Get Ready For the 42 Most Anticipated Books of 2021

Mateo Askaripour's Black Buck is set to send up the world of corporate America in this sharp debut about a young Black man who reinvents himself as a skilled salesman on a mission. At 20, Darren is living at home with his mom and working at a Starbucks when the CEO of New York's hottest tech startup offers him a job. Once he begins climbing the corporate ladder, Darren comes up with a plan to help young people of colour enter the sales force from inside the system.

Out Jan. 5

Written by sisters Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, One of the Good Ones is set to be one of 2021's most powerful YA novels. Sisters Happi and Genny are left reeling when their activist sister Kezi is killed as a result of police brutality. In the aftermath of Kezi's death, the sisters become frustrated by the way the world talks about Kezi, and they set out on a road trip to memorialize their sister in their own way — and make an unexpected discovery in the process.

Out Jan. 5

Emma Lord's debut novel Tweet Cute was the charming YA rom-com readers needed in 2020, and her second book, You Have a Match is set to be every bit as much fun as her first. When Abby signs up for a DNA service her goal is simply to catch the attention of her crush and best friend Leo, but things get complicated when she discovers she has an older sister she didn't know existed.

Out Jan. 5

Set 17 years before the events of Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose paints a complex portrait of Black manhood as seen through the eyes of 17-year-old Maverick Carter. The son of a former gang member, Maverick is working two jobs to help his mom while his father is in prison when he makes the unexpected discovery that he's a father to a baby named Seven.

Out Jan. 12

What if you had to piece together the story of your life using nothing but your phone and social media accounts? That's the hook of Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida. After a head injury leaves Instagram influencer Mia with amnesia, she uses her online presence to piece together the story of her life, and the more she digs, the less impressed she is by the person in all of those carefully staged photos.

Out Jan. 12

Told across four decades and two continents, Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah is a beautifully intricate family drama about a young woman torn between her parents and two worlds. Shortly after Muneer and Saeedah settle into their lives in America, the couple divorce leading Muneer to make a life-altering choice when she flees to Saudi Arabia with her daughter Hanadi. By the time Hanadi discovers what her mother did, she's faced with the impossible question of how she can exist between two continents and two parents with such different ideas about what her future should look like.

Out Jan. 26

If you love the fake dating trope, just wait until you read Rachel Lynn Solomon's novel about the bickering and bantering between fake exes in The Ex Talk. Public radio producer Shay comes up with the brilliant idea for a show where exes deliver relationship advice live on air, but unfortunately her boss wants her to host the show with the station's newest employee — a man that she's never actually dated before, and whom she doesn't particularly like.

Out Jan. 26

Bestselling author Kristin Hannah returns with The Four Winds, a sweeping novel set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. As the Dust Bowl begins to ravage her land, Elsa Martinelli is faced with a choice that will change her life forever: leave her Texas home behind for the chance of a better life in California or stay put and fight for the land she loves.

Out Feb. 2

Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman is a thriller for the post-college admission scandal age. Top tier high school Elliott Bay Academy is known for its stellar record of getting kids into Ivy League schools, but when Stanford informs the school that it will only be taking one of their students this year, three desperate mothers take matters into their hands to secure their daughters' futures, no matter the cost.

Out Feb. 2

Writing under the name Lily Menon, YA rom-com superstar Sandhya Menon is releasing her first adult romance novel, Make Up Break Up in February. The steamy and hilarious novel is set to focus on rival app developers Annika Dev, who is devoted to helping people make their relationships work, and Hudson Craft, whose app helps people break up as quickly and efficiently as possible. Now that the unlikely pair are being forced to share an office building and compete for funding things are bound to get interesting fast.

Out Feb. 2

Courtney Summers, the acclaimed author of Sadie, is back with another twist-filled thriller. The Project follows Lo Denham, a journalist who has devoted the past six years of her life to uncovering the truth about the cult her older sister is embroiled in. But when she finally has a real lead about the cult's corruption, Lo has no choice but to face down the charismatic leader who has so many people under his sway.

Out Feb. 2

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell is already drawing comparisons to Casey McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue, but this political romance comes with a twist: it's a sci-fi tale about a marriage between a minor royal and a count who is convinced his previous husband was murdered. In order to unite the empire, the marriage of convenience between Prince Kiem and Count Jainan must not fail, but there are no guarantees when a far-reaching conspiracy threatens the peace they're fighting for.

Out Feb. 2

Neal Shusterman's dimension-hopping novel Game Changer is all about challenging our personal preconceptions of the world. When football player Ash is hit hard on the field he's knocked into a series of alternate dimensions where he experience life through the eyes of people he could never fully understand from the outside.

Out Feb. 9

Namina Forna introduces readers to an intricate, West African inspired fantasy world in The Gilded Ones. At 16, Deka's fate seems to be sealed when her blood runs gold, marking her as impure, but then a mysterious woman shows up in her village offering her the chance to become a warrior in an army full of girls just like her.

Out Feb. 9

Nancy Johnson's debut novel The Kindest Lie is a story of family and secrets that delves into the divide between white and Black families in America. In 2008, engineer Ruth Tuttle is trying to move forward with her husband, but she can't forget the baby she gave up when she was a teen. When Ruth returns to her hometown in hopes of making peace with her past, she befriends a poor white boy who will change her life forever.

Out Feb. 9

A couple celebrates their one-year wedding anniversary by giving each other a free pass to indulge in their deepest desires in Briana Cole's daring The Marriage Pass. For Dr. Dorian Graham, the free pass is a chance to spend the night with his wife's little sister, but the choice he makes will have unexpected consequences destined to reverberate through every aspect of his life.

Out Feb. 23

True crime buffs will devour Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay. Matt Pine's family was made infamous by a true crime documentary, so when they all end up dead due to an apparent gas leak, the FBI is understandably suspicious. That leaves Matt to return home to bury his family, and unravel the dark mystery surrounding their deaths.

Out March 2

Angeline Boulley's debut novel Fire Keeper's Daughter follows an 18-year-old Native girl, Daunis Fontaine, who is drawn into an undercover investigation after witnessing a shocking act of violence. Now Daunis, who has never felt at home within the tribal community or outside of it, is determined to use her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to solve the case on her own.

Out March 2

Kazuo Ishiguro, the author of Never Let Me Go, returns with Klara and the Sun, a beautiful and empathetic novel told from the viewpoint of an Artificial Friend named Klara. From her place in a shop window, Klara observes the people who come into the store and those who walk by it every day as she waits patiently for someone to take her home.

Out March 2

Prolific author Stephen King mixes the trappings of a classic crime novel with his trademark horror touches in Later. All Jamie Conklin wants is to lead a normal life, but the young boy's special abilities make him an asset to an NYPD detective trying to stop a killer who is threatening to cause mayhem even after their death.

Out March 2

Told across two timelines, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a story about women who will do whatever it takes to survive. In the 1800s, an apothecary in London becomes a place where women who need to get rid of troublemaking men know they can go for help. Meanwhile, in the modern day, a historian named Caroline Parcewell is about to make a discovery about the apothecary murders that will turn her life upside down.

Out March 2

Act Your Age, Eve Brown, the third novel in Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters trilogy, puts the spotlight on the chaotic Eve. After an incident at a wedding, Eve's parents are determined their daughter is going to get her life together, but things don't go exactly as planned. On her first job interview, Eve accidently hits her would-be boss with her car, sparking an unlikely relationship that's bound to lead to some exciting new developments in her life.

Out March 9

Kate Quinn's latest World War II era novel The Rose Code follows three female code breakers during and after the war. Osla, Mab, and Beth are as different as can be, but together they make an unstoppable team. Due to a falling out, the women drift apart after the war, but when a spy needs catching, the trio will reunite for the sake of their country.

Out March 9

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson will give you major Fatal Attraction vibes. On her bachelorette weekend, Abigail sleeps with a sexy mystery man and quickly comes to regret it when he shows up on her honeymoon. Fearing for her new marriage, Abigail tries to keep the man's presence a secret, but she quickly realises he's far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Out March 23

Romance, mystery, and a family curse — The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers has it all. Set in both the present and 1925 Paris, this vibrant novel tells the story of Lara Barnes, a woman who discovers her family's secret history when her fiancé suddenly disappears on their wedding day.

Out March 23

Camilla Sten's The Lost Village is coming in March to ensure thriller fans never sleep soundly again. In 1959, documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt's grandmother's family disappeared along with nearly everyone else in a mining town dubbed the Lost Village. Now Alice is taking a crew to the site in hopes of making a film about the strange event, but she and her crew have barely set up camp when it becomes apparent that someone or something doesn't want them there.

Out March 23

Jane Eyre gets a Southern gothic twist in The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. This modern day Jane is a dog walker looking for a way to escape her money troubles by marrying the wealthy Eddie Rochester. The only trouble is, Jane can't help but feel haunted by Eddie's supposedly dead ex-wife.

Out April 1

You is a monster hit for Netflix, and now author Caroline Kepnes is continuing Joe Goldberg's story in You Love Me. This time around, Joe is determined to start over in a small town where he absolutely will not become obsessed with another woman. Unfortunately for Mary Kay DiMarco, Joe's best intentions won't be enough to make him change his ways.

Out April 6

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth follows twin sisters Rose and Fern whose bond seems unshakable. The strong and steady Rose has been protecting her big hearted sister Fern since they were children, but when Fern commits to helping her sister achieve her dream of becoming a mother, the twins will be forced to confront secrets from their past they would rather keep buried.

Out April 13

Dawnie Walton's The Final Revival of Opal and Nev tells the story of a fictional rock and roll duo who rose to fame in the '70s. However, when a rival band uses a Confederate flag to promote their music, Opal's protest costs her her career. Decades later, journalist S. Sunny Shelton sets out to chronicle the duo's rise and fall, and their potential reunion, but when disturbing allegations come to light, she realises there is more to Opal's story than anyone knows.

Out April 20

A dead body leads to a wild wedding weekend in Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties. When Meddelin Chan accidently kills her blind date, her mother calls in her aunts to dispose of the body. Unfortunately for her family's wedding business, the body ends up shipped to the remote island where they're supposed to be pulling off a flawless wedding for a billionaire — and yes, chaos ensues.

Out April 27

The Martian author Andy Weir has written another intense space set novel that's sure to leave fans on the edge of their seats. Project Hail Mary follows a man who holds the fate of the world in his hands. The only trouble is he can barely remember who he is, let alone how to save the world from the far reaches of space.

Out May 4

Beach Read was the must read rom-com of 2020, and now Emily Henry is on track the claim the title again with her 2021 romance People We Meet on Holiday. Best friends Poppy and Alex have nothing in common, and yet their bond is unshakable. Well, at least it is until a disastrous holiday effectively ends their friendship, but Poppy has a plan: She and Alex are going to take one more trip for old time's sake and finally address the truth about their relationship once and for all.

Out May 11

Sophie O'Neill's quiet, rural life is completely upended in May Cobb's sharply observed thriller The Hunting Wives. After moving with her family from Chicago to Texas, Sophie becomes friends with a glamorous woman whose alluring hunting club may be responsible for the death of a teen girl.

Out May 18

New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid's highly anticipated new novel Malibu Rising is hitting shelves just in time for the summer. Set during one fateful night in the 1980s, Malibu Rising chronicles an end-of-summer bash thrown by the wealthy Riva family, and the ways in which it changes the course of each of the four Riva siblings' lives.

Out May 25

The Great Gatsby gets a long overdue makeover in Nghi Vo's The Chosen and the Beautiful. Jordan Baker comes from a wealthy family and lives the life of a socialite during the Jazz Age, but she's also queer, adopted, and Asian, making her a curiosity to her friends. Even though the odds are stacked against her, Jordan is about to embark on a journey of self-discovery that's downright magical.

Out June 1

Casey McQuiston is back with another swoon-worthy romance. In One Last Stop, a 23-year-old named August is firm in her belief that the epic love stories depicted in romance movies simply don't exist. But she may be forced to reexamine her beliefs when she meets a time displaced woman named Jane on the subway, and proceeds to fall hard for this alluring woman from another era.

Out June 1

Riley Sager is serving up a brand new thriller this summer, and it sounds like his most intense story yet. Survive the Night is the story of a '90s road trip from Hell. Charlie met Josh on a ride board at their college, but she doesn't really know anything about the man she's sharing a car with, least of all whether he's the notorious Campus Killer who claimed the life of her friend.

Out July 6

The Therapist by B.A. Paris turns a couple's dream home into a nightmare as they discover something terrible happened to the people that lived there before them. Now the new resident of the house, Alice, is determined to unravel the mystery of the woman who lived there before her, even though her neighbours refuse to talk about what happened there two years before.

Out July 13

Julie Murphy is preparing to give the world the body positive Cinderella retelling it deserves in her first novel fpr adults, If the Show Fits. Shoe designer Cindy agrees to fill a vacant spot on her stepmother's famous dating show in hopes that it will raise awareness of her brand. Instead, it makes her a body positive icon overnight and a real contender to win the heart of the lead.

Out Aug. 3

Stephanie Perkins returns to the world of horror with The Woods Are Always Watching. When two girls head into the woods on a backpacking trip things quickly go wrong when they cross paths with a serial killer.

Out Aug. 3

A mismatched pair of would-be lovers prove to be surprisingly perfect for each other in The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang. Quan Diep is a highly eligible up-and-coming CEO who is overwhelmed by all of the women who are suddenly interested in him, while Anna Sun is determined to not let her OCD stand in the way of her keeping Quan from ruining her smitten sister's engagement.

Out Aug. 17