As 2020 comes to an end (which — don’t even remind me. It feels like yesterday was March, and now we’re almost at the end of November), I decided to go through my Goodreads, and finally reorganize all my shelves, including my upcoming releases shelves, and my most anticipated ones. Without further ado, here are some of my most anticipated 2021 releases!
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- Title: One Last Stop
- Author: Casey McQuiston
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
- Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Rom Com, Romance
- Age Range: New Adult
- Release Date: June 1, 2021
Cynical twenty-three-year old August doesn’t believe in much. She doesn’t believe in psychics, or easily forged friendships, or finding the kind of love they make movies about. And she certainly doesn’t believe her ragtag band of new roommates, her night shifts at a 24-hour pancake diner, or her daily subway commute full of electrical outages are going to change that.
But then, there’s Jane. Beautiful, impossible Jane.
All hard edges with a soft smile and swoopy hair and saving August’s day when she needed it most. The person August looks forward to seeing on the train every day. The one who makes her forget about the cities she lived in that never seemed to fit, and her fear of what happens when she finally graduates, and even her cold-case obsessed mother who won’t quite let her go. And when August realizes her subway crush is impossible in more ways than one—namely, displaced in time from the 1970s—she thinks maybe it’s time to start believing.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Red, White and Royal Blue. I was incredibly fortunate to get a physical arc of One Last Stop, and I know I’ll be rereading it again and again until June 1st. I’m so excited for this book to be released, if for no other reason that I can’t wait to scream about August and Jane with everyone I know. I’ll save the rest of my One Last Stop thoughts for my review, which will either be posted in a week or seven months, because of who I am as a person! Stay tuned!
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
- Title: The Chosen and the Beautiful
- Author: Nghi Vo
- Publisher: Tor.com
- Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Retellings, LGBTQ+
- Age Range: Adult
- Release Date: June 1, 2021
Immigrant. Socialite. Magician.
Jordan Baker grows up in the most rarefied circles of 1920s American society―she has money, education, a killer golf handicap, and invitations to some of the most exclusive parties of the Jazz Age. She’s also queer, Asian, adopted, and treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, while the most important doors remain closed to her.
But the world is full of wonders: infernal pacts and dazzling illusions, lost ghosts and elemental mysteries. In all paper is fire, and Jordan can burn the cut paper heart out of a man. She just has to learn how.
Words can’t even explain how hyped I am for this book. I’m a sucker for retellings, and the fact that this is a The Great Gatsby retelling just has me buzzing with excitement. Or more specifically, a reimagining of The Great Gatsby as a queer Asian-American coming-of-age fantasy centered around Jordan, as a queer Asian American adoptee? I absolutely cannot wait. I’m currently reading Nghi Vo’s The Empress of Salt and Fortune and then the sequel to that, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, and I’m really enjoying Vo’s writing style, so this one is definitely one of my most anticipated 2021 releases.
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- Title: Ace of Spades
- Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- Publisher: Usborne
- Genre: Contemporary, YA, LGBT, Mystery/Thriller
- Age Range: Young Adult
- Release Date: June 10, 2021
An incendiary and utterly compelling thriller with a shocking twist that delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism, from an exceptional new YA voice. Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re planning much more than a high-school game…
I first heard about Ace of Spades on Twitter, where I saw it described as Get Out meets Gossip Girl meets One of Us is Lying. Like so many others, I grew up watching Gossip Girl (and Pretty Little Liars and all other similar shows), and so my interest was immediately piqued at this description.
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound
The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
- Title: The Meet Cute Project
- Author: Rhiannon Richardson
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Genre: Contemporary, YA, Romance, Rom Com
- Age Range: Young Adult
- Release Date: January 12th, 2021
Mia’s friends love rom-coms. Mia hates them. They’re silly, contrived, and not at all realistic. Besides, there are more important things to worry about—like how to handle living with her bridezilla sister, Sam, who’s never appreciated Mia, and surviving junior year juggling every school club offered and acing all of her classes.
So when Mia is tasked with finding a date to her sister’s wedding, her options are practically nonexistent.
Mia’s friends, however, have an idea. It’s a little crazy, a little out there, and a lot inspired by the movies they love that Mia begrudgingly watches too.
Mia just needs a meet-cute.
I was incredibly lucky to get an ARC of The Meet-Cute Project, and haven’t been able to stop thinking about how cute this book is. It’s perfect for any rom com lovers, and I just know this is a book I’ll be rereading whenever I need something light and fluffy to cheer me up! I’ll be posting my full thoughts on The Meet Cute Project next month, so stay tuned for that!
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound
Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore
- Title: Can’t Take That Away
- Author: Steven Salvatore
- Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
- Genre: Contemporary, YA, Coming of Age, LGBTQ+
- Age Range: Young Adult
- Release Date: March 9, 2021
Carey Parker dreams of being a diva, and bringing the house down with song. They can hit every note of all the top pop and Broadway hits. But despite their talent, emotional scars from an incident with a homophobic classmate and their grandmother’s spiraling dementia make it harder and harder for Carey to find their voice.
Then Carey meets Cris, a singer/guitarist who makes Carey feel seen for the first time in their life. With the rush of a promising new romantic relationship, Carey finds the confidence to audition for the role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the school musical, setting off a chain reaction of prejudice by Carey’s tormentor and others in the school. It’s up to Carey, Cris, and their friends to defend their rights–and they refuse to be silenced.
I was also really lucky to receive an ARC of Can’t Take That Away, which is Steven Salvatore’s debut. Carey’s story brought me to tears more than once, and is one that I know will leave a handprint on many people’s hearts. I’m also saving my full thoughts on this one for my review, which will be posted closer to the release date, but know that this is a book that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and one that I’ll be thinking about for years to come.
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound
Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins
- Title: Like a Love Song
- Author: Gabriela Martins
- Publisher: Underlined/Delacorte
- Genre: Contemporary, YA, Rom Com, Romance
- Age Range: Young Adult
- Release Date: August 3rd, 2021
Fake boyfriend. Real heartbreak?
Natalie is living her dream: topping the charts and setting records as a Brazilian pop star…until she’s dumped spectacularly on live television. Not only is it humiliating—it could end her career.
Her PR team’s desperate plan? A gorgeous yet oh-so-fake boyfriend. Nati reluctantly agrees, but William is not what she expected. She was hoping for a fierce bad boy—not a soft-hearted British indie film star. While she fights her way back to the top with a sweet and surprisingly swoon-worthy boy on her arm, she starts to fall for William—and realizes that maybe she’s the biggest fake of them all. Can she reclaim her voice and her heart?
I’m incredibly hyped for Like a Love Song. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and I’ve been eagerly following along Gabhi’s twitter for any sneak peeks and updates she’s been sharing!
Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Indie Bound
What are your most anticipated books of 2021? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to support indie bookstores if you can!
Don’t know any book coming out in 2021
Well- some of my books were bought from independent bookstores. Most of which were ones I loved- A Darker Shade of Magic, The Golden Compass, and Spinning Silver (I believe) were the ones I loved the most from the ones the bookstore recommended to me. Park Road Good is really amazing at recommending books- it is part of Charlotte, my hometown
Another independent bookstore is from Asheville my family usually goes there for day trips. Malaprops has a section called “blind date with book”- all you see is just adjectives- the books are wrapped up so you choose based on those adjectives.
I hope 2021 brings you some wonderful reads 🙂 And the “Blind date with a book” idea is so clever — Thank you for supporting indie booksellers! 🤍
Hoping so as well in 2021- that is when I hope to reread Harry Potter and Narnia. Along with other books.