Most Anticipated New Releases: Fall 2021
Fall is nearly always the most exciting time of the year for book releases and this year is no different. These are some of the ones I’m most looking forward to and I’ve got everything from Fantasy to romance to historical fiction on my list. Let me know in the comments if there are any others you think I should have on my radar!
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore (September 7) - This is the 3rd book in Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Women series following a group of suffragists in England. This installment’s protagonist is Hattie, a banking heiress from London who has found herself married to Lucian, a ruthless and brooding businessman. They don’t get along particularly well but an unexpected journey to Scotland will permanently alter their feelings toward one another.
I love this book series. I learned a lot about the Suffragist movement in London when I lived there so this era is of particular interest to me and Evie Dunmore does such a great job at really placing the story within the time period. Some historical romance leans too far from accuracy and proving historical context in favor of focusing on the love story, but Evie Dunmore always balances those aspects extremely well so I can’t wait to read it.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (September 21) - TJ Klune’s previous novel The House in the Cerulean Sea was one of my favorite books of 2020 so I’ve been eagerly anticipating this one all year. His books are often described as “delightful” which is one of my favorite descriptors for the media I consume. A lot of people enjoy edge of your seat thrillers or heart stopping romances and I definitely have an appreciation for those, but my favorite books (and movies) are the ones that just leave you feeling delighted and bubbly and so much happier for having read it.
This book follows Wallace, who has been collected by a reaper at his funeral. The reaper doesn’t take him right to the afterlife, but takes him to a little village in the mountains where there is a tea shop run by a man named Hugo who promises to help him cross over. Wallace is given a week before he has to move on to the afterlife and he’s determined to make the absolute most of it and experience as much of life as he can in the way he never got to do when he was alive. I’m so ready to be whisked away with this book!
The Last Graduate (The Scholomance #2) by Naomi Novik (September 28) - I have a full review of Book 1 in this series that you can read here, but it's a dark academia style fantasy series set at a creepy school full of monsters. We follow El as she tries to make the school less deadly and make it through to graduation with the help now of some friends she made last year. The magic school setting is one of my favorites, especially when it’s as sinister as this one is so I’m looking forward to see what book 2 has in store.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (September 28) - This is the new book from the author of All The Light We Cannot See and one of my favorite writers of historical fiction. This book is partially historical fiction but also a foray into science fiction/fantasy and takes place along three timelines: one during the siege of Constantinople in the 15th century, one in present day America, and one in the future in space. The common thread that binds these times/places together is a story that each of them encounter. The tale of Aethon who longs to be a bird so he can fly away to a paradise in the sky. From the early reviews I’ve read this seems to be a book for fans of his previous work or of writers like Erin Morgenstern who appreciate the journey of the story as much as the ending. This book is sizable and said to be full of lush description and imagery but slightly light on plot.
Well Matched by Jen DeLuca (October 19) - This is the 3rd book in the Well Met series of books taking place primarily at a small town renaissance faire. The first book of the series follows Emily who moves to Willow Creek to help out her sister, single mother April, and her niece after April badly injures her leg in a car accident. Throughout that summer she joins her niece volunteering at the Renn Faire and finds unexpected love. Now, in this book, it’s her sister April’s turn to do so.
April finds herself struggling with her life plans now that her daughter is graduating high school and with her ex who suddenly wants to be involved in her daughter’s life after 18 years of no contact. She finds herself caught up in a fake dating situation with her friend Mitch and over time the lines of their friendship begin to blur. I’ve had a lot of fun reading the first two books in this series so I’ll definitely be picking this one up in October!
