In the innocent words of 2020 Ruby aka “manifesting that 2021 will be a better year”, I shall not be making the same mistake,,,

Okay that was a tad dramatic and I’m sorry I had to take you down that dark, forsaken path, but let’s be honest: 2021 has S-U-C-K-E-D.

But at least there are some good books coming out? Not as many as I thought but definitely some I’d be willing to give my future firstborn to. Let’s get into it!

Also I say this every year but a sneaky few always manage to get on the list. Anyways, I have tried to keep this list fairly short and only add books I’m genuinely interested in. I’ve also cut down on the amount of sequels and books by debut authors that have a sophomore book coming out purely because I have far too many other books to get to. I’ve found there’s absolutely no fun in adding books to your anticipated releases list only to find a year later you still haven’t read them and I hate it so shall be attempting to stop that habit.

Enough with the rambling, let’s jump into ’em <3<3<3

JANUARY

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When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord (4 January 2022): trying not to think about how this book is basically out in 1 week but also I have been blessed with an eARC and need to think about reading before it’s out. Please do yell at me to do so. As we all know, I adore Emma Lord and Tweet Cute was one of my favourites of 2019, and whilst I’m behind on Lord’s other book, I’m excited for this Mamma Mia inspired YA contemporary with the most adorable cover!!!

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (18 January 2022): I honestly have absolutely no expectations for this book, I’m just interested because it’s been gathering buzz and I know Penguin has some huge plans for this book, so surely it should be good? I’m down for most adult romances okay *hides*

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberly & Austin Siegemund-Broka (25 January 2022): Apparently pink and blue are my new favourite colours and I need this book in my life! I will say I am slightly apprehensive because I was excited about a similar book last year and it didn’t go so well BUT I absolutely am obsessed with books about writers so I need to read this. Luckily not too long a wait either.

FEBRUARY

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Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy (1 February 2022): I’m so very intrigued to read this book and see what a traditionally published Elle Kennedy will look like. This cover is really cute and all I really know is that it’s her classic new adult and I think it’s about a girl who moves away to a small town? Let’s see what happens. Oh and I do have an eARC of this one that I’m saving for a rainy day (not that it’s going to rain because it’s summer in the southern hemisphere but you get the point)

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi (1 February 2022): ignoring the fact that this cover has only slightly moved away from the overused font on all YA fantasy covers lately because the colours are pretty together *wink wink* Honestly no idea what this is about but it’s Tahereh Mafi so I want to read it.

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee (1 February 2022): to be honest, the only reason I’m here is because that title is amazing and I’m very curious. Goodreads says it’s “a striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses” so SIGN ME UP!!

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie (8 February 2022): Love love love the roses on this cover eeeep. I’ve been following this author on Twitter for ages, since she was a booktuber, so of course I’d like to read her debut. All I know is that this a coming-of-age YA contemporary about a Cuban teen and there’s a f/f romance. Sounds like a wonderful time xoxo

MARCH

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All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (1 March 2022): If Sabaa Tahir writes it, then I want to read it. Emphasis on want because my emotional well being is still scared to continue with the Ember quartet. Here’s your next cue to yell at me to get over myself and just read Torch already. Believe me, I’m already doing so. Anyways, I literally know zilch about this book except that it’ll be Tahir’s first venture into YA contemporary with a pinch of historical fiction by the looks of things, so I’m very intrigued to see how this goes. My eyes are looking respectfully,,,

Gallant by V.E. Schwab (1 March 2022): How I didn’t know this book existed until doing research for this post baffles me. Looks like NOBODY has talked about it which is very very very weird. Again, know next to nothing about this apart from it being a YA paranormal fantasy and it’s pitched as The Secret Garden meets Stardust, and I love all of these things so!!!!!

A Brush With Love by Mazey Eddings (1 March 2022): this book sounds so so so cute and I’m SO here for a romance about dentists. Why do you ask? Because I’ve been to the dentist quite a lot in my smol lifetime (cleft-lip and palette folks) and this just sounds like a fun time. I have very kindly been approved an eARC by the publisher and I briefly started it but was not in the right mood. It’s described as idiots to lovers and there’s supposed to be slow-burn, so fingers crossed I like it.

Mr Wrong Number by Lynn Painter (1 March 2022): I did indeed JUST finish this author’s debut YA romance and it was a splendid time, as this one sounds like it will be so it had to go on the list. This is an adult romance apparently and it involves a text from a wrong number and an anonymous man, as well as enemies to lovers AND brother’s best-friend. This sounds so up my alley and I’m ready for it xoxo

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The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (1 March 2022): I am fully aware that I technically can read this book already but I probably won’t before it gets traditionally publisheds so I may as well be excited about this release. This is a huge title on BookTok but I have high hopes as it doesn’t… hmm how do I put this? It’s not heavy on the romance welp. Not that I dislike romance at all, I just usually don’t love the ones on there so *nervous sweats* Anyways, I believe this is new adult dark academia and the writing is supposed to be stunning, so I’m excited to see what the fuss is about.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta (1 March 2022): if you’re questioning why I am obsessed with P&P retellings yet have never read the original P&P, then you’re not the only one lmao. I seriously need to read Jane Austen,,, anyways, the sounds cute and I’m here for YA rivals to lovers.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft (8 March 2022): eternally wish I had the artistic talent it takes to create covers like this but alas, we can only do so much. This one appears to be a YA fabulism that involves mythical creatures in some way and that’s all I need to know. Also, my lovely friend Cossette RAVED about this one recently, which means I am now legally obligated to read it.

Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore (8 March 2022): I feel like it’s become an annual occurrence at this point as I always bring up how excited I am to read from this author but that it’s so hard to find their books in my country. So I,,, never read them??? I want to, I truly do but I’m lazy. Yes I do recognise this unhealthy behaviour so please hype up their books in the comments. Take a shot every time I talk about how stunning these covers are in 3… 2… 1… because look how pretty? Anyways, all I took from the synopsis was lake folklore and I was immediately sold *insert heart eyes*

APRIL

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Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill (5 April 2022): you can just bless my life with this cutesey cover and the word “rivals” in the tagline and I’d probably do anything for you. Do with this information what you will…

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum (12 April 2022): I honestly have not heard that many people talk about this release so idk it really could end badly but dark academia boarding school setting, fake dating and enemies to lovers sounds like a great time and I’m here for it. Fingers crossed it delivers!!

An Arrow To The Moon by Emily X.R. Pan (22 April 2022): Have I read this author’s debut that’s been on my yearly tbr for like 5 years at this point? No I have not. Who knows when I will because those trigger warnings have me sacred BUT I saw Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology and suddenly just appeared *insert heart eyes*

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary (26 April 2022): Do I know what this book is about? No. Did I need anything else apart from it being written by Beth O’Leary? Also no, because I want to read everything she writes. That is all.

MAY

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I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (3 May 2022): it’s honestly disgusting that I still haven’t read One Last Stop yet and I am aware of that fact. I’m blaming it on the train wreck that is 2021. BUT I am willing to sacrifice my firstborn for an ARC of this book. No, that was not a joke. Maybe. Anyways, this is apparently YA, which I’m very intrigued about because McQuiston has mostly been writing new adult. This cover is far too cute for its own good and also, this is a f/f romance. MY BODY IS READY <3<3<3

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (3 May 2022): The third of May is possibly the best day ever because my 2 most anticipated releases are out in this day. I have to say that I’d give my firstborn and more for an ARC of this book BECAUSE I NEED IT NOW OMG IT’S GOING TO BE SO GOOD!!! I read the extract when the cover was announced and ugh I have an inkling it might be Ms Henry’s best yet. INJECT THIS BOOK INTO MY VEINS RIGHT NOW AHSHASGAHAHSDHJDS

Inheritance by Elizabeth Acevedo (3 May 2022): from the looks of things this might be a graphic novel otherwise I really have no idea what a “visual poem” is but it’s Elizabeth Acevedo, so it’s sure to be brilliant.

Book of Night by Holly Black (3 May 2022): I feel like I knew about this book but when the cover reveal happened not too long ago, the only way you could colour me was surprised because I forgot about this release. I love Holly Black and her writing style and characters and this will be her adult debut. The tagline says “a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies” which sounds brilliant, so very much looking forward to this one!!

Our Last Days in Barcelona by Chanel Cleeton (24 May 2022): Have I read either of this author’s previous books? No I have not. Do I own both of them? Yes I do. Am I terrible reader who should be kicked off the internet? Yes I should. Here’s your bajillionth cue to yell at me in the comments. Excited to read this Cuban adult historical fiction *hides*

JUNE

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Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan (7 June 2022): As I mentioned before, I’m obsessed with books about writers and though I know nothing about this one, I saw it was about a screenwriter so I instantly appeared. I’ve actually been approved an eARC of this one and I’m excited to see what it’s about, hopefully it’ll surprise me. Btw, it appears to be a romance between a divorced woman whose husband has just left her and her two kids and the guy just cast in the romance film she’s just written. Intrigued.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes (14 June 2022): I recently read this author’s debut and was so surprised by how refreshing it was, so I’m of course looking forward to reading their sophomore release. All I know is that it’s about a woman returning to her hometown? Sounds like it’s going to be good. Intrigued to see what the UK cover looks like btw, as that’s most likely the version I’ll be getting.

A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey (21 June 2022): there are no next to no reviews on Goodreads and I haven’t seen many people talk about this, so who knows if it’ll be good. But it’s an adult romance that’s got a podcast, road trip and childhood best-friends to lovers, which I need in my life!!!!

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay (28 June 2022): I saw royalty and this gorgeous cover and suddenly I appeared. I don’t know what’s it about, what tropes there will be, zilch. I’m just going to read it.

JULY

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Boys I Know by Anna Garcia (5 July 2022): wowza WHAT A COVER. The cover gods just keep blessing us. Not many people have been talking about this so idk what it’ll be like at all. This a YA contemporary about romance and growing up and teen sexuality, according to the synopsis, and honestly that sounds great so IM READY!!!

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor (26 July 2022): Another round of applause for this cover, obsessed with these pastel colours!!! This is also a YA contemporary about a girl’s final year of high school and going to college and I saw the words theatre kids and rivals in the synopsis, which is the formula for a perfect book <3<3<3

AUGUST

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Husband Material by Alexis Hall (2 August 2022): it’s the way I didn’t know I needed this book until it was announced so naturally I’m extremely excited to read it. If you’ve been around on the blog this year, you’d have seen I had the best reading experience with book one, which I listened to as audiobook alongisde the e-book. Highly recommend that because the audiobook is phenomenal. So so so excited to see what shennigans these two get into.

Mad About You by Mhairi McFarlane (8 August 2022): I’ve never read anything from this author before but for some reason I have this idea in my head that I’m going to love her. Let’s hope I’m right and haven’t wasted money on collecting all the books. I didn’t realise the most recent one was really sad, so luckily this one is not. The synopsis says it’s about a wedding photographer who ironically doesn’t believe in weddings and breaks off her engagement, so she’s now in a sticky situation. The obvious solution is to move in with a stranger who’s also going through a romantic crisis and are we all sold? Because I am.

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan (22 August 2022): I,,, am unexpectedly so excited about this wtf. Literally just randomly saw it online the other day and had to add it to the list. Never read from her, but I listened to one of the books Julia Whelan narrated this year and it was absolutely fantastic. But this book also just sounds !!!!! It’s about an audiobook narrator who’s having a hard moment in her life but takes a job narrating a romance alongside one of the audiobook narrator world’s top narrators. So yeah it’s an adult romance and WHAT THE ACTUAL I NEED THIS NOW!!!!!!

Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution by R.F. Kuang (23 August 2022): yo apparently that is the whole title though I just thought it was Babel. Still need to read The Poppy War but I’m scared for my mental health and I also don’t own it yet. But I know that I’ll love it and want to read this one and also it’s dark academia here to tackle colonialism and I’m so here for that. That is all I have to say.

Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood (23 August 2022): there’s no cover and no synopsis and although I could read an excerpt from the back of The Love Hypothesis, I’m lazy and have not done so. But here I am, excited to read this book either way. Yes I am aware of my stupidity. Acceptance is the first step to recovery.

Nothing More To Tell by Karen M. McManus (30 August 2022): I’ve read all of this author’s books but one, and I’ve mostly enjoyed all of them. And when I heard the author describing this book and mentioning a teen journalist and cold case, I was sold. Seriously, that synopsis sounds so amazing and I’m more excited than I thought I would be!!!

NOVEMBER

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare (1 November 2022): please yell at me because I deserve it even more for this terrible excuse and crime to humanity. I HAVEN’T READ CHAIN OF IRON AND IM ASHAMED,,, I’ve been meaning to reread book one all year because that book was a whirlwind and I lowkey took in nothing, so I’ve forgotten what even happened then. That’s my best excuse. I need to get on that book already. Hopefully soon *hides twice*

UNKNOWN 2022

Untitled Skybriar Book #1 by Talia Hibbert (unknown 2022): This may not even be coming out next year because usually Ms Hibbert releases books around March, there’s absolutely no info on this book yet and it’s December. But I fell in love with this fictional town in Act Your Age, Eve Brown so I’m patiently awaiting this one xoxo

Dreamer Trilogy Book #3 by Maggie Stiefvater (unknown 2022): this excuse is even worse than CoG because I actually did reread all the books in the Raven Cycle in preparation for finally reading Call Down The Hawk. I have not read book one, let alone book two to even be excited for the third book. Electric chair it is for me. See ya on the other side… *hides thrice*

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas (unknown 2022): I,,, okay have to admit I didn’t love TSLD. I’m happy for everyone who did but she’s not my kind of romance. I,,, really hate to say that I just don’t get the Aaron obsession? Seemed like he had no personality in my opinion. So you’re probably wondering why this book is even on the list? Well so I am lmao. No, I do actually think I’ll like this one a bit more, just because forced proximity is more my thing. Fingers crossed I love.

Stonewall by George M. Johnson (unknown 2022): I read and adored Johnson’s memoir last year (I legit could not remember when I read this book and thought it was this year, let’s thank pandemic time failure). Anyways, of course, I want to read everything they put out and this one is a non-fiction graphic novel and “explores the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and its roots in the Stonewall Riots“. I already know it’s going to be brilliant.

Everything For You by Chloe Liese (early 2022): as you all know, I love this author so much and just have so much admiration for her. Whilst I haven’t loved loved loved every single one of her books, I’m nonetheless very excited for the next instalment in the Bergman Brothers series. I’m technically a book behind so I need to catch up asap and I also forgot who this was about, I think it’s Ollie? I do deserve the slander you’re about to send me for being a terrible fan welp

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson (Spring 2022): I didn’t even know Ms Matson even had another book coming out until this post which baffles me a second time. The algorithm is hiding these announcements from me dammit. I haven’t yet managed to get my hands on her new book yet but I hope to get to to it asap. This one has a summer vacation/camp, family shenanigans and apparently a mystery. I’m excited <3<3<3

Two Wrongs Make A Right by Chloe Liese (Fall 2022): I do actually know my stuff here and I’m willing to sacrifice my firstborn for this one omggggg. Chloe Liese’s been picked up by Berkley and is releasing a series of Shakespeare retellings and are you screaming also?!?!?! Apparently this one is Much Ado About Nothing and has an autistic heroine (Chloe is an own-voices writer for this and has written multiple books with an autistic MC) and fake dating. GIMME GIMME GIMME NOW I NEED IT SO BAD!!!!!!!

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle (Fall 2022): I seriously need to read Twice Shy but did you honestly think I would have read it so quickly? Come on, it’s me. I literally only just heard about this book because people are already reading and raving about it. Positive we’ll be doing the same because Sarah has magic in her veins. This is a holiday rom-com that has a celebrity by the looks of things and the entire synopsis already radiates Hogle’s hilarious writing SIGN ME UP RIGHT THIS SECOND.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong (Fall 2022): Saving the final book on this list for possibly the only book I’ll care about. Ever. Would sell my soul for this book and that is not an exaggeration. I do also have to make a formal complaint to Chloe Gong who promised a proper synopsis after OVE’s release date and ma’am WHERE IS IT?!?!?! I NEED TO KNOW WHO THIS BOOK IS ABOUT!!!! Anyways, OVE broke me into a thousand pieces and shards and I’ll never recover and I want this book yesterday. That’s all I have to say.

And that’s it for today friends. I have to say, whilst I’m mad mad mad excited about quite a lot of these, it doesn’t seem like there are as many big releases next year as there usually are? Is it just me? I lowkey struggled to put this list together.

It’s probably just me to be honest.

Before I love and leave you, I’m sending you on over to a couple of friends who have posts of their own up in case you were looking for more 2022 releases. Head on over to these posts to make your tbr become even longer:

• Marie’s anticipated contemporary romance books
• Marie’s anticipated YA books
• Sophie’s January to June anticipated YA books
• Sophie’s January to June anticipated adult books

WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR NEXT YEAR? ANY OF MINE ON YOUR LIST? DID I FORGET ANY? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!