Buckle up, book lovers! 2024 is shaping up to be a literary treasure trove, overflowing with diverse and delicious reads. Whether you crave heart-pounding thrills, sweeping fantasies, or the tender blossoming of love, there’s something here to set your TBR (to-be-read) pile ablaze. I am talking sizzling queer romances, thrillers, myths retold with fresh perspectives, and captivating stories from Black authors. So, grab your favorite reading nook and get ready to dive into a year of unforgettable books!
Don’t want you like a best friend// Emma R Alban// January 9
What to expect; queer romance, setting up parents
A swoonworthy queer Victorian debut romance in which two debutants; Beth and Gwen distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents and instead find their perfect match in each other, the lesbian Bridgeton|Parent Trap you never know you need.
So Let Them Burn// Kamilah Cole// January 16
What to expect; fantasy, magic, adventure, african literature
This Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods- blessed heroine; Faron, who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland
The Fury// Alex Michaelides// January 16
What to expect; mystery, thriller with a bit of romance
Lana is an exclusive ex movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. Until the last trip when they find themselves trapped there overnight with a murder.
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde// Tia Williams// February 6
What to expect; swoon worthy love story between two passionate artists, magic of romance
Ricki has many talents but being a Wilde isn’t one of them. As the impulsive, artistic daughter of a powerful Atlanta dynasty, she is the opposite of her famous socialite sisters. When regal nonagenarian Ms. Della invited her to rent the bottom floor of her Harlem brownstone, she took the chance leaving behind everything to realise her dream of opening a flower shop. One evening in February, Ricki encounters a deeply mysterious but handsome stranger who knocks her world off balance in the most unexpected way
Bride// Ali Hazelwood// February 6
What to expect; paranormal romance, necessary but unwilling alliance between“werewolves and vampyres”
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride; Misery and an Alpha werewolf; Lowe, becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this paranormal romance by Hazelwood
I hope this doesn’t find you// Ann Liang// February 6
What to expect; enemies to lovers, young adult romance
Do not forget to check out the book made specially for fans of Never Have I Ever and To All The Boys I Have Loved Before, if Laura- Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.
The Tainted Cup// Robert Jackson// February 6
What to expect; mystery mixed with fantasy, woman detective
Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot and a hunting and wholly original fantasy world, Bennett brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.
The Book of Love// Kelly Link// February 8
What to expect; joy with a little terror, magical tasks, mystery
The author, Link channels her powers to potent magic and attuned to all varieties of love from friendship to romance to abiding family ties
How You Get the girl// Anita Kelly// February 13
What to expect; sports romance, workplace contemporary comedy
Chemistry sizzles in this workplace rom-com between Venessa and Ellie, set in the world of high school basketball.
The Book of Doors// Gareth Brown// February 13
What to expect; time travelling with magical books, adventure filled with danger
Cassie is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a customer. It is an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the best front, there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that the book is a book of doors which can open any door, also the book bestows extraordinary powers on whoever possess it
This Day Changes Everything// Edward Underhill// February 13
What to expect; queer rom com, one life changing day, trans representation
Abby believes in the Universe. her high school band is about to perform at a parade in New York; it is also the perfect place for Abby to finally tell her best friend that she is in love with her and gay. On the other hand, Leo just wants to get the trip over with and he doesn’t believe in the Universe, he doesn’t even look forward to spending the day with his band but the Universe has other ideas. When fate throws Abby and Leo together on the wrong subway train, they soon find themselves lost in the middle of Mahattan as they spend time together, their initial expecting from the trip and of each other begin to shift
Island Witch// Amanda Jayatissa// February 20
What to expect; for lovers of Carrie and The Exorcist, creepily and darkly feminist tale, religion and folklore
Inspired by Sri Lakan folklore, award winning author Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter Amara of a traditional demon priest who relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself, tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.
The Bad Ones// Melissa Albert// February 20
What to expect; semi-toxic best friendship, occults, horror fantasy threaded with dark magic
In the course of a single winter’s night, four people vanish without a trace across a small town; Nora’s estranged best friend, Becca is one of the lost. As Nora tries to untangle the truth of Becca’s disappearance, she discovers a darkness in her town’s past, as well as a string of coded messages, Becca left for her to unravel. These clues lead Nora to a piece of local folklore, a legendary goddess of forgotten origins who played a role in Nora & Becca’s own childhood games.
The Darkest Corner of the heart// Lisina Coney// February 20
What to expect; steamy scenes, contemporary romance
Maddie has never felt good enough in her life, when she injures her ankle before a ballet audition that could change her career forever, she is convinced her life is over. Her physical therapist turns out to be a grouch who doesn’t seem to like her that much, even though he is very handsome, he is still ten years older and falling for him is a recipe for disaster. But when their forced proximity makes the ones start blurring, the forbidden temptation becomes impossible to resist.
P.S: I have never read anything like this so I am looking forward to its release.
Chukwuebuka Ibeh// Blessings// February 22
What to expect; queer love story that touches loneliness, african literature debut
When Obiefuna’s father witnessed an intimate moment between his teenage son and the family’s apprentice, he banished Obiefuna to a Christian boarding school marked by strict hierarchy and routine, utterly alienated from the people he loves, he begins a journey of self discovery and blossoming desire while her mother grapples onto hold on to her favourite son, her truest friend
The Partner Plot// Kristina Forest// February 27
What to expect; contemporary, romance, fake marriage
From the author of The Neighbor Favor, two former high school sweetheart gets a second chance in this marriage of convenience.
Baby X// Kira Peikoff// March 5
What to expect; set in the future, thriller, female body guard
When any biological matter can be used to create life, stolen celebrity DNA sells to the highest bidder to the craziest stalker in this explosive thriller
Murder Road// Simone ST James// March 5
What to expect; supernatural, mystery in a small town
In 1995, a young couple; April and Eddie find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road
This Could Be Us// Kennedy Ryan// March 5
What to expect; romance, discovering self, african literature
Soledad has her life planned out; she is a domestic goddess who’s never met a party she couldn’t host or a charge she couldn’t lead. But no one can save her when catastrophe strikes and the life she built with the man who was supposed to be her forever, goes poof in a cloud of betrayal and delusion. She has no time to grief as she has to keep a roof on her daughter’s heads and food on the table. In the process of saving them all, she discovers herself but then an unlikely man enters the picture- the forbidden (the one she shouldn’t want but can’t seem to resist). After all she’s lost and found, can she be brave enough to make room for what could be?
Hate Mail// Denna Marchetti//March 14
What to expect; contemporary romance, enemies to lovers
Naomi and Luca have been pen pals since fifth grade. Well more like bitter rivals caught in an epic battle of insults and verbal jousting. But what starts as a hilarious chain of hate filled letters, slowly develops into a friendship spanning coasts and years until the letters stop. It’s been too years since Naomi last heard from Luca, since the last letter changed everything. But when a new envelope turns up out of the blue at her desk at the local news station, Naomi is determined not to let Luca have the final word
Where Sleeping Girls Lie// Faridah Àbìkè- Íyímídé// March 19
What to expect; young adult, dark academia, african literature
The second book from this author on this list; this is a young adult contemporary mystery about a girl new to a boarding school who discovers dark secrets and covers ups after her roommate disappears
Dead Girls Walking// Sami Ellis// March 26
What to expect; serial killer father, horror slasher, young adult african literature
A shocking, spine-chilling young adult horror slasher novel about Temple, a girl searching for her dead mother’s body at the summer camp that was once her serial killer’s home. It is perfect for fans of Friday the 13th
How to Solve your own murder// Kristen Perrin// March 26
What to expect; fortune telling, mystery murder
For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club, an enormously fun mystery about a woman, Frances who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate. Now it is up to her great niece; Annie to catch the killer
The Black Girl Survivies in this one// Edited by Desiree S Evans, Saraciea J Fennell et all//April 2
What to expect; african literature, short horror stories
Celebrating a new generation of best selling and acclaimed Black writers; fifteen chilling and thought provoking stories that place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits and face down death
The Blonde Dies First// Joelle Wellington// April 2
What to expect; young adult, horror, ouija board, african literature
A group of friends fight to choose their own fate in this trope savvy, self- referential young adult thriller about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the scream movies, from the author of Their Vicious Games
The Reappearance of Rachel Price// Holly Jackson// April 2
What to expect; missing person, true crime documentary, thriller
From author Jackson, comes a new true crime fueled mystery thriller about about a girl who is determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case
Late Bloomer// Mazey Eddings// April 6
What to expect; enemies to lover, sapphic romance, co-habilitation
Winning the lottery has ruined Opal’s life, after quitting her dead end job, she is bombarded by people knocking on her door for a handout the second they know she won a lottery. With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which she translates to putting all her new money to buying a failing flower team in North Carolina. But her plans for isolation go awry when an angry and gorgeous Pepper is waiting for her at her new home claiming that she is the rightful owner of the farm and she isn’t moving out. They both strike up an agreement of co-habilitation as the unlikely pair live together.
The Kiss Countdown// Etta Easton// April 9
What to expect; contemporary, romance, fake dating
Event planner Amerie is jobless, newly single and about to lose her apartment. With no choice but to gamble on her shaky start up, the last thing she needed was to run unto her smug ex and his girlfriend at her favorite coffee shop. Panicked she pretended to be dating the annoyingly sexy man she met by spilling Americano all over his abs. He plays along for a price. With what started off as a one- off lie morphs into three minutes leading to to his mission, Amerie plays his doting partner in front of his moving but overly invested family in exchange, she gets a rent free room in his house and can out every penny toward her business. What Amerie doesn’t plan for his his gravitational pull, as their time together counts down, she must decide if she will settle for the safe life or shot for the stars.
The Prospects// KT Hoffman// April 9
What to expect; sport romance between teammates, rival to lovers
Hope is familiar territory for Gene, he has always loved baseball and his team, building a successful profession as the first openly trans player in the league. He has all he wants until his former teammate & current rival; Luis gets traded into his team destroying the fateful equilibrium of his life.
Manny and the Baby// Varaidzo// April 11
What to expect; black history, womenhood, african literature
It is a character- driven debut novel, full of heart about what it means to be Black and British now and in the past
When I think of you// Myah Ariel// April 16
Funny Story// Emily Henry// April 23
What to expect; fake dating, summer trip, healing from heartbreak
A shimmering, joyful novel about Daphne and Miles; two people who their partners left them for each other, then they both form a tenuous friendship and a plan to deliberately post photos of their summer adventures together.
Kill her Twice// Stacey Lee// April 23
What to expect; historical, mystery, asian literature
In LA 1932, Lulu, star of the silver screen and pride of Chinatown has a face known to everyone, especially the Chow sisters- her former classmates/neighbours. So the girls instantly know it’s Lulu whose body they discover one morning in a stable farm from the mansion where she lived. The sisters suspect Lulu’s death is the result of foul play but the LAPD do not seem motivated to investigate. Worried that neither the police nor the palates will treat a Chinese girl fairly no matter how famous and wealthy- the sisters set out to solve their friend’s murder themselves with Lulu’s killers still on the loose.
The Good Ones are Taken// Taj McCoy// April 23
What to expect; comedy, contemporary, romance
When Maggie’s best friend admit he’s in love with her, she will have to decide whether it’s worth giving up something good for something that would be amazing in this laugh-out-loud friends to lovers rom-com
Truly, Madly, Deeply// Alexandria Bellefleur// April 30
What to expect; steamy, podcast hosts, queer romance, enemies to lovers
Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist; Truly and a divorce lawyer, Colin who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers.
You Should Be So Lucky// Cat Sabestian// May 7
What to expect; enemies to lover, queer sports romance
It follows Eddie, a baseball player who is having the worst year. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he is ready to call it quits but he reluctantly agrees. Mark is not a sports reporter, rather he writes for the arts page and he isn’t doing that much these days. He has had a rough year and he just wants to mourn a partner he’d never been able to be public about, the last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about a new athelete in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers. As they spend time together, they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attention. But Mark had vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret again and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete.
I really enjoyed reading the first book of this author so I am fully anticipating this one as well.
A Crane among Wolves// June Hur// May 14
What to expect; young adult historical, based on a true story, asian literature
In 1506 Joseon, the people suffered under the cruel reign of a tyrant; king Yeonson, who used their land for his recreational use, kidnaps and horrifically abuses women, ban and burns books. Iseul has lived a sheltered privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil when her older sister becomes the king’s latest prey, she leaves the comfort of her village travelling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hope of stealing her sister back but she discovers that to challenge the king’s rule is to die.
Prince Daehyun has loved his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half brother, the king. As he is forced to watch the king flaunt his predation, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother one and for all but when staging a coup, failure is fatal and he will need help to pull it off. So when Iseul’s and Daehyun’s fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Together they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen.
You Like it Darker// Stephen King// May 21
What to expect; short stories, thriller and mysteries
From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction, King comes again with an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published and some of his best ever
Allow Me to Introduce Myself// Onyi Nwabineli// May 28
What to expect; social media, discovering oneself, african literature
Every second of Anuri’s life has been documented on social media, now it is time to take back control. Her step mother is the ultimate momfluencer; throughout her childhood, she catalogued every minute, milestone, and curated family outing on social media. Now twenty-five years old, life looks pretty perfect on the outside, her stepmother’s fans would be forgiven for wondering why Anuri spends so much of her time insulting men online for money, *but they and reminding herself that she is now allowed to choose her own outfits. When she sees her little sister being pushed down the same rocky path, she decides to take back control. Her stepmother, however isn’t giving up without a fight
Four Eids and a Funeral// Faridah Àbíké- Íyímídé & Adida Jaigirdar// June 4
What to expect; young adult romance mixed with Islam
Ex-best friends, Tiwa and Said must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition, when it suddenly catches fire. The both of them team up in this story of rekindling and rebuilding
Marvel’s Storm// Tiffany D. Jackson// June 4
What to expect; super powers/fantasy , young adult, african literature
Before she was the superhero Storm of X-men, she was Ororo of Cairo; a teenaged thief on the streets of Egypt until her growing powers catch the eye of a villain who steals people’s souls.
P.S: One of the best covers I have seen this year!
Napkins & Other Distractions// M.A. Wardell// June 4
What to expect; one night stand, divorced partner, steamy romance between teachers
Kent is proud of the joyful, thriving learning community he’s created as principal of Lear Elementary School, but seven years after his divorce, he is ready to focus on his personal life and spread his bisexual wings. Things get off to a rocky start when Kent’s first date is an uptight control freak but it doesn’t stop them from targeting some sheets. On his part, Vincent never seem to be scoring to move past the friend zone and besides he is not sure anyone can handle his OCD until Kent and he wants a repeat. When the school’s test scores take a nosedive, Kent finds himself under the microscope, forced to implement new software to monitor and collect data, he is horrified to discover that Vincent is heading up the project. Vincent and Kent need to view each other in a new light as they work together, but that could affect their lives forever.
P.S. I enjoy this teacher-in-love series very much, and I am looking forward to the principal’s story. I wonder if it will be the best one yet, the series comes highly recommended, check them out today while you wait for this one.
Everyone I Kissed since you got famous// Mae Marvel// June 11
What to expect; sapphic love story for everyone who almost kissed their best friend and then finally did
Katie is known in every living room in America, as she grew to a big A list star but she rarely makes it home but this year is different which will lead her straight to Wil; her ex friend and lawyer whose career hasn’t taken off. Through the years, the two have never left each other’s thoughts and desires but now suddenly they are back in each other’s lives, their reconnection is instantaneous and the passion is palpable but can it stand the test of time?
Not in Love// Ali Hazelwood// June 11
What to expect; contemporary secret romance, woman in stem
The second book from Hazelwood which comes out later this year, follows Rue who might not have it all but great friends she can count on and a successful career as a biotech engineer. Her world is stable until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all down. Eli and his partners want Rue’s company and he always gets what he wants except Rue, who is off limits to him. Torn between loyalty and undeniable attraction, they both throw caution out of the lab windows. Their affair is a secret and it also has a deadline; the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business one that plays for keeps
Little Rot// Akwaeke Emezi// June 18
What to expect; thrilling, queer, sex party
Aina and Kalu are a longtime couple who have just split. When Kalu, reeling from the breakup visits an exclusive sex party hosted by his best friend, he makes a decision that will plunge them all into chaos, brutally and suddenly upending their lives
A Darker Mischief// Derek Milman// July 2
What to expect; dark academia, young adult, queer thriller
When Cal wins a scholarship to an elite New England boarding school, he is thrilled to leave his past as the poor, queer kid who never fit in, but he hopes to reinvent himself at the Essex Academy. But at the academy, Cal’s classmates only see his cheap clothes and old iphone, at his breaking point just when he is about to give up and go back home, he learns about a secret society in campus- the key to becoming Essex royalty. Cal knows he is not exactly secret society material, but to his surprise, he finds an unlikely champion in the handsome and slightly dangerous Luke. As they get swept into the mystery and glamour, Cal finds himself falling in love for the first time. As the initiative rituals grow riskier, Cal must decide how far he is willing to go and sacrifice as nothing is as it seems in the academy
Masquerade // O.O Sangoyomi// July 2
What to expect; political struggle, african literature
Set in a wonderfully reimagined fifteenth century West Africa, the novel follows Ododo, whose hometown of Timbuktu has been conquered by the warrior king, she then gets abducted and whisked to the city of Sangote where she is shocked to know that her kidnapper is the warrior king and he has chosen her to be his wife. All of a sudden, Ododo soars to the very heights of society due to the change in fortune. But after a lifetime of subjugation, the power becomes to enticing to resist, as tensions with rival starts to grow, reveling elaborate schemes and enemies hidden in plain sight, Ododod must defy the cruel king or risk losing everting including her life. Loosely based on the myth of Persephone
Such Charming Liars// Karen McManus// July 4
What to expect; heist, thriller and mystery
Follow Jamie and Kay; mother- daughter grifter who when set out on their final job, the heist gets deadly and dangerously personal
In the Shadow of the Fall// Toni Ogundiran// July 23
What to expect; fantasy, african literature
A cosmic war reignites and the fate of the Orisha lie in the hands of an untried acolytes; Ashake in this first entry of a new epic fantasy novella duology
Only Big BumBum matters tomorrow// Damilare Kuku// July 30
What to expect; african literature, humour, family secrets
In this second book from the author of Nearly All the Men in Lagos are Mad, she brings her signature humour, boldness and compassion to each member of this loveable but exasperated family, whose lives reveal the ways in which a woman’s physical appearance can dictate her life and relationships
Something Kindred// Ciera Burch// August 2
What to expect; magical realism, young adult, african literature
Magical realism meets Southern Gothic in this commanding young adult debut from Burch about true love, the meaning of home and the choices that haunt us
And So I Roar// Abi Dare// August 6
What to expect, mystery, african literature
When Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother- terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Nigeria and her aunt will then send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades.
The Pairing// Casey McQuiston// August 6
What to expect; contemporary, second chance romance, food
In Casey’s latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to an international hook up competition to prove they are over each other. And they are over each other right?
Celestial Monsters// Arden Thomas// September 3
What to expect; fantasy, adventure, queer romance
Teo never thought he could be a Hero now he doesn’t have a choice, the Obsidian goads have been released from their prison, now chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc in his community all because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiose during the Sunbearer Trials. With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, Aurelio and Anita must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Res, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma and a very distracting romance between Teo and Aurelio. The future of the world is in their hands.
A Legend in the Baking// Jamie Wesley// November 19
What to expect; brother’s best friend, contemporary romance filled with pasteries
After accidentally going viral on social media, a cupcake baking football player, August gets assistance from a social media maven and his best friend’s little sister Sloane to help promote his new bakery.
Here We Go Again// Alison Cochrun//
What to expect; ex best friends forced to spend time together, summer trip, queer rom com
The author of Kiss Her Once For Me, returns with a new queer rom com following once childhood best friends; Logan and Rosemary forced together to drive their former teacher across the country
Bonus Books
The Lagos Wife// Vanessa Walters// February 29
The plot is quite similar to The Niger wife but we’ll see
Poison We Drink// Bethany Baptiste// March 26
The 7-10 Split// Karmen Lee// May 28
Wish You Weren’t Here// Erin Baldwin// June 4
The books are obviously more than this…
euphoria 
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