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It’s a New Year! We at MBJ are not in the habit of making new year resolutions, but we have made an exception this year.
It is not what you’re expecting. We did not make bookish resolutions, instead, we made mental health resolutions.
They both aim to be more organized and so, they will be using planners. This is not sponsored. We bought our planners from Passion Planner, $1 from each purchase goes to a charity that is chosen by the PashFam. Check them out here at Passion Planner for more info.
Now that we’ve gone through a little detour, let’s get back on track, shall we? To kick start the new year, here are our Anticipated Releases Part One.
Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu
January 12, 2021 by Simon & Schuster
I’ve been trying to diversify my reading lately and to that end I am very much looking forward to Nadia Owusu’s memoir Aftershocks. Nadia is a adrift after her mother abandons her at the age of two and her father died when she was thirteen. Raised by her step-mother, Aftershocks tells the story of a young womxn Nadia’s coming of age story centers of identity.
Since this anticipated release is coming out in a few weeks, I do not have to wait long to read!
Sash
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
February 09, 2021 Delacorte Press
Finally, a fantasy novel where the girl on the cover looks like me! Honestly, I wish I had the luxury of picturing myself as with the possibilities presented to sixteen-year-old Deka.
Luckily, I don’t have to wait too long to read The Gilded Ones!
Sash
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
February 9th 2021 by Ace Books
The Witch’s Heart seems like an interesting reimagining or adaptation of Norse mythology. Supposedly, it follows the figure of Angrboda (traditionally cast as a villain) as she struggles with her knowledge of the future and what fate has in store for her and her family.
This is one of my most anticipated releases for the first half of 2021 because of the adaptation of Norse mythology. My love of Norse mythology and my excitement about the release of this adaptation come from the excellent work of Neil Gaiman. And The Witch’s Heart looks to be an exciting perspective and adaptation of an alreading interesting story.
Carmen
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
February 23rd 2021 by Park Row Books
I made a snap judgment when I glanced at the synopsis: ugh, not another what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. It’s totally different when the what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas mentality has to do with someone from the LGBTQ+ community and from a womxn perspective no less.
Sash
Marriage and Murder by Penny Reid
March 2nd 2021
Marriage and Murder is the second book of the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries from the wonderful winston Brother universe by Penny Reid. This may in fact be my most anticipated book release of the year not just the first six months. I don’t know what the premise of the book is but if it is anything like the first book in this series I’m in for a treat.
What I do know is that this series follows Cletus Winston and his fiancee Jenn after their happily ever after which was in Beard Science. Cletus and Jenn’s story was my favourite of the Winston Brothers series. I love Cletus’s quirky deviousness and seeing him continue to torment his brothers and help Jenn makes me laugh so much.
Carmen
Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York by Elon Green
March 9th 2021 by Celadon Books
Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust and Murder in Queer New York is a true crime book about a serial killer who preyed on gay men in 80s and 90s New York. The author of this book writes not only of the murders and the killer but the circumstance that allowed for a serial killer to not gain the public’s attention and the queer communities reaction.
This is one of my anticipated releases for the first half of the year due to the intersectionality and novel approach that this true crime book has. The major serial killers like the Zodiac Killer and Ted Bundy have hundred of books and articles written about them they are so well known that they become a part of popular culture. This book provides new insight into a lesser recognized serial killer.
Carmen
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
March 09, 2021 by Avon Books
I haven’t read Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters series but the synopsis of Act Your Age, Eve Brown is very interesting, especially because it surrounds an interracial couple. Carmen has book one, Get a Life, Chloe Brown, so I’ll start from the top and work my way down. Good thing I have time!
Sash
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu
March 18th 2021 by Tor Books
The Library of the Dead is a story of magical realism. Where a young girl explores the ghosts and magical underworld of modern Edinburgh. This is a story that combines magic and fantasy with mystery.
This made my anticipated releases because I find the combination of ghosts, magic and of course Edinburgh a heady and compelling mix. I’m also fascinated by the fact that the main character calls in Zimbabwean magic.
Carmen
The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos by Judy Batalion
April 6th 2021 by William Morrow & Company
The Light of Days tells the stories of the brave women who fought in the resistance against the Nazis during World War II. Focusing on the jewish women living in the ghettos in Poland the author tells of how these women overcame all the death and hate that surrounded them and the various way in which they resisted the Nazis.
I love reading about history particularly women’s history and the history of World War II. The combination of these two histories is ultimately what place this book amongst my most anticipated releases.
Carmen
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalia Harris
June 01, 2021 by Atria Books
Out of all the anticipated releases on the list, I am looking forward to Zakiya Dalia Harris’s The Other Black Girl the most.
Nella Rogers, tired of being the TBG (token-black-girl) in her workplace is no longer than TBG, now there’s Nella. Sounds heart-warming, but then things turn dark real quick.
I’m not usually a fan of mystery-thrillers, but this sounds too intriguing to pass up.
Sash
What are your most anticipated reads for the first half of this New Year?
Let us know in the comments below!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Join us every Tuesday to see MBJ’s Top Ten Listicles!
3 Comments
ShootingStarsMag
January 5, 2021 at 19:11I’m really excited for The Library of the Dead, the Other Black Girl, and Last Call.
-Lauren
Sarah H Small
January 5, 2021 at 13:21The Other Black Girl is on my list, too!
Lydia
January 5, 2021 at 12:26Honey Girl sounds good!
My post.