Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2021

 I've seen Aoife over at Pretty Purple Polka Dots regularly do a Top Ten Tuesday, which is run by That Artsy Reader Girl, so I've decided to join in! Partially because I love a good list but also because today's list is Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2021 and I used to always do my most anticipated reads so I thought it would be a good way to ease back into posts like that.

Animal Vegetable Criminal by Mary Roach

This is probably my most anticipated read of the year! I love Mary Roach's books, she takes a specific topic (past ones include death, living in space and sex to name a few) and looks at them from a scientific point of view. They're always super interesting and I'm sure this one will be no different. This will explore the science of nature vs humans conflict, which mostly when there's problematic wildlife, humans are the blame. The book is being released in the US under the title Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law on 14th September by W.W. Norton and Company

UK release 14th October by Oneworld Publications

Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite

I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite was one of my favourite releases last year. Part memoir, part manifesto, the book is Candice's account of being a Black mother in the UK, covering topics from her own childhood, as well as her pregnancy and the complexity of raising her children. Sista Sister is her new book of essays on a range of topics, all centring around what Candice wishes someone had spoken to her about when she was younger. I listened to I Am Not Your Baby Mother last year and loved Candice's narration so I've preordered this as an audiobook as well

Release 8th July by Quercus

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk

On a Night Like This is Lindsey Kelk's upcoming book and I am a BIG fan of Lindsey's work! It's a story of two people from wildly different worlds: Evan belongs to the glitzy world of the rich and Fran is the assistant to those in the rich, glitzy world. However Evan whisks Fran away to Crystal Ball event. Can one magical night change everything or will they go back to their own separate worlds after the night is over? It's being marketed as a feel-good Christmas rom-com which I love! And surely by now you must have that Kylie Minogue song stuck in your head since seeing the title?! 

Release 11th November HarperCollins

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber

Heather Webber writes charming, magical realism stories set in the American South which are perfect autumnal reads. Two estranged sisters must come together to help run their mother's inn during Sugarberry's famous water lantern festival. I enjoyed Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe and South of the Buttonwood Tree by the same author and will be cosy read

Release 30th August St. Martin's Press

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic, book one in the series, follows Gillian and Sally, Owens sisters who lives with a family curse. The Rules of Magic follows Franny and Jet, the aunts who we first meet in Practical Magic. Magic Lessons is about Maria Owens in the 1600, the origin of the family curse. This final book in the series follows events after Practical Magic, with three generations trying to break the family curse. I've loved reading this series so I was excited to see there is another book out, especially as we get to revisit the original characters from the first book. The book is out 5th October by Simon Schuster.

UK Release 6th January by Scribner UK

Precious Catastrophe by Deirdre Sullivan

This is the follow up to YA novel Perfectly Preventable Deaths, with twin sisters Madeline and Caitlin living in the weird and creepy Ballyfran. The first book was so atmospheric and eerie and I'm sure this one will be no different! I read the first one in autumn and look forward to reading it again at the same time of year. I love a witchy book for autumn, if the previous 2 books didn't make it clear! 

Release 30th September Hot Key Books

Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh

I'm a huge, huge fan of Eat Up! by Ruby Tandoh, which is packed full of essays and small thought pieces about food from different points of view; from the purely pleasurable to the political, food and body weight and stories from Ruby's life. Ruby has a no snobbishness allowed approach to food, which is so refreshing from someone who writes recipes. This cookbook is to appeal to people from all walks of life, to be accessible and inclusive.

Release 7th October by Serpent's Tail

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

A new series from Becky Chambers, who wrote the Wayfarers series, a gentle inclusive sci-fi series about life in outer space for various different alien species. This series is called the Monk and Robot series and that's all I pretty much need to know about it! I'm sure it'll be just as comforting and lovely to read as her other books.

Release 23rd August St. Martin's Press

Anyway the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

The 3rd and final book in Rainbow Rowell's Simon Snow series. While I liked the other two books, I didn't love them but I am intrigued to see how the series end. Simon Snow is the series that features in Fan Girl, which is not so loosely based on Harry Potter. It's a fun, fantasy YA series and I'll probably pick it up if I'm looking for some fast paced fantasy.

Release 6th July Macmillian Children's Books

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

I had downloaded this image to include in the post originally but then afterwards noticed I forgot to add it. Oops! The Man Who Died Twice is the follow up to the wildly successful The Thursday Murder Club, a series about a group of friends in their 70s who live in a retirement village and like to solve crimes. I have no doubt this one will be as big as the first one. 

Release 16th September Penguin Books

I'm sure in a few month's time there will be other books announced, usually some are announced for release in October for the Christmas market. The new Aisling book by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen is due out later this year too which I can't wait to read!

What books are you looking forward over the next 6 months? Drop a line below or let me know over on Instagram! 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review

For years the Riva siblings have hosted a big summer blow out party in Malibu, which has only gotten bigger the more their fame has risen. Nina (surfer and supermodel), Jay (championship surfer), Hud (renowned photographer who's helped boost Jay's career) and Kit (the youngest, still trying to find her place in the world) are the estranged children of Mick Riva, legendary musician. This year's Riva party is going to be the biggest one yet, everyone is vying to go but with secrets simmering under the surface for each sibling, this party may blow up in more than one way

The story has two timelines: we have the current timeline of 1983 which is set over 24 hours and is broken down into chapters of one hour, as well as the past of how Mick met their mother June in the 50s and what happened to their love over the decades that made Mick estranged from the family. I love books that span a day, it's a fun concept and Jenkins Reid does a good job of balancing the past to give us context of what's happening in the future. I really felt for Nina, trying to hold everything together for her family and putting the happiness of others first over her own. The conflict between Jay and Hud adds some tension to the story and while I feel like we didn't really get to know Kit too much, I could totally see a follow up novel with her at the centre. The storyline with their mother June is sad and poignant at times and I loved how we travelled through the different decades, I could imagine the different looks and fashions even though there's not a lot of description of these, I think Jenkins Reid does a good job at creating books that you can see vividly in your mind, ones that would be good as film adaptations and this is no different. The setting in Malibu, with the descriptions of the beaches, cliff side houses and surfing was amazing, making this a great summery read. 

While I did enjoy the book, there were elements I didn't enjoy. Primarily at the party a lot of characters are introduced and have their own little story arc (involving sex, drugs or vandalism as the party got wilder). It got a bit difficult keeping track of these minor characters, I get that Jenkins Reid was showing that even when bigger dramas are happening at a party, everyone is having their own mini drama and she was showing how some of the characters were connected to each other. As well as adding to the debauchery at the party. However it really distracted from the main characters and what was happening to them. We didn't need to know some of the background tales for these characters, even if it was only a few lines. We just needed to know chaos was happening. I think if you're a fan of Jenkin Reid's books you will enjoy this but it doesn't top The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones and the Six

I received this ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to post a review on here and all thoughts are my own