Normally I’m the queen of the backlist. Even when I worked at a bookstore I didn’t read new book releases until several years after they were published. The only exceptions to this were new books in a series I was already reading. I’ll admit—I used to purposely avoid books with too much hype out of a desire to be “alternative.” Whatever that means.
Being active on Bookstagram and Book Twitter changed all that. It turns out some books are hyped because they are that good. So now I pay attention. It helps that social media allows you to find people who have similar tastes. I know that when certain people recommend a book, chances are high that I’ll enjoy it. I’ve also started following my favourite authors to keep up with their latest work.
I ended up reading quite a few new releases in 2020, and I’m looking forward to reading even more in 2021.
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10 New Book Releases at the Top of Gen’s TBR
It’s going to be impossible to read every new release that I’m excited about this year, but I’ve managed to narrow it down to the top ten. These are the books I’m going to pick up either as soon as they come out, or shortly thereafter.
Winter New Releases
The Project by Courtney Summers (February 2)
Courtney Summer’s last novel, Sadie, was one of our past book club selections and we loved it. Her newest novel is about two sisters and a cult called The Unity Project. Summers is an expert at devastating her readers in the best way, and I’m sure this one will be no different. And how can you resist that cover?
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers (February 23)
Grace has just earned her PhD in astronomy when she drunkenly gets married in Vegas to a woman she doesn’t know. I’m already sold on the premise, but it also promises to be a heartfelt rendering of a young woman trying to navigate adulthood and love, while grappling with her family’s expectations. This one’s at the very top of my list.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (March 16)
This YA thriller from debut author Angeline Boulley follows eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine, whose mixed heritage has always made her feel like an outsider in both her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that takes her undercover, where she uses her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine to aid her own pursuit of the criminals. In case that premise and cover aren’t enough to convince you, I’ve already read some great reviews about this one that should tip the scales.
Spring New Releases
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas (March 23)
We dedicated a whole episode to Aiden Thomas’s debut novel, Cemetery Boys, and we absolutely loved it. I’ll pick up anything Thomas writes now, but I’m especially excited about this one because I love Peter Pan. In this reimagining, children go missing in the woods around Astoria, and Wendy has to go searching for answers. Give it to me now!
Return of the Trickster by Eden Robinson (March 30)
I’ve been waiting on this one for ages. Eden Robinson is one of my all time favourite authors. This is the conclusion to her Trickster trilogy that began with Son of a Trickster, and continued in Trickster Drift. You have time to read them before the final book drops, as well as time to check out the new television adaptation, Trickster, on CBC. It’s. So. Good.
Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (May 11)
Normally I’m not a fan of the love triangle as a premise, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one where the main character is caught between the girl she had a summer romance with and the guy she’s been crushing on forever. I amend my love triangle opinion in favour of queer love triangles. I’ve been adding more romance to my reading lately and this sounds like a worthy candidate!
Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater (May 18)
Do I even need to elaborate on this one? This is installment two in Stiefvater’s Dreamer Trilogy and to say I’m excited is severely downplaying it. She left us on a cliff hanger with Call Down the Hawk, so this one can’t come soon enough. I can’t wait to come back to this strange world of dream objects and black market magic. And of course, read more about one of my all time favourite characters, Ronan Lynch.
Summer New Releases
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (June 1)
McQuiston’s debut, Red, White and Royal Blue, was one of my favourite reads of 2020 and the book that kicked off my desire for more romance stories. This one is about two young women who meet on the New York subway, but it turns out one of them is lost in time, displaced from 1970s Brooklyn. I love weird time travel, so I can’t wait for McQuiston’s delightful rom-com take on it.
Darling by K. Ancrum (June 22)
Another Peter Pan reimagining? Oh yeah. This one plays out across the backdrop of Chicago’s underground. Tinkerbelle is a punk, Hook is a detective, and Peter, despite his dazzling charm, might be more dangerous than Wendy knows. I’ve always been drawn to the more sinister aspects of J.M. Barrie’s story—Peter’s careless selfishness and Neverland as a place that makes you forget. K. Ancrum seems to be leaning into that in this YA thriller and I’m so ready for it.
A Lesson In Vengeance by Victoria Lee (August 3)
The old, ivy-covered Dalloway School is said to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students, known as the Dalloway Five. Some say they were witches. After the tragic death of her girlfriend one year ago, Felicity just wants to return to school and leave the past behind. Until new girl Ellis asks for Felicity’s help researching the Dalloway Five and history begins to repeat itself. Victoria Lee said dark academia but make it sapphic and witchy. What more could I ask for?
Fantasy and Romance and Thrills, Oh My!
I didn’t realize until I laid them all out like this, that my most anticipated 2021 releases follow a bit of a theme. If it’s not fantasy, it’s a rom-com or a YA thriller, with lots of overlap among them. I guess this year calls for a bit of escapism, and how can I resist such tempting titles?
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