One of the hardest parts of writing 50,000 words in one month was refraining from reading as much as I usually do. While I finished reading a novella and made progress on a nonfiction book, it felt like I was on a diet. I hate going so long without substantial reading time. So, one of the best parts about finishing the rough draft of my own novel is the prospect of devouring others’!

Here’s my reading list for the month.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith / J.K. Rowling
Yeah, I know this book only became a bestseller because of Rowling’s name. But I’ve actually already started it, and it’s good! I also like the idea that she published the book because she likes writing, not for fortune/fame (both of which she already has in spades).

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
I’ve followed Maureen Johnson on Twitter pretty much from the first day I joined, and I’ve been meaning to read one of her books. Since I’m on a LGBTQ YA kick, I thought this—an exploration of friendship, sexuality, and identity in high school—would be a good place to start!

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
I’m a huge fan of Brosh’s website by the same name, so I couldn’t wait to pick up my own copy of Hyperbole and a Half. If this graphic memoir (sort of) is half as good as her blog, this will be one of my favorite books this year.

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
This book has been on my TBR list forever. I’m thinking about selecting it for the Nonfiction Book Club at One More Page, so I’ll finally have a kick in the pants to start it! (Perhaps my first action item after reading this will be “Don’t neglect TBR pile!”

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Like I said, I’ve been on an LGBTQ YA kick, and I’m told David Levithan is my guy to get to know the genre. His most recent book, Two Boys Kissing, was long-listed for a National Book Award, but I wanted to start at the beginning of his oeuvre.

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear
I’ve slowly been making my way through the Maisie Dobbs series. Beginning Cuckoo’s Calling–also a detective story set in London, but different in pretty much every other way–prompted me to think about the series again. I’m sensing a theme: Detective December!

If I have time, I also want to get started on The Round House by Louise Erdrich and Shine by Lauren Myracle.

Have you read any of these? Which should I pick up first?