40 of My Most Anticipated Book Releases for the Second Half of 2021 (July-December)!

You know what time it is! Time to add more books to your TBR!!

Books are releasing too quickly and my tbr cannot handle the overload of new ones, but I always love obsessing over new books . . . you know how it is :’) I’m lowkey obsessing over all the people of color on these covers, and let’s please ignore how the number of books on my tbr slowly surpassed my ‘read’ shelf while making this post. look away

I spent way too much time on this blog post, but there are so many amazing books coming out and I just had to write an anticipated releases post. Do I regret it? Maybe.

All books are in order of release date, all covers link to their respective Goodreads pages, and I have to point out how September looks like it’s going to be a good month in terms of the number of releases (oh god there are too many).

july

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom (7/6) ☾ this is a new middle grade novel about an anxious girl who accidentally brings her drawings of Indian myths and legends to life, and it looks too good to be true!

Rise to the Sun (7/6) ☾ this is about two girls at a music festival who (might) fall in love, and although I haven’t read You Should See Me in a Crown yet, I’m more than willing to give this a try 👀

Six Crimson Cranes (7/6) ☾ a new East Asian folklore-inspired series from Elizabeth Lim about forbidden magic, curses, and paper cranes!!

Summer in the City of Roses (7/6) ☾ this is inspired by a Greek myth and a Grimm fairy tale set in Portland and it sounds like it’s going to be everything!

There’s Magic Between Us (7/6) ☾ I heard “magic forest adventures, giddy crushes, treasure hunts, and queer girls written by a queer girl” and I’m already excited.

The Taking of Jake Livingston (7/13) ☾ I’m simultaneously terrified and intrigued by the cover, and though I’m only a few pages into this, it’s so eerie and I am sure I won’t be able to sleep after this.

The River Has Teeth (7/20) ☾ This is about magical sapphic witches and is supposed to be paranormal, and I cannot wait to read it.

She Who Became the Sun (7/20) ☾ I think this is the perfect time to mention this book because, after all, it made it to my five-star shelf. I’m so excited for you all to read it and scream about it (in pain) with me!

august

A Lesson in Vengeance (8/3) ☾ this is a sapphic dark academia that “explores the thin line between obsession and madness” that Victoria Lee is blessing us with! it looks dark and I know I’m going to be utterly destroyed by it.

How We Fall Apart (8/3) ☾ I’m part of the Sinclair Students (Katie Zhao’s street team), and I definitely think you should keep an eye on this murder mystery set at an elite prep school in Manhattan with Asian Americans🔪 yes I am aware that this emoji is a kitchen knife but I could not find the dagger emoji asldkfjld

Like a Love Song (8/3) ☾ a bi Latina popstar who fake dates a British film star? AKA everything I could possibly want in a rom-com???

The Wild Ones (8/3) ☾ this cover is so pretty and I could not resist :’) it’s about queer girls, magic, and sisters, and I am very ready (to cry).

The Endless Skies (8/17) ☾ this is about a floating city with shapeshifting warriors and sounds so intriguing!

september

A Clash of Steel (9/7) ☾ everyone say thank you CB Lee for giving us this Treasure Island retelling with Chinese pirate sapphics!

The Bones of Ruin (9/7) ☾ an African tightrope walker who can’t die is pulled into a gladiatorial tournament set in 1880s London. this is also supposed to be very dark, and you all probably know I love anything dark!

The City Beautiful (9/7) ☾ if a Jewish queer historical gothic fantasy isn’t enough to hook you, read it for the cover (look at how gloriously creepy it looks!!).

The Girls Are Never Gone (9/7) ☾ another paranormal horror novel about ghosts that sounds so haunting, and I’ve already heard good things about this.

The Jasmine Project (9/7) ☾ this is about a Korean-American adoptee whose own family plays matchmaker and sets her up with possible dates . . . I am ready.

A Dark and Starless Forest (9/14) ☾ an urban fantasy about queer witches and a girl whose siblings start to go missing in the woods? please I need this.

It All Comes Back to You (9/14) ☾ a desi rom-com following two exes who are forcibly reunited for their siblings’ weddings is exactly what I need right now no joke

White Smoke (9/14) ☾ a modern haunted house story and a psychological thriller from none other than Tiffany D. Jackson (whose books I still haven’t read yet).

Iron Widow (9/21) ☾ I feel very lucky to have an eARC of this sci-fi with mechas with East Asian mythology and a poly romance :]

Beasts of Prey (9/28) ☾ this is the first book of a new series set in a Pan-African-inspired world with “monsters, myths, and #BlackGirlMagic” that sounds so exciting!!

Before We Disappear (9/28) ☾ this is a “queer historical fantasy set during the 1909 Seattle Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition, where the two assistants of two ambitious magicians find themselves falling in love.” say less, please.

Dark Rise (9/14) ☾ this high fantasy about the young descendants of Dark and Light, forgotten magic, and old allegiances?? I’m so intrigued.

Light from Uncommon Stars (9/28) ☾ look, this has “cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts.” it was meant for me!

Sisters of Shadow (9/28) ☾ this is cottagecore meets sapphic witch fantasy, and I adore it already.

october

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (10/12) ☾ the second book that comes after Ari and Dante! I didn’t enjoy the first book all that much but this 550-page contemporary written in Ari’s point of view is too good to pass up not gonna lie

The Heartbreak Bakery (10/12) ☾ agender teen baker deals with heartbreak by baking brownies (that also break up anyone who eats them) must save their bakery… this genuinely sounds so cute and I can’t wait!

The Keeper of Night (10/12) ☾ a historical fantasy set in 1890s Japan with a British-Japanese heroine, soul collecting, and demons!! and that cover!!

City of Shattered Light (10/19) ☾ this is set in a world with 154-hour nights and features a sapphic romance between an heiress and an outlaw, I know I’m going to absolutely love it.

november

Briar Girls (11/2) ☾ I am very excited for this Sleeping Beauty retelling with queer antiheroines, a mysterious forest, and a girl that is poisonous to the touch!

Girls of Fate and Fury (11/2) ☾ I am so in love with this series, and although book two wasn’t the best, I will be hoping this will restore its glory (and bring more pain).

Spin Me Right Round (11/2) ☾ oh? an ownvoices twist on Back to the Future??? I need it :’)

The Reckless Kind (11/2) ☾ an all queer and disabled cast? supportive friendships? animal rescue? yes please!!

All of Us Villains (11/9) ☾ “dark, magical Hunger Games-inspired tale” was all I needed to hear. oh my god this looks amazing

Within These Wicked Walls (11/9) ☾ this takes place in an Ethopian-inspired world and is a fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre and now I can’t wait to read it!

Our Violent Ends (11/16) ☾ apparently this is even more brutal* than the first book, but I think it’s safe to say that we all love pain oh yes we do

*if you got that reference, you get a cookie!!

december

If This Gets Out (12/7) ☾ a gay boy band rom-com I AM HERE FOR

The Coldest Touch (12/7) ☾ who can resist this f/f vampire murder mystery?? not me, that’s for sure.

The Midnight Girls (12/7) ☾ this genuinely offers everything I’d ever want in a book . . . sapphic enemies to lovers, Polish culture and history, and characters that sound so chaotic I would lay down my life for them already !!!

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