What’s On My Never-Ending TBR 2021 Releases Edition

I thought it would be fun to talk about the books on my TBR that came out or are coming out this year. To switch things up so I’m not constantly saying, “This has been sitting on my list for years.” I used a random number to pick these off the list.

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The Gilded Girl by Alyssa Colman

This came out earlier this month. I requested an ARC for it but didn’t get approved. But I will certainly be seeking out a copy because it is based on my favorite children’s book, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett! But there’s magic! And even more focus on the friendship between the Sara Crewe character, Emma, and the Becky character, Izzy. I’m so excited for this, and I hope it lives up to my expectations.

Mrs. England by Stacey Halls

I have Stacey Halls’ two other books on my TBR and haven’t picked them up yet…but that’s not stopping me from adding this one, which comes out in June. Look at this cover! I need to find out who is designing the covers for her books because they’re all gorgeous. This is historical fiction set in 1904 Yorkshire, and it features an isolated house and a mysterious woman living there. So clearly right up my alley.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

This book comes out in October, and I received an ARC for it. I was immediately drawn in by the cover. It’s terrifying. And the summary promises an equally terrifying story about a wedding taking place in a haunted mansion. Most of the books I read take place in the UK or the US, so I’m interested to pick up something set in Japan. Keep an eye out for a review in October.

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First, Become Ashes by K. M. Szpara

I read and enjoyed Docile last year, so I was excited to find out Szpara was releasing another book. This came out earlier this month. Lark has spent his whole life training to defeat monsters with magic only to find out that he has been brainwashed by a cult. Magic isn’t real, monsters aren’t real, and all the torture and pain he has gone through were for nothing. Docile had everything that I enjoy in fanfic except it was in an actual book, and First, Becomes Ashes seems like it’s going to be more of the same.

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo

This horror novel came out in February, and I originally clicked on it because I thought it was a “Little Red Riding Hood” retelling. It’s not. From what I can tell, it’s about a family of werewolves. When I’ve encountered werewolves in fiction, they’ve mostly been the YA paranormal romance type. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’d rather have creepy. Based on reviews, What Big Teeth delivers creepy and kooky, Addams Family-style werewolves, and I am all about that.

The Divines by Ellie Eaton

This came out in January; I requested an ARC but wasn’t approved. As you may know, I love books set at boarding schools. The Divines has a dual timeline–the 1990s before St John the Divine boarding school is closed and the present when former student Josephine returns to the area. It promises mean girls, destructive female friendships, and a violent scandal, so it sounds like the book for me.

Are any of these on your TBR? Have you read any of the ones that are out yet? What did you think?