Each year brings its share of bookish surprises, including debuts that mark the arrival of literary superstars and long-awaited new releases [1] from tried and true favourites. But even by the usual standards, the best books of 2022 are an impressive collection of thrillers [2], romance reads, literary fiction, and every genre in between [3]. Whether you've been anxiously awaiting the next suspense-filled read from Lucy Foley or the buzz around Nikki May's debut Wahala has piqued your interest, 2022's most anticipated releases are sure to keep you turning pages (or staying up with your Kindle) all year long.
More of a nonfiction fan [4]? Don't worry, 2022 is looking out for you, too. Viola Davis and Hannah Gadsby are just two of Hollywood's brightest stars whose memoirs will have everyone talking. Add in engrossing books like South to America by Imani Perry and Admissions by Kendra James, it becomes clear there are plenty of reasons for nonfiction fans to rejoice this year.
No matter what kind of books you love, 2022's fresh reads are an astounding bunch. With new releases from the likes of Riley Sager, Jasmine Guillory, and Emily St. John Mandel, there's zero chance anyone will be able to complain about running out of incredible books to read anytime soon.
30 Things I Love About Myself by Radhika Sanghani
30 Things I Love About Myself [5] by Radhika Sanghani is a book for anyone who has ever found themselves in a spiral of self-loathing. For Nina Mistry, hitting rock bottom means spending her 30th birthday in a holding cell. The floundering freelance journalist lands there after breaking up with her fiancé and realising she'll now have to move in with her mom and older brother. But even as she reaches her lowest point, Nina resolves to find 30 reasons to fall in love with herself over the next year, leading to a heartwarming and funny journey about one woman's radical quest to find self-acceptance.
Out Jan. 4
Anthem by Noah Hawley
Noah Hawley, the creator of the Emmy-winning FX series Fargo [6], has written one of the year's most highly anticipated thrillers. Anthem [7] takes place during a moment in time that's incredibly similar to one we're all living through right now — but with a twist. Suddenly, teens across the world are discovering hidden messages in memes that only they can understand. Among them is Simon Oliver, who leaves the facility where he's trying to process the sudden death of his sister with a man called The Prophet and a woman named Louise. Together, they embark on a journey to stop a man called The Wizard, who preys on the vulnerable.
Out Jan. 4
Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades
Daphne Palasi Andreades's debut novel Brown Girls [8] is, at its heart, a coming-of-age story. Set in Queens, the novel follows Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, and Angelique, a group of friends who are growing up feeling torn between two worlds. Each of them comes from a family of immigrants, and together they roam New York City, where they grapple with young adulthood, test the bonds of their friendship, and ultimately take divergent paths as they find themselves. This moving story puts the spotlight on the complexities of modern women friendships in a story about the beauty and tragedy of growing up.
Out Jan. 4
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
Told across two decades, Fiona and Jane [9] by Jean Chen Ho chronicles the friendship of two Taiwanese-American women who have been inseparable since second grade. Told through the lens of both women's perspectives, the story follows Fiona as she ultimately leaves behind Los Angeles to chase her dreams in New York City, while Jane stays behind to deal with the sudden death of her estranged father. As the distance strains their friendship, Jane and Fiona begin to drift in and out of each other's lives in this astounding novel about adult friendships and two remarkable women who aren't quite sure if they still fit together like they did when they were children.
Out Jan. 4
The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
The Ivory Key [10] by Akshaya Raman is a YA fantasy debut about a quartet of siblings who are each in search of the Ivory Key — the literal key of magic — for their own reasons. Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya come from a royal family, but despite their shared upbringing, they have never been close. Now, with their kingdom on the verge of running out of magic, a situation that would lead to war, they have to band together to find the key — but the catch is none of them want the key for the same reason, leaving the door open for startling double-crosses and maybe even a bit of sibling bonding along the way.
Out Jan. 4
Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins
Dani Porter is only looking for sweet revenge when she buys the vacant lot next to her ex's new house in Love at First Spite [11] by Anna E. Collins. The interior decorator plans to build a holiday rental right next door to her ex-fiancé's house to ensure he doesn't get a moment's peace in the home they were going to share before he cheated on her with the realtor. Unfortunately, the only way to make Spite House happen is with the help of the incredibly uptight architect Wyatt Montego. However, it doesn't take long for Dani to realise Wyatt is way more than just a professional connection.
Out Jan. 4
The Maid by Nita Prose
Nita Prose's entrancing debut The Maid [12] is being hailed as something of a modern-day Clue. The locked-room mystery follows 25-year-old Molly, who is still learning how to navigate the world without the help of her grandmother. For Molly, the world can be a strange and chaotic place, but she thrives on restoring order, which makes her the perfect maid for the Regency Grand Hotel. However, when the young maid discovers a dead body in one of the rooms, she's the first person accused of the murder. Luckily, Molly and her friends are determined to crack the case before she goes down for a crime she didn't commit.
Out Jan. 4
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Both literal and metaphorical storms plague the Acevedo family in Xochitl Gonzalez's Olga Dies Dreaming [13]. In the years since their mother left them to join a radical political movement, Olga and Pedro have become shining stars in New York. Pedro is a congressman, while Olga is one of the city's most sought-after wedding planners. But there are cracks in the lives of the siblings that are only magnified by the return of their mother. Blanca happens to reappear just in time for hurricane season, leaving Olga and Pedro to reckon with the damage she did to their lives just as Puerto Rico is hit by a devastating hurricane.
Out Jan. 4
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
Rachel Hawkins's latest thriller Reckless Girls [14] gives Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None a deliciously twisted modern update. When six gorgeous 20-somethings embark on a voyage to a secluded island with a history of shipwrecks, they expect nothing more than a blissful stay in paradise. Instead, they soon discover the island is a much darker and more isolated place than they ever could have imagined. First, one of them disappears, and then another vacationer ends up dead, leaving the remaining guests to unravel the mystery of what's really going on before they all meet an untimely demise.
Out Jan. 4
The School For Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Who gets to decide what it means for a woman to be a good mother? That's the question at the centre of Jessamine Chan's searing novel The School For Good Mothers [15]. Everything in Frida Liu's life is complicated: her job is a disappointment to her parents, and her husband doesn't even bother to hide his affair. The one thing in Frida's life that is perfect is her daughter Harriet, but when Frida makes one mistake, the government suddenly has the power to decide whether or not she's a good mother — and if she's fit to parent Harriet at all.
Out Jan. 4
Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman is one of the best modern crime fiction writers around. That's why her new collection of short stories, Seasonal Work [16], is such a treat. Each story in the collection features a fascinating woman who ends up right at the centre of a plot full of intrigue and suspense. Short stories include "Just One More," in which a couple's attempt to spice up their marriage goes awry, and "Slow Burner," wherein a woman just can't help but investigate her husband's secret cell phone. These juicy mini mysteries are perfect for when you want a twisty but short read.
Out Jan. 4
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
Sleeping Beauty gets a much needed upgrade in The Bone Spindle [17] by Leslie Vedder. Briar Rose is a prince who has been under a sleeping curse for 100 years, just waiting for true love's kiss to wake him up. What he didn't expect was for a treasure hunter named Fi to prick her finger and suddenly gain the ability to see his spirit. Now Fi, her friend Shane, and Briar Rose must embark on a dangerous quest full of witches and magic in order to break the curse and set Briar Rose free. (And if Fi can avoid falling in love with the prince, she'll see that as an added bonus.)
Out Jan. 11
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
The Paris Bookseller [18] by Kerri Maher is a can't-miss historical fiction title for anyone with a passion for books. In 1919, Sylvia Beach opens the famed Parisian bookstore Shakespeare and Company, which quickly becomes a gathering place for some of the brightest minds of the era, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Joyce. In fact, when Joyce's Ulysses is banned, Sylvia takes a chance and publishes the title herself. This one act tests the bookseller's friendships, puts her business at risk, and leads to a personal and professional crisis that will force her to decide just how much the bookstore means to her.
Out Jan. 11
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
To Paradise [19] by Hanya Yanagihara is a knockout of a novel. Spanning three centuries, the author chronicles three different eras in America history. First up is an alternate history version of 1893, in which New York is a free state where everyone can live and love as they please. Then there's 1993 New York, in which the AIDs crisis touches the lives of a couple whose age difference and secrets haunt them. Finally, Yanagihara turns her attention to 2093, in which a granddaughter is trying to move on in the aftermath of her grandfather's death, while also investigating the disappearance of her husband.
Out Jan. 11
Wahala by Nikki May
Wahala [20] by Nikki May is like Sex and the City [21], but with a modern edge. Ronke, Boo, and Simi are Anglo-Nigerian best friends who share everything with each other — well, almost everything. Boo isn't as satisfied with her happily ever after as her friends think she is, Ronke is desperate to finally get married and start a family, and Simi doesn't know how to tell her husband she's not trying to get pregnant. Enter Isobel, a glamorous newcomer who shakes all of their lives up, while also exposing the glaring cracks in their friendship as she pushes the women outside of their comfort zones.
Out Jan. 11
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Rachel Lynn Solomon serves up another sunshiny rom-com in Weather Girl [22]. Meteorologist Ari Abrams wants nothing more than to learn under her hero, the iconic Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale. Unfortunately, Torrance is too distracted by her divorce from the station's news director to pay Ari any attention. Always the optimist, Ari enlists the shy sports reporter Russell Barringer to help her reunite Torrance with her ex. As you can imagine, her efforts quickly become complicated by her own feelings for Russell, and the fallout that comes along with trying to play matchmaker in an already tense work environment.
Out Jan. 11
Admissions by Kendra James
Kendra James is the first African American legacy student to graduate from The Taft School, and she's spilling everything about her experience at the mostly white boarding school in her memoir Admissions [23]. In her own professional life, James went on to specialise in diversity recruitment for prep schools, and it was during this time she realised she was leading a new generation of students to walk the same complicated path she did. That's when she decided to write Admissions, an account of the microaggressions and elitist nonsense she faced during her time at Taft, as well as an examination of the way pop culture depicts boarding school life.
Out Jan. 18
Hotel Portofino by J.P. O'Connell
If you love period dramas like Downton Abbey [24] and The Crown [25], then you need to read Hotel Portofino [26] by J.P. O'Connell immediately. The dazzling mystery has already been turned into a TV series that is set to air on PBS [27] later this year, and it's easy to see why. Set at an upper-class British hotel in the 1920s-era Italian Riviera, the story follows Bella Ainsworth, the hotel's owner who is struggling to keep her haughty guests happy and her troubled family afloat. When a love match for her son falls through, Bella's situation goes from bad to so much worse.
Out Jan. 18
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
There are shades of Cloud Atlas in Sequoia Nagamatsu's enthralling and sprawling sci-fi debut How High We Go in the Dark [28]. The story spans hundreds of years and focuses on an interconnected cast of characters who are trying to survive in a world ravaged by climate change. Beginning in 2030 when an Arctic plague sweeps across the world, the story quickly becomes an ode to human perseverance and the enduring nature of love. From an unlikely love story that unfolds at a theme park for terminally ill children to an intrepid grandmother's attempt to find a new home planet for herself and her granddaughter, every storyline within this dazzling novel will touch your heart.
Out Jan. 18
How to Love Your Neighbour by Sophie Sullivan
Sophie Sullivan serves up the HGTV-style rom-com the world needs right now in How to Love Your Neighbour [29]. After putting herself through interior design school by working an impressive number of jobs, Grace Travis has finally found the perfect fixer-upper to call her own. There's just one problem: her next-door neighbour happens to be a ruthless real estate developer named Noah Jansen, who wants nothing more than to buy Grace's house so he can expand his own dream home into the lot it is sitting on. However, Grace has waited far too long to have a home of her own to give up without a fight.
Out Jan. 18
Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
Made in Manhattan [30] by Lauren Layne flips My Fair Lady on its head, and the results are as hilarious as they are swoon-worthy. Violet Townsend effortlessly fits in among Manhattan's elite, thanks in no small part to her need to please everyone around her. This goes double for her grandmother, who has a big favour to ask of Violet. She needs her granddaughter to help her friend's newly discovered grandson, Cain Stone, learn how to navigate the upper crust world of New York City. Unfortunately for Violet, Cain, a born and bred Louisianan, has zero interest in playing by the New York City rules Violet lives by.
Out Jan. 18
Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson
In an era where job satisfaction and the toll a bad job can take on a person's mental health seems to be on everyone's mind, Must Love Books [31] by Shauna Robinson is an absolute must-read. At the heart of the story is Nora Hughes, whose love of reading led her to what was supposed to be her dream job as an editorial assistant at Parsons Press. But after five years of taking coffee orders and working late hours, Nora's hard work is rewarded with a pay cut. This leaves her with no other option but to secretly take on a job with Parsons's rival publisher, even as author Andrew Santos tries to give her a compelling reason to stick with her dream job turned nightmare.
Out Jan. 18
On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
On a Night Like This [32] by Lindsey Kelk is a Cinderella-inspired rom-com that might just make you believe in magic. Fran Cooper is ready to change her life, and, thanks to her new job as a celebrity assistant, she's on the right path. Still, there's no getting around the fact that's she's a gatecrasher at the Crystal Ball, an exclusive party held on an island in Italy. That's exactly why she needs to resist the charms of Evan, an effortlessly cool American who wants Fran to have one epic, adventurous night with him — even though it quickly becomes clear they're both looking for something more.
Out Jan. 18
The Other Family by Wendy Corsi Staub
Expect to sleep with the lights on after reading The Other Family [33] by Wendy Corsi Staub. The Howell family are California transplants who find the perfect brownstone to move into in Brooklyn. There's plenty of room for the couple, their daughters, and even their pug. There's just one catch: the previous residents of their dream home died in an unsolved triple homicide. Soon, the Howells begin to feel as if someone is watching their family, and the eldest daughter Stacey just can't stop digging into the case. However, she may discover her own family has a shocking connection to the previous owners that will upend the Howell family's seemingly perfect lives forever.
Out Jan. 18
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover returns with another touching romance novel in Reminders of Him [34]. A horrible mistake landed Kenna Rowan in prison for five years. Now released, she wants nothing more than to be reunited with her daughter and start a new life for the both of them. Sadly, no one in her hometown is willing to give her a chance except for local bar owner Ledger Ward. As Ledger and Kenna grow closer, their connection puts the bar owner's good standing in the town at risk, but their connection might just be strong enough to risk losing everything over.
Out Jan. 18
What Might Have Been by Holly Miller
Holly Miller's Sliding Doors-style romance What Might Have Been [35] is all about how one decision can change the course of your life forever. On the night Lucy quits her job, she meets a photographer named Caleb, and bumps into Max, the man she always believed was the love of her life. Now she has two choices: stay in her seaside town with Caleb and finally write the novel she's been dreaming about for ages, or head to London with Max, where she has an opportunity to revitalize her career. The story follows Lucy down both paths as destiny works its magic on her life.
Out Jan. 18
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? [36] by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a delightful romantic comedy that refuses to play by the genre's rules. Yinka is a successful 30-something-year-old with a good job and a wonderful group of friends. Even though her life is, by all accounts, a happy one, her traditional Nigerian mother and aunties can't stop asking her when she'll get married. While Yinka prefers to believe love will find her when the time is right, she decides to find a date for her cousin's wedding in hopes of making her family happy. In the process, she might just find something more important: herself.
Out Jan. 18
Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
Good Rich People [37] by Eliza Jane Brazier comes with a jaw-dropping twist right out of the gate: the story revolves around a wealthy couple who amuse themselves by inviting self-made entrepreneurs to live in their guesthouse and then set out to destroy their lives. However, they get more than they bargained for when Demi moves in. Their latest target has secrets of her own, and she's been through too much in her life to let a pair of bored rich people ruin her one shot at living the good life. Soon, Demi and the couple are locked in a battle that's destined to end badly for everyone involved.
Out Jan. 25
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Former writing partners Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen are forced to reunite to finish one more romance novel in Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka's second chance romance The Roughest Draft [38]. The bestselling authors have successfully avoided each other since their private falling out, but with one book left on their contract, they reunite in the heat of the small Florida town where they penned their first book to write one more story. In the process, the duo might just have a shot of working out their differences and remembering why they made such a great team in the first place.
Out Jan. 25
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall
Boyfriend Material author Alexis Hall turns his attention to the regency era in the fun and frothy Something Fabulous [39]. Valentine Layton is a duke with a problem. His father always hoped he would marry Miss Arabella Tarleton, but when he proposes, she literally runs away from his proposition of a marriage of convenience. Now, Valentine is on a mission to find Arabella with her romantic and dramatic twin brother Bonny at his side. The only trouble is, Bonny has a way of getting under the duke's skin like no one else has before — and that could be quite inconvenient indeed.
Out Jan. 25
South to America by Imani Perry
Imani Perry delves deep into the complicated past and present of the south in South to America [40]. Perry argues that in order to understand America as a whole, you must first understand the idiosyncrasies and myriad of cultures that exist in the south. But first, the native Alabaman had to return home to delve into her roots and explore both the dark side of southern culture and the positive parts that are seldom appreciated by those who aren't from the region. The end result is an essential cultural exploration that will ultimately help people better understand the complexities of this country we call home.
Out Jan. 25
Violeta by Isabel Allende
Bestselling author Isabel Allende's Violeta [41] is a sweeping story of one woman's long and extraordinary life. Born in 1920 South America, Violeta has only been alive a few weeks when the Spanish flu visits their shores. Thanks to her father, her family makes it through the pandemic unscathed, but there are more trials on the horizon, including the Great Depression, the rise of tyrants, first loves, terrible heartaches, and another much more modern pandemic. Spanning 100 years, this stunning novel will show you the history of our modern times through the story of one fascinating woman's life.
Out Jan. 25
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel Black Cake [42] is an emotional tour de force. When their mother dies, estranged siblings Byron and Benny return home to claim a most unusual inheritance. Their mother has left behind a traditional Caribbean black cake, a harrowing story of a woman fleeing her island home after being suspected of murder, and instructions to share the cake together "when the time is right." But first, Byron and Benny must solve the mystery of the secrets their mother kept from them and find their way to each other before they can truly understand where they come from.
Out Feb. 1
The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz
At once an emotional love story and a family drama, The Liz Taylor Ring [43] by Brenda Janowitz will pull you in with mystery and romance. Years after the death of their parents, the Schneider children reunite under one roof when the eleven-carat ring their father gifted their mother resurfaces after having gone missing for years. At first, the adult children can only see the monetary value of the ring, but it soon becomes apparent the ring that looks so much like the one Richard Burton gave Liz Taylor after they separated holds family secrets they never could have imagined.
Out Feb. 1
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
The first book in Tahereh Mafi's highly anticipated fantasy series This Woven Kingdom [44] is inspired by Persian mythology. The crown prince Kamran knows there are prophecies foretelling the death of the king, but he never could have anticipated what would happen when they come to pass. As far as he knew, Alizeh was nothing more than a servant, but in truth she's the heir to the Jinn kingdom. Now her rise to power is destined to not only challenge his claim to the crown, but also to upend the world as they know it in the first chapter of what's set to be an epic trilogy.
Out Feb. 1
I'm So Not Over You by Kosoko Jackson
Who doesn't love a second chance romance with a side of fake dating? In I'm So Not Over You [45] by Kosoko Jackson, Kian can't help but hope that his ex's text message means Hudson is ready to apologise for their breakup so they can finally get back together. Instead, Hudson has a proposition for Kian: he wants his ex to pose as his boyfriend for a family dinner. When Kian agrees, the last thing he expects is to end up as Hudson's plus one at the most buzzed about wedding of the year, and yet that's exactly what happens, leaving him to wonder just how fake their arrangement really is.
Out Feb. 22
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
The Paris Apartment [46] by Lucy Foley is an enticing Parisian locked room mystery with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned of thriller fans guessing. With her life in shambles, Jess is in need of a change of scenery, and her half-brother reluctantly obliges by inviting her to stay with him in his apartment in Paris. However, when Jess arrives, her brother is nowhere to be found, and the longer he's missing, the more suspicious she becomes about his seemingly nice neighbours. As she investigates the people who may or may not know what happened to her brother, Jess finds herself in the middle of a potentially deadly situation.
Out Feb. 22
When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry
Faith and brotherhood are at the heart of Quan Barry's compelling new novel When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East [47]. Set in Mongolia, the story follows a young monk, Chuluun, who sets off on a journey with his twin brother, Mun, to find the reincarnation of a religious figure known as the great lama. Complicating their journey is the fact that the brothers can hear each other's thoughts, and Mun has long since given up the monastic life, leaving his relationship with his brother strained. As they make their way across Mongolia, the boys' faith will be tested, as will their bond.
Out Feb. 22
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Sabaa Tahir is known for her richly drawn YA fantasy series An Ember in the Ashes, but in All My Rage [48], she proves she's equally adept at writing unforgettable contemporary stories too. Beginning in Lahore, Pakistan, with the story of the main characters' parents, this astounding story follows best friends Salahudin and Noor as they navigate life in Juniper, California. After a fight tests their bond, the teens must follow their own paths as Sal tries to save his family's failing hotel business by any means necessary and Noor saves money for college in hopes of escaping her alcoholic uncle's control.
Out March 1
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Bestselling author V.E. Schwab creates a new dark fantasy world in Gallant [49]. At the centre of the story is the idea that everything casts a shadow, even the world itself. Olivia Prior just happens to be able to move between the real world and the shadow world, which puts her in a unique position to study the crumbling manor that is Gallant. When she crosses over into the shadow world, she sees firsthand the darkness that has haunted her family for decades, and now she has to make a choice: join the darkness or fight against it for the sake of generations to come.
Out March 1
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
It Happened One Summer took the romance world by storm in 2021, and now Tessa Bailey is returning to the world of the Bellinger sisters in Hook, Line, and Sinker [50]. This time around Hannah takes centre stage as she moves into the spare bedroom in her best friend Fox Thornton's apartment. What she doesn't realise is that notorious ladies' man Fox is nursing a serious crush on his best pal, but he's determined not to let it ruin their friendship — even if that means helping her hook-up with a co-worker she can't get out of her head.
Out March 1
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
One Italian Summer [51] by Rebecca Serle is a different kind of love story. This moving novel tells the story of Katy, whose best friend has always been her mother. Just before Katy and her mom, Carol, are set to take a trip of a lifetime to Positano, where her mom spent one magical summer before meeting Katy's dad, Carol dies. Grief-stricken, but determined to follow in her mother's footsteps, Katy goes on the trip alone, and soon something magical happens. Somehow, she ends up running into the 30-year-old version of her mom, giving her a chance to get to know a side of her mother she's never known before.
Out March 1
A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee
Traci Chee draws on Japanese folklore in her vibrant new fantasy novel A Thousand Steps Into Night [52]. Set in the world of Awara, where monsters, humans, and gods must all coexist, Miuko is living a quiet life as an innkeeper's daughter until she's cursed. Now, Miuko can't stop herself from turning into a demon whose touch is deadly unless she embarks on a quest to bargain with the gods themselves. Along the way she encounters a meddlesome demon prince, tricksters, and a cast of unforgettable characters as she slowly begins to realise she may not want to return to her old life after all.
Out March 1
Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith
Three women's lives collide in surprising and twisted ways in Truth and Other Lies [53] by Maggie Smith. Megan Barnes's mother, Helen, is running for Congress, which means she wants Megan to put her life as a reporter on hold until after the election. Instead, Megan finds a fulfiling new job with Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist Jocelyn Jones. But just as she's settling into her new life, an anonymous tweet puts Helen's entire career in jeopardy, forcing her daughter to search for the troll who is out for her. Unfortunately for Megan, the answers she finds are destined to leave her torn between her mother and her mentor.
Out March 8
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
Simone St. James specialises in writing haunting thrillers, and The Book of Cold Cases [54] will definitely give you chills. True crime blogger Shea spends her nights delving into unsolved murder cases, but she gets more than she bargained for when she begins investigating the 1977 Lady Killer Murders. Years ago, Beth Greer was acquitted of the murders, and swiftly moved back to her isolated mansion. Now she has agreed to be interviewed by Shea, who visits her at her spooky manor. It's not long before Shea begins to notice strange occurrences in Beth's home, but by then it's far too late for her to turn her back on the unusual case.
Out March 15
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
Prepare to have your heart warmed by One Night on the Island [55] by Josie Silver. Just in time for her thirtieth birthday, Cleo Wilder heads off to Ireland for a solo retreat in a charming cabin where she plans to map out the next phase of her career. However, a mix-up leaves the cabin double-booked, forcing Cleo to share the space with Mack Sullivan, an American on a mission to trace his Irish roots. Neither one of them wants company, but until the next ferry comes they're stuck together, which might be exactly what they need, even if they can't see it at first.
Out March 15
The White Girl by Tony Birch
Tony Birch is Australia's foremost Indigenous writer, and The White Girl [56] marks his stateside debut. This haunting novel is set in 1960s Australia, where racist laws threaten to separate a family due to the colour of a little girl's skin. Odette Brown has raised her fair-skinned granddaughter, Sissy, since her own daughter left the girl when she was just 1. However, when the government realises the now 13-year-old Sissy is being raised by an Aboriginal family, they take steps to have her removed from Odette's care. Sissy and Odette aren't going to be separated without a fight.
Out March 15
Remember Me by Estelle Laure
Remember Me [57] by Estelle Laure is a YA novel that poses a difficult question. If you could have all of your most painful memories removed, would you do it? And if so, what would be the cost? That is the question that plagues Blue Owens after she chooses to have her memories removed, leaving her to piece together her past with the help of the very person she was trying to forget. Now Blue has no choice but to confront the painful memories she so desperately wanted to leave behind if she has any hope of ever feeling whole again.
Out March 22
Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
First her Netflix comedy special Nanette pushed the bounds of comedy to their breaking point, and now Hannah Gadsby is ready to flip the script on memoirs with Ten Steps to Nanette [58]. Gadsby's memoir explores her childhood in the isolated community of Tasmania, Australia, her journey as a queer woman, and her autism diagnosis before delving into how she created her groundbreaking comedy special. From turning her back on the traditional tenants of humour to owning her role as a truth-teller in a field plagued by misogyny, Gadsby's story is every bit as unique and powerful as the artist herself.
Out March 29
Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
Cover Story [59] by Susan Rigetti is an unforgettable tale of scams and double-crosses told through emails, diary entries, and FBI correspondence. Lora Ricci is beyond excited when she lands a summer internship at Elle, and her future only looks brighter when the wealthy Cat Wolff takes her under her wing. It's not long before Lora is swept up into Cat's world, working as her ghostwriter by day and joining her at lavish parties by night. But not all is at it seems between these two women, and by the end, they're inadvertently caught up in a caper for the ages.
Out April 5
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Award-winning author Emily St. John Mandel is back with her most ambitious novel to date in Sea of Tranquility [60]. Spanning centuries, the story begins in 1912 with a young man who hears the echo of violin strings in the forest, before moving two centuries forward to cover the doomed book tour of moon-dweller Olive Llewellyn. Finally, the story winds its way to Gaspery-Jacques Roberts, a detective investigating an anomaly that appears to have driven a young man mad in his prime and trapped an author on a plague-ravaged Earth, among other strange occurrences. Now it's up to Gaspery to figure out who tampered with time itself and why.
Out April 5
Radically Content by Jamie Varon
In a world that's constantly telling us that we're not enough, Jamie Varon's Radically Content [61] is nothing short of revolutionary. Mixing elements of a memoir with an exploration of the industries selling the myth that only perfection can equal contentment, Varon offers readers an alternative to putting off satisfaction until some magical number of life achievements has been unlocked. Instead of waiting for your life to become perfect, the author serves up practical tools to help you find contentment in this moment by redefining success, learning to truly trust yourself, creating your own healing rituals, and living every day with intention.
Out April 12
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
The next book in Rebecca Roanhorse's inventive fantasy series Between Earth and Sky is finally here. In Fevered Star [62], readers return to The Meridian where a people who have been taught not to worship gods are suddenly confronted with legends come to life. With the world plunged into darkness, Xiala finds an ally in the former Priest of Knives as a war wages both among the gods and on earth. Meanwhile, living avatars Serapio and Naranpa fight for their personhood even as destiny seems to be pointing toward them reshaping the world, whether they're ready to carry that weight or not.
Out April 19
Finding Me by Viola Davis
With an Oscar, an Emmy, and two Tonys, Viola Davis is one of the most acclaimed actors working in Hollywood today. As an actor, producer, and writer, she's already a hero to her many fans, but in her new memoir Finding Me [63], Davis promises to share a side of herself she's never shared before. From her childhood spent in Rhode Island to her Hollywood breakthrough and beyond, Davis's memoir is an honest and open account of her real-life hero's journey that's sure to touch the hearts of anyone who picks it up. And as is always the case with the incomparable Davis, you can expect her story to inspire readers, too.
Out April 26
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Book Lovers [64] by Emily Henry is a rom-com for anyone who doesn't feel like the hero of their own story. Literary agent Nora Stephens certainly doesn't see herself as the star of an epic tale. She's neither sweet, nor plucky, but she does love books and her little sister. That's why she agrees to go on a trip with her sister, who is determined to make Nora see herself the way she does. Instead, Nora finds herself constantly bumping into brooding editor Charlie Lastra, who she knows from the city. If this was a story, their constant run-ins would be defined as a meet-cute, but this is real life, and Nora is determined not to fall for Charlie, no matter what the universe has to say about it.
Out May 3
Book of Night by Holly Black
Acclaimed YA author Holly Black is set to make her adult debut with the epic modern fantasy novel Book of Night [65]. Charlie Hall is a master thief who has spent most of her life helping gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows, keep their secrets safe. But Charlie is ready to go straight now, even if that means working in a dive bar. Unfortunately for her, her sister and her boyfriend have other, far more nefarious plans. It's not long before Charlie is pulled back into the underworld of the gloamists, but this time around, the fate of the world might depend on her stopping them and the many other people who seek to control the shadow world.
Out May 3
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Jasmine Guillory reimagines Beauty and the Beast for a new generation in her delightful new rom-com By the Book [66]. At 25, Isabelle is exhausted by a job where she's both overworked and perpetually underpaid. Still, her love of books is too strong for her to walk away from the world of publishing just yet, so when she hears her boss complaining about a "beast" of an author who just can't seem to meet his deadline, she offers to secure Beau Towers's manuscript in exchange for a promotion. What she doesn't expect is for Beau to be a brooding and withdrawn man who can only write his novel with her by his side.
Out May 3
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston has already conquered the world of adult romance, and now the bestselling author is turning their attention to the YA genre. McQuiston will make their YA debut with the hilarious and fast-paced romance I Kissed Shara Wheeler [67]. Four years after her moms moved her to Alabama to attend a Christian school, Chloe Green is about to make her dream of beating Shara Wheeler out for the title of valedictorian come true. But then Shara kisses her and seemingly disappears, leaving behind a trail of clues that might just reveal there's more to Chloe's rival than she gave her credit for.
Out May 3
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
The magic and romance of summer is palpable in Carley Fortune's Every Summer After [68]. Years after she stopped visiting Barry's Bay, an unexpected phone call draws Persephone Fraser back to the place where she spent her summers as a child. The mother of her first love, Sam Florek, has died, and although she and Sam drifted apart long ago, she knows she would regret not being there to say goodbye to his mother. What she doesn't expect is for the chemistry between her and Sam to still be so strong. But is it really strong enough for them to have a second chance at love?
Out May 10
Set on You by Amy Lea
Set on You [69] by Amy Lea is so funny, warmhearted, and insightful it's hard to believe it's a debut. The story follows curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen, who thrives on defying expectations and creating a positive community online. What she doesn't expect is for firefighter and squat rack thief Scott Ritchie to upend her entire world and break down her carefully cultivated defences. As her chemistry with her hunky gym nemesis grows, Crystal also begins to question her online philosophies as she discovers that always presenting a perfect, perpetually curated persona to the world isn't as easy as she once thought it was.
Out May 10
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Old Hollywood comes to life with a twist in Nghi Vo's Siren Queen [70]. In the pre-Code era, trying to be a star is dangerous for Luli Wei, but she's determined to conquer Hollywood on her own terms. That means she'd rather play a monster than a maid, as long as the character is a juicy one. However, there's more to this version of Hollywood than first meets the eye. Deals are done in blood magic and businesses thrive by sacrificing young starlets like her. In a world where monsters and magic are real, the stakes for Luli are literally life and death.
Out May 10
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
This Time Tomorrow [71] by Emma Straub will transport readers back to 1996 as a daughter gets a second chance to connect with her ailing father. On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice wakes up as a teenager in her 1996 childhood home. This strange occurrence puts her in a unique position to spend precious time with her father while he is still young and healthy. Additionally, she has a new perspective on life thanks to her age and experiences, which leaves her wondering if there's anything she can change in the past that might have a ripple effect on her and her father's futures.
Out May 17
Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta
Tracy Flick, the infamous character who was made famous by Reese Witherspoon [72] in Election, is back in Tom Perrotta's long-awaited follow-up Tracy Flick Can't Win [73]. Now older and still craving the spotlight, Tracy is an assistant principal at a public high school where she's working extra hard to prove she's ready to be promoted to the position of principal. But the closer she gets to her goal, the more she can't help but wonder if everyone from her male colleagues to the school board president's wife is working to prevent her from finally landing the promotion she knows she deserves.
Out June 7
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
Riley Sager continues his run of serving up cinematic thrillers with The House Across the Lake [74]. Widowed actress Casey Fletcher is bored and hiding away from the press in her family's Vermont lake house when she begins spying on the glamorous couple who live across the lake. At first, Tom and Katherine Royce's lives appear to be perfect, but the more she sees, the more she wonders what's really going on in their home. Her curiosity only intensifies when she strikes up a friendship with Katherine, who abruptly and suspiciously disappears, leaving Casey to wonder if Tom has done something nefarious to his wife.
Out June 21
American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
The comparisons Tracey Livesay's American Royalty [75] will draw to the real-life narrative surrounding Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle [76] are inevitable. But that only makes this steamy and achingly romantic love story all the more enticing. Rapper Danielle "Duchess" Nelson needs to generate some publicity fast if she wants people to forget about her clash with a pop star that's gone viral, and what better way is there to drum up buzz than by dating the reclusive Prince Jameson, who has just recruited her to play at a farewell concert for his late grandfather?
Out June 28
Dele Weds Destiny by Tomi Obaro
Set against the backdrop of a lavish wedding in Lagos, Dele Weds Destiny [77] by Tomi Obaro tells the story of three old college friends in Nigeria who are reuniting for the first time in 30 years. At one point in their lives, Funmi, Enitan, and Zainab were inseparable, but over the years their friendship has been tested by betrayals and distance. However, now that Funmi's daughter, Destiny, is getting married, the women are reuniting once again. But it quickly becomes apparent that something about Destiny's upcoming wedding doesn't feel quite right, leaving the friends to come together for one another as a crisis looms.
Out June 28
Heat Wave by TJ Klune
TJ Klune's unforgettable and dynamic The Extraordinaries goes out with a bang in Heat Wave [78]. Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jaz are all back as they try to protect Nova City, while also restoring a sense of justice and order to the people who live there. But just as things appear to be settling down for the gang, an unexpected hero returns to Nova City and lands on Nick's doorstep. In the process, Nick is forced to revaluate everything he thought he knew about being himself and living a heroic life as the story builds to its thrilling conclusion.
Out July 19