Going into December, I couldn’t seem to find a cohesive list of 2017 releases to be excited over… and suddenly… BAM! I couldn’t stop adding to my TBR list! This month’s list is chalk full of high-stakes fantasy thrillers and so-strange-you-have-to-read-it story lines – another great year for books in the making.

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca: Jan. 3rd

The amazingly TRUE story of Grace Humiston, a detective and lawyer who made her mark by defending an innocent man on death row. Faced with two-faced cops, unending gossip, and a dangerous web of alternate suspects, she and her partner make a desperate rush against all odds to free an innocent man. As the first female U.S. district attorney in history and consulting detective to the NYPD, her story is truly inspiring. (432 Pages)

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall: Jan. 3rd

Norah has agoraphobia and OCD, making life all the more impossible. When her groceries are mistakenly left on the porch, she has no choice but to get them herself, struggling to snag the handles with a stick… and that’s when she meets Luke. He’s sweet and caring, and totally overlooks the fact he just caught her fishing for her groceries. A sweet and sour romance in the face of debilitating anxiety, Norah’s story is an honest look at what it means to have a mental illness, written by an author who also suffers from agoraphobia. (320 Pages)

The Dry by Jane Harper: Jan. 10th

A brand new mystery/thriller set in the outback of Australia, Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk returns to his hometown of Kiewarra when his childhood friend, Luke Hadler, is charged with the murder of his wife and child. But as he probes deeper into the case, long held secrets from their childhood begin to resurface, including the mysterious death of a young girl. Gritty and atmospheric, this debut sounds un-put-downable! (352 Pages)

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: Jan. 10th

A magical debut following Russian fairy tales, Vasilisa lives at the edge of the wilderness where winter lasts almost the entire year and snowdrifts grow taller than houses. Minding her step mother, Vasilisa and her siblings turn away from tradition, bringing nothing but failed crops and misfortune to the family. But as a grave soul rises from ancient lore, she’ll have to defy family and reason to save them all. (336 Pages)

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin: Jan. 10th

An affecting nightmare come to life, Amanda lies dying in a rural hospital clinic, with only a young boy by her side, a stranger, a child not her own. Nonetheless, the boy tries his best to comfort the lost woman, as she desperately traces every step, every memory of her daughter. What happened to her? Why isn’t she here? The first novel to be translated to English, Schweblin’s writing is dramatically tense, a study on motherhood and the difficult sacrifices we make for those we love most. (192 Pages)

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera: Jan. 17th

A heartbreaking look at young love, Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend, Theo, unexpectedly dies in a drowning accident, sending him into a downward spiral that never ends. Even moving to California for college and meeting with Theo’s boyfriend, Jackson, does little to dull his grief, as do the secrets he’s been keeping. (320 Pages)

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking: Jan. 17th

It’s well known that Denmark is said to be the happiest country in the world, all thanks to one thing – hygge, a feeling or mood that comes from enjoying everyday moments. And who better to guide us in all things hygge than the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute? (203 Pages)

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney: Jan. 17th

On the last day of 1984, 85-year-old Lillian Boxfish celebrates the new year with a walk across Manhattan. Meeting bartenders, chauffeurs, security guards, bohemians, criminals, children and parents throughout the day, she recalls her long and eventful life as she witnesses the surprising tender moments of everyday life. (304 Pages)

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry: Jan. 24th

A “masterpiece of atmosphere and language”, Days Without End is a haunting portrait of the American frontier. Having fled Ireland to escape the hardships of the Great Famine, Thomas McNulty signs up for the U.S. Army in hopes for a better future, but fighting in the Indian Wars against the Sioux and the Yurok tribes, and ultimately the Civil War, he complies to the pressures of war, plaguing his memories with unspeakable horrors. Bringing to life an unsavory chapter of American history, the subject matter is affecting, howbeit a poignant study on the finer points of humanity. (320 Pages)

Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World by Kelly Jensen: Jan. 24th

A scrapbook-style guide for teens, Here We Are breaks down what it means to be a feminist in the twenty-first century. Jam packed with a diverse mix of contributions from celebrities, public figures, and authors alike, the book features illustrations, poems, and essays of all kinds on the meaning of feminism, social media, and pop culture as they grow more and more in-tune with our daily lives. (256 Pages)

4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster: Jan. 31st

Archibald Isaac Ferguson is born nearly two weeks early on March 3, 1947 in Newark, New Jersey, but from a simple beginning comes a story of four “simultaneous and independent” Fergusons as four copies of the young boy lead very different lives after leaving the hospital that fateful night. An entirely inventive work promising grandiose prose and an unforgettable story of love, heartbreak, and choice itself, 4 3 2 1 is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. (880 Pages)

Wait for Me by Caroline Leech: Jan. 31st

A YA historical romance following Lorna Anderson’s life on her family’s farm in Scotland during World War II. Busied with endless chores and knitting Red Cross scarves, Lorna is desperate for a chance at life, for a change, but when a German prisoner of war is assigned as their new farmhand, the possibility of change is appalling. How can she work alongside the enemy while her brother risks his life? But after spending many reluctant hours together in the fields, she soon sees the boy behind the soldier, a heart not unlike her own. (384 Pages)

And of course, we’re all excited for the looong anticipated release of:

  

What are you excited to read this month?