The latter half of 2021 has some amazing books coming out and I want to share some of my most anticipated new releases that are hitting stands late spring/early summer. There is something for everyone: a witchy mystery, Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies page turner, quirky contemporary fiction, and plenty of thrillers to go around.
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian-pub date 5/4/21
I loved Bohjalian's last release, The Red Lotus, so I was anxious to get my hands on his newest novel, Hour of the Witch. This one is available for request on Netgalley.com. I am about 3/4 through and wanting to know where the heck this story will lead.
Quick synopsis: Mary takes her husband to trial, requesting separation based on the fact that he is physically abusive towards her. Set during the times of the Salem witch trials, accusations of Mary being involved in witchcraft abound during the trial and influence what happens between her and her awful husband.
The Hunting Wives by May Cobb-pub date 5/18/21
This one has been compared to a mixture of the show Desperate Housewives and the popular Liane Moriarty book and series, Big Little Lies. Book of the Month had The Hunting Wives as one of the April choices and it became a popular choice in the #bookstagram community.
Quick synopsis: Set in rural Texas, a group of women form the Hunting Wives to bring some excitement to their mundane home lives. A teenage girl is found murdered in a location where the Hunting Wives regularly meet and soon the lead protagonist finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid-pub date 6/1/21
I am not a diehard TJR fan, but I really enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, therefore I am looking forward to checking out her latest novel, Malibu Rising. So far, I haven't seen too many reviews out on this one, but my hopes are (slightly) high. I am planning on this one being a great beach read of summer 2021. Now, I just need the beach...
Quick synopsis: Set in Malibu during the mid 80's, four famous siblings throw a party to celebrate the end of summer, but over the course of 24 hours, their lives change drastically.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides-pub date 6/15/2021
To this day, The Silent Patient is still one of the ultimate psychological thriller twists for me, that I honestly did not see coming. When I got an advanced reader copy of The Maidens in the mail, I basically squealed like a school girl at my mailbox. Thankfully, living in rural Wisconsin, my neighbors consist of stray cats and cows, so no one gave me funny looks. (Or maybe they did? I'm sure cats and cows can give dirty looks, but guess I'll never know...)
Quick synopsis: The Maidens is a psychological thriller mixed with Greek mythology, murder, and obsession. (Do I have your attention yet?!) A charismatic college professor has a following of female students, known as The Maidens. He is also a murderer. A therapist becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth and soon finds herself wrapped up in his game to prove his guilt.
Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams-pub date 6/21/21
After reading No Exit, give me all things Taylor Adams. His books are a complete roller-coaster and reads like a horror film. At times, I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. I am expecting nothing less with Hairpin Bridge.
Quick synopsis: Twin sisters. One jumps to her death off of a bridge. The police rule it a suicide, but the other twin is not convinced and embarks on uncovering the truth.
Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin-pub date 7/6/21
I love mixing light hearted contemporary fiction into my mix of generally heavy literary fiction and creepy thrillers. Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead is just that book. A debut novel with a lead character that already sounds like someone I want to be best friends with, I have a feeling this will make for the perfect summer read. This book pairs nicely with a margarita or crisp white wine and a low-grade anti-depressant.
Quick synopsis: A quirky, anxious, animal-loving atheist lesbian gets a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church. She becomes obsessed with her predecessor's mysterious death and it sends her on her own self discovery journey. A hilarious debut novel about the fragility of human life.
The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine-pub date 7/6/21
This author duo roped me in after I listened to the audio of The Last Mrs. Parrish. Talk about a total mind F of a book! The Stranger in the Mirror is available for request on Netgalley.com and I am excited to add this one to my list of summer thrillers.
Quick synopsis: It's Addison's wedding day, but she has hesitations. Not about who she is marrying, but about who she even is. After a car accident, she lost her memory and forgot everything, but can't shake the feeling that she did something very bad. On the other side of town, a man ruminates over his wife who has been mysteriously missing for two years. Both stories collide to make for a psych thriller that Liv Constantine is known for.
If you are interested in getting three free credits and listening to one (or all) of these on audio, click the link below to sign up for Audiobooks.com. I use this platform for all of my audiobooks and love it. The selection is great and they have all the hot, new releases. (Plus, if you sign up, I get a small commission that goes towards my book blog and supporting my family. So there's that ;)
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