Admittedly I don’t really keep an eye on upcoming releases. I have enough books to read as it is, so I tend to not look for what’s being published next unless it’s a series I’ve already started. That said, I figured I’d take a look and limit myself to add less than 7 upcoming releases to my To-Be-Read list. That is half the number of books I am planning to read during the year. Fortunately I ended up including less than that. At least for now.
Adding a book to the list doesn’t necessarily mean I will buy it as soon as it’s released and/or read it this year. It just means I am interested in it and will read it at some point in the future. In some cases I might just read it as soon as I can get my hands on a copy, in others I’ll wait a bit. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the upcoming releases that have caught my attention.
The Fervor by Alma Katsu
“A supernatural twist on the horrors of the Japanese American internment camps in World War II.
1944: As World War II rages on, the threat has come to the home front. In a remote corner of Idaho, Meiko Briggs and her daughter, Aiko, are desperate to return home. Following Meiko’s husband’s enlistment as an air force pilot in the Pacific months prior, Meiko and Aiko were taken from their home in Seattle and sent to one of the internment camps in the Midwest. It didn’t matter that Aiko was American-born: They were Japanese, and therefore considered a threat by the American government.
Mother and daughter attempt to hold on to elements of their old life in the camp when a mysterious disease begins to spread among those interned. What starts as a minor cold quickly becomes spontaneous fits of violence and aggression, even death. And when a disconcerting team of doctors arrive, nearly more threatening than the illness itself, Meiko and her daughter team up with a newspaper reporter and widowed missionary to investigate, and it becomes clear to them that something more sinister is afoot, a demon from the stories of Meiko’s childhood, hell-bent on infiltrating their already strange world.”
I haven’t finished The Deep yet, but I am already an Alma Katsu fan. Historical fiction isn’t a genre that I have lots of experience with, but Alma makes it so appealing. This one is high up on my list.
Release date: April 26th
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
“‘No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.’ Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.”
This book sounds extremely interesting to me. It doesn’t seem to be the kind of story I usually read. It seems to be another mix of historical fiction and fantasy and I’m not sure what to expect from it, but there’s an air of mystery from the description alone that draws me to it.
Release date: May 10th
City of Orange by David Yoon
“A man who can not remember his own name wakes up in an apocalyptic landscape, injured and alone. He has vague memories of life before, but he can’t see it clearly and can’t grasp how his current situation came to be. He must learn to survive by finding sources of water and foraging for food. Then he encounters a boy–and he realizes nothing is what he thought it was, neither the past nor the present.”
Early reviews say this is a highly descriptive, character driven story, which could be a hit or miss. However it also sounds like it’s a very immersive story, so it could work. The premise sounds interesting enough for me to give it a try and I have a feeling it will be worth it.
Release date: May 24th
Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore
“Nearly a decade ago, iconic magician Violet Volk performed her greatest trick yet: vanishing mid-act. Though she hasn’t been seen since, her hold on the public imagination is stronger than ever. While Violet sought out the spotlight, her sister Sasha always had to be the responsible one, taking over their mother’s hair salon and building a quiet life for her beloved daughter, Quinn. But Sasha can never seem to escape her sister’s orbit or her memories of their unresolved, tumultuous relationship. Then there’s Cameron Frank, tapped to host a podcast devoted to all things Violet, who is determined to finally get his big break–even if he promised to land an exclusive interview with Sasha, the one person who definitely doesn’t want to talk to him.
As the ten-year anniversary approaches, the podcast picks up steam, and Cameron’s pursuit of Sasha becomes increasingly intrusive. He isn’t the only one wondering what secrets she might be keeping: Quinn, loyal to the aunt she always idolized, is doing her own investigating. Meanwhile, Sasha begins to experience an unsettling series of sleepwalking episodes and coincidences, which all seem to lead back to Violet. Pushed to her emotional limits, Sasha must finally confront the most painful truths about her sister, and herself, even at the risk of losing everything.”
Acts of Violet sounds like it will be a fun read. I don’t know why it seems like portrayal of podcasts and their hosts in media is always done terribly, is it just me? I hope that part is done better in this book because I like the premise and I already can’t wait to know what happened.
Release date: July 5th
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
“Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers—a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That’s when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.
Two years ago, Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim’s blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that’s inked on her hands. What did she do last night? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn’t remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there’s someone who does know exactly what she did, and they’ll do anything to make her forget—permanently.”
Stay Awake sounds like one of those thrillers that keep you guessing, questioning everyone and everything you’re told. Early reviews are very positive and while the whole person-with-amnesia-is-maybe-a-criminal-maybe-a-victim has been done to death, it usually works. It’s a type of story that I tend to enjoy, but I’m drawn to this one in particular because I must know what the whole “Stay Awake” thing is about.
Release date: August 9th
What If? 2: Additional Serious Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
“The millions of people around the world who read and loved ‘What If?‘ still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.
Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Randall consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airplane-catapult design to clearly and concisely answer his readers’ questions. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.”
I just heard that this book is happening a few days ago and I immediately added it to my TBR list. No, I haven’t had the chance to read the first one yet, but I’m already way too excited to hear there will be a part two. I can’t explain it, I just have to read these ones.
Release date: September 13th
There a lots of potentially great books being released this year, but these are the ones that spoke to me and caught my attention enough to add them to my TBR list. Since it’s not that many, I might actually read them as they’re released, but that depends on whether I have time to read them and more importantly, the fund to get them.
Did any of these books catch you eye too? Do you have any other upcoming releases you’re planning to read this year?
The Melody In Words 
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