Written by Naomi
Last year was an excellent reading year for many of us, and we want to help you discover more good books in 2024. Below is a list of books that will be published this year that we’re looking forward to. Happy reading!
January
Sarah J. Maas continues the Crescent City series with House of Flame and Shadow. This third installment picks up right after the cliffhanger ending of book two, where the fate of our characters was left uncertain. They face many dangers as they try to make their way back to each other. House of Flame and Shadow promises to be another sexy, action-packed, exciting read.
Also coming out in January is Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford. This heart-warming debut novel tells the story of Jenny Quinn, who at 77 decides to participate in Britain Bakes (think: The Great British Bake Off). During the show, unexpected secrets come up as we learn more about Jenny’s life through her delicious baked goods. Don’t read while hungry.
Helle and Death by Oskar Jensen will be released just in time to combat the January blues. Set in Northumbria, a reunion of university friends turns into locked-room mystery when one of the friends ends up dead during a snowstorm. An atmospheric and witty read, Helle and Death is perfect for cozy crime readers looking for a modern spin on the classic whodunnit.
February
Ali Hazelwood forays into the romantasy genre with her February release of Bride. Misery, a Vampyre, agrees to an arranged marriage to Lowe, the Were Alpha, in order to find out what happened to her missing best friend. This book is filled with Hazelwood’s signature witty banter, steamy romance and a very clever heroine.
Another February release is The Fury, Alex Michaelides’ new thriller about a reclusive former movie star whose vacation to a Greek Island is disrupted by a murder. This is another addictive read, where you slowly try to piece together who was murdered and why. The Fury is both a thriller and a love story—a character study of all the people involved in the tragedy that occurred on a beautiful but deadly island.
Also in February, Gregg Hurwitz’ Orphan X number 9 series continues with Lone Wolf. Former government assassin Evan Smoak agrees to help a young girl find her missing dog. This small assignment turns out to be his biggest mission yet, as he battles technocratic AI billionaires and a mysterious assassin, all while the personal stakes in this mission are very, very high.
March
An exciting March release is RuPaul’s biography, The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir. This promises to be a brutally honest, poignant and intimate look at how RuPaul became…RuPaul.
April
Emily Henry releases her next romance novel, Funny Story, in April. In Funny Story, Daphne moves in with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex-boyfriend (still following?). An opposites-attract, roommates-romance, exes-getting-revenge-story, Funny Story is a breath of fresh air, filled with relatable characters, organic relationships, personal development and emotional depth.
Also coming out in April is a new Young Adult (YA) thriller by Holly Jackson, The Reappearance of Rachel Price. Sixteen years ago, Bel’s mother Rachel disappeared without a trace. Now, Bel’s family is taking part in a true crime documentary when Rachel suddenly reappears. It’s up to Bel to uncover what really happened to her.
Salman Rushdie’s memoir, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, comes out in April.
This is Rushdie’s account of the attempt on his life in 2022; a gripping story of life, love, loss and art.
Ann Leckie’s short fiction collection, Lake of Souls, will be published in April as well. This is a collection of science fiction/fantasy novellas that have been previously released but have now been compiled in one book. It will also include a brand new novelette (the titular Lake of Souls), which is a combination of a coming-of-age story and body horror. You can revisit Leckie’s existing universes, or immerse yourself in a new world.
May
In May, Stuart Turton’s The Last Murder at the End of the World will be published. His new release is a genre-bending high-concept murder mystery set in a post-apocalyptic world. Narrated by an omniscient, amoral AI, the story takes place in a world where a deadly fog has killed most of the planet’s inhabitants, except for those living on a protected island. All is not well, however, when one of the scientists in charge is murdered, and a countdown begins towards the destruction of the island.
August
Matt Haig’s next fantasy novel, The Life Impossible, will be out in August. His previous novel, The Midnight Library, is a philosophical exploration about life and regrets. In The Life Impossible, a retired math teacher finds herself pulled out of her solitary life after a friend leaves her a house in Ibiza. While the blurb does not reveal much about the plot, it promises to be another heart-warming, adventurous and transforming story.
September
TJ Klune continues Arthur’s story in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. This September release takes place after the events of book one, as Arthur must navigate his dark past in order to fight for his future. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story about having to fight for the life you want and doing the hard work to keep it.
