I did an okay job with my September 2026 TBR and managed to read 50% of it. My structured reading took a nosedive halfway through the month and I did a lot of mood reading instead. For my October 2026 TBR I plan to go back to my ARC list and read from there. I more or less took a break from ARCs for the last 1-2 months. Now it’s time for me to make a dent in my ARC pile.

Priority Reads

KINGDOM OF ASH by Sarah J. Maas: This is the only non-ARC that is a priority read for me this month. With SJM’s newest ACOTAR book hitting stores in late October, I want to make sure I finally finish TOG beforehand. (No spoilers, please!)

LEVEL UP FOR LOVE by Lenora Woods: This is a D&D-inspired contemporary romance. I enjoyed ROLL FOR ROMANCE by the author, so I hope this one is a hit for me, too. Woods’s second book is already available to purchase in stores as of September 8. “Sparks fly as two former college rivals are forced together for a new D&D campaign—clashing both in and out of the game—in this fusion of contemporary second-chance romance and fantasy from the author of Roll for Romance.“

THE BUTTERFLY SEASON by Leah Kosgaard: I didn’t have an ARC of this at the time I published my list of September 2026 Book Releases. But I saw it was “Read Now” on NetGalley last week, so I decided to download it. I don’t really need anymore ARCs, but I figured since I already want to read it, I’ll probably get around to it sooner than later. “Lea Korsgaard’s number-one international bestseller tells the story of the year she spent tracking every species of butterfly in her native Denmark. Suffused with beauty and wonder, The Butterfly Season is a love letter to the natural world and an unforgettable reflection on the precious and fleeting nature of life itself.“

THE FAERIE HANDMAID by Louisa Morgan: I loved THE FAERIE MORGANA, so I’m excited to (eventually) read this one. It’s not marketed as a sequel, but I’m assuming it might make more sense if one first reads THE FAERIE MORGANA. “When the new king of Camelud is cursed, a magicless handmaid must embrace her own power and save the kingdom in this spellbinding coming-of-age tale from Louisa Morgan.“

I think four books is quite enough for my priority reads. In fact, I’ll be amazed if I read all of them considering how long KINGDOM OF ASH is.

Hopeful Reads

Since my priority reads focus on ARCs, my hopeful reads will allow for any mood reading. In this case, that will probably be in the form of audiobooks. Currently I’m working on THE WOMEN OF TROY by Pat Barker. I love the art style of the book covers for this series. I also have a hold on THE WITCH’S HEART by Genevieve Gornichec. It’ll be nice to read both of these, of which I also have physical copies. But since I just don’t have all the time in the world to eyeball read everything, I have to also include audiobooks to make a dent in my physical TBR.