Most Anticipated Reads of the first half of 2021 | The books this year are here to give me LIFE

Greetings readers!

This year we are going to get some amazing books, friends. We are in for some outstanding and mind-blowing reads and people I am living. This year, like last year is going to come with its obstacles, but I am very comforted by the thought that there are so many books coming up that are just totally going to knock it out of the park (or at least I hope they will!)

So let’s get started!

January

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant – I am always on the hunt for fluffy goodness in my YA contemporary reads and this is it friends!

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas – I am so excited to see what young Maverick is like! He was one of my favourite characters from THUG

February

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna – A new fantasy that I have a good feeling is going to sweep the reading world off its feet! I mean a whole army of magical girls sounds epic on its own!

Like Home by Louisa Onomé – It was pitched as a great read for fans of On My Block and Elizabeth Acevedo and honestly that was enough for me! Looking forward to this story about friendship and community!

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado – I’m in the middle of this and I AM LOVING IT! It is such a gorgeous story I can’t wait to finish it!

March

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas – I am here for the Peter Pan premise and this cover!!! I just know that this will totally knock me off my feet!

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley – Indigenous YA literature!!! We love to see it! We have to support it! I went to a virtual book event featuring the author last year and she said some pretty interesting things about her research! I’m excited!

Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira – Any and all books that are even remotely related to quinceañeras get put on my radar! I am so excited for this debut!!!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert – I LOVE the Brown sisters so much! But I am MOST excited for Eve! She is the youngest sister like me! And she is totally chaotic! This is going to be amazing!

April

Somewhere Between Bitter & Sweet by Laeken Zea Kemp – This is one book I have been waiting for since its announcement! Here is just a snippet of what I was promised: “[a] stunning story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food” This is going to be amazing!!!

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart – I am here for Caribbean witches. I repeat: I am here for vengeful, magical Caribbean witches!!!!!

Cece Rios and Desert Souls by Kaela Rivera – A mesoamerican mythological magical middle grade read! Yes. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE IT! I am here for this!!!!!!!! I need everyone to talk about this because I know it will blow my mind!

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner – I adored Rossner’s first novel and I am so excited she is coming out with another book! If you want Jewish folklore and fantasy in your life then you definitely need her books on your shelves!

May

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – I just got approved for an ARC on Netgalley!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!! SO I’m going to read my ARC and then probably read my finished copy again because I can never get enough of this story!

Bitch Queen Book #3 by K.S. Villoso – The first two books took my breath away, I can only imagine what the finale will do to my soul!!!! I am here for it! I am here for my destruction! If you haven’t picked up this adult fantasy series, you better go do it NOW!

June

A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown – Who isn’t anticipating this sequel?? A Song of Wraiths and Ruin swept the world of its feet, the sequel deserves the exact same, if not more, attention!

Blood like Magic by Liselle Sambury – Black witches in near-future Toronto!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all I needed to know, that is all you need to know!

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – Empire of Sand is one of my favourite books of all time! I am here for this new epic fantasy with forbidden magic, morally grey sapphics and vengeance!

Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua – I am so excited that my fellow Canadian booklovers are going to publish another book! Sarena & Sasha’s new book is going to be The Fantasy Novel to read this year, I hope you have it on your radars!

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And done! While these aren’t the only books I’m anticipating this month, these are the ones I’m hoping to yell about the most when I get around to reading them hehe!

There are so many good books coming our way this year! I would love to hear what books you have on your radar!

Keep an eye out for part two coming sometimes soon or not…It will get here when it gets here hehehe

Happy reading!

~ Rendz