Anticipated Books of September 2021

Since the month is almost over, here are the books I’m most looking forward to which are being published in September 2021 - US publication dates are indicated in parentheses.  I haven’t read any of them yet, though I do have ARCs of a few, so hopefully I will soon!

Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight (9/7/21) - I have read and enjoyed all of Kimberly McCreight’s mystery/thrillers. This oneid about a group of college friends (minus one of their group who died back in school) who reunite at their ten  year reunion.  Yes, I have read other books with similar-ish sounding plots, but I’m in nonetheless!

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell (9/7/21) - I’m still catching up on Lisa Jewell’s backlist, but I’ve really enjoyed the four books by her that I have read.  And her latest, about a missing woman, sounds like another good one and has amazing reviews!

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (9/14/21) - I’ve read every single Liane Moriarty book - indeed, I’ve been a fan of hers even before she was famous.  So she’s a must read author for me regardless of book description - perhaps a good thing since the blurb for this one is quite dense!  . Plus I’m excited to read and discuss this with my virtual book club. 

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (9/14/21) - I’ve only read Colson Whitehead’s  book Underground Railroad but it was great, so when I was offered this one on Netgalley I snagged it.  Sounds interesting though very different from that book, apparently a combination historical novel, mystery, and family drama. 

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (9/21/21) - Like so many people, I loved TJ Klune’s book The House in the Cerulean Sea, so I’m looking forward to checking this one out, a fantasy about “a ghost that refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with.”

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik (9/28/21) - I love Naomi Novik, and have actually read all thirteen of her prior books. And I loved A Deadly Education, the first book in this fantasy series, so I’m looking forward to the sequel.   I do have an early copy of this one but between other ARCs, book club books, etc. I somehow managed to hold off on reading it until now, but I don’t think I can take it much longer so I might just pick this one up next!

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (9/28/21) - I loved The Thursday Night Murder Club, a funny and charming mystery about senior citizens at a retirement home who team up to solve a murder - not quite a cozy mystery but not too dark either.  So I was super-excited when I heard there was going to be a sequel.

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson (9/28/21) -  I was a little late to the party, but read and loved the first two books in the charming Good Girl’s Guide to Murder YA mystery series over the last few months.  Looking forward to this third and final book in the series

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis (9/28/21) - I really enjoyed Lia Louis’s debut book Dear Emmie Blue so I was happy to snag a copy of this one, which the publisher is comparing to One Day in December and Evvie Drake Starts Over, two books I loved. My only question is whether o read it now, or save it for winter since it’s about two people who meet cute during a blizzard. 

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (9/28/21) - I loved Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize Winning All the Light We Cannot See.  His new one sounds a bit different, as it takes place not just in the past (this time, 15th century Constantinople), but also in the present AND the future.  Indeed, the description reminds me of another book with “cloud” in the name - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.  I must admit I am a little intimidated by the 600+ page length.  But I’ll be reading this one for October with my virtual book club so I’ll have a little time.

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Are any of these on your to read list?  Any other books coming out in September that you’re excited for?

Anticipated Books of August 2021

 The end of the month always means it’s time for me to look ahead to books coming out the next month that I’m excited for.  And thank goodness there are slightly fewer books I’m dying to read coming out in August because I’m already having trouble keeping up with the books published so far this year - not to mention in the years before that!  

Indeed, I have ARCs of a few of these but haven’t managed to get to them yet.  So you’ll just have to wait for my actual reviews.  Without further ado, here are the books I’m most excited for which are coming out in August 2021:

Anticipated Books of July 2021

You know me - the end of one month means I’m already looking ahead to books being published the following month!  Not a TBR list necessarily, but books I’m keeping an eye out for and/or want to highlight for others.  I’ve only read one of these so far, Yoga Pant Nation, and you’ll see my review below.  (The other July book I was excited enough for that I already read it, Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda, was a bit of a disappointment and only 3 stars for me so I didn’t include it on this list.)  So without further ado, here are my anticipated books publishing in July 2021, in order by publication date - and a good mix of genres too. 

Anticipated books of June

 Another month drawing to a close means another month to look ahead to the books being published the following month, even if I haven't gotten yet to all the books from the current month and before!  Not surprisingly, with summer reading season upon us, June has a lot of good ones!  I usually try to limit my monthly posts to 10 books but June has so many (with a ton of them publishing on June 1st), it was really hard so I went with 11!  Note that while I have received free advanced copies of some of these books, that in no way affects my opinions or why I'm excited to read them.

Fun Mom-centric Novels

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I'd suggest some fun Mom-lit books, with a focus on books that are entertaining and light, while insightful - nothing too heavy or depressing.  More the kind of books that will have you laughing while at the same time nodding at the relatable nuggets of wisdom.

Anticipated books of May 2021

As usual, I still haven't read all of my anticipated books from earlier in the year, but I'm already eagerly looking ahead to the books being published in May.  And there are SO MANY books being published in May which I want to read!  In fact, I was lucky enough to get advanced copies of some of them from Netgalley, so I've already read some of them!  (But I promise that did not in any way affect my opinions.)   Here are some of the ones I'm most looking forward to, in order of publication date.

5 Star Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I’m very picky with my ratings, so I’m happy to say that Project Hail Mary was amazing and my first 5 star review of 2021.  When it starts, the narrator wakes up alone with no idea who he is, where he is, or why.  As he explores and his memories start to come back, with the book unfolding both in the present and his flashback returning memories, both he and the reader discover that he is alone on a spaceship on a very important mission.  There is SO much more to it than that, but because of the nature of the book, pretty much everything about it is a spoiler and it’s so much better to see it unfold yourself.  Just know that it is absolutely terrific.

For the vibe, think of the best of intellectual science fiction - books like The Sparrow and Children of Time, movies like Interstellar and Arrival, and of course both the book and movie of The Martian, Andy Weir’s first book.   Iit is both a little more science-y (which even though I couldn’t understand it, was interesting), and more science fiction-y than The Martian, but it’s funny and emotional as well. It was a long book but I read it quickly because I couldn’t put it down.  I was thrilled to get an advanced copy from Netgalley (it’s out 5/4), and I highly recommend reading it as soon as possible both because it is great, and to avoid spoilers.