With 2021 underway, book lovers may be curious about what awaits them. While there are always a few needles in the publishing haystack (i.e. Where the Crawdads Sing in 2020) there are also big name authors with new releases that have their readership eager to lay their hands on a cover (or a Kindle). With that in mind, here a few upcoming releases that readers can get excited about:
The Four Winds – Kristin Hannah made a splash with The Nightingale in 2015. The historical drama reached number one on the New York Times Bestseller’s list. Her follow-up to that smash is due out in February. The Four Winds begins in 1934 Texas and centers on Elsa Martinelli and her challenges of living in the Dust Bowl. However, she harbors dreams of a better life in California. Thus, the crux of the story falls on her choice to either stay and fight for her land in the plains of Texas or pick up and move west for fresh start. Hannah’s fans are chomping at the bit for this release.
The Other Emily – While Stephen King has dominated the horror genre for decades, there is another author who has also garnered a wide following by scaring the pants off readers. Dean Koontz has been writing books since the 1960s. At 75, he shows no signs of slowing down. His latest novel centers on David Thorne, a writer who lost the love of his life (Emily) when her car broke down in the California desert and she disappeared. Years later, he meets and falls in love with Maddison, a woman that reminds him of Emily, right down to her kiss. Are these similarities a coincidence? What follows are the kind of plot twists that Koontz’s readers have come to love.
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The President’s Daughter – Former President Bill Clinton stepped into the spotlight as a writer in 2019 when he collaborated with bestselling author James Patterson for the smash hit The President Is Missing. Their second collaboration, The President’s Daughter, will be released in June, making it a perfect beach read for fans of Patterson. This time around Matthew Keating, former President and Navy SEAL, has to cope with the abduction of his teenage daughter. With Patterson at the helm, readers know that those Navy SEAL skills will come in handy as Keating tracks down his daughter and seeks revenge on her abductors.
Golden Girl – Readers know that summer has arrived when the see an Elin Hilderbrand book released. Like most of her other books, this one also takes place on the island of Nantucket. This time around, Hilderbrand takes an other-worldly approach to the beach formula that has served her so well with readers. When Vivian Howe is killed in a car accident, her spirit is allowed to follow the lives of friends and family. When she learns that she can also influence their choices, Vivian dedicates herself to guiding her loved ones to better outcomes in their lives.
Better Off Dead – Jack Reacher fans were abuzz with excitement upon learning the title of the latest Jack Reacher novel due out later this year. Author Lee Child has begun to transition his popular character into the hands of his younger brother, Andrew Child (also a successful author). Their first collaboration, The Sentinel, was a staple on the bestseller lists. While most Reacher fans enjoyed the novel, a few were not as satisfied with the first effort from the Child brothers. Due out in the fall, this second installment will be a real test to see if Andrew can satisfy those critical Reacher fans.
Harlem Shuffle – What do you do for an encore after winning back-to-back Pulitzer Prizes? That’s the question readers are asking about Colson Whitehead. After scoring critical acclaim with The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, Whitehead is taking readers to the 1960s with his latest release. Harlem Shuffle presents the story of Ray Carney, a well-liked furniture salesman in Harlem with a family secret. As a descendant of crooks and hoods, Ray has worked hard to make an honest living. However, as he and his young wife start a family, money becomes tight. For Ray, the temptation to follow his family’s legacy is at the heart of a story that Whitehead’s fans will be itching to read.
With so many options in 2021, readers will certainly have plenty to read, whether they are sitting on a beach in June or sitting by a roaring fire in December.