Carol

Fall 2021 TBR #toptentuesday

September 21, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books on My Fall 2021 TBR

#TopTenTuesday Fall TBR (Image: white text over a background of colorful fall leaves)

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top ten tuesday

I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl: Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books on My Fall 2021 TBR.

What is your most anticipated fall read?

With all the books that are on my radar on a given day, it’s nice to pick out a few for an official TBR. Ten still leaves room for library holds that come in, occasional ARCs, or some mood reading.

One question you may ask is “Are these spooky reads or thrillers?” Many readers have differing opinions of what comprises a fall read: some want spooky, some look for atmospheric, some seek out thrillers, while others like to tackle large tomes or nonfiction during the fall when they are spending more time sitting by the fire. It’s my opinion that any book you read in the fall is a fall read. For my fall reads, I look for the types of books I look for all year: memorable, thought-provoking, and unputdownable. So the answer to the question is NO….no thrillers or spooky reads because I’m too susceptible to nighmares.

The following two highly anticipated books were on my initial fall TBR list and then FOMO gripped me and I read them in summer! Project Hail Mary (AUDIO)) by Andy Weir and Three Words For Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. I highly recommend both of these 5 Star reads for your fall TBR.

Keep in mind that I’m not yet recommending the books on my official fall TBR list…..check back often, though, because I will provide updates and links to reviews as I read them. For now, these are the reads that are on my fall 2021 reading radar.

I finished my Summer TBR just last week!

*Titles are Amazon affiliate links.

Fall 2021 TBR

The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton (black and white cover with red text) Image: a women in silhouette walks out of a building with her back to the camera and overlooks a view of the Eiffel Tower

The Post Mistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton

Genre: historical fiction, WW11, France (Pub Date: 11/30/21)
I loved Last Train to London and I’m eager to read Clayton’s new release. Read an author interview by Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog.

Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies (cover) Image: a woman stands with her back to the camera in a field with trees and a house on a hill in the distance

Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies (ARC)

Genre: WW11 historical fiction (ARC: Pub Date: 11/16/21)
Recommended by Nicki @ The Secret Library Book Blog

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (cover) Image: red and blue text above a black and white image of a train chugging along next to a 2 lane road

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Genre: historical fiction
I’m eager to read the new release by the author of A Gentleman in Moscow.
UPDATE: DNF 50% (3 Stars)

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Genre: historical fiction/science fiction/contemporary fiction mashup.
I’m curious about this new release by the author of All the Light We Cannot See.
***UPDATE: 4.5 Stars. A beautifully written, challenging, and complex read. My review of Cloud Cuckoo Land here.

The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede (cover) Image: a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) stand with their back to the camera watching a jetliner land

The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

Genre: nonfiction, 9-11
Recently, I saw this title mentioned in a few 9-11 posts and I remembered I had wanted to read it. This will be my #NonfictionNovember read.
***UPDATE: 5 Stars. Inspiring! My review of The Day the World Came to Town here.

The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith (cover) a graphic picture in rust and blue colors of a bus filled with people driving along a country road

The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith

#22 in the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series (I’m a series completest and it’s now a fall tradition!)
Genre/categories/setting: light contemporary fiction, cozy mystery, Botswana (Pub Date: 10/22/21)

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe (cover) Image: yellow and blue text over a beach scene

The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe

Genre: light women’s contemporary fiction
I put this on digital hold at the library in July upon a recommendation from Jennifer @ Tar Heel Reader in this collaborative post and I still don’t have it, so I’m bumping this light summer read into fall!
***UPDATE: 3 Stars. OK but not memorable women’s fiction. Not reviewed.

Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith (cover) Image: a bblack and white image of a young man and woman sitting on steps reading books

Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith

Genre: women’s fiction, classic
I enjoy revising selected classics. I’ve recently reread A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Tomorrow Will Be Better, so I want to complete my reread of Betty Smith with Joy in the Morning. Have you read these classics?
***UPDATE: 4 Stars. Enjoyable, but my favorite of the three is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

The House Swap by Jo Lovett (cover) white text on a red background, a graphic image of an man and woman standing by their front doors

The House Swap by Jo Lovett

Genre: light contemporary romance, women’s fiction
Recommended by Carla @ Carla Loves To Read in the this collaborative post from summer.
***UPDATE: 3.5 Stars. Enjoyable and light. My review of House Swap here.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (cover) white text overe a graphic image of scattered open books

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Genre: contemporary fiction
Who can resist a book about books?!

Don’t miss Project Hail Mary (audio) and Three Words For Goodbye which would have been on this list if I hadn’t been so eager to read them!

QOTD!

What’s on your Fall TBR? 

What is your one most anticipated read this fall?

Updates:

Summer 2021 TBR
Spring 2021 TBR
Winter 2020/2021 TBR

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57 comments

  1. That’s a great list. I have The Reading List on my TBR too and agree that Cloud Cuckoo Land sounds intriguing. I was actually disappointed by Project Hail Mary. I loved his previous novels and really wanted to enjoy this one but it didn’t grip me even though I enjoyed the storyline.

    Reply

    • Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I loved the audio of Project Hail Mary….I was wondering if I would have liked the print version as well as I did the audio.

      Reply

  3. Thanks for the link to my interview with Meg. I’m almost finished with the Doerr book… hm… I almost gave up on it a couple of times. It is beautifully written but… LONG and complex… just beware!

    Reply

  7. Same. I don’t think my reading tastes really changed based on the season. I’m always looking for the same kinds of books. Sometimes, I’ll grab something a *little* spooky around Halloween time, but I’m a pretty big wimp, so I rarely veer into actual horror. I hope you enjoy all these!

    Happy TTT!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

    Reply

    • I’m a sensitive reader and have to avoid all things spooky, thriller, or horror or I suffer nightmares. I’ll check out your post when I get some time later today. Happy reading Susan!

      Reply

  8. Great list Carol and thanks for mentioning my pick. I have added The Lincoln Highway and The Day the World Came to Town to my wishlist at the library. I hope you enjoy all of these books.

    Reply

  16. Congratulations on finishing your Summer TBR! 😅 I don’t think I even made a dent in mine. A lot of my reads have rolled over to the Fall. Of course, I’m still adding to my list. 😂 I have all of Betty Smith’s books since A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favorite reads. I hope you enjoy Joy in the Morning!

    If you get a chance, I would love if you check out my TBR List post:
    https://introvertinterruptedcom.wordpress.com/2021/09/21/my-favorite-2021-emmy-outfits-as-books/

    Reply

  17. Taking notes again Carol! I already had the Amor Towles and Anthony Doerr on my TBR. Have you read Doerr’s little book about the year he and his wife took two twin babies to Rome so he could do a fellowship there?? So enjoyable– and made me want to book plane tickets to Rome!

    Reply

    • I started Doerr’s Rome memoir but I set it aside and haven’t gotten back to it. I hope the new Amor Towles is good! I’ve started Cloud Cuckoo …it’s challenging and writing a review will be interesting!

      Reply

  18. As a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, I am eagerly awaiting the November 23 release of her newest title, “Go Tell the Bees That I Have Gone.” As my first read of “the Fall” I have just downloaded Bob Woodward’s newest, “Peril.”

    Reply

  19. I like creepy,dark, and magical books but not exactly horror. My most anticipated books are Empire of the Vampire, Kingdom of the Cursed, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, and City of Time and Magic.

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  24. I have read many of the books in The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, too. I enjoy having the books set in Botswana, and there is something quite soothing about this gentle way of life (except for the crimes and murders LOL).

    Reply

  26. No thrillers or spooky reads for me either thanks! I appreciate the variety in your recommendations. As long as it’s a good book with a unique premise I will add it to the fall reading list. My favorite read so far has been “Daughter of the Sky” by Alison Blasdell(www.alisonblasdell.com) and I would like to recommend it to you! I love anything historical, especially when the author seems to know her stuff (which she definitely does). Throw in some romance and paranormal elements and we have a very new style of genre that I was very surprised with. Two women, one is in medieval Europe, the daughter of King Henry. She is kidnapped and held captive. Our modern protagonist, a somewhat normal, everyday woman has the power to see through the eyes of the captive prisoner. The connection between them is a mystery and the novel is full of twists. I really wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one, as it is a bit more “out there” than I am used to, but I was blown away by the writing and overall fun and unique concepts throughout. I think it is the perfect book to snuggle up and read this fall! If you end up checking this out please let me know what you think

    Reply

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