wet myself. For real, this time.

Gus starts to say something like “So, listen, when I say we might be dead…” but then we wall into the Glass building. To give you an idea of what I’m looking at, I’ll say this. It’s not a glass building- it’s like gravity as a building. Pure white, clear, unlimited space. Like the hyperbolic time chamber in DBZ. It’s like that, but smaller. So maybe not unlimited, but if you don’t keep it clear on where you’re going, you might just end up lost.

Which I most certainly would have been, if Gus hadn’t stopped walking, right in front of me, and screamed in my face.

“Hey, KID! Pay attention to what I’m saying, or Budgeswop really will have our necks. Have you heard anything I’ve just said?”

My expression is response enough, I guess.

Sighing and scrunching his eyes up, as if me not listening is the end of the world, he tilts his head, looks me straight in eye, and starts again.

“Listen Kid. You need to listen to me. I’m your link back home. I’m the only person you know here, and right now, we’re both in some pretty serious trouble. I’m on your side, pal, but we need to be on the same page. You get me?”

Not trusting myself enough to speak, I look straight ahead and nod. Gus takes that as confirmation, and he starts walking and talking again, albeit a little slower this time.

“This is the Artios training centre. It’s our main base. There are rooms for, well, training, but also meetings too. There’s a weapons missionary, where we develop weapons, and then of course practise with them, so they can be tweaked. Right now, we’re going to one of the meeting rooms, where Budgeswop will be, so he can explain some things. Still with me?”

Listening to his words, knowing he’s on my side, a small smile escapes my lips. He visibly relaxes at my reaction, and, breathing slowed, he says: “Let’s move then. We’ve still got a couple of corridors to go.

Now that I’m somewhat adjusted to my surroundings (somewhat), I can pay more attention to some of the conversations in the many rooms we’re passing. Like:

“Oh hey, what's this?”

“I'll show you.” *Woosh of air*.

“What? Oh WAYYYYYY.”

He's flying. They're literally defying gravity.

 

AND. (This had me burst out laughing so much I was almost on the floor- mostly at the look on Gus’ face after this happened.)

“Sir, what seems to be the problem?”

“I have this boil on my nose, Franklin. It's very furious and blistery.”

“Well sir, I'll touch it, see what it does. Probably nothing, sir.”

“Okay... well, make sure you be careful, Franklin.”

“Understood.”

“...It's disappeared, sir.”

“I can see that, Franklin.”

“... Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. Oh, I think I need to use the bathroom!”

General rushes past protag clutching his crotch area.

 

“…Anyway, let’s get going.” He says, when I finally have my composure again.

After a few minutes, we turn a corner and enter a semi-large room. It contains a large projector screen, some weird computer type thing, a table and a few chairs.  To be honest, this is probably the smallest, most average looking room in the entire building (which by the way, feels a lot like Mary Poppins’ handbag- could carry the world inside it and still have room.)

The only redeeming feature- there’s a real life waterfall inside! It must go somewhere, I suppose, but the way it flows, it seems to flow back to the start, and keep going, an impossible, beautiful, magnificent waterfall. I reach out, wanting to touch it, but nothing! Just pure emptiness! I’m about to turn back to Gus, to ask what the deal with the waterfall is, when I’m shocked out of my daydream with a familiar, booming voice.

“Gus! Will you please control this boy! Time is of the essence, and he’s wasting time!”

I turn around and Mr Budgeswop is on the screen!

I suppose I should describe what he looks like. He looks like Gus, basically, but older, more mature, more developed, more strained, stressed- with bags under his beady little eyes and a constant clenching of the jaw. His skin is a deep shade of red- like he’s permanently sunburned, but slightly darker.

“Yes, sir. Apologies, it’s his first time here. The waterfall can be a lot for the first time. Charlie. Please sit down. Time is of the essence.”

Very glad I’m not about to meet my death, but still very scared, I take a seat, as quick as a shot.

“Good.  Now we can begin.”

Relieved, because I can finally get some answers to my questions, I slowly exhale.

“Charlie. As Gus already told you,” I see some disapproval thrown in Gus’ direction, “you are one of a small group of children selected for the protection of Artios, the city of the stars. We have been monitoring potential warriors for centuries, searching for enough power, against the incredible threat that has been looming for many years. We don’t know what this threat is, where it’s coming from, or when it will arrive. We just know it’s coming.”

Although I was expecting him to say it, my heart was still in my mouth. I had a million questions, but only one was at the front of my mind.

“But… why me? Why me, of all people? I’m unexceptional. I always have been. I’m useless at school- at making friends, at school, talking to girls… what was it that made you pick me?”

Although Mr Budgeswop looked surprised at my surprise interjection, he did not yell. Sighing, he glances at Gus.

“Gus, do you want to explain to Charlie why we knew he was one of the select few? We can reconvene when Charlie has grasped the situation.”

“Yes, sir. Be with you shortly.” I feel a smooth rubbing on my shoulders, and with a soft flash, I knew Mr Budgeswop was gone. I swirled my chair round to face Gus.

“Charlie. Listen to me. We have had potential children, throughout generations, being monitored, at a faraway distance. Certain characteristics, and an ability to think a certain way is what notifies us of a potential protector. We are always sure, by a certain point, when a child has an innate ability. We knew about you from when you were four years old, Charlie. You are one of the selected, one of the children in the prophecy. You just found out a bit earlier than you should have, is all.” The tips of his lips turn up at the end, and I can see he is trying to reach out, to help comfort me.

And right now, all I can do is return his smile.

“Okay. I’m not saying I’m 100% okay now, but I’m trying to deal. So, what happens now?”

Clearly relieved that I haven’t freaked out, he starts to say something. I would have heard him, if not for the ear-piercing alarm that drowns out everything else.

“What the… it can’t be!” I hear Gus stammer under his breath. “Charlie! I have to go, but I’ll be back very soon. You have to promise you won’t leave.”

“But! What’s going on?” I can feel my pulse racing; my palms are sticky with sweat. Something is very wrong. “I don’t want you to leave me here.”

Gus is about as panicked as me. “I have to. But I’ll be back soon. Promise me you won’t go anywhere.”

Even through all the panic, I can tell he needs me to promise.

I look him dead in the eyes, reach for his arm, and give him a reassuring rub. “Okay. I promise.”

He takes a slight breath. “Thanks Charlie.” And then he’s gone.

And then the world is spinning.

Okay! That's all I've got! Anybody gripped yet? Nope? 

Oh well. I enjoyed writing it anyway. 

Not really expecting any comments for this one, but it genuinely would make my day if somebody wrote something (not mean) in the comments. 

Right! That's all I have for you all today, I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll be seeing you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx

Skulduggery Pleasant: Month 3

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And following the theme for the past three months, this is my third monthly update on my Skulduggery Pleasant re-read. 

Really hope nobody is bored of reading about my progress regarding my Skulduggery Pleasant re-read, but as I'm just over halfway at the moment, you'll be seeing these for the forseeable future- so get used to it! 

When I started this project, I was hoping to be finished by now, but obviously, things have not gone to plan. But I am happy to report that I have actually made some solid progress this month! 

Will get into details in a second but, without further ado, I hope you enjoy. 

7.5. Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven 

Pages: 288. 

End of last update: Page 112. 

Reading days: 30th April- 3rd May. 

When I talked about this book in the last date, I mentioned having read it once and not liking it all that much. Happy to report that my opinion of this has completely changed. Gripping from start to finish, especially the scenes about the girl training to be an assassin in the underground. 

Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven doesn't add loads to the entire story, but it's a shorter novel that is definitely worth the read. It's a good relief from the 600+ paged books from the rest of the series, and I've always loved Tanith Low as a character, so this story was a huge bonus for me. 

8. Last Stand of Dead Men

Pages: 604

Reading days: 5th May- 20th May 

Note: Finished The Names at the same time as reading this. 

I love this one, so, so much. A whole lunch of legendary characters are introduced, there are betrayals, death, disaster, and it's not even from Darquesse. It's a war of sanctuaries. The stakes are upped massively in this one, and after book 8, what we thought was the penultimate upon it's release, nothing is ever the same again. I know it's a huge book, but somehow, none of it seems rushed or unnecessary.

You know how, in the last couple of months,  I've said with a couple of books that they change the course of the story? This is the big one. Out of all released novels (up to 17, as I haven't read 18 yet), this is the biggest gamechanger novel. 

What happened with taking a brief break, and starting another novel? I found I was struggling to find motivation to pick this up. And with already being behind on my Goodreads reading challenge, I knew desperate measures needed to be taken. 

Last Stand of Dead Men will always be one of my favourite Skulduggery Pleasant books of all time. It's nice to know that hasn't changed. 

9. The Dying of the Light

Pages: 605

Reading days: 20th May- 27th May

Was definitely trying to catch up on my Goodreads goal with this one. Actually finished it on the wednesday, the day before it was due to update- will be making up the one book eventually! 

Thoughout this, my emotional state kept changing. I kept remembering what was about to happen, maybe a split second before it did, and then other events completely took me by surprise. 

Tanith, for instance- if you know you know. 

It was a very nerve-wracking, yet confusing experience. 

I also started to remember what it was like reading this for the first time, thinking that this was going to be the very last Skulduggery Pleasant book- ever. So yeah, very confused and anxious mental state. 

Even knowing I still have 9 books to look forward to, it felt like a goodbye finishing Book 9. I will always say that out of the 9 books, the 6 book series, and the trilogy, the original 9 will always be my favourite of the bunch. 

It's nice to read about Valkyrie when she's my age, now, but nothing compares to her teenage years. 

It was a pleasure to read them again. Pun not intended. 

8.5. Armageddon Outta Here

Pages: 479

Reading days: 28th May- now. 

Currently on page 155. 

Armageddon Outta Here is a collection of short stories and novellas that take place throughout the Skulduggery Pleasant series. So far I've read a western, and a story from Gordon's POV, at a swanky Halloween party for authors, and the introduction to a particular vampire that showes up later in the series. I've only read this the once, and same as Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven, don't remember liking it all that much. 

Obviously this time, the experience is completely different. 

I wish it wasn't so long, to be honest, but I doubt I'll mind when it comes down to reading some of the longer ones, to be honest. After all, it expands the universe, doesn't it? 

And it was so nice to read from Gordon's POV. 

Again, I'm hoping to finish this before Wednesday, so I have time to finish another book before my goal updates, but I'm at the point where I know I will eventually. 

Stayed tuned for more updates on my SP progress. 

Okay! Those are all of the books I have finished this month! Definitely made some solid progress, in terms of keeping on target, I just wish I could go that extra bit of distance and get back on track with my Goodreads challenge. 

After calculating, I finished a total of 1549 pages, which equates to 50 pages a day, rounded up. 

Slightly better than last month, and taking into account the fact that I finished another, non SP book, pretty good progress. 

Hoping to continue on steadily next month, and getting back to finishing 5+ SP books next month. 

Okay! That is all I have for you guys now, but as always, feel free to comment down below, if you have any thoughts or comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all very soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx