My Most Anticipated Reads Publishing in February 2019

I’m bringing this back because I love displaying for you all the books I’m excited about publishing. I’m going to take it different this time. Instead of copy and pasting all the syopsis, I’m going to share why I want these books. I think that’ll be fun (and more work, but I’m trying to break my habit of being super lazy).

Here’s what’s been published and what’s publishing this month that I need to get my hands on:

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

• Publishing Date: February 5, 2019
• Publisher: Balzer and Bray
• Genre: Contemporary YA/Diverse YA

The MOST anticipated novel from Angie Thomas after her crazy success with The Hate U Give. Reading the synopsis, this sounds like it’s going to be much different from The Hate U Give, which I’m totally fine with. I love books that have a big social message and share the concerns many girls Starr’s age dealt with, but I also love good representation. I just ordered this one on Amazon, so I’m now doggedly waiting for them to arrive.

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

• Publishing Date: February 5, 2019
• Publisher: Random House
• Genre: Contemporary Romance

The last time I read a book by Sophie Kinsella was back when I was in college and reading the Shopaholic series. Let me tell you how refreshing it is to read a contemporary romance when you’re stuck taking endless philosophy classes. But that was the end of my reading dance with Sophie Kinsella. Suddenly, I find my dance card filled again and I can’t wait to read this one. I might add this to my March TBR because all these heavy reads are aching for something lighter.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

• Publishing Date: February 26, 2019
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Genre: Adult Fantasy

Let me tell you right here, right now that I have already preordered this book. All this book needed to say was “dragons.” I feel like I’ve been promised dragons so many times with fantasy and I have yet to receive my dragons. Let this be the book. I fell in love with Samantha Shannon’s first series, The Bone Season. I think it might be my first fantasy series outside of Twilight, which makes it doubly special for me. I was a little disappointed when that series didn’t take off as I thought it would. However, Samantha Shannon is back and I can’t wait to read this one. While I would have loved to receive a copy of this book, I’m afraid I’ll be spending my hard-earned money on it. That’s okay with me! Take all my money, Samantha. Take it ALL.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

• Publishing Date: February 5, 2019
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Genre: Adult Fantasy

I finally finished reading Black Leopard, Red Wolf, but sadly my opinions of this book are a little unpopular. Don’t get me wrong, I thought this book was incredible and the story was one of those ones where I couldn’t get enough. But I honestly don’t like the way Marlon James writes. It really pains me to review a book because of something as technical as its writing style. But I think writing style is super important when it comes to a good book. For Marlon James, it felt like he didn’t know when to stop writing. I think that was evident in the 600 pages of writing that could have honestly stopped around 450-500 pages. I would strongly encourage people to read this one if they don’t mind the writing style. If you can get through it, you’ll be a lucky recipient of an amazing fantasy novel.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

• Publishing Date: February 12, 2019
• Publisher: Flatiron Books
• Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical Realism

This book has already been making the rounds in the community and it has one more week before it’s out! And I’m not talking about people just promoting the book, but actually reading it and blown away by how good it is. You have to give props to a story that’s able to generate buzz before it’s fully published. I’ve had a copy of this sitting on my desk and I didn’t take the opportunity to read it (but that’s also because I’m like eight years behind on my TBR). I’m ecstatic about this book because it’s a blend of fantasy and reality. I have this feeling it’s going to carry the vibe as a story like In the Mood for Love. I’m also totally into stories using old myths and legends and making them come to life.

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray

• Publishing Date: February 19, 2019
• Publisher: Berkley
• Genre: Contemporary Fiction

To be honest, I don’t know much about this book, but when a synopsis says it’s a combo of An American Marriage and The Mothers, then I’m sold. I also love strong family stories and this one follows a family of sisters. When the oldest gets arrested for mysterious reasons, the family needs to prepare themselves for the fight of their life. I think I’m going to absolutely love this one.

The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders

• Publishing Date: February 12, 2019
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

I’ve heard of Charlie Jane Anders for a few years now and for some reason I never took the time to read All the Birds in the Sky. Now, she’s about to publish their second novel and I’m super excited about this one more than her first. Set on a different planet with its own set of rules and regulations to live by, it reminds me a lot of an episode of Star Trek. Unlike an episode of Star Trek, this one gets dark and there’s no one to help them out. I can’t wait to get lost in this new epic science fiction novel! I hope it’s just as good as Dune. Please be just as good as Dune!

Enchantee by Gita Trelease

• Publishing Date: February 5, 2019
• Publisher: Flatiron Books
• Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

I will admit, I was interested in this book because the name and the French flag all over the front. But now that I’m looking at the premise, I can definitely see myself reading and really enjoying this book. It’s got magic and Versaille and a girl who has to do what she needs to survive. I can’t resist a good story like this.

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

• Publishing Date: February 12, 2019
• Publisher: Knopf
• Genre: Contemporary/Literary Fiction

I think this book is going to be a good one and for a few reasons. First, it’s the story of a young family making their way across America in a beat up Volvo. It also talks about the children who were detained and imrpsioned at the US/Mexico border. And the final piece is the documentation and text it’ll supply sharing the stories of migration and displacement. I might be reading this one with my book club later this year, but I might also sneak this onto my TBR next month.

More Than Words by Jill Santopolo

• Publishing Date: February 5, 2019
• Publisher: GP Putnam and Son’s
• Genre: Contemporary Fiction

While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jill Santopolo’s first book, The Light We Lost, I did come away with that book as a fan of her writing. More Than Words is her second adult novel and I couldn’t be more excited. While she’s mainly a children’s book author, I love authors who branch off and write something for someone a little older. It begins with the loss of her father and how that pain kind of moves towards everything else in her life. It’s categorized as a romance, but knowing what happened at the The Light We Lost, I’m thinking this is going to be another love story without a happily ever after.

Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

• Publishing Date: February 19, 2019
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Genre: Historical Fiction

Similarly to The Night Tiger, I’m looking to read more Asian authors that don’t specifically come from Korea. I love Korean and Korean American stories, but I also feel like they’re dominating the diverse publishing world right now. This sounds like several different stories happening at once all during post-WW2 Thailand. Not only are the stories from various people, but from various parts of the country and the world. I honestly know nothing about Thailand or Bangkok, but I have been there. I know that the country is vibrant and rich with culture and when I went there, it was one of my favorite places to be. I can’t wait to dive into this one especially since it’s not another Korean story.

What books are you excited about this month? Any of these on your radar?