Top Books I Want to Read (Once I finish this Godforsaken re-read)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And if you've been following this blog for the last few months (or years- in which case, thanks, that means a lot) you'll know that I've been re-reading the entire Skulduggery Pleasant series, before I get to the eighteenth, and final book of the entire series. 

But, I am four books away from finishing, and am finally starting to think about what I would like to read next. Now, this isn't a definite TBR, I may change my mind in the next month, but these are my top picks at the moment. 

I have selected 6 books that jump out at me the most when looking at my un-read shelf (I have a full shelf- and I can share that in another post if anyone is interested). 

I hope you enjoy. 

(This isn't in any particular order, by the way.)

1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne

Me and my partner came across in a random telephone box on the drive home from parkrun one day. Or rather, he did; he then graciously hid it in my hoodie until we got home, and surprised me with it. 

To me, Journey to the Centre of the Earth was never a book that I was motivated to pick up, but knew I was interested in reading when it came into my possession. It's one of those classic adventure stories like The Jungle Book, or Ready Player One, that every reader is (or should be, if they like discovery and sci-fi) universally interested in reading. 

It's extremely short, just 188 pages, and if I'm determined enough, I feel like I could finish inside a weekend. 

Probably won't, but I honestly can't wait to experience the genius writing of Jules Verne, and the world he created in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. 

2. Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk

Another book, that I never immediately went "I really want to read that someday!"

I saw it in a book shop, a few months back, and seeing how short a book it was, and intrigued by what the book could offer, I picked it up. 

Genuinely, I really want to see what led to these boys/ men fighting like this. The blurb quotes 'those with good white-collar jobs and absent fathers', so I'm wondering how much of that comes into it. But yeah, never seen the film, don't know anything about anything to do with this book, or the characters. But I'm very much looking forward to finding out, through the book. 

 And then I'll watch the film, and see how different it is. 

3. The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist #1), by Jessie Burton

A book I read back in 2019. A book recommended to me by a Waterstones employee, which I genuinely enjoyed. Thought it was a standalone, and that was the end of it. Walked past a bookshop in Kibworth one day, and say the sequel The House of Fortune, being advertised. 

This was four years ago. Still haven't re-read the first book. 

This is probably the book that's been on my to re-read shelf the longest. 

I don't know why I haven't re-read it yet, as I desperately want to. Who knows, it may invoke some interest in the other half dozen historical fiction novels I have yet to re-read. But what I do know is that the urge to pick this book up has not lessened throughout the years. 

I will get to this, soon after finishing the SP series. 

(There's a tv show for it as well, by the way.)

Here's the plot in bullet points:

• Young woman is wedded off to a welathy merchant, in a secluded part of the country, miles away from anyone she knows and loves. 
• Wealthy merchant is distant, but presents her with an elaborate gift: an exact replica or the house they live in, designed with precision and excellance. 
• The house is to be decorated by an elusive miniaturist, whose creations have a ring of truth about them. 
• As the young woman (Nella) uncovers the truth in her new home, she realises the power the miniaturist holds over them- over the entire household. More than that, she holds their fate in her hands. But does she plan to save... or destroy them?

4. Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book is still in the wrapping. No idea why, but I want it in good condition when I eventually read it. 

I just know I'm going to love this. I love all of Taylor Jenkins Reid's books. But this one just feels different. Like it's a step away from the rest. 

I think I've been reading too many Goodreads reviews for this book to be honest. 

If you didn't know, Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a professor of Physics and Astronomy, as she gets her chance to work for NASA, and go up into space for the first time, with a group of other new recruits. 

It's sciency, and sounds very interesting (doesn't help that everyone on Goodreads is raving about it, even a year after it's release). 

5. Warrior Princess Assassin (Braided Fate #1), by Brigid Kemmerer

Literally saw this advertised for me when I was online one time. Don't know anything about it, other than what the title says, and that was enough to draw me in. When my friend asked for a book choice for Christmas, I give him this as a choice. 

Everytime I go into the room with all my bookshelves, I see this. I knew squat about it, haven't even read the blurb, but I'm looking forward to seeing what I think, going in blind with this. 

It may not be for me, it may be full of classic fantasy tropes, but so what? I can't wait to read this. 

6. Not Quite Dead Yet, by Holly Jackson 

Twenty-seven-year-old Jet is our protagonist. She has never left town, never done anything extroadinary. She has time, she thinks. Until she is brutally attacked by an unknown enemy and nearly killed. The doctors say she has seven days. Seven days until her brain developes an aneurysm and she dies completely. 

Suddenly she sees everyone as a potential killer. Her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend. The only person looking out for her is her childhood friend, Billy. 

She has seven days until she dies. Seven days to solve her own murder. 

This sounds like one heck of a book. And other people are reading it too, which makes the pull even greater. 

We all know Holly Jackson can write a great murder mystery. She wrote A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, after all. 

And I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one. 

Okay! Those are the top books I'm (currently) planning on reading next, after my big, epic, re-read is finally over! I hope you enjoyed reading about them, and if you're interested in seeing a full unread list, let me know in the comments below (might even do one anyway). 

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

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx