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42 Books Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2021

Dec 21 2020 - 3:30pm

Now that 2020 is almost in our collective rearview mirror, it's time to look ahead to a brand-new year full of books that we're all going to be obsessed with in 2021 [1]. Despite how unsettled 2020 was, it served up plenty of unforgettable reads, from the stunning and timely The Vanishing Half to the warm and witty Beach Read [2]. But 2021 is here to tell 2020 to hold its bookmark, because this coming year is absolutely stacked with highly anticipated novels from the likes of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah, Talia Hibbert, Stephen King, and Casey McQuiston. And it's not just the big-name authors who are preparing to wow readers; there are already a number of 2021 debuts generating major buzz, too.

Ready to find out what books need to be on your TBR in 2021 [3]? Then read on for a list of 42 must-read titles coming your way in the new year.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Mateo Askaripour's Black Buck [5] 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 color enter the sales force from inside the system.

Out Jan. 5

One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Written by sisters Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, One of the Good Ones [6] 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 her, 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

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

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 [7], 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

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Set 17 years before the events of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give, Concrete Rose [8] 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

Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida

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? [9] 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

Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah

Told across four decades and two continents, Bride of the Sea [10] 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

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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 [11]. 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 whom she's never actually dated before and whom she doesn't particularly like.

Out Jan. 26

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Bestselling author Kristin Hannah returns with The Four Winds [12], 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

Girls With Bright Futures [13] 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 its students this year, three desperate mothers take matters into their hands to secure their daughters' futures, no matter the cost.

Out Feb. 2

Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon

Writing under the name Lily Menon, YA rom-com superstar Sandhya Menon is releasing her first adult romance novel, Make Up Break Up [14], in February. The steamy and hilarious novel focuses 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

The Project by Courtney Summers

Courtney Summers, the acclaimed author of Sadie, is back with another twist-filled thriller. The Project [15] 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

Winter's Orbit [16] 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

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman's dimension-hopping novel Game Changer [17] 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

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Namina Forna introduces readers to an intricate, West African-inspired fantasy world in The Gilded Ones [18]. 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

The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

Nancy Johnson's debut novel, The Kindest Lie [19], 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

The Marriage Pass by Briana Cole

A couple celebrate 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 [20]. 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

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

True-crime buffs will devour Every Last Fear [21] 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

Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Fire Keeper's Daughter [22], 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

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro, the author of Never Let Me Go, returns with Klara and the Sun [23], 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

Later by Stephen King

Prolific author Stephen King mixes the trappings of a classic crime novel with his trademark horror touches in Later [24]. 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

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Told across two timelines, The Lost Apothecary [25] 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 by Talia Hibbert

Act Your Age, Eve Brown [26], 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 accidentally 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

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn's latest World War II-era novel, The Rose Code [27], follows three women 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

Every Vow You Break [28] 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 realizes he's far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Out March 23

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

Romance, mystery, and a family curse — The Ladies of the Secret Circus [29] 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

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten

Camilla Sten's The Lost Village [30] 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 they have barely set up camp when it becomes apparent that someone or something doesn't want them there.

Out March 23

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Jane Eyre gets a Southern gothic twist in The Wife Upstairs [31] 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 Jan. 5

You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes

You [32] is a monster hit for Netflix, and now author Caroline Kepnes is continuing Joe Goldberg's story in You Love Me [33]. 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

The Good Sister [34] 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 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

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

Dawnie Walton's The Final Revival of Opal & Nev [35] tells the story of a fictional rock-and-roll duo who rise 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 realizes there is more to Opal's story than anyone knows.

Out April 20

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

A dead body leads to a wild wedding weekend in Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A For Aunties [36]. When Meddelin Chan accidentally 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

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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 [37] 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

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Beach Read was one of the must-read rom-coms of 2020, and now Emily Henry is on track the claim the title again with her 2021 romance, People We Meet on Vacation [38]. Best friends Poppy and Alex have nothing in common, yet their bond is unshakable. Well, at least it is until a disastrous vacation 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

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

Sophie O'Neill's quiet, rural life is completely upended in May Cobb's sharply observed thriller The Hunting Wives [39]. 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

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid's highly anticipated new novel, Malibu Rising [40], 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 Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

The Great Gatsby gets a long-overdue makeover in Nghi Vo's The Chosen and the Beautiful [41]. 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

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Casey McQuiston is back with another swoon-worthy romance. In One Last Stop [42], 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

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Riley Sager is serving up a brand-new thriller this summer, and it sounds like his most intense story yet. Survive the Night [43] 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

The Therapist [44] by B.A. Paris turns a couple's dream home into a nightmare as they discover something terrible happened to the people who lived there before them. Now the new resident of the house, Alice, is determined to unravel the mystery of the woman who lived there, even though her neighbors refuse to talk about what happened there two years before.

Out July 13

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Julie Murphy is preparing to give the world the body-positive Cinderella retelling it deserves in her first novel for adults, If the Shoe Fits [45]. 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

The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins returns to the world of horror with The Woods Are Always Watching [46]. 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

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

A mismatched pair of would-be lovers prove to be surprisingly perfect for each other in The Heart Principle [47] 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


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