A new year means new books!!!! This also means that publishers begin to release their pretties. BRING. IT. ON!
One of my favorite things about the YA bookish community is Epic Reads. So a few days ago they released an awesome infographic of all their 2016 releases. You can even download the PDF to print off and track your progress. It does however seem that this list is incomplete missing titles for the last quarter of the year.
Let's break 'em down shall we....
(also if you're not much of a reader or just impatient, scroll down for the TL;DR)
By Genre
*Most of this information is from Goodreads and is subject to change.
Historical Fiction
Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little – Book two in the Forbidden series. "After spending months traveling the harsh, unforgiving Mesopotamian desert, Jayden reunites with a broken, injured Kadesh. But their reunion is short-lived, as they learn Horeb is on their trail and determined to take back the girl he has claimed." I didn't read the first in this series but it seems to be well received with over a 4.5 Goodreads rating. Expected publication: February 2, 2016.
Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh – A debut author! A story about prehistoric clans fighting each other and mother nature. Also appears to be a love triangle in the making, betrayal and other shenanigans. I WILL be picking this up because... mammoths. Expected publication: June 14, 2016.
Dystopian
The Capture by Tom Isbell – Book two in The Prey series. I read book one and liked it up until the last pages then I lost my *ish. I will be passing on this one... "Heroics, bravery, and action don’t compensate for serious implausibility issues." - Kirkus Review Expected publication: January 19, 2016.
Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin – I'm IN! Sign me up now! Honestly, it doesn't sound like the thing I'd usually be into but this synopsis has me convinced. "In this YA debut, which draws inspiration from Frankenstein, the daughter of an inventor of biomechanical limbs finds a prosthetic hand on the shoreline of her ravaged city. It's the first boy's hand she's ever held, and it gives her an idea for her own great invention." Publication date unknown.
The Black Key by Amy Ewing – Book three in the Lone City series following The Jewel and The White Rose. Publication date unknown.
Endgame #3 by James Frey – Book number three in the Endgame series. Some thoughts on book two, Sky Key, "It feels all too much like a satire of dystopian teen lit crafted with little understanding of the genre beyond its surface conventions; worst of all, it doesn’t seem to care. Opportunistic, paint-by-numbers hackwork." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication set for October 2016.
Horror
Relic by Gretchen McNeil – This will be released on the newer Epic Reads Impulse imprint which is a digital first run. Nope, Nope... too scary for me. A group of high school graduates go to a creepy lake for their last big bash, run into a creepy stranger who warns them about a nearby creepy mine, and they go explore the mine. No thanks, I need to sleep at night. LOL! Expected publication: March 8, 2016.
A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann – I don't typically do weird-creepy-unknowns-in-the-depths-of-who-knows-what but I'm in. Mostly because I've actually walked through the catacombs of Paris. There's something about being surrounds by millions of bones that says I can empathize with these characters. A group of gifted teens assist on an excavation of secret safe rooms for royalty. Soon they find themselves in some twisted creepy game. "Bizarre and hugely suspenseful." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication: March 15, 2016.
Harmony House by Nic Sheff – After the death of her mother, Jen and her controlling father move to a new town that is hiding secrets with a haunted house. Sounds like a lighter version of Amityville Horror. I will be passing on
Escape From Asylum by Madeline Roux – Prequel to the popular Asylum series. Expected publication: June 14, 2016.
What The Dead Want by Norah Olson – Gretchen's mom has gone missing and now she has inherited the family's pre-Civil War mansion located in upstate New York. The mansion holds violent and racist secrets that Gretchen must unravel to understand her mom's disappearance.... wow, that sounds interesting. Loved Norah Olson's Twisted Fate but I think I'm going to have to pass on this one. Expected publication: July 19, 2016.
LGBTQIA
Away We Go by Emil Ostrovski – A group of young teens with Peter Pan Virus (age reversal) attend a special school to live out their days. Noah, who has a girlfriend, meets a boy he may love and challenges his world. Story includes mixed media like documents, flyers and postcards. "Lovers of self-consciously witty nihilist profundities will be thrilled; alas that the snark is mired in the stale trope of tragic gay romance." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication: April 5, 2016.
Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard – *Debut author! "All Pen wants is to be the kind of girl she’s always been. So why does everyone have a problem with it? They think the way she looks and acts means she’s trying to be a boy—that she should quit trying to be something she’s not." I really despise the phrase "man up" but I'm intrigued. Adding it to the maybe pile. Expected publication: September 6, 2016.
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown – No synopsis available. I like the name and I enjoyed Brown's debut, No Place To Fall. Looking forward to more info. Expected publication: November 15, 2016.
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst – OOOOhohohohoho... I'm in. Take my money. A fantasy with a magical princess who falls for her fiancé's sister. Let's do this! Expected publication: September 2016.
Sci-Fi
Dark Energy by Robison Wells – Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out. Alice is right in the middle of the action, but even she isn’t sure what to expect when the aliens finally emerge... Diverse, sci-fi standalone in less than 300 pages. No doubt it's fast paced but I'm concerned about some of the rest of it. Going on the maybe list. Expected publication: March 29, 2016.
MILA 2.0: Redemption by Debra Driza – Book three and series ender for the MILA 2.0 series. I haven't read any of them but I know fans are dying to get their hands on this one! Expected publication: April 26, 2016.
The Countdown by Kimberly Derting – Book three in The Taking series. Not my cup of tea but for those following the series the end sounds tense! Expected publication: May 10, 2016.
Change Places With Me by Lois Metzger – "Rose has changed. She still lives in the same neighborhood with her stepmother and goes to the same high school with the same group of kids, but when she woke up today, something was just a little different than it was before." Synopsis is vague, I'm gonna pass. Expected publication: June 14, 2016.
United As One by Pitticus Lore – The conclusion to the Lorien Legacies series with book seven. Expected publication: June 28, 2016.
Gamescape: Overworld by Emma Trevayne – Cannot find concrete info but... I think this was originally billed as The Nova Project on Goodreads. If so, it's pitched as Good Omens meets Ready Player One.
Replica by Lauren Oliver – The first book in a duology! "Replica, the first of the two books, tells the story of Lyra, known by the number 24, a replica – human model – who was born, raised, and observed in a clandestine research facility called the Haven Institute. When Lyra escapes from Haven and meets Gemma, a stranger on a quest of her own, earth-shattering secrets are revealed." Sounds familiar but I'm in. Expected publication: September 2016.
A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray – The third book in the amazing and excellent Firebird series. I have the worst cover lust for this series and heart the stories so hard. Book #1, A Thousand Pieces of You was my 2014 book of the year. I pushed it on everyone. :) There's no official release date but my guess will be November 2016 since the previous books released in November.
Retellings
Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige – Book three in the Dorothy Must Die series. Oz is probably one of my least favorite stories so this whole series has never appealed to me. Expected publication: March 15, 2016.
Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes – "Wounded by a broken heart, Dinah wages an all-out war to defeat her evil father and reign over Wonderland as sole ruler. But will her humanity survive the fight?" I have not read the series but it is book three in the Queen of Heart series. Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
As I Descended by Robin Talley – A lesbian retelling of Macbeth in an all girls boarding school. Do I really need to say more? Let's do this! Expected publication: September 6, 2016.
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine – A new retelling series, Ravenspire, loosely based on Snow White. "For the most part, the story is a full-bore fantasy fairy tale with magic slung around with abandon and battles aplenty." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication: February 16, 2016.
The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins – Kicking off a duology the great hunt is based on the Grimm Brothers' "The Singing Bone" tale. "An enjoyable-enough fantasy with a healthy sprinkling of romance." - Kirkus Review. I'm not familiar with this tale so I will be looking forward to it. Expected publication: March 8, 2016.
Rose and Thorn by Sarah Prineas – Companion novel to Ash and Bramble, Cinderella retelling, set 50 years after the first. Expected release September 2016.
Mystery/Thriller
Shade Me by Jennifer Brown – Nikki Kill is called to the hospital to ID a Jane Doe. Jane turns out to be a classmate who had only one number in her cell phone, Nikki's. Nikki is able to "see" emotions via color in a rare phenomenon called "synesthesia". Seems like an interesting premiss but I'm already confused. First book in the Nikki Kill series. Expected publication: January 19, 2016.
Take The Fall by Emily Hainsworth – Sonia and Gretchen are attacked in the woods. Only Sonia survives along with the guilt. In the quest to prove Gretchen's ex Marcus is the killer Sonia is riddled with more questions than answers. "The story offers plenty of red herrings but falls short of thrilling." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication: February 16, 2016.
A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro – A take on Sherlock Holmes and series starter. Please don't disappoint me. Pretty please. A starred review on Kirkus, "These sleuths may still be in school—and working out of a supply closet with smartphones—but Cavallaro’s crackling dialogue, well-drawn characters, and complicated relationships make this feel like a seamless and sharp renewal of Doyle’s series." Expected publication: March 1, 2016.
Trust Me by Romily Bernard – Book three in the Find Me series. "For die-hard fans of the first two books." - Kirkus Review. Expected publication: March 22, 2016.
The Blood Between Us by Zac Brewer – Adoptee Adriene and his sister Grace have lost their parents and as a result lose touch with each other. After years apart they are forced to reunite where questions emerge regarding Grace's knowledge of their parent's death. Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
The Outliers by Kimberly McCrieght – After a fight Wylie hasn't heard from Cassie in a week and then she sends a text for help. The text messages are cryptic and unwanted help has arrived to help Wylie search for Cassie. Now Wylie has to decide if she's going to trust her gut, trust Cassie or will the worry of something wrong continue to grow? First in a series. Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
Please Don't Tell by Laura Tims – *debut author! A murder mystery highlighting a pair of twin sisters where one has killed to protect the other. Billed for fans of Pretty Little Liars. Expected publication: May 24, 2016.
Out of My Mind by Lauren Sabel – Author of Vivian Devine is Dead brings us a psychic teen, Callie, who works with the government as a spy. Her world starts to get more complicated as a new psychic starts at the office and her visions start to hit closer to home. Expected publication: May 31, 2016.
The Stranger Game by Cylin Busby – I've got nothing! Busby's most notable work appears to be YA memoir, The Year We Disappeared. Since this is a mystery I'll be on the lookout for more info, I'm intrigued. Release date unknown.
Avenged by E.E. Cooper – Not on Goodreads yet. My best guess is this is book two in the Vanished series which was released in May 2015.
Realistic Fiction
Geek Girl: Picture Perfect by Holly Smale – Originally published in 2014 the third book in the Geek Girl series gets a cover makeover for its U.S. release. Expected publication: January 26, 2016.
The Word for Yes by Claire Needell – *debut author! After an incident at a party, three sisters struggle to come together in order to discover the truth and heal. Starred review from Kirkus, "An engrossing story proving the hard truth that it isn’t always strangers who hurt us the worst of all." I'm in, sign me up. Rings a little close to home so I'm sure I'll need tissues. Expected publication: February 16, 2016.
Down With The Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn – I need this! Lennie is tasked with carrying on the family legacy of bootlegging... or so she thought. This moonshine grants wishes and after a night of partying things have gone array. Expected publication: April 26, 2016.
Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann – Addie makes the decision to have an abortion and struggles to find her place in the world afterwards. Told in verse the story explores her quest to heal. Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
The Fall of Butterflies by Andrea Portes – Willa Parker is shipped off to a Bourgeoisie prep school where she doesn't fit in. She meets a new mystical friend, Remy, who maybe the secret to her fitting in. Billed as a cross between We Were Liars and Looking for Alaska. Expected publication: May 10, 2016.
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss – Thomas is scheduled to leave for the Army in the morning to continue the family legacy. Mallory invites him on one last night of shenanigans where he explores the truth about his brother's PTSD, his own fears of going to war, and more. Expected publication: May 31, 2016.
Frannie and Tru by Karen Hattrup – "When Frannie Little eavesdrops on her parents fighting she discovers that her cousin Truman is gay, and his parents are so upset they are sending him to live with her family for the summer. Together, they embark on a magical summer marked by slowly unraveling secrets." Expected publication: May 31, 2016.
We Were Never Here by Jennifer Gilmore – Lizzie has suddenly fallen ill with a mysterious disease. While recovering in the hospital she meets volunteer Conner and his dog. They form a bond that helps Lizzie heal but might undo Conner. Expected publication: June 14, 2016.
Winning by Lara Deloza – Alexandra is determined to become Homecoming Queen. So much so that she has engineered each interaction she has to make it so until... Erin. Erin moves to town and threatens the crown. No fear, Alexandria has a plan. Expected publication: June 28, 2016.
Shiny Broken Pieces: A Tiny Pretty Things Novel by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton – Book two in this series. "June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company." Expected publication: July 12, 2016.
The Cat King of Havana by Tom Crosshill – No synopsis! Expected publication: September 6, 2016.
I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeil – Yep, sign me up!!!!! Bea has life after high school with valedictorian, M.I.T. and her boyfriend all planned out but while she's still there bullying is abound. In order to boost their social status she creates the perfect popularity formula. And it works! Until "Trixie", Bea's alter ego, starts messing stuff up. Expected publication: September 13, 2016.
The Boomerang Effect by Gordon Jack – *debut author "Pitched as a YA Jeeves and Wooster, about a floundering stoner and a Spock-like exchange student who must unmask a mysterious school vandal to clear their names." Expected publication: September 20, 2016.
Saving Red by Sonya Sones – No synopsis available. Author of What My Mother Doesn't Know series written in verse.
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis – "A really dark contemporary." bought to us by the author of the Not A Drop To Drink series so I believe it. Expected publication: October 2016.
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| UK edition cover |
Pushing Perfect by Michelle Falkoff – no info available, author of Playlist for the Dead.
The Suicide Pack by Owen Matthews – no info available, author of How To Win at High School.
Girls in the Moon by Janet McNally – no info available.
Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton – "A standalone novel about a recent scholarship recipient who sets out to expose debauchery at her exclusive private school in Washington, D.C., only to find herself falling in love with the baddest boy of all."
Fantasy
Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan – Raisa, is groomed to be a royal tutor in a land where reading and writing is forbidden for slaves. Approached by the Resistance, Raisa must determine her loyalties and her life. Book one in a series. Expected publication: January 19, 2016.
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto – *debut author! Westie lost her arm years ago on the wagon trail when cannibals attacked her and killed her family. Now adopted by a popular inventor, she is determined to track down the killers who look a lot like her adopted dad's new investors. Teamed up with dad's assistant, Alistair, she tries to prove their guilt without getting her current loved ones killed...Adding this to my list! Expected publication: February 2, 2016.
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard – Book two to the amazing Red Queen series. I've been waiting impatiently for this! Betrayed by her friend, Maven, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. Expected publication: February 9, 2016.
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig – *debut author and the first of a duology. Aboard her father's time-traveling ship Nix sails to lands real and fictional as long as there's a map. Now her dad has discovered the map from before Nix's birth and her mom's death. Nix struggles with reuniting her mom and dad, and preserving her own life... I'm in! Time travel please don't disappoint me. Expected publication: February 16, 2016.
Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr – A new Melissa Marr series!!!! There are fae involved!! Lilywhite is half-human and half-fae, shielded from her fae side, she is thrown into a whirlwind when she gets caught up in a fae society at school. Expected publication: March 1, 2016
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows – Book two in the Orphan Queen series. "In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen." Expected publication: April 5, 2016.
Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima – Book one in a 4-book series, Shattered Realms. This series will explore the next generation of the Seven Realms. A healer, Ash, is out for revenge against the King and Jenna, born with a mysterious mark, is on the run from the King. Their paths collide throwing life and death into a careful balance. Expected publication: April 5, 2016.
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye – *debut author! Book one of the Crown's Game series. Vika and Nikolai are the last enchanters in Russia but the Tsar needs a protector so they must battle each other. One will win and murder the other.... Sounds like a mix of Hunger Games and illogic. Expected publication: May 17, 2016.
The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele – Book one in the Marked Girl series. A magical portal connects a fantasy land, Caelum, and modern day L.A. Prince Cedric and his friends navigate a strange world, running into foster kid Liv and attempting to evade traitor Malquin. Expected publication: June 21, 2016.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake – Book one in an untitled series. "Three Dark Crowns tells the story of triplet sisters on a remote island ruled by powerful magic and ancient family lineages. Separated at birth, one of the sisters will grow up to be queen, but in order to ascend to the throne she must hone her magic for a dark purpose: assassinating her other two sisters before they kill her first." Expected publication: Fall 2016.
Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson – Follow up and second book, Walk on Earth a Stranger, in The Gold Seer Trilogy. Expected publication: 2016.
Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley – No information available.
Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch – Book three in the Snow Like Ashes Series.The Old Kingdom Book #5 by Garth Nix – Book five in the Abhorsen series. "According to Nix's author's note at the end of 'Clariel', this novel will be about Nicholas Sayre and Lirael following the events of the short story 'The Creature in the Case'."
The Dark Army by Joseph Delaney – Book two in The Starblade Chronicles. Expected U.S. publication unknown. Released in UK February 2016 with Bodley Head.
Contemporary Romance
The Leaving Season by Cat Jordan – As leaving season comes upon Maddie her perfect boyfriend Nate leaves for his Central American gap year before he comes back to her. Tragedy strikes and Maddie soon finds herself leaning on Nate's best friend, Lee, to heal. Expected publication: March 1, 2016.
The Summer of Everything by Catherine Clark – "This bind-up features two repackaged fan-favorite novels that are sure to delight readers of Stephanie Perkins, Jennifer Echols, and, of course, Catherine Clark." Expected publication: April 5, 2016.
Eleven Things I Promised by Catherine Clark – "Frances has one week—while she’ll be away from home competing in a high school bike race—to do every single thing on the Fix-It List. Ten crazy, totally out-of-character ideas her best friend, Stella, came up with to make the bike ride unforgettable." Expected publication: April 5, 2016.
Unforgivable by Amy Reed – Book two in the Invincible series. "Unforgivable takes off where Invincible left us—with Evie drowning in San Francisco Bay. Marcus finds her just in time, but her survival is not the happy ending he was hoping for. Forbidden from seeing Evie by her parents and unable to reach her, Marcus learns of a pain that might break him completely." Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
A Walk In The Sun by Michelle Zink – As a Southerner this book screams Strawberry Wine in full length. Hopefully not as sad. Rose returns to her family's farm and meets ranch hand Bohdi who plans to leave at the end of summer. Adding this to my TBR! Expected publication: May 3, 2016.
This Is My Brain on Boys by Sarah Strohmeyer – Addie is on a Harvard bound mission that involves discovering the equation for falling in love. But, her Harvard scholarship hopes might be derailed when a classmate discovers what she's up to. Expected publication: May 10, 2016.
The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen – "A passionate summer love story about a girl, her childhood best friend recently released from juvie, and the small-town lies that have kept them apart. A teen romance debut with a dark edge.".. Adding to my TBR! Sounds like there will be feels involved. Expected publication: May 10, 2016.
Spark by Holly Schindler – Quin decides to rewrite a real-life tragic love story for her local theater and in doing so discovers the run-down theater is regaining its former glory. It's up to Quin to make sure she can save it all this time around. Expected publication: May 17, 2016.
What Happens Now by Jennifer Castle – Ari Logan is fighting her personal war on depression and a past suicide attempt. With summer coming up and everyone in her life preoccupied she meets Camden a sci-fi fanboy who comes with his own baggage. Expected publication: June 7, 2016.
Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi – Maude explores the meaning of family as she investigates her birth mother's life for a senior photography project. Traveling to visit her BFF at college, Treena, in hope of search assistance she finds a busy girl instead. Partnering with another college student, Bennett, she explores her past and future. Expected publication: June 14, 2016.
Finding Abbey Road by Kevin Emerson – Book three in the Exile series. "Packed with mystery and music, Kevin Emerson’s final volume in the Exile series is the pitch-perfect ending to Summer’s journey of self-discovery and love, and an ode to music fans everywhere." Expected publication: August 2, 2016.
Be Good Be Real Be Crazy by Chelsey Philpot – no info available, Philpot is also the author of Even In Paradise (2014).
Catch a Falling Heart by Stacey Lee – Originally titled Touch Me Not, a 16-year-old aromateur with an extraordinary nose, the last in a long line of love witches, scrambles to reverse the effects of a love elixir after giving it to the wrong target – all while trying not to fall for the woman's attractive son. Stacey Lee is a founder of #WeNeedDiverseBooks.
TL;DR
What I've got on pre-order and am scavenging the earth for ARCs:
- Front Lines by Michael Grant *series
- Ivory and Bone *series
- Shallow Graves
- Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
- Replica by Lauren Oliver *duology
- A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray *series
- My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
- As I Descended by Robin Talley
- The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
- A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
- Thicker Than Water by Kelly Fiore
- The Word for Yes by Claire Needell
- Down With The Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn
- I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Gretchen McNeil
- Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
- The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
- The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt
- A Walk In The Sun by Michelle Zink
- Wanderlost by Jen Malone
- Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi
What I could be interested in reading if I have time:
- Symptoms of Being Human
- Girl Mans Up
- Bluescreen by Dan Wells *series
- Dark Energy by Robison Wells
- Bright Smoke, Cold Fire
- The Way Back To You by Michelle Andreani and Mindi Scott
- Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss
- Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios
- Ruined by Amy Tintera
- Girl Against The Universe by Paula Stokes
Your choice of one pre-order mentioned in this post. Prize will be ordered via Amazon or Book Depository once available for pre-order. Open internationally as long as the Book Depository ships to your country for free. Contest closes January 15, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time. *This giveaway is not sponsored by HarperCollins or the authors. Just a girl writing for the world asking you to win/read a book.
