Each month I’d love to highlight a few different upcoming releases that I’m excited about. I did this a couple times last year, but I’m hoping to really kick it up a notch this year!
It feels like 2022 is starting off strong! I could have easily picked 10 or 12 books for this list, but I decided to narrow it down to these 6 new releases that are on my radar.
1. Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
A blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother, and Puerto Rican roots–all in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
I feel like I’ve been seeing this cover a lot and I’m definitely intrigued by the premise. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s set in NYC, and you all know I love to read books set in NYC!
2. Wahala by Nikki May
An incisive and exhilarating debut novel following three Anglo-Nigerian best friends and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group–the most unforgettable girls since Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.
Ooooo, this sounds juicy and it’s getting compared to Sex and the City! Also, this is a debut novel by a British-Nigerian author, and I’m so here for that.
3. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e , in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm and sets her on a dangerous path–where choices come with deadly consequences, and she risks losing more than her heart.
I was following along as Simone read this one last month and her rave review made me even more excited to read it. I’ve been craving some fantasy recently, so I have a feeling I’m going to pick this one up very soon.
4. To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
From the author of the classic “A Little Life”– a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia.
A Little Life is one of my all-time faves, so I was ecstatic when I heard Yanagihara had a new book coming out this year. And I’ve actually already read this one. I’m hoping to get my review up before pub day, so stay tuned!
5. Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
Meet Yinka: a thirty-something, Oxford-educated, British Nigerian woman with a well-paid job, good friends, and a mother whose constant refrain is “Yinka, where is your huzband?”
I am thrilled that there are two novels by British-Nigerian authors coming out this month- it feels like Christmas! And this one sounds laugh out loud funny. I can’t wait to read it!
6. Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
A twisty, whip-smart debut thriller, as electrifying as the #1 New York Times bestseller “The Girl on the Train,” about impending motherhood, unreliable friendship, and the high price of keeping secrets.
I picked this one up because Grace read and recommended it and I was in the mood for a thriller. It didn’t disappoint and I couldn’t stop turning the pages!
What do you think? Are you adding any of these to your TBR and/or preordering?
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![BLOODMARKED by Tracy Deonn (@simonteen #gifted) • This was probably my most anticipated release of 2022 and it was amazing! LEGENDBORN catapulted onto my list of all-time favorite books when I read it a couple years ago and now BLOODMARKED is right up there with it.
I loved being back in this world and back with these characters. Bree is such an incredible main character. She can be critical of herself, but she’s also so brave and strong. She lets herself be vulnerable with her close circle of friends. She loves fiercely and she would go to the ends of the earth for the people that she loves. Throughout this book, Bree has so many questions about her powers. When she finally realizes the answer, I was like “Yesssss, girl, yessssss!!!”
I’m so in awe of the fantasy world that Deonn has created. I loved learning more about Bree’s magic in book 2 and it still feels like there’s so much left to discover about the magical workings of this world.
This book was action-packed up and I did not want to put it down! I saved it for my honeymoon so that I could read it in longer chunks. I’m so glad I did that because I feel like it really allowed me to immerse myself in the world as I was reading.
I enjoyed this book so much, from the character growth, to the battle scenes, to the themes of self-discovery and finding your path. I can’t wait for more people to read BLOODMARKED! If you haven’t read the LEGENDBORN books yet, what in the world are you waiting for??
[ID: Nnenna holds a copy of BLOODMARKED over a white fluffy blanket with a red pillow in the shot.]
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#Bloodmarked #bookishreels #bookreview #scsreadsreviews #blackfantasy #yafantasyseries #LegendbornCycle #blackbookworm #fantasyreads #blackstorieshavepower #blackgirlsread #bookreels #magicalbooks #amreadingya #bookreel #bookvideo](https://starcrossedsmile.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)