It’s a new year and time for new book releases. So excited to see what the publishing world has for us. Here are the books I’ve received thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the review copies.
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi. This was released last year in the U.K. and was even shortlisted for the Booker Prize, but it’s now coming out in the U.S. This is a story of a complicated mother – daughter relationship and I’ve heard great things about it so I’m very excited about this one.
Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez. The stories in her new collection are as terrifying as they are socially conscious, and press into being the unspoken—fetish, illness, the female body, the darkness of human history—with bracing urgency. I don’t read a lot of short stories so that’s why this one interested me.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name. Sounds like a thriller with a promising premise.
In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce. An audacious novel of feminine rage about one of the most prolific female serial killers in American history–and the men who drove her to it. Sounds chilling.
Sleep Well, My Lady by Kwei Quartey. In the follow-up to the acclaimed series debut The Missing American, PI Emma Djan investigates the death of a Ghanaian fashion icon and social media celebrity, Lady Araba. I haven’t not read the first book but I’m a bit more relaxed about reading books in order than I used to be so I look forward to this one.
Before the Ruins by Victoria Gosling. It’s the summer of 1996 and school’s out forever for four friends. When Andy’s alcoholic mother predicts the apocalypse, the four teenagers decide to see out the end of the world at a deserted manor house, the site of a historic unsolved mystery. Who doesn’t want to read a book with a deserted manor as a setting?
Sounds like a lot of great reads to kick off the year. Is there one that sounds good to you? Which one would you pick up?
I’ve already heard about The Wife Upstairs and think a re-telling of Jane Eyre sounds fun. Also, I’ve read other books by Kwei Quartey. I already own the first book in the series and plan to read it in upcoming days. Nice to see #2 coming soon. Enjoy your books!
I keep seeing The Wife Upstairs and now I’m curious. I’m looking forward to Kristen Hannah’s Four Winds but I think that is in February.
Three of these are on my to read list–The Wife Upstairs, Sleep Well, My Lady, and In the Garden of Spite. I think I’m especially looking forward to In the Garden of Spite. I hope you enjoy all of these, Iliana!
I’m curious about The Wife Upstairs, too. Sounds interesting.
The Wife Upstairs looks really good. Actually they all look good. Enjoy your books!
Looks like you’ve got a lot of good reading ahead of you! 🙂
Burnt Sugar and Before the Ruins both sound promising.
All these books sound great and I’m especially intrigued about The Wife Upstairs. Hope you enjoy reading them all!
Burnt Sugar is on my list and I am also looking forward to The Prophets and Black Buck. So many good books this month!